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The Community Health and Wellness Center on Route 44 in North Canaan.
Riley Klein
NORTH CANAAN — In an effort to expand access to health care services in the state’s rural northwestern communities, two federally qualified health centers (FQHC’s) have signed a letter of intent to evaluate combining services into one network.
Community Health & Wellness Center, based in North Canaan, Winsted and Torrington, and Wheeler Health, an FQHC in Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, Plainville and Waterbury, are exploring the partnership to “significantly increase” health care services for residents in Torrington and the Northwest Hills region, according to a joint announcement late last month.
“FQHC’s are experiencing an ever-expanding patient population, increasing the demand on already strained resources, especially in our rural parts of the state,” said Joanne Borduas, who serves as president and CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center.
“Established over 25 years ago, we have been serving as the only comprehensive FQHC in Northwest Connecticut, and today, operating under continued uncertainty of future federal funding supports,partnerships like this one are a smart strategic option that will strengthen our ability to better plan for future sustainability, invest in long-term care solutions and expand services while honoring our commitment to the communities we serve.”
Sabrina Trocchi, president and CEO of Wheeler Health, noted that her organization and CHWC bring a “shared vision of high-quality, accessible and compassionate integrated health care.Wheeler’s proven success in its care model, and more than 55 years of innovation, pairs perfectly with CHWC’s knowledge of their communities and health center services already offered.”
Discussions are underway
By joining forces, leaders of the organizations are looking to expand access to care across a broader service area, deepen service offerings and specialty care and strengthen operational stability.
Management from both organizations are currently meeting to discuss commonalities and dynamics of the potential agreement.
“We agreed to enter a due diligence period which will help us to determine if a merger of our two organizations makes sense,” noted CHWC’s Borduas, who was appointed last November by Gov. Ned Lamont to the 38-member Health Care Cabinet (HCC) as a representative of community health centers across Connecticut.
“This is a commitment, to our combined patients, communities and staff, to be at the forefront of improving health care for all,” said Wheeler CEO Trocchi.
If talks proceed as planned, the creation of a new entity would likely take place next summer, according to Allison Separy, CHWC’s marketing and communications manager.
At this point the two health centers, she said, are in the early stages of evaluating operations, and are still determining what the new network will look like.
Under a merger, “they will continue to operate at each of their respective sites,” but would do so under one entity, said Separy, who noted that there are no plans to relocate staff from either location.
Separy said a merger would enable the FQHC’s to expand their network of service offerings for referral to services that either one of the organizations today, may not have immediate access to or have waitlists in place.
As examples, she said, Wheeler currently offers certain behavioral health services for depression that CHWC does not, such as the FDA-approved nasal spray, Spravato, used for adults with treatment-resistant depression, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS.
“Our patients would now have easier access to these treatments if needed,” said Separy.
An uncommon strategy for Connecticut FQHC’s
Deb Polun, Chief Strategy Officer for the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut (CHC/ACT), which represents 16 FQHC’s in Connecticut, said while she is aware of health center mergers in other states, she does not recall a merger between Federally Qualified Health Centers in Connecticut in recent decades.
“It’s certainly possible that other health centers could consider this in Connecticut. Although we have been successful in achieving a plan for higher Medicaid rates here, there are still many challenges for health centers, including from the federal level.”
A recent survey by the National Association of Community Health Centers found that 85% of FQHC’s are facing financial and operational strain, with many anticipating staff reductions and service cutbacks.
According to the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health, the financial jeopardy is so severe that a significant portion of the nation’s health centers are at risk of closing or having to reduce their operations.
Healthcare advocates in Connecticut fear current challenges could lead to disruptions in care, especially for underserved communities which rely on FQHC’s for safety-net services, potentially resulting in increased disease severity and higher healthcare costs.
About Community Health & Wellness Center
CHWC is an award-winning 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization and the only FQHC in the northwest corner of Connecticut providing comprehensive services. CHWC delivers a range of integrated healthcare services including medical, behavioral health, chiropractic, and nutrition, as well as an in-house lab and pharmacy. Serving more than 7,000 patients, CHWC operates health centers in Torrington, Winsted and North Canaan, with school-based health centers in all Torrington schools and three Region One Schools.
About Wheeler Health
Wheeler Health’s integrated approach to primary and behavioral health, education and recovery creates “measurable results, positive outcomes and hopeful tomorrows” for nearly 70,000 individuals across Connecticut annually, according to a statement announcing the signing of a letter of intent with CHWC.
Wheeler offers medical and dental care, behavioral health, addiction treatment, chiropractic care, nutrition services, community services and special education services throughout five locations.
“This is a commitment, to our combined patients, communities and staff, to be at the forefront of improving health care for all,” said Trocchi. “We are committed to transparency as we listen, learn, share and discover the possibilities. Together, we can measurably improve the health of Torrington and the Northwest Hills communities.”
