Occupation: I’m a school guidance counselor at Scotts Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield, and a certified Spin instructor at Club Newfit in Newtown.

Family: My husband, Brian, and I have been married 27 years. We have three adult children. Our son Brian is 25 and lives in California where he works for The Insider. Kelly lives in Hawaii. She’s 24 and a special education teacher. Our youngest is Greg, a sophomore at the University of Scranton. He’s almost 20.

Pets: We had a black lab, Rocky, for ten years, but none since he died.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved here in 1983, 26 years ago.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to hike and we like to go fishing. I do work out a lot, and I like to read, especially during the summer.

Do you have a favorite author? I like Jodi Picoult, and I love Maeve Binchy. I also like Khaled Hosseini, who wrote The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? When the kids were little, we always went to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. My all-time favorite trip was to visit my daughter in Oahu. My son, Brian, went with me, and we traveled all over the Big Island, Hawaii. It’s an amazing place, all lava rock, and not the lush tropical green you think of when you think of Hawaii.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The sense of community and caring. I’m always impressed with how many people get involved. It’s just a nice community to be a part of.

What is your favorite Newtown memory? I remember when my friend and I would walk on Main Street when our kids were in strollers, and admire the landscape. But I like that now there are sidewalks and it is more pedestrian friendly, without changing the main character of Newtown. It used to be a real challenge.

Do you have a hero or heroine? I would say my dad. He’s always been a very ethical and upstanding person. He’s been an excellent role model and always sees the good in people.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Every cloud has a silver lining. Try to look on the positive side. I have found that things always work out for the best.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done? That would be zip-lining in Hawaii. I was scared to death. We were hundreds of feet up — there was a waterfall below us, and it was about 400 feet across. I just closed my eyes and let the guy push me off. It was amazing when I finally opened my eyes.