Occupation: I’m a baker and owner of Biscotti Etc LLC in Sandy Hook, which I started in January. I picked up a couple of recipes that my mom had had and I baked only at holidays for my friends, for years. After I left teaching, my friends said, “Sell your biscotti!”  I bake them at St John’s Episcopal Church kitchen and sell them through www.biscottietc.com. Before that, I was a middle school teacher out of state and in the area for over 20 years.

Family: My husband Rick and I have been married for 21 years. Our daughter is Hannah, a 16-year-old at Newtown High School.

Pets: We have Roxy, a Belgian Malinois, which is a shepherd-type dog. She’s 9 years old. Sam-I-Am is a shepardy, muddy rescue dog. He’s 15 years old now and a little blind and a little deaf. And I have a horse. Andy is an Argentinian Warmblood, usually used for polo, but he was probably too big. Andy is 12 years old.

How long have you lived in Sandy Hook? We’ve been here for 14 years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to read and I garden. I do a lot of perennial gardens. I adore irises. Anywhere I go, I’ll ask for a tuber. I’ve collected a lot from other people. I enjoy their beauty. When I’m able, I like to ride Andy.

Do you have a favorite book or author? I like Ken Follett, who wrote Pillars of the Earth. My favorite book, though, is Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. I read a lot of the free stuff I can get on Kindle, and some of it is very good.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I really like to go to Maryland. I was born and raised there and I still have a lot of good friend there. My other favorite place is anywhere tropical. I love the beach. I can sit there for hours and read and listen to the waves.

What is the best thing about Newtown? I like that it’s so spread out and countrylike. I don’t like living on top of other people. It’s so beautiful, especially this time of year, with the leaves starting to change.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? It’s a toss up between my husband and my mother. My mom was so savvy and so kind. She taught me how important it is to be yourself, to be kind to others, and to give back to the community. Rick has taught me that patience is important and that paying attention to details goes a long way.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Live every day like it’s your last day. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and do something kind every day. After the loss of my parents in the 1999 AirEgypt crash, 9/11, and 12/14, I realize how precious every day is.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? I go to the barn! There’s a lot of grooming, a lot of petting and feeding, and when I’m able, a lot of riding happens. Andy is like my expensive therapist!