A Little About Me

As noted on my Home Page, my husband Michael and I moved to Sturbridge 14 years ago. We instantly knew that our children would enjoy a superior quality of life here and decided to make Sturbridge our home. Despite a long commute to work each and every day, I have never once looked back, as the sense of peace one finds here in Sturbridge makes it all worthwhile.

Our world revolves around our daughters; they are our proudest and most joyous accomplishments. It has been a wonderful journey with them in our lives. Our oldest daughter Samantha is presently studying for Part 2 of the CPA exam and Emma is an 8th grade student at Tantasqua Jr High School. Emma loves softball and Showchoir. Her dad regularly takes her for fielding and batting practice and this year she is blessed with having a lead in the Jr. High Show Choir.

When Samantha was younger I was fortunate to serve as assistant coach for her High School Cheerleading Squad. I remember those early mornings, setting her hair in rollers and the long days at the competitions. Who can forget the cheers when they won or the tears when things went differently than they had hoped? Coaching your own children is not always the easiest thing to do, as many of you know! But those days are so very special and my husband and I relish them.

Now, we experience the thrill of watching Emma play ball while sharing in the excitement and anxiety of watching her sing her heart out on stage in front of a crowd of spectators, knowing how deeply our support matters to her. Riding with a busload of screaming teenagers while traveling to competition is quite an experience; and one I wouldn’t change for the world.  In a blink of an eye they are off to college. They grow up so fast. We have only a short time with them so we savor every moment.

Contributing to the community is something I treasure. It is very gratifying and gives me a sense that I am making a difference and improving the quality of life not only for my family but other families as well. I previously served on the Worcester Senior Center RSVP Board of Director as well as the Domestic Violence Task Force both in the city of Worcester.

Currently, I serve as the Chief Marketing Officer for the REAS Foundation - a Sturbridge based non-profit organization providing energy assistance to qualifying Sturbridge seniors. This is something that I hold very close to my heart. Many times our seniors fall through the cracks. Their contributions are the foundation upon which this country was built and my family and I feel a sense of debt and gratitude to them. We care deeply about providing whatever support we can to those who have given us so much. I am also a member of the Tantasqua Music Association, which I enjoy immensely.

In addition, I am fortunate to serve as a member of the Sturbridge Master Plan Steering Committee. This has been an inspirational experience. It has made me more aware of the need for a balanced approach to ensuring and maintaining the highest quality of life for Sturbridge residents.

This sense of community involvement is something that Michael and I have instilled in our children, the value of community service. When my oldest daughter was in high school, once a week we would coordinate a program where we sought food donations for a group called “Café for Kids”. This is an organization for underprivileged children in the inner city.  It was a place for them to feel safe, get a healthy meal, and have some fun. My youngest daughter Emma has now started to get in on the action and is helping me with various projects. She thoroughly enjoys it.

I have met many wonderful people in the 14 years I have lived in Sturbridge. Many of those friendships were established through the Sturbridge Softball League, which my husband had coached for many years or through events at Tantasqua Jr. High. There is no greater feeling then watching your child make that winning out or comforting them after a hard loss.

I enjoy the many things our community has to offer including our wonderful shops, our incredible sense of community, and the beautiful walking trails, which I love to “frolic” through, as my husband would say. I am always stopping to look at all the beautiful plants and flowers you see along the trails and roads of Sturbridge. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to walk the many Sturbridge trails I recommend you do so. There is so much beauty to behold. I also regularly enjoy dinner at our fabulous restaurants, attending Concerts on the Common, and of course the Harvest Fest is a must!

I hope you will consider voting for me on April 12th.