Occupation: I’m a personal trainer at The Gym at Newtown and I’m a part-time ski instructor at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass. I also took the Citizen Police Academy course this spring. It familiarizes citizens with our local police department and how it operates. It really helps you understand what the police do.

Family: My husband, Steve, and I have been married 27 years this past May. Our oldest son, Chris, is 22 years old and lives in Lake Tahoe, Nev. Jess, our daughter, is 20 years old. She is a junior at Central Connecticut State University, studying to be a teacher. Matt is a freshman at Newtown High School. He’s 15 years old.

Pets: Jake is a yellow lab. He’s six years old. He gets the paper for us every morning. Luke is a 1½-year-old mutt from Upstate New York. We have a painted turtle. Our son, Chris, got the turtle when he was really young from a kid going away to college, and we still have it. We have one finch that lost its mate, so it was free to a good home at pet store. He’s by the window and the outdoor birds keep him company. We also have two little frogs that we raised from eggs we found in our pool last year. I guess we sort of take in lost animals.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Fifteen years. I can’t believe it.

What do you like to do in your free time? As a family, in winter we like to ski and I like to do giant slalom racing at Mount Southington. I’ve won my age category in the Connecticut Ski Council Monday Night Race Program for four straight years, representing Newtown’s Winterset Ski Club. In the summer months, we dirt bike as a family at Thomaston Dam. I’m always into decorative painting and projects around the home, too.

What is the most recent book you have read? I’ve been reading books related to my professions, anything about personal training and ski instruction. I like to keep up on that.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I’d have to say Lake Tahoe, for two reasons. Obviously, it’s beautiful skiing; and we get to see our son. In the summer, we love the Finger Lakes Region of New York. We both grew up in that area.

What is the best thing about Newtown? That small town feeling. It’s a country setting, but we’re so close to major attractions and New York City. That’s what attracted us here. I like the idea that we can actually dirt bike without going too far, too.

Do you have a hero? I admire anyone who can start something new, at any age. I met an 85-year-old woman who is just starting out at the gym. And there’s a guy who skis competitively we know, who must be in his eighties. I admire people who aren’t afraid to try anything and take on anything.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Enjoy life. Don’t let things bother you.

If you could time travel, where would you go? I think I’d go into the future. You can’t predict it, so it would be nice to see how it is. It would be interesting to see how the world changes. I’d like to see if people live longer and if they come up with new cures.

What is the most important lesson you have learned? It’s a small world. Be nice to everyone.