I was raised in a northern suburb of Chicago, and now find it bittersweet that I help cover the towns and counties in and around the one I grew up in. I miss the area so very much, every day. In 2013, I moved to the Indianapolis area after graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington in May 2013. I grew up watching mainstream media play a major role in my father's nearly 20-year career as a sports medicine professional in the NFL. I knew before heading off to IU I was going to study journalism and communication.
I had two incredible internship opportunities I took full advantage of before my senior year- Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee/Communications team member (Dec. 2011 to Feb. 2012), and WBBM CBS Chicago newsroom intern (June to Aug. 2012). I learned and experienced more than I thought I would before graduation, and knew my passion for building a relationship with others and hearing their stories was something I had to continue to feed. Flash forward to graduation, I wasn't going to put my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism to waste, as I accepted and started an Associate Producer job at WRTV Indianapolis in June 2013. But I wanted much more than that- I wanted to be the person choosing and reporting content. That's when I applied for a digital reporter role at Gannett's The Star Press in Muncie, Ind. As the company's Trends and Social Scene Reporter, I brought daily events, trends, and feel-good stories to Muncie and Delaware County community members. The creative freedom and fun I felt each day was immeasurable. But with the responsibility of a newspaper in addition to a website comes challenges, as this world is going digital. I had to look elsewhere, and told myself the next and only step for me in news (and my journalism interests) was everything digital- web, apps, social media sites, and daily email alerts. That's where the news is, every minute of every day. Here I am at Patch!
I've already made my husband (Anthony), family, and friends download the app and subscribe to my newsletter. I have to make sure they stay in the loop 24/7. Anthony and I were married on Dec. 16, 2017 and we moved into our home in a north suburb of Indianapolis during June 2017. Fun fact; my husband, myself and our puppy all have December birthdays, so December and the Christmas season are our absolute favorite time of the year and the reason why we chose a December wedding date (which is also my husband's birthday).
I couldn't be more excited or fortunate to be living in one of my Patch cities, (Fishers), but during the three years prior, I had an Indianapolis zip code. I've worked in downtown Indy, and spend multiple days or evenings a week in Carmel.
Whether working, always decorating and cleaning the house, taking care of our Siberian Husky puppy "Bane," going to weddings (we're at that age where so many friends and young family members are getting married), hanging out with family and friends, baking, taking Orangetheory Fitness classes, watching or attending football or basketball games, or taking in as many new restaurants as I can, I'm always on the go. I enjoy trying (and hearing) new things and points of views.
These cities, people, and places north of Indianapolis have my full attention and heart for years to come, and I enjoy hearing why others may feel the same.
Passero is now open in a larger space in Arlington Heights, offering hand-rolled pizzas, pastas, a sprawling bar and nightly specials.
The frightened pup, Opie, was playing outside in Batavia when something caught his attention and his head got stuck, his owner told Patch.
Operation North Pole takes place Dec. 14 for kids battling serious illnesses and their families.
Geneva City Council members also approved a limit of medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits to no more than one.
The man was caught burglarizing his neighbor's home by an indoor security camera that had been previously installed by the homeowner.
Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera and discovered fire had spread from outside the Buffalo Grove home into the kitchen walls.
Andrew Q. Kaywon-Thomas faces unlawful possession charges after authorities seized 60 grams of heroin from a home in Zion.
The two can be seen on video escaping to safety as the Chicago Park District truck slid into Lake Michigan, reports said.
Batavia police said law enforcement agencies responded to Suncast Corporation Wednesday after a former worker threatened to shoot security.
During the last week of November, 3.1 percent of hospital emergency room visits were for flu-like illness, a report said.
Participants must provide an essay explaining why they deserve a new smile and submit it via Orthodontic Experts website.
The Tuesday incident impacted Metra's Union Pacific Northwest routes and traffic, the Arlington Heights Police Department said.
The Village asks residents to please have yard waste to the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your regular collection day during the week of Dec. 9.
Geneva Police Department officers responded to recent crimes reported across the city.
Here's when and where the National Blue Blood Drive in honor of Deputy Jacob Keltner will take place.
According to the Lake County Sheriff's office, the ATV hit an embankment Sunday afternoon and rolled over, ejecting the driver.
Police are looking for any information on the man and woman involved in Saturday's hit and run in Zion.
The wreaths will be on each of Palatine's fire stations from through Jan. 1.
Former firefighter John Schultz and former Alderman Robert Langeness both died Sunday, Dec. 1, according to the City of Geneva.
A Crystal Lake man has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for delivering the heroin and fentanyl that killed a 32-year-old woman.
