Bio: Erica Noonan is bureau chief of the Globe West section. Before joining the Globe in 2000, she worked as a newswoman for the Associated Press in Boston from 1997 to 2000, and editorial assistant for the Boston Herald from 1995-1997. She reports and writes mainly about news and issues affecting suburban readers, and regional "Matters of Faith" column about local religious life for Globe West. She also contributes the occasionally to the Globe's food, books and metro news sections. In May 2008, she created the "Moms Are Talking About" blog on boston.com's Bomoms site, and currently blogs and twitters about family life and issues of interest to local moms. Raised in Wellesley, Mass., she holds a master's from Emerson College in Boston in political communication, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.