IN THE GARDEN WITH LEE REICH: Lowbush blueberry produces delicious fruit, F4
ANTIQUES & COLLECTING: Antique sled doubles as folk art, F6
MORTGAGE RATES: U.S. mortgage rates fall for sixth week, F7 WMASS DEEDS, F7
By T im Mc K eough New York Times
IF YOU’RE LUCKY enough to have a wood-burning fireplace, cold weather comes with a silver lining: an excuse to build a roaring fire.
“Fire becomes this really amazing focal point for a room, whether it’s traditional or modern,” said New Yorkbased interior designer Thom Filicia. “There’s just something poetic, sexy and inviting about gathering around a fireplace.”
But before you build that first fire, make sure you’re ready. That means not just decorating the mantel — which, of course, steals attention during the holidays — but choosing the right tools and accessories to ensure that your fireplace looks good and works well. We asked Filicia and other designers for advice.
Not all fireplaces are attractive. In older homes, some have beaten-up mantels and damaged surrounds; in newer homes, they may not have much personality. In either case, a simple change — or a few tweaks — can give a
fireplace a new look without tearing everything out.
While you could remove your mantel and replace it with a new one, it’s not always necessary. Never underestimate the power of paint.
When Mona Hajj, an interior designer based in Baltimore, was working on a home in Washington, D.C., her clients found the wood mantel in their dining room “so dark and depressing,” she said, that they asked her to scrap it.
But she could see that it was a quality piece, and when she coated the mantel and the surrounding walls in off-white paint, it transformed the look from forbidding to fresh. “It just softened that area,” Hajj said.
Filicia used a similar approach while renovating an old colonial-style home in Greenwich, Conn. Instead of white, though, he painted the mantel a dark aubergine and coated the room’s walls and trim in the same color so nothing stood out. “You simplify it by doing everything in this one beautiful, rich color,” he said. “It turns all of the architecture into texture.”
Changing the surround rather than the mantel can also give your fireplace a new per-
sonality. When Amanda Jesse and Whitney Parris-Lamb, the founders of the New York City-based interior design firm Jesse Parris-Lamb, renovated a brownstone in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, they encountered tired fireplaces that had surrounds of damaged subway tile within attractive original mantels. Rather than replac-
ing the damaged tile with something similar, they chose more distinctive, contemporary tile: a blue-and-white checkerboard pattern from Balineum for one fireplace and a russet-colored floral pattern from Neisha Crosland for another.
“Changing out the fireplace surround is a nice way to update it while still respecting the history of the house,” Parris-Lamb said.
A pair of andirons or a fireplace grate is critical to help get air under logs and keep them from rolling out onto the hearth. But choosing the right ones is not only about functionality.
“It’s the jewelry. It adds a little character,” said Victoria Hagan, a New York-based interior designer. “I love searching for special and
An undated photo by Gordon Beall that shows how designers Gary McBournie and Bill Richards used anchor-shaped andirons for a fireplace at a house in Wellesley. (GORDON BEALL VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES)
BLANKETING THE ground beneath many oak and beech forests of the northeast is a plant that has always been on the verge of domestication. The plant is lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), whose wiry stems are just now jutting up through the snow-covered forest floor.
Though fruit of lowbush blueberry has been enjoyed for centuries, the small bush is almost never planted per se. Instead, the method of cultivation has always been to encourage wild plants. Native Americans learned that by burning wild stands every few years in the spring, encroaching trees and shrubs would be killed, yet the blueberries would resprout vigorous new shoots and bear fruit prodigiously.
Today’s commercial lowbush industry — these are the blueberries that end up in cans on market shelves — still relies on wild plants. Every third spring, commercial fields are set afire, which sacrifices one season’s harvest, but keeps fields productive.
Lowbush blueberry seldom is cultivated even in backyard gardens. It seems that gardeners who relish the fruit content themselves with harvests from the wild. But consider the plants’ qualities: nodding, bellshaped pink or white flowers in spring; leaves that turn a fiery red each fall; stems which turn red in winter. The plant grows as a spreading groundcover, a foot or
so high, in full sun or partial shade. And, of course, there’s the delectably sweet fruit, ranging in color from almost black to sky blue.
All lowbush blueberries are not equally good, though. As in any population of wildings, individuals vary. Some plants may have insipid fruit, or stems and leaves that are merely drab as weather turns cold in fall and winter.
