
Tilly Strauss had the foresight to order her baby chicks ahead of time. They arrived by mail a week or so ago and are now getting stronger in a little box in her living room.
Photo by Tilly Strauss
This week’s Nature’s Notebook column includes information and observations from several area nature experts.
Ramps are here!
Jody Bronson, Forest Manager for the Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk and Falls Village, suggests that, “Foraging for ramps is a great spring tonic.
“Ramps (Allium tricoccum) grow in rich soils under mature hardwood trees. These wild leeks are a true sign of spring; their low-growing lance-shaped green leaves jump out at the forager at this time of year. The entire plant is edible — but to harvest them responsibly, use only the leaves and stem; leave the bulb undisturbed, to ensure the population will remain intact. Ramp populations have been destroyed by over-foraging to supply fancy restaurants.
“Their onion-y flavor adds to any recipe. My wife makes ramp pesto; I like ramps sautéed in olive oil and served with brook trout or in an omelet.
“When you find a good population of ramps, keep it a secret!”
Bird bonanza
Eileen Fielding is the Sharon Audubon Center Director and the state Team Leader, Eastern Forests. She sent in a report on the return of birds to the area.
“Any news about recently sighted birds will go out of date very quickly this time of year, as new migrants are arriving daily! You may have heard that Sandhill Cranes have been sighted in Litchfield and Norfolk, or that there is (or was) a Common Eider in Salisbury.
“Besides these more sensational sightings, we’ve had swarms of Juncos coming through en route to more northerly areas. They are sparrow-sized, solid gray or brown above with white bellies, and show a flash of white in their tails when fluttering in fields and the edges of woods. Robins and Bluebirds are suddenly more conspicuous too, although many of them have really been here through the winter, hiding and feeding in dense cover.
“Other new arrivals include Tree Swallows skimming along rivers and lakes for newly hatched insects, and Eastern Phoebes, who can be recognized by their up-and-down ‘feee-bee!’ call, a characteristic up-down tail wag, and presence near a barn, deck, porch or other sheltered spot where they will nest.
“In the woods, listen or look for Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, and both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Kinglets are even smaller than chickadees, mostly olive-brown, and flutter along branches and twigs, picking off insects.
“If you hear a woodpecker drumming with an irregular beat, you can be fairly sure it’s a newly returned Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a very handsome bird that’s well worth trying to see. Its name comes from a habit of making rows of holes in tree bark that ooze sap. The Sapsucker can return to these holes to lick up both the sap and the insects it attracts.
“Since more of us are around our houses and yards in this unusual spring, you may find time to watch birds more often, and even to give them a helping hand. Many if not most woodland bird species in northeastern forests are in decline, for a variety of reasons.
“Fortunately, there are fairly simple measures that we can do to help them survive and reproduce successfully. The Salisbury Association Land Trust’s planned spring exhibit, ‘Birds in Crisis: What Can I Do?’ has been transformed into a virtual exhibit that will be available on line at the Salisbury Association’s website shortly.
A live talk by the same name will be given by the Salisbury Association and the Scoville Library on Saturday, April 25, at 4 p.m. I am the speaker and will provide an overview of why our birds are in trouble, but also point out the many ways we can improve their chances. For details, send an email to scovilleadultprograms@gmail.com.
Cows in mud, chickens inside
Artist Tilly Strauss reported from North East (Millerton) on her egg-laying hens, which are hard to come by this year, and life on the farm.
“Spring is a time for action on the farm. So in spite of COVID threats, we are still often busy and outside. Today we noticed a cow sitting deep in the mud by the creek. It was unusual because the rest of the herd could be spied several fields away.
“When we checked on her up close, we noticed she was not sitting! She was standing and deeply stuck in the mud. It took a tractor and chains to pull her free. While doing that, and getting her hay, we found ourselves surrounded by the rest of the herd. They had come straight in a beeline to her and started urging her with noises and nose nudges to stand up.
“Dad got the Skid Steer and went to get gravel to steady up the banks of the creek where the cows get most of their water. We hadn’t noticed the steep erosion and the sludge that would be making access to the water a dastardly sinking hazard.
“Looking across the marsh, past the geese, the ducks and the swallows I see two swans. One is enthroned on a dark reed-and-twig nest that sits almost 2 feet above the water’s surface. The partner is in the water circling close by. It takes 42 days for cygnets to hatch, so we will be on the lookout for babies come the middle of May.
“Meanwhile, the chickens in the living room are now two weeks old. They make a lot of racket. Half downy and half feathered, they can leap from one side of the cardboard box to the other in 9-inch arcs.
