Ghost of Midnight

Best of FPF: Chainsaw Tutorial

Carrie, in Grand Isle, turned to their Front Porch Forum to seek help learning a handy skill. We thought it was well worth a share:

“Hello neighbors! I have a small electric chainsaw but haven’t used it myself because I’m afraid. I’d like to get over that and potentially learn how to use a regular-sized/powered chainsaw too. So, if you have some experience and don’t mind showing me how to safely operate a chainsaw, please reach out. I’m a YouTube university superstar; so I’ve watched plenty of basics, but things like this do best with learning in person.”

Carrie was able to get the advice they needed. Remember, FPF can be a great place to exchange skills!

Best of FPF: A Meaningful Gesture

A young trick-or-treater in Northfield shared handwritten thank-you notes for the candy they reaped on Halloween night. (Remember Halloween? Hard to believe that was just last week.) We thought the reaction was well worth a share:

John posted in the Forum, “While I was passing out candy last night, one very thoughtful trick-or-treater gave me this note. A new experience for me. Whoever you are, thanks for making my night!”

Sally followed with:

“Thank yous via email-text-snail mail-phone call-hand delivered-hand written seemed to have lost their way these days. I’m so glad someone still believes in making this simple-yet meaningful-gesture. Thank you to the parents for leading the way.”

Best of FPF: Ballots, Sharpies, and Snowstorms

Town Clerks have been keeping their communities up-to-date on information needed for the upcoming election. The Middlesex Town Clerk posted this in their local Forum last week and we thought it was well worth a share:

“Hello, all – We’re fewer than two weeks away from the November 5th General Election and have already received over 550 ballots. Yay! Just a few very important reminders as we head toward the final stretch…

– If you are planning to vote in person on Tuesday, November 5th, please for the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY SAVE YOUR BALLOTS! Bring them to the polls!

– Voting at home? Please don’t use Sharpies. Sharpies bleed through the ballots and the tabulator won’t accept them. (Yes, your vote will still count. It will just need to be hand-counted. See above.)

– Voting in person will take place Tuesday, November 5th. It will be friendly and safe. Promise. All voters welcome. There will be candy and stickers. Please don’t bring dogs. (Guess we’re not THAT welcoming.) Leave your guns in the car. (New Vermont state law.)

Okay, that’s my screed for the day. You can look forward to more nagging as we get closer to Election Day. Yippee. Be grateful you’re not one of my kids. Not for nothing have they moved to the opposite ends of the world.

Friends, please try to stay sane and positive. Remember, we’re a community of people just trying to do our best. Our solutions to the current problems might not be the same; they may be radically different. But at the end of the day – we’re neighbors who help each other out in floods and snowstorms regardless of our political leanings. We’re all in this together…”

Best of FPF: Masked Pear Thiefs

Caitlin posted a crime report to their North Hero Forum. “I write to you feeling a combination of rage and violation – we’re pretty sure someone stole all but three of our pears!”

Neighbors weighed in and then came an update. We thought it was well worth a share:

“Several kind neighbors have written to let us know that apparently raccoons are capable of such a thorough fruit heist! I never would have guessed, but many people have said they’ve experienced similar vanishing fruits without a trace, and later learned it was raccoons, including people with more hidden fruit trees or arbors. Additionally, folks have offered to give us their pears or raise money for a pear basket for us. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of spirit of this community, and my faith in humanity (and an increased suspicion of raccoons) has been restored. I feel slightly silly that perhaps I filed a police report against a band of raccoons, but am laughing at the fact that maybe the burglars wore masks.”

Best of FPF: Election Night Square Dance

Erik is inviting Townshend neighbors to come together on election night. We thought it was well worth a share:

“When I feel like I’m being pulled into the eddy of dark fates that swirl around our current election season, my escape comes when I can remember the broader stream that this rock-strewn vortex is only a small part of…

So here’s a little idea. Given the intensity of whatever will be on, and after, November 5th, I’d like your help to remember the wide wide river that carries us. And when I cast my ballot, I’d like nothing more than to step out of the voting booth and into a dance. Think of it as a gesture to organize the kindnesses we all know to be here – where under one roof we can both disagree and attest that, in spite of our differences, we’ll still show up to feed and swing each other.

