A Front Porch Forum member expresses gratitude after posting about the loss of her shoes at the beach.
“An amazingly grateful update on my missing shoes that I posted yesterday. I went back to the beach today and found my shoes in a bag with a nice note! Many thanks to the person who made my day! I very much appreciate your humble return. Today, at the beach, I also met a man who was pleased to see that the extended beach area is still as clean as when he took it upon himself to clean it last season. And one more kindness; a woman stopped by my car to see if I needed help taking my board off the rack. Three kindnesses today that I was a part of. It would be great if every day each of us could be a party to the generosity of others and also give some kindness away. Thank you all!” • Nancy in Shelburne
Here’s a beautiful story and poem from a FPF member who lives in Burlington co-housing…
© Sharyl Green
August 10 2017
Burlington VT
The members of FPF‘s Calais neighborhood have been having lively discussions about this creature found in Vermont’s woods!
Conversation began with this simple post alerting neighbors:
“A fisher cat has returned and has been seen behind my small pond down the hill from the closed road in North Calais.” • Reid
Followed by a flurry of topics related to the “Fisher Cat”:
“”fisher cats” is a common, but incorrect, misnomer. The fisher is a fairly large member of the weasel family, and bears no relationship whatsoever to cats…” • Warner
“I was interested in why they have been mistakenly called cats. Are there physical similarities? Are the sounds similar? Perhaps the use got transferred to large feral cats….Just wondered..” • Mary
“With all the emphasis on “cat”..my question now is — Why fisher…? Do they fish?” • Heather
“My first thought upon seeing yet more posts about fishers was, “Oh, no!” but I found myself laughing out loud…I think I will name the next cat that comes into my life “Fisher” as in “Fisher (the) Cat…” • Craig
Nothing like lively conversation on Front Porch Forum to connect us with our neighbors!
Reasons why our Front Porch Forum members LOVErmont!
“Thank you to all the strangers who took time out of your day to try to help our dog to safety on 89 South. To the person that hit him. I’m so sorry this happened and thank you for circling all the way back to check on him. To the person who stopped and stayed with him and then transported him to Waterbury Veterinary Hospital, a million times thank you. Thank you to the State Police officer who gave him an official escort. To the woman at WVH who held our hands and said all the right things…thank you. To WVH for making our beloved pet presentable for us to say our final goodbyes…thank you. We will miss you so much Clifford. RIP and play with your sister Bella. This is why we moved to Vermont. Because people here are good and care.“
• Weeze in Waterbury
Have someone to thank in your town? Share it on FPF.
“The suspect was large and brown, with a big nose and quite unkept fingernails. A similar break-in was reported 1/4 mile away at a neighbor’s trash can. The suspect’s given name is believed to be Ursus, but uses many aliases including: “Baloo”, “Paddington”, “Smokey”, and”Yogi.” It is believed that the famous, “Poo” of the Hundred Acre Wood is also the same individual, or may be a cousin. Suspect is not believed to be armed, although citizens should consider the suspect to be potentially dangerous in certain circumstances and take appropriate precaution in the event of an encounter. Citizens should be advised that re-currant attacks are possible, even probable, and should take appropriate steps to protect valuable garbage, honey, and any other potential targets. Happily, appropriate safeguards were followed at the apiary for such an event and the perpetrator was unable to access the valuable honey stores.” • Steven in Middlesex
Have you had bear sightings in your neighborhood? Let you neighbors know by posting on FPF!
A beautiful example of making social connections through FPF…
“I let my New Yorker subscription lapse because I couldn’t keep up, but with everything that’s going on, I’m regretting it. Is there anyone out there that would like to pass your New Yorkers on to me a week or two after you get them? I’d be happy to share the subscription cost with you.”
• Heather in Burlington
After receiving multiple responses, Heather responded: “Hello generous neighbors! My neighbor behind me has offered to share her old New Yorkers with me, and that sounds like the simplest plan logistically. But…if you’d be interested in starting a New Yorker book club (no reading requirements! you just discuss the articles that interested you most and/or happened to read), let me know!”
Neighbors quickly responded in favor! Make new connections and see what ideas/initiatives could spring from posting to your neighbors on Front Porch Forum!
While crime reports on FPF may not result in finding stolen items, neighbors can be counted on to help!
“I wanted to thank our community for the support we received after my son’s bike was stolen last week. We received three offers of new bikes for him (one of which he is happily riding around on) and lots of messages of support. The original bike has yet to be seen, but maybe one day it will turn up.” • Jaime in Montpelier
Original post: “We woke up this morning to find my autistic seven year old’s bike stolen off our porch. If you’ve taken it, PLEASE bring it back. It’s worth almost nothing, but he is very attached to it. As a back up, if anyone has a 20 inch kids bike with training wheels lying around, we’d like a replacement as soon as possible. He’s going to be very upset when he realizes it’s gone.”
Use Front Porch Forum as a neighborhood watch in your town.
Ask your neighbors on Front Porch Forum!
In response to the following post: “Seeking person to mow lawn. Approx 2 hrs a week starting immediately.”
A solution was found the following day: “My first time posting on FPF. I was amazed at the responses. What a great resource. My lawn is all set. Thank you everyone.” • Pat in Waterbury
“We were overwhelmed by qualified people who were interested in cutting down our trees for reasonable prices. Thanks to everyone who replied to our request.” • Terry in Ferrisburgh
“Thanks to Front Porch Forum, I found a wonderful gardening helper!” • Sarah in Shelburne
And you may even find help when you’re not even looking for it!
“Yesterday evening I started cutting the grass in our backyard and got about half-way through before heading out with two of my kids on bike for dinner. When we returned an hour later, we noticed that the entire backyard was now cut. We were the recipients of a random act of kindness. Thank you, anonymous helper, for finishing the job in our backyard! We will pay it forward.” • Michael and family in Burlington
Vermonters are using FPF to seek and provide assistance. They rally together to support each other in times of need. Today we celebrate the wonderful example of the accomplishments possible by the folks in Westford!
Using Front Porch Forum to post to their neighbors, co-founders Lauren and Julia built a community asset that is still going strong today.
In November, 2007: “I just found out that Westford doesn’t currently have a foodshelf in operation. I’m very interested in starting one up again and am looking for some help. I’m doing research now on what tasks and costs are typically involved. Also on possible locations to host distribution and storage. It would probably only need to be open for two days or so toward the end of each month.
It seems a fair amount of our FPF neighbors are losing jewelry. Just as fortunate, their items are being found!
“Thanks to Front Porch Forum and the person who found it, my sister is gratefully reunited with the bracelet she lost at the Moscow parade.” • Suzanne in Stowe
“I lost a necklace on the way up to, or on top of, the Ledges Trail the night of July 3. It has a reddish/orange short strand of beads with an etched silver metal centerpiece. If found, please call.” • Marianne in Bristol
“I found a berated necklace hiking down from Bristol ledges tonight. Be in touch if you know who it belongs to.” • Joe in Bristol
“My necklace was found and is now back in my possession! I am feeling very grateful to Nancy for finding it, for Front Porch Forum which gave us the means to communicate with each other (although we live in the same neighborhood, I’m not sure we ever would have connected), and to everyone who replied to my post! I am thankful that we live in such a great community!” • Betsy in Williston
“If you lost your bracelet on the college green get in touch. Found by the volleyball net.” • Kim in Montpelier
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