Home Care In Warren, CT

The Warren's Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon is leaving Connecticut for the first time, and setting up shop in one of the most allegedly "haunted" locations in the country: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The event, which will take place from Sept. 27-29 at the Allstar Events Complex, is led by friends and family members of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens, who hailed from Monroe and founded the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), were considered among the most notable paranormal investigators of their time, investigating cases like the "Amityville Horror" house on Long Island, the "Enfield Poltergeist" and the Annabelle doll, the later of which has been immortalized with it's own movie series.

The Warrens kept mementos from their cases, which were stored at the couple's Occult Museum attached to their Monroe home. Today, the items in the museum, as well as NESPR, are overseen by the Warrens' son-in-law Tony Spera and his wife (Ed and Lorraine's daughter), Judy Spera.

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The paranormal convention will showcase a number of items from the collection including the Annabelle doll. TCD Paracon & Entertainment, who puts on the event, will also have a number of forthcoming announcements about special guests, including horror actors and paranormal TV personalities, according to Dan Rivera, senior lead investigator for NESPR and co-owner of TCD Paracon & Entertainment.

The previous two iterations of the festival, held in 2022 and 2023, took place at Mohegan Sun. Rivera said that Paracon will skip Connecticut this year in order to bring the convention to fans in the Mid Atlantic. However, Rivera left the door open for a return to Connecticut.

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"We have a great relationship with Mohegan and love working with them, so there's still opportunities there to work with them again," Rivera said.

Gettysburg is known for its allegedly "haunted" nature, which can be traced back to the town's historic losses during the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, which was fought from July 1-3, 1863, resulted in the deaths of approximately 50,000 soldiers, according to the American Battlefield Trust.

In addition to the Warren's Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon, NESPR will host its "Devil's on the Run Tour," which will stop at the allegedly "haunted" Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, NY, as well as the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri. Rivera noted that Annabelle would not be present at these events, but other items from the museum would be. Items from the Warrens' Occult Museum will also be on display at the Psychic & Spirit Fest in San Antonio, Texas.

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A VIP Party for the Warren's Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon will be held on Sept. 27. Tickets to the VIP Party and the convention are currently on sale. Anyone interested in seeing items from the Warrens' Occult Museum must purchase a "Warren's Occult Museum Experience" pass as well as general admission pass.

WARREN — The town of Warren, named for Revolutionary War General Joseph Warren, is one of the oldest villages in the county and also one of the smallest, with a population of roughly 1,500. It is easy to pass right through Warren, since it is surrounded by the larger towns of Kent and Litchfield. Additionally, until recently, there was no center of town to speak of, except for a row of mostly empty shops on Cornwall Road. That has changed since Warren resident John Favreau purchased the buildings and renovated them.

“Basically it was so depressing to drive by and see the empty storefronts,” says Favreau. “I’ve had a home here for 15 years and it’s such a special place. I was determined to bring life back to our little center.”

And he has, bringing the buildings up to code, but retaining their character and history. Warren Town Center, as the complex is now known, consists of three separate buildings; the center one is the home of Warren General Store, which Favreau operates himself, along with his staff. It is the quintessential country store, open seven days a week with an impressive and extensive menu offering creative deli sandwiches, salads, baked goods, delicious coffee and some irresistible desserts. (It is worth the trip just for the curried chicken salad.) There are several tables where one can sit and enjoy the food, and takeout is available as well. There is a section of kitchen and gift items, as well as a selection of packaged food and condiments. Several newspapers are also available. While it is not a huge space, it is cheerful and bright and everyone who works or eats there seems to have a friendly smile.

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The first building, erected in 1820, is the oldest of the three and now houses WKND, a clothing and accessories shop. While it began as a pop-up shop, it reopened last May as a permanent one. It is owned by David Asmar, who worked in the fashion industry for many years, and, like Favreau, relocated from New York City to Warren. WKND offers a carefully curated collection for men, women, and children at affordable price points.

“I wanted to create a store that is accessible to everyone — locals as well as weekenders,” Asmar explains. “The love and support shown by the community has been overwhelming.”

The third building in Favreau’s complex is Warren Works, a co-working space. There are three full-time working stations, a conference room and two smaller work spaces.

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“There are two 1,500-square foot spaces available above WKND,” says Favreau. “They would be ideal for a fitness studio. I am hoping to find a fitness/yoga instructor to utilize the space.”

Rounding out the Warren Town Center is the Warren Spirits Shop. Originally established in 1977, it is now owned by Richard O’Grady. He and Favreau have coordinated on several events, including a series of wine tastings with food supplied by the Warren General Store.

