Giving Back to the Community Jefliv Maine Seafood BY CHRIS TEBBETTS ‘ ocated in St. Albans, I Jeff’s Maine Seafood is in the middle of Franklin County, an area many call one of the most conservative in Vermont, It’s not exactly the kind of place you’d expect to find drag queen Yqlanda spilling out onto Main Street in all her splendor, surrounded by a restaurant full of queer fans and onlookers. Certainly it’s not something that happens all the time — only once to date, in fact — but owner Jamie Westcounts it among his favorite professional memories. “It was very...visual,” he says, with obvious understatement. West has been working with and for the GLBT community for the past three years to make J eff ’s Jefls Maine Seafood, Main Street, St. Albans, VT Maine Seafood ai least a some- time queer oasis. He is first and being out in the business commu- nity and in the world as a big part of the picture. , West took over the business in August of 1996, along with his brother Tim and silent-partner siblings Pete and Becky. “I real- ized really quickly that there were a lot of gay and lesbian Vermonters who don’t go out to bars, so I knew I could offer something, a very comfortable and ‘equal’ environment. I felt really proud that I could do that.” It began with a Third Sunday event for the Vennont CARES Men’s Health Project, a conge- nial mix of munchies, drinks, conversation, and condoms. Never satisfied to leave well enough alone, West pushed for §VP.M7 VALLEY PRINT eMAIL "your printing 8’ mailing resource” Contact Sarah Harrington P.O. Box 147 171 Commerce Street Hinesburg, VT 05461 P. (802) 482-2995 F. (802) 482-2999 E. Sharring@vpminc.c0m 7 capital-E Events. He added’ , speakers, entertainment, book foremost a restaurateur, but sees ' signings, and games to his list of ideas and changed the gathering’s name to The Main Event. Since that time, the restaurant has hosted Rainbow Business Association meetings and GLAD attorneys speaking on the Vermont same-gender marriage issue. Author Charles Kaiser has stopped by to promote The Gay ,Metropolis. “And if he sees this article, I bought two of his books and he still took them away,” quips West. The restaurant also hosted a tremendously successful fund- raiser for Vermont Pride ‘98 —— the night of the aforementioned Yolanda episode. Attended by GIVING BACK, p2| Stroud A 6-pack of tomatoes 99¢ with this ad Thurs 9-5’ Fri, Sat, Sun 9-7 ° M0" 9-5 \ Qur IN THE MOUNTAINS ,. — APRIL 1999 — 11 tell them you found it at '|'I|A'|' BOOK STORE... (now on Railroad Street) USED AND ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS BUY 0 Sill t TRADE USED AND OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS.’ POSTCARDS PAPER EPHEMERA I VT AND NH BOOKS Iaaday - Saturday 10:00 - 0:00, Sunday lIs00 - 0:00 to lion! Stml, St. Johshry, Varlaal 05819 0011404121 - 0-ml: m0n.mIma.Iv.vIsx.cou I0! STIEEIII - DAV! WAIIIEII Golden Threads ./\/\. \,f\./ Discreet Contact Publication for Lesbian Women over 50. and younger httpzl /members.aol.c0m/ goldentred / index.htm Sample Copy $5 email: GOLDENTRED@ao1.com P. O Box 65, Richford. VT 05476-0065 Our Varieties Common & Unusual Varieties Lots of Perennials & Annuals Heirloom & Unusual Varieties Beautiful 8th season Hanging O f r Over 100 varieties of gags; mm ptehné O TOMATOES at season Over 80 varieties of UlX]]33ELfiT' on May I PEPPERS 10 varieties of P ‘X o Unrivalled ' ;;.;,,, Call for Customer plum“ l’l0llN">Wl) a Listing of Service Racht/Campbell Family Just north of Huntington Center 434-2690 Take A Legend Home CP%e/€55 (Upstairs S APRIL MADNESS SALE?? " 150/0 OH any purchase with this ad, (good through April 30, 1999) A U T O G R A P H S Specialists in Gay/ Lesbian, Afro-American, Papal and Saint, -and Vintage Hollywood quality autograph material and paper ephemera. Visit Our Website: www.weekes-autographs.com PHONE 716-830-8000 - 3380 SHERIDAN DR., SUITE 360, AMHERST NY 207 Flynn Ave. 2nd floor Burlington 0 (802) 859-8966 Store Hours Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1-5 mountains of opportunity. advertise in IIITII/I. 434-B486.