Occupation: I'm the owner and director of Mr Turtle's School in Sandy Hook, a mom and tot educational program for 2-year-olds.
Occupation: Iâm the owner and director of Mr Turtleâs School in Sandy Hook, a mom and tot educational program for 2-year-olds.
Family: My husband, Dan, who is a financial advisor. Weâve been best friends since we were 16. My daughter, Courtney, is 23 years old. She graduated summa cum laude last year from Fairfield University and she is working with handicapped children.
Pets: We have three cats, Toonses, Bubbles and Emmett. Emmett is a 12-year-old cat we adopted from a shelter just a couple of months ago. He actually was at the shelter eight or nine years ago when Courtney volunteered there, and when she found out he was still there, we had to take him in. It turns out he is a very good mouser.
How long have you been in Newtown? Iâve been with Mr Turtleâs for ten years and Iâve owned it for four years. I live in Brookfield, and while I donât live in Newtown now, Iâd love to live on Main Street someday.
What do you like to do in your free time? I love to hike. It is one of my absolutely favorite things to do. That and picnicking. I try to walk every day. Before this winter I was walking 2½ miles a day. I do all of my creative thinking then. I also like to do crossword puzzles. Iâm into Sudoku puzzles. I canât go to bed without doing a crossword and a Sudoku.
Do you have a favorite book? I just finished a great book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon. I also love Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible was wonderful. Now Iâm reading a book by my daughterâs boyfriendâs parents , Al and Jean Zerries, called The Lost Van Gogh. I have an advance copy. It hasnât even been published yet.
Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world? I would just love to see all of the National Parks in the United States. The Grand Tetons, especially, and Yellowstone. I have seen Yosemite, Acadia, and the national seashore in California and they are all wonderful.
What is the best thing about Newtown? The toddlers. They are what I see and Iâm really lucky to have these kids. Other than that, I love Main Street and I love all of the little hiking paths around here.
What are you most proud of in your life? My daughter. Sheâs my biggest fan. Weâre really happy to have her back with us from college. Iâm proud of this school. I canât go anywhere in town without running into kids who have gone here and I know the school was an important part of their lives.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Be honest and be kind.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years? I wonât be here! I donât think Iâll have the energy for Mr Turtle! I would like to see me on a mountaintop in my hiking boots with a picnic lunch, just taking in the beauty of nature. With my husband, of course.