During this troubling Coronavirus epidemic and isolation period, Warren General Store remains open, providing in-store, curb side and delivery options for its customers, with an extra emphasis on social distancing, cleanliness and sanitization.

“We are doing our best to serve the community and still be responsible and safe,” says Favreau. “Warren Works is fully booked, adhering to required social distancing and carrying on in a thoughtful and caring way. WKND is open by appointment only.”

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In addition to seeing to his store and tenants, Favreau tries to focus on his other businesses, which are fashion and marketing related.

“Those have been challenging as they have retail and manufacturing components that need to be addressed,” he explains. “I am hearing firsthand from our factory representative in Italy from one brand and from the front lines of international retail in Europe where another one of my businesses has deep relationships with the top retailers who are all closed. It is truly heartbreaking to read what is happening. I’ve been getting pandemic emails in multiple languages!”

Favreau also serves as Chairman of the Inland Wetlands Commission, addressing the environmental impacts of development in Warren, and as President of the Historical Society where the focus is on stabilizing the condition of the Brick School House and maintaining it as a historic structure in Warren. He is also treasurer of the Northwest CT Arts Council, which is working on a relief fund for artists who are facing dire needs as income sources have evaporated. Many are contract hires or in the hospitality/food service industries when not creating their art. In these challenging days, Favreau’s commitment and positive attitude are admirable and encourage all of us to follow suit.

While this is not a time for sightseeing, it is worth mentioning other attractions in Warren.

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The Hopkins Inn, with its scenic views of Lake Waramaug, has welcomed travelers since 1847. Its restaurant is renowned for its contemporary Austrian cuisine but offers many dishes that are distinctly American. In addition to the indoor restaurant there is seating on the flagstone terrace when weather permits. There are also12 guest rooms and two apartments available.

Angevine Farms has been owned and operated by the same family for over 150 years. It is now in the hands of its fifth and sixth generations and offers homemade baked goods, vegetables, orchard products, poultry and eggs, pumpkins, and Christmas trees.

Take a pleasant a stroll or bike ride around Lake Waramaug, which one can still do during these quarantined times. The Warren Historical Society, closed now, is the place to learn more about this unique town that has been home to director Milos Forman, theatrical producer Morton Gottlieb, artist Cleve Gray and his wife writer Francine du Plessix Gray, and prize-wining author Philip Roth.

Also worth looking into as part of the Warren attractions is Strawberry Ridge Vineyards, five picturesque acres overlooking the lake, famous for its Ascot Reserve Chardonnay.

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And Warren Woods, a public recreation space and event venue.

For more information, visit www.warrengeneral.com.

Connecticut Media Group

WARREN — Until last month, every Monday morning at 6 a.m. when town resident Ted Morse woke up, the very first thing he would do was look outside his window to see if his trash barrel has been turned over by a bear.

“We’ve had it happen four or five times,” said Morse, adding the garbage must then be picked up off the pavement before the trash hauler comes, which is between 7 and 7:30 a.m.

There was one occasion when he didn’t make it outside in time. Another time, a bear got into his neighbor’s garbage across the street and all the neighbor’s trash was brought over into Morse’s yard.

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But Morse’s bear problem now appears to have gone away — ever since he switched to a new kind of can that is bear-resistant, and one that First Selectman Tim Angevine is now encouraging all residents to get.

Bear population

“In Northwest Connecticut, the bears have been a problem getting into the trash the past 10 or more years,” Angevine said.

He added within the last month, in one part of the town, bears have come through every week and knocked down trash cans of three quarters of the houses within a quarter- to a half-mile stretch.

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“USA Waste & Recycling offered bear-resistant carts as a solution,” Angevine said.

The fee for the rental of each 95-gallon fully-automated bear resistant roll out cart is $10 a month. The cart remains the property of USA Waste & Recycling. The town of Warren has its trash cost included as part of its taxes.

The trash carts the town have been using have a lid that folds up. The new cans have a latch that releases only when the cans are upside down.

While about a dozen cans are already out in the community, Angevine is hoping all homeowners in town will eventually be using them.

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According to Geoffrey Krukar, a wildlife biologist with CT DEEP, the new cans have been bear tested and work by a locking mechanism that bears don’t have the ability to open.

“They’ve had captive bears try to break in for rewards,” said Krukar, adding the cans have a design that bears can’t break into with their claws or teeth.

“Every one of the cans can be opened easily by humans but bears don’t have the dexterity to trigger the locking mechanism,” Krukar said. “When the can is inverted over the top of the garbage truck, the mechanism releases and the garbage will dump out into the back of the truck.”

