Occupation: I’m semiretired from the construction business, and I used to own By George’s Deli in Sandy Hook. I was a meat cutter by profession.

Family: My girlfriend, Colleen Poundstone, and I live in Sandy Hook. Then there’s my mom and dad, Carol and George, who just had their 50th anniversary on Halloween, and I have one brother, Garrett, and two sisters, Cheryl and Karen.

Pets: We have a Rottweiler, Hooch, who is 10 years old and the best dog I ever had. We have a Shar-Pei, Kitü, and he is 9 years old. I have 14 chickens, but I didn’t name them.

How long have you lived in Newtown? My whole life. I was born in St Mary’s in Waterbury, but I’ve lived in Sandy Hook since I was 2 years old. Once a “Hooker,” always a “Hooker.”

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to go camping. We have a motor home. And I love to go ice fishing. I have a portable fish house, tip-ups, and an electric auger, so my brother and I like to go out. I love being a fireman. I’ve been with the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company since 1979.

Do you have a favorite sports team? The Baltimore Orioles is my favorite baseball team. They were my dad’s when I was growing up, so I jumped on the bandwagon. For football, it’s the Dallas Cowboys, ever since I saw the cheerleaders when I was a teen. I like the New York Rangers for hockey.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I like to go to NASCAR races, so we go up to New Hampshire every July and spend a week camping outside the track. Or we’ll take a trip over to Kettletown in Southbury and spend a couple of nights. Sometimes we go up to watch our friend, Michael Gervais, race cars at Stafford Springs.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in town? Trafficwise, I see a big difference. There used to be only two lights between Sandy Hook Center and Main Street. As a firefighter, there have been changes in the apparatus and equipment. The technology is unbelievable. When I started we had only four trucks. Now we have eight trucks, a quad, and a pickup truck and trailer. There is a lot more training now, too.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The best thing I’ve found is that the fire department is like a big family. And knowing so many people here, for so long, everybody knows your name wherever you go. I like driving around the country roads, too. It’s still “small town.”

Do you have a hero? My Uncle Harold. He taught me to hunt and fish. He knew everything about nature, the trees, the animals. He was always laid back. If you were having a bad day, you’d go see him, and he’d put you in a good mood. He died two years ago.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Treat everybody well, the way you want to be treated. Life’s too short.

What makes you happy? Firefighting and helping people, plus the excitement.