Occupation: I am a part-time receptionist and exercise instructor at the Newtown Senior Center and a personal trainer at Newtown Health and Fitness Club. I have the best of both worlds. I had been in retailing for 22 years before changing careers. I
Occupation: I am a part-time receptionist and exercise instructor at the Newtown Senior Center and a personal trainer at Newtown Health and Fitness Club. I have the best of both worlds. I had been in retailing for 22 years before changing careers. I studied to be a personal trainer and am studying now for my certification by the National Association of Sports Medicine, the top training designation. I love both jobs, and the opportunity I had to change career paths.
How Long in Newtown: I have lived in Newtown for 17 years. Previously, I lived in Washington, San Diego, and Colorado. I grew up in New York City.
Biggest Change Seen in Town: Definitely the overcrowding in the schools. I canât believe how growth has affected the schools.
Family: My husband, Wayne, and I have been married for one year. I have two sons. Nick, 20, is a junior at Keene State College in New Hampshire, and Greg, 17, is a junior at Newtown High School. Wayne has two daughters, Elizabeth, 32, who is a nurse, and Sarah, 28, a teacher. They are both married and expecting babies this fall. We really feel blessed.
Pets: The birds in our yard are very much our pets. We feed them, and have all these bluebird houses in the yard.
Hobbies: Exercise. I never get enough. Also, cooking and gardening. I have 28 roses in two rose gardens. My real love is gardening and my roses. I grow climbers, Old English, and shrub roses.
Favorite Books and Authors: I like to read. Iâm reading 84 Charing Cross by Helene Hanff, and recently finished Robert Morganâs The Gap. I also read any article on health, exercise, and nutrition.
Favorite TV Show: The Food Network. I cook along with the chefs. Itâs great.
Organizations: PTA and the Band Parents Association. I have many great memories of that.
Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: The Labor Day Parade and my boys in the high school band. The whole town comes together for that. I love that Labor Day parade.
Favorite Vacation Spot: The wine country in northern California. Wayne and I love going to Napa and Sonoma counties. Years ago the boys and I went to Myrtle Beach. We had the greatest time. They still talk about it.
Personal Philosophy: My glass is always half full. I donât look at the negative. I believe in looking at the positive, and that positive attitude I bring to my clients and members of the Senior Center.
 SNAPSHOT
WITH PHOTOGRAPH
DEBBIE KENYON