Category Archives: Vermont
Why did the bear cross the road in Middlesex?
Posted by Charles on the Middlesex FPF today…
Another bear sighting. This one was a good size and crossed Rt. 100 just north of the recycling center around 9:20 pm on Monday. The answer to the age old question of why did the (insert bear in place of chicken) cross the road seems obvious:
To be mentioned on Front Porch Forum.
Found Lost Doritos Bag in Winooski – Yours?
A thoughtful “lost and found” posting by Matt on the Winooski Front Porch Forum yesterday…
I found a doritos bag in my veggie plot down at the end of West Street. It is a blue bag… Cool Ranch flavor. It was empty except for some water, which I will assume was rain water. If this is your bag, or if you know who lost this Doritos bag please have them contact me. I can only assume someone out there has nowhere to put their Doritos and is probably on the edge of panic. I am not on here angling for a reward. The look of joy on the rightful owners face is reward enough for this humble samaritan.
Seeking cell coverage solution in Middlesex? Tap the power of neighbors…
Mark posted on the Middlesex FPF the other day…
Over the last month, perhaps due to summer foliage, we have almost completely lost our AT&T cell signal on Center Road. I have heard about solutions to this problem… I was wondering if anyone had had cell trouble and had tried any of these approaches. How did it work?
And yesterday he followed up with…
Thanks to all the good neighbors who took the time to respond about our poor phone service! We are going to look into setting up a microcell. The power of Front Porch Forum is really impressive.
Does FPF effect local community? Survey says…
Before and after FPF… does it make a difference? We just concluded a survey of 964 Front Porch Forum (FPF) members (out of 6,500 invited). We asked FPF members to answer two-part questions about their experiences since joining FPF vs. before FPF.
Front Porch Forum helps neighbors connect. In the survey, 18% more members reported knowing most of their neighbors since joining FPF (vs. before joining FPF).
FPF also helps Vermonters get informed about local issues. Nearly four times more FPF members reported feeling “very informed” about local community issues since joining FPF.
And FPF helps people get involved and build community. About one-third more members work to make change in their local communities monthly since joining FPF.
See more results below.
Thanks to all who participated. And congratulations to Allison in Greensboro for winning our iPod prize drawing.
FPF helps people connect with neighbors. Since joining FPF…
- 3% more members say “hi” to neighbors monthly (vs. before joining FPF)
- 10% more members find it very/somewhat easy to make friends among neighbors
- 18% more members know most neighbors
- 24% more members have neighbors over to their home monthly
- 37% more members share goods or favors with neighbors monthly
FPF helps people get informed about local issues. Since joining FPF…
- 29% more members share news with neighbors monthly
- 68% more members feel “very informed” about local shops
- Two times more members feel “very informed” about local government services
- Nearly three times more members feel “very informed” about local clubs/organizations
- Three times more members feel “very informed” about local contractors
- Nearly four times more members feel “very informed” about community issues
- Four times more members feel “very informed” about opportunities to get involved locally
- Ten times more members feel “very informed” about neighbors’ views on local issues
FPF helps people get involved locally and build community. Since joining FPF…
- 10% more members intentionally “buy local” monthly (now 73% of members)
- 15% more members perform local volunteer work monthly
- 33% more members contact local public officials monthly
- 33% more members work to make change in their local community monthly
- 38% more members attend local public meetings monthly
- 43% more members attend local events monthly
- 89% of members have recommended FPF to someone
- 98% of members say that FPF helps their local economy (businesses find customers and new employees, neighbors save money, etc.)
Compelling one-day conference Sept. 23…
Registration just opened for…
Vermont Connected: Envisioning the Future of Vermont’s Digital Economy
Tuesday, September 23, at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
Vermont Connected will be the culmination of the work of the Vermont Digital Economy Project, looking forward to Vermont’s future and sharing recent lessons learned from helping small businesses, nonprofits and towns in Vermont to effectively use digital tools. Tracks include:
- Educating for a Digital World
- K-12 and Beyond
- Bridging the Digital Divide
- Building Effective Organizations
- For Nonprofits
- For Small Businesses
- Creating Resilient Communities
- Open Data in Government and Beyond
- Resilience through Engagement
- Steering Vermont’s Digital Future
- Vermont’s Technology Industry
- The Creative Economy
Learn more and register today!
