
Community Health & Wellness Center’s team of medical providers and support staff gather outside the North Canaan facility on a windy afternoon Friday, April 4.
Riley Klein
Community Health & Wellness Center’s team of medical providers and support staff gather outside the North Canaan facility on a windy afternoon Friday, April 4.
NORTH CANAAN — Community Health & Wellness Center opened the doors of its North Canaan facility in May 2024 and has since served more than 1,000 patients.
Today, the center continues to blossom with a team of dedicated, specialized professionals.
CHWC offers a wide range of medical services to meet the needs of the community.
Residents of the Northwest Corner and beyond have access to primary care for adults and adolescents, pediatric care for newborns and children, behavioral therapy, social services, substance abuse counseling and chiropractic care.
In addition to an administrative and support team, there are eight medical providers on site.
Photo by Riley Klein
Services provided: General internal medicine, infectious disease consults, HIV primary care.
Dr. Sarah Humphreys is originally from New York City and has spent time in the Northwest Corner throughout her life. Humphreys became chief medical officer at CHWC in March 2025.
“I’ve been coming to the Salisbury area since I was a baby and learned to swim in Lakeville Lake. I’m excited to help grow and strengthen community health access in the Northwest Corner.”
Humphreys earned her BA from Brown University before completing a Master of Public Health at Yale University. She then obtained her medical degree from Ben Gurion University in Israel, followed by residency in Internal Medicine at New York University and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Humphreys said at CHWC “it’s not just about what medical services we’re providing, but really trying to help people in their lives.”
Photo by Riley Klein
Services Provided: Youth autism evaluation (under age 6) and treatment/evaluation for individuals with developmental behavioral challenges (under age 21).
Dr. Deborah Buccino joined CHWC’s North Canaan facility in September 2024, bringing more than 25 years of professional experience. She previously worked as a physician for public and private schools ranging from preschool through college. She has been an Instructor of Pediatrics at Boston University Medical School and UMass Chan Medical School.
In addition to autism spectrum disorder evaluations, Buccino works with individuals under the age of 21 experiencing developmental behavioral challenges like ADHD, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, sleep and feeding difficulties.
Having spent time in Connecticut has a child, she is “excited to be reconnecting with my Connecticut roots. I am passionate about collaborative care that bridges silos between youth, families, healthcare providers and school staff to deliver optimal support.”
Photo by Riley Klein
Services provided: Pediatric primary care from newborn through young adulthood. School based primary care at HVRHS and NCES.
Rebecca Malone, of Sharon, began her career in pediatric primary care in January 2009 practicing family medicine and offering substance abuse treatment. Malone’s experience includes health promotion, disease prevention, adolescent health and diagnosing and treating asthma, allergies, anxiety, depression, ADHD, diabetes and thyroid disease.
Malone’s role as a school-based primary care provider allows her to “take care of students in their natural habitat.” There is no bill for students utilizing this in-school medical care program at Housatonic Valley Regional High School and North Canaan Elementary School. Parents must sign a consent form in order for their child to receive treatment.
Outside of work, Malone enjoys “being outdoors with my family, paddleboarding, hiking and raising food on our farm. In addition, I coach cheerleading with amazing athletes ages 5 to 14.”
Photo by Riley Klein
Services provided: Primary care for adults and adolescents, Dept. of Transportation physicals for CDLs.
With more than 20 years of experience as a nurse practitioner, Cay Hosterman brings knowledge from a variety of settings working in adult and adolescent health.
Hosterman is licensed to provide Department of Transportation physicals, which is necessary for those seeking commercial driver’s licenses.
“So the highway department and [Becton, Dickinson & Company] can come here. If you need to have a CDL license, you need to have a physical,” she said. “We do those here.”
Hosterman is originally from Kent and enjoys hiking, skiing and spending time in the community with friends and family.
Hosterman earned her degrees from University of New Hampshire and Fairfield University.
Photo by Riley Klein
Services provided: Primary care provider for all ages.
Joining CHWC earlier this year, Elizabeth Russ brings experience from a previous private practice and more than five years as an emergency department nurse at Sharon Hospital.
“I am a Litchfield County native who grew up showing dairy cattle as a member of the Busy Farmer’s 4-H Club here in North Canaan. On my days off, I help on my family’s farm in Cornwall.”
Russ earned her degrees from Quinnipiac University, Hartwick College and St. Lawrence University before returning to the Northwest Corner to practice medicine.
Photo by Riley Klein
Services provided: Psychiatric evaluation and medication management.
A Master of Science in Nursing, Kristy Clark has 35 years’ experience as a psychiatric nurse in various inpatient, emergency and school nursing settings. She joined CHWC in 2023.
“I wanted to work in a center that provides care to everyone who needs it. I love to be able to help people in a small-town setting and in reaching one person.Also reaching a family and making ripples of positive mental health.”
Clark lives in Goshen with her husband and two Cavalier spaniels.
Photo by Riley Klein
Services provided: Outpatient clinical services for adults.
Elise Sideli offers the skills of an experienced social worker in community mental health, early college and recovery residence health centers. She provides therapy to individuals through CHWC.
In addition to CHWC’s North Canaan facility, Sideli also works with East Rock Collective in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
She is native to the area, having grown up in New York State, and now resides in South Egremont, Massachusetts.