If lowbush blueberry ever is fully domesticated, superior plants will be selected or bred, and propagated.
If you decide to plant lowbush blueberries, don’t dig up wild plants. They grow in spreading colonies connected beneath the soil, and individual plants have weak root systems. Buy plants from a nursery, or start your own from cuttings.
You have three opportunities to take cuttings. Hardwood cuttings can be taken now. Cuttings from the underground rhizomes can be taken in early spring.
And softwood cuttings can be taken in late spring from side shoots, just as leaves reach full-size. Set cuttings in a 1:1 mix of sand (or perlite) and sphagnum moss. Use this same soil mix if you decide to try your hand at growing seedlings.
Sow seeds by mushing fresh fruits on soil in seed flats, then covering the seeds with an additional 1/4” of soil mix.
Lowbush blueberry needs a soil that is high in organic matter and very acidic. Initially, satisfy both these requirements by mixing a
liberal amount of peat moss into the planting hole. Test the soil’s acidity, and if the pH is not in the range of 4.05.2, add sulfur, available at garden stores. Ideally, add it to the soil a season prior to planting.
To grow lowbush blueberry as a groundcover, set plants at two foot spacing and allow them to fill in. You can produce a sweep of plants quicker with a closer spacing.
For good fruit production,
the plants will need periodic pruning. Do this by clipping some of the oldest shoots all the way to the ground every year with a hand pruners.
If this is too tedious, a lawnmower or hedge shears could be used to cut back all the stems every third year. With this latter method, as with the commercial method of burning, there is no crop the season of pruning.
For maximum fruit production, let lowbush blueberries clamber over a sunny
bank. Or settle for less fruit and use the plant as a groundcover in the dappled shade. Beneath, for example, mountain laurels and oaks — just the way lowbush blueberries grow wild in the woods.
Any gardening questions? Email them to me at garden@ leereich.com and I’ll try answering them directly or in this column. Come visit my garden at www.leereich.com/ blog.
Lee Reich | In the Garden In addition to bearing delicious fruit, lowbush blueberry is a very pretty plant, here, in spring, flowering over a wall. (LEE REICH PHOTO)Lowbush blueberry seldom is cultivated even in backyard gardens. It seems that gardeners who relish the fruit content themselves with harvests from the wild.
Keeping a clean house requires an ongoing effort and an arsenal of cleaning sprays, scrubs and powders. But if you want to make some natural, nontoxic, earth-friendly swaps, you don’t have to look much farther than your own kitchen or pantry.
Most of us have heard of the effectiveness of lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda at disinfecting surfaces and cutting through grease and grime, but the cleaning agents that are already at your fingertips go beyond those basics. We asked cleaning expert Jill Koch of Jill Comes Clean and home organizing professional Caroline Solomon — and scoured the internet — for lesser-known ways to use kitchen essentials. These hacks will have you thinking about your grocery list in a whole new way.
Because it’s so spongy and absorbent, bread is a great way to sop up spills before they seep too deeply into a tablecloth. “It’s great for dabbing up oil, sauces, wine and really most liquids,” Koch writes in an email. The next time you’re at dinner and something splatters the tabletop, reach for a piece of bread to limit the damage.
In the same vein, Country Living reports that the gluten in bread acts as a magnet for dirt. Indeed, if you’re plagued by smudges of mysterious provenance on walls, cabinets and door frames, a balled-up slice of white or rye bread works as a natural eraser. Take the crust off a slice, roll the remainder into a sponge, and dab it against the offending mark to lift it. Koch warns against rubbing too hard, though, to avoid
leaving behind crumbs. Bread also picks up broken glass like a champ. “If you aren’t sure you got all the pieces, just press a slice of bread around the area, and any shards will stick to it,” writes Koch. Take care not to use too much pressure, to protect your fingers from getting pricked.
Starchy, granular white rice is an ideal ingredient for cleaning oil and dust left from old coffee beans in your coffee grinder, according to Koch. Before grinding a new roast or using the machine for spices, pour enough uncooked rice in the grinder to cover the blades and power it on for about a minute, then pour out the pulverized rice and wipe out the excess with a wet cloth.
If you don’t have rice, a good substitute here would be — you guessed it — bread.
