Category Archives: Stories

Pet Bear in Stowe?

Posted on Monday, June 19, 2017 by No comments yet

FPF members have had great fun writing witty postings about the possibility!

“To the neighbor with the pet bear: Please keep your bear leashed when going past my house. While I truly appreciate you love your pet bear, he or she has now busted open both of my compost bins. It’s especially sneaky of you to walk him or her just in the nighttime, when our dog door is closed.”  • Emily on June 6

“Of course I walk my pet bear late at night without a leash. Honestly, who leashes a pet bear? Anyways. Please let me know if you see her. I’d be forever grateful to get her back.” • John on June 7

“Going on vacation? Busy work schedule? Is your pet bear getting too large for you to walk on your own? I’m open to late night walks….”  • Steve on June 9

“Now, truth be told, I’m fattening my bear up on berries, greens, and wholesome honey right now. I’m confident that when he goes off for his evening strolls he’s so well fed he’s not bothering with my neighbor’s trash, as if he’d deign to eat trash! And, of course, I don’t want him going for brisk walks, that would defeat the butterball bear I’m looking forward to this fall. • Tamara on June 10

“The bear “stories” make me smile every time I read one! I love imagination….and we have been honored with a lot of that lately! Life is so busy…..it’s refreshing to know that people can slow down long enough to have fun!”
• Nancy on June 11

There are many ways to connect with your neighbors on Front Porch Forum! Have some summer fun 🙂

Protecting the bees

Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 by No comments yet

Bees are endangered, and FPF members work to educate us on how to keep them healthy so they can do the huge job of pollinating our food crops.

“Only use natural pesticides and fertilizers. Avoid using herbicides or pesticides in the garden. They not only can be toxic to bees but also are best not introduced to children or adults that visit your garden. If you encounter a bee swarm, post on FPF immediately. Local bee keepers can capture and re-home honey bee swarms. Swarms are docile and non-threatening. Just keep respectful distance. They are waiting for their scouts to return with instructions, and will soon be gone.”  • Lea in Burlington

Thanks to Front Porch Forum and one avid pollinator protector, my husband and I were able to catch a honey bee swarm that had settled into the lilac bush in front of the Elementary School.  I am happy to say that they have settled into their top bar hive beautifully. We are grateful for this community forum – for without it, the school may have had to destroy this bee swarm, out of concern for the students.”   • Gerette in Hyde Park

 

Friendship and mentoring over the Revolutionary war

Posted on Monday, May 15, 2017 by No comments yet

“About three years ago I posted a FPF request asking for someone to help my daughter learn to sew a 17th century Colonial Day outfit from scratch. Much to my surprise, I received a few responses and they were all directing me to the same young woman, who was graduating that spring with a degree in historical sewing (not the official degree title). My daughter and I reached out and what started with an idea turned into 3 years of mentoring, friendship and learning. My daughter got to delve deep into the Revolutionary time period through sewing, attending reenactments and completing historical arts and crafts projects. She has developed, presumably, a life long interest in all things Revolution. If it wasn’t for FPF, my daughter would not have gained a truly important friendship and have learned so much.”
• Cathy in Richmond

Have a passion for a particular interest? Share it on Front Porch Forum and you just might make a new friend or two!

 

 

 

Bagged Poopies

Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 by 1 comment

We all have pet peeves… this one resonated with us!

“One of my pet peeves: bagged dog poop just tossed wherever like a huge bagged colorful flag saying “I’m now sequesturd in a plastic bag, but I’m still poopy, and everyone can see me now.” Why in the world would someone take the trouble to bag the poop and then leave the bagged poopies all over the place? On a run with my wife the other day, I picked up 5 of them. FIVE! (am I not virtuous?) I’m really puzzled by it: why bag it and then pitch it wherever? I mean, isn’t it better to just leave it unbagged? (not that I’m suggesting that at all, no, not at all) instead of adding a bag to it? There’s got to be some logic to this widespread practice. People are generally logical by their own lights, just not by other people’s lights. Is it that the dog chooses to poop right in front of everyone, and so one just has to bag it or face massive disopprobrium, but then later one, when no one is looking, it’s easier to dump the poop? I volunteer my trash bin for bagged poopies: feel free to bag it up, tie it off, and leave it in my bin. But do tie it off, so my bin doesn’t smell like poopy.”   • Jacques in Burlington

Have some thoughts to share? Post them on Front Porch Forum!

