Home Care In Weatogue, CT

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic East Weatogue Historic District gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Weatogue, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

Home Care Services

Home Care in Weatogue, CT
The Always Best Care Difference
Types of In-home Care in Weatogue, CT
Benefits of Home Care in Weatogue, CT
Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors
Affordable Care Plans
Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers
Assisted Living Referral Services
Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

Service Areas

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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Elderly Care for Komm

“ABC provides a person to cook and do laundry for my mother. The people I”

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In-home Care for Kevin J.

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Elderly Care for Debra T.

“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work”

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In-home Care for Anita

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Non-medical Home Care for Nancy S.

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Personal Senior Care for The M.

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In-home Caregiver for Sue L.

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Non-medical Caregiver for Liam C.

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What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Weatogue, CT?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Types of Elderly Care in Weatogue, CT

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

Eating
Mobility Issues
Incontinence

Bathing
Dressing
Grooming

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Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

Medication Reminders
Meal Preparation
Pet Care
Prescription Refills

Morning Wake-Up
Walking
Reading

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Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Weatogue Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

Grocery Shopping
Transportation to Appointments
Nutritional Assistance
Conversation

Planning Outings
Completing Errands
Transportation to Community
Events and Social Outings

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Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Millwright's Restaurant or visit Simsbury Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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Benefits of Home Care in Weatogue, CT

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Age in Place

According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.

Peace of Mind

If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.

Socialization

Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.

Personalized Care Plan

No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Weatogue, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your CT's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.

Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Weatogue, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

Housekeeping
Laundry
Recreational Activities
Social Outings
Emergency Medical Response
Medication Monitoring
Family Visitation
Personal Care

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

Anthology of Simsbury
McLean
The Residence at Brookside
River Ridge at Avon
Eno Memorial Hall - Simsbury Senior Center
Arden Courts - ProMedica Memory Care Community (Avon)

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Weatogue, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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9 Richest Towns in Hartford County, CT (2023)

Hartford, Connecticut‘s capital, is surrounded by some of the state’s most affluent suburbs. If you’ve ever asked, “Where do Hartford’s wealthier residents live?”, this article has got you covered. We’ve put together a list of the richest towns in Hartford County.Note: We realize we are using the term “...

Note: We realize we are using the term “town” loosely in this article since some of these towns are actually villages, neighborhoods or Census Designated Places.

Richest Towns in Hartford County

Weatogue is the richest town in Hartford County with a mean income of $198,676 and a median home value of $428,750.

Weatogue is a wealthy village in the town of Simsbury, it has a population of 2,906 where children under 18 represent 19.6% of the population and seniors are 19.5%.

Located 27 minutes from Hartford, Weatogue is an affluent suburb of Hartford. Weatogue has a rural vibe and 90% of residents own their homes.

Weatogue is known for its beautiful natural scenery and outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, parks, and golf courses.

Collinsville is the second richest town in Hartford County with a mean income of income of $158,940 and a median home price of $378,527.

Collinsville is a village in the town of Canton, it is an affluent suburb of Hartford located just 19 miles from downtown.

Collinsville is known for its charming historic district with a variety of shops and restaurants.

North Granby is one of the richest towns in Hartford County with a median home price of $482,673 and a mean income of $156,369.

North Granby is a village in the town of Granby where 22.6% of its residents are children under 18, and a significant 32.9% are seniors.

An affluent suburb of Hartford, North Granby is 30 minutes from downtown.

North Granby is known for its rural feel and abundance of parks.

West Hartford is one of the richest suburbs of Hartford with a median home value of $394,258 and a mean income of $148,179.

Located just 14 minutes from Hartford, West Hartford is one of the best places to live in Connecticut for families.

West Hartford is a Hartford suburb known for its excellent schools and bustling downtown.

Simsbury is another wealthy Hartford suburb with a median home price of $382,385 and a mean income of $137,511.

Simsbury is known for its quaint New England charm, with historic architecture, tree-lined streets, and excellent schools.

It’s one of the best places to live in Connecticut. Children under 18 years make up 22.6% of the population.

West Simsbury is the rich part of town, with a significantly higher average income than Simsbury. In West Simsbury, the mean income is $231,384, while Simsbury’s mean income is $137,511.

