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
‘To Cripple an Airport, Allow Homes to Encroach’ near Dulles
Debate over residential use under airport flight paths rages on.
Poised to approve the construction of 853 new homes directly underneath Dulles International Airport flight paths, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors finally considered the updated, aircraft-noise contours data for that area.
‘Don’t Replace Natural Resources with Townhouses’ in Fairfax City
City residents weigh in on Northfax West project.
Before Fairfax City Council last week approved the new plan for Northfax West, nearly two dozen residents called in with comments during the online public hearing.
‘It’s a Place Where We Can Support Growth’ in Fairfax City
Fairfax approves plan to revitalize Northfax West area.
It’s been years in the making, and last week, the Fairfax City Council greenlit a sweeping proposal to revamp and revitalize the City’s Northfax West area.
Malicious Wounding Charged after Stabbing at Chantilly Church
Fairfax County police have charged a local man with three felonies following the stabbing of an associate pastor, Saturday afternoon, at Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly.
‘An Unmitigated Disaster which Is Entirely Avoidable’ in Chantilly
Plan to build homes under flight path sparks outcry.
Yet another controversial residential project is being proposed for Chantilly’s Westfields area.
Rotary Club Honors Fairfax City Educators
Weaver, Borhauer named Teachers of the Year.
This year, the Rotary Club of Fairfax is honoring two Teachers of the Year from City of Fairfax schools.
Fairfax High Seniors Awarded Rotary Scholarships
Six Fairfax High graduating seniors recently received college scholarships from the Rotary Club of Fairfax.
Fairfax House Fire Causes $90,000 Damage
Fire officials say an early morning fire last Saturday displaced six people and caused approximately $90,000 damage to a Fairfax home.
Monetary Donations Needed for Fairfax County Students’ School Supplies
More than 30 percent of all children in Fairfax County Public Schools are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Rubinstein Honored as Sully District Officer of the Quarter
It’s pretty special for a police officer to be selected as his station’s Officer of the Quarter.