If you don’t have a bottle brush for your reusable containers and water bottles, uncooked rice works here, too. Pour a small amount — about an eighth to a quarter of a cup — into the vessel, along with a few drops of dish soap and a dash of water (“I wouldn’t cover the rice,” Koch writes. “Just add enough that it swirls around easily.”). Shake the mixture around for a minute, then rinse the container again with water.
Koch suggests using mayonnaise to remove the water stains and rings on wood that happen when moisture penetrates the protective finish — like when someone neglects to use a coaster on your coffee table. After testing a small area, spread a layer of mayonnaise on the blemish and let it sit overnight. “The oil displaces the moisture and makes the
Because it’s so spongy and absorbent, bread is a great way to sop up spills before they seep too deeply into a tablecloth. The gluten in bread acts also as a magnet for dirt. (INNA
TARASENKO
/ DREAMSTIME / TNS)
mark go away,” she writes. (Applying vegetable oil itself won’t work because it dries too quickly.) In the morning, wipe the mayonnaise away with a dry cloth. If there are any remaining marks, you can also lay a cloth over the surface and place a hot iron on top, using the steam feature. After a few seconds, pull the iron away and wipe the area; the heat removes moisture caught underneath the finish. Feel free to use both methods to address the most stubborn stains.
Woman’s World reports that the oil found in this hard-working sandwich condiment also makes it effective at breaking down adhesives and grime, so slather it wherever you need to remove sticky residue: labels on glass jars, price stickers on ceramics, decorative stickers on water bottles — even gum tacked to the soles of shoes. Let the mayonnaise sit for about 20 minutes (or more if needed)
before wiping it off with a wet cloth. Koch has heard of peanut butter being used to the same effect, though “it takes a little bit of elbow grease,” she warns.
“The tannins in tea remove grease and naturally shine surfaces,” Solomon writes in an email. Before tossing used tea bags, she suggests brewing a batch of weak tea to pour into a spray bottle and using it to remove dirt and fingerprints from glass. Spritz it on mirrors, windows, glass tabletops and eyeglasses, then wipe the surface with a microfiber cloth for restored shine. According to SF Gate, wiping hardwood floors with a stronger brew of black tea will also add luster.
The polishing power of tea can also be harnessed to lift stains in the toilet bowl. “Throw a few tea bags in the toilet and let them sit for 10 minutes,” Solomon writes.
“Then
Once you’re done with those tea bags (although we recommend tossing the ones you’ve steeped in the toilet), squeeze some extra use out of them by letting them dry and placing them in a bowl at the back of the fridge. This will absorb odors much like baking soda does, according to Solomon.
The coarse nature of kosher salt makes it a powerful scrubbing agent. Both our experts recommend using it to scour rust and food remnants from a cast-iron skillet. To do so, pour a half cup of salt onto the pan and use a sponge or paper towel to work the grime away. Then rinse it clean and wipe it dry. “It’s also an excellent abrasive when it comes to cleaning your stove,” Solomon writes. Or for oven grates, sprinkle salt liberally over grease or burned food
SANTA CLAUS IS AS popular a figure in antique Christmas collectibles as he is in today’s decorations. Most are more festive than this papier-mache figure. Santa is usually portrayed holding a small Christmas tree, carrying his famous sack of toys, surrounded by reindeer or accompanied by a child or angel.
Depending on the age and origin of the collectible, he might be dressed in an unexpected color like green or blue. Here, he can be recognized by his red coat and hood, trimmed with fur as white as his beard. This papier-mache figure looks plainer than many popular Christmas collectibles. There are no reindeer pulling the sleigh, and instead of a sack of toys, there is a stack of firewood on his back. (Is this because firewood is a winter necessity, or maybe a reference to
the Yule log?) But there’s a surprise in store; the bundle of logs isn’t what it seems. Lift the lid, and it has a hollow compartment meant to store candy.
Papier-mache candy containers were popular from the 19th to early 20th centuries. The most famous ones were made in Germany and often themed for holidays like Christmas, Halloween or Easter. They are eagerly sought by collectors, often selling for high prices. This Santa sold for $6,250 at a Hindman auction, where its high presale estimate was $500!
Q. I’ve had an Energizer Bunny Christmas ornament for several years. The bunny is wearing a Santa Claus hat. Is it worth anything?
