Vernon Events Articles Summer 2016

VVC News Page

The organizations of the Vernon Volunteers’ Collaborative (VVC) are known to you primarily by the programs and events we do or by our physical buildings and properties. However many elements of our missions that also benefit the town and deserve recognition are done behind the scenes.

Scholarships
The Vernon Garden Club, Friends of the Vernon Arts Commission and New England Civil War Museum each offer scholarships to high school students.

Grants
We receive grants for projects large and small, money that doesn’t come from the town budget. Some grants are to preserve open space and historical buildings such as the Friends of Valley Falls’ Valley Falls Farm, Northern CT Land Trust’s Webster Preserve and the Tolland County Agricultural Center’s Gunther Farm. Other grants are for organizational improvements, for developing programs or for special projects or studies such as Vernon Greenways Volunteers Rail-Trail art or the Friends of Hockanum River Linear Park’s funding of the Tankerhoosen Watershed Management Plan.

Schools
Key to many of our organizations are programs involving students. Examples are the Vernon Garden Club’s Jr. Gardeners’ Program at Lake Street School, the Vernon Chorale’s inclusion of high school students in their Spring concert, the Vernon Historical Society’s visits by Center Road School students, the Tolland County Agriculture Center’s 4-H support, the Vernon Education Association’s bookmobile work and Arts Center East’s annual show of student work. A number of our groups, such as the Strong Family Farm and Vernon Greenways Volunteers, provide opportunities for high school students to meet their volunteer service requirements.

Publications
The Vernon Historical Society has published a number of books on town history and the Vernon Education Foundation recently worked with Boy Scouts to write and publish a book on Vernon’s early burial grounds.

To learn more about the variety of things our organizations are doing visit VernonVolunteers.org and click the ‘News’ tab.

Summer Events For Families

Rather than the hikes and programs of Spring and Fall, most Summer activities are family oriented. Vernon Parks & Recreation programs are listed elsewhere; in this article are other programs to consider. Specific dates were not available for most activities as this was written, so below are planned programs by organization. As dates become available they will be posted at VernonVolunteers.org under the ‘Events’ tab. To receive notice of upcoming events please join our MeetUp group. Details are on the ‘Events’ page.

Tolland County Agricultural Center
The annual 4-H Fair will be held the weekend of August 13 & 14. With animals and competitions this is a kid favorite. (TollandCountyAgriculturalCenter.com)

Friends of Valley Falls
Tours of the Stable and grounds each Wednesday during July and August from 1-3 p.m. (FriendsOfValleyFalls.org)

New England Civil War Museum
The museum will be open Thursdays as well as second and fourth Sundays during July and August. (NewEnglandCivilWarMuseum.com)

Belding Wildlife Management Area
During July and August there will be weekly programs for children on a variety of nature topics.

Strong Family Farm
Busy season on the Farm. The 8-week Adopt-a-Chicken program begins June 8 and children meet every other Wednesday; on alternate Wednesdays will be ‘Farm Story Time’ for children. Other programs planned will be ‘Life In The Fields’, bees and photography. The new farm stand opens in July with local produce and products. (StrongFamilyFarm.org)

Vernon Greenways Volunteers
The Volunteers will be maintaining gardens along the Rail-Trail as well as other trail maintenance throughout the growing season. Additional help is always welcome. Later in the season VGV will coordinate Beetlemania, the annual search for the Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorn Beetle. Your help is needed. (VernonGreenways.org)

Vernon’s Other Trails

Vernon is known for its Greenways and trails. Casual hikers use the Rail-Trail and the trails at Valley Falls Park, but there are many more including the Shenipsit Blue Blaze and Belding Wild Life Management Area trails. In addition organizations of the Vernon Volunteers’ Collaborative maintain trails either on their property or for the town.

Northern Connecticut Land Trust
NCLT (NorthernCTLandTrust.org) owns about 95 acres on 7 properties in Vernon, each with trails. The three properties with the longest trails are:

● Talcott Ravine, a popular trail along the Tankerhoosen River with mill ruins and the ravine.
● Webster and Echo Ridge Preserves above Valley Falls Park leading to views from the cliffs.
● Eckers Pond trails just north of Vernon Center Middle School athletic fields.

Tolland County Agricultural Center
These may be the most overlooked and underappreciated trails in town. The Shenipsit Blue Blaze trail passes through TCAC’s property. Far in the back, near I-84, Gage’s Brook tumbles down the Eastern Highlands towards Walker Reservoir East. In this wooded area you’ll find a series of trails, stone walls, experimental gardens and a pond. A hidden gem.

Vernon Greenways Volunteers & Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park
VGV (VernonGreenways.org) recreated and maintain eight gardens along the Rail Trail.  They also assist the town in the maintenance of the 20 miles of trails for which it has responsibility.  The Friends of HRLP assisted in developing and maintaining the Hockanum River parks and trails.

One trail system created is the Dart Hill North and South trails that follow the Hockanum River from the water treatment plant on Route 74 to the Mansions.  A staging point in the middle is Dart Hill South Park.  Well used by those living in the area and a nice alternative to the Rail Trail.

This summer explore and enjoy some of Vernon’s Other Trails. Links to trail maps can be found at
Tankerhoosen.info/Recreation/trails.htm.

Summer Gardens

Traveling around town you pass many public gardens adding to your enjoyment of Summer. Here are a few that are maintained by volunteers.

Vernon’s Gateway Gardens
Vernon has two gardens welcoming visitors to town – one at ‘Vernon Circle’ planted in 2002 and the other at Lafayette Square planted in 2006. The Vernon Garden Club (VernonGardenClub.org) provides on-going maintenance for these gardens. Maintaining the project has been a shared endeavor. The plants, which club members weed, deadhead, compost, fertilize and prune,  are mostly drought tolerant perennials.

Rail-Trail Gardens
Where the Rail-Trails cross town roads you’ll often see a crew of green shirted volunteers spreading mulch or weeding and watering plants. These are the Vernon Greenways Volunteers (VernonGreenways.org) who maintain eight roadside plantings in town in addition to their trail maintenance chores. Working with the Park and Recreation Department they bring color and beauty to our celebrated Rail-Trails.

Myrtle’s Garden at VHS
At the Vernon Historical Society (VernonHistoricalSoc.org) is a small garden dedicated to volunteer Myrtle Loftus. It’s a lovely summer garden like many others, except for one feature – the 1834 bell that once hung in the Talcottville Mill. In fact the grounds of the historic Grange building are an outdoor museum with many objects and plantings relating to our local history.

Experimental Gardens at TCAC
The Tolland County Agricultural Center (TollandCountyAgriculturalCenter.com) has programs for Master Gardeners and hosts the annual 4-H fair. Not surprisingly many experimental gardens have been created. Some vary from year to year but you will find a daffodil labyrinth, rain gardens and a children’s garden as well as beautiful landscaping and flower beds around the main building. A good place to explore with the family.

If you enjoy gardening consider joining one of these volunteer groups, all members of the Vernon Volunteers’ Collaborative (VernonVolunteers.org).

Making Vernon Special