According to a recent DEEP press release, Connecticut’s bear population continues to grow. “In 2020, approximately 7,600 bear sightings from 150 of Connecticut’s 169 towns were reported to the DEEP Wildlife Division. Residents of towns in western Connecticut should expect regular encounters with bears as they are now part of the environment,” the statement said.

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Morse said he’s very pleased with his new can, which he got last month. “So far, so good,” he said.

Like his neighbors, Angevine has also experienced bears getting into his garbage.

“I put my trash out at 7 and by 7:30, the bears come through,” Angevine said. “I think they know the sound of it and they know enough to take advantage of that hour to half hour window before the trash people come.”

According to Angevine, the bears will knock over the trash and take the bags into the woods, where they’re not in an area that’s as exposed — and will pick through the trash.

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While the new cans are not a requirement, Angevine encourages all residents to get them.

“The more people in the community we can explain the value of them to, the more people hopefully will have them,” he said.

Aside from it being a “nuisance” to pick up garbage off the pavement, the most “motivating” part of this initiative, according to Angevine, is to “keep the wildlife wild and minimize the risk of a human-bear interaction, which ultimately will help keep the bears and our families safer.”

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WARREN — In the 1920s, there were seven one-room schoolhouses in town, all made of wood — except one, known as the Brick School, at 330 Brick School Road.

That school, which was built in 1784 and closed in 1926, has the longest record of continuous operation in the State of Connecticut, said Joanne Mansfield, treasurer of the Warren Connecticut Historical Society.

Additionally, it’s the only schoolhouse in Warren during that period that is still standing on the original site where it was built. All the others were either torn down or turned into private homes.

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The historical society is very proud of this building and is applying for a second grant to restore it, in hopes of hosting educational programs, tours, meetings and events.

“The Brick School is probably one of the best known places in Warren. It’s achieved iconic status,” Mansfield said. “One-room schoolhouses are really popular throughout New England.”

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Heather Forstmann, curator for the historical society and town historian, said the school is likely still intact because it was made of brick.

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The Warren Connecticut Historical Society is custodian of the building, which is owned by the town.

Restoration

Phase one of the restoration project involved a new roof and windows, which the school was able to get in 2020.

“It desperately needed a roof,” Mansfield said. “The old roof was covered in moss. It had been more than 20 years since it had been restored.”

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Additionally, five windows were replaced. The previous windows, which were vinyl, were replaced with glass.

The $20,000 cost for the restorations came from a $10,000 Historic Restoration Fund matching grant from the State Historic Preservation Office, a $4,000 grant from the town of Warren, a $4,000 grant from Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills, and from private donations.

The historical society is in the second phase of the restoration project, which involves repairing the building’s foundation.

“There are holes in the foundation. We need to repoint the bricks,” Mansfield said. Other repairs involve fixing a large crack in the north wall, resetting the steps on the front entrance, which are “very uneven and dangerous,” and replacing the foundation in the cloak room.

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A structural engineer went through the building and recommended the repairs.

The historical society is applying to the Connecticut State Preservation Office to obtain two matching grants for phase two — a Historical Restoration Fund grant for $10,000 and a 1772 Foundation and Preservation Connecticut Maintenance and Repair grant — also for $10,000. Mansfield said she doesn’t know when this grant will be evaluated.

If the grants are approved, work is expected to begin in late November and take about month to complete. However, weather could play a factor since all of the work for phase two would take place outdoors.

Phase three, the final phase of the project, would involve interior refreshing, painting and installation of monitoring devices including those for temperature, fire, security and humidity.

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“We will also have a plaque made for the grounds,” Mansfield said “This would be the least expensive phase, probably between $5,000 and $10,000, depending upon the sophistication of the monitoring devices.”

This historical society has not yet identified grants to pay for this phase.

Ownership

The school was built on land owned by Ward Eldrid. It closed due to low enrollment and the move to consolidate the education, Mansfield said.

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After it closed, the property changed hands several times and was used for various purposes including as a hunting lodge.

In 1963, the Lindstrom family who owned it at the time, sold it Frank Reinhold, chairman of the Connecticut Transportation Authority. Reinhold bought it to honor his wife’s great-grandfather, Gustavus Rouse, who was the schoolmaster of the Brick School in the mid-1800s.

In 1968, Reinhold donated the property to the historical society. The last restoration was in 1989.

Life in the early 1920s in Warren

In the last years before the school closed, it taught students — primarily girls — from age from 4 to 16. Seven to 10 students attended the school at a time.

