This is what it means to be part of a village.
Last summer, one very hot day, I was riding my horse down Dugway Road trying to stay in the shady spots. We came across a lovely young girl and her mother picking berries in their yard. The child was, of course, excited about picking fresh berries and having a horse come up to say hello. She offered me some of the refreshing berries they just slaved after amongst the thorns. That kind gesture stayed with me a long while.
This year, during a nasty, icy, rainy day, I promised to drop off some no-longer-used ski equipment to an FPF woman who posted a need. As I pulled into the driveway on Dugway Road, I realized this was the very house that shared their berries with me, and while I was trudging through the icy, slushy driveway that memory came back to me and warmed me up all over again. I’m still smiling from that and so happy I was able to return the kindness.
You never know what small gesture will start a butterfly effect and spread throughout the neighborhood-town-country-world. Thanks to FPF for doing it ONCE AGAIN!
• Jacci, Jericho Front Porch Forum
“After a hasty trip to the ER our visiting grandson has been diagnosed with croup – very scary! MD recommends having a pediatric nebulizer on hand in the event he has another ‘event.’ Hopefully it will not be needed and the “tribe” leaves on Friday. I don’t believe this is akin to borrowing someone’s toothbrush and am hoping there is one available and not in use.”
“My dog got out last night around 10:00pm. My husband is out of town and I could only look for him for about an hour with our 18-month-old. I am really worried because his tag only has my husband’s cell on it. His name is Sammy and he likes to wonder down by Raceway. Please if anyone see him if you can call or email me.”
“If you were one of the 90+ people who came to Family Fun Day at the Grange Hall in Berlin this past Sunday, Thank You! There was dancing with a caller and a stage full of young fiddlers, toddlers and teens, grandparents, babies and everyone in between, painted faces, balloon art, movies and a casual supper of Mac and Cheese and local vegetables! It was a wonderful afternoon with old and new friends, neighbors, and family. Keep an eye on the 
“Hi Neighbors – I was unlacing my skates on the little ice rink in Roosevelt Park yesterday and two 11-year-old girls stopped by to twirl around in their sneakers and skirts, telling each other how much they’d like a pair of ice skates. I’d love to find a way to round up outgrown or unwanted ice skates and find new homes for them among Old North End kids. Does anyone have ideas on how to do this? What organizations might be good at distributing skates, assuming I/we could round some up? Can you think of an alternative approach might be better – e.g., more of a lending library, or an organization that lends them out? If you have any ideas, would like to help, or have skates you’d like to donate, please send me an email. I’m hoping to do something soon before the imminent snow covers our ice!”
“What a wonderful tool we have in our community in 
“20 years past there was hardly any talk about break ins on our road. In 2015, as far as I know, there have been 4. I feel if there was only one that would be too many. If you feel the same, I invite you to a Pot Luck Night… visit and get to know neighbors on our road. I would like to have some help planning. If you think this is a good idea and want to help, send me a note or call.”
“I hadn’t used