Occupation: I recently retired after 35 years as a teacher/librarian, primarily in schools in Danbury and Ridgefield.

Family: My husband, Ross Carley, is very active in town. Our son, Christopher, teachers chemistry at Newtown High School and is assistant band leader there. Our daughter, Lindsay Knauf, lives here in Newtown with her husband, Ed. They have two children. Holden is 3 years old, and we have a brandie-new one, Oliver, born September 2.

Pets: I have one cat named Hobbs, an orange “creamsicle-colored” cat. We’ve had him about ten years. He was Lindsay’s, but kids go away and you get their pets.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We’ve lived in Newtown since 1987.

What do you like to do in your free time? I’m on the Board of Trustees of the C.H. Booth Library, since July. And there’s a lot of baby stuff to take care of now and help with, since Oliver was born. I enjoy reading, of course. I like to travel. I like to get out of my element and see what else is out there. I garden, too. I do the flowers, and my husband does the vegetable garden.

Do you have a favorite book? I have to say To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is my very favorite book. And our grandson, Holden, is named for the character in Catcher in the Rye.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I go every year to Switzerland to visit my sister there. And I think it’s my favorite place. You don’t need a car. You can do everything by boat, or train, or funicular. They are so smart with their transportation there. And I love any beach, near or far. Now that I’m retired, I can do more traveling.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The library, of course, is stunning. And probably the $2 movies at Edmond Town Hall — who else has that in their town? But I think I’m going to stick with the school system. Seeing our kids go to both private and public schools, and having taught at private and public schools, I think Newtown does an awesome job. Both of our kids graduated from NHS. The teachers here are phenomenal.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? I think my family, from my parents, who died when I was fairly young, to my husband. Those are the people who paved the way for me. I give them credit.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Be kind. Be good to each other, that’s all I can say.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? I like a good glass of wine. We found some great Malbecs in Switzerland.