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.
Police are searching for a man who robbed the GameStop on Ygnacio Valley Road earlier this month. GameStop is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
After a continuing investigation, Concord police arrested 25-year-old Concord resident Clayton Hill Tuesday in connection to the Nov. 13 bank robbery.
Get all the latest headlines from Concord in one bite-size chunk here on Concord Patch.
The transit agency is making more room for passengers during what is traditionally the busiest travel weekend of the year. BART recommends parking before 10 a.m.
Meet the K-9 teams of the Concord Police Department in this weekly Q&A. This week: Officer Matt Switzer reveals Figo's regal full name, which comes straight from his German roots.
Concord High faces Clayton Valley on the field Friday evening and the winner goes to the championship. Pre-sale tickets are available for one day only. Here's how to get them.
Depending on the weight of the bird, frozen turkeys can take days to defrost. Here's where to buy one in Concord how long it will take to defrost.
Get inspired to make a colorful, seasonal centerpiece from fresh produce like pomegranates and gourds — all available at your local farmers' market.
The megastore opens at 8 p.m. on Nov. 22 so shoppers can get started early on Black Friday deals. Is it a smart business move or a greedy tactic? And will you go shopping Thanksgiving evening?
Ready to shop? Find out when the doors open, and which stores will be hosting customers, at the Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord on Black Friday, Nov. 23, 2012.
Father Christmas and his elves have set up shop in the Sun Valley mall. Is it too early to take the kids? Or is there no such thing as "too early" when it comes to Santa?
Contra Costa County health officials remind those cooking — and eating — this Thanksgiving that cleanliness is the best defense against food poisoning.
Minutemen and Eagles go head-to-head in the NCS playoffs. Are you going to the game? Excited about it? Share your thoughts on the likely winner.
An 82-year-old war veteran and his 52-year-old son apparently took their own lives in an apartment on Camara Circle on Veterans Day last week.
The Donors Choose website gives teachers a way to solicit financial support for projects in their classroom. Teachers at Concord schools have posted 58 proposals asking for tens of thousands of dollars. Do you think it's a good way to fund schools?
This week's activity report from the Clayton Police Department includes three arrests — one for assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
This new column on Concord Patch highlights places in Concord to discover this weekend. Where are your favorite hidden treasures? Comment, and add pictures by clicking "upload."
This snapshot from the Concord Police Department tallies the 52 arrests in the past week — down from 65 the week before. Last week, DUIs were the most common charge.
Concord's doggie "play-care", boutique and boarding house has been sold to the owners of "Just Pet Me" in Oakland, who plan to keep it open with some changes.
The city has a new credit union, located by downtown Concord on Clayton Road. Concordians get $50 for opening a checking account by Nov. 30.
