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.
Nov. 6 was a very important day in America — a presidential election, and the release of the newest installment of the Halo video game franchise. Which one were you more excited about?
There were 12 burglaries in Concord in the past week — four vehicles, four businesses, three homes and one burglary at Monte Gardens Elementary School on Larkspur Drive.
Wright lived at the eastern foot of Mt. Diablo on 76-acres of land she donated to the conservation organization, Save Mount Diablo. A celebration of her life will be held in Clayton on Nov. 18.
The Hillcrest Park Veterans Day Program was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. A Veterans Day Speech will take place at the Vietnam Memorial in Newhall Park.
The California Independent Film Festival runs from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11 and includes a movie about Bruce Mertz, a Concord resident who decorates his home each year with 50,000 lights during the holiday season.
Every year, Project HOPE honors the homeless men and women who have passed away — inviting the homeless community to mourn too.
The measure failed to garner the two-thirds majority support needed for it to pass in Contra Costa County. Why were voters hesitant to say 'yes'? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Concordians search their mental dictionaries for a single word to capture the 2012 election. Can you describe the experience in the space of a few letters?
Robert Vidakovich, 78, was hit by a car Saturday on Clayton Road at Denkinger and later died from his injuries in hospital. The driver was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter, but released pending an investigation.
President Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.
The mailer sent out by the Concord Police Association making claims against Concord City Council candidate Edi Birsan confused some voters, and made supporters out of others.
While early indications suggest that fewer voters are turning out to this election than in 2008, Concord City Council candidate Marnie Sheehan-Carter wants to remind voters that they can make a big difference in local elections.
This Concord voter at the polls Tuesday morning says he "didn't follow" the Concord City Council election. Do you think he's in the majority?
Concord voter Daniel Clancy followed the Democratic choices for local candidates and ballot propositions. He says Obama needs a second term to get things done. Do you agree?
Hosting or attending an election party tonight? Add the details in the comments and your Concord Patch editor will add it to the list.
Here's the full list of polling stations in Concord and Clayton, California, for the Nov. 6, 2012 election. Note that some polling places have changed since 2010 and 2008 elections.
Concord Patch followed the local races all election day, talking to voters and providing updates. Here are the results and stores from the 2012 election in Concord and Clayton.
The Clayton Police Department is investigating the apparent suicide of a white male in his 40’s who was found dead in Westwood Park at the end of Haviland Place.
Here's how to find your polling place in Concord and Clayton — simply type in the address where you're registered to vote. Ballot information in also included.
Patch poses three questions to Edi — aka Ed — Birsan, candidate for Concord City Council in the 2012 election. Concordians will vote for two council members on Nov. 6.
