Author Archives: Susannah

Best of FPF: A Hockey Season Preview

FPF members in Calais can rely on their neighbor, Don, for year-round sports updates – but most particularly hockey. We thought this year’s season preview was well worth a share:

“With last season’s efforts behind them with a handful of wins and an early playoff exit, this year’s crop of skaters has the vision and desire to turn things around in a big way. The three lone Seniors of Max Scribner, Maddox Heise, and Colton Warren spent their summer playing with a Vermont team that more than held their own vs. all-star teams from around New England. Add to that trio a group of 9 Freshmen who are coming off a State Championship last winter, and U32 might surprise the rest of the Division 2 league.

Shock might be a better word than surprise as this Raider team knocked off CVU, 5-0 in their first game. CVU is a perennial Div. 1 power and U32 overpowered them. With Milton, Harwood, and Stowe next in line, this younger version of U32 hockey will have a good idea of where they stand very soon.

Some of the best parts of sports often get hidden behind the headlines. Last year one forward reached the rare milestone of 100 career points with his linemate just a couple points away from joining him. With 2 assists in his first game, he reached that goal only to find out after the game his 100th point was changed to a Freshman player for his first point. The Senior player refused his 100-point banner and a photo in the paper and gave the point credit to the Freshman. A class act for the younger kids to follow and, most likely a banner celebration in the next game. Who said hockey rinks are cold!”
#vermont #vermonthockey #u32 #community #highschoolhockey #frontporchforum

Best of FPF: Bundles of Balsam

Stephanie in Pittsford posted in her FPF, turning an unfortunate injury into holiday cheer for others. We thought it was well worth a share:

“I recently posted that my mom broke her wrist at the beginning of her wreath making season and was left with over 50 bundles of balsam that she had trucked down from Nova Scotia. So many people came forward to buy balsam and/or send messages of concern and support!

My mom didn’t want to sell the balsam for what she paid for it. She just wanted to recoup some of her loss. The folks who stopped in to buy balsam were so kind to her and she wanted me to let you know how much it means to her. She enjoyed meeting you and is so thankful for your kindness.”

Best of FPF: This Little Piggy

“Best of FPF” is a series where we share one posting each Thursday from an FPF member who inspired us with their humor, community-mindedness, or just has a good story. Courtney submitted a posting in her Barre Town Forum that tugged on our heartstrings. We thought it was well worth a share:

“Missing mini piglet on Tamarack Lane. Her name is Lulu and she is very friendly. She weighs 21 pounds. Lulu loves carrots, celery, and all berries — and she is SO MISSED. She may be under a deck or under patio furniture cushions trying to keep warm.”

Courtney followed up with, “It has been completely heartwarming to have received so much love via messages, texts–and seeing so many people out searching in the dark for our sweet Lulu. We’ve hired a thermal drone service and I just want to post so everyone will know WHY there is a drone in our area today.”

Best of FPF: Trading Skills

Barbara turned to FPF in Wolcott to trade her skills for another’s. We thought it was well worth a share:

“I will make a five-course meal (choose from menu) in exchange for anyone who can successfully get any one of my three printers working with my laptop. Rave reviews for my cooking; how’s your computer smarts? Thanks!”

Here’s how things turned out:

“I got 3 offers; the first one who contacted me was a nice young woman who works in IT. She came and hooked up two of the printers. She brought home a meal of lamb kebabs marinated in yogurt, saffron, and garlic with baby potatoes, sweet peppers, onions served on a bed of fresh cooked spinach. Dessert was a pan of warm brownies. Very happy with this FPF success!”

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.”