Kristofer Noceda, Patch Staff

I like to think journalism came to me as a fluke. My family and friends say it was destiny. Whatever the case may be I know this for sure: in my last year of high school I was suffering from "senioritis." I signed up for the campus newspaper because I was looking for an easy class. Instead I found a career.

There was just something about seeing my byline that set off a high and a sense of accomplishment. To this day I still can't explain the feeling.

I earned my journalism degree from San Francisco State University. After graduating I was able to land a reporting job with the Tri-Valley Herald of the Bay Area News Group. I covered education for about a year at the newspaper before I was given an opportunity to report for my hometown publication, The Daily Review in Hayward.

At the Review, I was responsible for covering two cities, several unincorporated communities, a community college and a four-year university. Some of the highlights during my five-year stint at the Review include receiving a John Swett Award for Media Excellence from the California Teachers Association for my coverage of a 10-day teacher strike in Hayward.

In 2010, the California Newspaper Publishers Association also recognized me as a Blue Ribbon Finalist for an insight into blindness feature story.

I recently moved to Livermore and am excited to learn more about my new city and neighbors. If you see me around town please stop by and ask, "What's going on?"

I'll be trying to answer that question here at Livermore Patch daily.

Feel free to contact me anytime. I look forward to working with you all.

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<b>Politics: </b>Democrat

<b>Religion: </b>Catholic

<b>Local Hot-Button Issues: </b>Definitely the state budget and lack of funding the city, schools, park district and other government agencies are receiving is at the top of the list. I&#39;ll be monitoring how these agencies decide to balance their budgets and what programs and staff, if any, are cut. Another issue is the BART extension.