Runaway winter tire found!

Posted on Monday, May 8, 2017 by No comments yet

Sometimes the posts we see on Front Porch Forum, bring a chuckle and smile. Here’s yours for today!

In the morning: “While putting away my studded snows, one got away from me and rolled down the street and I can’t find it. If it landed in your yard, please let me know…”

By the afternoon: “Well, my ego and reputation may be a bit bruised, but fortunately nothing else was – thanks to the great help of neighbors and the Montpelier Police who found the lost tire that rolled a remarkable trajectory into another neighborhood. If only I could lose the spare tire around my waistline as easily!!”   • Emily in Montpelier

Did you know Sugar Maples are bisexual?

Posted on Monday, May 1, 2017 by No comments yet

We’ve all begun to notice the trees beginning to bloom, and FPF member William, brings his insight about what it all means. Did you know there are male and female flowers?

“The red “buds” on the Red Maples and the green “buds” on the Sugar Maples and Norway Maples, are not leaves, they are flowers.

The reproductive biology of Sugar Maples is especially interesting. They are bisexual, producing both male and female gametes, so how do you avoid the ultimate incest of mating, not just with a sibling, but with yourself? Sugar Maples do this by producing the male and female flowers at different times. Some trees in the population are protandrous, and produce the male flowers first, then the female flowers second. Other trees are protogynous, producing the female flowers first, then the male flowers. The male flowers are long and pendulous, with the anthers which produce the pollen. The female flowers are bulkier but less obvious, with the stigmas, which capture the pollen, at the outside, leading down to the ovule at the base. If you look closely, the ovule looks like a pimple with ears. Eventually the ovule will ripen into the maple fruit, with the seed inside, and the “ears” will become the “wings”.”
William in Warren

 

Knife Assault on Burlington Bike Path

Posted on Friday, April 28, 2017 by 10 comments

“On April 27, my 13-year-old was attacked just before 6 p.m. by a man with a folding pocketknife on the bike path near the train trestle between North Beach and Leddy Park. The man demanded my son hand over his bike and his wallet. Although my son was fortunate enough to get away with both his bike and his wallet, the man slashed him with the knife on his face and his shoulder. The cuts were superficial, but the whole event was incredibly frightening. Please take care on the bike path!”
• Lori, a Burlington South End neighborhood Front Porch Forum

UPDATE:  “I’ve received several requests for a description of the man who assaulted my son on the bike path on Thursday, April 27. My son is still in shock and cannot recall all that happened, but here are the details he remembers about the man:  White male, mid- to late twenties, approximately 5′ 7″ tall, average build, was wearing a very nice Nike zip-front black hoodie with the hood up and navy workout pants, and had two rings on his right hand—one on the pointer finger and one on his middle finger. The man first slashed my son while the knife was in his right hand, but then transferred the knife to his left hand before slashing my son the second time.”

Reminiscing and remembering local author’s stories

Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 by No comments yet

After the recent passing of an elderly neighbor in Jericho, her stories of this community are remembered on FPF.

“Margurite was a prolific Jericho author, who wrote about moving to the country with her husband and doctor. Her short anecdotes were light and entertaining. They concerned the quirks of rural life and the characters she and George came across in the days before IBM, ski bums and back to the landers who changed life in these parts. She kept writing even into her 90s and there are many of her books at the library.”
Wayne in Jericho

Share your own memories about neighbors who have left a mark on your town on Front Porch Forum.

Scary moments turn into happy reunions

Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2017 by No comments yet

Scary moments are sometimes the moment when pet owners, discover the ultimate value of their neighborhood FPF.

“Both Zeke and Trip have been found and are safe. Thank you to everyone who has worried, searched, and sent good thoughts into the universe. This is a wonderfully happy ending. And a HUGE shout out to Front Porch Forum. The speed with which you post appeals for help in locating missing pets is astonishing…and heart-warming. Thank you!”
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Lynn in Stowe

“Last night I was warmed by the first two of eleven postings. The first: a plea to area residents for help finding a newly rescued Alaskan Malamute mix that had broken away from his master. And the second post? “Found – Young, Friendly, Collar-Less Malmut or Husky”. What magic! I went to bed envisioning a very happy reunion.”
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Linda in South Burlington

Your neighbors can be one of your best support system in times of need. Turn to your FPF and post for help.