I've been a reporter and editor for more than 17 years, 13 of which I've spent in the Bay Area, where I've written news and feature stories about numerous issues and towns.

Before I came to Patch I was features editor for the Oakland Tribune and online breaking news editor for InsideBayArea.com, where I launched an experimental website about local bands called bandsofthebay.com. I've also worked as a reporter, copy editor and page designer for daily papers in Oregon and Nebraska.

I'm a native of Omaha, Neb., where I come from a long line of newspaper men and women. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Francisco State University, where my claim to fame is writing the lead story in the college paper about the Loma Prieta earthquake, which I incidentally sat through while conducting an interview in our student newsroom.

I live in Pleasanton with my husband, two children, two cats, two dogs, a tortoise and more fish than should really be in one tank. My idea of happiness is to be climbing hills with my greyhound/great dane mix in remote East Bay Regional Park spaces.