Right now, Toronto is the place to be! The acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival is running alongside the Toronto Independent Film Festival, where my award-winning short film, “But I Do,” won the top honor!
That could never have happened without the help of over 1,000 talented volunteers. Here are throwback pictures from that fabulous experience. The raven-haired beauty to my right in the first photo is Denise, my childhood friend. We danced together for years in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Nutcracker.” Katie, the striking brunette to my left was a dancer and cheerleader at the University of Washington. #Toronto #Films #FilmFestival #Movies #TIFF #TorontoIndie #Friends #Dance #PacificNorthwestBallet #UniversityOfWashington
In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, I am sharing a story of the lasting impact she had on me. While I was a Vanderbilt student, I studied one summer at the London School of Economics. My class was offered a tour of Buckingham Palace while the royal family was in Balmoral, Scotland—where the queen died Thursday. Originally, our tour was limited to areas the general public could view. Later, we were told that the queen arranged for more rooms to be opened for visiting students so we could learn about British history. Her thoughtfulness made this experience magical!
That day, I was the first to enter Buckingham Palace and the last to leave. I soaked up every moment, and was so mesmerized that I almost missed our bus back to campus! This picture was snapped by a tourist just as I left the back of the palace.
The queen lived a full life to the age of 96, and carried out the responsibilities of her monarchy to the end. Two days before her death, she met with Liz Truss and formally offered her the position of prime minister. I will always appreciate what Queen Elizabeth II did for me in one momentary decision during her 70-year reign. Among everything I learned that day, the extraordinary kindness of a queen to a class of students she had never met taught me the greatest lesson. #QueenElizabeth #QueenElizabethII #RIP #RoyalFamily #Royal #LastingMemories #London #England #Britain #BuckinghamPalace #Monarchy #BritishRoyalty #UnitedKingdom
If you live anywhere near Wyoming, you know it’s time to get your cowboy boots on! I loved covering Cheyenne Frontier Days for CBS when I worked in Wyoming. “The Daddy of ‘em All” kicked off in 1897. It is said to be the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, full of rip-roarin’ fun, professional bronco and bull riders, concerts by iconic artists, USAF Thunderbirds, great food, and Western hospitality.
One of my fondest CFD memories was when Chuck Inman, lead pyrotechnician, invited me to set off the fireworks for the Wild Horse Race. I was so excited that I thought my heart was pounding as loud as the fireworks! CFD is going on now and runs through July 31st. #CheyenneFrontierDays #Wyoming #CFD #Rodeo #WildHorseRace #Fireworks #TVNews #Journalist #Throwback
The pictures on the left are from one of the first news stories I created after moving to Western New York. Airing mere months before the pandemic began, it covered redevelopment plans for a circa 1931 food terminal in East Buffalo. Viewers sent encouraging messages asking for more news about the area and its development plans. That led me to many stories and friendships on the East Side.
After the mass shooting at Tops supermarket, an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal talking about disinvestment in the area. Though the writeup contained valid concerns, residents reached out to me saying that they wished it had acknowledged their hard work in recent years to redevelop East Buffalo. Since I know those projects well, they asked if there was anything I could do about that. These people mean so much to me that I wrote a letter to the WSJ editor and it was published. You can read about the efforts to revitalize this area here. #EastBuffalo #Buffalo #WesternNewYork #NewYorkState #Redevelopment #Plans #Friendship #LetterToTheEditor
What I love most about my dad is how he wholeheartedly embraces fatherhood! Most people don’t know that his life drastically changed when he had kids. He was a world-renowned advertising photographer whose days were filled with adventure after adventure, like laying on the ground shooting up at motocross racers as they jumped over him, and getting the perfect shot from an open door on soaring helicopters while being strapped to the floor for safety! When my brother and I came along, Dad graciously cut the volume of his adrenaline-pumping pursuits to spend time with us doing what we asked him for, like belaying my brother while he learned to rock climb and getting season tickets so he could take me to the ballet. What an amazing dad!! This picture was taken of Dad and me by Mom last Christmas. #HappyFathersDay #Love #Dad #Family
Saturday afternoon, a neighborhood that I know and love was viciously attacked. Ten people were killed and three injured at a Buffalo supermarket on Jefferson Avenue in what authorities are describing as “racially-motived violent extremism.” For me, this horrific event was personal. Since I moved to Buffalo a few years ago as a reporter/anchor for Spectrum News 1, I have been covering East Side Avenues’ revitalization initiatives in the area that includes the scene of this crime. While developing over 30 stories on these civic improvement projects, I have become friends with some of the many outstanding residents and leaders there. My heart is with this community. [AP Photo/Joshua Bessex] #Buffalo #NewYork #MassShooting #Suspect #Arraigned
Happy Mother’s Day! This is a throwback picture of my mom and me at Seattle’s Space Needle. Though I’ve lived in cities around the world, no matter whether I’m sitting right beside her or am many hours away, she has always been there for me. #MothersDay #Love #Gratitude
Novi Paluch, a Good Samaritan of the fashion industry, owns Sasmita Batik, a Buffalo shop featuring her own clothing designs inspired by Indonesia, her native country. Although Paluch’s creations have been showcased at New York Fashion Week, helping people means more to her than career success. She designs her clothes in WNY and flies to Jakarta to have them made. There she hires workers facing challenges like having special needs and being homeless, and teaches them to sew her garments. Paluch explains that these people are grateful for the much-needed income they earn, and she is grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference in their lives. You can see my full story about Paluch on SpectrumLocalNews.com #Fashion #Industry #Buffalo #Jakarta #Philanthropy #Journalist #Reporter
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