Occupation: I own Club NewFit, on Commerce Road. My husband and I purchased the club in August of 2007, completely renovated it and strive to make it better each day. I was a member at the club for four years before we purchased it. The members are t
Occupation: I own Club NewFit, on Commerce Road. My husband and I purchased the club in August of 2007, completely renovated it and strive to make it better each day. I was a member at the club for four years before we purchased it. The members are the most wonderful people you could ever meet. Itâs not just my home away from home. Before that, I was a psychotherapist, primarily for victims of child abuse and neglect. I also did family and marital therapy.
Family: My husband, Thomas, and I have three beautiful children. Our daughter Alexia is 9 years old, and in the fourth grade; our son Thomas is almost 8 years old and in the second grade; and our son Athan is 6 years old and in first grade, all at Hawley.
How long have you been in Newtown? This month will be ten years. We moved here in 2000 from Westchester County. I grew up in eastern Connecticut and my husband in New York City. We met when I was doing my masterâs in clinical social work at Fordham University and he was at Columbia University.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to spend time with my family, I enjoy the outdoors, I read, I write, and of course, I like to work out.
Do you have a favorite book? Oh, The Places Youâll Go, by Dr Seuss. It was given to me by a co-worker as a going away present when I worked at Blythedale Childrenâs hospital in Valhalla, N.Y.
Do you have a favorite travel destination? One of my favorite places is Maine. We visit my parents. They live on the water not far from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. I love to watch the sun rise and set from my kayak. We hike, bike, take the boat to Bar Harbor, eat lots of lobster and blueberry pie. The kids love it. They go out âlobsteringâ and âclammingâ with my dad. Thereâs nothing like it.
What is the best thing about Newtown? The people. Newtown is a very caring and giving community. The people of Newtown are always there to help when it is needed.
Do you have a hero? My parents, John and Helen Mihalopoulos. Everything I need to know, I learned from them.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Everything happens for a reason. Understanding and acknowledgement and acceptance are the challenges.
Do you have a guilty pleasure? Yes, but I canât tell!
What makes you happiest? Looking at life through the eyes of my children.
SNAPSHOT: Penny Tavar