
Photo by Stephanie Stanton of High Vibe Chick Photography
In the deep pine-scented quiet of the north woods, known here as the mythical land of Borea, a story unfolds: Its heroine, Rana Kek Kek, an “intrepid amphibian,” is about to embark on a journey of self-discovery in which she is transformed from a child into a Person of the World. Meanwhile, Aramook the Raccoon decides to take a risky trip to the town where the People of Man live so he can persuade them to slow down their ways of consuming everything. Then there’s Koli Bear and the owl Oti Semper, who join forces to rescue Aramook and stop a possible disaster.
In “What the Kek Kek Saw,” described as an animist fable, these story lines are braided together like sweetgrass, says author Pieter Lefferts, a Sharon, Conn., artist whose lifetime of visiting a family cabin on Upper Ausable Lake in the high Adirondacks inspired this charming, imaginative new book about the importance of understanding the other sentient beings with whom we share a fragile planet.
“It’s basically a creation story,” he explained. “People who have read it say it’s a book about hope, and it is. There are so many movies and books that rely on dystopian visions of the world. I wanted to create a more hopeful, optimistic side of the future.”
While the novel’s title character was drawn from his childhood at the lake listening to wood frogs calling “kekkekkek,” this is not a children’s book, he noted. His animals “don’t wear clothes or live in little houses.” In the best tradition of animal fables (think “The Jungle Book” and “Watership Down”) they “live in a predator and prey world, and they understand that about each other.”
Published by UnCollected Press and available from Oblong Books in Millerton, N.Y. (as well as Amazon and Barnes and Noble online), this is a first book for Lefferts, an artist long admired for his evocative landscapes and elegant portraits; to his delight, he was one of 30 authors invited to the prestigious Summer Book Signing of the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon this year (“a dream come true,” he said, happily).
His paintings are widely collected and have been shown at galleries throughout the Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks and New England.
Fond of taking students on plein-air field trips into local wilderness, he’s a much beloved art teacher — or as he prefers, an artist who teaches: His Northlight Art Center in Amenia, N.Y., has offered classes in oil and acrylic painting, pastels and traditional drawing techniques since 2010, with participants urged to become “more themselves” as they discover their individual creative voices.
Writing was always a sideline, albeit one he greatly enjoyed, until a comment 10 years ago by the late Richard Grossman, distinguished publisher, writer, psychotherapist and Salisbury, Conn., resident, got him started in a serious way. “I showed Dick this little three-page ditty I’d written and he said, ‘I think you have a diamond in the rough here,’” Lefferts remembers.
Encouraged, he began a decade of working on what became “What the Kek Kek Saw,” sometimes spending months in a row on it, sometimes putting it aside while he painted or taught, or both. Ultimately, he enrolled in a free writing class at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, where his wife, Claudia Cayne, was director (recently retired, she still leads the library’s book club), and met a writing coach and editor named Virginia Watkins, whom he credits with helping him finish.
“A first effort can easily get away from a novice writer,” he admitted with a laugh. “She was fantastic in challenging me to go deeper and avoid certain writing traps. And I think my experiences as a painter, as a naturalist, as an observer, and as someone who’s just eternally curious, allowed me to describe the landscape, the world of Borea, in a painterly way.”
The cast of anthropomorphic characters he created for “What the Kek Kek Saw” are haunted by tales of “The Clearing,” a mythical catastrophe that mirrors what actually happened to the Adirondacks in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when vast tracts of trees were cut down and some wildlife was hunted to extinction.
Lefferts found that — similar to the freedom of painting outdoors — his words flowed easily in nature, and solo writing stays at the family camp became about “listening and feeling into” the animals that survive in the forest today.
“I wanted to tell their story about coexistence,” he said, “since coexistence is very much what the book is about.”
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