New health center nears completion

NORTH CANAAN — Construction for the new location of Community Health and Wellness Center (CHWC) in North Canaan is well on its way and expected to be completed early in 2024. 

Joanne Borduas, chief executive officer at CHWC, attended a North Canaan Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, Oct. 2 to review progress and inform the town of the expected timeline.

“They are moving pretty quickly. The site work and exterior is being completed. Inside has already been sheetrocked and we’re getting to the point now where we can do the fun stuff, which is some interior design.”

Borduas said CHWC expects construction to be complete in mid-January, and is targeting a Spring 2024 opening for services.

“The building will have primary medical care and mental health services,” she said. 

The North Canaan CHWC location will also have a chiropractor and is considering acupuncture and nutrition services. Borduas said they are “actively hiring” personnel and have already brought on two local medical professionals searching for work in the area.

On the hire of a physician’s assistance from Falls Village, Borduas said, “She went away to school to be a P.A. and then was thrilled that we were building the health center so she can come back home to live where she grew up.” 

“We also have a medical assistant that is from the North Canaan area,” she added.

Borduas said both new hires will train at CHWC’s Torrington location until the North Canaan health center is open.

“It looks super. It’s coming along very nice,” said First Selectman Charles Perotti.

Community updates

Marybeth Marchi submitted a letter of resignation from her seat on the North Canaan Board of Education, which was read into the record by Perotti on Oct. 2. Marchi will not appear on the ballot in the upcoming municipal election.

Marchi served one term of the Board of Education.

“We have quite a few vacancies on that board now,” said Selectman Christian Allyn.

“There’s a red flag,” said a resident in attendance.

Perotti announced that hazardous waste day will be Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Torrington. Sign up for tickets is available at the Selectmen’s Office in Town Hall through Oct. 26. 

Due to inclement weather on the original date, North Canaan Fall Fest was rescheduled to Saturday, Oct. 14 at the municipal parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will feature pumpkin decorating, temporary tattoo parlor, firetruck rides, arts and crafts, games, ice cream truck, kids market vendors, library book sale and trick-or-treat around town to visit participating businesses.