Published Writing

Over the years, I have written for multiple publications such as NSM Today, the Sanford Herald and Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine. I was the first climate beat reporter for NSM Today covering everything from weather to environmental awareness. Most recently, I interned as a writer for Oviedo Community News and WKMG News 6.

Working for local publications has given me the opportunity to broaden my writing skills. I have written hard news and feature stories about crime, people, events, environment, community, STEM, art, lifestyle, politics, government and more.

Voter Guide 2024: General Election

From amendments to election events and from tracking a mail-in vote to candidate profiles and Q&As: find everything you need to get ready for Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in Oviedo Community News’ guide.

OCN is a nonprofit and does not endorse candidates or provide opinions. Find our ethics policy here. 

This guide would not be possible without the vital work of OCN editorial interns Juergen Boehmer, Jenna Greaves and Aanya Shah; reporters Abe Aboraya, Kathryn Brudzinski, Makayla Gray a...

What defines a mass shooting? How the complex question shapes gun violence data

Once again, America is divided.
In a country with a growing number of mass shootings, gun violence is a topic that has frequently entered conversations.

Just this year, Florida has accounted for 27 shootings out of 446 in the U.S., according to Gun Violence Archive.

Digging deeper into the divide of gun control, Americans can’t even settle on what really defines a mass shooting.

With multiple definitions of the term, different criteria is required to consider a shooting mass.

So let’s break it down. What defines a mass shooting?

Oviedo Mall progresses through repairs and plans future updates

Oviedo Mall’s long list of maintenance projects are on their way to completion, slowly but surely, as mall management works to revitalize the massive shopping complex.

A quarter century after its construction in 1998, the mall has for years been dealing with a leaky roof, particularly its glass ceilings. The skylight-filled roof was designed to help sustain the vegetation that lined the walls of the mall. It gradually became a leaky mess, and buckets overflowing with rainwater became a regula...

Find Orange County election results for Nov. 5, 2024

Here’s where to find election results for races on the ballot in Orange County. Live results will start to become available in Central Florida after the polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Here are the races and amendments on the ballot if you are voting in Orange County. Request a sample ballot HERE.

NOTE: Everything listed here will be on ballots in Orange County, but U.S. House, Florida House and Senate and local races may be different depending on where you live....

Ambulance falls through washed-out road in Oviedo after drunken driver hits hydrant, officials say

After hitting three cars, a drunken driver crashed into a fire hydrant and caused a washout Thursday night on Oviedo Boulevard, just north of Mitchell Hammock Road, according to officials.

Oviedo police and firefighters responded to the crash around 10 p.m. and arrested the driver — 32-year-old Robert Garcia — at the scene, records show.

When police arrived, an officer said he could smell alcohol on Garcia’s breath. Garcia was transported to the Seminole County Jail to...

From selfies to stardom: Orlando resident wins national selfie contest

A picture is worth a thousand words. For 70-year-old Orlando resident Doreen Ratigan, a simple selfie represents “the joy of life.”

Ratigan was recently named the winner of The New 65+’s National Selfie Photography Contest, presented by Humana and Growing Bolder.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

Professional portrait photographer and Central Florida Resident Mike Dunn chose Ratigan’s photo for its ability to capture her fun personalit...

Falling back in time: The mental health effects of daylight saving time

It’s that time of year again. When the clock strikes 2 a.m., it actually strikes 1 a.m.
After clocks were set forward an hour on Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m. to begin daylight saving time, they are now turning back an hour on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.
While the switching of the clock may earn you an extra hour of sleep, Harvard Medical School and John Hopkins studies have found that daylight saving time c...

2 rescued from Ocala house fire under investigation for arson

Ocala firefighters rescued two people from a house fire on Thursday. As the investigation unfolds, authorities suspect arson may be to blame.

Crews responded to the fire at the 1100 block of NW 9th Ave. while initially dispatched for an unrelated call around 11:10 p.m., according to a news release.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

When crews arrived at the scene, they reported seeing heavy smoke and flames coming from the front...

Sunshine state spooks: Halloween costumes with a Central Florida twist

Every October, the same dilemma rolls around. Scary or funny? Character or animal? Trendy or unique? How will you make this year yours with the perfect Halloween costume?

While the haunted houses and the flickering jack-o’-lanterns might give you a fright, the real scare is not being able to find a costume in time for the 31st.

Don’t fret! News 6 has you covered.

Ditch the basic costumes and represent your home state with these Central Florida-themed Halloween costumes.

