Yearly Archives: 2015
Foster child overwhelmed by neighbors’ care
“Many, many thanks for the fabulous response many of you gave to our foster child’s search for a bike. K is overwhelmed by his sense that so many people out there care and we are excited that he’ll have a bike to ride this spring (it is spring, right? As an Englishwoman, the seasons have me a little confused!!) We feel fortunate to live among you all – and thanks also to Front Porch Forum for allowing this kind of communication and community-building to take place.”
• Zoe, Underhill FPF
Above and below are a handful of the postings we get every day on Front Porch Forum. What will you post to your neighbors?
“I’ve enjoyed your comments on Front Porch Forum. They remind me of how messy and important free speech and citizen journalism are to a functioning democracy.”
• Bill, Hinesburg FPF
“Golden Retriever Found! I knew I could count on FPF. Thank you everyone for the phone calls and assistance. Lulu is home and although she looks pretty guilty, she had an eventful day! Thank you!!”
• Alison, Bristol FPF
“Hi – I’m looking for someone to roll my yard to help smooth out the bumps. I can contact lawn services in town, but FPF seems to be a better place to start. If you’ve hired someone to do this for you, and were happy with the work, i’d really appreciate the recommendation. Thank you!”
• Mary, Montpelier FPF
“My pet sitting business is a success! ‘Found you on FPF’ is the first thing I hear when a new client comes my way.”
• Deb, Middlebury FPF
Great response to post on yard clean-up… Many people responded and I’ve got someone to help. Thanks FPF! What a great way to connect!”
• Anne, Bristol FPF
“Just wanted to let you know that Andy and I secured housing in Essex this afternoon! Yippeee!! Thank you again for your help! The owners found out about us through your FPF posting – we probably never would have found an opportunity like this otherwise.”
• Karen, Essex Center FPF
Need local survey respondents?
A Burlington business reached out to the community with a survey this month and got more than 500 responses. They used social media, their own popular e-newsletter and Front Porch Forum to get the word out. Here’s where they got their respondents:
45% Front Porch Forum
40% Company’s e-newsletter
8% Facebook
7% Twitter
Middlebury nudist colony?
Peg shared on her Middlebury Front Porch Forum today…
What a wonderful community Front Porchers are! Thank you all for your many responses to my request for a shower bench for my husband. We had enough offers to provide for a disabled nudist colony and now have a bench that was delivered in person to our homestead. You are the best!
It will make life much easier for husband and the wonderful Home Health folks who come to help in the shower.
Discerning the needs of a community
Susan posted on her Underhill Front Porch Forum over the weekend…
In a conversation with my pastor a mere week ago, we were making mention of the various topics of conversation on FPF. He viewed FPF as a way of discerning the needs of the community. I appreciated that perspective since I had never thought of the postings in that way.
Free fishing rods and meeting a neighbor
“I love Front Porch Forum — our pair of free fishing rods were picked up this morning by a neighbor, who I hadn’t previously met, while she was out on her walk. Her two little boys couldn’t be happier.” Posted by Linda on the Appletree Point FPF in Burlington yesterday.
People get great direct results when they post on their local FPF, such as when they unload an item they no longer need. But it’s the connection to neighbors — see Linda’s story above — that carries more weight over time.
Front Porch Forum’s mission is to help neighbors connect and build community… one lost pet, plumber recommendation, borrowed ladder, or pair of free fishing rods at a time!
Richmond officials communicate with public
Richmond Rescue posted a report to the citizens of Richmond, Vermont, on their local Front Porch Forum this week. It started…
Each quarter I will be posting a number of statistics about Richmond Rescue to help you stay more informed about our business.
In the first quarter of 2015 we went on 173 calls and transported 109 patients for a transport rate of 63%. Our average for this period in the last 3 years was 160 calls and 106 transports and a transport rate of 66%…
A Richmond FPF member responded today with…
I really liked seeing the Richmond Rescue statistics posted in Front Porch Forum. It gave me an even greater appreciation of the work these valuable volunteers provide our community.
With all of the talk about break-ins in town, I wonder if the police department could provide us with some up-to-date information in Front Porch Forum about what is going on. Are our crime statistics going up? Have any perpetrators been caught? What neighborhoods are being affected? What is the police department doing about the situation?
Front Porch Forum is a wonderful vehicle for getting out information to the community about current issues and concerns. The Town Clerk uses it frequently. The Rescue is now using it. I would like to see the police department use it as well to keep us informed and up to date.
Hearing aid recommendation saves the day
Sarah posted on the Shelburne Front Porch Forum yesterday…
I recently posted to FPF in search of recommendations for audiologists as my hearing aid had broken and I was looking for a second opinion. My current provider had suggested a hefty fee to fix my broken hearing aid and was going so far as to say that it needed replacement. Given the costs involved I believed it was wise to seek additional advice.
I received multiple replies to my post and I met with Dr. Julie Bier of Better Living Audiology in South Burlington. Lo and behold my hearing aid did not need to be replaced and the replacement part was substantially, read significantly, less than my (now former) practitioner was quoting. Thanks to Front Porch Forum I saved a considerable amount of money and have met a wonderful new physician!
Woodbury considers Town website
The tiny Town of Woodbury, Vermont, asked its citizens yesterday on the Woodbury Front Porch Forum if it should create a Town website. Since three-quarters of the Town’s 400 households participate on their local FPF, this was a sensible move.
The feedback is starting to come in. Here’s one person’s perspective…
If you decide to have a website, which is probably a good idea, please continue to post selectboard agendas and minutes on Front Porch Forum. It is convenient at this site and has visibility.
Many Vermont towns post public meeting agendas and minutes on their local FPF because so many people tune in there.
Dog recommends sitter
Thousands of recommendations flow through Front Porch Forum. But yesterday on the Middlebury FPF we saw our first recommendation made by a dog, submitted by human Christine:
This is an easy recommend. Debbie was recommend by FPF and also by a friend. She wanted to meet our dog before she came to care for him, so he wouldn’t be surprised. My dog highly recommends Debbie.
Neighbors find and deliver wheelchair for neighbor in need
Ruth posted the following on her neighborhood Front Porch Forum in South Burlington the other day…
Am looking for a manual-drive wheelchair for outdoor use on lawn & in garden. Appearance not important but must be in good condition, which at present, I am not. Thank you.
She followed that a couple days later with…
My new wheels… Thanks to The Forum & member Paula, I have a loner wheelchair from the Samaritans at Fanny Allen Hospital to use while my new Cyborg hip heals & I learn to walk again. Thanks to St. Mike’s senior, Kristen, for driving me to Winooski to bring it home.
This is a wonderful example of community building. Ruth, by asking for help, Paula, by supplying information, and Kristen, by offering hands-on assistance, combined to show their neighborhood how to pull together and solve a neighbor’s problem.
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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