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.
Congressional candidate for the 47th District of Long Beach, Los Alamitos and other Orange County cities invites the public to celebrate the President's birthday with refreshments, speakers.
Photos from Long Beach homes for sale are part of AOL Real Estate's 'Best of the Worst' real estate snapshots, called Listing Fails. They're so bad they're funny.
The women's Olympic team, including Long Beach's Lauren Wenger, ends in a tie with Spain but retain the lead in London games.
At a Wednesday morning press conference, Mayor Bob Foster releases his proposed budget. Read it here.
McKayla Maroney, a Long Beach resident and south Orange County native, earned the highest score of any Olympic women gymnasts, as the 'Fab5' U.S. team takes the gold medal.
Long Beach's three amigos make goals in the men's water polo victory over Romania.
State Senator Alan Lowenthal and Long Beach Councilman Gary DeLong, who came in first and second respectively in the June primary, meet up for Rotary Club of Long Beach's monthly meeting.
After two years without a contract, the 23,000 faculty of the state university system and Long Beach-based CSU board, reached a tentative agreement Tuesday.
McKayla Maroney, a Long Beach resident and Laguna Niguel native, earned the highest score of any Olympic women gymnasts, as the 'Fab5' U.S. team takes the gold medal.
The U.S. team, which includes Lauren Wenger, shined. Maggie Steffens scored a record seven goals for the United States to lead the Americans to a 14-13 victory over Hungary in their Olympic opener.
Gold medalist in beach volleyball, Newport Harbor High and Cal State Long Beach grad Misty May-Treanor worked out locally with a former high school classmate to train for her Olympic return.
After weeks of coddling under Mom's wing, her two squeakers ventured out of their flower pot nest perhaps Sunday. Monday they began test flights to and from the gate.
Long Beach Unified has varied schedules but Naples and Shore schools are on classic calendars.
The team beats Montenegro. Southern Californians make up a good part of the American team.
As the Long Beach Police Department rolls out its 2nd motorcycle safety enforcement Saturday, July 28, 2012 funded by a grant, they offer suggestions to motorcyclists.
Another concentrated effort was announced for Saturday in order to reduce fatalities, which have already been dropping since 2009.
She finds the man standing over her, he hurled lewd remarks then fled. Sex crimes detectives are investigating. Police don't see a link to sexual assailant they've hunted since late 2010.
It's time to vote for your pick in our summertime reader poll and the race in greater Belmont Shore and Naples is on!
The city is among several in Southern California awarded funds to collect and recycle abandoned treads.
Priest will be arraigned Wednesday on one count of a lewd act on a child and 8 counts of sexual battery, the court said.
