Category Archives: Front Porch Forum

Sharing Hope and Gratitude

Posted on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 by • Comments are off for this post

It’s easier to remember we’re all in this together when we experience acts of kindness that inspire hope. Check out these Front Porch Forum postings for a reminder that we have some pretty great neighbors out there! We’re all in this together.

“Thank you to the kind stranger who returned my wallet to my home address today, everything fully intact. I lost it during a particularly discouraging week, and it was incredibly uplifting to find it in my mailbox today. Beyond the relief of not having to replace all of my IDs and cards, it is wonderful to be reminded that there are good people in this community doing the right thing. There wasn’t a note, so if you who returned it happens upon this post, please reach out and let me know– I would love the opportunity to thank you directly and return your kindness.” • Olivia in Burlington

“We are now 8 months into this pandemic, and it has been a very strange and stressful time. Are you OK? Are your neighbors OK? Many folks are struggling with things like loneliness and depression. Many have disabilities making routine tasks difficult. Some of us are facing food insecurity or struggling with addiction. Please remember to check in with your neighbors who may need help, and if you need help yourself, please reach out and feel the love this community has for you. Let me know if I can help or put you in touch with someone who can.” • Mark in Castleton

“About 2 weeks ago there was a posting for a man’s wedding ring that was found at Waterbury Reservoir. I’m happy to report that ring is now back on my nephew’s finger. To truly appreciate this story I have to share that the ring was lost at Waterbury Reservoir 2 YEARS AGO! We will never know what adventures that ring went on swimming around in that huge body of water. Thank you to the people who found it and posted it. Thank you to FPF for providing the most amazing service to our community. Never give up hope.” • Lorraine in Cambridge

“Thank you to everyone who emailed me in support of my post about the signs the other day. You are all so kind to take the time to extend your warm words.

It got me thinking though about how 2020 has been a dumpster fire of epic proportions A year that has left us with so many emotional jagged edges it’s no wonder we react without thinking, tear into friends and strangers and generally not being our best selves. We all know we can do better, we just seem to not have much bandwidth left for that.

So I would like to propose a community FPF challenge. It’s an easy one too. I would like everyone who reads this post to reply with a story of something great that happened to them today or this week. It doesn’t have to be big, or life changing or deep, in fact something simple and sweet is best. The idea is to fill up our hearts with all the ways we are a fantastic community, surrounded with great neighbors and friends and that we are truly lucky even when we forget that. Our “wealth” is all around us, we just need to remember that more often than not.

I hope you will take 60 seconds to join me and hit reply all with your own story of gratitude. Thanks, Beth

I will start.

I want to acknowledge and thank the man who I see walking around town with his garbage grabbing stick and orange bag picking up other people’s trash nearly everyday. You sir are AWESOME. Thank you so much for making our roads cleaner and more beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Hometown Hero in my book. Thank you so much.” • Elizabeth in Stowe

Spread your message or story of hope to your neighbors on FPF.

Honoring those who have passed in a special way

Posted on Monday, November 9, 2020 by • 1 comment

We couldn’t resist sharing this story shared on Front Porch Forum. A unique way to “pay it forward.”

“Something amazing happened to us tonight. We went out to dinner to celebrate our 51st wedding anniversary. We had a very nice meal which we very much enjoyed. When we asked for the check the waitress said that she had heard us say that it was our 51st anniversary. A frequent customer of their’s had called in and asked that, in memory of his son who would have been 24 today, the restaurant choose a customer celebrating something of consequence, and he would pick up the bill! So we had a very nice dinner capped off by this man’s thoughtfulness! We, of course, paid the waitress a tip for 20% of what the bill would have been and asked the hostess if she could give us our benefactors name and telephone. She did so and we called him as soon as we got home and thanked him. We also decided that this was such a nice thing to do that we will “pay it forward” and do the same thing in future every year on our anniversary to honor our long deceased parents and their anniversaries.”  • John in East Hardwick

Have your own examples of “Paying it Forward?”  Post them on FPF!

An opportunity to connect and share

Posted on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 by • Comments are off for this post

Read your FPF by email?  Prefer the website?  Are you a mobile app aficionado?  However you connect with your neighbors online, FPF has gotten some major upgrades this year, including a new look across the board and new features to make reading and posting even easier.  Here’s how some FPF members have responded to the changes:

“The great thing about FPF is anyone is welcome to post on subjects that are important to them; for some people it’s Doggy Play Dates or Free Plants, and for others it’s Community Health Issues. The new format and bold subject field enable you to peruse the page, read the posts that interest you, and skip the ones that don’t (or maybe be exposed to a different point of view.) Thanks, FPF for the opportunity to connect and share.”  • Joseph in Waterbury Center, Vt.

 

“I used the “Edit post” option for the first time just now.  It may have been there for a while but I just happily discovered it and wanted to pass along my excitement for the service Front Porch Forum is providing to our communities!”  • Elly at Lamoille Regional Solid Waste

“We just moved to Vermont from California and I am looking forward to using this forum for resources!” • Holly in Williston

VT Farmers: Apply by Oct. 1 for State COVID-19 Relief Grants

Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2020 by • Comments are off for this post

It’s not too late! The Dairy Assistance Application and Agriculture and Working Lands Applications are now live. The deadline to apply for these funds, part of Vermont’s COVID-19 Agriculture Assistance Program (VCAAP), is Oct. 1, 2020. These grants are intended to stabilize agricultural businesses and organizations based on their lost revenues and expenses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Learn more here.

If you have neighbors in your community who could benefit from this information, or other helpful info to share, post it on your neighborhood FPF!

