I was just 19, and still at Golden West College, when I was hired by the Los Angeles Times Orange County edition for the lowliest job in the newsroom: clerk. Apart from being asked to get a fake ID so I could buy the night copy desk beer and pizza, and to keep wives and girlfriends on different phone lines, I was ecstatic: A college sophomore, actually working at one of the three great newspapers in the country as a teenager. I did my homework in the newsroom on weekends in the event big news broke and they'd need a reporter so bad that they'd send the college newspaper student to pinch hit. And I did.
I cut my teeth on the police beat and still love breaking news, but also grew into a better writer by learning from some of the best in the country. After two decades at a newspaper, and having to commute three hours daily to L.A., I opted to reinvent myself as a more focused mom and wife and learn more about online writing. I also had more time to volunteer, and enjoy the outdoors around me.
I am a native Southern Californian, born in Whittier, where I grew up swimming in pools, building go-karts and playing kick-the-can. One thing I love about Belmont Shore is that I can be outdoors and have so many places to be. I love to swim and do laps at the Belmont Plaza Pool, float on Alamitos Bay or cycle down the bike path to the Long Beach Museum of Art. Movies are something my son and I love to do together, followed by an hour or more reading at a bookstore. I also try to meet a minimum weekly quota of one double-double, no cheese.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
Knowledge is power, and people need to understand how decisions are made in their community and how they can participate.
I believe in government for the people and by the people, and that public officials should do what they promise. I also believe that citizens have to work harder to ensure that they do. This is where Patch journalism will be key.
Religion
I believe in God. When I hear Gospel music in church or in concert, I feel God.
Local Hot-Button Issues
Balancing the rights of residents, visitors and businesses. Public safety. Traffic, particularly along Second Street into the intersection with Pacific Coast Highway. The future of the Los Cerritos Wetlands.
Can you hear the engines yet? Patch is on scene with motorsports reporter Martin Henderson and blogger and race-loving photographer Dave Newell. Feel free to post your photos, too.
Known to thousands of SoCal Boy Scouts as 'Ranger Rick,' the manager of mountain Camp Tahquitz was confronted by the ex-cop fleeing a manhunt. He says his call alerted deputies.
With Grand Prix partiers out en masse, police caution drinkers to have designated drivers, and other law enforcement agencies surrounding Long Beach will be out in force as well.
Patch wants to show the people of Greater Boston, from Watertown to Cambridge, that the rest of the country is pulling for them as they deal with this act of terrorism. Share your comments here
The Showtime hit, which has been filming in several parts of Long Beach in recent days, posts on Facebook a sneak peak Thursday afternoon from the season returning June 30.
Victim testifies he was attacked by estranged spouse, a Long Beach State grad, who drugged him to tie him up but waited until he awoke to slice off his penis, running it through garbage disposal.
Scorned wife is on trial for allegedly severing his penis and throwing it in the garbage disposal.
The popular event, which draws 170,000 for the weekend series of races, will be well-covered for public safety and there have been no threats, Long Beach Mayor and Police Chief say.
Paul Hershey was in a Long Beach 7-Eleven when he saw flames inside a truck. The Redondo Beach man helped get the driver out but 'his skin was peeling off; it was grim.'
Update: the victim, identified Monday as Jerry Payne, 63, was severely burned. Long Beach police have jailed a homeless man for the flammable liquid attack outside a 7-Eleven.
Police arrest a homeless man who allegedly threw flammable liquid into a motorist's SUV outside a Long Beach 7-11 store. TV reported the victim had declined to give the suspect money.
Erin Vidovich touched many readers with her humane, unvarnished yet hopeful posts meant to comfort others. And her care packages for the newly diagnosed will continue via her family.
Erin Vidovich touched many readers with her humane, unvarnished yet hopeful posts meant to comfort others. And her care packages for newly diagnosed will continue via her family.
Long Beach Unified's high school wins coveted distinction.
The District Attorney's Office said Thursday he will be returned from Illinois to face charges in the alleged hate crime outside the Silver Fox bar.
An unwatched pot started the Belmont Heights apartment fire a fire official said was in Belmont Heights, and injured an escaping tenant, while cause of the other remains undetermined.
A 71-year-old man was struck by a Lincoln driven by an 89-year-old man. Police did not cite the driver.
The beloved ice cream maker celebrates its 37th annual free scoop day but its website crashes from the load of traffic. But Patch called the local store to confirm: it is on.
Changes are afoot at the intersection of Quincy and 2nd Street, which meet with Livingston Drive.
Updated: Long Beach police armed with a new video renew their request for help identifying the figure in these videos.