#VT - “Front Porch Forum is one of the best outreach formats we have … well worth the money!” Cassandra Brush, CVSWMD.
Monthly Archives: August 2012
FPF is hiring: Seeking ad sales reps.
#BTV #VT - Front Porch Forum is growing. Join our exciting start-up: http://bit.ly/FPFsalesopening
“Shoe Endorsement (Not Paid For By An Out-Of-State Super-PAC)”
#VT – Is it okay to post recommendations on FPF? Yes! Here’s today’s example by Frank on the Hinesburg Front Porch Forum, where we have 1,300 FPF members out of the 2,000 households in town…
It’s rare that I will endorse a product strongly enough to share it with my friends and neighbors, but today I discovered something that actually changed my life… a pair of sneakers. I’ve been a life-long competitive runner until this past spring, when I injured my ankle. I literally haven’t run 5 paces since late March. But I finally listened to my neighbor, Jim F., who told me about “Hoka” brand running shoes, sold locally by Green Mountain Rehab on lower Main Street in Burlington. They look just like the shoes work by Kramer in a Seinfeld episode – think: Sketchers, but even uglier. If you’re self-conscious or concerned with style, disregard this message. But, if you have the self-confidence to look like you’ve been recently released from Shepardson-6 (and your joints or muscles keep you from exercising), strap these babies on and get out there! I kid you not – they’re amazing!
Need canning supplies or advice? Ask the neighbors…
#VT - From Sara on the Living the Dream blog…
I also have to give a shout out to Front Porch Forum. I put a post about needing some mason jars of any size and I have been given a ton from my neighbor (thanks Penny!), some from my neighbor and coworker Missy (thanks!) and bought a few at a very reduced rate from another neighbor ($.50/jar). Behold the power of the internet!
State of the Re:Union looks at online communities
#BTV #VT - This NPR show weaves together several stories about online communities… lots of food for thought, including a segment about Front Porch Forum (for FPF’s part, go to the 5th section (Segment B) and start at the 7:00 minute mark).
Expanding to more of Vermont…
#BTV #VT - Vermonters are bringing Front Porch Forum to their home towns. This month, FPF is expanding to Tinmouth and Woodbury. A special thanks to the Town of Tinmouth and several key advocates, and to the Woodbury Fund, the Town of Woodbury and boosters on the ground their too.
Also this summer, FPF was brought to the Mad River Valley, the City of Barre, and the Town of New Haven. More to come!
If you live in one of these places, sign up for FPF at FrontPorchForum.com. And send your friends and contacts to register too.
Boy Scouts, canoe trip, and good neighobrs
#BTV #VT - Here’s a fine example of how Front Porch Forum can work in a community.
Posted by Michele on the Huntington FPF on Aug. 14:
… the local boy scout troop is heading for Green River Reservoir for a canoeing/camping weekend… We are in need of canoes. If anyone has one or more canoes the troop could borrow for the weekend, it would be greatly appreciated. In fine scouting tradition, we would be willing to offer exchange some time/effort if you have a reasonable project you would like to have help with that would be suitable for boys age 11-17 (e.g., stacking some wood, fall clean-up, etc.)…
A week later, she posted again…
Thanks to all of the people who responded about canoes. We are going to need 10-12 canoes and we have over 25 canoes offered by various people. I just LOVE Front Porch Forum – not to mention this community!
Not only was an immediate need met (a dozen canoes successfully borrowed), but many new connections were undoubtedly made among participating neighbors. And, all of this was done in front of the 850 members of the Huntington FPF (which covers a 760-household area)… that is, just about everyone in town witnessed these acts of neighborliness. This kind of thing is contagious… one good deed begets more of the same.
Canoe on Michele, scouts and Huntington neighbors!
From the virtual to the actual…
#VT - I am a huge fan of our community’s active FPF and enjoy reading the issue every day! I love it so, that coming to a front porch near you: Real, Live, Front Porch Forum.
FPF Live will be held every Wednesday from 6 until 8 in the evening. Come join us next week on Main Street at Visions of Vermont – one of Jeffersonville’s finest front porches!
It is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and step out from behind the computer screen.
And if you have a front (or back, or seasonal) porch and would like to host a Wednesday FPF Live, let me know!
Posted by Justin today on the Cambridge FPF… love it!
Awesome to find local people for local work
#VT - Just wanted to thank Front Porch Forum for helping local businesses. We used FPF to find our roofer and I used FPF to fill my empty housekeeping spots. It is awesome to have an outlet to find local people for local work.
Posted by Christina today on the Cambridge FPF.
Black bear neighbor
#VT - Donna Faser-Leary writes in the Charlotte Observer this week…
Early this summer a new resident arrived in Charlotte: a black bear. The Charlotte Front Porch Forum, an online neighborhood communication resource, has been instrumental in keeping Charlotters informed of the bear’s whereabouts and activities. What first appeared to be a chance sighting soon became a frequent occurrence from East Charlotte to West, especially around the Mt. Philo area. Reports of destroyed birdfeeders, strewn trash bags and raided compost piles have been evidence of a bear’s visit. Only one bear has been occasionally sighted, and it has not shown any aggression toward either animals or humans but has merely given a huffing sound as a warning of its presence, a normal bear response…
People need to put away birdfeeders and store trash and other bear-appealing items in lock-safe containers. Don’t leave cookout or other food supplies out in the open unattended, and lock your sheds. Prevention is key. If a bear keeps coming around, Drury suggests hanging heavy-duty balloons loaded with some cayenne (hot) pepper powder off a shed or porch overhang. The bear will pop it, and “one time is usually all it takes.” Shooting at the bear with rubber bullets, which will scare but not kill it, is also an option…
Another online resource to tap into is the Charlotte Front Porch Forum, a free neighborhood communication service open only to people in your town. To join, go to frontporchforum.com. It will help you track bear sightings, find your dog, sell your stuff, get robbery alerts and keep informed about local issues and events.