Category Archives: Burlington

Many Acts of Kindness During Blizzard Stella

Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2017 by No comments yet

Front Porch Forum newsletters saw an abundance of offers to help those in need during Vermont’s Winter Storm Stella. Here are a few reflective of our members’ gracious community spirit! 

“What an amazing community! I posted in the last issue, looking for help shoveling out because I’m disabled and can’t do it. Less than an hour after that FPF edition was sent out, I had TEN offers from folks wanting to help! I am so grateful and happy to live in an amazing community like this. Thank you!!”  • Cara in Winooski

“Thanks for working together to dig each others’ cars out of the snow. It’s fun to shovel together! It allowed those of us without driveways to park in safety. Thanks for being good neighbors!”  •  Mindy in Burlington 

“Two able bodies in town looking to help folks that need help getting shoveled out after the big storm.” • Dave & Eli in Charlotte

“I’m not a snow removal expert, nor equipped with a snowblower or plow, but if you’re in need of having your walkway or decks shoveled, I have a strong back and shovel and I’m available. Not looking to make money, just meet some neighbors in need.”  • Adam in New Haven

“Thank you to the Snowblower Angel who was walking with their snowblower Tuesday night assisting their neighbors. I was out shoveling for the third time and your help was greatly appreciated.”  • Carmen in Burlington

“From a security camera I just saw someone shoveling out our front sidewalk and deck/steps, which were buried under 26″ plus of snow. That person was our good neighbor who didn’t want my wife to shovel as I just got out of the hospital and can’t shovel.”  • Sam in Burlington

“Thanks to 6 teens who came to our assistance with snow shoveling at our home. They were eager, very polite, and dug right in. When offered payment, they refused. When offered pizza, they refused. Our hearts are full of thanks for these young men.”  • Bob in Bristol

Lost wallet anonymously returned to Burlington man… so he joins local FPF to say thanks

Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2017 by No comments yet

“Thank you very much to whomever returned my wallet to City Market customer service. A friend of mine at Mule Bar told me today that he had seen that someone had found my wallet on Front Porch Forum.  I would like to offer a reward to this mystery person. Please contact me!”
• Daniel, joined FPF in Old North End of Burlington so he could post this

Some folks use their local FPF as a form of insurance… a safety net when things go awry.  Send Vermonters to FrontPorchForum.com to sign up.

Posting gratitude instead of obituary

Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 by 2 comments


“In the early morning hours of Monday, March 6, my life flipped upside down with the words ‘get out, get out, it’s a real fire!’ Running outdoors in one’s pajamas, into a windchill of -14, is not an experience I recommend to anyone.

“The heroes of our Burlington Fire Department were there in short order, and the Red Cross was behind them by just a few minutes. Wonderful neighbors opened their doors at once and kept them open all night through hours of the interviews, paperwork, and other mundane details of a waking nightmare. Other people’s gloves and heavy coats and bags for retrieving what we could when it was over appeared seemingly out of nowhere. A night that went badly but could have gone far, far worse was made bearable by not going through it alone. Vermonters are the best people in the world.

“I don’t know yet how long I will be displaced. There is a long period of friends’ guest rooms and daily conversations with insurance companies yet to come. There could have been a long period in a burn unit, and I am writing a Front Porch Forum post, not an obituary, so I am very grateful.

“Thanks for listening.

“P.S.–check your smoke detectors!!”

• Holly, Old North End FPF, Burlington

Tires slashed, windows shot out across Burlington’s South End

Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2017 by No comments yet

Postings like those below (this set is from March 1) have become common on Front Porch Forum across Burlington’s South End…

“The two street-side tires were slashed on a pickup truck parked in front of our house on lower Lyman, we think sometime between last night (Wed 3/1) and this morning. We didn’t notice any activity or hear anything unusual. My husband called the police and an officer stopped by to say the usual – that this type of thing has been happening all over the city and they are trying to track down the perpetrator(s). The officer also said that he had already responded to another incident up the street.”
• Laura, The Addition FPF in Burlington’s South End