“I love cycling, hiking and making jewelry, and I enjoy working at my local CSA in the summer.”
Photo provided
Services provided: Diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal conditions.
Kimberly Layman was magna cum laude at Keene College, earning her BS in biology in 2012 and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2017.
Layman is a spine specialist, certified in Active Release Technique and FAKTR.
Prior to joining CHWC, she ran Layman Sport and Family Chiropractic in Litchfield County.
Layman also brings experience from clinical rotations through Stonybrook Hospital on Long Island, New York, Optimus Health in Bridgeport and with minor league baseball team The Bridgeport Bluefish.
KENT — Frederick Wright Hosterman passed away peacefully in his home in Kent on April 16, 2025. Born in 1929 in Auburn, Nebraska, he was the son of farmers. He attended a one-room schoolhouse just outside of Brownville, Nebraska, adjacent to his family’s farm. The little brick schoolhouse is still standing! After graduating from high school, Fred attended the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), eventually earning a master’s degree in agronomy. He took a job with Monsanto in Buffalo, New York, where the company was a pioneer in applying biotechnology to agricultural sciences. In Buffalo, Fred met his future wife, Dorothy. Fred and Dorothy moved to New York City for several years in the early 1960s, before settling down in Norwalk. In Norwalk, Fred and Dorothy had three children. The family later moved to Kent. In 1980, Fred and Dorothy divorced, and Fred bought a large tract of land on Carter Road in Kent. He built a house there, largely by himself, which he maintained until his death at age 95. After taking early retirement, he spent the following decades working on his property, adding various buildings, woodcrafting, landscaping, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Fred had a jovial and close relationship with many of his neighbors, who he saw daily, all willing to share a cup of coffee or receive various bits of wisdom from Fred on any number of projects.
Fred was predeceased by his parents; Helen and Arch Hosterman, step-mother Cassie Hosterman, sisters Ruth and Esther Marie, brother Richard, and former wife Dorothy. He is survived by his three children and their spouses; John and his husband Eric of Northfield, Minnesota, Tracy and her partner, Sam, of Amenia, New York, and Catherine and her husband, Josh, of Cornwall. He is also survived by his five grandchildren; Nicky, Dan, Ian, Zachary, and Eliza, and several nieces and nephews.
Fred loved to flirt with the ladies, even in his 90s, doing a little “dance” for almost anyone he met. Another of Fred’s favorite hobbies was chopping down trees on his land. Initially, this started out as a necessity for fueling his wood stoves. Later, tree-clearing projects were aimed at enhancing the magnificent view from his house high atop Carter Road. Even at age 95, Fred was frequently on his excavator moving boulders or building a retaining wall, as he was strong, healthy and witty until his final weeks.
CANAAN — Nancy (Case) Brenner, 81, of Canaan, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, following a long illness on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.
Nancy was born on April 10, 1944, to the late Ray Sargeant Case Sr. and Beatrice Southey Case. She was the second youngest of five children, predeceased by her three brothers, Ray S. Case Jr., David E. Case and Douglas C. Case, and her sister Linda (Case) Olson. She grew up in New Hartford and Winsted, where she graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 High School.
Nancy is predeceased by her husband and the love of her life, Thomas E. Brenner. Often nicknamed “the love birds,” they were true soulmates and shared many wonderful years together filled with love, laughter, travel and family. Nancy is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly — Lori, Richard, Kathleen, Kevin, Debbie, Karen, Carrie, Jennifer, Tom, Scott and Kimberlee. She was a special aunt leaving behind so many happy and joyful memories. She never missed attending her nieces’ and nephews’ special events.
Nancy worked for over 20 years at Raynard and Pierce in Canaan. There she made many friendships and brightened the day of everyone who went through the door greeted by her smile and jovial spirit. Nancy was a loving wife, daughter, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who’s lives she touched.
A graveside service will be held at Collinsville Cemetery on Huckleberry Hill Road in Canton on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at 5 Cherry Brook Road, Canton. Memorial donations may be made in Nancy’s name to the Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 012011, where Nancy adopted her loving cat and faithful companion, Dusty.
SHEFFIELD — Adam Rand, 59, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in his home on April 22, 2025, after a long battle with ALS.
Adam was born on April 6, 1966, to Lee and Charles Rand II of Boston, Massachusetts. Adam spent his early childhood in Nantucket, where his love of fishing and water was born before moving to Sharon. It was here where he made many lifelong friends and later graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1984. He attended Hiram College in Ohio before settling in Connecticut.
Adam was a master of all trades, a seasoned contractor and practiced carpenter. He was always eager to learn and became a skilled woodworker in his later years of life. His work ethic was undeniable. Adam was passionate about his family, his work and anything with an engine.
Adam leaves behind his loving wife, Annie Rand, his children, Samantha Rand (Nantucket) and Jack Rand (Canaan), his brother and sister in-law, Greg and Cindy Rand (Nantucket), and their children, Olivia, Maxwell and Samuel Rand (Boston), as well as the mother of his children and former wife, Nancy Rand (Collinsville)
Services will be held for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Compassionate Care ALS, PO Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574. Or Online at ccals.org