A. The Energizer bunny, a bright-pink rabbit wear-
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Salt and pepper shakers, snowman shape, ceramic, painted, white, black hat with gold band, red scarf, green earmuffs, holding candy cane, sticker, Josef Originals, made in Japan, 3 1/2 inches, $35.
Jewelry, charm, Millenium 2000, stars, 14K gold, 1 1/2 inches, $110.
Doll, Barbie, Christian Dior Paris, plastic, brunette hair, wearing reproduction 1947 Dior ensemble, black pleated skirt, cream-color jacket, woven hat, pearl necklace and bracelet, stockings, shoes, original box, stand, 1997, 12 inches, $235.
Toy, Pan American Airport Set, five planes, rollup stairway, baggage car with two luggage carts, original box with airport graphics, Tootsietoy, No. 6500, 1955, $310.
Lamp, electric, Eyeshade, George Nelson for Koch & Lowy, perforated aluminum shade, adjustable steel pole, block base, marked, adjusts from 42 to 46 inches, $460.
Pottery, pitcher, Comma, scattered black commas on white ground, slender tapered form, flared out at neck, dark red inside, LaGardo Tackett, 19 1/2 x 6 inches, $860.
Sterling-silver horn, New Year’s, marked “Tiffany & Co.,” 20th century, 10 1/4 inches, $950.
Pair of pressed glass candlesticks, blue, Dolphin stem, fluted cup with scalloped rim, stepped base, Sandwich Glass, Massachusetts, mid-tolate 19th century, 10 inches, $1,015.
Furniture, sewing table, Federal, mahogany, carved, drop leaf, two drawers, turned stretcher, fluted and splayed feet with casters, Boston, 1810, 31 x 20 x 18 inches, $1,375.
Hourglass, two blown glass bulbs with sand, six-sided hardwood top and bottom with bone trim and inlaid dots and bellflowers, four turned columns with bone turnings, 1700s, 5 x 3 x 3 inches, $2,280.
ing sunglasses and blue flip-flops and beating a drum, first appeared in a TV commercial in 1988. It was listed as one of the top brand icons of the 20th century by Ad Age. The American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company began making battery-operated flashlights in 1898. The company name became American Ever Ready Company in 1905. It trademarked its batteries “Ever Ready.”
The brand name “Energizer” was first used in 1980. After several changes, the Energizer brand became part of Energizer Holdings, Inc. in 2000. In 1992, Energizer offered four different Christmas ornaments free with the purchase of Energizer batteries. The other three ornaments were a caroler, an evergreen tree and a skier. They sell for about $1 each. Even though they are not worth a lot, they still are a fun ornament for your tree.
Q. I have a Christmas ornament that needs help. Can mercury glass that is blue be restored?
A. Mercury glass, or silvered glass, was first made in England in the 1840s. It was made in the United States from the mid-1850s to the early 20th century. The silvery mirrored look was made by blowing clear glass into a double-walled shape and filling the small air space between the walls with a mercury solution. First, air was vacuumed out of the space, then the solution was poured in through a hole in the bottom of the piece, coating the inside of the glass, and then the hole was sealed. After the 1850s, “mercury” glass was made using a silver nitrate solution. If the seal is broken, exposure to the air will cause the color to deteriorate. You can try to reseal it but won’t be able to restore
Leave it to Santa Claus to fill a bundle of firewood with candy! This papier-mache figure of Santa on a sled is a candy container. (2022 BY COWLES SYNDICATE INC)
the original color. Mercury is toxic. If you have a very old Christmas ornament that might contain mercury, you should call the poison control center near you to see how to handle it.
Q. I love the colors and simple shapes of Fiestaware. I recently bought a Lapis Fiestaware plate shaped like a Christmas tree for $39 at a thrift store. Was that a good price?
A. Fiesta dinnerware from The Homer Laughlin China Co. of Newell, W. Va., was introduced at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show in January 1936. It was created by Frederick Hurten Rhead, a second-generation potter who was the company’s design director since 1927. Fiesta production stopped in 1972. It was re-started in 1986 because of the dinnerware’s continued popularity. Fiesta from the 1930s is more valuable than pieces made since 1986.
The original Fiesta colors were dark blue, red, light green, ivory and yellow. Turquoise followed in 1937. Other colors introduced during the first decades of production included chartreuse, forest green, gray, medium green and rose. In
2020, the Homer Laughlin China Co. was acquired by Steelite International. It was renamed as The Fiesta Tableware Company. It doesn’t look like you got a bargain. Lapis plates like you describe sell online for between $15 and $25.
