Occupation: I work at Hawley School as an educational assistant in the fourth grade. I’ve been there for two years, and I love it. All three of my own children went to Hawley, so it was like going home. I also have a photography business and I do outdoor family portraits.

Family: I’ve been married to Paul for 26 years. We’re high school sweethearts. We have three children, Casey, 21, a senior at Lynchburg College in Virginia; Kevin is 19 and a sophomore at the University of Scranton; and Katherine is 14 and a freshman at Newtown High School.

Pets: We have two dogs. One is a half golden retriever and half basset hound mix. Jasper is 10 years old and has siblings all over the area, because we got him from Reed schoolteacher Jim Roodhuyzen. We also have Bailey, who is a 3-year-old golden retriever. And I have a Beta fish named Blueberry.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We’ve been here for 22 years. We bought here because it reminded us of our hometown, Ridgefield. We drove down Main Street and saw the flagpole, and Ram Pasture, and the beautiful houses and knew this is where we wanted to be.

What do you like to do in your free time? I have a lot of activities that I enjoy. Photography, of course, and I love to walk with my husband and dogs from our Main Street home to Ram Pasture, and up at Fairfield Hills. I love spending time with my family and friends. I’m on the flower committee at the United Methodist Church and arrange flowers for the altar. I also help out at the monthly spaghetti dinner there. I’m one of the salad ladies. I’m in a book club, too.

Do you have a favorite book? The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite books. I love the relationship the husband and wife have. Another one is a book I read a really long time ago, called Kane and Abel, by Jeffrey Archer. I read it when I was traveling around Europe. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is another book I love.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? That’s easy — the Finger Lakes in upper New York. My family has a cottage on Owasco Lake that has been in the family for 130 years. The whole family gathers there every summer. It’s kept our family very close.

What is the best thing about Newtown? It has a close community, great people, and a fantastic Main Street with memorable events like the Labor Day Parade, Halloween, the Christmas tree lighting, and the holiday festival. Plus, it has a beautiful landscape.

Who do you most admire? My heroine is my mom. She’s the person who is always there for you. She’ll drive someone she barely knows to the doctor’s office. She’s the one who if you call her and say you’re having a bad day, she’ll say, “I’m coming right down,” even though she’s in New Hampshire. She thinks of others before herself. She and my father have been together for 50 years, have gone through challenging times and overcome them. She’s the glue that holds us together.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Always maintain a positive attitude. My husband and I have learned that family, friends, health, and the simple things in life are what are important.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done? Probably marry my husband! We got married so young, had no money, and no savings, and only one of us had a job. There hasn’t been a dull moment. I think my life would have been so boring without him. I wouldn’t have wanted to travel this journey without him, though.