Occupation: I am a part-time pharmacist and a full-time homemaker/mother.

Family: I am married to Brian, with two children. Michael is 9 years old, and Caitlyn is 7.

Pets: We have a newly rescued dog, a Chihuahua mix. We call her “Matey” because we love boating. We found her through Petfinder.com and Rescue for Love out of Brewster, N.Y. She is the most loving dog and the newest addition to our family. We also have a cat, Sierra, who is 13 years old. She is also known as “Scratchy Cat.” It was a shocking surprise to find that Matey and Sierra tolerate each other. And my son has fish.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We have been here since 1996. Both my husband and I are Connecticut natives. I’m from Orange and he is from Cheshire. We moved to Newtown the same year we got married.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to run. It’s my number one hobby. It clears my head and gives me time outdoors. I love to read, and I love to play with the kids — when they let me. I’m the Daisy Girl Scout Troop leader for Caitlyn’s troop. I like to bake and cook, and as a family we ski and boat. We’re outdoorsy and nature lovers.

What are you reading now? The most recent book I have read is The Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. I actually read a lot of the Nutmeg Nominees because my son is in that age bracket and I like to know what he is reading. And I enjoy reading the nonfiction in my pharmacy journals, too.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? With the boating, we love to go to Shelter Island, N.Y., which is in between the north and south fork of Long Island. You can go crabbing and swimming, and the island still has its charm. We drive down to Clinton to launch to either the City, Long Island, or Block Island.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The people, and its natural beauty. I’m always admiring what I see. I like its ruralness. But there has been more development, like with Sandy Hook Center, which I think is good and it would be nice to see that continuing.

If you could spend a day with someone famous, whom would you pick? Maybe a scientist, like Charles Darwin. Reading about his visit to the Galapagos Islands, I wondered how his mind came to notice how the species evolved. It’s fun to read about how everyone is different, but we’re all the same, too.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Take each day as it comes. And take everyone’s philosophy and try to live by it, whatever fits for the day.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement? I’m proud of my educational and career achievements, as well as my family. I like it when I hear “Your kids are so nice.” I feel like I am making a positive impression on my kids.