07/30/2026
Judy Verhage was in a quandary. She had just had painful knee surgery and could not take care of herself through the immediate recovery period. In a moment of desperation, she reached out to Melanie Cook who owns the Eastport Village Care Home on M88 in Eastport. Could she come and stay there for a while? “Absolutely,” said Cook, “we can help you.” So Melanie ended up in the care of an amazing facility surrounded by staff who genuinely love what they are doing. So moved by her positive experience, Judy wanted to express how “it gives one hope that there are many good, everyday people out there helping others, and how is it we never hear about them!” Established 27 years ago by Donna Paradis, and now owned by her daughter, Melanie Cook, Eastport Village Care Home is a “place filled with a lot of love!
