Maggie Avants, Patch Staff

Hometowns: Where to start? I am originally from Indiana, but my family moved to Arizona when I was very young. I grew up in Prescott, Ariz., and moved to San Diego in my adult life. After living in San Diego for eight years, my family and I made Murrieta our home. I also (sorta) call North Hollywood my home, as that is where I visited my late grandmother for most holidays since moving to Southern California.

Birthday: April 23

I started writing in 1998 when I took my first journalism class. In 2008—many years and employers later—I went back to school, completing a degree in journalism at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif. Before that, I wrote monthly columns in the Murrieta Bugle, including movie reviews, community news and opinion pieces.

During my studies at Palomar, I held various editorial positions for the student-run newspaper, The Telescope. First, as the assistant news editor, then as the opinion editor and finally as the online editor and copy editor.

I covered everything from the campus police blotter to in-depth stories about the college's struggle to keep accreditation. In 2010, I was named Distinguished Journalist of the Year for Palomar's journalism program. And at a state journalism convention, I took second place in a copy editing contest.

In 2009, I landed a freelance position as the education editor for Southwest Riverside News Network, based in Temecula. For more than a year, I covered education news in southwest Riverside County for four school districts: Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and Menifee. My stories focused on the tough budget calls districts had to make, as well as on the many great programs our schools offer.

In 2010, I applied and was hired to serve as local editor for Murrieta Patch. In summer 2012, I also began serving as the co-editor or Temecula Patch.

I have lived in Murrieta with my husband, two daughters, two dogs and one cat since 2004. In my spare time, I enjoying reading and getting out into nature. On Sundays, I volunteer in the nursery of a local church.