Register Citizen: What's going on? Why are you not covering this story? There are A LOT of people up in that campsite, and this presents a huge hazard to the community in terms of fire and crime -- especially to the Warrenton Mill residents who, as today's commenter pointed out, has this issue right in their backyard. Please do a story. Go up to the campsite and take photos. Why are city officials, not to mention the condo property management and the condo board of directions, allowing this to continue? Some answers would be appreciated. Please help us, RC.

I have actually walked up there and accidentally ran into the "tent city". Me and a few of my friends saw a path and decided to walk it. We saw the old train tracks and some old foundations (which was pretty cool). We kept going and found a lot of broken beer bottles and mattresses. Eventually my friend saw a HUGE tent (it was more of just a bunch of sheets). He turned to me and said "Whoa!....Do you see what I see?!?" and another friend said "I see a huge tent city!"

At first I felt bad. However, I feel that they have chosen that life style. There are homeless shelters in Torrington right? I just don't understand why they are in the Warrenton Mill's backyard. What concerns me is that their main "path" to tent city is through the Mill's parking lot.

It is my understanding from one of my Warrenton Mill neighbors that there are as many as 20, yes, that's right, 2-0, tents of homeless campers in the woods directly behind the Warrenton Mill. The smoke from the campfires wafts down to the condo complex, particularly into the courtyard areas where it becomes trapped. The stench is horrid.

Some updates on this issue. Upon arriving home tonight, I was met by a neighbor, a homeowner here at the Warrenton Mill who is a former military police officer. He said that he and his children have talked to one of the inhabitants of the tent city. A woman with a dog. She told him there are 19 people up there. She said that she is the daughter of an ex-Marine, and she has been homeless for about three years. She told my neighbor that she stays with a friend, in a home, when the weather turns cold for the winter. She also told my neighbor that even if she finds her own home, she will return to the Tent City monthly because "it's fun." My neighbor said the glimpse of the operation he got while walking in the woods with his kids is that the set up is quite sophisticated, and the woman showed them that she even has a shower rigged. My neighbor said this woman seemed "OK," but he knows nothing about her past other than she told him her father is an ex-Marine. As my neighbor pointed out, we have absolutely no idea why these people are hiding out in the woods behind the Warrenton Mill and if any of them have criminal backgrounds. He suspects they might, which is why they are living in the woods. We are trying to get some photos to upload to this site so that the community can see what's going on and how vast this tent city is since the local media do not seem to want to touch this story. However, my neighbor said that he, a big guy who is former military police, does not feel safe going up there. He also said the occupants of the Tent City moved the camp a bit, so it's now on KMart's property, not on state property. Same woods, but they crossed the property line over into a KMart-owned area. (It might be easier dealing with KMart than it is the state in terms of addressing this issue.) There is noise and partying up at that campsite, which residents of the Warrenton Mill can clearly hear -- especially if their condo unit is situated on the side of the buildings near the woods. The Tent City inhabitants also use the mill property, which is private property, as a "thru-way" to the campsite and as a "hang out" area, which is unnerving for many residents. And the campfires they build continue to waft into the Warrenton Mill's courtyard areas and become trapped. Even the interior of my condo unit has a smoke smell. I question why the Register Citizen is not investigating this and why the town officials are not addressing it. And where is the woman who heads up FISH, and the other woman in town who solicits volunteers every May to help the homeless? There are 19 people up in the Warrenton Mill woods who clearly need help. And I also want to know why the Warrenton Mill property management and Home Owners Association aren't more on top of this issue and making noise about a matter that clearly impacts the property value and safety of the homeowners they represent! If you are a Warrenton Mill resident and reading this, please speak up. Fall is here, and w need to be concerned about fires from that Tent City. If that woods behind the Warrenton Mill catches fire, we are in big trouble. If anyone reading this can help, please -- we need your assistance.

Thanks for responding. I am not sure what I can do to help. I do feel badly that these people live in the woods, however, if its just "for fun" then that is not cool for residents living there, like myself. The Warrenton Mills Management is god awful, don't except them to do anything. I had a leaky roof for almost a year and a half, there is no way they will be dealing with "tent city". I did go for a hike up the trail and ran into "tent city" and for some reason I did not feel safe....Mostly because I don't know these people and they are at a low point in their life, who knows what they could or would do. From what it sounds like they really don't have much to loose.

I do live on the side of the mill that faces the woods. I can smell the camp fire from INSIDE my apartment. I honestly like the smell of campfire, but knowing where it came from kind of freaks me out a little. I can also hear them "partying" or arguing almost every day from inside my apartment. They are not quiet at all.

Also, I am pretty sure I met that same woman with a dog about 3 weeks ago....Me and a friend were walking to the gas station and we ran into this woman. She seemed nice, but a little odd. Just the other day I saw this woman come out of the woods and onto the road while I was driving home from work. I thought she was either from "tent city" or that maybe she was just walking her dog.

I do find it very weird that these people are not getting help and that the register citizen is not getting involved.... Let me know what I can do to help.

I am the person who opened this this because I am concerned about the woods behind the Mill being accidentally set on fire. And the smoke that wafts down into the condo complex is overbearing at times. I am also concerned about personal safety. But it's obvious it is what it is. The authorities know about this, so there must not be enough provisions to help these people. Let's close this issue of the Tent City in the Warrenton Mill woods and pray for everyone's safety -- and that each and every person might one day have a home with a roof over their head that is filled with love. Moving forward with a thankful heart that I am not homeless, because in realty: There but for the grace of God, go I.