I grew up in the rural green belt of London, England where I fell in love with literature and literary history. During my undergraduate degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury, and namely an exchange year abroad at UCLA, that love for literature transitioned into a passion for journalism and California sunshine. I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue an MA degree in journalism at USC and continue a freelance career in multimedia storytelling. And I have never looked back.
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My experience includes local, national and international reporting for news outlets such as the LA Weekly, Southern California Public Radio and the New Zealand Herald Tribune. My fascination with hyper-local journalism spawned a thesis about the future of the industry (titled, Can Grassroots Journalism Help Underserved Communities?) and, in 2008, led me to help found a hyper-local website covering South Los Angeles. I was managing editor until early 2011, when Patch became my next adventure.
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Now I live in Concord with my husband, reading, writing, exploring the Bay Area and continuing to drink my tea with milk.
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Beliefs:
1. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato.
2. Never discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.
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Politics: I am a registered Democrat with an open mind to all opinions and factual arguments. I believe that the mind should be a thoroughfare for all thoughts and not a select party.
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Religion: Non-denominational Christian, with an almost pantheistic love for the outdoors and a strong appreciation for being still (Psalm 46:10.)
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Local Hot-Button Issues: Social justice issues that affect quality of life or access to opportunities, including education, immigration, health care and social welfare.
Holiday traffic can be bad — but the pileup on the Oregon border early Wednesday was disastrous, involving about 60 cars. Do you take extra precautions while driving over the holidays? Or try to avoid it altogether?
Holiday traffic can be bad — but the pileup on the Oregon border Wednesday was disastrous, involving about 60 cars. Do you take extra precautions while driving over the holidays? Or try to avoid it altogether?
As the year draws to a close, it's time to share those fuzzy feelings for our city. What do you love about Concord?
NPR reporters spent some time riding around with Concord firefighters for a story on the question of fire station funding and pensions.
NPR reporters spent some time riding around with Concord firefighters for a story on the question of fire station funding and pensions. What happens when your heroes cost too much?
The bookstore chain has set up a holiday phone line that gives callers a chance to talk to the Half Price Books Santa Claus or listen to a holiday poem, joke or song.
Updated: The GameStop in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center was burgled by thieves who drove a possibly stolen car through the front window.
Almonds can be a holiday snack or part of a festive meal. Here are some recipes using almonds — add your own in the comments.
Almonds can be a holiday snack or part of a festive meal. Here are some recipes using Almonds — add your own in the comments.
Update: A temporary bridge has been installed over a developing sinkhole, caused by wet weather, officials say. More than nine miles of the stretch were shut off from traffic Tuesday.
On a rainy day, a man in Concord, CA launched a message into the bottle and had no idea where it would end up—or whose life it could change.
On a rainy day, a man in Concord, CA launched a message into the bottle and had no idea where it would end up—or whose life it could change.
Blakely, a senior at Concord High, is remembered as a "happy kid" with "lots of prospects" who loved football. He was fatally shot Saturday night in San Francisco. Did you know Blakely? Share your memories in the comments.
A senior at Concord High School, 17-year-old Montreal Blakely, was shot around 10 p.m. Saturday night and pronounced dead at hospital.
Police are looking for two suspects who demanded money while pointing a handgun at a cashier around 5:30 a.m. Monday.
Catch up on the news from Concord from Dec. 10 to Dec. 16, 2012, as well as local reaction to the national story shaking the nation — the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
The 11-year-old K-9 spent six years with the Concord Police Department before being retired and adopted by his handler in June, 2011. Alk died of cancer Thursday.
Another week in Clayton with no traffic accidents, but a couple of DUIs and an arrest for petty theft.
This bargain warehouse on Salvio Street is a labyrinth of cardboard boxes filled with stocking stuffers, gifts, decorations and more for as little as 10 cents.
