Category Archives: Local Online
Moose in Burlington’s Five Sisters neighborhood
Shared by Sue on today’s Five Sisters Front Porch Forum…
Roger, sharp-eyed and vigilant Charlotte Street neighbor, caught a snap of our Tuesday morning neighbor…
Reports Roger: “It was surreal seeing a moose waltzing down Charlotte St.”
Neighborhood dogs (well, one in particular) say: “Surreal schmurreal. Where’s the blood pressure medicine?”
Others reported on FPF seeing the moose near Oakledge Park.
Check out Nik’s video in the comments… next to Calahan Park in Burlington.
Tires? Try your neighbors
From Penny tonight on the Morrisville FPF…
Hi Neighbors! If you are like me the markings on your tires are written in another language! I mean 205/55/R16? What the heck?
Any way several months ago a fella from Front Porch Forum sent me some information on tire sizing and I came across this web site which is SO easy to use. You put in the make and model of your car and year and it tells you all kinds of tires that will fit your car! I also double check with my car fella just to make sure…
Also I want to post a HUGE thank you to FPF. Today in just 2 hours I found my second set of summer tires for the season! Also last fall I found my sister and friend winter tires within days!
I LOVE FPF!
Critical mass and communication in Waterbury
Posted by Debra on the Waterbury FPF today about the actions of the local long-term community recovery director (Tropical Storm Irene disaster coupled with closing of major employer)…
I want to publicly commend Barbara for her postings on the Waterbury Front Porch Forum.
I admire the way she gets the information out about what projects are happening around town and their status. Her updates to the proposed MC, and times of meetings that are being held, have always been non-opinionated and informative. Also, the inclusion of the various other things going on within our town (e.g., the demolition & reconstruction tours being done at the State complex and even info. about our town’s annual Green-Up Day), are all to the point and give good information for those with a possible interest.
FPF has proven to be a great media tool for passing information quickly, as often-times the date of a meeting or a special event cannot really be planned for because by the time we read about it in the Record, that day is almost upon us and it may be too late to do something.
More & more town citizens sign-up on FPF every day, and while not everyone in this community has a computer, or access to one, most do or they have a smart phone. I’m also guessing that not everyone takes time to log into Waterbury’s Town site. I know I don’t, as I often forget or cannot take time to go the extra step to do so.
But notifications for each FPF hit my personal email box on a daily basis and they are right in front of me. I have found, like I’m guessing others may have as well, that these postings are a a great way to stay in touch with what’s happening (be it projects, updates, for sale stuff, special events, etc.) within our community.
I hope Barbara, or someone else, will continue getting town information out on FPF – even when this current bond vote is resolved one way or the other – as I think it’s a great way to communicate to those who live here, and, for all of us to stay informed as a community. Thanks for doing these, Barb!
Does your Town Energy Committee need to reach neighbors?
From the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) today…
Would your Town Energy Committee benefit from being able to reach a majority of households in your community ““ for free ““ with a click on the keyboard? That’s just what many TECs do with their local Front Porch Forums. You can too!
Front Porch Forum helps neighbors connect and build community. Michael Wood-Lewis and his wife Valerie started FPF in their Burlington neighborhood in 2006. Since then, local FPFs have spread to every town in Vermont. More than 75,000 households participate. People use their FPFs to recommend contractors, recruit volunteers, find missing dogs, report break-ins, borrow ladders and much more.
The Richmond TEC, for example, uses FPF to get the word out about meetings and programs, as well as to solicit input from residents. 1,900 people subscribe to the Richmond FPF (in a town of only 1,600 households). It’s the most powerful communication tool in town.
FPF recently doubled its coverage area in Vermont to reach the entire state. The more people participate in their forums, the more vibrant they become. Now is a great time to get the word out. Send neighbors to FrontPorchForum.com to register for this free service. You can also download a local FPF flyer at FrontPorchForum.com, or contact membersupport@
frontporchforum.com for other ideas on how to grow your local FPF.
Local public officials in Vermont…
Local town officials in Vermont, whether paid or volunteer, have a tough lot. They take on many challenging tasks, and they frequently are criticized for their efforts.
Attorney Charlie Merriman, or Tarrant, Gillies, Merriman & Richardson, shared the following tidbit with participants at the 69th Annual Town Officers Education Conferences across the state…
Always bear in mind the constitutional goal underpinning our open meeting and public records laws: “Officers of government are trustees and servants of the people and it is in the public interest to enable any person to review and criticize their decisions even though such examination may cause inconvenience or embarrassment.” 1VSA§315
More than 1,000 local public officials participate on their Front Porch Forums in Vermont. As a citizen and tax payer, I’m grateful for their active participation… and their thick skins.
$20 bill lost and found
From Stacy on the Montpelier FPF…
A few days ago, I posted my concern about a wayward $20 bill I found on Liberty St. It seemed like a shot in the dark at the time, but would you believe, I found the owner?
Shortly after my post appeared, I received an email from a FPF member who lives near the corner of St. Paul Street and Liberty. (This is exactly where I found it, 5 days later, in a windstorm.) In her words: “I had it tucked into the console in my car, and as I was unloading kids and groceries, I remembered that there had been car break-ins in the area. So I thought, I better not leave money in the car — and from there I have no idea what happened. I thought I tucked it into one of my bags, but it never showed up. Looks like my own spaciness is more threatening than potential car-burglars!”
So the bill was lost …and then found…. all thanks to Front Porch Forum!
The sharing economy and FPF in Vermont
Just received this note from an FPF member in central Vermont…
I’m sure you hear this a lot… but not yet from me. I love Front Porch Forum and it’s such a great community-building resource. I use it for the farmers market often to borrow items that I use a couple times a year and don’t need to buy — just borrowed a 100′ tape measure to mark off the farmers market lot for the season.
Thanks so much for starting and operating this incredible resource.
Wow – Lots of People Looking for Swing Sets in Shelburne
Shared by Jeremy on the Shelburne Front Porch Forum today…
I posted an ad for a free swing set the other day and was blown away at how many families are looking for used swing sets. Ours is well used / loved but has some life in it – if you have one your kids don’t use, I encourage you to donate to another family. Feels good to know some other family will use and enjoy it.
Post your items to give away on your local Front Porch Forum today!
Fellow Jogger on Cochran Rd in Richmond, VT
Shared by Peggy on the Richmond Front Porch Forum today…
Yesterday morning. 7am. Running east on Cochran Rd. About one and a half miles from the Round Church.Coming towards me a woman stops her car and rolls down the window. “There’s a moose running this way down the road. You might want to get out of the way. They can get nasty.” Where do I go? I cross the road and, sure enough, here it comes over the hill. No antlers, is it female? I decide to stand very still and avert my face. Do I look like a tree? But I don’t want to miss any of this so I slide my eyes to the left. The moose takes no notice of me. She is in a big hurry and there are two cars following her. She goes her way and I go mine. Thirty minutes later I return to town and crossing the bridge I see a moose swimming downstream. I think I know her. I stand at the rail and watch until she disappears.
Stirring the pot in Poultney
Bob just posted this…
“Poultney Front Porch Forum membership stands at 199. Please tell 1 town member to join you on FPF. Who will be #200?!!”
Lots of ideas for adding neighbors to your local FPF on our website… flyers, tools, tips.
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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