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.
Through Tuesday morning, an over-sized load of equipment aboard a truck bound for East Long Beach may clog intersections from the harbor to Haynes Power Plant.
Electrical problems are causing snafus for riders urged to consider alternative travel.
This week's Belmont Shore-Naples Patch poll opens up the conversation about our on-field and off-field local heroes. Who are yours?
It's your price at the pump heading into the week of March 26; use our handy Patch tool to find your lowest gas prices in the neighborhood.
Electricity was out for 11,338 customers across 11 cities as of 4:30 p.m. Southern California Edison reported, and more than 6,000 as of 7:30 p.m.
For Anti-Bullying Week, 10-year-old Reagan McKenzie wrote new lyrics to The Cure's LoveSong and pleads for you, the viewer, to do something specific.
Good Samaritan who tried stopping driver gets run down and dragged to death, police say. His family shared this photo of Yon Chreng.
An open house will celebrate the return of daily use at the popular indoor Belmont Shore pool.
Police release more details about the motel murder on Seventh Street.
After David Barton resigned for health reasons, Long Beach Unified's leadership opted to save money and appointed a longtime PTA leader to replace him.
A traffic detail will be conducted this weekend in East Long Beach.
The Long Beach Armstrong Gardening Center and other locations will give one pack per family to celebrate the new season.
Almost all of 'Ben & Julie's Halloween Party' was filmed at a house on Glendora by a cast and crew of locals. The Art Theatre hosts Saturday premier that will benefit the homeless.
Ask for "military promotion" when calling in for general admission tickets at substantially cut prices.
Search for internal and external candidates is underway for his replacement, City of Long Beach reports Wednesday.
The 7.8 temblor near Acapulco poses no tidal-wave danger to the Pacific Coast, authorities say.
Now detectives are seeking public's help to find who killed him.
The special leaders hold a special place in our hearts. Tell us, who are they in your life? Be part of our Reader's Choice Awards 2012.
Protest was held on behalf of a Long Beach State worker who tried for a year to get a mortgage loan modification and was allegedly denied a day before her house was sold. Wells Fargo got it half price.
Nearly a football field wide, the Switzerland-based container ship is in town until Monday.