Bodycam video shows man with knife fatally shot while running at Orange County deputies

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage on Thursday of a man who was fatally shot while running at deputies with a knife on Sept. 21.

At about 4:30 a.m. that day, 42-year-old Richard Green’s girlfriend called 911 to report her boyfriend had a knife and was going to kill himself, Sheriff John Mina said in a social media video. Deputies responded to the call at the InTown Suites at 1951 Central Florida Pkwy.

The initial 911 call states that Green had...

A century of connections: Geneva’s Rural Heritage Center celebrates its 100th year

A $10 donation and a group of seven determined people helped keep the building people call ‘Geneva’s heart’ beating until its 100th birthday. What started as one of the first school buildings in Seminole County, The Rural Heritage Center has become a community hub, hosting everything from weddings and yoga classes to plays and birthday parties.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the schoolhouse, which at the time housed a library and three classrooms that served 80 students in 12 gra...

Florida Amendment 6 on campaign money explained

Article VI, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution is on the line for the Nov. 5 election. To repeal or not to repeal?

The section was adopted in 1998, establishing a spending limit for candidates using public funds for their campaign. It also states that it is the responsibility of the state Legislature to provide funding for statewide elections.

The eligible offices include governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and commissioner of agriculture granted the candidat...

Everything to know about Florida Amendment 2 on fishing and hunting

The right to fish and hunt has been a question across states since 1777, when Vermont first constitutionalized the right.

Florida’s Amendment 2 would enshrine the public’s right to fish and hunt as a way to control fish and wildlife.

Beyond Florida, 24 ballot measures have written constitutional provisions surrounding the right to fish and hunt as of January 2023, according to ballotpedia.org. Twenty-three states, including Arkansas and Tennessee, approved the amendment while A...

Central Florida family restaurant closes after nearly 50 years

A nearly half-century-old business announced its end on Wednesday, Oct. 2 when owner Dominic Commesso released a statement on Facebook saying Dominick’s, a southern Italian restaurant in Winter Springs, is permanently closing.

The restaurant, located at 1301 Winter Springs Blvd., offered a wide variety of scratch-made, hearty Italian meals from pasta to pizzas and subs. Dominick’s also offered catering services and a corporate menu. Kids ate free on Thursdays, Wine Down W...

Feeling unlucky? Discover the origin of Friday the 13th

If your coffee is cold, you stub your toe or you get caught in the rain, you may want to check the date. Today is not your lucky day, or anyone’s. Friday the 13th is notoriously known as a day for all things unlucky, but where did this cursed day come from?

The phenomenon has become so widespread that a book, “Friday, the Thirteenth” by Thomas William Lawson, and a horror movie series, “Friday the 13th,” have been made about the topic.

The superstition even has several psychological phobias su...

In college? Here’s how to vote in the presidential election in Florida

Let’s face it, politics can be messy. Between sifting through facts and selecting your preferred candidate, it can all get a little hectic. A college student’s busy schedule may not have the space to figure out how and when to vote.

News 6 asked Central Florida college students to tell us their burning questions about the election. Now, we have answers. This guide is here to answer common questions a college student can stumble upon about how to register and vote in the 2024 elec...

Pack Like a Pro: Gear up to survive the school year with backpack essentials beyond books

In Florida, it takes a lot more than just books to survive the day at school. Make sure your child is well equipped to take on any challenge thrown their way this school year with these beyond books backpack essentials.
Stay Clean
Ward off germs and prevent your child missing school due to sick days. Send your child off with hand sanitizer to use before eating and after playing outside. When they find themselves in sticky situations, equip them with wet wipes so they can clean up with no worries...

From Sunscreen to School Supplies: How to make the summer to school transition seamless

Time flies when you’re having fun! Back-to-school season is just around the corner and it’s time to start packing lunches and buying books. As soon as you got used to having the little ones at home for the summer, it’s time to send them back to school. After a months of adjusting to your child’s new schedule, you may have lost your groove. Slip back into your school routine easily with these tips and tricks to make the summer to school transition seamless.
Review and Refresh
After a few months a...

Teen-Tested, Parent-Approved Boredom Busters

Family time is crucial, but things can get sticky when trying to find activities that the whole family will enjoy, especially when you have stubborn teenagers to add to the mix. This summer, turn eyerolls into smiles and unlock the secret to engaging your teen in family fun. Maximize family time with these five activities that will entertain even the moodiest of teens so you don’t have to hear your teen say “I’m booored.”
Shenanigans and Spices
Grab your aprons and fire up the oven! Now is the p...
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