🌱 Patch AM: Governor, State Ag Commissioner, Hail "Real" Farm-To-Table School Meals At Rockville High School

Hey there, Vernon! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Rockville High's greenhouse harvest is transforming what Vernon students eat daily
• Vernon's Little Mark's BBQ vies for top Tolland County honor
• What Vernon drivers need to know about new $250 school bus fines

Also on today's calendar: South Windsor Apple Fest 2026 and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 75 and low of 60 degrees.
• Friday: Chance of a p.m. shower, temps: high: 81, low: 53.
• Saturday: Sunshine and not as warm, with a high of 68 and low of 43 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Governor, State Ag Commissioner, Hail "Real" Farm-To-Table School Meals At Rockville High School (patch.com) — Vernon students at Rockville High School are at the center of Connecticut's CT Grown for CT Kids Week kickoff, showcasing a robust farm-to-table meal program that uses produce grown right on campus and from local farms. State leaders praised Chef Tom Turvil's efforts to replace processed school lunches with fresh, culturally diverse dishes, highlighting how better food supports student performance and local agriculture.
   

• Vernon Establishment Finalist For Major Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association Award (patch.com) — Vernon's Little Mark's BBQ & Grill is a finalist for Tolland County Restaurant of the Year in the statewide CRAZIES Awards, putting a local favorite in the spotlight. Residents can support the Vernon restaurant through public voting, which runs through November and helps determine winners alongside an industry panel.
   

• 362 drivers caught illegally passing Vernon school buses. Now come $250 fines. (ctinsider.com) — If you drive in Vernon, be aware that school bus cameras have already recorded 362 illegal passes in the first month of school, and the warning period has ended. Starting now, motorists who pass buses with flashing red lights will receive $250 tickets by mail, with even steeper penalties if an officer catches the violation in person.
   

📸 Around Vernon

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Vernon

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 3
• South Windsor Apple Fest 2026 →
  75 Brookfield St, South Windsor
  9:00 am
Friday October 9
• St Joseph Church $4000 Cash Prize Bingo →
  St. Joseph Catholic Church, 33 West St, Vernon
  6:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday October 1
• Process Art Play →
  Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St, Vernon
  10:00 am
• Friends of Rockville Public Library October Meeting →
  Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St, Vernon
  12:00 pm
• Unplugged Game Night →
  Vernon CT
  5:00 pm
• Windsor Locks at Rockville →
  Rockville High School, 70 Loveland Hill Rd, Vernon
  5:45 pm
• LIVE WEBINAR: Building Your Child's Independence: Executive Function Coaching at Home and at School →
  7:00 pm
Friday October 2
• Playdate @ the Library →
  Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St, Vernon
  10:30 am
Saturday October 3
• Tag Sale →
  Tag Sale at Vernon, 182 Skinner Rd, Vernon
  9:00 am
Sunday October 4
• Visit the Museum at Valley Falls Farm and Heritage Center →
  345 Valley Falls Rd, Vernon
  1:00 pm
• Lego Club →
  Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St, Vernon
  4:00 pm
Monday October 5
• Scavenger Hunt →
  Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St, Vernon
  9:00 am

📣 Vernon Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Vernon PatchAM possible:

• The Learning Experience- Vernon CT — (860) 454-7848
• Talaga Construction — (860) 836-5343
• Dustless Hardwood Floors LLC — (860) 993-7657
• Vernon Nails — (860) 858-6157

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Carol Piscitelli Obituary: Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home, East Haven —Clancy Palumbo Funeral Home and Cremation Service Read on Patch
• Death Takes A Bow - Murder Mystery Dinner Theater —Leslie Read on Patch

• Subway posted a job opening for Sandwich Artist 11-Am -3-Pm Sandwich Artist 5-Pm -9-Pm in Bolton. Apply here.
• The Manchester Public School District posted a job opening for Payroll Administrative Assistant - Class A 52 Weeks in Manchester. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Vernon here.

🗞 Nearby News

Manchester

• Manchester Native Named New Public Works Director (patch.com)
• Manchester School System Getting 6-Figure Grant Aimed At Boosting Attendance (patch.com)

Ellington

• Your CT fall bucket list: 19 things to do, from leaf peeping to apple picking to state park hikes (ctpublic.org)
• Eversource crews restore power to more than 185,000 customers following nor'easter (greenwichfreepress.com)

Tolland

• Kosta Diamantis, still a fugitive, sentenced to 84 months (ctmirror.org)
• Tree falls on person in Stafford, causing serious injuries and LIFE STAR transport (wtnh.com)
• The D.C. Mansion Murders: The Savopoulos Family Tragedy Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps (iheart.com)

Ok Vernon! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook