Inside Torrington's Red Room Studio

Lucinda Rowe and Mick Connolly at the console in the control room.
Photo by Mike Cobb
Engineer and musician Mick Connolly has been collecting instruments, records, and vintage recording gear his whole life. His partner Lucinda Rowe is a singer, guitarist, and entrepreneur. Together they run Red Room Sound Studio, an all-analog recording studio in Torrington, Conn., that delivers a personalized experience you can get your hands on.
Connolly runs technical studio aspects; Rowe handles marketing and communications. They also perform as the musical duo Lucinda & Mick.
Both grew up in Newtown, Conn., and were influenced by classic artists of the '60s and '70s. “I thought I’d be a drummer, but after I heard Jeff Beck’s ‘There & Back’, that changed for me,” he said.
For Lucinda, it was hearing John Denver’s “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” “I was blown away, stole my brother’s guitar, taught myself to play, and never looked back.”
The couple met in 2005. “We knew musically we were a strong force. In 2013 we dedicated ourselves entirely to gigging, writing, touring, and recording,” Rowe said.
About working in analog, Connolly said, “When the studio world went digital, I hung onto all of my gear and never switched. This format is what I know, and I never stepped out of it when most went to Pro Tools (digital recording software).”
“I understand the way it works. It’s a lot like dealing with a human personality. You get to know the very specific details of each component and you develop a relationship with it. I absolutely love the way it sounds,” he added.
From multi-tracking to mixdown, the process is all analog. Connolly records to tape and employs old-school editing techniques such as using a razor blade to cut and splice. Once a track is mastered, it can be transferred to digital formats such as mp3s or WAV files to upload to online platforms like iTunes or Spotify. Connolly’s tape machines, console, outboard gear, monitors, and most microphones are from the '70s and '80s.
“The 3mM79 24-track machine is perhaps the best-known piece of equipment. This specific machine was previously at Electric Lady Studios and featured in HBO’s original program ‘Vinyl’,” Connolly said.
Having worked in smaller studios for many years, Connolly and Rowe envisioned creating their own studio. “Lucinda and I wanted a bigger space with a unique sound. As a record collector who read all the liner notes, I realized that each studio had its own sound,” Connolly said.
“Our space in Torrington is 1,600 square feet with 18-foot ceilings. When we first visited, it was in complete disrepair, but Lucinda and I saw what it could be. It took us two months to refurbish and because of the size of our tape machines, we needed a separate control room. We are incredibly happy, and the sound is exactly what we wanted,” he adds.
Clients include Grammy award winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers like Steve Katz (Blood Sweat and Tears), Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), Matt Starr (Ace Frehley), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge), and emerging artists like Joey Wit, Candle Opera, and Chris Morrison.
“So many of these people have become like family,” Rowe added.
Connolly and Rowe have helped revitalize downtown Torrington by sponsoring The Litchfield Hills Creative Fest and the block party at The Warner Theatre, where Rowe was recently hired as production manager.
“We also broadcast a live acoustic performance and interview show to WAPJ Torrington Community Radio once a month, which is becoming very popular. The next event will be Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.,” Rowe said.
The recent pandemic added hurdles to an already difficult profession. Rowe explained, “No matter what industry you are in, running your own business is challenging. We opened the studio in March of 2020, the day Connecticut shut down for COVID-19 protocols. We had just finished renovating the space, had our equipment ready to go, had big scissors for the ribbon cutting, and then everything changed. We had to pivot with live streams, recording our own original music for promo, and getting attention through targeted social media and tons of visuals on Instagram. Three years later we are still here and booked constantly.”
So what is the secret to their success?
“There is nothing better than having a happy client refer a friend. We are proud of the relationships we make and that we retain them as well. I believe in social media, and anything visual works well because the studio is so grand. But our biggest advertising tool is the product. You can’t fake the sonic level of our productions, and that is what brings people through our doors again,” Rowe added.
For more go to www.redroomsoundstudio.com
Photo by Mike Cobb
The LED sign in front of Amenia's Town Hall on Route 22 warns passing motorists of the current temporary burn ban, in effect from Oct. 2 to Oct. 15.
A statewide burn ban is in effect as of Thursday, Oct. 2, the New York State Governor's office announced in a press release.
The temporary ban is in effect until at least Oct. 15, and the statement released by the governor's office said the restrictions will be re-evaluated prior to the Oct. 15 deadline.
Lighting fires for brush or debris disposal and large, uncontained fires for cooking or other purposes are banned until at least Oct. 15 under the statewide order. Backyard fire pits, contained camp fires no larger than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in diameter, and small, contained cooking fires are still permitted under the burn ban.
New York State has faced dry conditions all autumn, triggering drought watches and warnings across most of the state.
Dutchess County, along with the other counties in the Catskills region, are under a drought watch according to the Department of Environmental Conservation's drought condition map.
Dutchess County is currently under a "high" fire danger rating, according to the DEC.
LAKEVILLE, Conn. — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 76 Sharon Rd., Lakeville.
A complete obituary will appear in next week’s Lakeville Journal.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com.
