Thousands of motorists fly past the northwest corner of Sunrise and Fair Oaks boulevards every day, many of them oblivious to the quaint village that lies just a stone’s throw to the east. For decades, what greeted them was an empty lot overrun with weeds—a spot that was more eyesore than community gateway. Today, that same patch of ground is one of the most intriguing landmarks in Fair Oaks. Dubbed the “No Barking Lot,” the site is now a community art hub, featuring rotating murals coupled...

If you've spotted a young man in a trademark fedora presiding at a local ribbon cutting, shaking hands at a charity event or chatting with village merchants, you've likely encountered the honorary mayor of Fair Oaks. No, he can't fix that pesky pothole on your street (though residents keep asking). But when it comes to championing Fair Oaks and its prospects, Noah Wright has already made history. Wright was just 21 when he won election to the ceremonial mayor’s post back in October, becoming...

Raised in Fair Oaks, Sommer Peterson left to forge a career as a big-city restauranteur. She returned home to fashion a dream. Now she’s fighting to keep it alive. For Sommer Peterson, Fair Oaks always served as a starting point for her ambition. She grew up here, left to find her entrepreneurial footing in the Bay Area, and ultimately returned with a restaurant vision shaped by both hometown roots and hard-earned experience. What she didn’t expect was how close that vision would come to...