Category Archives: Burlington
“Front Porch Forum revolutionized Vermont communication”
“I’ll be honest — I hadn’t thought of contributing to FPF until yesterday, when 2 of my dogs went missing. How would I get the word out and get others looking for them, if there was no FPF? Keep it going–click on the link and donate!”
• Leslie, Morrisville FPF
“FPF is a valued community resource. As my endorsement, I just mailed a contribution. Think about it.”
https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members
• Tommaso, Bennington FPF
“Years ago I put out a clipboard to get people to sign up for Front Porch Forum at town meeting. We hosted a potluck at Ten Stones for the first few FPF members. And now look! It’s amazing what Michael Wood-Lewis and the FPF team has accomplished with their vision of Vermont communities coming together online. So many pets have been found, tradespeople and teenagers employed, apartments rented and political opinions shared. This is so worth continuing and supporting.”
• Edorah, Charlotte FPF
“If you’re reading this, you know the value of FPF. We don’t see any of the people working behind the scenes who make it possible for us to connect locally, but FPF is not an automated system. Real people living in Vermont are working to make sure it runs smoothly. I value them and am happy to send a donation of support.”
• Caro, Walden FPF
“Front Porch Forum revolutionized Vermont communication. We are SO lucky to have this Vermont-based forum to communicate so effectively with our neighbors. It really has revolutionized the way we interact and connect and is a classic Vermont example of how donations in any amount by many individuals make a difference and make it work. I just made my annual donation to keep this forum running.”
• Beth, Montpelier FPF
Hearing from Barnet, Brandon, Barre and beyond…
“I bought things, shared things for free (pottery clay, perennials), and received free items (the cosmos were glorious!) through Front Porch Forum. They are such a valuable tool to facilitate community caring and sharing. I am grateful! Please become an FPF Supporting Member.”
• Janet, Barnet FPF
“Keep this valuable resource alive and kick in what you can.”
• Gayle, Brandon FPF
“Thanks to all the people in our community who recognize what a bonus the Barre Town FPF has been to us: we can sell things, alert neighbors to activity that might hinder us, search for lost pets, and items. This has drawn us together as a “family” of sorts…”
• Janet, Barre Town FPF
“I moved from Jim Dwire Rd. two months ago, now living far away in California. But I just contributed to Front Porch Forum because what better way is there to keep in touch and know what’s going on in a community you lived in for many years?”
• Wayne, Starksboro FPF
“I’ve been able sell stuff in a moments notice, received recommendations for services, bought a great car, found people who lost their pets… the list could go on. I am more than happy to support this community service. Not a huge amount, just what I could afford. Thank you Front Porch Forum!”
• Coletta, South Hero FPF
“FPF is a great way to communicate our sales and other happenings. Hope my neighbors feel the same way and assist FPF with a contribution.”
• Jean, Argyle NY FPF
How to sell a used car in Vermont
“Car sold. This was the only place I advertised! Whew, that was easy. Thanks Front Porch Forum.”
• David, Fairfax FPF
“The big surprise was FPF’s finding local buyers for our used car. Craigslist and commercial used-car-sales services with hundreds of listings produced no calls after a month. We gave it a shot on FPF. Result: Satisfied local buyers who could inspect the car thoroughly and conveniently, and us as happy sellers with no concerns about transaction security.”
• Earl, Richmond FPF
Efficiency Vermont, FPF and South Burlington Energy Committee work to reduce residential electricity use by neighborhood
South Burlington Residential Electricity Reduction by Neighborhood
By Kristan Hatfield
Program Manager for Efficiency Vermont
The South Burlington Energy Committee, Front Porch Forum, and Efficiency Vermont partnered together to create a map of the city that displays changes in residential electricity consumption. The incorporation of neighborhood boundaries has added a relevant new dimension to the tool’s visualizations. The tool calculates changes in each of the Front Porch Forum neighborhood’s average kWh use per home.
A new understanding of community electricity use in the residential and municipal sectors has been inspired by three Vermont teams, South Burlington, Montpelier, and Waterbury/Duxbury, who are participating in the Georgetown University Energy Prize. The City of South Burlington and their partners have worked together to develop innovations in communicating trends in residential electricity and natural gas use. The result: South Burlington used less electricity per capita in 2015 than had been used in 2013 and 2014.
South Burlington Residents can look for the Map Update in The Other Paper this Fall (pp. 14-15) to see how each neighborhood is performing in 2016.
