Occupation: I was the copy editor for The Newtown Bee and co-copy editor for its sister publication Antiques and The Arts Weekly from September 2001 until earlier this month.

Family: My daughter, Charlotte, is 27, and lives and works in Brooklyn. My siblings are scattered; my sisters live in New Jersey and Michigan, where we grew up, and my brother is in Florida.

What do you like to do in your free time? At the moment, I am working on my house and preparing to move to Florida, but I most love socializing with my friends, be it over a meal, coffee, or a glass of wine, or while taking a walk. I also love the arts: attending plays and concerts, visiting museums, as well as learning new things.

What is the best part about Newtown? Since I read most everything written for the paper, from the beginning of my time at The Bee, I was very impressed with the level of volunteer commitment in/to the town; the way people support each other through organizations or fundraising or launching new events and turning out for them or helping someone through a rough patch. That was greatly magnified in the aftermath of 12/14. And there are always interesting things to do.

Do you have a favorite book? On a personal level, Living In The Light by Shakti Gawain was life-altering. I read it in the early 80s, and it was as I was just learning about the mind-body-spirit connection. It introduced me to concepts and new ways of paying attention to and living my life, which I continue to follow today. For a fascinating, informative read, it is Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang.

What is your favorite travel destination? I haven't traveled much in the last 20 years, but am looking forward to exploring a lot of places in the future. I won a bike tour in Italy through the Bloomin' Metric about a decade ago, and that whetted my appetite to do more of those kinds of trips. A lifelong friend and I are also planning a retirement trip to Hawaii.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? I think just being open to people, ideas, and experiences. If you allow it, every encounter can plant a seed or help you grow. You never know where a conversation can or will lead. I once asked a guy on a train about a book he was reading; I later married, and amicably divorced, him.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? My great-grandmother. My mother's grandparents were German immigrants who ended up being homesteaders in North Dakota, where winter temperatures are often 30 below zero. I sometimes look at a shed in my backyard and think that it's probably about the same size as the soddy they built and lived in - with seven children - for three years before they built their wood house and claimed their land, 160 acres, and had four more kids!

Who is your favorite musical artist? My taste runs to show-tunes and standards and folk music. I enjoy wordplay and intelligent lyrics. My favorite composer/lyricist is David Friedman; his songs, even when on a dark subject, always have a bit of light. My favorite song is "We Can Be Kind," which he wrote in 1994 when the late, great Nancy LaMott asked him to write something about how people should be nice to each other. It could be Newtown's anthem. Another favorite is singer-songwriter Susan Werner, an amazing talent whose songs can touch your heart or make you laugh out loud.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? When I was a teen my father advised me, "Never ask anyone to do something for you that you would resent if they asked it of you."

What is something you cannot live without? Friends and gratitude.