Occupation: I have a BS in English with a minor in education and an MS in Reading. I taught in Harlem before I got married and have taught at WestConn and Henry Abbot Tech. For most of my life I have been a stay-at-home mom while running a software consulting business with my husband. Some years ago I got the chance to be a technical recruiter, and I retired from that about four years ago.

How Long In Newtown: Kenneth and I moved to Sandy Hook in 1972 to a custom house that Kenneth designed. I was working at The Bee then. In 1986, we moved to an 18th Century house at 55 Main Street.

Biggest Change I’ve Seen: I can talk about the growth but what is even more important to me is what has stayed the same. This is still a small town at its heart. In the past 1½ years, I’ve lost 106 pounds and the support I have received from old friends and even strangers has been incredible. This town reflects the belief, “It takes a village [to raise a child]” so very well. Both my children have had the privilege of living their entire lives here and it has been such a boon to our whole family.

Family: I have been married to my husband, Kenneth, for 33 years. Our parents introduced us. Kenneth is a software engineer and thinks he is retired. But right now he is working with his twin brother, who is a veterinarian, to develop products for animals. We have two children. Samantha Bernstein, who has a degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado, has earned a BSN at Simmons College in Boston. She lives in Stamford and was an RN at Greenwich Hospital, and she is now a stay-at-home mom to our two grandsons, Maxwell, 2, and Henry, 6 months. Our son-in-law, David, is an anesthesiologist at Greenwich Hospital. David and Samantha met in Boston where David was a chief resident at Massachusetts General Hospital. Our son Alexander — who has been known all his life as Sandy — is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Engineering, and he is a software engineer like his dad. He lives in Gales Ferry.

Hobbies: I love to walk –– always accompanied by music on my Discman, or now on my MP3. I’ve just begun starting to run. I do about three miles every morning at 5:15. I read The New York Times at My Place Restaurant at 6:30 every morning. It’s not a hobby. It’s more like an addiction. When anyone wants to talk to me, they turn up at My Place in the morning. I also take Pilates classes. My husband and I volunteer at Musicals at Richter. And of course, my grandchildren are my best hobby.

Pets: We have two cats. Amelia is a Maine coon cat with a bad attitude. She’s 15 years old. Samantha brought her home when she graduated from the University of Colorado. We also have a 2-year-old cat named Orange Pippin. He’s a big, orange tomcat with control issues.

Favorite TV shows, movies, books: I’m a news junkie so I read three weekly magazines and always seem to have MSNBC on. I also watch the original Law & Order. The other two creep me out. I read mysteries. I won’t read a book or watch a movie with a sad ending. My children and husband vet my movies and books.

Organizations: I am currently president of the Newtown Choral Society. I sing second alto, the lowest female voice. The group is cohesive and though we don’t sing during the summer, we get together. My husband is an EMT, and I eat dinner with his “crew” once a week when they are on duty. Being an EMT is so demanding and time-consuming that if a family member is an EMT, then you are part of the reason he can do such important work.

Most Vivid Memory Of Newtown: My most vivid memory happens every year –– it’s the Labor Day Parade. One reason we moved to Main Street in 1986 is because of the parade. My children have never missed it. My daughter used to come home from Colorado for the parade and both my children have watched the parade with the car packed for college and left after it was over. That’s where you see old friends, new acquaintances, and, most importantly, you can watch all the volunteer groups marching. They are the reason that Newtown works and that it is such a very special place. I stand at the curb and cheer for everyone. And we serve coffee and donuts on the porch. What more can you ask for from life?

Favorite Vacation Spot: We belong to a private campground in Otis, Mass., begun by my parents and in-laws 33 years ago with 60 acres on the Farmington River.  Now my children and grandchildren are continuing the tradition of enjoying it. Also, my brother lives on the island of St John in the US Virgins and we try to visit him every year.

Personal philosophy: My husband says it should be “walk more, eat less.” But it really it is John Donne’s poem, “No Man Is An Island.” I can sing it for you if you like [and she did, very nicely]. I learned it at 4-H camp.

Snapshot: Laura E. Lerman