Meet Your Neighbor: Penny Richards

Name: Penny Morang Richards 

Family: Married to Dave, mother of Penney "PJ" Richards, who died in a motorcycle crash, November 19, 2009. 

Why North Reading?: We were looking for a great place to raise our daughter.

Industry: I work in healthcare publishing as the membership specialist for ACDIS, the Association of Clinical Documentation Specialists. I'm a former reporter for the Eagle Tribune, and even did a stint delivering mail for the along North Main Street and the neighborhoods around Martins Pond. 

School: Graduate of Middlesex Community College plus some additional coursework at Salem State University 

Hobbies: Writing, blogging, reading

Favorite Music: New fan of Dave Matthews. Other favorites include classical, Dire Straits, Billy Joel, James Taylor, old Beatles, plus B.J. Wass and Will Faust of a great local band called Onset.

Other Interests: Promoting The Penney Richards Memorial Scholarship Fund and making awards to deserving healthcare workers who are continuing their education in the healing arts; spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

Favorite Movie: "The Music Man" with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones 

Favorite book: "To Kill a Mockingbird" 

Favorite Restaurant: Locally that would be The Centre Cafe. You just can't beat their breakfast menu and I love that they're open for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We've enjoyed many great meals there with friends.

Fun Facts: I am a Justice of the Peace and a Notary Public.

During my days as a journalist, I interviewed both Barbara Bush and Ray Romano.

I won a New England Press Association award in 2000 for history reporting, for a 13-part series on World War II veterans.

I self-published "My Breast Cancer Sally," a day-to-day accounting of my breast cancer fight. I donated a copy to the Flint Memorial Library... check it out!