Buying a house in West Simsbury is also more expensive than in Simsbury. The median home price in West Simsbury is $488,417, compared to $382,385 in Simsbury.

Glastonbury is one of the richest towns in Hartford County with a mean income of $128,006 and a median home value of $415,387.

Glastonbury is a rich Hartford suburb located just 15 minutes from downtown.

The town is home to 16.8% children under 18 and a significant 27.5% senior population.

Glastonbury is known for its beautiful parks, top-rated public schools, and upscale shopping center, The Shops at Somerset Square.

Niche.com ranks Glastonbury Public Schools as the #1 Best School District in the Hartford area. It is one of the best places in Connecticut to raise a family.

Wethersfield is one of the wealthiest towns in Hartford County with a mean income of $117,340 and a a median home value of $330,727.

Wethersfield is an affluent suburb of Hartford, located just 10 minutes from downtown.

Wethersfield is a charming quintessential New England town with well-preserved 18th and 19th-century historic homes and buildings.

With a population of 18.9% children under 18 and 20.2% seniors, it’s a town of mixed demographics. It’s considered one of the best places to live in Hartford County.

Kensington is one of the richest suburbs of Hartford with a median home value of $309,788 and a mean income of $111,616.

Located just 20 minutes from Hartford, Kensington is the rich section of the town of Berlin.

Kensington is an affluent Hartford suburb known for its sparse suburban feel and abundance of coffee shops and parks.

The town has a population of 9,626 and is one of the best places to live in Connecticut where 21.8% of its residents are children under 18 years old.

Broad Brook is another wealthy suburb of Hartford with a median home value of $355,633 and a mean income of $100,041.

Broad Brook is an affluent neighborhood in the town of East Windsor located just 23 minutes from downtown Hartford.

Broad Brook is a small town known for its quiet, rural setting, with a variety of local farms, parks, and outdoor recreation.

It’s a popular town for families where a significant portion, 26.2%, of its residents are children under 18 years old.

Richest Suburbs of Hartford: Methodology

In order to come up with our list of the richest towns in Hartford County, the rankings are based on both income and home prices. We took data from the US Census American Community Survey and residential housing market data. The median sales price is the average residential sales data for 12 month period ending June 2023.

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Grassroots Ice Cream to open its third CT location in Simsbury

Grassroots Ice Cream, with two locations in Connecticut, is planning to add a third. The ice cream shop's owners announced on social media this week that they will be opening in Simsbury's Fiddler's Green development on Wilcox Street....

The new location is slated to open in the fall of 2023 in the former Joe Pizza space, said co-owner Mark Sproule. It will join other food and beverage businesses like Roux Cajun Eatery and The Coffee Spot. (Another restaurant concept is planned for the former McLadden's Irish pub space, according to the Fiddler's Green website, but details were not immediately available.)

"There's a lot of community opportunities there," Sproule said. "We think it's going to be a great sort of expansion, next step, for us as far as growth for this business and introducing ourselves to new people."

The first Grassroots opened in Granby in 2013, offering classic flavors alongside creative and unusual varieties like honey lavender, goat cheese blackberry, blood orange chocolate chip, rose chocolate, guava and lemongrass coconut.

Grassroots expanded a few years later to add a small restaurant, Deep Roots Street Food, in its Granby space. Deep Roots offers globally-inspired sandwiches, salads and plates like falafel and Turkish Berliner wraps, a "pho-ritto", Vietnamese noodle salad and banh mi, in addition to grilled cheese, hot dogs and chili.

Grassroots opened its second location in New Milford in April, about nine months after Sproule and Brandon Pappalardo bought the business from its original owners, Eliza and Lee Florian. The business also has an ice cream trailer, which can be found at Pasture at South Farms, a food truck park in Morris.

Pappalardo told Hearst Connecticut in April that he was a chef in Dallas when Sproule, his brother-in-law, found Grassroots.

“We were looking for a place to own and work together for a few years,” Pappalardo said, “and he came and tried this ice cream and flew me up from Texas to try this ice cream and it was out of this world. I found out the owners were selling and wanted to continue the legacy.”

Sproule said the Florians did a "fantastic job" building the foundation of the business. "We want to stay true to a lot of that, but bring...different aspects to how we grow the business as we go," he said.