TIP: Dust Christmas ornaments after removing them from the tree. Do not store them dusty. Wrap each ornament individually in paper.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@ kovels.com.
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
By M ATT O TT Associated Press
THE AVERAGE
long-term U.S. mortgage rate declined for the sixth straight week, giving potential homebuyers a tiny amount of relief after rates topped out over 7% last month.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average on the benchmark 30-year rate dipped to 6.27% this week from 6.31% the previous week. A year ago the average rate was 3.05%. The average long-term rate reached 7.08% in late October and again in early November as the Federal Reserve has continued to crank up its key lending rate this year in an effort to cool the economy and tame inflation. The Federal Reserve raised its rate again last week by 0.50 percentage points, its seventh increase this year. That pushed the central bank’s key rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, its highest level in 15 years. More surprisingly, the policymakers forecast that their key short-term rate will reach a range of 5% to 5.25% by the end of 2023. Despite that, the average U.S. long-term mortgage rate has fallen by more than three-quarters of a point in six weeks. That’s created a significant affordability hurdle for many would-be homebuyers, spurring this year’s housing market downturn. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell for the 10th consecutive month in November, hitting the slowest pre-pandemic annual sales pace in more than 10 years. The rate for a 15-year mortgage, popular with those refinancing their homes, went the opposite direction this week, rising to 5.69% from 5.54% last week. It was 2.3% one year ago.
Anatoliy Paliy and Svetlana Paliy to Yelena A. Artemova and Artem P. Artemov, 116 Adams St., $680,000.
Ashley B. Stewart, Ashley B. Obara and William C. Stewart Jr., to William Martin Delaney, 33 Dogwood Lane, Unit 33, $260,000.
Joseph F. Barako, trustee, and Barako Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to James A. Boucher and Eric M. Guiel, 52 Forest Hill Road, $320,000.
Joshua W. Gerrish to Dona Skala, 55 Northwood St., $190,000.
Karla Michelle De Jesus and Emmanuel Laboy to Brianna Lynn Flahive, 117 Maple St., $272,500.
Pine Crossing Construction Inc., to Dennis J. Pirog and Michele F. Pirog, 86 Villa Dr Unit 30, $469,900.
Pine Crossing Construction Inc to Donald J Delphia and Michelle R Delphia, 78 Villa Drive, Unit 28, $479,900.
Richard J. Ferry to Michael Cohen and Theresa Murphy, 44 Beekman Drive, Unit 44, $185,000.
John Vassallo, conservator, Robert J. Mikalunas and Robert Mikalunas to Joseph A. Oliverio and Lara Shepard-Blue, 25 Greenwich Road, $343,000.
Victoria Westhead, trustee, and Edward W. Westhead Revocable Trust to Evelyn A. Villa, trustee, and Evelyn A. Villa Revocable Trust, 20 Cortland Drive, $220,000.
Timothy J. Anderson, trustee, Sandra K. Anderson, trustee, and Anderson Family Trust to Eileen H. Beall, trustee, and Eileen H. Beall Revocable Trust, 56 Amity Place, $245,156.
Joseph Volpe Sr., trustee, Salvatore M. Volpe, trustee, Zebedee
J. Volpe, trustee, Jane A. Scott, trustee, Andrea Y. Mollica, trustee, and Joseph S.R. Volpe Revocable Trust to North Prospect LLC, 7779 North Prospect St., $996,000. Salvatore M. Volpe, trustee, Zebedee J. Volpe, trustee, Jane A. Scott, trustee, Joseph S.R. Volpe, trustee, Andrea Y. Mollica, trustee, and Joseph S.R. Volpe Revocable Trust to North Prospect LLC, 71 North Prospect St., $876,000.
Constance W. Gildea to Jeffrey W. Conant and Kristen L. Graser, 444 Flat Hills Road, $492,000.
Judith M. Knowlton to Donna L. Dorrell, 24 Greenleaves Drive, $255,000.
Susan Landers Simon, trustee of the Edward Thomas Landers Irrevocable Real Estate Trust, to Madeline Leue, 1910 Cape St., $330,000.
