
From left, Ronica Doyen, Gema Juarez and Rebecca Malone prepared for a patient’s appointment at the North Canaan health center’s nursing station on a recent weekday afternoon.
Debra A. Aleksinas
From left, Ronica Doyen, Gema Juarez and Rebecca Malone prepared for a patient’s appointment at the North Canaan health center’s nursing station on a recent weekday afternoon.
NORTH CANAAN — Since opening last summer, the new federally qualified health center serving the Northwest Corner has treated more than 1,000 patients seeking help for medical and mental health issues.
“It’s been going great,” Joanne Borduas, CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center’s (CHWC) regional North Canaan facility, reported during a mid-December interview.
“We have seen 800 patients for medical and mental health services, and 426 kids through our school-based clinics. We are seeing what we anticipated, and probably then some.”
Strong demand prompted the hiring of several additional providers at the new health center, which is expected to be at full staffing level in early 2025 and will help broaden the facility’s capacity for scheduling.
A full-time family nurse practitioner is expected to start in mid-January, and CHWC has tapped Sarah Humphreys to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer, whose area of expertise includes infectious diseases.
Humphreys is expected to join the North Canaan health center in early March.
“We’re very excited to have her and to bring that specialty to the area. She grew up in the Salisbury area and left to practice medicine in New York, and is now coming home,” said Borduas.
The newest hires will bring staffing to 15 at the North Canaan health center, which was two decades in the making and was unveiled with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting attended by elected officials and key funders on May 10. The next day, CHWC hosted an open house to introduce the two-story, 7,300-square-foot regional center to the public. By the end of June, practitioners were seeing patients.
A ’great need’ for mental health services
It didn’t take long before the need became apparent, said the facility’s CEO.
“In the surrounding towns we have had a great lack of primary care physicians over time, which had led to individuals living with a high number of medical conditions, and there is clearly a great need for mental health services,” Borduas explained. “The acuity of illness in that area is tremendous.”
The Northwest Corner is home to an aging population, and Canaan, in particular, has a significant low-income population, said Borduas. Those factors, she noted, “contributed to what people could do for themselves.”
Responding to the need, she noted, “We did bring on an additional physician which was not part of the original plan.”
Dr. Deborah Buccino, a board-certified pediatrician, was hired to enhance addressing pediatric needs for the community at the North Canaan facility. Borduas noted that Buccino specializes in evaluating and treating children with autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression and other learning and behavior concerns.
The FHC is on track with its mission to offer integrated medical and behavioral health services aimed at addressing the region’s dearth of health care providers, limited access to care and transportation challenges impacting both financially stable families and those less fortunate.
“We are not just the doctor’s office,” said Borduas. “Our mission is to be part of the community.” As a recent example, CHWC recently hosted a sold-out Christmas show at the historic Colonial Theatre.
Aided by community partners
Since its inception decades ago, the new health center has been aided by a coalition of community partners to address what Borduas describes as a “healthcare desert” in rural Northwest Connecticut.
Residents living in healthcare deserts may face inadequate access to primary, emergency, mental health, dental care and experience food insecurity.
Just recently, she said, the Northwest Corner’s largest employer, BD, awarded a $20,000 grant to the North Canaan health center.
“We are using the funds to address social determinants of health. We are going to use that grant money to purchase gift cards at Stop&Shop so we can give them to individuals experiencing food insecurity.”
Through the use of the BD grant, another local employer, Lindell Fuels, Inc., will assist CHWC with providing fuel to families who need help keeping their homes warm this winter.
“We will supplement the cost for Lindell through the use of the grant dollars,” said Borduas. “It really has been a tremendous, generous gift.”
For now, the health center’s goal is to take care of the community’s immediate needs, and in the early spring, CHWC plans to conduct an updated Community Needs Assessment.
It has become clear that there are still healthcare gaps in the rural Northwest Corner.
“We are trying to educate the community that we are not an emergency walk-in clinic and that we operate by appointment only,” said Borduas, who noted that even though people with urgent medical issues have not been turned away, that will not be possible to continue as the health center gets busier.
The closest urgent care center is in Torrington, she said, or for residents in the Sharon area, locations over the border in New York. The closest Emergency Rooms are at Sharon Hospital or Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.
“That speaks to the need that continues to exist there.”
Joanne Borduas, CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center (CHWC), has been appointed by Gov. Ned Lamont to the 38-member Health Care Cabinet (HCC) as a representative of community health centers across Connecticut.
Borduas will serve a four-year term ending in November 2028.
