Verandah Porche
Poet
Vermont
E-mail: verandah@sover.net

Porche created a collection of narratives and illustrative photographs

Partnering with the Economic Development Corporation of Newport (ECON) on SPIN in the Millennium, Verandah Porche created a collection of narratives and illustrative photographs exploring the contributions of local businesses and workers to the community's culture and economic development. "SPIN in the Millennium" was the offshoot of an on-going community project designed to release the poetry of local life and, by sharing it, shape hopes into action. Clockwise from top left: Jesse Thomas, Joe the stripper, Michele Colburne and Ryann Bevilacqua, and Sun Leland. Photos by Bill Hackwell. All rights reserved.

Cooking up Traditions at the Country Kitchen (by Verandah Porche)

Postcard sunrises from traveling diners line the walls. Seven days a week at the Country Kitchen, they're scrambling the eggs while you're counting your sheep, as Emma Stone's poem notes. Asked for an egg-count, owners Pat and Lisa Tremblay do the math and estimate 375,000 a year. Each Thanksgiving, the Country Kitchen serves about 27 turkeys, roasted and donated by volunteers, with all the amenities from juice to pie, cost-free, to 150 guests at the restaurant on Sunapee St....

Michele Stone Colburne is a Country Kitchen "lifer" and mother of a future waitress. She balances full plates and smiles, Pat and Lisa are stuck with me...

My first job was working with Pat and Lisa down at the A & W, during the summer and weekends. I was 14. Lisa and I worked in the out-front sections, taking phone-in orders and putting the food out for the carhops, getting the food and drinks. Weekends we were really busy. Eventually, I moved out to be a carhop. That was fast-moving too. They'd pull into the parking spot and the carhops, all pretty young girls, would come up to the car and take their order. When the food was ready, with the drink, we'd carry the tray down to the car. It was the trays that stuck onto the window. Usually they'd give a tip....