So will you join me? For a square dance? Election night? Work is already underway. Sally Newton and the Turkey Mountain Window Smashers will be there to keep us in step.

Vote. Bring a dish. Bring a neighbor (especially the one with a different sign in the front yard), bring your civic spirits, battered and beautiful as we are, and prepare to promenade.

I hope you will.”

Best of FPF: Pirate Treasure

Annie posted in their Bristol Forum, “Does anyone have coins or dollars hanging around from world travels that are taking up space & no longer needed? I am collecting some for a ‘Pirate’s Treasure Hunt’ for a little girl’s 7th birthday party.”

In typical FPF fashion, Annie’s neighbors delivered. They followed up to celebrate the Pirate Booty that ensued. We thought it was well worth a share:

“Thank you to everyone who shared their no-longer-needed coins & currencies from travels & collections! This treasure trove will have at least 36 countries represented. What a fun trip around the world – from Australia to Zimbabwe and from the Faroe Islands to Fiji! Burma to Belgium and Ghana to Turkey. There are yak, dolphins, beavers, and elephants. Famous buildings include the pyramids of Egypt and a Vietnamese factory featuring its economic value. The art on each coin is truly inspiring. Some treasures date back to the 1930s, offering bits of history from countries that no longer create their own coins, or no longer even exist!

For the little girl turning 7, this is likely going to be a marvel of fun and educational potential.
Again, YAY for our FPF and everyone jumping into sharing from your travels.”

(And in case you’re interested, Annie’s collection is now complete, but maybe your own global coins would be appreciated by another Pirate enthusiast in your town!)

Best of FPF: Library Love

Meg, in Huntington, shared an enthusiastic appreciation for their town library. We thought it was well worth a share:

“Looking ahead at my October calendar, I’m awed by how many events I’ll be attending right down the road at the Huntington Public Library!! I can’t thank Stacey and Anne enough for welcoming and seeking out events and activities – many of which are super family friendly – that strive to speak to all of us here in Huntington.

Public meeting, LEGO club, senior coffee, environmental talks – and coming up in the next weeks: the Bess O’Brien film “Just Getting By” on Wednesday – with the filmmaker!! First Friday – with the food truck, craft vendors, and the opening of the “Passage to Wonderland” art show, (maybe a PIE bake sale, too?). Then, on Sunday, is our former county forester and consultant to our local town forest creators, Ethan Tapper’s book launch (and signing! It’s a fabulous read!)

This is all just a couple miles from my home. Love, love, love the library!! What’s next??! Can’t wait to find out!”

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What’s happening at YOUR local library? Check out your community calendar to see what’s there! https://frontporchforum.com/calendar. Better yet, stop by to explore.

Best of FPF: Keeping Neighbors in Mind for the Winter Ahead

National Good Neighbor Day is this weekend and this message jumped out as a shining example. Kyle posted this offer in his Worcester Forum and we thought it was well worth a share:

“Everyday reality isn’t the same experience for each of us, and I don’t believe we can have a healthy happy community if all of us are not having, at the minimum, our basic needs met.

I’m offering this; let me know if you, or someone you know, don’t have the resources to stay warm this winter. (It’s lining up to be a real good one from the sounds of it.)

If you can’t swing it for whatever reason, I will bring dry hardwood to your house in Worcester. For those that are able-bodied with trucks and trailers, there is plenty of free slab wood to come cut up and haul away. Please consider your neighbors and acquaintances when you read this.

Anonymity, no judgment, no advertisement. Stay warm, Worcester.”

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Please note, this posting was an offer just to Kyle’s neighbors in Worcester.
If you need wood or want to volunteer, check out: https://fpr.vermont.gov/vermont-wood-banks.
If you are in need of fuel assistance, please visit: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/fuel