Occupation: I am retired from my own advertising business. Now everything I do is volunteer, and I’ve never had so much fun. I received my degree in business and marketing from San Jose University in California. I’ve also done post-graduate work in psychology.

How Long in Newtown: I have lived in Newtown for nine years. Previously, I lived in Brookfield for 12 years and in Danbury for 10 years.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: Development. However, the small town aura still persists. It’s the best part of what’s Newtown. It has a nucleus of people and is the right size to support what no other town in the area supports. No other town would have the nucleus of people who could and would do what’s been done at the Newtown Meeting House. It has to have the right mix of size, public interest, and people. I’ve never seen it anywhere else.

Family: My husband, Tom, and I have been married for 41 years. We have a daughter, Nina, who works in the pharmaceutical industry in New Jersey. I have been blessed with a wonderful life. I have a wonderful husband and daughter, and I have gotten to do mostly what I want to do.

Pets: We have two Golden Retrievers, Al and Amy, and a 16-year-old cat, Sherman.

Hobbies: Gardening and reading.

Favorite Books and Authors: I love mysteries. I’ll read anything with the little blue mystery sticker at the library.

Favorite TV Show: I don’t watch TV except for the news. I’m too busy reading.

Organizations: I am involved with Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue (YGRR), which works only with Golden Retrievers that need new homes. It’s extremely rewarding. So many people have dogs who can’t care for them. Every breed has its rescue group, but YGRR is the oldest rescue group. It was formed in 1985. I do home visits and am involved in calendar sales through businesses. In the calendar, every picture and story is of a rescued golden. It’s a very satisfying job to do. Their personalities are wonderful. The group is very careful to match people with the dogs, and places 300 a year. I am also Newtown’s representative to the Housatonic Valley Tourism District and a member of the Horticulture Club of Newtown. I also volunteer at the Meeting House. I love it. It was tailor-made for me. I spend part of every day there. My husband is also involved there. We do scheduling of events and there are day-to-day items we take care of. I report to the board of directors of the Heritage Preservation Trust, which was set up to oversee this town-owned building.

Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: It has to be the concert on September 23 because it was a love fest for Lennie Manz. We dedicated the organ to Lennie, who played the meeting house organ for 44 years. There were 200 people there, and for a man who was a nice man.

 Favorite Vacation Spot: Cape Cod. I like it best in the fall.

Personal Philosophy: So many people complain, complain, complain. They focus on the bad things. When people do something right, I call and tell them. I try to treat people pleasantly. It’s all free.