Category Archives: Social Networking
Windblown snow tube recovered half-mile away by Hyde Park neighbors
“Thanks to a kind-hearted neighbor, our snow tube was FOUND! It traveled about 1/2 a mile and crossed Battle Row, but our neighbor kept it safe for us. Front Porch Forum helped us get the word out about it being lost, so we’re thankful for FPF too. Gotta love Hyde Park! Thanks, Fred.”
• Jon and Deb, Hyde Park FPF
“Glad to be a Vermonter, where good neighbors are the rule rather than the exception”
“I received a large number of responses to my ‘looking for a house’ posting. I am in the process of reading each one and plan on thanking the senders individually. But in case someone falls through the cracks of my responding, I want to offer this public THANK YOU. I love how responsive and supportive the community is. It’s things like this — along with reading about a person losing her credit card AND someone turning that same credit card into the police station in that same FPF issue — that make me glad to be a Vermonter, where good neighbors are the rule rather than the exception.”
• JD, Montpelier FPF
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.
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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