Date: Fri 26-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Snapshot-Rosa

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: ANNE ROSA

Occupation: I work part time in accounts payable for the Board of Education at

the middle school. I also work part time as a banquet waitress at the Stony

Hill Inn. I have a business administration degree from the University of Rhode

Island.

How Long in Newtown: I was born in Rhode Island but grew up in Newtown and

have lived here a total of 22 years but not consecutively. I have been back

for nine years after living in Storrs and New York City.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: Development and large houses. I think back to the

70s oil crisis and wonder what might happen to those large houses if it

happened again. There are also more stop lights and stop signs. The landscape

has changed. There is a decrease in farmland.

Family: My husband Flavio and I have been married almost 11 years. We have

three children, Nick, 9, Jacque, 6«, and Matthew, 3.

Hobbies: I am mostly involved in volunteering. I enjoy skiing, and am a member

of the Winterset Ski Club. I hope to go back to playing tennis regularly soon.

I like to try new recipes, especially different ethnic foods.

Favorite books and authors: I like to read, but I don't have much time to

read. I keep up with my Working Mothers magazine. My favorite book is Fried

Green Tomatoes and anything by John Grishom. I am currently reading Don't

Sweat the Small Stuff and It's All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson.

Favorite TV program: Classic sitcoms and The Rosie O'Donnell show. I enjoy her

show. She's funny, has good guests, and gives to charities.

Organizations: I am president of the Newtown Junior Women's Club. We're in our

27th year. We sponsor the upcoming Discovery Science Workshops February 27 at

the high school for kindergarten through fifth grade and the Discovery Science

Fair and Book Sale March 27 at the high school. We do fundraisers to benefit

the community, such as Tag-a-Gift with the Newtown Fund, Labor Day bake sale

that benefited the flag fund, senior gift fund, licence plate frames to give

books to the library, Roaring Brook Nature Center, Mercy Learning Center in

Bridgeport, ambulance corps, and back-to-school backpacks for needy children.

We do a tree for Family Counseling Center and helped decorate a room there. We

won a Connecticut Junior Women state award, "Arts Alive," for our quilt show

at the Meeting House, and a Mental Health Bell for our work with the Family

Counseling Center and for promoting mental health. We also sponsor the Jane

Symes Scholarship for special education or learning disabled students for book

expenses. It is real rewarding to be in this community service organization. I

also volunteer at my children's school and am a Meals on Wheels driver. I

learned about volunteering from my parents, Bill and Liz Meyer, who volunteer

a lot here in town.

Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: We had a lot of freedom to play when I grew up

here. We could wander around on the Winship property and go down to the lake.

Now you have to be more aware of where your children are. I was also very

involved in Girl Scouts and played sports in high school. I was also a Rotary

exchange student to Brazil, which really changed my life. I benefited greatly

from that experience. The whole thing made you more open-minded about other

ethnic groups. It also enabled me to get a job because of the language skills

I gained there. I made friends there that I'm still in contact with 25 years

later.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Quonochontaug in Rhode Island, I spent summers there

at my parents' summer home when I was growing up and still go there every

summer. I see people I grew up with there during the summers. Sometimes there

are three generations of families. We are within two blocks of the beach. I

love the beach and to swim in the ocean.

Philosophy: Be open minded and open hearted and be involved in your community.