Occupation: I have my own business, AskJoanne.com, for website design and search engine optimization.

Family: I have my husband, John, and two children. Michael is 9 years old and Elizabeth is going to be 6 in February.

Pets: We actually have just a couple of goldfish right now, Chocolate and Mo. Our dog died this past spring.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved here in 2001 from Ansonia. My husband and I both grew up in Redding, so we’re kind of from this area.

What do you like to do in your free time? I sing with Newtown Choral Society. I like reading and I’m learning photography. I just got a new digital camera this past Christmas. One thing I’m kind of excited about, we’re trying to start up a chess club at Sandy Hook Elementary for third and fourth graders. Both of my children play chess.

Do you have a favorite book? Right now I’m on a Rex Stout kick. I’ve been reading his Nero Wolfe mystery series. I’ve been really enjoying the Nero Wolfe character. He’s a genius who never leaves his house; he’s eccentric. It’s fun to watch the interactions of the characters. I just checked out the Rex Stout biography from the library.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? We usually vacation down at the Jersey Shore. My aunt has a cottage there on Point Pleasant Beach. Our favorite place down there is Island Beach State Park. I love the waves, the soft sand. And there’s no phone, no Internet. It’s time out of time.

What is the best thing about Newtown? For me, our neighborhood is a really tight-knit community. There are about 13 kids at our bus stop, so if there’s somewhere you need to go, you know there is someone who can watch your kids. It really makes me feel part of a community.

Do you have a hero? I have a few women I admire. Lately, I’ve had a lot of attention on Ruth Stout, who is Rex Stout’s sister. She wrote some books on organic gardening. She was an individualist. She never felt like she needed to conform. She lived in Redding for many years.

What is your personal philosophy? I would say that our beliefs create our experiences. When we change our beliefs, we change our lives.

What is the most important lesson you have learned? That I’m the source of my own life. I decide. Once you own that, you stop being a victim.