“Of course I don’t use the newspaper for their bedding. I prefer using my ancient bank statements for that. The chicks make art or a mess (depending on your outlook).
“It seems chickens are coded in their genes to scratch at the ground, so they make quick work of getting in the feed bowl, kicking both legs back like a bull about to charge forward, and throwing the grain pellets all over the dang space.”
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
Kevin Kelly
“I was exposed to that cutthroat, ‘Yes, chef’ culture. It’s not for me. I don’t want anyone apologizing for who they are or what they love.”— Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly doesn’t call himself a chef; he prefers “cook.” His business, After Hours, based in Great Barrington, operates as what Kelly calls “a restaurant without a home,” a pop-up dining concept that prioritizes collaboration over competition, flexibility over permanence, and accessibility over exclusivity.
Kelly grew up in Great Barrington and has roots in the Southern Berkshires that go back ten generations. He began working in restaurants at age 14. “I started at Allium and was hooked right off the bat,” he said. He worked across the region from Cantina 229 in New Marlborough to The Old Inn on the Green at Jacob’s Pillow before heading to Babson College in Boston to study business. After a few years in Boston kitchens, he returned home to open a restaurant. But the math didn’t work. “The traditional model just didn’t feel financially sustainable,” he said. “So, I took a step back and asked, ‘If that doesn’t work, then what does?’”
The answer became After Hours. Rather than investing in a single location, Kelly partners with various venues and brings the restaurant experience to them. He uses the commercial kitchen at The Thornewood, a former inn turned workforce housing in Great Barrington. “They didn’t really have much use for the commercial kitchen, and I happened to connect with them when they acquired the property. We were actually the first tenant in the building,” said Kelly. Events are usually family-style and rooted in seasonal, local ingredients, sourced from local farms whenever possible including Dancing Greens, Indian Line, Off The Shelf and North Plain.
Since launching in December 2023, After Hours has hosted more than 150 events and partnered with nearly 100 local businesses including Wards Nursery in Great Barrington, Paige’s Place in Otis, Massachusetts, The Berkshire Botanical Garden, and coming up is a summer residency at The White Hart in Salisbury. From multi-course dinners to casual market pop-ups, its model adapts to the space, the moment, and the ingredients. “We design menus based on the venue,” said Kelly. “Whatever the kitchen allows, we make it work.”
Looking for partnerships that are mutually beneficial adds to the community-oriented business model. “Something we always look to curate with events and event partners is finding ways to mutually collaborate on marketing. So, Wards is a great example where they’re really looking to tap into a younger demographic and that’s something we’re able to really bring to the table.”
Now, Kelly is extending the model with a new initiative called The After Hours Supper Club. A subscription-based model, members will receive monthly meals for two or four with seasonally inspired mains, small plates, desserts, and extras. A portion of the proceeds supports Berkshire Bounty, a nonprofit fighting local food insecurity.
The Supper Club is not Kelly’s first collaboration with Berkshire Bounty. Last Thanksgiving, he launched a “buy one, give one” meal kit where one purchased meal equaled one donated to a local family. “Berkshire Bounty is so grateful for the continued support from Kevin and After Hours. Through Kevin’s creativity and care, together we are making an impact on food security in this community and providing nourishing food for the most vulnerable among us,” said Morgan Ovitsky, Executive Director of Berkshire Bounty.The subscription model allows After Hours to extend its reach into homes across the region. “We’ve had strong early interest,” said Kelly. “We’re fulfilling our first orders in June.”
Staffing such a fluid operation is a challenge. To address this, Kelly also created After Hours Gigs, a flexible labor system where people can sign up for one-off shifts. “Most people around here have three or four jobs,” he said. “This lets them pick up a gig with low commitment.” About 15 to 20 people work regularly through the system, but Kelly is often still scrambling to fill roles on busy weekends. With five events in just four days on the calendar, Kelly keeps moving. “It’s a lot,” he said. “But you just do it. One event at a time.”
There is a distinctly anti-macho ethos to his kitchens. “I was exposed to that cutthroat, ‘Yes, chef’ culture. It’s not for me. I don’t want anyone apologizing for who they are or what they love.” When someone asks what to wear to a gig, his response is simple. “Be comfortable. Be presentable. Be yourself.”
What Kelly has built with After Hours is less a brand than a belief that food should be personal, shared, grounded in place and people. So, what’s the most delicious thing he’s made recently? “A white pizza with ramp pesto,” he told me, eyes lighting up. “We’ve started doing Sicilian slices at the farmer’s market. Breakfast pizzas are next.”
For more information, visit: www.afterhoursgb.com