Angela Wilcox Braese, Angela M. Braese, Kimberly O’Grady, Cynthia Graves-Harrison and Cynthia Smith to Deborah Ann Fuller, 16 Forest Road, $317,000.
Jerry N. LaChance and Kimberly A. LaChance to Brian E. Alexander, 355 Amherst Road, $425,000.
Janna General Trading LLC, to Dominik DaSilva, Crestview Drive, $73,400.
Margaret Anne Penn and Matthew M. Penn to Marcus G. Stetson, 23 Sawmill Lane, $100,000.
Bernardston Self Storage LLC, to All Purpose Storage Bernardston East LLC, 11 Deacon Parker Road and Northfield Road, $5,300,000.
Donald G. Cornelius III, to Scott D.
Texeira, 6 Sunset Road, $255,000.
Todd R. Burke and Deborah M. Burke to Todd R. Burke, 1222 Dunhamtown-Brimfield Road, $100.
Joseph J. Vidal to Kimberly Siegel, 0 Round Hill Road, $23,500.
Brandon Burgess and Brandon S. Burgess to Samantha Rice and Jacob Hibbard, 388 Ireland St., $205,000.
Jeffrey S. Parker to Niki Mae Jones, 156 Meadow St., $245,000. John Bartolucci to Carrie L. Fillion, 55A Colonial Circle, $135,000.
John Urbanowicz to Carlos Reyes and Rosalia Mercedes Reyes, 393 Chicopee St., $225,000.
Krystle A. Renkie and Krystle A. Rooney to Roger L. LaFortune, 21 Reed Ave., $206,500.
Lynn A. Lak, trustee, and Lak Family Trust, trustee of, to Bretta Construction LLC, O Crestwood St., Pars A & B, $120,000.
Lynne A. Martino and Lisa M. Meserve to Jennifer L. Drew and Edward P. Drew, 48 Liberty St., $260,000.
Sherry L. Champagne to Roseann C. Novak, 200 Lambert Terrace, Unit 72, $232,500.
Tang Properties LLC, to Damaris Delvalle, 59 Mayflower Ave., $252,000.
David Meyer and Brandon Tessier to Kyle A. Johnson, 6 Keets Road, $196,500.
Alexis Rodriguez to Jean Gromacki, trustee of the Gromacki Rental
Trust, Gromacki Avenue, $70,000.
A & B Realty LLC, to AW Brown Real Estate LLC, 144 Shaker Road, $1,985,000.
Antonio Berardi Jr., to Elizabeth Bond, 247 Allen St., $325,000.
Sheila M. Hess to Gerard McEnany and Patrick Souza, 6 Concord Drive, $325,000.
Katherine M. Fisher to Martha R. Terry, 261 Hendrick St., and 263 Hendrick St., $49,050.
John Kuzeja to Martha R. Terry, 261 Hendrick St., and 263 Hendrick St., $49,050.
Loudville Condominiums LLC, to Lisa Zaiken, 4 Conrad Circle, $539,900.
Brett D. Lord to Gina M. Lord-Prickett and Brett F. Lord, 22 Pinebrook Circle, $100.
Alexander J. Erviti and Molly Lewis to Brittanie Z. Mimitz, Carrie A. Mimitz and Thomas E. Mimitz, 355 Conway St., $169,900.
Susan Laford, Anna S. Morey, Chad D. Morey, Cynthia A. Morey, Norman E. Morey II, and Thomas P. Salter to Carol Martin, 2 Birch St., $285,000.
MJDB Construction Services LLC, to Lauren E. Harris and Sarah Stafford, 246-248 Hope St., $377,000.
Mackin Construction Co. Inc., to Adom Balcom and Justine Rule, Adams Road, $79,000.
EDS Enterprises LLC, to Donna Vi Manuel, 133 School St., $320,000.
Jorge Vasquez Quintanilla to
Romulo Marques Garcia, 57 ½ Washington St., $15,000.
Joel A. Fuller and Melissa E. Fuller to Nathan York and Victoria York, 125 Stony Hill Road, $600,000.
Tracey Nouri to Eric Brewer and Judy M. Brewer, 374 Wilbraham Road, $60,000.
Charles A. Labbee II, Dana Labbee, Catherine E. Cameron, Denise Hanson and Mary L. Labbee to Ryan W. Rourke, 23 Elm St., $320,000.
