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
Fairfax City Adopts FY 23 Budget
Real-estate tax rate reduced 6.5 cents; average tax on Fairfax City home will increase $127.
Fairfax City’s newly adopted FY 23 budget fulfills City Council’s goals and directives.

‘Hilarious Comedy for the Entire Family’
Chantilly High’s children’s show, ‘Space Princess Wars.’
Chantilly High’s children’s show, ‘Space Princess Wars.’
‘How We React in the Moment Is Often Flawed’ in Fairfax
‘True West’ is City of Fairfax Theatre Co.’s new show.
Fairfax Theater
‘The Audience Will Love the Magic of It All’ in Fairfax
Fairfax High presents the musical, ‘Into the Woods.’
High School Theater
‘When the Whole Cast Is Onstage, It’s Just Magical’ in Centreville
Chantilly High presents the musical, ‘Into the Woods.’
Theater
Really Funny with Important Message in Chantilly
Westfield High’s musical, ‘9 to 5,’ takes the stage.
High School Play

Community-Building Skills and Passion for Service
Tara Ruszkowski is The Lamb Center’s new executive director.
Lamb Center
Fairfax History Day: Saturday, April 23
The area’s past comes to life during family-friendly event.
Fairfax Day
Doing Good in Her Name in Centreville
Celeste Peterson honors her child by serving her neighbors.
Celeste Peterson
What Goes into Being an Entrepreneur?
GMU students learn about business while holding farm markets.
Business