Category Archives: Local Online
Northfield citizens organize for community and economic development
“One year ago, a group of community members answered a posting on Front Porch Forum and got together to discuss establishing an organization to promote economic and community development in Northfield. The Northfield Community Development Network (NCDN) is celebrating its first birthday — and wants to update our community on everything we’ve been working on over the past year… Please join us at our upcoming event…”
• Lindsay, Northfield Front Porch Forum
Active citizens make the difference in many Vermont community. Use your local FPF to organize like they did in Northfield!
50+ sisterhood forming in Lamoille County
• Gabriele, Morrisville FPF
“Our 50+ social group is up and running. We had a wonderful, very diverse evening of sisterhood last night with many more to come! This would not have been possible without Front Porch Forum. A big THANK YOU to FPF from all the fantastic women in our new group.”
• Gabriele, Morrisville FPF, week later
Many Vermonters use FPF to turn online social networking into real-world groups of friends and neighbors. Give it a try in your town.
Increased break-ins? Rally neighbors to keep watch
“Just want to let people know that in Williamstown we are having break-ins. If you see or hear anything, please call police. This seems to be getting out of hand, so as a community we need to keep watch over our neighbors. If something doesn’t look right, call… especially when you know people are away and for the elderly who are home alone.”
• Donna, Williamstown Front Porch Forum
Many communities across Vermont use their local FPFs as a kind of neighborhood watch. When break-ins, vandalism and other crime intrudes on your community, in addition to contacting police, post to your FPF to keep your neighbors informed.
Morrisville neighbors “never disappoint” when asked for help
“I’m always blown away by the responses and never disappointed when I post to Front Porch Forum! Thank you, neighbors, for the many house cleaner recommendations! We have quite a list to sift through and will be reaching out shortly to find the right fit for our family. Well and warm wishes for 2017!”
• Lisa, Morrisville FPF
Need a local recommendation? Ask neighbors on your FPF today.
“Social Media Is Killing Discourse Because It’s Too Much Like TV”
… social media represents the ultimate ascendance of television over other media.
I’ve been warning about this since November 2014, when I was freed from six years of incarceration in Tehran, a punishment I received for my online activism in Iran. Before I went to prison, I blogged frequently on what I now call the open Web: it was decentralized, text-centered, and abundant with hyperlinks to source material and rich background. It nurtured varying opinions. It was related to the world of books.
Then for six years I got disconnected; when I left prison and came back online, I was confronted by a brave new world. Facebook and Twitter had replaced blogging and had made the Internet like TV: centralized and image-centered, with content embedded in pictures, without links.
Like TV it now increasingly entertains us, and even more so than television it amplifies our existing beliefs and habits. It makes us feel more than think, and it comforts more than challenges. The result is a deeply fragmented society, driven by emotions, and radicalized by lack of contact and challenge from outside…
One reason why Front Porch Forum is text-based.
10 Words for 10 Years – FPF annual word play and free prize drawing
FPF is ten years old now! Help us celebrate with our annual New Year word play and free prize drawing!
Submit your entry before midnight Thursday, January 5, 2017 — any posting consisting of exactly ten (10) words submitted before the deadline will enter you into a free drawing* to win one of these 25 great prizes:
• One overnight room at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa• One $100 gift certificate to Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier
Thanks to the local Vermont businesses who donated these wonderful prizes.
Now get creative! Make your neighbors laugh, cry, smile, think! — and POST AN ENTRY:
• Go to FrontPorchForum.com and click LOGIN (if not already logged in).
• Once logged in, click MY ACCOUNT.
• Then click COMPOSE POSTING.
• Select posting category “10 Words for 10 Years – FPF Raffle,” type your posting, and click SUBMIT POSTING.
*FPF welcomes up to two entries per day per person. Post about whatever tickles your fancy. Click on the links under PAST ENTRIES for loads of great samples.
Invite your Vermont friends, family, co-workers and others to join their local FPF and enter the raffle! They can sign up at FrontPorchForum.com. Check out flyers, social media tie-ins, and more on our Pitch In page. Spread the word!
UPDATE: This raffle is now CLOSED. Here are our lucky randomly drawn winners…
One overnight room at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
Mary O’Brien, Hartland
“Front Porch communication creates community, notifies neighbors, knits strangers together.”
One K250 Coffee Maker (in Red) from Keurig
Rita Muller, Peacham
“Despite digital distraction, community and neighbors still remain incredibly important.”
One Tower of Treasures from Lake Champlain Chocolates
Alec Slater, South End, Burlington
“I’m an apple-farming physician, so I keep myself away.”
Two cases of SAP! Maple Drinks
Berta Winiker, Bennington
“Oh, schizophrenic Vermont winter, what variety might we see today?”
Theresa Butts, Tinmouth
“Palindrome love: Are we not drawn onward to new era?”
One $100 gift certificate to Jivana Holistic Spa in Burlington
Dan Elliott, New North End, Burlington
“So many engaged people; tell a friend to join FPF!”
One $100 gift certificate to Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier
Ed Leszko, Barre
“My house has no front porch; internet does; thank you!”
One $100 gift certificate to Prohibition Pig in Waterbury
Elisabeth Walton, Stowe
“What did the zero say to the eight? Nice belt!”
One $50 gift certificate to Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne
Sarah Forbes, Williston
“Oh what nice people I have met borrowing and lending!”
One $100 gift certificate to Bluebird Barbecue in Burlington
Rachelle Gould, Old North End, Burlington
“FPF, the anti-Twitter: focused on local, no Trump, limitless characters.”
