Ghost of Midnight

Thanks to Sally Pollak who wrote an excellent feature article about Front Porch Forum for the Burlington Free Press yesterday.

Photo credit: Alison Redlich, Free Press

Front Porch Forum subscribers frequently are surprised to learn that this free service was created right here in our corner of Vermont. It’s no secret… our start-up story has gotten decent local media coverage.
Here’s today’s example from a relatively long-time and active subscriber from Essex Junction…
First of all — will someone please tell me [...]

Steve Yelvington posted today…

Knowledge@Wharton has an interview with Joe Kraus, director of product management at Google, in which he highlights the importance of social interaction on the Web:
“So, the killer apps that have really worked on the web have always been about connecting people to one another. So, whether it is instant messaging and e-mail [...]

Cool local success, Epik, is hosting an Online Marketing (OM) Boot Camp in Burlington, VT, June 17-20. These are good folks who do great work, so I recommend it. Google and Champlain College are also co-hosting. They’re even offering some grants to cut the cost for select Vermont businesses. I’d be [...]

Hey, hey… should be a good event tomorrow (May 29, 2008) at Champlain College (Burlington, VT)…
Fulfilling Vermont’s e-State Potential
Building Community in a “Connected Age”
Front Porch Forum will be among several community-building efforts featured. Lewis Feldstein from New Hampshire, who co-wrote Robert Putnam’s follow up to Bowling Alone, will provide the keynote.
Another fun angle… Cathy [...]

Glenn McRea of the Snelling Center for Government posted the following on his neighborhood’s Front Porch Forum today…
The Future of Vermont is is an important opportunity coming up.  The Vermont Council on Rural Development is sponsoring a series of statewide forums on the “future” of Vermont.  Front Porch Forum is an important part of that [...]

A number of Front Porch Forum neighborhoods have lit up recently about door-to-door salespeople. In particular, young folks have been sweeping through local neighborhoods pushing magazine subscriptions and odd stories that raise suspicions. Hundreds, if not thousands, of local folks seem to be talking about this. Some people are afraid, others annoyed… [...]

After witnessing boatloads of goodwill among neighbors through Front Porch Forum, I thought I had seen it all.  Well… can you guess the response to this posting?
 Hello - I am a UVM student about to spend my first summer in Burlington. All year long I’ve been dreaming of joining a CSA for the first time. [...]

A Champlain College student recently conducted a survey of Front Porch Forum subscribers who live in Burlington, VT (about 30% of the households subscribe). About 390 responded (9%). Here are some of the results…

80% have recommended FPF to neighbors
91% would be disappointed if FPF’s service stopped
90% think FPF improves their neighborhood
60% feel that [...]

Vandalism and petty crime in an urban neighborhood can breed cynicism, negativity and isolation.  Not so with a gardener in Burlington’s Old North End.  Michelle’s posting on Front Porch Forum today shows a different path…
I have had some flowers missing from my garden this spring. About a week or 2 ago I had 2 brand [...]