Like the Granby original, the Simsbury space has a full kitchen, Sproule said, so the newest location will also offer the street food concept. With Pappalardo's culinary background, he envisions some potential expansion of the menu.

"[Brandon's] got an incredible background as a chef and so he's been excited to kind of bring that a little bit into the fold [with ice cream flavors] and we'll do that on the food front too," Sproule said.

The Roll Up: Proposed facility seeks zoning change in Connecticut

Weatogue, CT-based Bulwark LLC has proposed a 79,200-square-foot facility at 8120 and 8122 Colt Highway in Farmington, CT, aka Route 6. Matthew Morris of Simsbury, CT, applied for a special permit that would enable him to build a four-story building on two parcels that total 4.99 acres. Wilshire Insurance Enterprises Inc. of Los Angeles now owns the property. Morris and his business partner, David Pulley of Weatogue, have an agreement to purchase the land.Source: ...

Weatogue, CT-based Bulwark LLC has proposed a 79,200-square-foot facility at 8120 and 8122 Colt Highway in Farmington, CT, aka Route 6. Matthew Morris of Simsbury, CT, applied for a special permit that would enable him to build a four-story building on two parcels that total 4.99 acres. Wilshire Insurance Enterprises Inc. of Los Angeles now owns the property. Morris and his business partner, David Pulley of Weatogue, have an agreement to purchase the land.

Source: Hartford Business

Planned

InSite Development Partners, based in Torrance, CA, seeks site plan approval for a proposed 100,500-square-foot facility on Route 35 in Sayreville, NJ. It would be on the site of the former Club Pure, at 1970 Route 35. InSite would operate the facility. Source: TAPintoRaritan

A proposed self-storage facility has been delayed in Allentown, PA because of a difference in the number of units expected. The city’s Zoning Hearing Board tabled Stack Storage’s proposed facility at 2118-2124 Hanover Ave. A company representative had said there would be 868 units in the building – higher than the 749 units that Allentown officials advertised in the notice for the public hearing, which was continued. July 24 may be the earliest date the project could return to the agenda. About 75% of the 115,000-square-foot building is rentable space for self-storage. Source: Lehigh Valley News

The City of Jacksonville, FL issued a commercial building permit to Hampton Self Storage, 7839 Ozark Drive. Ash Construction Inc. is the contractor. A 120,916-square-foot building is planned. Source: Jacksonville Daily Record

Completed

True Storage opened its 19^th self-storage facility at 96 Dupont Drive in Providence, RI. The company will retain ownership of the property. True Storage’s in-house architecture and development team did the design and build of the facility. It has three stories and is spreading 64,831 rentable square feet across 800 units of varying sizes. Overall, True Storage has developed and/or broken ground on several dozen sites nationwide. Source: nerej.com (https://nerej.com/true-storage-opens-19th-class-a-self-storage-facility)

SecureSpace Self Storage opened a new facility, SecureSpace Langhorne, at 300 Woodbourne Road in Langhorne, about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia’s downtown. The three-story building would have all climate-controlled units. SecureSpace Self Storage is based in Torrance, CA. Source: Yahoo! Finance

Eat, drink and play at Talcott Mountain Collective, Simsbury’s new experience venue

At the five-acre Talcott Mountain Collective in Simsbury, you can choose your own adventure. Grab a beer at the bar, with your choice of 20 local, regional and international brews. Snack on a giant Bavarian pretzel, or order Spanish tapas and fried chicken sandwiches from a Connecticut food truck. Gather your friends for a game of cornhole or disc golf, or just take in the views of Talcott Mountain and the iconic Heublein Tower.Watch More...

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Wallace “Ron” Ronald and his son, Tyler, opened Talcott Mountain Collective, what they call an “experience venue,” in December, transforming the former Tower Ridge Golf Club into a spacious multi-use destination. Wallace was inspired by similar spaces in beer meccas like Boulder, Denver and Asheville, N.C., and had the idea in the back of his mind for about six years before the Simsbury opportunity came up.

Tyler says his father was looking for something unique to set itself apart from traditional food truck parks and the growing brewery scene in Connecticut. “He needed it to be something special,” Tyler says. “That was always the word he used, needing a special location. He did site visits all around the state, and he was just holding out until he found something that really spoke to him.”