Front Porch Forum is one of many participating organizations.
Lost old blind dog in Bristol… Found!
Happy news posted on the Bristol FPF today, from Sharon!
I just want to let everyone who was so caring to call with sightings of my old dog-that he was just FOUND! I cannot express how much we feel like Front Porch Forum is so much like family! We could not have found him without you all! Thank you FPF for your creation – and thanks again so much everyone! xoxoxox
And a special thanks to our dear friends and the young folks whose lawn he was on for the phone calls. xoxoxox
Essex beagle-dachshund mix returned to family!
I posted on Friday about a missing beagle/dachshund mix. Thanks to a tip we found him! This is a great website, so glad a friend mentioned Front Porch Forum to me!
Neighbors addressing Vermont unemployment…
Posted to the Windsor FPF by Tracey this week…
Dear Community – About a month ago, I posted an ad on our Front Porch Forum asking for a few hours of help with my project. Thanks to the Forum and the nice folks at the Windsor Library who saw the post, I got connected with Todd…
Todd has proven himself to be reliable, honest, and hardworking. We decided to ask him to stay on help us with the project, which includes yard work, demolition, carpentry, drywalling, painting, heavy lifting, etc. I’ve been really thankful to have been connected with Todd. He shows up for work every morning, and always early. He’s hardworking, is attentive to details, has neat habits and always puts things away, learns quickly, is willing to listen, can work independently, is a creative problem solver, is cost conscious, considerate, communicative, and this list continues.
I don’t understand how a capable worker like Todd has been unable to find employment, shelter, and a means to support himself. If anyone were to deserve a break, it would be Todd. He has a bike, but does not have a car. That has proven to be a huge obstacle in finding a job. However, without employment, I don’t see how he could afford a car.
Our project will end this week. By posting to the Windsor FPF again, I wish that Todd may be connected with other job opportunities, and find safe shelter where he could exchange chores for low rent. Please contact me and I’d be happy to show you the work he has done. Please contact Todd if you have a job or housing lead.
Lost cell phone found in Peacham
Patrice just shared this on her FPF…
Within fifteen minutes of posting the missing cell phone on the Danville Peacham Front Porch Forum a call came in from a new neighbor we’d yet to meet who found it. Thanks to this new neighbor and to another neighbor who suggested we put it out on the FPF. What a great resource.
Community policing history in Hinesburg
The good people of Hinesburg are grappling with the question of continuing their community police program. It’s an active topic on their Front Porch Forum. Many people were moved by the posting below that appeared yesterday…
Reading Rob’s comments about Hinesburg’s community police history has moved me to share an experience I had in 2004 that truly describes what community police service means to me. I was caring for my very ill Mother at home following recent surgery. I came downstairs early one morning to check on her and her dogs and found that she had died during the night. In a state of shock I immediately called 911. The first responder was a Hinesburg police officer (I regret that I can’t remember his name). He was at my house immediately and went to my Mother’s side. The paramedics came next, and then a coroner. But it was that police officer who really made the difference for me that day. He sat with me, helped me find a funeral home, and made the arrangements to have them come for my Mother. After my Mother was taken away, all of the others left, but not this police officer. He wouldn’t leave until I could get a friend to come by. That is what I call community police service, and I am grateful every day for what that Hinesburg police officer did for me.
I also want to commend the community-oriented services provided by Chief Morrell and extend my best wishes to him as he moves to a new location. When one of Chief Morrell’s service dogs died I sent him a card with a donation to help support future police service dogs in our community. Soon after I got a personal telephone call from Chief Morrell, telling me how much he appreciated my recognition of these very special dogs.
As far as I am concerned a strong community ethic is vital to any town, and it has been demonstrated many ways in Hinesburg. Thanks to all our local businesses for friendly service and making it possible to get much of what we need without going far from home. And, for heavens sake, look what Front Porch Forum is able to do to hold a community together. As an example, I can’t believe how many lost pets have been found just because community members care for each other and stay in touch. I feel lucky to be part of this community.
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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