With more than 25 years experience in journalism, I’ve written and edited newspapers in California, North Carolina and Virginia. In California, I worked for a weekly paper in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I’m from originally.
In North Carolina, I worked two years (1990-92) at the Sun Journal, a daily paper in New Bern. There, I covered county government, commercial fishing – which is a big industry there – and the Gulf War.
New Bern is near the Marine Corps Air Station in Havelock, so I did lots of stories on the effects the war had on the wives and children left behind while the husbands and dads were fighting in Iraq. As one elementary-school teacher told me, “If one child’s father or mother is killed, the security for the rest of the students is shattered.”
In addition, my photographer and I were lowered by helicopter onto the USS Iwo Jima as it returned to port in Morehead City after deployment. I got to interview the sailors and Marines aboard ship and experience, firsthand, their welcome back by local residents who greeted them in the water in hundreds of small boats to escort them home.
I also interviewed parents of Marines killed in the war, as well as a Marine pilot whose aircraft had been shot down overseas. He spoke about what went through his mind while parachuting into the desert and what happened to him while he was a POW. Luckily, it was toward the end of the war and he was eventually freed to return home.
I also worked three years for the Prince William Journal, covering the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, as well as a slew of criminal cases. And I’ve been with Centre View for almost 19 years, covering Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fair Oaks and Fair Lakes. For the past few years, I’ve also covered Fairfax and some of Lorton and Fairfax Station for the Connection.
Recent Stories
Offering a Variety of Mixed Martial Arts
Kaizen MMA opens new location in Old Town Fairfax.
Martial arts
A Powerful Event that Touches All the Emotions
Women’s Storytelling Festival is March 14-17 in Fairfax City.
Women's stories
2024 Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County
Herndon Friends honor countywide high school juniors and seniors.
Peace
High School Students Learn about Job Possibilities
Career fair at Chantilly High is huge success.
Jobs
Fairfax Man Charged in Fatal Car Crash
Police say he was drunk and driving 110 mph.
Police say he was drunk and driving 110 mph.
Rob Stalzer Retires as Fairfax City Manager
Reflects on his career in public service and gives thanks.
City Manager Retires
Laszlo Palko Hired as Fairfax City Manager
He formerly held that post in Manassas Park.
He formerly held that post in Manassas Park.
Fairfax City’s Proposed FY 25 Budget Unveiled
Recommends a 1-cent, residential real-estate tax hike
Fairfax City Budget
Fulfilling a Long-Ago Promise ‘Unevenly Applied’
Fairfax City’s VMBDA helps minority businesses succeed.
Minority Busin