One $100 gift certificate for Troy West Carpet Cleaning in Barre
Quint Welters, Cabot
“Why did the chicken cross the road? Dunno. Ask FPF… ”
One $100 Gift Certificate to to Farmers to You in Berlin
Lava Mueller, Randolph
“I gave up social media… except for Front Porch Forum!”
12 pints of frozen yogurt (one/month) from SoYo Frozen Yogurt
Raven Grey, South End, Burlington
“Don’t feed loons poptarts, ‘they are endangered,’ people will yell.”
One “Year of Free Bread” card for Great Harvest Bread Company
Michelle Yargeau, South Burlington
“Let your words pass through three filters: kind, true necessary?”
One full makeover at Sequoia Salon in Burlington
Zachary Key, Winooski
“Have I ever bought milk from the same cow twice?”
One family portrait or signed print from Carolyn L. Bates Photography
Bobbie Moser, Milton
“Congratulations to Front Porch Forum! We are all better connected.”
One 5-punch treatment card to OPEN Community Acupuncture in Waterbury
Linda Jones, Warren
“A broken ankle showed me the true spirit of Vermont!”
One $100 gift certificate to the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington
David Hobb, South Hero
“Sparks fly with impunity; Please grant immunity; Forum implies community.”
Two tickets to Joey Alexander April 22 at The Flynn Theater
Toria Reed, Salisbury
“Found a dog, lost a cat, everyone got pets back.”
Two tickets to Bal© Folcl³rico da Bahia Jan. 27 at The Flynn Theater
Leo Laforce, Westford
“President elect should learn to use FPF instead of twitter.”
Two tickets to Cinderella, by State Ballet Theater of Russia Jan. 28, Spruce Peak Arts
Richard Hamlin, Georgia
“Once a small forum; now a lifeline for many people.”
Two 1-Day Lift Tickets (no restrictions) to Sugarbush
Amanda Skull, Newfane
“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.” • Abraham Lincoln
Two 1-Day Lift Tickets (valid mid-week, non-holiday) to Bolton Valley
Julie Welkowitz, Richmond
“Lending a hand; selling tires; love the Vermont community spirit!”
One 1-month Family Membership to The Edge
Dale Lacroix, Essex Junction
“Be kind to unkind people. They need it the most.”
One $125 gift certificate to the Shelburne Field House
Carole Carlson, Shelburne
“This Front Porch Forum skeptic has become an avid supporter.”
Pair of Buy Local coupon books and mobile apps from Local First Vermont
Melissa Marcello, Charlotte
“You’ve outlasted the typical vacuum cleaner. FPF definitely doesn’t suck!”
Leah Pellegrini, Essex Junction
“We moved here one year ago. FPF has helped us!”
Laurie Newton, Bolton
“Bears hibernating, cats sleeping, frozen-fingered humans starting cold cars.”
Tip from neighbor and two-hour chase brings ducks on the lam home to Huntington
“Thanks to everyone who emailed me about our four missing ducks. A tip from one of you brought us to the pond/pine tree where they were hanging out. After a couple of long hours chasing them around looking like a bunch of idiots, they are back home (with their wings clipped). Thanks, neighbors!”
• Amanda, Huntington FPF
Quack! Missing an animal or pet of any kind? Ask neighbors for tips on Front Porch Forum.
Grateful for Randolph neighbor’s expression of gratitude
“When I saw the headline “Gratitude” I felt warmed. Just to know that another Front Porch Forum member is feeling gratitude for this forum, and for all the aspects of community that promote a better life around here, feels good. And to be reminded of the need to express and receive the warmth that accompanies gratitude is a helpful thing. So, thanks for the good vibes, Nancy! Happy New Year!”
• Josie, Randolph FPF
What are you grateful for today? Share with your neighbors on FrontPorchForum.com.
Brookfield and Randolph brimming with talent and energy
“Thanks to all who generously offered to assist me with my small paint job. I’ve now got it covered. I’m astounded at the Front Porch Forum as a network for our communities, but also with the wealth of talent and energy it represents. I feel beyond grateful!”
• Nancy, Randolph FPF
How is your local FPF? Read and post to it today!
The deadly impact of social isolation
Yesterday’s New York Times reports… “How Social Isolation is Killing Us“… a compelling and brief read by Dr. Dhruv Khullar. He ends by saying…
A great paradox of our hyper-connected digital age is that we seem to be drifting apart. Increasingly, however, research confirms our deepest intuition: Human connection lies at the heart of human well-being. It’s up to all of us doctors, patients, neighborhoods and communities to maintain bonds where they’re fading, and create ones where they haven’t existed.
Front Porch Forum works to counter isolation… to help neighbors connect and build community. More from Dr. Khullar…
Social isolation is a growing epidemic one that’s increasingly recognized as having dire physical, mental and emotional consequences. Since the 1980s, the percentage of American adults who say they’re lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent…
A wave of new research suggests social separation is bad for us. Individuals with less social connection have disrupted sleep patterns, altered immune systems, more inflammation and higher levels of stress hormones.
One recent study found that isolation increases the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and stroke by 32 percent.
Another analysis that pooled data from 70 studies and 3.4 million people found that socially isolated individuals had a 30 percent higher risk of dying in the next seven years, and that this effect was largest in middle age.
Loneliness can accelerate cognitive decline in older adults, and isolated individuals are twice as likely to die prematurely as those with more robust social interactions. These effects start early: Socially isolated children have significantly poorer health 20 years later, even after controlling for other factors.
All told, loneliness is as important a risk factor for early death as obesity and smoking.
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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