President’s Message
For the period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

Since signing an agreement with the Town of Vernon in June of 2023 for use of the Red Barn, we have opened our Heritage Center to well over 500 guests.  Some of the activities over the last year have included Artists’ Day, three Spring walks, guided tours and CT Open House Day on June 8, 2024.  We also welcomed Bill Darico as a new board member, and have welcomed new volunteers and new tenants in the farmhouse.

We continue to work with the Town of Vernon to maintain and repair the Red Barn.  We also worked with the volunteers from Northford Timber Framers to stabilize the beams for winter snow loads.  We were also fortunate to work with the Vernon Public Works Department to add new lighting in the basement, an outdoor water faucet, and millings for a new driveway apron–which our volunteers installed.

We accomplished a lot this year in our maintenance of the farm.  Unfortunately, in February, someone hit the stone wall in front of the farmhouse causing damage.  Thankfully we had a volunteer who was able to fix the wall with a small cost for materials.  For safety purposes we filled and sealed two abandoned wells on the farm.  We also corrected drainage issues in the farmhouse basement.  During the year we sanded, painted, raked, weeded, mowed, cleared, repaired, and maintained the farm with a wonderful group of volunteers and board members.  We are thankful and grateful for each and every one of them!  Thank you for sharing your time, skills and talent with us!

We would also like to thank our members and donors.  Your donations allow us to continue our mission.  We will continue to support the enhancement of Valley Falls Park and Farm through responsible stewardship of the land and buildings, while we preserve its historic qualities and educate the public about natural resources and the value of open space.

Looking forward to another successful year at Valley Falls Farm and Heritage Center!

Respectfully submitted,
Maryann Levesque, President