Occupation: I am the owner of New Insights Boutique in Sandy Hook.

Family: I’ve been married to Jim for 33 years. Our daughter Samantha is the manager at New Insights Boutique and Jamie Rose is our youngest daughter.

How long have you lived in Newtown? I’ve lived in Newtown for 21 years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to explore creative ways of interacting with the community. We are a creative family. My husband is the Wood Gnome of Sandy Hook, and we love working together designing new products that fulfill the needs of our customers. I also enjoy reading Tarot cards with friends.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? Families United in Newtown (FUN) run by Linda Jones. My daughter Jamie is a member of the organization and loves participating in the events they hold.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents. Both of my parents were huge advocates of supporting their local community.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? My Mother, who passed away 20 years ago. She loved her family, loved to shop, and had a great sense of humor.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Old school alert! I love James Taylor, Bob Seger, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? Life happens for you, not to you.

What is something you cannot live without? Nothing because life continues after all else fails.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Raising a child with special needs. It is a journey that reveals what you’re really made of.

What is a meal/recipe your family has passed down to you? Hungarian dumplings. My family goes crazy when I make them, and they are so simple.

What is a tradition your family does that is important to you? We watch Christmas Vacation every year. It’s funny but this has stuck with us for over a decade.

What would you like The Newtown Bee to cover in the future? The importance of small business in the community. People overlook the importance small business plays in their community. So many of them are closing because they cannot compete with industry giants such as Amazon.

What is your favorite TV show? Another old school alert! Seinfeld. My husband and I still catch the old episodes.

What is your favorite food? Brie cheese. I especially love it with brown sugar and nuts baked in a pastry.

If you could travel to the past or future, which would you choose and why? Traveling to the future would be an epic adventure. Seeing and experiencing the evolution and creativity of humanity would be the trip of a lifetime.