Category Archives: Raffle
The Posting Flurry is over. It is no s’more.
We received over a thousand “marshmallow” posts from Front Porch Forum members for our January Posting Flurry. Thanks to those who entered, and to all who enjoyed this bit of fun. Entries received before 1 pm on January 10 were entered in the “Flurry”. Please DO keep posting to your local FPF as the spirit moves but the contest is done at this point.
This year’s winning entry from our random drawing is
“Anyone have a working telescope that’s just collecting dust? I’m not gazing at the stars, but would like to see the beautiful surrounding mountains better. I have tripods, just need the telescope. Willing to pay reasonable price or make payment in marshmallows.” • Jeff in Waitsfield
Congratulations Jeff! In addition to his clever post, we received some other noteworthy posts shared here:
“What did the Hershey’s bar, the marshmallow, and the graham cracker use to communicate? S’mores Code.” • Walter in Johnson
“See the pretty moon tonight? Enveloped in the clouds it looks like a marshmallow creation! Lovely.”
• Sandy in Burlington
Seeking Places to Marshmallow
As I sit here sipping my hot cocoa drink
Marshmallows melting as I sit here and think
We just moved back to VT from North Carolina
Told my kids, theres no better place or snow that’s finer
But now I think I’m regretting this remark
The cold has been makin’ my mood dark
So if anyone knows some warm things to do
For keeping my kids from also getting blue
Drop it here that’s what FPF is for
I’m looking forward to exploring town some more. • Jasmine in Barre
“Did you hear about the marshmallow man who drowned in a vat of rice crispies? He is no s’more.” • JD in Barre
“Fascinated to see an ermine in the corner of our yard- like a marshmallow whipping by in the wind, it was swift! I’m curious to know if they are more common in this region than I think?” • Christine in Georgia
Lost Marshmallow
Last seen heading heading north on Rt 110.
Answers to Sugar.
Maybe wearing chocolate and carrying graham crackers.
If found eat immediately • Phillip in Chelsea
This year’s January Posting Flurry is OVER and the Lucky Winner is
Front Porch Forum members submitted hundreds of clever “toboggan” entries into FPF“˜s January Posting Flurry! Thanks to those who entered, and to all who enjoyed this bit of fun. Entries received before 1 pm on January 11 were entered in the random drawing. Please DO keep posting to your local FPF as the spirit moves but the contest is done at this point.
Without further ado, the winning entry of this year’s random drawing for an iPad is
“Our Wii died so I thought I’d check to see if anyone local has one they don’t use that they’d like to sell?
*bonus joke*
Why do people from Massachusetts go to auctions?
Toboggan!” • Cathy in Granville
Kudos, Cathy! In addition to her clever post, we received some other noteworthy posts shared here:
“As you drive around town with your toboggan on the roof of your car, why not wave to the people in cars you meet going the other way ? You have more in common than you think – and a friendly wave will help spread good will and create a sense of community!” • Holly in Tinmouth
“Hey All, I’ve got Vapor XV hockey gloves size 13…used, but usable ($40); Winnwell hockey stick ($15) and OP Black size 11 men’s low sneakers ($15). I’m certainly willing ‘toboggan‘!” • Judy in Derby
“I joined FPF after another member explained it to me and encouraged me to join and I am so glad I did. New to the area, I have been able to keep up with important things I otherwise would not have necessarily known about, like the PFOA clinics for example. Also I found snow plowing services through FPF after no luck with ads, yellow pages, etc. So, I won’t need a toboggan to get out this winter! “ • Alice in Sunderland
“Our couch thinks it’s a toboggan and slides all over the room. We could use an area rug to teach it otherwise. Maybe you’ve got one waiting for a new home?” • Beth in Stowe
“What exactly is a “toboggan”? The answer is simply a matter of perspective, often based upon locale. In the south, a “toboggan” is a hat. Up north, a “toboggan” is a sled. Let’s allow this contest to serve as a reminder that a misunderstanding or differing view is simply a matter of orientation. And that the most effective and neighborly way to engage with each other, whether on FPF or in person, is to first take brief moment and consider a different perspective. Cheers to the first snow of the year, and may the lesson of the “toboggan” positively impact all posts in 2019!” • Alexandra in Winooski
“RiseVT has graciously donated snowshoes to many libraries including the H.F Brigham Free Library. These are brand new Tubbs snowshoes in a variety of sizes. Come and borrow them for free with your library card! Sorry we are not lending out any toboggans at this time.” • Library Director, Bakersfield
“Do you have a great homemade remedy for scrapes and scratches from a runaway toboggan? The ride was great until it swung around and flipped over!” • Mary in Woodbury
“My wife and I are looking for an inexpensive home to buy, rent, or rent to own. Fixer uppers are great. Mainly looking for secluded. May consider other options. A toboggan hill would be a plus.” • Randy in Albany
“Its a little difficult in snow,
But I geared up and ran.
