Culver City Observer -

Sandra, a Culver City resident since 1983, moved from Canada to Los Angeles when she was 12 and became a U.S. citizen at 18.

Her lengthy career in real estate finance commenced with residential loan closing and soon segued into commercial loan closing and servicing. At the time of her retirement from Keystone Mortgage Corporation in 2001, she was Senior Vice President and held California Escrow Association's professional designation of Certified Senior Loan Escrow Officer. She is a past president of Los Angeles Escrow Association.

For many years she was the proud sponsor and educational mentor of a Native American child through Futures for Children, concluding with that child's graduation with honors from high school. Volunteer activities have included tutoring of children and adults, plus home visits to provide socialization for elderly individuals with limited mobility.

Sandra's bout with breast cancer several years ago spurred her into becoming a dedicated volunteer for the American Cancer Society. As a Reach to Recovery volunteer, she provides peer support to those diagnosed with breast cancer. She has also made presentations and participated in many Making Strides and Relay For Life walks. Her fundraising efforts have received commendations from the American Cancer Society and the City Council of Culver City.

Her first feature story was published in 2005, leading to a succession of stories in local print and online publications. She is excited to be writing for Culver City Observer and looks forward to highlighting various activities and individuals in the community.

An artist since childhood, Sandra is also a cartoonist whose work has appeared in several newsstand and trade publications. She is the creator of "Alice in Escrowland," a cartoon featured in each issue of CEA News, a publication of California Escrow Association.

When she's not volunteering, writing or drawing, she enjoys hanging out with friends, exploring different restaurants, attending plays and movies, watching Korean dramas on DVD with a similarly addicted friend, doing crossword puzzles and reading, reading, reading, a pleasure she's been able to indulge in more fully during her so-called retirement.

Sandra'motto: "Live every moment you can, laugh every chance you get."