Occupation: I am the manager of the Queen Street Cleaners in Newtown.
Occupation: I am the manager of the Queen Street Cleaners in Newtown.
Family: My husband, Brian, and I live in Southbury. I have three daughters, all grown up. Lisa is 32, Chrissy is 31, and Diana is 28. Diana and Chrissy live in Waterbury and Lisa lives in Danbury. My husband has two children, Kirk, 13, who lives in Texas. His daughter, Katrina, is 21, and lives in Florida.
Pets: I have a 29-pound cat named Atlas. Heâs not fat, just big. He is about 4 years old. He was a feral cat that my sister-in-law caught. My husband loves animals, but I usually donât, so I wasnât crazy about the cat coming to live with us. The cat hid under the bed for about a week. Then he caught a cold, and was diagnosed with feline AIDS and asthma; $1,100 later, I guess the cat realized we had saved his life and I just fell in love with him. We have to be careful to keep him away from other cats and make sure he doesnât catch a cold. We donât let him out, and itâs funny, he doesnât seem to mind. You would never believe he was wild.
How long have you worked in Newtown? I have been at the cleaners for eight years.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to go to tag sales and flea markets. I collect little, miniature tea sets. I like to read Nora Robertsâ books and magazines.
Do you have a favorite book? I like Janet Ivanovitchâs Stephanie Plum series. I have a friend who says they are as much a mystery as a comedy, and thatâs why I like them, too. I love reading magazines, because they take less time.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would that be? I would love to visit Italy. Iâm Italian and so many people I know have gone. It would be nice to go and see what itâs like.
What is the best thing about Newtown? I love all of the people. Iâve met so many people since Iâve worked here and they are so nice. If Iâm out a day or go on vacation, they ask after me. Everyone is just so nice in town.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Live each day as if it were your last.
What is the most important lesson you have ever learned? That thereâs a reason for everything that happens. I always say that and I believe itâs true.