jimw@patch.com
415.948.8919
San Francisco, CA
Bio: Born and raised in Philadelphia. Went to journalism school at Syracuse University, where I met the love of my life and learned the craft. Moved to the Bay Area nearly 15 years ago with several high school friends with open-ended plans to start careers and dig deeply into the incredible beauty and culture of the Bay Area. Not leaving. I love where I grew up and am always thrilled to go back, but my roots are here now, and they are deep. I love music, basketball, food, travel, and laughing as often as possible. We had a daughter this year, and I am over the moon.
Professionally, it's been a little bit of everything over the years, from doe-eyed sports reporter to music editor to newspaper and online reporter of many stripes. It's simple, really: whether it's the high school phenom or the 85-year-old who can still throw verbal haymakers with the best of them, I love telling people's stories.
Politics
I'm a registered Democrat who believes in fiscal conservatism unless you're dealt a ridiculously bad hand and have to spend your way out. I believe we're all created equal and should be treated as such. Pragmatic empathy is possible, and government is a much-needed, if often mismanaged, force for good in the world.
Religion
I was raised Roman Catholic in a comically large Irish Catholic family. I've drifted from the church quite a bit since then for a number of reasons, but I still hold dear the people and values that were a part of that upbringing.
Local Hot-Button Issues
After a rough economic stretch for downtown business, Mill Valley is in the midst of a push to stimulate downtown business. That effort must be willing to innovate but also strike a balance between promoting downtown business and retaining the town's inimitable character.
The city must remain vigilant on issues of emergency preparedness, vegetation management and evacuation planning. Despite an improving real estate market, the city should strive for a more affordable housing market.
With its Miller Avenue Streetscape plan and all of its road projects, the city should try to promote alternative forms of transit throughout town.
Short film chronicles Austrian native's journey to Shanghai as a young boy to escape the Nazis, his love for the Dipsea Race and his late bloom as a photographer for the likes of Patch and others.
Patch's North Bay sites just landed a trio of new advertising managers. Here's the 411 on each of them.
The following stories were the talk of the town in the 94941 over the past week.
Investors bring in Aaron Kayce from Mystic Theatre in an effort to broaden music offerings and boost Gordon Drysdale’s management of restaurant and café.
Tiburon resident is seeking his second term on the water board.
Photographer Mark Spencer snapped this fantastic shot with his iPhone. Where was it taken?
Gary Yost used his second stint as a volunteer staffer at the Gardner Fire Lookout on the East Peak of Mount Tamalpais to explore it in documentary style.
With the Middle Peak of Mount Tam in the foreground, Gary Yost snapped this photo just before a brief rainstorm came through Southern Marin last Friday night.
Famed pitcher tosses complete-game victory at age 65 against the Maui Na Koa Ikaika at Albert Park.
The 7-time Tour de France champion decides against entering the arbitration process with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, ending his defense against charges of drug use during cycling victories.
The 7-time Tour de France champion decides against entering the arbitration process with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, ending his defense against charges of drug use during cycling victories.
The 7-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor decides against entering the arbitration process with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, effectively ending his defense against charges he used drugs during his unprecedented cycling dominance.
Short film chronicles Austrian native's journey to Shanghai as a young boy to escape the Nazis, his love for the Dipsea Race and his late bloom as a photographer for the likes of Patch and others.
Ongoing 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign scraps planned Mill Valley checkpoint for Aug. 24 in favor of roving patrols.
Ongoing 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign scraps planned Mill Valley checkpoint for Aug. 24 in favor of roving patrols. A DUI checkpoint is planned for Aug. 31 in San Anselmo.
Mill Valley’s revived music hall and café hosts free performances from Alexis Harte, Emily Rath, Jeff Larson and Andre Thierry, all broadcast live on the radio.
Longtime dry cleaner moves to 87 East Blithedale Ave. when its owners can’t come to a deal on a new lease.
Proposals to tighten restrictions on the size of businesses that would need a public hearing and requirement that all formula businesses do the same take a back seat to heated rhetoric.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said he expects tens of thousands of people to come out for the races, which are projected to bring about $1 billion in economic benefits to the Bay Area.
Andrew Withers is juggling his old job at Penryn Elementary in the Sacramento while his new school is still a construction site.
