Name:  Kathy Swierzewski   Street: Honeysuckle Road, Hamilton  Family: Husband: Irv Levy, Children: Kristen, Heidi, Stephanie, Matt and Tim along with one beautiful grandbaby Abilgail.  Occupation: Clinical Research Nurse, MGH  Hobbies/interests: cooking, gardening, H-W Friends of the Arts  What are you passionate about? Supporting our schools: the programs and faculty along with my special interest in the arts. I am proud to be one of the founding members of FOTA. This is a community-based group whose goal is to keep the arts alive in our schools.  Favorite movie: I arrived at this answer by…

Name: Carey (Caroline) Nielsen Where do you live? Eddel Avenue, Wenham. Family: Two kids and one dog, Lulu. Occupation: Currently a career advisor/life coach for SpaTech in Ipswich. Also a tour guide for Essex River Basin Adventures and guide for an Head Out Adventures/Global Expeditions Club. Recent tours include Costa Rica, India, Nepal and Tibet. Hobbies and Interests: Played in a women's soccer league for 12 years; travel; mountain bike; kayak; ski and hike. Just took up sailboat racing. Currently involved in Integrative Institute for Nutrition to become a certified holistic health …

Name: Michael W. Parr Town: Hamilton Family: Wife, Karen; Daughter, Brittany (in college); Son, Jimmy (HWRHS); Son, Daniel (MRMS) and Son, Matthew (Winthrop School). Occupation: Financial controller of a manufacturing company Hobbies/interests: Coaching Youth Sports/Golfing What are you passionate about? My wife and children and coaching in Hamilton-Wenham (HWLL, HWBR, HWYSA, HWYBB). Best book: "The Wrong Stuff," by Bill “The Spaceman” Lee and "Miracle Man: Nolan Ryan" by Nolan Ryan. Best movie: All the Bourne movies. Dream vacation: Golfing in Ireland. How long have you lived in Hamilton-…

Name: Dan Bukkhegyi Street: Boardman Lane, Hamilton. Family: Wife, Lisa; Daughters, Lauren, 16, Maddy, 14 Occupation: Wealth Advisor, Morganstanley Smith Barney Hobbies/interests: Endurance Cycling, music, good books, sports, especially my daughters. The Arts, especially my younger daughter's singing and acting. I am very proud of both of them. What are you passionate about? Cycling Best books: That's a tough one; "The Art of Racing in the Rain," "The Shack," "Water for Elephants"..my wife picks out the best ones. There's too many to pick a favorite.   Best movie: "The Fighter" Dream vacation…

Name: Jeff Stinson Street: Homestead Circle Family: Mother, Father, Sister, two dogs Occupation: Law Student, Selectman Hobbies/interests: Running, Baseball, Reading  What are you passionate about? SMU Football, Politics, Helping People Best book: "Freakonomics," "Moneyball," by Michael Lewis, "All Too Human," by George Stephanopoulos Best movie: "Count of Monte Cristo," "Dead Poets Society" Dream vacation: A private island in the Caribbean  How long have you lived in Hamilton-Wenham? I have lived in Hamilton since the second grade. How come you chose Hamilton-Wenham? We moved here for the …

Name: Brenda Avigian   Family: Husband, Rick and Children; Matt, 21, Katie, 18, and Patrick, 13.        Employer: Hamilton Post Office Occupation: Sales and Service Associate. How long have you worked in Hamilton?  Nine years. How come you chose Hamilton? After working 14 years as a letter carrier in Salem, there was an opportunity in Hamilton to work indoors.  Hobbies/Interests: Photography What are you passionate about? My family  Best Movie: "Elf" Dream Vacation: Relaxing at a beautiful beach in the Caribbean.   What is your favorite place in Hamilton-Wenham? Dunkin Donuts What is your …

Name: Len Dolan Street: Howard Street, Wenham Family: Four children - two nine-year olds, a seven-year-old and a four-year-old (two boys and two girls) Occupation: Investment Advisor Hobbies/interests: All sports, coaching my kids, reading to and with my kids What are you passionate about? My children and building confidence in kids via sports. In addition, doing a good job for my clients. Best book: "Lone Survivor" Best movie: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" Dream vacation: Surfing in Australia How long have you lived in Hamilton-Wenham? Nine years Why did you chose Hamilton-Wenham? The …

Name: Jemma Freeman Street: Cunningham Drive, Hamilton Family: My husband, my two daughters, a cat and a dwarf frog. Occupation: Kindergarten teacher at Winthrop Elementary School since 1997.  I have been teaching Pre-K and kindergarten since 1991. I have taught in Chelsea, Marblehead, Swampscott and Hamilton. Hobbies/interests: I love scrapbooking, pottery, camping, traveling, yoga, taking walks, animals, drinking tea with friends and eating chocolate. I have also recently learned how to knit. I also love to appreciate a beautiful sky. I'm always telling my girls to look at the gorgeous …

