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.
Boyfriend of the 2-year-old's mother argued insufficient evidence to convict him of assault on a child causing death for beating the boy. Court rejects the appeal finding evidence was "substantial."
On Oct. 21, a crescent moon will set early, leaving a darkened night canvas for the Orionid meteors, 15 an hour average.
Race for the 47th congressional district heats up as California Democratic Party releases YouTube from its tracker, labeled a "stalker" by DeLong, who confronts her while someone calls her 'ugly.'
Scenes from Sunday morning's 26-mile course as runners trot through Belmont Shore.
Hollywood reception and film about a fan of Metallica's drummer are organized by the musical Wackermans of Long Beach-Seal Beach. Tenacious D drummer will give away a Fender guitar.
Hollywood reception and film about a fan of Metallica's drummer are organized by the musical Wackermans of Long Beach-Seal Beach. Tenacious D drummer will give away a Fender guitar.
Belmont Shore and other parts of Long Beach will be blocked to anything but foot traffic for hours as thousands of 'soles' run and walk the annual marathon course that favors the coastline.
Two days in a row, the waters tested with bacteria levels below state standards following a gated community's sewage spill. Long Beach officials to declared the water safe to swim and paddle in.
Candidates for the seat serving Long Beach and O.C. cities met at CSULB for a League of Women Voters Forum. The PT reports DeLong got 'physical' with encroaching female video taping him.
An alleged leak from a Long Beach homeowners association piping system led to the closure of Alamitos Bay beaches and the northern section of Seal Beach's shoreline, officials say.
But the penalty for delayed reporting of sewage spill--rare on private property--is only a misdemeanor with a $500-$1,000 fine, Long Beach health official says. Beaches remain closed.
Head of UC Riverside will take charge of the 23-campus CSU system, it was announced.
Gary DeLong contributed to re-election campaign of California legislator Alan Lowenthal, whom he now portrays as a career politician who contributed to the state's education and financial mess.
"They're trying to buy the election," Lowenthal says of the 47th Congressional District race between he and Councilman Gary DeLong, a Republican endorsed by the Chamber.
