New Tankerhoosen Brochure Available At Vernon Health Fair

This weekend, Saturday & Sunday, March 25 & 26 the biennial Greater Vernon Holistic Healthfest will be held at the Vernon Center Middle School, 777 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. This is the eighth Healthfest, a fundraiser for the Vernon Youth Services Bureau, and an opportunity to learn about local health options.

At each Healthfest Vernon hiking, recreation and preservation groups also have exhibits where you will find maps and information on local outdoor activities.

This year The Tankerhoosen is a Silver Sponsor and we took the opportunity to publish a brochure highlighting a dozen outdoor activity locations along the River. We and other local green groups are located in the Café area, so stop by and pick up one of our new brochures.

Greater Vernon Holistic Healthfest

You've probably seen the signs, posters, articles and ads promoting this event. Although primarily to educate area families about natural health options, the fair has become so much more. This is the eighth biennial fair and will have 93 tables and 40 workshops over two days, Saturday & Sunday, March 25 & 26.

Exhibitors include Naturopathic Physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, energy practitioners, and sound healers. For those who would rather go shopping there are over 30 area vendors and crafts people with unique gifts such as original artwork, jewelry, books, natural food, beauty products and healthy food.

But hiking, getting out to enjoy nature and other outdoor activities are also ways to promote good health. We are blessed to have so many trails, gardens and waterways in our area to enjoy. Town groups exhibiting include Vernon Parks & Recreation, Vernon Greenways Volunteers, Northern Connecticut Land Trust, Vernon Conservation Commission, and Strong Family Farm as well as The Tankerhoosen.

Healthfest has its own Café with local restaurants Monet's Table and Little Mark's Big BBQ. Admission is only $5 per day and the fair is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

In 2015 the fair drew about 1700 people so parking can be a challenge. If the VCMS lot is full there is a shuttle running all day from the Vernon Center Road School parking lot. The fair is also a fundraiser with proceeds going to the Vernon Youth Services Bureau to support their programs.

» Go to the Vernon Healthfest website for information on Exhibitors and Workshops.

An Outdoor Guide To The Tankerhoosen

The Tankerhoosen River Valley is one of Connecticut's Officially Designated Greenways as selected by the DEEP's Connecticut Greenway Council in 2007. They note, "The Tankerhoosen River is one of the most important watercourses within the Connecticut and Hockanum River Watersheds."

Although the river is only a little over five miles long the history, scenery, trail system and parks are unique in the way they are connected. Other towns in the area have wonderful parks and a rich history, but in none are they connected as they are in Vernon; and the Tankerhoosen River is the connector. Here you can hike, bike, swim, picnic, fish and visit outdoor museums without leaving the Greenway.

Large sections are owned and preserved by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, while other tracts are properties of the Northern Connecticut Land Trust or owned by the town. Exploring the area will bring you to natural features, historical sites and garden delights. Even long time residents are often surprised by the richness and variety of the area.

Our new brochure should give you a better understanding and appreciation of what we have and help you explore all that the Valley offers. It highlights a sampling of twelve locations from the headwaters of the Tankerhoosen River to its merger with the Hockanum River. The selected sites are connected south to north by the Shenipsit Trail and east to west by the Hop River Rail Trail. There are places to hike, bike, swim, fish, hunt or explore our 300 year history.

The brochure is available at our booth in the Café area of the Vernon Healthfest, where we and Vernon's other Green organizations are located. With Spring finally arriving get outside and explore a part of the valley you haven't yet visited.

» Learn about the 12 locations.

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