Ghost of Midnight

Eating Pie, Celebrating Neighbors

We love a holiday!

It seems there may be several “official” days on the calendar each year where we’re meant to celebrate our neighbors, but we think this locally-grown commemoration of a good deed is pretty sweet.

“…Ginny and her husband were so grateful for the neighborly help they received that day that Ginny felt April 19th – the day her husband fell to what may have been a terrible fate had he not been discovered by their quick-thinking, caring neighbor – should become an official day for everyone everywhere to appreciate their neighbors. In recent years, Ginny has been recognized by Governor Scott and the Chelsea Selectboard for her conception of this idea.”

The town of Chelsea will be celebrating Neighbor Appreciation Day tomorrow with a pie party. Yum!

Need motivation to get out of the house? Check your Front Porch Forum Community Calendar

Across the state, each Front Porch Forum Community Calendar is home to yard sales, toddler play groups, grange suppers, and little league opening days. Local events are a great way to meet neighbors, learn something new, get active, and have fun! Studies show that social connection is important and your Community Calendar might be just the place to get inspired. We love to read about the creative get-togethers — like these examples listed below — hosted by community members, businesses, libraries, municipalities, and cultural organizations:

Wild Game Dinner, March 23, Bolton
Lake Champlain Longbeards annual wild game dinner. Enjoy wild game in some of our favorite recipes. Venison, Moose, Bear, Rabbit…

Lily’s Pad Ribbit Review, April 3, Burlington
The Ribbit Review is part house-party, part song circle/open-mic that showcases performers of all levels from seasoned singer/songwriters, to those who are just starting out and just looking to connect with other artists and hone their skills.

Solar Eclipse Yoga, April 8, Enosburgh
Yoga class on the green! Bring a mat to roll out on the grass and check the weather to wear appropriate layers… we are planning to have our savasana coincide with the complete darkness of the eclipse.

Alburgh Adult Volleyball, April 10, Alburgh
Volleyball in Alburgh at the school gym is changing the start time to 7 pm. Come join us on Wednesdays for a couple hours of fun!

Eagles Auxiliary Friday Night Bingo, April 26, Jeffersonville
We thank you for supporting our Auxiliary Bingo that supports our many charities, donations, and scholarships, we make in our community throughout each year. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Bingo refreshments available…

Don’t you just feel excited to join in? Check out your local and regional Community Calendar and spread the word that Front Porch Forum is both a great place for planners to post events and for community members to find engaging activities.

Meet Your Community Calendar on Front Porch Forum

Did you know that every town on Front Porch Forum has its own Community Calendar, full of events submitted by neighbors, businesses, and local organizations? 

Any member can submit an event to their local Community Calendar. It can be something informal such as a neighborhood garage sale or walking group; or can be more structured such as a toddler playtime at your library or trivia night at a local restaurant.

How do I create a Calendar Event?

Click on over to our Help Center to follow the steps to submit an event to your Community Calendar. 

What’s the best way to get people to show up?

People are more likely to attend an event where they know what to expect. Clue folks in as to your target audience (Great for kids! Or, young professionals welcome!) and the activities involved (Hear a compelling lecture. Or, get ready to dance the night away.) Finally, is there a ticket price and way to RSVP? Think about who, what, where, when, and why before you hit “submit.” If your gathering is weeks or months in the future, consider posting in your Forum a message with a short note to encourage attendance closer to the date. 

Success! Am I done now?

Congratulations! You’re one step closer to helping neighbors connect. Thanks for making the Community Calendar a part of your event planning.

Valentine’s Day Love on FPF

Thank you to the hundreds of Front Porch Forum members who posted love letters, appreciations, and notes of gratitude about their town during the week of Valentine’s Day, 2024.

It was a gift to read these celebrations of people and places across the state. There were messages describing community highlights such as a favorite car mechanic in Brattleboro to a librarian in Chelsea, from flood recovery volunteers in Glover to trivia night hosted in St. Johnsbury, from the Colchester Causeway to the Ridgeline trails of Randolph, and from the holiday lights of Springfield to the welcome for refugees in Rutland.

As always, members make Front Porch Forum a bright spot of community connection.