Category Archives: Vermont
Reminiscing and remembering local author’s stories
After the recent passing of an elderly neighbor in Jericho, her stories of this community are remembered on FPF.
“Margurite was a prolific Jericho author, who wrote about moving to the country with her husband and doctor. Her short anecdotes were light and entertaining. They concerned the quirks of rural life and the characters she and George came across in the days before IBM, ski bums and back to the landers who changed life in these parts. She kept writing even into her 90s and there are many of her books at the library.”
• Wayne in Jericho
Share your own memories about neighbors who have left a mark on your town on Front Porch Forum.
FPF Hiring Ruby on Rails Developer
Front Porch Forum is hiring! We are seeking a Ruby on Rails Developer to join our team. This position is full-time and based in Burlington, Vermont. Be part of a world-class team of software engineers, and help us fulfill our community-building mission. Check out the details and apply here.
Plea for help from chocolate lab owner gets answered
Front Porch Forum members turn to their neighbors often for help answering questions and meeting needs.
On Monday: “We have a new vehicle and the seat is too high for Reuben (my chocolate Lab) to jump into. He has arthritis in his front and back legs. He is fiercely independent….and resists my efforts to help him in. If anyone out there has a solution we would be very grateful.”
By Wednesday: “Thanks to all the folks who answered Reuben’s plea for a better way to get into his new car. Warren (and his sister) provided the answer. We thank everyone for the quick responses. FPF comes through again.” • Deb in Montpelier
Looking for a solution to a problem? Ask your neighbors on FPF!
Decline of open web in favor of social media… “grim consequences”
Iran’s “Blogfather,” Hossein Derakhshan, in a recent interview on the NiemanStoryboard…
“The decline of the web in favor of social media entails grim consequences. Hyperlinks were the founding principle of the web; it secured a diversity, nonlinearity, decentralization and interactivity, which made the web so powerful. But social media’s very philosophy and monetization strategy, or the stream, cannot be friendly to hyperlinks, since they do not want their users to leave their space. This new environment, in addition to the currently dominant algorithms, which favors popularity and now-ness rather than diversity and quality, is worse than television in its potential damage to representative democratic societies, where majority is supposed to take informed decisions without jeopardizing minorities. The rise of identity politics and intolerance for diversity is directly linked to the current form of the internet. This is the deepest shock of this transition to me since my release. This shift from what I call books-internet to TV-internet.”
Unlike some other social media platforms, Front Porch Forum doesn’t aim to lure people in and hold their attention 24/7. FPF, for many Vermonters, is a 10-minute-a-day habit that leads to more face-to-face conversations with neighbors… and to friendlier, more informed, and more resilient local communities. Hyperlinks in FPF postings are an important part of that.
Find & Seek with your neighbors
Neighbors across the state turn to their local FPF for recommendations on who to turn to when they need help and to support local entrepreneurs.
“Thank You for the Seamstress Reco’s! This forum is the best! Donna from SSE wins by popular demand. Will be sure to tell her of her overwhelming popularity when I see her.”
• Kate in Waterbury
“I’d like to offer a recommendation for Casey and her eggs. I’ve been buying them for a couple of months and they are tasty and fresh. Fun too as some are light blue shells… help support a local family!”
• Bets in Barre
“When we were looking for a carpenter/handyman/painter I looked here on Front Porch Forum and found recommendations for Jeremiah. Thank you, FPF, because he is great!”
• Martha in Shelburne
Police reach out to communicate with neighbors
Local police in many neighborhood utilize FPF as a way to keep abreast of community concerns.
“The Vermont State Police – Williston Barracks has joined Front Porch Forum. We look forward to communicating with our neighbors. Our goal is to inform everyone with what VSP is doing in and around our communities. We would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on any community concerns as well.”
• Paul at VSP Williston Barracks
Connecting lost items with owners
Neighbors helping neighbors….it happens everyday on Front Porch Forum.
“I found a very nice cordless drill in the road this morning. Please let me know if you are missing one.” • Judd in Bridport
“Found: Gold Chain and Cross – Yours? Describe it and it will happily go back home to you.” • Katherine in Charlotte
“I found a 5 gallon gasoline canister in the road this evening. Email if this is yours.” • Ann in Waterbury
“Found Flash Drive on N. Street – Yours? It is little and blue. I found it and would love to get it back to you.” • Noah in Burlington
Find something you think someone would like to have returned? Post it on FPF!
Organic connections make difference to FPF member
“I want to thank you so much for the work that FPF does. It connects communities in such an organic way. As a new homeowner I would be up a creek without it. Professionally I can cite it as a reason for my growth.”
• R.J. in Middlebury
New homeowner? Consider posting in your neighborhood FPF for answers you need.
Small business given tremendous boost
“My successful, mostly Montpelier-based, business has been given a tremendous boost by Front Porch Forum…just a few ads, and many recommendations and referrals later, I can say that it works well for many things, in many ways. Please support FPF if you can…just use this link: https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members”
• Todd in Montpelier
Have a small business? Use the FPF Business Directory and start posting to your neighbors!
Building bridges with potlucks and in-person conversation
It’s heartening to see local folks in Westford using their FPF to promote their new “Neighbor to Neighbor” program; organizing local in-person conversation of challenging topics…
“Bring a dish to share at potluck talks designed to build bridges between neighbors while talking about issues of importance to us as Vermonters. The first talk will focus on migrant workers on Vermont farms. This issue has been in the news recently and, as a farming community, is important to our town.”
• Fred in Westford
Would something like this work in your town? Give it a shot! Post on Front Porch Forum.
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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