Yearly Archives: 2019

A Pet Owner’s Best Friend

Posted on Monday, December 16, 2019 by No comments yet

Every Front Porch Forum member knows that lost and found pet postings are common on their neighborhood forums, most often including notes of gratitude and tales of happy reunions. See this great note shared by Emily T. on the Craftsbury FPF after she spotted a beagle on the loose:

“EVERYONE — Please take advantage of Front Porch Forum if your dog runs off this winter. We are lucky to have this resource and it has become a pet owner’s best friend. It gets SO COLD this time of year and no one wants to think of a beloved pet having to spend the night away from home. Please post and let your neighbors help you find your pup! (or kitty, or rooster as the case may be).”

If you’ve lost a pet or spotted someone else’s, be sure to check your neighborhood forum and post about it!

Town officials in New York learn about FPF

Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 by No comments yet

“Talk of the Towns & Topics,” a publication for the Association of Towns of the State of New York, shared news of Front Porch Forum‘s expansion to parts of upstate New York.

FPF has served Vermont towns since 2006, and people use FPF for all sorts of things. This brief daily connection helps neighbors become better informed and more involved in the life of their towns.

“Technology can be used to divide us or bring us together. I really admire the way Front Porch Forum uses the Internet to bring us together. It’s not formulated to keep you in front of your screen. FPF urges you to read the local postings and then get going, and go out and be with your neighbors. That is really important and constructive in terms of building community and building democracy.”  • Susan Clark, a Vermont town moderator

“I really love your service and its natural connection to local governments”  • Libby with the Assoc. of Towns of the State of New York

Random acts of kindness while shopping in VT

Posted on Monday, December 9, 2019 by No comments yet

The holiday spirit is year-round amongst our Front Porch Forum neighbors!

“Imagine my happy surprise when I came to the register to pay for lunch for my two kiddos and their two kiddo friends … and someone had already paid for it all!  It was so appreciated and so genuinely delightful, I have been smiling about it all day. Thank you, sweet neighbor — whoever you are! Not only did we get to enjoy those delicious bagels, but you also gave those four kids and me such a great opportunity to talk about kindness and generosity. It was a real gift-that-keeps-giving kind of scenario. I’m already scheming ways to pay it forward.” • Emily in Burlington

“To the woman who bought my groceries at Shaws that Tuesday night: You would not tell me your name. You made my month, literally. Thank you so much for your kindness.” • Lisette in Montpelier

To the person who put a sunflower on my bicycle outside Healthy Living Monday, My Thanks! You totally made my day when I came out from supper at the cafe! Tucked it in my brake cable on the frame & it made it home in good shape & now is in a tall thin vase by my computer screen! I love it! Thank you, thank you for that random act of kindness!!”  • Kathleen in South Burlington

Is FPF lost in your inbox? Try our NEW Mobile App!

Posted on Friday, December 6, 2019 by No comments yet

Exciting news you can now use FPF’s new mobile app to connect with your neighbors. The app makes it easy and quick to keep up on community goings-on, post to your neighbors, and more.

  • Stay logged in – no more trying to remember your password
  • Easy to view multiple days, see neighboring forums, and search past postings
  • Post to your FPF on the go
  • Get notified the moment a new issue is available – be first in line for that free toboggan!

Download FPF’s new mobile app from the Apple® and Google Play® app stores today.

P.S.  Of course, you’re still welcome to access your local FPF via email or our website too!

Neighborly connections through FPF

Posted on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 by No comments yet

Those new to a community often turn to Front Porch Forum to find connections.  What they find are wonderful neighbors!