“Hey folks – I woke up yesterday morning to find 3 of 4 windows smashed (both street-side, one sidewalk side) on my car parked on upper Ferguson. Nothing taken that I am aware of, however, there was a strange addition of white rice in the front seats. The responding officer was also perplexed by the rice, but did indicate, as we know, that this type of vandalism has been occurring all over Burlington for a while now. Yesterday evening I did locate two BBs inside my vehicle. Wanted to post to let folks know that this vandalism is still occurring.”
• Kristi,The Addition FPF in Burlington’s South End

“Be aware – tires slashed on upper Spruce St. night of 3/1-3/2. Car parked on street.”
• Priscilla, South Union FPF in Burlington’s South End

“My tire was also slashed, Priscilla… I’m on South Union, a couple houses from Spruce. Sad to hear someone else went through this!”
• Kevin, South Union FPF in Burlington’s South End

Same thing happened on my street in the Five Sisters neighborhood a few weeks ago.  If you have any information about these incidents, please notify the Burlington Police and post on your local FPF so neighbors can be aware.

FPF Hires, Achievements and Promotions: Sales Team Dedicated and Moving Forward!

Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 by No comments yet

As Front Porch Forum celebrates 10 years helping neighbors connect and build community, our team has grown and evolved. FPF serves every community in Vermont, and 130,000 members participate out of the 260,000 households that exist in the state. Our staff has grown and evolved to better serve our members and business community. Take a look at our dynamic sales team.

New Additions
Jodi Harrington is an 8th generation Manchester, Vermont gal and 5th generation graduate from Burr and Burton Academy. Previous owner/editor of the Winooski Eagle newspaper and marketing director for both Onion River Co-op and Opportunities Credit Union, Jodi’s small business marketing skills are a great advantage to businesses utilizing FPF. She’s a strong activist in her communities having served on both the Winooski School Board and City Council. She loves the mountains and can be often found on the slopes (she is a level 3 PSIA ski instructor who has taught at Bromley, Smuggs, Whiteface, Bolton, Stowe and Burke).

Wendy Wilson brings her 20 years of experience in marketing, public education and communications to Front Porch Forum. She’s been actively involved in the fabric of Vermont through past work with Chittenden Solid Waste District, Vermont Commons School and Energy Action Network. In addition to her role at Front Porch Forum, Wendy also works part-time for VBSR. She has two teenage daughters and lives in Bristol where she enjoys cycling, traveling, cooking, reading and walking her dog Stella.

Celebrating Five Years
Suzie McCoy has helped local businesses connect with FPF members since 2012. She’s seen FPF membership double in that time, and has a genuine enthusiasm for the important role that FPF plays in our communities. Fluent in French, Suzie earned a master’s degree in education, and has taught at the high school and college levels. She’s an active volunteer and cofounded the Vermont nonprofit Action Coalition for Media Education, and currently serves as school board vice chair. Mom to her 12-year old son, you can find her pursuing a number of outdoor activities year round.

Promotion
Congratulations to Gisele Nelson, who after six years with FPF has been promoted to Sales Team Manager. Gisele started her tenure with FPF as an intern while she was a student at UVM. Her skills were quickly put to work as she took on a role in both Member Support and as an Online Content Manager. She built a strong rapport with many local businesses while in these roles which led her into the sales realm at FPF. Gisele’s strength in balancing her work and understanding of needs from both members and local businesses, combined with her strong inter-office communication skills, led her into this newly developed role at FPF.

Front Porch Forum celebrates 10 years helping neighbors connect and build community. Using technology to bring neighbors closer together, members of a local forum submit their own messages, which FPF distributes to nearby residents as an online newsletter. Because the service is moderated and real names accompany postings, the discussions remain civil, engaging, and relevant. FPF is popular, because it works. Ask any of our sales team staff how they can help put your business in the forefront of neighborhood conversations with our active, engaged membership.

Watch your skis or snowboard… thieves strike slopes

Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2017 by No comments yet

“Just wanted to send out a quick PSA and let everyone know that there is apparently a ski/snowboard thief going around to most of the local resorts (Sugarbush, Smugg’s, Bolton, Stowe). My skis and poles were stolen last night from Bolton and the desk employee informed me there have been about 5-10 other reports just in the last 2 days. Please be cautious and lock/watch your things!”
• Jenessa, Richmond Front Porch Forum

Has your gear been stolen this season?  Pitch in by telling your neighbors on FPF.