Occupation: I am a bank manager for Newtown Savings Bank at the Sand Hill Plaza branch, and I am now the employee with the most longevity, having been with the bank for 31 years. I have always loved my job because I get to help people. I find that now I’m helping the children and even the grandchildren of some of my first clients with their new mortgages. That’s really a neat feeling.

How Long In Newtown: I moved here as a newlywed 32 years ago, and six months later I went to work for Newtown Savings Bank. First I was at the main office and then 19 years ago at Sand Hill Plaza. We live on Button Shop Road just across from there. I’ve tried biking to work, but the traffic is pretty bad. I know some people complain about it, but I love the growth in this town, and I still think this is a neat place to live.

I was born and brought up in New Britain. I didn’t go to college but went right into banking and I was very lucky to be able to stay with it, mainly because I worked very hard. I don’t recommend that everyone do it this way and a college degree has always been a dream of mine, but it worked for me because I fought hard to make it work.

Family: My husband, Jay, works as a supervisor at Tyco International in North Haven. Our son Jesse, 17, is at Newtown High School as is our other son, Erik, 15. It wasn’t easy having children and working full time, but my husband works nights so that’s how we managed it. And Dr Draper got me through those early years.

Hobbies: You won’t believe this, but I love to split wood. I have an electric log splitter and I like to be outside feeding the logs in and hearing the crack as they break apart. It’s my peace. Then I like riding my bicycle. Our whole family loves camping, skiing, and snowmobiling. Put us on wheels and we go.

Pets: Our dog Stacy is a shepherd mix, adopted from the Newtown Dog Pound. Then we have two kittens that the boys brought home — and they didn’t ask! — and a cockatiel. We have seven chickens and a rooster that we’ve had for ten years. Somehow, we’ve managed to keep them safe from the coyotes and foxes. They go in their pen at night, which helps.

Favorite TV Show, Movie, Book: I love to read. Nicholas Sparks appeals to the romantic in us all. And then John Grisham is always a page-turner. I also like to read a motivational book once a month. As far as television goes, I don’t watch much. Usually, we watch movies on DVD when we’re in New Hampshire.

Organizations: I am a board member of Newtown Youth Services, and we belong to the Newtown Congregational Church.

Favorite Vacation Spot: We like to go to the islands such as St Kitt’s, or out west, and we have a lake house in Sunnapee, N.H. The kids always go with us, and vacations are very important to our family.

Favorite Newtown Memory: The Great Ice Storm of 1978. For seven days, we didn’t have any electricity, and the bank didn’t even open. The whole town was shut down. Everyone came out and helped each other. It was such fun.

Personal Philosophy: From what I’m hearing, I think we need to find more ways in town to capture the youth’s interest with activities that are not especially in sports. The schools can’t do it all. At a certain age, the kids are out there and the whole community needs to focus on our youth to help them make good choices. Here is what little advice I have to contribute to parents: Always include your children in your lives. They want to be with you, and vacations are the best time for that to happen. Otherwise, take any opportunity you can to reconnect and reestablish communication with your kids –– in the car together or over the dinner table.

In general, I think people need to remember what makes them happy. It’s the little things, and giving something of yourself to others: a smile or a kind word to a child or a neighbor. It doesn’t take much.

Snapshot: Maureen Birden