Paranormal experts gather in Kittery

KITTERY, Maine - On Sunday, aficionados of all things paranormal gathered in Kittery.

The New England Para-Fest 2018 featured some of the top names in the New England paranormal field, sponsored by Spirit Chasers Paranormal of Hampton, New Hampshire, and Essex County Ghost Project of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

People interested in learning more about ghosts, hauntings, UFOs, the Loch Ness monster, the Lake Champlain monster nicknamed Champ, Bigfoot and more got a chance to talk to the experts all in one location. A series of speaker presentations, and tables set up in the Kittery Recreation Center drew crowds all day long.

Thomas Spitalere, founder of Essex County Ghost Project, has been investigating and researching the paranormal for more than 15 years. After some preliminary training, Spitalere developed his own team and created the Essex County Ghost Project in 2008. Since then, he has dedicated much of his time to raising funds for regional nonprofit organizations through his paranormal-related events.

The proceeds from Sunday's event will go to the care and maintenance of the historic Hilldale Cemetery in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

 Spirit Chasers Paranormal, founded by Willy Hassell almost 10 years ago, is an investigation and research organization specializing in exploring the unexplained found at historic properties, and verifying corroborative evidence by way of research. Hassell, along with team members Lynne M. Nickerson and Jim Ashworth, uncovered the haunting at the James House Museum in Hampton and have been investigating and researching the history of the family and its spirits the past four years.

Both Nickerson and Hassell were on hand and recounted experiences they have had personally at the James House.

"We found who we are calling Mr. Grumpy Pants," said Nickerson. "We are not really sure who he is, but he definitely feels like he owns the place and doesn't like intruders. Frank James comes, sometimes in his Sunday best and other times dressed as a farmer. I have gotten visuals on him and other psychics have come in and had the same experiences, verifying what I found."

Hassell said he has been touched by spirits, on more than one occasion, including at the James House.

"Another time was in Moundsville, West Virgina," said Hassell. "It was at an old prison. A prisoner there was a snitch, and he was murdered by other inmates, They cut off his head. We were in there doing an AVP (electronic voice phenomena) session. It was so dark you couldn't see anything, and someone touched me."

 As team intuitive and researcher, Nickerson, along with James House Association President Skip Webb, through extensive research of the home and the James family, have uncovered facts that support much of the paranormal evidence garnered from their investigations.

“The Seacoast is not only a hotbed for ghosts and hauntings but it also boasts a history of UFO-related encounters and sightings," Hassell said. "Some of the country’s major UFO events happened right here, from the great Northeast blackout and the incident at Exeter in 1965, to the Betty and Barney Hill abduction in northern New Hampshire in 1961.

 “The New England woods are rife with Bigfoot and cryptoid creature sightings as well," he added.

 Hassell and team, along with Spitalere, are committed to bringing awareness of these subjects to the public’s attention.

 Among the other presenters were members from the Kitt Research Initiative: Center for Consciousness Studies of Stratham, along with Granite Sky Services, New England Paranormal Associates, Seacoast Saucers of New England, a Stratham-based support group, Lakes Region Disclosure Network and Aleksander Petakov.

Mike Stevens of Granite Sky explores alien and UFO investigations. He said he saw his first at a very young age and has been interested ever since.

"I was 3-years-old when I saw a craft rise above the trees at my grandparents house in South Hampton," said Stevens. "I had other experiences and found there was really no one to advocate for me, so I decided to let my voice be heard."

Aleksandar Petakov, a film and multimedia specialist, is currently doing a five part series on Champ, the Lake Champlain monster. He has done others on Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monsters, some available on YouTube. Information on the upcoming series can be found on his website at www.petakovmedia.com

"New this year is our psychic reading room," said Spitalere. "We have various mediums doing readings in their particular specialties. We have more vendors this year and some new experts."

Mediums included Sia Spade,a professional tarot card reader, and Jailene Fontaine, an animal communicator.

 For information, visit www.essexcountyghostproject.com.