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Norfolk First Selectman Matt Riiska, who is stepping down in November, received an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly thanking him for his service to the people of Norfolk.
Jennifer Almquist
NORFOLK — First Selectman Matt Riiska will step down in late November after eight years in office.
On Sept. 5 the Democratic Town Committee combined their “Meet the Candidates” event with a celebration of Riiska held on the Norfolk Town Green. A large crowd gathered to enjoy hot dogs, live music, and to thank Riiska for his service.
State Representative Maria Horn (D-64) and State Senator Paul Hornig (D-8) presented him with an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly honoring his dedication to the people of Norfolk. The document states that “his leadership, communication and organizational skills leave a powerful impact on Norfolk.”
Riiska has led the community through many crises.
In his “Selectman’s Corner,” Riiska wrote on Aug. 3, 2025: “I have made the decision not to run again for First Selectman this fall. This was not an easy decision but being three months shy of my 70th birthday when I complete my fourth term, I have decided it is time. The past eight years have had their challenges. Dealing with budget and managerial activities is one thing, but there have been little things like the Covid pandemic, Hurricane Isaias when trees blocked roads, and we were without power for a week, an 8,200-gallon gas spill, and a flood that destroyed two bridges and washed-out roads.”
Riiska negotiated the funding and plans for the new firehouse, plus the Route 44 retaining wall construction project. Prior to his four terms in office, Riiska was a project engineer at ITW in Lakeville. Riiska and his wife Linda, and their dog, plan to enjoy life after retirement.
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Bill Segalla talks about his and his father’s stunt piloting during the last Tuesday at 7 talk for the season sponsored by the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society.
Ruth Epstein
FALLS VILLAGE — They could fly through the air with the greatest of ease. Stunt pilots Stan Segalla and then his son Bill entertained audiences for years with their precision antics in the sky. Bill recounted their story as the guest speaker at the last session of the First Tuesday at 7 program on Sept. 2 sponsored by the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society at the South Canaan Meetinghouse.
He began with some history, noting that at one time there were four airports in Canaan. The original one, built around 1920, was in the vicinity of the current Troop B police barracks on Route 7, north of town, and had three grass runways.
When it eventually closed due to the state upgrading Route 7 in the late ‘50s, Stan Segalla, Brooks Conklin and Dick Bunce decided a new airport was needed. They bought land up close to the Massachusetts border on what is known as the “Dump Road” and put in a 2,000-foot grass runway, adding another 1,000 feet in 1965. They owned it until 1980 when it was bought by Lawrence Smith.
There was talk of converting the airstrip into a commercial airport, but there were too many trees on the site to extend the runway, said Segalla, so it remained private. At the time, there were 25 planes based there along with gliders, but eventually the gliders were removed due to complaints from neighbors.
“There was a very vibrant business there,” said Segalla, “But then the aviation industry took a downturn and the airport closed.” It was later purchased for $1.3 million by then 27-year-old Ryan Salame, who is now incarcerated for cryptocurrency scamming. The future of the airport is in limbo, said Segalla, who then turned to talking about his dad.
Stan Segalla was a World War II veteran as part of the 5th infantry. His first plane ride was when he was leaving England to return home. Soon after, he began flying U-control planes and then found a real plane for $300. With no formal training, he started flying in 1958, learning all he knew from books.
“He was a very gifted guy,” said Segalla of his father. “He didn’t have much schooling, but a lot of common sense. He was probably one of the most professional pilots I ever flew with.”
Over the years, Stan Segalla had more than 31 planes, most of which he built. “There were always planes in our garage,” Segalla remembered with a smile.
Then he got into aerobatics after visiting the Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a place that held a special draw for him. He would spend every weekend there. Billed as the “Flying Farmer,” he performed daring stunts involving precision flying and “became one of the most respected airplane pilots in the country. People were in awe of what he could do. They came from around the world to watch him fly; he was that good.”
Yet, he was always very concerned with safety and instilled that in all the young pilots he mentored.
Segalla then explained how flying got into his system. As the youngest of five, he would often spend time with his father at the airport and the aerodrome. His first solo flight was at age 9, when his father, out of the blue, gave him the go-ahead to take a plane for a spin. He received his license at 14 and obtained his commercial license on his 16th birthday; the first to do so. At 17, he purchased his first bi-plane.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Segalla began flying in air shows. In 1993, he and Bill Gordon joined forces to be part of the airshow circuit as the Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team, flying all along the East Coast and then expanding to Central and South America. Segalla retired from air shows nine years ago to spend more time with his growing family.
“I still fly and enjoy it,” he told the audience, which was filled with several of his siblings, friends and fellow pilots. He is manager of Triumph Aviation LLC at the Canaan Airport and runs a Young Eagles Rallies program to encourage young people from ages 8 to 17 to consider the field of aviation by taking them flying. “I want to see aviation thrive.”
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