Email: Sunde.Farquhar@Patch.com
Phone: 727-249-4457
Hometown: Seattle
Birthday: Yes, I have one!
Bio: Sunde Farquhar is Local Editor for Palm Harbor Patch. Prior to joining Patch, she spent 16 years working as a journalist at TV stations in Tampa, Seattle, and Knoxville, TN. Some of the positions she's held include Managing Editor at Bay News 9 in Tampa, Assignment Manager at Northwest Cable News in Seattle, Assignment Editor at Northwest Cable News in Seattle, Newscast Producer at ABC Action News (WFTS-TV) in Tampa and WATE-TV in Knoxville, TN, and Independent Newspaper Publisher in Knoxville, TN.
Sunde graduated from Seattle University with a bachelor's degree in Communications -Journalism.
Sunde is very knowledgable about the issues impacting people who live in Tampa Bay, especially in Pinellas County, which is where Sunde and her journalist husband live with their Chow Chow named Daisy.
In their spare time, Sunde and her husband enjoy camping, hiking, traveling and hanging out with family, friends and their dog.
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 and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
I was raised by a single mother who was a liberal Democrat and very strong in her political beliefs. Having been raised in a Democratic family, I always considered myself a Democrat, but, as I became older my political beliefs changed and I am now a registered Republican. I consider myself to have moderate political beliefs leaning toward the conservative side. However, I do not always vote along party lines.
Religion
How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?
Casual. I have a deep respect and pride for our country which allows people to have the freedom of the religion of their choice.
Local Hot Button Issues
What do you think are the two or three most important issues facing the community?
Schools
Local Economy
Property Values
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
Schools- I believe that a good education is the foundation to a good life, and making sure kids get a solid education should be a top priority. I think it is everyone's responsibility to make that happen, from parents, to students, to teachers, and community leaders. Maybe it's time to think outside the box, when it comes to solving issues involving funding, quality of education and teacher salaries.
Local Economy- I see a lot of empty storefronts which is disturbing because local businesses are a vital part of every community. More should be done to support small businesses, which in turn will make for a stronger economy in local communities.
Property Values- Yowsa! What a mess!
Jezreel Lamont Sanders, 20, was ejected from his car and died at the scene of the crash, which involved two other vehicles, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Someone called the Walmart at 2:05 p.m. Sunday and said a bomb was inside, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesperson.
Jerome Leake, 22, of Port Richey was hospitalized in critical condition early Saturday afternoon. Deputies say he was shot in the head by Mathew Santos, 21, of New Port Richey.
Deputies responded to 5145 Tilson Drive in Holiday around 12:22 p.m. in response to a reported shooting.
Pasco County Sheriff's Deputies and Pasco Fire Rescue responded to a report of a Cessna 172 having problems with its landing gear around 10:25 a.m.
Pasco County Sheriff's Deputies and Pasco Fire Rescue responded to a report of a Cessna 172 having problems with its landing gear around 10:25 a.m.
Pasco County Sheriff's Deputies and Pasco Fire Rescue responded to a report of a Cessna 172 having problems with its landing gear around 10:25 a.m.
J.C. Craver's owners announced the restaurant's closure on its facebook page.
The Suncoast Animal League needs volunteers to provide short-term, in-home foster care for friendly dogs, puppies, cats and kittens until they are available for adoption.
Details about the departure of longtime board member Flo Galloway have not been released. She is the widow of Jim Galloway, who served as a fire commissioner from 1998 until his death from lung cancer in 2005.
In case you missed them, here's a look at the top stories on East Lake Patch from June 2-8, 2013.
Neighbor Delaney Jardine told her fellow members of the Palm Harbor University High Hero Club that Ireland lost both lower legs after a lawn mower accident at her home, so the club decided to try to help the family.
In case you missed them, here's a look at the top stories on Palm Harbor Patch from June 2-7, 2013.
Nicole Lauren is in third grade and first performed stand-up comedy at the age of 5.
The Palm Harbor-based Italian Angels Motorcycle Brotherhood recently sold sandwiches to raise money for 2-year-old amputee Ireland Nugent.
Nicole Lauren is in third grade and first performed stand-up comedy at the age of 5.
Everyone must have been hunkering down in Ozona Thursday morning. Palm Harbor's waterfront community of Ozona was especially quiet when Tropical Storm Andrea moved through.
Three girls opted for swimsuits instead of golashes and went swimming when Tropical Storm Andrea was moving through Palm Harbor Thursday morning.
Rain water from Tropical Storm Andrea pooled in some parts of the road. Some drivers saw the puddles and drove around them, while others did not notice the pooled water until it was too late and drove right through it.
Late Thursday morning, the staff at the Humane Society of Pinellas heard a big bang and discovered Tropical Storm Andrea had caused the roof in one of the facility's buildings to collapse. More than 20 dogs were inside. None were hurt.