I just moved to the neighborhood a few weeks ago! I am wondering if anyone is crafty or interested in crafts. I am hoping to have craft nights with others and maybe share techniques, catalogues, favorite tool, etc. Please be in touch if you would like to get together and talk crafts.”  • Kelley in Essex Junction

Hi FPF community, You all are the reason we chose to settle here and raise our family! The support you have shown after the loss of one third of my laying hens to a couple of domestic dogs, has truly been humbling. I thank you all for your kind words, your offers of help, suggestions & empathy. What a tremendous community, with wonderful neighbors, we all live in!!” • Deborah & Tim in East Hardwick

The unfiltered story of FPF on “Start Here”

Posted on Thursday, November 21, 2019 by No comments yet

Front Porch Forum co-founder, Michael Wood-Lewis, was recently interviewed on the Vermont Centers for Emerging Technologies (VCET), “Start Here” podcast, which shares the stories of active, aspiring and accidental entrepreneurs.

“Featuring Vermont’s most influential business leaders, Start Here bridges the gap between entertainment and inspiration by presenting the unfiltered stories of today’s top innovators. Everybody starts somewhere – why not Start Here?”

Click below and have a listen!

 

Small businesses do well using FPF

Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 by No comments yet

Locally owned businesses get support from their neighbors on Front Porch Forum:

“Thank you everyone on FPF who has recommended and or used SR Kiely Design-Build Inc. This has resulted in a fantastic year for our company.”  • Stephen in Bristol

“At last Saturday’s Farmers Market a nurse walked by our spot and said you sure use Front Porch Forum a lot aren’t you doing very well. We are doing well because we use FPF.”  • Charlie at Floating Bridge Family Farm

“We are getting a wonderful response to our pop ups. We’ve had vendors signing up through the ads from FPF. And then they spread the word to others, which is great for everyone.”  • Vicki at the River Garden, Brattleboro

The cold is here…. let’s Button Up Vermont!

Posted on Monday, November 18, 2019 by No comments yet

Temperatures are falling, snow is on the ground and the forecast calls for slick roads.  That means it’s weatherization season, too. Button up your home this year and stop heating the outdoors.

Have you heard about the incentives? Vermonters can get 50% off weatherization projects (up to $4,000) and cover the rest with free 0% interest financing on a Home Energy Loan from Efficiency Vermont.

Attend a local Button Up VT workshop and learn how to lower your heating bill, save energy, and make your home more comfortable at ButtonUpVermont.org.

Front Porch Forum is proud to be Button Up Vermont’s Community Partner, helping our neighbors be ready for winter.

Paying it forward

Posted on Monday, November 11, 2019 by 1 comment

The Holiday Season is fast approaching, but on Front Porch Forum we see neighbors paying it forward year-round. See this very generous posting from a Montpelier neighbor looking to pass on the goodwill in her life:

“Hi neighbors! I’ve just been to Costco for the first time since moving to Central Vermont a couple of years ago, and am super happy with the nutritious and relatively inexpensive food I was able to purchase!

As I’ve been experiencing some stressful food, fuel, and housing insecurity this past year, I’ve been incredibly grateful to local friends and organizations who have generously helped me fill up a tank of gas so I could get to work, share some of their shelf-stable food so I wouldn’t go hungry, and more!

I’d like to pay it forward please let me know if any or all of the following (fresh, refrigerated) would be helpful to you, and when and where I could bring it to you…” 

Get inspired to connect with your neighbors and you might find surprising ways to support one another!

Our Leaf Bag is Full!

Posted on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 by No comments yet

With help from thousands of Vermont and upstate NY neighbors… we made it! Thank you to the many Front Porch Forum members for chipping in to reach our October Supporting Member Campaign goal of $200,000.

If you meant to make your contribution and haven’t yet had a chance, there’s still time. Donate today!

“FPF has become the fabric of our communities, keeping each one abreast of the local to dos and stuff for sale and meetings to attend, and events coming up and information and gratitude for the great place we live here in Vermont.”   • Dave in Jericho

“I certainly agree with comments made about the important services provided by FPF. Vermont should never be without this kind of forum, providing an easy way for our communities to stay connected.”   • Roberta in West Bolton

FPF is a Public Benefit Corporation and not a charity. Contributions are not tax deductible. Ad sales to Vermont businesses cover most of our expenses, and your Supporting Member contribution helps close the gap.