Name: David H. Jones  Street: 69 Plum St., Hamilton Family: Wife, Amy; Sons, Henry, 10, William, 9, and Nate, 5 - all at Winthrop Elementary School; Dog, Bandit. Occupation: Equity Sales Trader, Lazard Capital Markets Hobbies/interests: Golf, skiing, paddle tennis and wine What are you passionate about? Sports and competition. They have given me so much in my life. I enjoy coaching; I look at it as a way to pass along all the great experiences and life-lessons that I learned along the way and to pay tribute to all the great coaches that I had as a child. Best book: "Odessa File," by Frederick…

Name:  Traci Massimi Street: Appaloosa Lane, Hamilton Family: Husband, two kids (7 and 3) and one dog  Hobbies/interests: I love gardening and hiking, but I have been doing that forever.  It's time to make room for something new, I'm just not sure what. Best book: I can never pick just one, but the best one I've read in a while is "A Kind of Intimacy" by Jenn Ashworth.  Best movie: "God Grew Tired of Us," which is a very eye-opening and humbling documentary. I saw it a few years ago and I still think about it all the time. Conversely, for a laugh every single time, I love "The Big Lebowski." …

Name: Sallie Felton Street: Bay Road, Hamilton Age: 59 Family: Children - Corey, 30; Sarah, 27, Taylor, 24; Husband, Conway. Occupation: Life coach/transition specialist and an International Radio Talk Show Host. Hobbies/interests: Skiing, tennis, gardening, outdoors and our Alaskan Malamute, Kodi. What are you passionate about? Helping people move forward in their lives…watching them become more self-aware and making better choices. Best book: "Gift of the Sea" Best movie: …When was the last time I went? Dream vacation: Skiing with our kids in Europe…now that's a dream. How long have you …

Name: Cynthia Griffin Street: I work at Early Childhood Partners at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 130 Essex St. in Hamilton. Family: My husband, Richard, and I live in Salem and our children are in Beverly, Los Angeles and Suzhou, China. Occupation: Hamilton-Wenham Early Childhood Partners co-liaison Hobbies/interests: Travel, art, museums, healthy growth and development, practical spirituality, animals of all shapes and sizes and the great outdoors. What are you passionate about?  All of the above. Best book that I have read this year: "The Art of Racing in the Rain" Best movie: "…

Name: Lorraine Miller Street: Knowlton Street, Hamilton Family: Husband Jason, twins Annalise and Theo (both in second grade) Occupation: Educator, currently self-employed – I've joined a national newsletter franchise (macaronikid) that allows me to publish an online newsletter for parents interested in learning about events and exhibits in the North Shore area. I hope to eventually sell ads in the newsletter to local businesses.   Hobbies and interests: Gardening, visiting local galleries and museums. What are you passionate about? Libraries, books and learning. Best book within the past …

Name: Andrew Rodgers Street: Asbury Street Family: Wife and two kids Occupation: Farmer Hobbies/interests: Sports, fishing, movies, good food and reading Best book: At the moment, "Progressive Herding Dog Training"  Best movie: I just watched "Monsters" and it was pretty good Dream vacation: Australia How long have you lived in Hamilton-Wenham? Seven years How come you chose Hamilton-Wenham? My job What is your favorite place in Hamilton Wenham? Green Meadows Farm What is your favorite shop? Green Meadows farmstand Where would someone see you around town? I don't get out much, I'm too busy …

Name: Laura Jones Street: Homestead Circle Family: Husband, Carl; Son, Trevor, 12; Dogs, Alamo and Bailey Occupation: Probate Paralegal Hobbies/interests: Playing tennis, working out at Fitness Together in Topsfield What are you passionate about? My family and improving my tennis game Best book: "How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better" Best movie: "Wizard of Oz" Dream vacation: Bora Bora for a month How long have you lived in Hamilton-Wenham? Off and on for most of my life How come you chose Hamilton-Wenham? Great people and…

Name: Cricket Sperry Street: Essex Street, Hamilton Family: Married with 2 children, one at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School and one at Miles River Middle School. Occupation: Mother and Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Hobbies/interests: I'm an avid equestrian, an interest shared with my children. I love to cook. I love antiquing. I'm a strong supporter of the Girl Scouts, and have led troops in Hamilton for the last nine years. I also volunteer with the 4H clubbers who work with the dairy herd at Appleton Farms. What are you passionate about? My Vizsla, and my family. …

The "Meet Your Neighbors" column introduces Hamilton-Wenham Patch readers to ordinary citizens in Hamilton and Wenham in a quick and fun question and answer format. Name: Heather Ryan Street: 140 Miles River Road Family: Husband and three kids - a son at Winthrop and two daughters at the Miles River Middle School. Occupation: Depends on the day. Mostly I'm a slave to my house, pets, dishes, laundry, e-mail and children. I also have a tendency to over-volunteer but only because there's plenty to do. Now I'm looking forward to my next profession, wherever I may land. Hobbies/interested: The …

This is the first "Meet Your Neighbors" column that will introduce readers to ordinary citizens in Hamilton and Wenham in a quick and fun question and answer format. Name: Claudia Filos Where do you live? Asbury Street in Hamilton. Family: Husband, two kids, seven pet chickens. Occupation: Graduate student of Classical Studies at Brandeis University. Hobbies and Interests: Ancient Greek poetry, gardening, all things sustainable, changing the world one interaction at a time. Favorite Book: Just one? In English, probably Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. In ancient Greek, the Iliad. Favorite …