The HCC was created to advise the Governor and Lieutenant Governor alongside the Office of Health Reform & Innovation on health-related issues such as federal health reform implementation and development of an integrated healthcare system in Connecticut.
The nonprofit CHWC, which operates health centers in North Canaan, Winsted and Torrington, serves more than 7,000 patients and is the only Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) in the Northwest Corner providing comprehensive services.
In making the announcement on Nov. 21, Lamont credited Borduas for her extensive experience working within the healthcare community in Connecticut.
“Her appointment to this group will provide valuable insight in our efforts to strengthen and improve our state’s healthcare system. I appreciate her willingness to serve as part of this cabinet.”
Borduas said she is honored by the appointment, and intends to be the voice for patients, staff and community health centers across the state in addressing the challenges faced in the health care industry.
“I’m looking forward to tackling challenges like the rural health care crisis, pharmaceutical pricing and Medicaid reimbursements.”
The cabinet, which meets bi-monthly, convenes working groups to make recommendations regarding the development and implementation of service delivery and healthcare provider repayment reforms including multi-payer initiatives, medical homes, electronic health records, pharmaceutical pricing and evidence-based healthcare quality improvement.
Cabinet members include government officials, leaders in medical practice, insurance, labor representatives, small business leaders, mental health and addiction services and public health.
Through this group, the committee will put forth recommendations to address key healthcare challenges through legislation, funding initiatives or restructuring of current efforts according to the 2024 HCC report.
The report also details various subcommittees devoted to issues like the rural health care crisis, mental health and the affordability and accessibility of urban health care.
The Canaan Pirates pose as champions after defending the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Majors Little League title.
THOMASTON — The Canaan Pirates are champions once more.
In the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Majors Little League title game Friday, June 13, the Pirates defeated Thomaston JRC Transportation by a score of 6-2.
Brody Ohler pitched a two-hitter for Canaan. Milo Ellison relieved him, facing one batter who flew out to right field where Ben Young secured the final out.
Canaan never trailed in the game against top-ranked Thomaston, which lost one game all season prior to the championship. Both JRC losses came from the Pirates, with players aged 10 to 12 from Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury and Sharon.
Milo Ellison played second base before relieving pitcher Brody Ohler.Photo by Riley Klein
In the title game at Reeves Field in Thomaston, the Pirates started strong with a lead in the top of the first inning. Ohler singled, then stole second base. Liam Downey brought him home with a single, then Sam Hahn doubled to put runners on second and third. Ellison brought them both home with a triple and the Pirates took a 3-0 lead.
The margin held until the sixth inning when the Pirates extended their lead to 6-0. With J.T. Farr and Bentley King on, Ohler sent a deep shot to center field and rounded the bases for an in-the-park home run.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ohler surrendered two runs before reaching his pitch limit. Ellison stepped in to end the game with some help from Young in right field.
The Pirates piled on Young in the outfield chanting “Benny! Benny!” The two sides shook hands in the spirit of sportsmanship before trophies were awarded.
The Pirates rejoice around Ben Young after he secured the final out.Photo by Riley Klein
After winning the District 6 title for the second straight year, Coach Tom Downey said "It feels awesome. Especially this group who worked really hard. Last year we were dominant, this year these guys worked their butts off."
"We definitely earned it," said third baseman Michael Prisco.
Ohler finished with nine strikeouts on the mound, three hits in three at bats, two RBI and a home run. Ellison hit 1-for-2 with two RBI, Liam Downey went 1-for-3 with an RBI, Sam Hahn and J.T. Farr hit 1-for-3 and Sam Hamlin hit 1-for-2.
For Thomaston, Owen H. hit 1-for-2 with two RBI and Lucas K. hit 1-for-2. The pitching trio of Gavin M., Jackson Ether and Brody Conlon combined for 12 strikeouts.
J.T. Farr and Brody Ohler are back-to-back District 6 champions.Photo by Riley Klein
NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Red Sox ended the season with a thrilling 14-13 win over the Tri-Town Phillies Thursday, June 12.
Canaan trailed for most of the game but kept it close. Ultimately, the Red Sox secured the victory with a final-inning comeback in front of the home crowd at Steve Blass Field.
The Red Sox rejoiced as victors. Reflecting on the season, Coach Nikki Blass stated, “My boys continue to come off the field smiling and doing better than the game before.”
The Red Sox are part of the Northwest Connecticut Steve Blass Little League AAA program, consisting of players aged 9 to 11 from Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury and Sharon. Tri-Town includes players from Goshen, Litchfield, Morris and Warren.
