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
Community Fun, Festivities under the Autumn Sun
Centreville Day was Saturday, Oct. 19
Centreville Day was Saturday, Oct. 19
Bicyclist, 89, Killed in Collision with Car
Bicyclist, 89, Killed in Collision with Car
‘People Pay Attention when Projects Affect their Neighborhoods’
Fairfax City’s Susan Kuiler wants to become mayor.
Fairfax City’s Susan Kuiler wants to become mayor.
Fairfax Man, 20, Dies after Motorcycle Crash
Fairfax Man, 20, Dies after Motorcycle Crash
‘We Need to Dramatically Increase Our Commercial Tax Base’
Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read makes her case for reelection.
Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read makes her case for reelection.
Mixed-Use Apartment Building OKed in Northfax
Fairfax City Council approves WillowWood Phase I plan.
Apartments galore
Music, Children’s Activities, Parade, Pets and Awards
32nd annual Centreville Day is Saturday, Oct. 19.
Come one, come all – the 32nd annual Centreville Day is Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park. The free event is at 5714 Mount Gilead Road (off Braddock Road, across Route 29 from the IHOP) and offers fun activities for the entire family.
Fairfax Fall Festival: Food, Crafts, Music
48th annual celebration is Saturday, Oct. 12.
Fairfax Fall Festival: Food, Crafts, Music
Fairfax City Candidates Address Residents
Two are running for Mayor and 11 for City Council.
election