Deborah A. Shea, Deborah A. Shea, personal representative, Richard Dennis Shea, estate, and Richard D. Shea, estate, to Robert W. Shea Jr., and Sandra A. Shea, Bridge Street, $20,000.
Truax Holdings LLC, to Emily Elliott and Ryan Spencer Diggle, 37 Long Hill Road, $280,000.
Daniel A. Long to Alixa B. Mojica Fontanez, 193 Fairmont St., $174,900.
David D. Grenier to Stacy Bilodeau, 8 Arbor Way, Unit 8B, $125,000.
Heather M. Fleury to Cedric Asdrubal Saez Aguirre, 16-18 Davis St., $300,000.
Ivette Yepez Feliz to Jason Donaldson, trustee, and Etabav Realty Trust, trustee of, 22F Maple Crest Circle, $82,000.
Jamie Cottingham to Tariq Green, 262 Lyman St., $73,000.
Rochelle Pikul, representative, and Edward S. Thomas, estate, to Kaitlin Hanning and Stephen Howes-Dupont, 90 Oxford Road, $245,000.
Rosalie A. Pratt to Jahjan LLC, 207 ½ Sargeant St., $225,000.
Dnepro Properties LLC, to Elizabeth A. Kendall, 11 Nevins Ave., $379,000.
Lois E. Meyers Revocable Trust, trustee of, Lois E. Meyers, trustee, and Ellen Sue Meyers, trustee, to Tera Ohora Trust, trustee of, and Tera Ohora, trustee of, 40 Bel Air Drive, $384,000.
Renee Germaine Tetrault to James Edmund Purcell and Weronika Zuzanna Baczek, 197 Maple Road, $284,000.
Jeffrey T. Reynolds, Jr., and Nichole R. Reynolds to Congamond Management LLC, 22 Upper Russell Road, $210,000.
Adrene S. Adams and Douglas S. Adams to Thomas Avery Garran and Jianghong Wu, 117 County Road, $539,000.
Charles H. Urquhart and Heather Caldwell Urquhart to Christine G. McDannald and David K. McDannald, 16 Long Hill Road, $697,000.
Anne Beresford Clarke and Timothy Banker to Aaron D. Rubinstein and Catherine M. Rubinstein, 2 Chestnut Hill Road, $668,000.
Jay Capuano, estate, Jay C. Capuano, estate, and Barbara Capuano, executrix, to Green Fields Inc., Lot 93 Knollwood Road, $35,000.
Joseph Deponte Jr., to Brooke Heisler Leary, 283 Poole St., $385,000.
Liliana Azevedo to Shawn Morris, 16 Pine St., $243,000.
Maria Helena Andre to S & C Investors LLC, 0 Vienna Ave., $70,000.
Jack G. Carter Jr. Trust – 2021, trustee of, and Jack G. Carter Jr., trustee, to Sabino Piccirilli and Pamela B. Piccirilli, 122 Cote Road, $725,000.
Michael J. Marion, representative, and Anna Lee Marion, estate, to Sabino Piccirilli and Pamela B. Piccirilli, Cote Road, $55,000.
Janice A. Baker, Laurie J. Baker and Susanne Tessicini to Tracy L. Hall, 804 Fairway Ave., Unit 804 Atrium Condominium, $180,000.
Kassandra R. Rounds and Kenneth A. Rounds to William A. Gray III, and Grace A. Moore, 34 Turners Falls Road, $277,000.
Joyana J. Damon, trustee of the Russell F. Dean Irrevocable Trust, to Allison M. Curtis and Joseph F. Katz, 9 Burnett St., $311,000.
Daniele Girardi and Mariarosaria Corbo to Anne Bayerle and Brian D. Thompson, 54 Grant Ave., $605,000.
Paul Redstone to Eileen M. Travis and Thomas Ruane, 38 Allison St., $475,000.
Javier Martinez to Rakesh Parikh, 80 Damon Road, $130,000.
Northcountry Properties LLC, to Fortier Properties LLC, 1 Main Road and Route 66, $380,000.
William S. Hogan III, Kelley E. Hogan and Kelley E. Coughlin to Owen Ebbs, 167 South St., $240,000.
Lisa J. Zaiken to Paul Zaiken, 438 Park Hill Road, $100.
