Finally Fall!

After our long, very hot and very dry Summer it's finally Fall. For long time New Englanders this is our season to get outside and appreciate why we live here.

Besides Vernon's hiking and biking trails many organized activities are planned this season; those coming up in September and October are highlighted here. We hope you'll take advantage of them and try something new.

Several of the activities will get you and your family outside and are also an opportunity to give back to our community. Volunteers are behind much of what makes Vernon special and getting involved helps you feel part of our community. Beetlemania, Strong Family Farm's Work Day, and the Riffle Bioassessment By Volunteers are opportunities to pitch in and learn something new. For high school students these are also opportunities to earn required volunteer hours.

Most of the organizations sponsoring these events are members of the Vernon Volunteers' Collaborative. Learn more about VVC on their website. If you would like advanced notice of this type of event by email please join our MeetUp Group. You will also find upcoming events listed on the VVC website under the 'Events' tab. Many of the links below take you to MeetUp pages.

You can also visit our Tankerhoosen website and Facebook page.

Click on images for a larger view.

Jon Roe   

Beetlemania

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 9 A.M.: Vernon Greenways Volunteer's Beetlemania is Vernon's annual hunt for the Emerald Ash Borer & Asian Longhorned Beetle. This is our sixth tour of Vernon’s Rail Trail looking for a possible infestation.

These invasive species have been found as close as Worcester, MA (Asian Longhorned Beetle) and right next door in Ellington (Emerald Ash Borer). The Ellington sighting brings immediacy to our efforts. The goal is to find them in Year One of their infestation when they can be more easily controlled.

Your help is needed. With more people we can cover more of the Rail Trail. Training is provided and an expert leads each group. Meet at the Rail Trail's Church Street Parking Lot at 9 a.m.

» Learn more.

Strong Family Farm Work Day

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 9-1: Summer is nearly over and it’s time for fall cleaning at the Strong Family Farm. The Fall Work Day offers specific indoor and outdoor projects for people to do. Anyone from the community may join in.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to get to know this worthwhile organization, make new friends, and make a difference while helping out at the farm. “Many hands make light work,” as the saying goes, and the farm would love to have help from members of the community. Individual and family participation is encouraged.

All are welcome to bring a dish for a 'pot luck' lunch to share. Complimentary coffee and donuts will be served.

Any amount of time spent at the Strong Family Farm is sure to be an enjoyable, worthwhile experience and your help will be well appreciated. All Volunteer Work Days are held rain or shine. The farm is located at 274 West Street in Vernon.

» Learn more.

Black Bears In Connecticut

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1 P.M.: Get the 'bear' facts about the black bears that were roaming the Valley Falls hillsides this spring. Join the Friends of Valley Falls for their annual meeting and a presentation by Paul Colburn, Master Wildlife Conservationist, on 'Black Bears in Connecticut.'

Mr. Colburn will talk about the natural history of black bears in the state, and their habitat, diet, behavior, and reproduction. He will also talk about current research efforts and how to coexist with our black bear population. A display table with various bear artifacts will be available. The talk is intended for ages 12 and up.

This is also the Annual Meeting of the Friends of Valley Falls. A short business meeting will precede the talk. Meet at Valley Falls Farm, 345 Valley Falls Road in Vernon.

» Learn more.

Talcottville/Talcott Ravine Walk

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1 P.M.: This is the fourth year of our popular History, Geology and Fall Foliage Walk - a loop hike beginning in Talcottville, passing through the Northern Connecticut Land Trust's Talcott Ravine and returning on the Hop River Rail Trail.

October is also Archeology Awareness Month, so we'll discuss the archeological survey at the Dobson West Mill site. The survey was done in 1980 prior to expanding I-84.

Speakers include geologist GARY ROBBINS from the University of Connecticut, GAIL FAHERTY from the Northern CT Land Trust, SUSAN BARLOW from the Manchester Land Trust and JON ROE, webmaster of The Tankerhoosen website.

Meet at the parking lot of the Talcottville Congregational Church at 10 Elm Hill Road in Talcottville. The two hour hike is just under three miles and a short section of the trail is steep and bumpy, so please wear sturdy sneakers or shoes. The hike is free and will be held rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels. We expect a large turnout and some of the trail is narrow, so please leave your dogs at home.

» Learn more.

Strong Family Farm Harvest Festival

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 10-2: The Strong Family Farm's festival will include children’s activities, pumpkin sales, pumpkin decorating, hourly tours of the farm, announcement of results of the farm’s 4th annual scarecrow contest, apple sales, hay bale mazes, pumpkin checkers, animals, vendors, music, and a farewell to the farm’s chickens (from its successful, summer adopt-a-chicken program). The chickens will become laying hens at another farm.

SPECIAL APPLE PIE BAKING CONTEST! Food will be offered for sale, including snacks, donuts and apple cider.

Limited parking for a donation of $2 in the farm field with entrance on Peterson Road is available. Parking is also available on side streets and at Center Road School with an opening in the corner fence by training station.

» Learn more.

Riffle Bioassessment By Volunteers

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 9-2: Help Assess the Health of the Tankerhoosen River Watershed. The Vernon Conservation Commission invites you to help evaluate the health of the Tankerhoosen River watershed as part of its Annual Vernon Riffle Bioassessment by Volunteers (RBV).

No experience is necessary and training will be provided. Following the training session, teams of volunteers will visit several watershed streams. Results will be submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which will prepare a formal project report.

Meet at the Tolland County Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon at 9 a.m. The program will be completed by 2 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Volunteers should bring a water bottle, and wear boots or waders. To sign up, or for more information, contact Tom Ouellette at (860) 965-618 or tom.r.ouellette@gmail.com.

» Learn more.

Valley Falls Fall Foliage Hike

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 9 A.M.: The Northern Connecticut Land Trust leads this Fall foliage hike along Railroad Brook gorge in Vernon.

Hike thru NCLT's Andrew Webster Knapp property to the Rails-to-trails, then up to the ridge overlooking Valley Falls Park and Railroad Brook for some beautiful scenery.

Fairly challenging walk with up and down steep slopes. Meet at the Valley Falls parking lot off Valley Falls Road. Free. Call Karl at (860) 649-4949 for further information.

» Learn more.

VHS 50th Anniversary Celebration

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2-5 p.m.: To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Vernon Historical Society will host an Open House at the Society’s building at 734 Hartford Turnpike. All community members are welcome to join the celebration.

Visitors will be able to see a special display of historic artifacts from the museum that focus on life in Vernon and Rockville throughout its history. The items chosen for this display are reflective of our town’s industrial and agricultural past along with items used by Vernon citizens as they studied in our schools, tended their homes, worked their jobs and invested their time and energy to help Vernon and Rockville grow and flourish.

The history of the founding of the Society and information about special projects will also be featured in a display.

» Learn more.

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