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
Fundraiser for Earp’s Ordinary this Weekend
Fairfax City comes together to support new music venue.
More than 20 musicians will perform Friday night, 5 p.m. start; Saturday, noon and 5 p.m. starts; and Sunday, noon start.
Former Centreville High Teacher Writes Children’s Book
Partial proceeds will aid Maui wildfire relief.
Falling snow can be a magical thing – beautiful, exciting and ethereal – especially to a child. But for 5-year-old Kiki, who lives in Hawaii, it’s only a dream.
Joyful Ribbon Cutting on a Cold, Brisk Day
Route 28 widening in Centreville is nearly done.
Area motorists may now rejoice because the road has been widened from four to six lanes between the bridge over Bull Run (south of Compton Road), at the Prince William County line, and the Route 29 Interchange in Centreville.
Residents, Scouts Fill WFCM’S Food Pantry
On Saturday, Nov. 4, Boy Scouts in the Sully District collected 50,416 pounds of food for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ food pantry in Chantilly.
Smith Reelected as Sully Supervisor
In last week’s election for Sully District supervisor, Democratic incumbent Kathy Smith beat Republican challenger Keith Elliott.
Fairfax High Presents ‘Romeo and Juliet’
A fresh, new take on a classic love story.
Featuring a cast and crew of nearly 60, Fairfax High is presenting “Romeo and Juliet.” But this version is set in a different time period than the original and has a surprising amount of humor.
Small-Business Incubator Coming to Fairfax City
Wander In will guide, support and help artisans thrive.
A new, retail incubator store is coming to Old Town Fairfax City. Called Wander In, it’ll be in Fairfax Plaza between Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics and The Wine House, at 3950 University Drive, Suite 211.
Fairfax City Examines Its Housing Supply and Types
Smaller, more accessible and affordable homes are needed.
“A lot of new units are approaching and sometimes surpassing the million-dollar price tag.” — Aaron Finley, TPMA
Passion to Help People in Need
Sen. Mark Warner visits WFCM’s food pantry in Chantilly.
Nonprofit Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) serves 4,500 residents in nine western Fairfax County ZIP codes. With the community’s support, in FY 22 it provided nearly 1 million pounds of food, equal to more than 458,745 meals.
‘You Deserve Success’
Class of 2023 graduates from Mountain View High.
Class of 2023 graduates from Mountain View High.