I grew up in the rural green belt of London, England where I fell in love with literature and literary history. During my undergraduate degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury, and namely an exchange year abroad at UCLA, that love for literature transitioned into a passion for journalism and California sunshine. I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue an MA degree in journalism at USC and continue a freelance career in multimedia storytelling. And I have never looked back.
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My experience includes local, national and international reporting for news outlets such as the LA Weekly, Southern California Public Radio and the New Zealand Herald Tribune. My fascination with hyper-local journalism spawned a thesis about the future of the industry (titled, Can Grassroots Journalism Help Underserved Communities?) and, in 2008, led me to help found a hyper-local website covering South Los Angeles. I was managing editor until early 2011, when Patch became my next adventure.
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Now I live in Concord with my husband, reading, writing, exploring the Bay Area and continuing to drink my tea with milk.
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Beliefs:
1. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato.
2. Never discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.
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Politics: I am a registered Democrat with an open mind to all opinions and factual arguments. I believe that the mind should be a thoroughfare for all thoughts and not a select party.
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Religion: Non-denominational Christian, with an almost pantheistic love for the outdoors and a strong appreciation for being still (Psalm 46:10.)
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Local Hot-Button Issues: Social justice issues that affect quality of life or access to opportunities, including education, immigration, health care and social welfare.
Upload a photo to the Newark Patch Neighborhood Gallery and it could be "Pic of the Day"! How would you describe Newark in a single picture — or even a dozen?
With demolition of the CinéArts theater set to go ahead, the city is looking for ways to commemorate the iconic "dome" theater. Share your ideas for a "dome" memorial.
Today's photo shows two men fishing at the waterfront. Isn't this one of the most relaxing ways to spend a day in Martinez?
Upload a photo to the Union City Patch Neighborhood Gallery and it could be "Pic of the Day"! How would you describe Union City in a single picture — or even a dozen?
Selections from the Martinez police reports, April 10 and 11.
Upload a photo to the Fremont Patch Neighborhood Gallery and it could be "Pic of the Day"! How would you describe Fremont in a single picture — or even a dozen?
The yoga studio has relocated from the Clayton Valley Shopping Center to a new space on Concord Avenue.
Do you know where Concord's "Bacon Block" can be found? Leave your guess in the comments.
The CinéArts theater in Pleasant Hill could be demolished in the coming weeks, so Patch will be providing movie showtimes for all who wish to experience the "dome".
Are you a bargain hunter? Find out about Pleasant Hill thrift stores with this useful guide, starting with Salvation Army's Family Store on Linda Drive.
The discount warehouse on Salvio Street lost its lease and shut down at the end of March.
What are the best free or cheap things to do with kids in Martinez? Add your suggestion in the comments and help build a guide for locals and visitors.
The "biker bar" has been given its 30-day notice and is set to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the Crossroads Shopping Center.
The Southern-style BBQ gets cooking in Concord on May 2.
The "biker bar" has been given its 30-day notice and is set to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the Crossroads Shopping Center.
Police arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI and causing injury to a passenger. A Patch reader took a photo of the scene Wednesday evening.
BART police were called to the Pleasant Hill station after a male passenger allegedly became aggressive and was zapped by a female passenger with a stun gun.
Selections from the Martinez police log April 6 through April 9.
Charles Green apparently died while journeying from Liverpool, England, to Martinez on a ship called the "Manydown."
The city of Pleasant Hill has 45 days to respond to the appeal submitted by the "Save the Pleasant Hill Dome" group on April 8, but demolition could still go ahead in the meantime.