My love of journalism dates back to when I wrote for the Paint Branch High School newspaper, Mainstream, covering sports. I thought it was perfect, since I played on the school’s field hockey team, attended every football game and loved the Redskins. In retrospect, I knew little about covering sports and more about cheering on the sidelines. After graduating high school in 1975, I went to the University of Maryland to pursue a degree in journalism. I held internships with the Montgomery Journal and the Prince George’s Post, and wrote features and news stories for the school’s paper, The Diamondback. I graduated in 1979. For the next few years, I worked as a technical editor for Vitro Laboratories, editing manuscripts for military specifications and standards. I then took some time off to raise a family – three boys – before reentering the world of journalism in 1986. For the next 11 years, I worked at the Glade Times & Mountain Mirror newspaper in my hometown of Walkersville. Under the guidance of Tom and Margaret Mills, former editors at the Frederick News-Post, I wrote articles on just about every issue that can impact a small town. In 1996, after some encouragement from my husband, I applied for the Walkersville/Thurmont beat when I learned The Gazette was opening an office in Frederick County. I got the job and have worked here ever since. In 1999, I was promoted to the county government beat. Over the next 15 years, I covered four boards of county commissioners, nonprofit agencies, state and county officials, and health and human services. I have written hundreds of stories on issues ranging from immigration to the Great Frederick Fair. At The Gazette, I have been fortunate to win a second and first place award from the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association. Now in my 16th year with the paper, my beat has been redefined to include growth, development, transportation, Walkersville and business.