Occupation: I am the founding publisher of LMT or Lab Management Today. It’s a monthly magazine that is sent to dental laboratory owners, managers, technicians, instructors, dental supply dealers, and dentists throughout the United States. Our office is at 731 Main Street in Monroe. I started the company more than 20 years ago on a shoestring. I think there must be ink running in my veins, because I have always loved the world of publishing.

How Long In Newtown: I grew up in Elmhurst, Queens, where I actually went to a Newtown High School. That’s why I got such pleasure out of the fact that my son also graduated from Newtown High School, Newtown, Connecticut. I’ve lived in this town since 1994, having moved here from Wilton, and I remember exactly how we found the house. It was a rainy day and we had been hiking at Devil’s Den and we went inside a pizza place to get warm. We picked up a realtors’ booklet and read a description of a Newtown house built in the late 1800s set high on a hillside off Hopewell Road. The picture made me think of a scene from The Sound of Music. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was for me.

Family: My son Eric graduated with the NHS Class of 2004 and edited the school newspaper. He also attended Head O’ Meadow and Newtown Middle School. They were very nurturing there and he thrived in the middle school. He’s now attending the University of Pennsylvania. My life partner is a retired teacher named Andrew Wiggin.

What I Liked About Newtown: I don’t mean to criticize the town of Wilton, but I have to say that when I lived there I felt totally alien as a working mom. When we moved to Newtown, I immediately felt welcomed. People were friendly and helpful. It just seemed that this was a very diverse community without any sort of attitude.

Incidental Observations: I get very annoyed by people driving four-wheel drive cars or trucks that go roaring past you and splash water and slush all over your windshield in bad weather. Please be a good neighbor and slow down. And even though I was on the committee, I am convinced that the early start time for Newtown High School is wrong. It’s totally against the circadian rhythms for young people in that age group.

Helpful Hint: I am lactose intolerant and I just discovered this new product called Lactagen. It is fantastic and it works. Even though I had gone cold turkey off milk products, I was able to restore the necessary enzymes after taking lactagen for 33 days. I urge others to take a look at this. For more information, log onto www.lactagen.com.

Who’s Your Hero? I am a supporter of a group called The Southern Poverty Law Center based in Montgomery, Ala. My hero is an attorney I’ve gotten to know through that organization who fights hate crimes nationwide. His name is Morris Dees.

Recreational Pursuits: Andrew and I love to travel in our RV to Florida and the southwest. Aside from touring the country, this allows me to visit dental laboratories and attend trade shows along the way. It’s the dream of a not-quite-retired-person to have a business yet still take time off, and my incredible staff is making this possible. When I am home, I love my garden. Gardening is a life-affirming activity. One of my favorite books is Conversations With God by Neal Donald Walsh. It’s about having a mission or purpose in life and sharing what you’ve learned in fighting for what is good.

Most Liberating Experience: When I was going through my divorce, I took a course on the power of forgiveness and how it releases you. Learning to forgive allowed me to accept people for who they are, and this gave me a tremendous sense of freedom. I have learned the best way to live is to take only what I need and to share the rest.

SNAPSHOT: Judy Fishman