Occupation: I am an acoustic and electric guitar teacher and a musician. I was band director at Newtown Middle School during the 1980s, and then I started my own teaching studio at 87 South Main.

We’ll be moving the teaching studio on October 31 to a new location on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook, to a house that is just past the Villa Restaurant.

I play every weekend with a dance band called “Charisma,” and I’ve got an acoustic duo with a good friend. I also play solo classical guitar for restaurants, dinners, and weddings. If it’s on the guitar, I can do it!

 

How Long In Newtown: I was born here, and I grew up in Dodgingtown on Key Rock Road. I went to St Rose School, Newtown Middle School, and I graduated from Newtown High School with the Class of 1976.

While I was in high school, I also attended the Westport School of Music. We had lessons and recitals every week, so it was a busy time. I remember my mother had to drive me back and forth a lot. After high school, I went to the Hartt School of Music in Hartford. They have a great classical guitar department.

The older I get, the more I find there is to know about playing guitar. Every day I think I’m developing, and though I may not play as fast as I used to, I think my notes are better now.

Biggest Change You Have Seen In Town: I used to know all the roads in this town. Now people live on roads that I’ve never heard of.

Main Street looks the same, and most of the town is still very familiar to me. I know they’ve struggled to keep it that way.

Family: My wife, Julie, and I were just married September 27. We live in Sandy Hook and have three children, Brooke, 11, Blake, 9, and Grant, 5. We’re very busy since they are all on different bus schedules.

 

Hobbies: I like cooking and gardening because when I’m doing those two things, I don’t think about anything else. Actually, Julie helps with the flowers and she is the one who figures out the layout.

When I cook, I concentrate on outdoor wood fire cooking and making Greek and Middle Eastern foods.

Pets: We have two dogs, a collie named Ziggy, and a Chihuahua named Beans. Then there are three cats, Phooey, Goober, and Sam.

Favorite Music: I like to load up the CDs in the car and listen to certain music. Right now I’m into the choral music of Randall Thompson, and I like Charley Christian, who was a guitar player for the Glen Miller band. I just soak it in until I’ve heard it enough, then I move on to something else.

Another recent favorite is the Good Charlotte Rock Band, which the kids are all listening to.

 

Organizations: I belong to the Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

 

Most Vivid Memory About Newtown: When I was about 9, I remember hanging out with my friends in front of what is now the Middle School and was then the high school. On Saturday mornings, we waited for the marching band directed by Mr [Joseph] Grasso to come out and head down Queen Street. They were on their way to Taylor Field behind Hawley School, where the football games were played. We would march along behind the band and jump around and yell and have the best time.

I remember going to that Queen Street school when there were split sessions, with high school students going in the morning, and middle school students going in the afternoon. That was before they finished building Newtown High School.

Personal Philosophy: It’s simple. Trust yourself and follow your heart, and that’s all.