Category Archives: Front Porch Forum
“I feel like I expanded my community” in Jericho
“I have not posted to Front Porch Forum often, but read it every day. I had occasion to both receive and give something away. I met 2 of the nicest families and feel like I expanded my community. It was a great experience knowing someone was willing to share and also to be able to share items I could no longer use. Thank you for this opportunity.”
• Lucy, Jericho FPF
Mad River Valley seamstress found
“I would love to have a recommendation for someone who does alterations and repairs to women’s’ clothing. Thanks so much.”
• Judith, Mad River Valley FPF
“Thank you everybody for your recommendations. Problem solved due to the wide reaching power of Front Porch Forum — amazing!”
• Judith, Mad River Valley FPF… next day
Pine shavings… supply and demand
“Compost? We’re making bushels of pine planer shavings over here. It’s not sawdust, more like long flakes of pine – from a bench planer. Any takers?”
• Greg, Middlesex Front Porch Forum
“Yikes. We’ve 5 folks on the list already & won’t be able to satisfy all of them. Good job FPF.”
• Greg, Middlesex FPF… next day
Social media and Vermont Open Meeting questions
The Rutland Herald reported recently that…
A proposed social media policy that would cover both town employees and elected officials was met with pushback last week in Rockingham, with Select Board members saying they felt the proposed policy was a threat to their First Amendment rights…
Abby Friedman, director of the municipal assistance center for the [Vermont League of Cities and Towns], said Friday that many larger towns and cities in Vermont have social media policies, but she said she didn’t know whether they had adopted the one drafted by the league.
She said Barre City, Williston and Colchester were among the larger communities that had policies.
“The policy was written back in 2010. It was before Front Porch (Forum) existed. We need to look at our policy too to see if it needs any updating,” she said, noting that a lot of towns were concerned about the social media issue.
Chris Winters, deputy director of the Vermont Secretary of State’s office, said his office so far had not given towns and town officials any official guidance on the issue.
“Eventually, this summer, we were thinking of putting together some guidance,” he said. “And give the towns some help on online and social media behavior.”
In many Vermont communities, more than half of the households participate on their local FPF. So many more residents of these Towns read comments on FPF than would ever attend selectboard meetings. If we want healthy local democracy, we should update state and local policies to encourage participation… not the opposite.
One correction… FPF has been serving Vermont Towns since 2006, and we’ve had public officials participating during each of the past ten years.
Firewood raffle in Starksboro
“I am especially grateful for Front Porch Forum this year. Granted, our winter was not an especially cold one, but my husband loves to have a fire going in our wood stove, no matter what the weather. We were running dangerously low on firewood, when I saw the Aurora School’s posting about their firewood raffle. I bought 5 tickets, and we won a cord of the best firewood we’ve ever had. Thank you, FPF and Aurora School!”
• Katy, Starksboro FPF
Honesty in Northfield
“Many, many THANKS to the wonderful, unknown, person who found my wallet this morning and turned it into the police. I had just pumped gas, was in a hurry, placed my wallet on the roof – yeah, you can see what’s coming – and drove away in haste. So nice to know we have honest citizens in our area! Much appreciated.”
• Andrea, Northfield Front Porch Forum
Need new rocking chair in St. Johnsbury? Sell your boots
“I’m writing to let you know how much I like FPF. I read it everyday! Such a wonderful way to connect with local folks.
On Sunday I posted a pair of boots for sale and a request for a rocking chair to buy.
On Monday I sold the boots and got 4 responses about rocking chairs.
Today I spent the money I got from the boot sale on a wonderful rocking chair and had $5 leftover.
Another Front Porch Forum success story.”
• Bonnie, Saint Johnsbury FPF
Found a Shelburne property within 24 hours
“Single, professional, 55 looking for 2br. house or apartment to rent for 1-2 years while house building. Contractor with shop in Shelburne, so no more than 7 miles from heart of Shelburne. ASAP. Please call…”
• Arthur, Shelburne FPF
“Quick shout out to all of you that responded so quickly to my housing search posted yesterday and to let you know that I have found a property already! Thanks to Front Porch Forum most importantly. Great service! Found a property within 24 hours!”
• Arthur, Shelburne FPF (next day’s issue)
Local TV news… fear-mongering or reporting on crime? (Burlington burglaries)
One day and 3,000 miles apart, two local TV newscasts took diametrically opposed approaches covering crime and local online forums.
KGET-17 in Bakersfield, CA asked multiple times in their story (Neighborhood safety apps and websites, are they actually safe?) if services such as Front Porch Forum, NextDoor, EveryBlock and AmericanTowns are safe to use. While a local police sergeant advised caution about what a user shares — which is good, common sense, advice — his point that the Bakersfield Police Dept. has “only seen the programs used in a positive way” was buried in the closing sentence.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated story the next day in Burlington, VT (Police see city-wide spike in burglaries), WPTZ-5 reported that the local police chief had just posted on Front Porch Forum — to which more than 75% of local households subscribe — about a string of burglaries. The Chief provided details and told his FPF readers that “the department is using plainclothes, unmarked and patrol units to track down those responsible.”
We’re pleased that law enforcement in Vermont finds value in Front Porch Forum, and that local media here mine FPF for story leads. FPF is part of a healthy local media ecosystem and we’re glad to play our role.
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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