Kim Colby
By Kathleen Downey
Kim Colby
Gretchen and Bella would likely nominate their “mom” as person of the year. Certainly, in the eyes of her two adoring pugs, Kim Colby is pretty special. As a member of the city’s ad hoc dog commission, Colby helped to spearhead the off-leash initiative now in effect (during specified hours) in several of the city’s parks. “I was recruited in the middle stage of the campaign,” Colby modestly says. Collecting signatures to petition the City Council for the canine program and working with councilors to hammer out details gave Colby “a good education in local government.” She says (without any mischievousness) that she could not have imagined that her passion for dogs would give her insight into city politics.
A knack for marketing helped Colby to put together a comprehensive booklet (she distributed a copy to each councilor) that outlined the proposed “Fido program.” She drew information, in part, from other communities with designated off-leash areas. “The councilors said that the dog commission’s booklet was one of the better-packaged documents that had ever been presented to them for review,” Colby says; the touch of surprise in her voice is mingled with pride. She is quick to acknowledge fellow dog commission members, in particular Marsha Sherman who Colby says “did all sorts of research and laid the groundwork” for the initiative. And she says that the strong support from councilor Ari Herzog (who was with the dog commission from get-go), along with councilors Ed Cameron and Allison Heartquist, helped to bring canine diplomacy to the city council for their approval of the program. As animal control officer, Tina Boucher has been instrumental in promoting the initiative as a positive program of the Newburyport community, says Colby. She adds that “dog ambassador” Ghlee Woodworth ensures that diplomacy between canine visitors and between pooches and people continues in the city’s off-leash parks.
Colby says that the most rewarding experience for her has been witnessing the joyful interactions that occur each day. The dogs, she says, can be “little clowns” as they run and play with one another. Meeting new people who visit the off-leash areas, whether or not they have a dog, has also been gratifying. (Like many dog owners, Colby knows the dogs’ names, but typically the owners become “Fido’s mom or dad” and so forth.) “There’s one little girl whose dad brings her to Cashman Park in the afternoon so she can play with the dogs,” Colby says. “It’s so sweet to see the little girl having such a good time.”
As passionate as she is about dogs, Colby’s other passion is her livelihood. “I’m the wine buyer and store manager at Port Wine and Spirits,” she shares. Colby was indoctrinated at a young age—she was just 18—when she first started working as a cashier for the Newburyport wine merchant/emporium. But she didn’t begin to develop her wine palate until she was of legal age, Colby stresses. In the meantime, she completed her studies in business management at Northern Essex Community College.
More than 14 years since she rang up her first wine sale, Colby is a knowledgeable professional, fluent in the lexicon of grapes, bouquets, body, and definition . . . with a trained palate that is able to discern the attributes, bold and subtle, of various wines. Her biggest challenge initially, Colby says, was her youth. Even though she was a seasoned connoisseur as a twenty-something, some customers connected aged wine knowledge with a (more) aged individual. Still fresh-faced at age 33, Colby possesses the command and confidence that projects her wine knowledge without dispute.
“I love that I learn something new every day,” Colby states. She lists wine variables such as weather, soil, season, and region as topics of interest. Her interest in wine regions has inspired another passion: travel. She’s visited vineyards in France, Spain, and South America. One of her favorite experiences, Colby says, was helping to plant a vineyard in Rioja, Spain. And she loved interacting with the South American vintners who produce solely organic wines (“such amazing wines for under $20 a bottle,” Colby effuses). She admits that she’s yet to visit the wineries of Napa Valley, but promises she’ll get there.
Colby’s appreciation for fine wine has naturally led to an appreciation for fine food. During the course of her business travels, she’s had the opportunity to sample exquisite cuisines (a memory that Colby pauses to relish). She has since discovered a natural talent for pairing the two. “I like the possibilities,” Colby says. “So I really enjoy when customers ask me to help them match wines with certain dishes.”
“I love my job,” Colby states. She credits her boss and store owner Stephen Richardson for cultivating her wine knowledge and her palate. She jokes, “We do a lot of spitting,” referring to industry wine tastings, when vintners are given the opportunity to taste a multitude of wines. (“We couldn’t drink all that wine,” Colby jokes.)
“Our customers get to taste a variety of wines during our in-store tastings,” Colby says. Port Wine and Spirits’ monthly wine tastings are festive occasions with an impressive spread of food; saxophonist Danny Harrington provides the music. “Danny likes to tease me; he asks that I get my trumpet and accompany him.” Trumpet? “Yes, I played the trumpet for ten years,” Colby reveals. But she’s yet to dust off her wind instrument, adding that it would be an unlikely occurrence.
Kathleen Downey is the Features Editor for Newburyport Today. If you are a townie or a citizen who would like to be profiled (or to suggest someone to profile)—or if you have a local story idea, please email: Kathleen@Newburyport-Today.com.
