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.
The population off the coast of Long Beach is being studied to identify and follow specific whales because it boasts the 'strongest population in the world,' in the area, estimated at 2,000.
The retired deputy city attorney and Belmont Heights resident who handled Tidelands issues is free now to voice personal views based on inside info, but city and Coastal Commish OK'd.
Long Beach police say the shootings of a man and woman are non-fatal and the victims are no longer hospitalized.
The Good Samaritan was struck as he tried to assist a truck driver on the freeway.
The victim, 29, was gunned down near Anaheim and Atlantic Avenue.
Hundreds bring their dogs, sheep, some birds, even a llama to the Granada boat launch.
Why was county courthouse OK'd without prisoner tunnel DeLong, Garcia, O'Donnell, Andrews now want city to pay for, at least in part? asks Councilwoman Schipske on LBReport.com.
More than 6,500 tickets remain for Sunday game as fans bemoan this happening in recent years.
They're off the table in contract talks between the Long Beach school district and teachers.
Closure of Burroughs, lay-offs that raised the city's unemployment rate a full percent by cutting the city's largest employer, are featured on national CBS Evening News special report.
Heal the Bay previously rated the city's water healthfulness poorly, scores Long Beach an A.
The cases still under review by the District Attorney involve officers that fatally shot unarmed men without announcing themselves.
Other 2011-2012 board members were chosen Tuesday.
A 66-year-old man was killed when he was thrown from his motorcycle into traffic on the 605 Freeway.
Kat Von D tells the world on Facebook that she and Jesse James reunited last month but it's off now.
A sophomore snapped these photos during the evacuation of her fellow 4,300 students to the Wilson High football field following a phoned in bomb threat.
After its $25,000 purchase by graduate-turned-major leaguer Aaron Hicks, and community fundraising, state requirements triple its installation cost on the eve of the baseball season.
A third male was involved and police were investigating who shot at the group near 10th and Grand, prompting a brief school lock-down.
The vehicle is believed connected with the shooting death of Franklin Robles of Lake Elsinore.
Two Fullerton police officers have been charged in the controversial case of the schizophrenic Kelly Thomas killing, one with second-degree murder, one second with involuntary manslaughter.
