Category Archives: Front Porch Forum

Help FPF Raise $200,000 by December 12, 2024

Posted on Sunday, December 8, 2024 by No comments yet

Is FPF useful to you?  To your community?  According to a recent survey, more than 90% of Front Porch Forum members say YES!  That’s why so many people sign up, read, and post every day.

If you’re among them, please help us continue to provide our essential civic service to every town in the state.

We need to raise $200,000 statewide from our members by this Thursday, December 12, 2024, to meet our year-end goal.  Please donate today.

We’re eager to keep FPF going strong.  We need your support to get there.  Please give today and help us fill the woodshed!  https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members

Thanks from FPF’s 30 employees.


FPF is a Vermont Public Benefit Corporation and not a nonprofit. Contributions are not tax deductible. Ad sales to local businesses cover most of our expenses, and your contribution helps close the gap. While we prefer online donations by credit card or PayPal, we gratefully accept payment by check too.

Best of FPF: This Little Piggy

Posted on Friday, December 6, 2024 by No comments yet

“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.”

Keep Your Local Forum Vibrant — Donate Today!

Posted on Monday, December 2, 2024 by No comments yet

Front Porch Forum’s annual year-end Supporting Member Campaign starts today! If you are able, please donate to FPF now by credit card, PayPal or check: https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members

FPF helps neighbors stay informed and connected locally.  We highlight stories of connection and gratitude every week in the “Best of FPF” series.  Need inspiration?  Take a look below!

And FPF is serving more people than ever: Among Vermont’s 270,000 households, FPF has 240,000 active members! If you value FPF, please support our work by participating and by donating today.

Thank you.

FPF is a Vermont Public Benefit Corporation and not a nonprofit. Contributions are not tax deductible. Ads purchased by local businesses cover most of our expenses, and your Supporting Member contribution helps close the gap.

Best of FPF: Trading Skills

Posted on Thursday, November 21, 2024 by No comments yet

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!”

Our Commitment to Vermont

Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 by No comments yet

November 2024

As we reflect on this year and turn to the holiday season, I am writing to members to offer my thanks for your participation on Front Porch Forum.  With so much vying for your attention, we are grateful that you make time to tune into your community via FPF.

With isolation and loneliness at epidemic proportions, we remain deeply committed to FPF’s mission of helping neighbors connect and build community.  As a Vermont public benefit corporation, this mission is baked right into our legal charter.  And as a family-owned small business, we’re proud to employ 30 Vermonters from across the state.

In these divisive times, please note that FPF is nonpartisan.  We make all of our moderation decisions based on our common sense Terms of Use.

In addition, Front Porch Forum is not publicly funded.  FPF is supported by local advertisers and individual donors, and we will maintain this essential civic service regardless of state or federal government budgets.

FPF currently has 240,000 active members out of the 270,000 households that exist in Vermont, and hundreds more join each week across every town in the state.

Thank you for your participation and everything you do to make this work possible. 

Michael Wood-Lewis, co-founder
Front Porch Forum

Favorite Hikes, according to FPF Members

Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2024 by No comments yet

It’s National Hiking Day. Vermonters often offer up suggestions in their Forums about the best trails.

“For kids, Sunset Rock from the top of Lincoln Gap is a little over a two-mile round trip. Fairly steep for the first quarter mile but then eases up considerably. A couple of place where you’ll need to scramble up rocks, but young kids should be able to handle it. And the reward is a spectacular view of the Champlain Valley.”
• Peter, Mad River Valley Forum

“Just hiked part of the Pitch Pine Trail. Amazing…very hike-able. Colors are gorgeous. What a find…will be an excellent place for snow shoe-ing…thanks for the tip!!! SOME HUMONGOUS TREES.”
• Maura, Salisbury Forum

“Just wanted to say how nice it was when hiking the Catamount trail thru Chase Brook back along German Flats towards SB south – I forgot to take a picture to include but the beautiful artwork by a local student(s) (I believe) and the story that went with it were very pleasant, and I just wanted to let the people know who put that together how much I enjoyed it. Walked it with my son’s family and our 20 month old granddaughter, and while she didn’t get the whole story she did see the artwork and helped capture her imagination. Nice job and appreciate the effort! If it’s still there it would be a nice thing to enjoy if you get a chance to hike it.”
• David, Fayston Forum

“The Colchester Causeway, a crushed gravel rail trail, separates Lake Champlain and Malletts Bay, following the railbed of the old Island Line Railway. From Causeway Park in Colchester, it’s a little over 6-miles round trip out to The Cut and back. The trail features sweeping views of the Adirondacks to the west, and Mount Mansfield, Bolton, Camels Hump, and Mounts Abe and Ellen to the east. This trail is also accessible and bikeable, so it has many recreation options!

Mt. Philo, Vermont’s first state park, is a great warm-up to hiking season. Located in Charlotte, hikers can hike up the paved auto road for beautiful views of Lake Champlain, Vermont’s farmland, and the Adirondack Mountains. The summit includes several scenic overlooks with benches and picnic tables to enjoy a snack and a view. The hike is a little over 2 miles round trip and provides elevation for an excellent training hike.”
• Dwight, Cornwall Forum

In response to a request for a wheelchair accessible trail:

“There is a new interpretive trail at the Dead Creek Visitor’s Center in Addison. It isn’t long, but it’s very flat with a new surface that I’m sure is suitable for a wheelchair. The rain has really made the flowers pop.”
• Rick, Hinesburg Forum

“Try the Nature Conservancy’s Raven Ridge Preserve in Monkton/Charlotte/Hinesburg. From the trailhead parking area on Rotax Road in Monkton there is a lovely accessible boardwalk across a wetland. Once you’re in the woods, the path turns to packed gravel but it is level and leads to an overlook over a small beaver pond. Perhaps 1/2 mile in total length.”
• Lenore, Hinesburg Forum

“This is for runners. Okay maybe bikers and walkers too.
This is the most beautiful ~10 miler you will ever run. The gorgeous Lincoln Loop:
Start at the town center, up Quaker, left on Isham Hollow, left on Colby hill, left onto Atkins, cross the river and up York, follow to West Hill, follow to Browns and left and down back to village.
Gorgeous view 1: Quaker at Isham, east and south.
Gorgeous view 2: Colby Hill, east and south.
Delightful downhill through the woods: Colby to Atkins
Classic Vermont Farm picture: Atkins Road”
• Van, Lincoln Forum

Thanks to the many organizations and volunteers who help to maintain these outdoor treasures!

Search your Forum Archives with the term “Hike” or “Trail” and see what outdoor adventure you might find in your own area!

Ask about or make suggestions for your favorite hikes on your local Forum!

Best of FPF: Chainsaw Tutorial

Posted on Friday, November 15, 2024 by 1 comment

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

Posted on Friday, November 8, 2024 by No comments yet

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

Posted on Monday, November 4, 2024 by No comments yet

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

Posted on Friday, October 25, 2024 by No comments yet

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.”