Those sneakers are now put away,
While the ole “Toboggan”
Will be my new play.” • Dechen in Lincoln
It’s January Posting Flurry time!
Returning for another year, Front Porch Forum‘s Posting Flurry, a simple contest for FPF members through 1 PM, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Simply submit a posting on a topic of your choosing (“desk for sale,” “seeking plumber,” “ode to the cold” you choose) and include the contest word “toboggan” anywhere in your posting and you will be automatically entered. We’ll randomly draw a winner this Friday, Jan. 11. That’s it!
So, if you’ve been meaning to post a question, concern, announcement, offer, observation, advice, etc do it now and you might win a new iPad!
Details:
1. Any current FPF member may enter by submitting a posting to their local FPF before 1 PM on Jan. 11, 2019. The posting must include the word “toboggan.” Remember to make sure you spell it correctly!
2. To be entered in the contest, postings should reflect a genuine effort to communicate, in the spirit of our mission “to help neighbors connect and build community.” The idea of the contest is to encourage legitimate postings, so please curb the impulse to post nonsense messages.
3. Limit one entry per day per member account.
4. The winner of the random drawing will be presented with a gift certificate to Small Dog Electronics with sufficient funds to purchase a new iPad 9.7-inch 32GB Wi-Fi.
To submit your posting:
Go to https://frontporchforum.com and click “Login”, then click “Compose Posting,” enter your message, and click “Submit Posting.”
We have a winner!
Barbara in Danville has won a new iPad for using FPF’s “Invite Neighbors“ feature as part of our recent push for new members. She was randomly selected from those members who successfully invited their friends, family and neighbors to join the conversation on Front Porch Forum over this past week.
Congrats to Barbara and thanks to all of our FPF members who participated in our contest.
Interested in learning more ways you can stir up interest in your FPF? Learn more here:
https://frontporchforum.com/about-us/pitch-in
Invite People You Know to Join FPF… Win an iPad!
People join Front Porch Forum when they hear about it from someone they know. Spread the word to your Vermont and Washington County, NY contacts now through mid-day Friday, and you could win a new iPad!
Use FPF’s “Invite Neighbors” feature to invite as many people as you like (FPF is available in every town and neighborhood in Vermont, as well as in Cambridge, Jackson, White Creek and Argyle, NY). You’ll be entered into the raffle one time for each person you invite this way who actually signs up for a new FPF account by Groundhog Day, Feb. 2.
Invite more people to increase your odds of winning a new iPad! Try people from any walk of life… work, school, community, church, family, friends, social media, clubs and more. If your local FPF is already loaded with active members, think about people you know in other parts of Vermont and upstate NY who would be interested.
People tend to love their local FPF… so share FPF and give the gift of community. Thanks much!
Details:
Any current FPF member may enter by using the “Invite Neighbor” feature starting Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, and ending noon ET, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. Every new member that registers by the deadline due to your “Invite Neighbor” invitation will enter you one time in the iPad random drawing. Multiple entries per person are encouraged.
To enter:
- Go to https://FrontPorchForum.com and click LOGIN (if not already logged in)
- Click MY ACCOUNT
- Click INVITE FRIENDS TODAY under “Pitch In”
- Enter one legitimate email address of a person you know in each row.
- Click ADD ANOTHER if you want to enter more than three email addresses. (Don’t worry if you’re not sure whether your friend is already an FPF member… our system will NOT send invitations to email addresses already used by FPF accounts.)
- Click SEND INVITE to finish.
The winner of the random drawing will be presented with a gift certificate to Small Dog Electronics with sufficient funds to purchase a new iPad 9.7-inch 32GB Wi-Fi.
We will verify that the iPad winner adhered to the letter and the spirit of this contest (so please play nice!). It’s all about spreading the word about Front Porch Forum to more local folks — helping neighbors connect and build community.
