Ghost of Midnight
… about neighbors, community and Front Porch Forum
Squabbling college town… can it become positive model for students?
“I read our FPF updates with enthusiasm and at times curiosity. I live on Main Street in the heart of the beaten path to and from off-campus student activities. I have lost flags, and other decorations to midnight five-finger-discount perpetrators. Yet, I refuse to brand ALL students as impish, hooligans, and ne’er do wells.
“Our college has myriad examples of kind, considerate and cooperative students: Mentor Programs, Meals on Wheels, etc. I am also a faculty member… Our students are reaching out regularly to become more involved with OUR community as we incorporate more Civic Engagement into our curriculum.
“You can’t expect to solve a problem with a school without taking into account the problems in the community. There is substantial divisiveness, tension, and squabble among and between us. There is a history of bullying and strong-arm behavior in our politics. If you believe that students don’t see it, then GOD BLESS YOU!!!
“I would like to have the community welcome new students as they arrive for the first time to our town. I have spoken to several folks about making this idea happen. We have a BEAUTIFUL town and caring people in it. Why not model the behavior we would like them to embrace as a standard?”
• Robert, shared recently with neighbors on his local Front Porch Forum
Turkey buzzards monitoring Middlebury FPF?
“Lately on Chipman Hill we have seen several very large vultures… We have two small dogs and these predatory birds seemed very interested in them when I let them out yesterday. One of our dogs is an elderly, white Bichon, which must resemble a rabbit-like meal to these birds. They immediately left their perch in our neighbor’s tree (there were 5 of them!) and began circling overhead our dogs. I ran out and made lots of noise to scare them off and quickly got our dogs back inside. Beware of these birds in the area, especially if you have small pets outdoors. They are quite large with a 6-7 ft wingspan.”
• Thomas, Middlebury Front Porch Forum
“Unless your dog dies while a vulture is circling overhead, you don’t really need to worry; they only eat carrion. I’m pretty sure they don’t attack animals, like hawks or eagles.”
• Leigh, Middlebury FPF
“… Enjoy them. They are gentle giants who clean up roadkill and carcasses.”
• Kerry, Middlebury FPF
“… Any circling above dogs is most likely coincidental and has more to do with them finding a nice updraft than thoughts of a potential meal.”
• Ron, Middlebury FPF
“Thank you to everyone who responded to my post… I am not a bird expert so I wasn’t totally sure they were vultures and found their behavior a bit confusing when they left their perches to circle over our dogs. I haven’t seen them since my original posting (maybe they’re on FPF too).”
• Thomas, Middlebury FPF
“Ornithology expertise be damned – I don’t think we can be too careful when it comes to vultures. When I’m out for a run and see them circling overhead, I always try to speed up a bit. Just in case.”
• Barbara, Middlebury FPF
“Old cow died
Little cat cried
Buzzard, he laughed, took a pain in his side.
• American folk song
In the 1950s, when I was a young kid, we lived in Virginia for three years. Turkey buzzards were one of the disagreeable things that I was glad weren’t in Vermont when we moved back. Like possums and ticks. We’ve gotten all three–maybe we’ll have mulberries and persimmons some day, too.”
• Ed, Middlbury FPF
Feeling lonely? See yesterday’s Mad River Valley FPF…
“If you ever feel lonely, ask for a recommendation on Front Porch Forum — 15 tree service referrals and counting. Thank you everyone.”
• Ken, Mad River Valley FPF
“Corrugated metal roofing is gone… thank you for all the interest and thank you Front Porch Forum.”
• Annette, MRV FPF
“I now have a bike basket for my old Cruiser! Thank you FPF once again!!”
• Suzee, MRV FPF
Touched by Montpelier neighbors
“Thank you everyone who replied to me the other day when I posted that I was in urgent need of an apartment for June 1st. I was overwhelmed by the number of responses I received, and touched at all the offers of support. I have found an apartment!
“Thank you Front Porch Forum, Montpelier, and Vermont in general for being so neighborly and supportive! This is what makes Vermont a great place to live :).”
• Mary, Montpelier FPF
100,000 Front Porch Forum members in Vermont!
We’re excited to announce that Front Porch Forum now has 100,000 members across Vermont. More than one-third of the households in the state participate in their local FPFs. Thanks to all who have helped achieve this milestone.
To share FPF with other Vermonters, please send them to FrontPorchForum.com to check it out and sign up.
FPF’s mission is to help neighbors connect and build community. We do that by hosting a statewide network of online neighborhood forums where Vermonters post about lost pets, borrowing ladders, recommending plumbers, sighting moose, reporting break-ins, discussing school budgets, and much more.
Front Porch Forum hiring sales professional
Front Porch Forum is seeking an experienced sales professional to join our team. FPF serves every community in Vermont and is growing steadily. To learn more and apply, click here.
It takes a village to find llamas on the lam
“Have you seen our llamas? They went missing from our home on Falls Hill Road this past Sunday. We have driven, and walked and searched high and low but have not had any luck. They are 6-year old females, one dark brown and one lighter blond. If you have any information, please email or call 889-3739. Thank you!”
• Amy, Tunbridge Chelsea Front Porch Forum
“They were seen yesterday morning grazing in an open pasture on the ridge above Ward Hill Rd/old 4th class Kelsey Mountain Rd. For those in this area, please keep your eyes open and let us know if you see them. They are standoffish so don’t expect to ‘catch’ them. Notifying us is the best way. We are getting closer!”
• Amy a few days later
“Dear Friends – Our llamas are home! They enjoyed themselves for nearly 2 weeks in the wild but today the party ended and we were able to corral them safely and soundly off the ridge and down Ward Hill Road and into their pen. Thank you everyone for your emails and thoughts and help and offers of help. We are grateful and relieved to have them back and appreciate the support from the community. May they stay put for the foreseeable future!”
• Amy one last time!
Bears ransack Mad River Valley garage
“I didn’t know bears opened garages, but indeed they do. I haven’t been to the transfer station in quite some time so there’s lots of trash and recyclables in my garage. I woke up to my garage door half way up and trash everywhere… each white kitchen bag of trash was methodically opened and searched. (Recyclables weren’t touched.) The bags were carried into the woods so there’s a mess everywhere… Please be aware and secure your garages. My garage door was down but wasn’t locked.”
• Valerie, Mad River Valley Front Porch Forum
Reckless drivers endangering lives… Vermont discussions heating up
The following Front Porch Forum posting sparked a lively local discussion about texting while driving…
“The past few days while entering and leaving Cambridge Elementary School I have witnessed several drivers texting while leaving the school. We all know it is against the law, but more importantly, there are children who are walking and biking to school and “you” are putting their lives at risk. The text you are responding to is not more important than their lives. Pick up and drop off times at CES is a very busy time and drivers need (and have the duty) to be alert. School officials can only do so much, we are all responsible for the safety of every CES child!”
• Sean, Cambridge FPF
Another Vermonter in Plainfield took a more direct tack…
“Speeding on Laird Pond Rd- Please Stop or I Will Throw Rocks at You… A red truck with a cap came barreling down Laird Pond Rd this afternoon right around bus drop off time 3:30 and sped by my son and honked loudly. He was off to the side, he was not in the way. He is a student walking home from school. Lots of children walk this road every day. Speeding on this road at this time, or any time is unacceptable. I’m serious about the rocks.”
• Erin, Marshfield Plainfield FPF
Given recent tragedies on Vermont roads, these conversations are as important as ever. Local FPFs are a good place to raise these concerns and gauge neighbors’ feelings as well.
Middletown Spring neighbors take good fences
• Linda, Middletown Springs 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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