Keep up daily using FPF’s mobile app

Posted on Monday, August 31, 2020 by • Comments are off for this post

Did you know FPF has a mobile app? Compose a posting, search the archive, and more… all in one place!

“Wow! Hyped about the app keep up the incredible work, team. Love Front Porch Forum, always find what I’m looking for using it ”  • Zach in St. Albans, Vt.

“Downloaded the app instantly! I’m so happy there is an app now. Its aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and elegant in it’s simplicity – great work to all of you who developed it and my sincere gratitude!”  • Melissa in Rutland

“Get the App…best thing since sliced bread. I will now be able to keep up with it daily. Thank you FPF“  • Tammy in Morrisville, Vt.

“FPF has come of age!  Love the ease of mobility when I want to check out other forums.” • Paul and Rosie in Burlington, Vt.

“Thank you!  What a delight to use!”  • Mary in Starksboro, Vt.

“Great idea about the FPF app! Just downloaded!” • Rebecca in Berlin, Vt.

“Took me about 30 seconds to upload and sign on.  Looks like a great way to get this daily information.” • Marie in Shelburne, Vt.

Ready to get the mobile app?  Find it in the Apple® and Google Play® app stores.

Front Porch Forum Expands Engineering Team

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by • Comments are off for this post

Front Porch Forum’s tech team is growing! Two more software engineers, Noah Harrison and Aaron Lipman, have joined FPF to continue upgrading and expanding our custom-built mobile, web and email platforms to better serve our social mission.

Since 2006, FPF has been helping neighbors connect and build community by hosting a statewide network of online local forums. Out of Vermont’s 260,000 households, FPF has more than 190,000 members.  As part of FPF’s 20 staff members, our software developers play a crucial role in providing high-quality service and developing relevant new features for members across all of Vermont and parts of surrounding states.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Hires:  Aaron Lipman and Noah Harrison

Noah and Aaron each work closely with Lead Engineer and Tech Team Manager, Matt Barry, and tech advisor, Jan Schultz. Together they maintain and improve FPF’s unique web and mobile applications, which are used by more than half of the households in Vermont on a daily basis. Stay posted for new features and updates!

Noah, who is working with email integration and web browser technologies, says “I really enjoy the direct appeal that FPF forums have to many of my friends and neighbors.”

Noah comes to Front Porch Forum after ten years as a software developer and project manager consultant for various companies, including projects for NBCUniversal and on a 3D globe projector.  He earned a degree from Dartmouth College, having studied Classics, Religion, and Computer Science.

On his new role, Aaron remarks “I consider myself privileged to work on a platform that helps Vermonters work together in weathering events from Hurricane Irene to the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

Aaron has a background in electoral data modeling and a passion for writing software that strengthens communities. Outside of Front Porch Forum, Aaron contributes to several open source projects. When not writing code, Aaron enjoys road biking.

Front Porch Forum is an award-winning Vermont Public Benefit Corporation.  Our mission is to help neighbors connect and build community, leading to more resilient communities.  FPF hosts regional networks of online local forums where neighbors, small businesses, nonprofits and municipal officials post about a wide variety of topics.  This daily neighborly exchange leads to people feeling more invested in their communities and getting more involved.

FPF Opens in Williamstown, MA

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2020 by • 2 comments

Two months ago a number of Williamstown community members and organizations began a grassroots effort to generate enough interest to bring Front Porch Forum to their community. Volunteers from South Williamstown Community Association, Williams College, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce,  Williamstown Elementary School PTO and area businesses all participated.

“We’re really excited to be the first community in Massachusetts to be part of Front Porch Forum. Now that our usual gathering spots are not available to us, we need to be in touch with each other virtually more than ever.  We’ve only been active a week and already there has been some good mutual aid” said Bette Craig, president of the South Williamstown Community Association.

People use their local FPF to find lost dogs, give away extra tomato plants, report break-ins, recommend roofers, announce school events, debate town budgets, organize community relief efforts… and much more.

“FPF has served Vermont towns since 2006,” said co-founder Michael Wood-Lewis. “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 town.”

If you know anyone who works for or attends Williams college or lives in this area please let them know and encourage them to sign up.

Scat Whisperers

Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2020 by • Comments are off for this post

Front Porch Forum is a way to connect with neighbors on community efforts, local issues, and…scat identification? One curious neighbor asked for help discovering what kind of animal had been in their backyard, and got a huge and helpful response on their neighborhood forum! Check out the story below.

“Well, if you want to gather a crowd, just show up with a little scat.

I received 17 unique offers of help analyzing the scat photo. Each was serious and wonderfully curious in their pursuit of an answer.

The identifications offered included: skunk, raccoon, feral cat, weasel, coyote, red fox, grey fox and bobcat, after our neighbor reminded me that we had a beautiful bobcat sitting in a maple across from our barn a year ago.. Catamount was ruled out.

Several folks forwarded the picture to several other more expert folks who responded with a more focused belief that it was either a skunk or a raccoon but most likely a raccoon.

My thanks to everyone who replied to my ask. It was great to touch base with so many old friends that, due to circumstances, have been out of touch.

FPF is a force for good and re-tightening community. Thank you.” • Phil in Craftsbury, Vt.

Have a question you could use some input on? Try asking neighbors on your local FPF.

Job Opening: FPF Online Community Manager

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 by • 4 comments

Front Porch Forum is hiring! We are seeking an Online Community Manager to join our team. The position is 32-40 hours/week, including weekend shifts, working from home. Help us fulfill our community-building mission.

Click for details and to apply

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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