Berkley Karcheski connects for a Red Sox hit June 12.Photo by Simon Markow
The result June 12 marked the first win of the season for the Red Sox. The night before, Coach Nikki Blass reassured her team with a letter, writing, “You should keep your heads high and know that you are all an asset to this team. Tomorrow we are clearing the slate and we will win.” She continued, “I hear in addition if you put a bat under your bed you get an amazing hit on game day.”
The bat trick paid off and many Red Sox logged hits in the game. “Everyone was on fire,” exclaimed Blass after the game.
Quinn McKniff pitched the majority of the match for Canaan with reliever Myles Shippa taking the mound for the final inning.
Blaze Freund heads for home.Photo by Simon Markow
Offensively, Blaze Freund logged his first hit of the season. His twin brother Roan scored after sliding head-first into home “Pete Rose-style.” Myles Shippa recorded an RBI double in the game.
The Red Sox gathered beneath the scoreboard for a team photo after the win. With wide smiles and baseballs held high, the players ended another joyous Little League season.
Written by Riley Klein with reporting from Simon Markow.
The Red Sox conclude the 2025 season with a win.Photo provided
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) was treated for her injuries at Sharon Hospital.
The day after concluding what has been described as a grueling legislative session, State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) had a running accident, leaving her with a broken pelvis and collarbone among other more minor bruises and abrasions. Despite the injuries, she is in good spirits and recuperating at home, eager to get back on her feet.
Horn said after spending weeks in the assembly hall, she was eager to get some outdoor exercise in, but perhaps pushed a little too hard too soon. She said she was excited to get a run in on the morning of Friday, June 6, but was still exhausted from her time in Hartford and in the final stretch of recovering from a meniscus repair surgery in December.
Before the run, she told friends she was hoping for a “hard reset for [her] health,” she said with a rueful laugh.
Nearing the end of the loop, Horn said her leg was fatigued and gave out, causing her to fall on the pavement. She is grateful for the community members who helped during the ordeal, including an unknown motorist who waited with her until her husband arrived, and the staff at Sharon Hospital who she said were “wonderful.”
She was directed to keep weight off her hip for 4 to 6 weeks, and since her collarbone is also fractured, cannot use crutches so she’s partially wheelchair-bound for the time being. While she’s disappointed to be missing out on the start of hiking, biking and running season, she’s keeping her sights forward and focusing on recovery.
In the meantime, she said she’s grateful for the video and photo updates from her son, who is hiking the Connecticut portion of the Appalachian Trail: “I’m living vicariously through him.”
Milo Ellison sends a fly ball to left field, bringing home Brody Ohler and Sam Hahn in a walk-off win for the Canaan Pirates June 11.
NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Pirates advanced to the league championship after a comeback victory over the Tri-Town Red Sox Wednesday, June 11.
Down 3-2 with two outs and two on in the bottom of the 6th inning, "Mighty" Milo Ellison stepped up to the plate and launched a fly ball deep to left field. The single brought home Brody Ohler and Sam Hahn for a walk-off Pirates win.
"Milo did it," shouted a teammate. "Let's hear it for Milo!"
Elite pitching from both sides kept the game close. Starter Sam Hahn pitched five and one-third innings for the Pirates and recorded 10 strikeouts. For the Red Sox, Joey B. struck out 11 batters over five innings.
Sam Hahn threw 10 strikeouts for the Pirates against the Tri-Town Red Sox June 11.Photo by Riley Klein
Milo Ellison led the Pirates offensively, batting 2-for-3 with one run and three RBI. Sam Norbit logged an RBI and went 1-for-2 at the plate for Canaan.
"Nothing like a walk-off," said a spectator after the Pirates won 4-3.
Canaan, which includes players aged 10-12 from the six Region One towns and Norfolk, will face top-ranked JRC Transportation in the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Little League title game.
The Pirates rejoice after winning the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Little League semifinal game.Photo by Riley Klein
The Pirates are the reigning champs of District 6 and have a 10-2 record this season. Brody Ohler, who pitched the win in last year's championship, is expected to start on the mound once again for Canaan.
JRC Transportation led the league this season with a record of 11-1. Canaan delivered JRC its lone loss 1-0 on May 27, but JRC defeated Canaan 15-4 in the June 6 rematch.
The championship will be played at Reeves Field in Thomaston Friday, June 13, at 6 p.m.
The Northwest Connecticut Steve Blass Little League Majors Pirates have a chance to go back-to-back in District 6.Photo by Riley Klein