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.
Norman Turley will introduce Dogz Bar & Grill at the Belmont Shore Residents Assn. meeting and describe plans for the its site at Second and Glendora.
The economy won't grow "by neglecting our schoolchildren," Steinhauser says. The governor's plan could be a job preserver in the state's third largest district.
Gusts of 40 mph reported early Tuesday in Long Beach and are expected to continue until 3 a.m. in other oceanfront areas as well.
Gallons of gas in the area are going for about 20 cents more than last week.
A bargain-priced gallon in the Seal Beach and Los Alamitos area goes for as much as 40 cents more than last week.
Long Beach Councilwoman Gerry Schipske and the OCTA will brief residents on how a $277 million freeway project will affect East Long Beach.
A bargain-priced gallon in the Belmont Shore-Naples area goes for about 20 cents more than last week.
Roughly 1,000 of those notices are going to teachers—a staggering 25% of the workforce of Long Beach's largest employer and California's third-largest school district. Not all of those jobs will be cut.
Every week, we select a special youth to spotlight for a recent achievement or talent. Do you know a good candidate from Belmont Shore? Nominate them in our Comments.
Whoever's first with the correct predictions will get a $30 gift card to the Art Theatre. The broadcast begins at 5 p.m.
The popular league's season begins with hundreds of kids from Long Beach, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach competing in fierce, non-tackle football.
Know where to save money at the pump.
Turmoil in the Mideast has helped to drive prices to their highest point in years.
Clint Jun Gamboa, a karaoke director at what he calls a "dive bar," makes it into the top two dozen with "Georgia on My Mind," a group song and... Drama.
As prices reach 2008 levels, the hikes at even our local low-cost stations are higher than average in the Long Beach-L.A. area.
The 605/405 and 405/22 freeway connectors will require motorists to detour around them as part of construction on West County Connectors project.
Friends of LB Animals brings to $2,000 the reward started in the Shore for information in the attack that left a young feline so severely "smoldering"it had to be euthanized.
The hilarious episode, "Angry Father: the Movie," lists our famed freeway interchange.
The 700 gallons has thus far been contained with booms as crews work to clean it up.
In coming days, our new Mom Team will field a Q&A for parents needing advice, tips, resources or just a chat with others who've been there, done that.
