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!
Ksenija Rajcevic, 44, of Palm Harbor said, "I'm loading it now and I'm a very good shot," as she loaded shells into her shotgun, according to an arrest affidavit.
We spotted a dog inside the East Lake Starbucks Tuesday afternoon.
We spotted a dog inside the East Lake Starbucks Tuesday afternoon.
According to arrest affidavits, Stephanov Nadezhda Poplavski, 23, sold the drugs to an undercover deputy over a two-day period.
Hey Palm Harbor! Here are a few things we thought you might like to know about, read about or talk about.
"They looked one minute and she was fine. They looked the next minute and she was at the bottom of the pool," said East Lake Fire Rescue Chief Tom Jamison about the family of a 3-year-old girl who nearly drowned at a community pool.
These Palm Harbor residents were arrested on a variety of charges from July 16-21, 2013.
We compile the odd, unusual and the "oh my gosh" police items from throughout the Tampa Bay region.
The staff at Stratford Court raised $2,363 for Palm Harbor Fire Rescue by hosting a spaghetti dinner.
Here are a few things we thought you might like to know about as the week of July 22 kicks off!
All inmates will be screened using a new SecurPass body scanning system before they are booked into the jail. The system can detect metals, pills, plastics, drugs, and other unusually-shaped items that inmates might conceal.
"It was quite a surprise. I thought one of my other friends was going to win," Stephen Terry, 56, told Palm Harbor Patch Sunday by telephone from Key West.
In case you missed them, here's a look at the top stories on Palm Harbor Patch from July 14 through 20, 2013.
In case you missed them, here's a look at the top stories on East Lake Patch from July 14 through July 20.
The new commissioner will serve the remainder of Flo Galloway's term which ends in November of 2014. Galloway moved to Ohio to be closer to her family.
The parents of 2-year-old amputee Ireland Nugent do not want other families to go through a similar accident involving a lawn mower that leaves a child injured or without a limb.
John Michael Bonanno and Christopher Scott Collins, who are both 25-years-old and Palm Harbor residents, were arrested on June 30 in separate incidents at area bars.