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The winning site ended up being the former club, which closed about four years ago. Wallace saw the potential: a clubhouse with indoor seating, a bar and a kitchen; expansive outdoor space for alfresco seating and plenty of room for recreation, including yard games.

Not only was the space just what Wallace was looking for, but it has sentimental value to the family. “I literally married Tyler’s mother on top of the mountain in 1971,” he says.

Wallace brings more than five decades of restaurant and beer industry experience to the project. He’s been involved with restaurants in Hartford and surrounding towns in that time, experiencing all of the city’s highs and lows: the Civic Center’s 1978 roof collapse, the economic boom of the 1980s and the departure of the Hartford Whalers in 1997.

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Most recently, as a partner in downtown Hartford’s City Steam Brewery and Cafe, he’s seen firsthand the effects of COVID. Business hasn’t yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, and “it’s going to be a long recovery,” he says.

At the Collective, the Ronalds are enjoying their first summer in Simsbury. They work alongside general manager Abner Rosario, who brings experience from the Hartford Golf Club and Chippanee Golf Club in Bristol. But they all run the operation as a true team, with everyone working together to prepare food and drink, serve guests and help set up and clean up.

“Part of the model is that everyone has to be a jack of all trades,” Tyler says. “It’s really a collective effort, not just in the guest experience, but also for the employees, everyone working together and then sharing in the gratuity.”

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The kitchen features simple bites and snacks: pizzas made by Fitzgerald’s Foods, Bavarian pretzels, beer-braised brats and kielbasa with sauerkraut and German mustard, chili and freshly popped popcorn. Food trucks pull up on weekends, with recent visits from Mama Nena (Spanish tapas), Square Peg Pizzeria, Hot Taco Street Kitchen and Craftbird (fried chicken).

The Collective adjusts its menu according to the food trucks’ offerings, Tyler says, so they won’t sell pizza, for example, if a pizza truck is on site that day. They’re also working on adding some healthier snacks to the menu, like hummus with vegetables and pita, and Wallace is keen on specials like burger nights and shucked-to-order oysters.

The beer selection is heavy on Connecticut representation, with a mix of IPAs and ales from local breweries such as Tribus in Milford, Back East in Bloomfield, Alvarium and Five Churches in New Britain, Coles Road in Berlin, Black Hog in Oxford and Counter Weight in Cheshire. Wallace loves German beers, so guests will also find a few imported pilsners and wheat beers on the list. He’s also introducing a special German beer tap display, with five German beers and their appropriate glassware.

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Not a beer drinker? Wine is available by the glass and bottle, along with canned craft cocktails and hard seltzers. The Collective also offers a selection of whiskeys and bourbons.

The Ronalds are also partners in Tower Ridge Disc Golf, which is adjacent to the Collective. The sport, which involves throwing a disc at a target using rules similar to golf, became “huge” during the pandemic, Tyler says.

Tyler loves that people are re-discovering the property, as they may have only been to the former club for special events like weddings or bar and bat mitzvahs. “On any given night, you can see a 6-year-old and a 70-year-old all having fun, and that’s the mark of success for us,” he says.

Talcott Mountain Collective 140 Nod Road, Weatogue (Simsbury) 860-658-2337, talcottcollective.com, @talcottcollective on Instagram Open Tue.–Sun. Wheelchair accessible

July 21, 2022

Leeanne Griffin is a senior food reporter for CT Insider, handling coverage of restaurant openings and closings, trends, events and general news about Connecticut food and beverage businesses. She covers statewide food happenings, with a focus on Hartford County, and curates CT Insider’s weekly Taste of Connecticut food newsletter.

Leeanne joined Hearst Connecticut in 2021, but has been working in Connecticut news since 2006. Before joining Hearst, she was the food and dining reporter for the Hartford Courant for a decade.

She has earned several awards over the years from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists and the New England Newspaper & Press Association, including a recent first-place SPJ honor for a story about lobster rolls. She has also served as a past Northeast regional panelist on the James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards Committee.

Leeanne lives in Hartford County with her husband and their three-pound Holland lop rabbit. A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, she holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University, where she first learned about the magic of New Haven apizza.

Reach Leeanne at [email protected].

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