Other ways to stir up interest in your FPF are located here: https://frontporchforum.com/about-us/pitch-in
The January Posting Flurry is OVER and the Lucky Winner is…
Front Porch Forum members submitted hundreds of clever entries into FPF‘s January Posting Flurry, all wearing their earmuffs! Thanks to those who entered, and to all who enjoyed this bit of fun. Entries received before 1 pm on January 12 were entered in the random drawing. Please DO keep posting to your local FPF as the spirit moves… but the contest is done at this point.
Without further ado, the winning entry of this year’s random drawing for an iPad is
“Hello all neighboring beekeepers! Just wondering how everyone’s bee hives have been fairing through this cold spell? Anyone thought of designing some sort of miniature bee earmuffs for the poor creatures? Hive a good day.” • Sarah in Tinmouth
Kudos, Sarah! In addition to her clever post, we received some other noteworthy posts shared here:
“Thank you to everyone who has helped us as my husband Jim recovers from a shattered wrist. Small tasks such as bundling up to go out in the frigid temps over the last 2 weeks can be daunting. An old pair of earmuffs have been invaluable as they are easy on and off so we would also like to posthumously thank Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine who invented the thermal earmuff in 1873, at the age of 15 reportedly coming up with the idea while ice skating. Chester was awarded patent #188,292 on March 13, 1877 for his design and provided jobs making earmuffs for people in the Farmington, Maine area, for nearly 60 years. Yet another clever New Englander!” • Sherri in Passumpsic
“Anyone have an unwanted simple record player? I am up to my earmuffs in good LPs and have nothing to play them with.” • Manfried in Newport
“Just a note to say that I so appreciate our community and the opportunity we have to connect and support each other through FPF. I gave up social media (except for FPF) after the election last year because I was appalled by the way I got sucked into a negative headspace during that time of such horrible mudslinging from all sides. (ALL sides!) I feel much lighter now – not that I am advocating everyone giving up social media, it definitely has its plus side. I am so happy that I have FPF as a way to witness my community and help out when I can. And ask for help as well! Thank you all and don’t forget to wear your earmuffs!”
• Lava in Randolph
“Redford is a Bloodhound who searches for lost pets, but when it’s so supercold out, I can’t let him go on a trail because he doesn’t have any earmuffs to keep his superlong ears from getting frostbitten.”
• Lisa in Albany
“I would like to shout out a huge Thank you to all those that helped with hats, coats, mittens and earmuffs this season to keep our neighbors warm!” • Jan in Johnson
“A huge shout-out to the Shelburne road crew during the recent snows and frigid temperatures! Living at the end of a cul-de-sac, the side of our driveway (understandably so) gets the big pile of snow from the street. This year, in particular, the drivers have done a terrific job keeping our driveway cleared more than usual. Thank you, Shelburne Road crew!! (I hope the trucks are cozy warm, so you don’t have to wear earmuffs!)”
• Patty in Shelburne
“I took my earmuffs off today
In honor of the sun;
I leashed my dog, without delay,
And frolicked just for fun.
My nose still froze and dripped with chill,
But oh the pleasure and the thrill!
It’s warm, I told my freezing toes –
Enjoy before that North wind blows!” • Martha in Middlebury
Warm Up with FPF’s January Posting Flurry… and Win an iPad!
Brrrr It’s been cold! And we’re looking to heat things up a bit on Front Porch Forum. So, we’re running a simple contest through 1 PM, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Submit a posting on a topic of your choosing (“desk for sale,” “seeking plumber,” “ode to the cold”… you choose) and include the contest word “earmuffs” anywhere in your posting and you will be automatically entered. We’ll randomly draw a winner this Friday, Jan. 12. That’s it!
So, if you’ve been meaning to post a question, concern, announcement, offer, observation, advice, etc… do it now and you might win a new iPad!
Details:
1. Any current FPF member may enter by submitting a posting to their local FPF before 1 PM on Jan. 12, 2018. The posting must include the word “earmuffs.”
2. To be entered in the contest, postings should reflect a genuine effort to communicate, in the spirit of our mission “to help neighbors connect and build community.” The idea of the contest is to encourage legitimate postings, so please curb the impulse to post nonsense messages.
3. Limit one entry per day per member account.
4. The winner of the random drawing will be presented with a gift certificate to Small Dog Electronics with sufficient funds to purchase a new iPad 9.7-inch 32GB Wi-Fi.
