How Long in Newtown: We have lived here 11 years now. We came to the greater Danbury area in 1970, and lived in Danbury 11 years, then Brookfield for 11 years, and now Newtown for 11 years. We want to stay here if we can afford it. We’ve got a four-bedroom colonial on Walnut Tree Hill Road that is much too big for us. We’ve got an office in the living room and plenty of room for guests upstairs, so it works out.

Biggest Change You Have Seen in Town: I served on Planning and Zoning for three years and that prompted me to become a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard). I realized then how many subdivisions were coming in. You could see all the woods disappearing, such as along Old Green Road where I walk the dogs. Now they’re leveling the woods and it’s fairly typical of what’s happening all around town. It broke our hearts to see some big old pines taken down near where we live.

Family: My wife, Sherry, is a native Californian and we lived there for six years. We have a married daughter living in New Jersey, and Sherry’s sister lives in California, as well as my brother. My sister lives in Denver, so you can see we’re a far-flung family.

Pets: We have two golden retrievers, Alexander, who is 6, and Amy, who is 4½. She’s the boss and runs everything. I walk them every morning. It’s good for me, and good for them. But we only go to certain, select places because most of the roads are too dangerous.

Hobbies: I spend substantial time supporting Sherry, who is administrator and event manager at the Newtown Meeting House. I keep them supplied with what they need, and help set up for weddings, etc. She does all the contact work, the reservations, the money, and she’s the sales person. I’m sort of the caretaker.

She’s been working in the wedding business since the mid-1980s when she started with the Bride’s Guide. I had a limo service for ten years. That’s when I got into car maintenance. With the limos, they had to be totally dependable so you couldn’t put off repairs.

Favorite Books and Authors: I like to read magazines, mainly Time and People.

Favorite TV Show: I watch the news in the morning and Jim Lehrer in the evening. I don’t like sitcoms. Occasionally, I’ll watch a PBS special and that’s about it. I can stay up reading longer than I can stay up watching TV.

Organizations: We belong to the Methodist Church and the Horticulture Club of Newtown. I am an honorary member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and was a registered professor of engineering in California way back. Also, I am a Justice of the Peace, endorsed by the Republican Party.

Finally, I mustn’t forget to mention Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, Inc. It’s a breed rescue group with headquarters in Hudson, Mass., serving six New England states. We volunteer for their calendar sale and do public relations and publicity for them. Formed in 1985, it’s the oldest breed rescue group in the US, and they have placed more than 3,500 dogs. The family selection process is very rigorous.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Cape Cod. We go to Hyannis every year.

Personal Philosophy: The Golden Rule works best for me. I try and keep things on a high plane. Volunteer work is a way to give something back to local people. Several have made it known they have appreciated what I’ve done, and that makes it all worthwhile.