West Otis
Laundromat
Otis Library
Paige's Place

East Otis
Katie's Store
Papas Fuel
Knox Trail Inn

    The Sandisfield Times is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers from the Sandisfield community and funded by individual and business sponsors. Its mission is to connect the community through reliable, regular, and relevant information. The paper is published 11 times each year, with a joint January-February issue and monthly issues thereafter.

    Donations of any amount are needed to ensure the continuation of this newspaper. Please send checks to: The Sandisfield Times, P.O. Box 584, Sandisfield, MA 01255 or donate online at our website: www.sandisfieldtimes. org. Donations to The Sandisfield Times are deductible under section 170 of the Federal Income Tax Code. Donations do not include subscriptions. Subscriptions do not qualify as donations.

    The Times is distributed free of charge to all Sandisfield postal address and boxes. Free copies are available at the following town locations: The transfer station (Wed/Sat/Sun), the Library, and in New Boston at A&M Auto, the Farmington River General Store, and the New Boston Inn. The Times is also available in West Otis at the laundromat, the library, and Paige's Place; in East Otis at Katie's, Pappas, and the Knox Trail Inn. Also at the Monterey Library (outside box) and the Roadside Cafe, in Colebrook at the post office and the general store, and at the Southfield Store and the Mill River General Store. Back copies are available for purchase.

    The Times can be mailed to your home (non-Sandisfield addresses only) by paid subscription (see form at left) or you can read it (free) online as a PDF document at www.sandisfieldtimes.org. Classified ads, 30 words or less, are free.

    We welcome submissions, comments and suggestions, including letters to the editor by the 15th of the month prior. Maximum 300 words. We may edit for space, style or clarity. We will try to publish Public Service Announcements when we have room, with priority given to Sandisfield organizations. No portion of the The Sandisfield Times may be reproduced without permission.

Mail can be directed to The Sandisfield Times, PO Box 584, Sandisfield, MA 01255. If internet accessible, all letters, news events and tips, ideas, obituary and family announcements, photos (600 dpi if possible) and advertisement queries to editor@sandisfieldtimes.org

    SANDISFIELD - A group of Sandisfield residents decided at a dinner party in December 2009 that the town needed a vehicle for connection, communication and community-building, and accordingly worked through the winter and early spring of the following year to launch the first issue of a monthly newsletter that was to be called "The Sandisfield Times" on April 1 st, 2010.

    The mission of the newspaper was formally stated to be "to connect the community, through reliable, regular and relevant information". The newspaper's motto, Tribunus plebis, is the ancient Latin phrase meaning: The Guardian of the People.

    The editors of The Sandisfield Times stated their intention to cover serious local issues, events, history, politics and literature, as well as lifestyle topics such as gardening and birding. The founders include the author Simon Winchester and his wife, Setsuko, a former producer for National Public Radio, as well as a number of other full-time residents and second-home owners. Local artist and graphic designer Tina Sotis was the original designer of the paper and continues to ensure its quality and graphic standards.

    The Sandisfield Times is an independent, non-profit project that funds its publication primarily through sponsorships from regional and local businesses and residents, and with the help of donations from generous local homeowners. Speaking on behalf of Sandisfield, Selectman Patrick Barrett welcomed the news of the launch. "We are sorely in need of a way to find out what's going on in town and we hope this publication, along with a new town website planned for later this year, will really improve communication and bring people together," Barrett said. (The Sandisfield Town website became operational in March, 2011.)

    The first issue of The Sandisfield Times was mailed to all residents on the town's tax roll. Thereafter, the newsletter was distributed free of charge in locations around town including the post office, town hall, and library. A PDF of the newsletter was also available by email. To read more from our original Editor-in-Chief about the philosophy behind The Sandisfield Times and how it came to be, click here.

    DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS - The Sandisfield Times is distributed free in the following locations: Sandisfield Post Office, town hall, library, New Boston Store, New Boston Inn, Southfield Store, Wild Birds, Bizalion's French Cafe, A& M Auto, Katie's Market, the Otis Library, Farmington River Deli, Farmington Elementary School and Terranova's.

    SPONSOR INFORMATION - Each edition of the newsletter needs eight sponsors at $50 each to pay for the printing. Those wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity should send a check for $50 to: The Sandisfield Times, PO Box 584, Sandisfield, MA 01255. In June of 2013, The Sandisfield Times was granted status as a 501 (c) (3) retroactively to April 8, 2010, thereby making all donations to the Times since that date tax deductible.

    CONTACT US - By phone at (413) 258-3308 or via email at editor@sandisfieldtimes.org