Editor's note: This letter thanking the Sandisfield Fire Department for its response to the Blachere barn fire in November 2025 was intended for the January/February 2026 issue of The Times. Because of a series of glitches, we missed it. The letter is published here with our apologies to our friends, the Blacheres.

December 2025

To the Sandisfield Fire Department;

Having somewhat recovered from the shock and tragedy of losing our 1770 barn to fire on Thanksgiving Day, we want to express our sincere thanks to the Sandisfield Fire Department (especially Chief Mike Grillo who arrived on the premises in less than 10 minutes). We would also like to thank all the surrounding fire departments (ten in all) from Massachusetts as well as neighboring Connecticut for their assistance in saving our house and cabin. We also appreciate the outreach from so many friends and neighbors offering assistance during these difficult times.

We have owned our place in Sandisfield for 53 years and recently decided to move back here full time. We're looking forward to spending most of our time in this still very unspoiled place, hopefully with a new (old) barn erected in the near future.

Again, many thanks to everyone including The Sandisfield Times for the excellent reporting that we receive each month.

Jean Paul & Eva Blachere
New Hartford Road