For 20 Years… Delivering the news

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 24, 2000

DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / June 24, 2000

At first glance Layne Porrier seems a mild mannered person, maybe a little shy as he blushes when you ask of his accomplishments.

But his work with the L’Observateur and the St. James Council on Agingshows he’s quite a unique individual indeed.

Twenty years to the month Porrier has been working for L’Observateur, every week delivering the River Parishes Extra across the tri-parish area.

One can see in talking with him, though, that even though this is quite an accomplishment, working as site manager at the Romeville Senior Citizens Center is his pride in life, the job that gives him the most satisfaction at the end of the day.

Porrier started at L’Observateur in 1980 under the eye of his uncle and then owner Joe Lucia Jr. He began throwing papers as a summer job andkept up with it through the years. Though one might not think the job ofdelivering papers lends itself to personal contact with the customers, Porrier said that’s what has kept him going through the years.

“Some people sit outside every night and wait on their papers. I meet newpeople, get to know some personally and make a lot of new friends out there working,” said Porrier.

Porrier has been making friends all over, having driven routes across Destrehan, Norco, New Sarpy, LaPlace and on both sides of the river in St.

James Parish. Now you can find Porrier driving the streets of his ownhometown, Lutcher, every Tuesday night.

It takes about four hours or so to do his job, half the time rolling the papers and the other half delivering. In the old days someone prepared allthe papers for you, said Porrier. That was back when the paper had it’sown press and one van for the delivering. The deliverers would take turnsin the van, having a specific time to run a route and then return for the next driver to head out on his route.

Porrier admitted that he knew of no bad parts of his job.

“The weather plays a lot into it sometimes, especially in the winter, if it rains it gets very cold, but I’ve never had an accident,” Porrier said. Heprotects himself by continuing “knock on wood” followed by a quick rap with his knuckles on the table.

Porrier has been with the Council on Aging in Convent for 16 years. As asite manager at the Romeville Senior Center, Porrier helps plans activities with and for the seniors. They take trips far and wide, at leastone out of state every year. Last year they took a bus and traveled all theway to Canada and Niagara Falls.

“They have worked all their lives and now have time for themselves,” said Porrier. The group, Porrier included, put a small amount of money awayevery month for a year and then head of down the highway to discover the country.

“One lady never went with us anywhere. We’d go to New Orleans or BatonRouge and she never traveled with us, never had left the parish,” said Porrier.

When she heard about the trip to Canada she approached Porrier and told him, “I know I never travel with you all, but when I was a little girl that’s where I always wanted to go.” Of course she went along.”It’s a very different type of job. It’s very enjoyable to see them enjoythemselves,” said Porrier.

The group also traveled to Branson, Mo.; Pigeon Ford, Tenn., and otherplaces around the country. This year the group has been talking of taking acruise or visiting San Francisco.

The seniors do other activities as well, take tours and visit museums. InFebruary they have a festival ball, where they crown a king and queen from the representatives of the four senior centers in the parish.

“I learn a lot from them,” said Porrier. He talks with them about theirlives and the old days. They tell him about how there was no electricity orrunning water and other stories of the past.

He said one of the requirements of the job told to him was to have a lot of patience. Porrier said that has never been a problem. The seniors oftenjust like talking to somebody, and he enjoys listening to them, he said.

Often he returns to the statement that it’s enjoyable to watch them experience new things on their travels. Now that they’re retired they gettime to themselves and can travel and do the things they’ve always wanted to. Multiple times Porrier repeated the statement, showing thathis involvement with the seniors is not about his job, but his friends.

Porrier has for the last 16 years worked to provide a full life for his friends at the senior center. Some people will be proud to know that notonly is Porrier delivering the news, he’s also making the news with a life devoted to his jobs and friends.

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