Volunteers were hard at work putting the finishing touches on the crucial creepy decorations for the Haunted Fortress of Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 28.
STANFORD — Greg Arent led a devoted team of volunteers on Sunday, Sept. 28, in a final push to prepare Stanford’s Haunted Fortress for opening day.
Final touches included cleaning the bottomless pit, scrubbing the pirate ship, raking the graveyard and dressing the dolls. By 2 p.m., about 20 volunteers had assembled to creepify the beloved local landmark.
Many of the volunteers have been coming back for years, Arent said, dedicating time and valuable skills to the town-owned haunted house that was constructed by the artist Peter Wing.
Arent has been building sets in his free time for forty years, but he started out volunteering with the Haunted Fortress in 2014 when his children wanted to get involved, he said. At that time he would help out one or two days a year. That grew into a leadership position over the course of a decade.
On Sunday, Arent was touring the decrepit grounds checking light bulbs, soundtracks and other set details to contribute to that perfect spooky ambience.
Nathan Miller
When it’s all said and done, the Fortress will be ready to welcome visitors starting on Friday, Oct. 3, with shows running from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays. The Haunted Fortress is entirely staffed by volunteers, Arent said, including the actors that don costumes to scare visitors. Anybody aged 6 and up can volunteer to act in the horror show, and families often will volunteer to take over a scene.
“I love it because every scene is different every night,” Arent said. “Sure there are going to be vampires in this scene, but this family is going to do it different from these three kids from Bard, who are going to do it different from these three middle school kids.”
The sets themselves were all built from recycled material to be as creepy and decrepit as possible, Arent said. Concrete culverts adorn the sides of a bridge over a stream, stacked vertically with a cone on top to elicit a fortress’s spires. Reclaimed lumber bolted to a fence evokes a dark and scary forest blocking any escape. A rusting tractor with a steel box welded above the seat sits on a set of rails with two cars attached to it, mimicking a wrecked train with it’s inner mechanisms exposed and blowing steam on passersby.
This year the Haunted Fortress is following a haunted circus theme featuring clowns and other carnival staples alongside the classic settings of the Fortress.
The team of volunteers is dedicated and numerous, and the Stanford Highway Department lends a hand too, Arent said, but there’s always a need for skilled labor at the local attraction.
And the group appreciates all the help they can get. “Whatever you’re interested in and capable of doing,” Arent said.
The haunted pirate ship marks the spot where groups of visitors are paired with their ghastly guides for the remainder of the Haunted Fortress tour in Stanford.Nathan Miller
From left, Jim Milton, Spencer Parks and William J. Clark stand with Joseph Olenik on their first day working under him as the head of Public Works on Monday, Sept. 29.
MILLERTON — The Village announced a leadership change at the Highway Department on Friday following the resignation of Superintendent Peter Dellaghelfa. Police Chief Joseph Olenik will step into the role, effective immediately, officials said.
Olenik will continue to serve as Police Chief.
The decision was made Friday, Sept. 26, during an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees following Dellaghelfa’s resignation.
Mayor Jenn Najdek said the “amicable split” with Dellaghelfa was part of an ongoing annual employee review process, adding that turnover is not uncommon in small municipalities. She expressed her gratitude for Dellaghelfa’s service over the last four years.
The Board went into Executive Session on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9 for “matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person,” but village officials could not comment on the specifics of those discussions.
The leadership shift will allow the Village to “better respond to the changing needs of our residents and community,” announced the Board in a press release shared with The News. “The Mayor and Board are excited to see Joe expand his impact on Millerton and we’re confident this change will bring lasting improvements to operations, communications and community engagement.”
Police Chief Olenik, who will continue his leadership role within the Millerton Police Department, said he is looking forward to the added responsibilities.
“I am excited to help move the department forward and rebuild it after the devastating fire,” Olenik said. “I am also looking forward to working with the dedicated staff and helping the residents of Millerton by making needed changes and repairs.”
Though Olenik will assume additional responsibilities as he leads the Highway Department, the Millerton Police Department will continue to operate separately — but with the same shared goals of supporting the village community.
William J. Clark installs the leaf container he and his colleagues built. Leaves from the Village will be delivered to McEnroe’s Organic Farm for composting.Aly Morrissey
Mayor Najdek added that Olenik has extensive supervisory and administrative experience that, given the imminent need to rebuild the Highway Department building, will be critical. In addition to managing the upcoming construction, his first orders of business will include making sure the village is on track for leaf pick-up and snow removal, working to ensure the right equipment and personnel are in place.
Olenik held his first meeting with the Village Highway Department on Monday, Sept. 29 and discussed a new leaf container — built by Millerton’s Highway Department — that will support efforts to collect leaves. The leaves will then be turned over to McEnroe’s Organic Farm for composting. While the team configuration — which includes Jim Milton, William J. Clark, and Spencer Parks — will be new, Olenik said they are not strangers. “They’ve always helped me out and I’m looking forward to working with them more closely.”
The Board said in a statement the Village is in good hands moving forward. “Joe’s leadership style — hands-on, structured, and community-focused — makes him well suited to guide this department through the transition.”