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.
The Monument Community First 5 Center offers parenting workshops and school readiness classes — all for free. The center serves families with children up to 5 years old.
The planning process has begun for the 500-acre area encompassing the BART station. The aim is to create a "transit-oriented" neighborhood by bringing more housing, retail and jobs downtown.
Check out the beers on tap in town at EJ Phair, Tower Grille and Vinnie's, including a new German lager from San Ramon's Schubros Brewery. Only 100 kegs were filled in the production run.
Grapes are this week's featured product from the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association. Here are a few inventive recipes for the surprisingly versatile fruit. Share your own too!
Mitt Romney's claim that half of all Americans are dependent on government and will never "take personal responsibility" for their lives has left this editor very confused.
Mitt Romney's claim that half of all Americans are dependent on government and will never "take personal responsibility" for their lives has left this editor very confused.
Mitt Romney's claim that 47 percent of all Americans are dependent on government and will never "take personal responsibility" for their lives has left this editor very confused.
An increasing number of families in Concord are experiencing poverty, relying on food stamps and food banks to fill empty stomachs. Is it time to start feeding the neighbors?
There are plenty of things to do in Central Contra Costa County this weekend, Sept. 21 to 23. How are you unwinding, adventuring and exploring this weekend?
The number of Concord residents living in poverty increased by 5.8 percent between 2010 and 2011, according to stats released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
City of Concord employees belonging to the Teamsters Local 856 union plan to show up at work Friday despite a mandatory furlough day.
A male cyclist suffered non-life threatening injuries when he was hit by a car around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday night. How can Concord improve bicycle safety? Share your thoughts.
Blaming the tough economy, Toscana has shut its doors for good. Ravioli's Italian Marketplace will be relocating from Clayton Road to the space in Todos Santos Plaza.
Concord landscaper Jason Michael Kearny, 40, was shot by police on Blackfield Drive Monday. He was armed and refused to respond to orders from officers, police say.
An experienced skydiver died at Byron Airport in Contra Costa County this past weekend when he attempted to "swoop" and hit the ground. Skydiving experts say accidents are rare.
Concord resident Jason Michael Kearny, 40, was shot by police on Blackfield Drive Monday. He was armed and refused to respond to orders from officers, police say.
The Concord Library is clearing out its summer stock. Browse the shelves in the lobby for books from 25 cents to $1, or attend the fall book sale Sept. 28-30 for an even better bargain.
Check out the beers on tap in town at EJ Phair, Tower Grille and Vinnie's, plus happy hours and a special Bear Republic Pint Night.
Figs are this week's featured product from the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association. Here's where to find 'em and how to cook 'em. How do you eat yours?
Police shot a reportedly suicidal man in the neighborhood of Meadow Lane and Blackfield Drive around 9 a.m. Monday.
