Email: Adam.Townsend@patch.com
Phone: 949-436-3050
Hometown: Steubenville, Ohio
Birthday: July, 1983
Bio: I grew up in a small town in the greater Pittsburgh metro-area.
I attended journalism school at the Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism; I also studied studio art and Spanish at that school.
I've been a full-time newspaper and multimedia reporter for more than a decade. I started as a general assignment reporter at a small-town paper in the Ohio Valley and moved up through the ranks at that company as I completed my degree, doing piecework for other papers and magazines while classes were in session.
In September of 2006, I started as a reporter covering various cities in north Orange County at the Orange County Register. There I also administered the AroundDisney blog, shot hundreds of photographs, created feature and courtroom illustrations and designed informational graphics.
During my time at Patch, I've led local and national media on dozens of news stories, many of which have made national headlines. I cover everything from local business features to crime to elections and technology. I've been an occasional guest on KPBS Midday's Roundtable, speaking as an media expert on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
I've always had a fascination with journalism – the excitement of the process, the leap into the vortex of events as they happen, the sociability of meeting and interviewing sources, the exposure of crime and malfeasance.
I'm also a practicing artist, completing large paintings and illustrations in my spare time. I'm involved in musical pursuits; I play a few instruments to varying degrees of proficiency, but the piano is my first love.
I'm a voracious reader, preferring smutty mystery novels as pleasure reading, literature and history if I'm looking for something meatier. I've become something of a World War I buff lately.
I do some skim boarding out on North Beach – near where I've lived in San Clemente since 2006. I also train at the local MMA gym, Finish Strong.
Growing up near Pittsburgh, I'm a rabid Steelers fan. Sorry, Chargers.
My wife, Laura Lee Townsend, and I were married at the Ole Hanson Beach Club in May 2009.
Laura Lee, who also has a background in journalism, now is a certified health and fitness coach and manages San Clemente Boot Camp. You'll be seeing her maiden-name byline -- Laura Lee Bloor -- on San Clemente Patch as a health and wellness blogger.
We're both involved in charitable causes, raising money especially for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which fights breast cancer. We also put on a production of the Vagina Monologues at Knuckleheads in 2011. Sponsored by Patch, Knuckleheads and Buds Famous Hot Dogs, we raised more than $5,000 for Laura's House network of domestic violence shelters in south Orange County.
As San Clemente Patch editor, I am here to cover San Clemente and all that goes on here. My writers and I produce breaking local stories, feature pieces, profiles of locals, high school sports news, and whatever else affects our community.
My Beliefs
I believe in democracy, fairness and hard-nosed journalism that is vital, useful and relevant. I believe in God and Jesus Christ, but I am respectful of those with other beliefs.
I believe the First Amendment is the most crucial part of the Constitution and the best means of preserving our nation.
Politics
As a journalist, I'm not a member of any political party or organization. I lean toward candidates I believe offer the best path to good governance – independent of their political philosophy. I do not vote in the San Clemente City Council races or on San Clemente ballot measures because I am covering them and strive to maintain objectivity.
Religion
I'm a Christian who was raised as a Presbyterian, but I am not currently a member of any sect or church.
Local Hot-Button Issues
Planned development at North Beach is a subject of much controversy in town, as is the Marblehead development and outlet mall and the troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Marine and military issues are also at the forefront, considering our proximity to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.
New figures from federal regulators show the number of safety issues at San Onofre was more than six times the national average in 2011.
New figures from federal regulators show the number of safety issues at San Onofre was more than six times the national average in 2011.
New figures from federal regulators show the number of safety issues at San Onofre was more than six times the national average in 2011.
The city announced today that San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will be conducting an emergency siren test at the Pier Wednesday.
Rescuers are attempting to finish cutting a gray whale out of fishing line, an effort that started Tuesday off San Onofre State Beach.
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating station leads the nation in safety complaints made to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is poised to finish cutting a gray whale out of fishing line, a rescue effort it started Tuesday off San Onofre State Beach.
Churches all over Orange County and Southern California gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at sunrise Sunday.
A 7-Eleven in San Clemente sells ticket worth $272,085.
Young egg hunters descend upon church lawns, sports fields and other locales around Orange County on Saturday.
The nation's top nuclear regulator toured the troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Friday along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Darrell Issa.
After touring the plant, official says problems with heat exchanger tubes at nuclear power plant are still under analysis.
Two arrests Wednesday resulted in ecstasy, meth, heroin, cocaine and $35,000 in cash.
Body of homeless man was found under an overpass by another transient Sunday night.
Stagnant pond and germs in the storm drains from irrigation are also to blame for the notoriously nasty sea water at Poche Beach.
Capistrano Unified School District releases a 30-minute tape from the parking lot near where Marine Sgt. Manuel Loggins was shot by a sheriff's deputy.
The Orange County Transportation Authority consultant in charge of the planned $80-million La Pata extension said plans are in place to round up the last few million for the project.
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will be conducting drills.
The national Friends of the Earth anti-nuclear organization will run the TV commercial; Friends has partnered with local anti-nuclear groups in past efforts to shut down the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
The San Clemente City Council meets Tuesday for its regular meeting.