Hello Neighbors!

Many of you know me from the Milton Neighbors Facebook Group. I founded the group in  2013 — even though my husband and I had lived in Milton since 2005, I still felt lost. I’m also not from Massachusetts, so I lacked any sort of inside scoop – and while attempting to navigate my daughter’s first year in the Milton Public Schools, find a decent plumber, and get other local recommendations, it dawned on me that no central resource existed. There were parents’ groups, churches, school groups, etc., but there was no completely inclusive central location for anybody and everybody in the community to connect, get to know one another, and share information.

There were parents’ groups, churches, school groups, etc., but there was no completely inclusive central location for anybody and everybody in the community to connect, get to know one another, and share information.

Screenshot of Milton Neighbors Facebook group

One late winter night, I had the a-ha moment known as “Milton Neighbors.” I created the group and added a few of my Milton Facebook friends; they added their friends, and the chemical reaction that is social media went into effect. The group grew – and fast! It expanded so rapidly, that I had to make the group “secret” in the fall of 2014, because spammers were trying sell us counterfeit Ray-Bans.

The site’s traffic skyrocketed during Boston’s Snowmageddon in the winter of 2015. Trapped in our homes for weeks, we sought solace in socializing with locals and helping one another out with snow removal referrals, advice, general commiseration, and cheesy jokes. That March, I organized our first social, where we met one another in person and shared laughs and beverages. After this initial success, regular socials followed.

Recently, I decided to add a companion website to Milton Neighbors — and Viola! The Milton Scene: Where Milton Neighbors Meet — was born. I hope it is as useful to my neighbors as the Facebook group has been.

Here are some of my favorite features:

• The Facebook Group platform has its limitations. It’s difficult for people to find my curated lists of recommended independent contractors, for example, and there are a lot of repeat referral requests. These supplemental files do not operate well on a mobile device. On the Milton Scene, they are conveniently located in the Milton Resources area. If we can give our business to a reliable neighbor, why not?
• This site will feature advice and information from local talent. Read what our artists, business experts, real estate agents, health care professionals, and home improvement specialists have to tell us in the Local Expertise section. If you have know-how to showcase, please contact the Milton Scene in order to become one of our experts.

When I launched Milton Neighbors, a few years ago, I could not have imagined how it would blossom into the resource it has become today. A huge thank you the many Milton Neighbors’ members, who have encouraged me through their Milton Neighbors success stories and notes of encouragement and thanks. I dedicate the Milton Scene to you!

Melissa Fassel Dunn
Editor and Founder, The Milton Scene
Founder, Milton Neighbors
Town Meeting Member, Precinct 7

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