Supporting community in the Vermont tradition
“I would like to add my support to FPF’s outreach for membership donations. Who doesn’t read it avidly every single time? Who has not felt an expanded and enriched sense of community through its pages? Front Porch Forum makes us into a family, one who gives and shares, asks and finds, communicates and discusses issues that concern us. How many of us have been given just what we needed for free, many times over? Whose desire for recommendations has not been fulfilled by some caring neighbor? Who has not experienced the gratification that comes of giving something no longer wanted to someone who desperately needs it? This rich experiment in active, compassionate community has changed us for the better. And I believe FPF deserves our active gratitude: that is, membership funds. They have asked for no specific amount. Just think of the money you haven’t spent because you got something for free! That money could circle back to the source. I am glad to be a Supporting Member of Front Porch Forum, and am infinitely grateful for the sense of belonging and communal friendship and care that it brings to me over and over again.”
• Tami, Montpelier FPF
“I read Front Porch Forum everyday and I post a few times a year. I just made an annual donation to support its existence. If you also read FPF, and particularly if you post on it, please make a donation so it will continue to provide the service we enjoy.”
• Rachel, Morrisville FPF
“I just became a supporting member of Front Porch Forum (again)! Front Porch Forum is one of the best values around for local information. It’s a great institution in the Vermont tradition, a homespun digital business providing great service to its neighbors. If you can, help out at http://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members. Spread the word to your neighbors to try out the forum. It’s a great way to build neighborhood community. And thanks to the great Front Porch Forum team for this great resource.”
• Gary, Colchester FPF
Invest in Your FPF… Become a Supporting Member Today
Hello FPF friends
If Front Porch Forum is useful to you, please take a minute to contribute today. Every October we ask folks to become Supporting Members. Today we kick off our 2016 campaign.
Contribute here (credit card, PayPal or check):
https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members
More than 125,000 Vermont households participate on their local FPFs. As you’ve seen, neighbors find lost pets, report break-ins, recommend electricians, organize block parties, and so much more. And each exchange among neighbors carries the promise of community building.
If you agree that FPF is something special, then please help keep it strong. We are a Vermont business, hosting FPFs in each of the state’s 251 towns. Our staff of 14 work seven days a week to deliver our service. Most of our operating expenses are covered through ad sales to Vermont businesses. Your Supporting Member contributions help cover the rest.
Contributions are voluntary. Any amount you can give brings us closer to our 2016 goal, and makes FPF vibrant in your community. If you value FPF, become a supporting member now and help us reach our $150,000 annual statewide goal: https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members
Many thanks from the FPF team!
Michael, Nina, Linda, Gisele, Jonna, Natanya, Christine, Carolyn, Kate, Suzie, Wendy, Jodi, Lynn and Jan
Front Porch Forum
Pay online, or mail a check to:
Front Porch Forum
PO Box 64781
Burlington, VT 05406-4781
P.S. FPF is not a charity and contributions are not tax deductible.
How do I love thee, let me count the ways
Huge shout out to Front Porch Forum. Over the years we have used it to:
- Borrow a neighbor’s ladder to reach higher up our cherry tree in exchange for some cherries
- Get a free dog crate to go pick up chickens and then pass on that free dog crate to a new home
- Know of bobcat or bear sightings in our neighborhood to close up the chicken coop
- Ross found a job
- Recommend and find great service providers (trash pick up, window washing, tree service, etc.)
- Get a heads-up on great upcoming community events
- This weekend David got a free bed for a previously homeless person setting up housing
It is such a great community resource. Win/win/win.
• Maureen, Charlotte FPF
Front Porch Forum named Climate Economy Innovator
Vermont Council on Rural Development featured Front Porch Forum as a Climate Economy Innovator recently. Here’s the story. This is part of VCRD’s impressive Vermont Climate Change Economy Initiative.
Need recommendations for local businesses?
• Jen, Montpelier Front Porch Forum
Look for other Vermont businesses in the new online FPF Business Directory.
Car stolen in Montpelier recovered in Burlington
“Monday night, a Volkswagen Passat Wagon was stolen from in front of our house on Wilder St. in downtown Montpelier. If you have any information or see this vehicle, please call Montpelier Police, Washington County Sheriff, or Middlesex State Police Barracks.”
• Megan, Montpelier Front Porch Forum
“The car stolen front Wilder St. was recovered in Burlington Wednesday night! Thank you all for your concern.”
• Megan, Montpelier FPF, two days later
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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