Occupation: I have my master’s in social work from Syracuse University and did postgraduate work at Haifa University in Israel. I was very lucky to be able to stay at home full-time with my children when they were growing up. Now they are grown, I’ve just started a business called “Pomegranate” importing products from Israel, clothes, jewelry, etc. I do craft shows and sell by word of mouth in New York, New Jersey, and the Connecticut area. It combines the two things I like to do best, traveling and shopping.

How Long In Newtown: I grew up on Long Island, N.Y. We’ve lived here almost eight years, having moved from Wyomissing, Penn., not far from Amish country.  The quality of the schools was what drew us here. We first rented the Balcony House on Main Street, which as a wonderful experience. Now we have a house on Equestrian Ridge.

Family: My husband is Dr Eitan Kilchevsky, a neonatologist at Danbury Hospital and chief of pediatric subspecialties. Our son, Amichai, just graduated from Middlebury College two weeks ago.  He skied downhill to get his diploma, which was wonderful. Now he’s at George Washington University Medical School. Our daughter, Raquefette, is a junior at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.  She’s an art history major off to Florence for a semester abroad –– I’m so envious. They are both graduates of Newtown High School, in 2000 and 2002, respectively.

Hobbies: I like to cook and garden, go to auctions, museums, and generally get things in order around the house.

Pets: Having a litter of 12 Dalmatian puppies was the happiest thing ever. Now we have a 3-year-old Dalmatian named Denali, a 13-year-old Yorkie named Sheli, and two nameless lovebirds. Then there is 13-year-old Maccabee, a Mediterranean tortoise. His aquarium is in the sunroom. He follows us around the house. We feed him lettuce and veggies, and he may live to be over 100. We bought him in Pennsylvania.

Favorite Vacation Spot: I love to go to Israel, which we do about three times a year. And I’ll go to Mexico anywhere anytime, and also to Vermont.

Organizations: Chabad of Danbury, and I was on the board of Newtown Youth Services. Now I’m a member of the Prevention Council at Newtown High School, and I’m on the Danbury Hospital’s Development Fund. I am a lifetime Hadassah member, which is a large Jewish women’s organization that benefits hospitals in Israel.

Favorite TV Show, Movie, Book: My favorite movie, of course, is 101 Dalmatians, and on TV, I watch the cooking channel, and Animal Planet and that’s about it. A favorite book is My Life by Golda Meir.

Most Vivid Memory About Newtown: My Connecticut connections go way back. My father, almost 90, who was born in Bridgeport, used to get The Bee’s Arts and Antiques magazine 40 years ago, and I remember when I was little seeing it around the house. Little did I know I would end up living here in the town where it’s published. I remember several summers going to sleep-away camp in Kent — now it might be Club Getaway — and driving through Newtown to get there.

Personal Philosophy: I try to do at least one kind deed every day, and I like to volunteer. Here’s my humble little bit of advice. Smile to a stranger — in Newtown you can still do that — hold the door open, and don’t forget to call your mother.

Laurie Kilchevsky