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Rosie Breen, who was one of the last teachers at the school prior to its closing, started teaching when she was 17 and earned $300 a year, Forstmann said.

“In addition to her salary, she was paid $5 to take care of the fire to keep the school heated in the winter,” Forstmann said.

Families whose children attended the school supported the teacher’s salary.

Children attended school from November to April. Their parents were farmers, so for the rest of the year, they stayed home to help their parents on the farm.

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“Quintessential New England”

As part of phase one grant, the town is required to have the Brick School visible and open to the public for at least 12 days a year, Mansfield said.

“They will probably make some exceptions due to COVID, but we do plan to have it open as much as possible,” she added.

Mansfield said the building is “special” and really represents the surrounding area.

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“It’s really quintessential New England,” said Mansfield, who owns a home on the road of the school. “It’s on a road that people live on, so it’s a highly visible and a noteworthy site for the town of Warren. It’s such a beautiful building and there are people in town whose great-grandfathers great-grandmothers went to school there.”

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UPDATE: Due to overwhelming demand, Warren Haynes has extended his socially distant run of shows at Morris, CT’s South Farms to include five total dates. Following the first two dates on September 12th and 13th which quickly sold out, Haynes and special guest/Gov’t Mule bandmate Danny Louis will perform three additional shows at the outdoor CT venue on October 1st, 8th, and 15th. Tickets for the newly added shows go on sale on Tuesday, August 1st here.

As Haynes noted about his newly extended “Twilight Concerts On The Farm” run,

Like everyone else I’ve been jonesing to play live in front of an audience but was in no hurry to thrust myself, or my audience, into the wrong situation. After speaking with some friends who just played at South Farms and had great experiences, I was ready to move ahead. Due to the quick sellout of the first two shows, we’ve decided to add some more since the venue is close to home and I don’t foresee hitting the road anytime soon. I’m looking at these added October shows as our “Fall Tour.” The opportunity to play multiple nights, along with Danny, who I’ve been playing music with for well over 20 years, is especially exciting and full of amazing possibilities.

[8/25/20]: Warren Haynes has announced that he will return to the stage on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th at South Farms in Morris, CT with Gov’t Mule bandmate Danny Louis as part of the venue’s “Twilight Concerts on the Farm” series, which was created with both safety and the overall concert experience in mind and at the forefront.

As Haynes’ team explained in the shows’ announcement,

For those of you not keeping score, it will have been over 6 months since Warren last performed publicly. For these 2 special shows, Warren will be joined by his Gov’t Mule bandmate Danny Louis during portions of each night’s 2 set performance. Saturday’s show will start at 7p (gates at 5p), while Sunday’s times will be an hour earlier allowing for, hopefully, a perfect sunset performance.

Located on over 10 acres of manicured farmland, the venue boasts a beautifully structured grid layout, adhering to public health guidelines while still maintaining the intimacy of live concerts. The vast spacing and outdoor conditions (open air) help reduce potential transmission and encourage social distancing.

Concertgoers can purchase an 8’x8’ grid which is surrounded by an additional Social Distance Grid along with aisle spacing. Each Grid is designed for two guests and is offset to maximize stage view, and each ticket grants entry to two people. Grids cannot be merged and it is required to watch the performance from your designated area. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfortable seating and enjoying the farm field. Outside food and beverages are prohibited. Food trucks and a full bar will be available on site.

The shows will comply with the most current health and safety standards per state regulations and local jurisdictions in order to protect guests, artists, crew and staff. Face masks are mandatory when entering, exiting, and traveling throughout the venue to restrooms or concession areas. Masks are not required while in Guest Grid, however in accordance with Executive Order No. 7NNN: “Effective immediately, any person in a public place in Connecticut, whether indoors or outdoors, who does not maintain a safe social distance of approximately six feet from every other person shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face-covering.”

Hand sanitizing stations will be dispersed throughout the venue. High-touch areas such as door handles, counter surfaces will be regularly and consistently disinfected throughout the show. Restrooms will be cleaned and restocked regularly throughout the show. Everyone entering the venue, including guests, artists, crew and staff will be health checked including a temperature check and short questionnaire. Masks and gloves will be available upon request. Per State order, the venue has a reduced capacity of 25% – making tickets extremely limited.

An artist pre-sale for tickets to the outdoor Warren Haynes shows with Danny Louis in Connecticut will begin on Wednesday, August 26th at 9 a.m. ET. To access the pre-sale, head here and use the code “OLDFRIEND”.

For a full list of upcoming shows at the Morris, CT venue, head here.