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.
Pipelines from Long Beach Harbor oil and gas operations are buried below the sea floor and even a dragging container ship anchor would not pierce, Coast Guard says.
The 700 gallons has thus far been contained with booms as crews work to clean it up.
The list of entertainment and sports stars taking the wheel is of interest to businesses from downtown to Belmont Shore that benefit from the yearly three-day race crowd.
The California Geological Survey puts its earthquake zone maps online.
U.S. Coast Guard dive inspection Saturday found only paint hull damage to the Panamanian ship, which ran aground on Freeman Island in stormy winds Friday night.
Police suspect similar crimes happened elsewhere, too.
U.S. Coast Guard dive inspection Saturday found only paint hull damage to the Panamanian ship, which ran aground on Freeman Island in stormy winds Friday night.
U.S. Coast Guard reports storm winds pushed the 624-foot container ship onto artificial oil island Freeman, but the ship was empty of cargo and no leaks have been found.
Rancho Palos Verdes man also is charged for a similar incident the same day in Redondo Beach, police say.
Moderate Republican served Democrat-heavy 38th District for a decade. He passed away Thursday from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. Public memorial planned.
The commissioners last month continued to today a recommended vote for $55,000 in engineering studies for the suggested advertising signs.
Second LBUSD meeting in two weeks brings a $51.4M reduction in spending. Also facing staff cuts are counselors, nurses, librarians and others, while middle school sports programs are suspended.
Tonight's vote expected to bring to 700 the number of teachers who will receive layoff notices by mid-March. Another $6M may be shifted to protect programs such as GATE and Pace.
To avoid endangering anyone on the road today, the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. urges party hosts and drinkers to find designated drivers.
The Long Beach Board of Education heard their emotional pleas to not close Burroughs and Buffum K-5 after 60 years. Vote may come next month.
Police also will look for invalid licenses.
Prices rise about 2 cents a gallon locally, as the crisis in Egypt adds the element of uncertainty to an increasing demand for oil.
Update: A gang detective had stable vital signs this morning and was expected to survive a shooting at MacArthur Park, where another officer returned fire. Dragnet continues for two suspects.