To submit your posting:
Go to https://frontporchforum.com and click “Login”, then click “Compose Posting,” enter your message, and click “Submit Posting.”
7 Words for 2015 — Enter FPF’s Annual Raffle Today!
It’s time for our annual New Year word play and free prize drawing!
Submit your posting to Front Porch Forum before midnight Wednesday, January 7, 2015 consisting of exactly seven (7) words and you’ll be entered into a free drawing* to win one of these great prizes:
- One $50 gift certificate to Small Dog Electronics
- One Tower of Treasures from Lake Champlain Chocolates
- Four passes to the Pump House Indoor Waterpark at Jay Peak
- Gift cards redeemable at Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops
- Everyday Apothecary Box Sets from Urban Moonshine Bitters and Tonics
- Two one-day lift tickets for Bolton Valley
- One “Year of Free Bread” card (one loaf/month) from Great Harvest Bread
- One $50 gift card to Higher Ground
- Pair of tickets to “Grease” Sing-A-Long-A at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
- One-month family membership to The Edge
- One $50 gift certificate to Jivana Holistic Spa
Thanks to the local Vermont businesses listed above who donated these wonderful prizes.
Now get creative and POST AN ENTRY!
- To post to your FPF, go to FrontPorchForum.com and click LOGIN (if not already logged in).
- If you’re already logged in, click MY ACCOUNT.
- Then click COMPOSE POSTING.
*FPF welcomes up to two entries per day per person. Post about whatever tickles your fancy. Click on the links at right for loads of great samples from years past.
UPDATE: The winners of our random prize drawing…
One $50 gift certificate to Small Dog Electronics
http://www.smalldog.com/
Dan in Athens
“Why isn’t everyone using Front Porch Forum?”
One Tower of Treasures from Lake Champlain Chocolates
http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/corporate-holiday-gift.html
Stephen in Dorset
“If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?”
Four passes to the Pump House Indoor Waterpark at Jay Peak
http://www.jaypeakresort.com/pumphouse/waterpark
Diane in Wells River
“Who will be governor? There’s a raffle!”
Gift cards redeemable at Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops
http://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops
Robert in Middlebury
“Lost spouses. New-found love. At 80.”
Everyday Apothecary Box Sets from Urban Moonshine Bitters and Tonics
http://www.urbanmoonshine.com/products/merchandise/wooden-box-apothecary.html
Phyll in West Windsor
“Shhhh, be like Dad and keep Mum!”
Two one-day lift tickets for Bolton Valley
http://www.boltonvalley.com/?utm_source=frontporchforum&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sevenwordscontest
John in Benson
“Fly away loon. Open water leaving soon.”
One “Year of Free Bread” card (one loaf/month) from Great Harvest Bread
http://greatharvestburlington.com/
Melissa in Charlotte
“Great posts – not fences – make great neighbors.”
$50 gift card to Higher Ground
http://www.highergroundmusic.com/
Nancy in Worcester
“Ancestral farm beckoned us home, blessings abound.”
Pair of tickets to Grease Sing-A-Long-A at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
http://www.flynntix.org/flynn-mainstage/grease-sing-a-long-a/Details?perfNo=11080&perfCodePrefix=FLV15G
Tom and Linda in East Montpelier
“East Montpelier coyote teaches goldendoodle to howl.”
One-month family membership to The Edge
http://edgevt.com/
Marsha in Montgomery
“Is there more light? Wait a fortnight!”
One $50 gift certificate to Jivana Holistic Spa
http://jivanaspa.com/
Elizabeth in Winooski
“FPF, 7DVT and vtdigger.org keep me informed.”
TMI? Nah… B&J’s is a special case…
#VT – Last month Front Porch Forum gave away 60 pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to lucky raffle winners. Today, one of them posted to her Pownal neighbors…
You may be interested in the fun I had with the 12 pints of B & J ice cream I won a few weeks ago:
Jan 16 – Cherry Garcia & Heath Bar Crunch
Jan 22 – FroYo Phish Food & Half Baked
Jan 30 – Friends invited me to lunch; I took dessert, Coffee Heath Bar & Stawberry Cheesecake
Feb 7 – Gave 2 pints to daughter-in-law at my birthday supper
Feb 13 – What a Cluster & Boston Cream Pie
Feb 22 – Gave last 2 to g’son, who’s favorite is Cherry Garcia
What if we all kept ice cream diaries?
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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