Daniel G. Kirouac, Denise C. Linscott, Diane M. Mongeon, Diane Mongeon and Denise Linscott to Andrew Griffith and Katherine Ring, 10 Evergreen Road and High Street, $416,000.
Steven C. Wiggin to Peter Orlowski, 60 Ashuelot Road, $250,000.
Carlton B. Martin to Steven Herbert, 260 Breckenridge St., $300,000.
Casa Bonita Apartments LLC, to Brandon Romaniak, 46-48 Stewart St., $227,000.
Eric A. Raymond, Gary J. Raymond and Bonnie J. Raymond to Thomas Sin Ngan, 92 Griffin St., $360,000.
Gerald K. Marlow and Ronald E. Foreman to Justin Cruz, 262 Old Warren Road, $52,000.
Mary A. Norman to Veteran Stan LLC, 1041 Pine St., $72,000.
Revampit LLC, to Tyler Martin and Rachel Little, 86 Boston Road, $253,000.
We Enterprise LLC, to Joyeuse Uwamahoro, 1564 North Main St., Unit 2, $227,000.
Norman R. Cote and Phyllis J. Cote to Phyllis J. Cote, 338 Leverett Road, $100.
David R. Wagner to Justin Webb, Judiann Werner-Webb and Mark H. Webb, 41 Summit St., and 41 West Summit St., $188,000.
P & R Prospects LLC, to Jerome Bailey Jr., and Ashley B. Barrett, 40 Prospect St., $285,000.
Debra Ann Gendreau to Kristen Briody, 64 Columbia St., $280,000.
John F. Delaney Jr., and Dolores A. Delaney to Umair Saeed and Zahra S. Chaudhry, 18 Pheasant Run, $560,000.
Matthew Stine and Sarah G. Stine to Vincent R. Snyder and Marjorie E. Snyder, 9 Cold Spring Road, $435,000.
Aziz S. Elias and Deborah L. Elias to Anastasios E. Karathanasopoulos, trustee, and Tasos Family Trust, trustee of, 111 Coes Hill Road, $1,175,000.
Deyo Family Trust, trustee of, Keith A. Deyo, trustee, and Karen L. Deyo, trustee, to Anthony Degrandi and Pamela Degrandi, 124 Berkshire Ave., $455,000.
Michael H. Williams to Carmen L. Camacho-Rivera, 55 Rosewood Lane, $190,000.
300 State Street Realty Co., LLC, Francis J. Cataldo, John M. Wallace, John Michael Wallace and Francis J. Cataldo Jr., to Residences at The Vault, Limited Partnership, ES Spring St., $1,600,000.
Brittnie Lincoln to Trevor Neverson Jr., 93 Sunapee St., $260,000.
Carmen Camacho-Rivera to Jennifer Cutler, 52 Boyer St., $210,000.
Chief Dawg LLC, to Kevin J. Merlos, 6-8 Pomona St., $350,000.
Daniel C. Miller and Kathy L. Miller to Karla M. Rivera, 255-257 Orange St, $300,000.
Darcam Llc to c Unlimited Property Services Ll, 26 Portulaca Dr, $170,000.
DevelopSpringfield Corp., to David Torres, 50 Spruce St., $25,000.
DevelopSpringfield Corp to JV Properties Inc., 213 Pine St., $22,500.
Donald G. Hughes, Mary Frances Hughes and Mary F. Hughes to Patricia Ennis, 57 Regal St., $160,000.
Dorothy R. Romeo to Ngan T Tan, 72-74 Crystal Ave., $322,000.
Douglas A. Robar and Peter E. Robar to Bretta Construction LLC, 0 Talbot Road, $305,000.
East Coast Contracting LLC, to Michael Xavier Richardson-Polk and Bianca Rene Polk, 18 Schley St., $370,000.
Efrain Rivera and Ana I. Rivera to Mickelia Annabeth Pearson and Nickadia Pearson-Williams, 146 Davis St., $240,000.
Eugeniu Banaru and Natalia Banaru to Shavon Diaz and Kchawn Wright, 42 Cornell St., $360,000.
Full Service Real Estate LLC, to Rosemary Montero Hernandez, 139 Bowles St., $159,900.
Hanh N Pham, Thanh P Huynh, Hong-Hanh N Tran and Quyen Huynh to Elving L. Rosado, 80-84 Keith St., $265,000.
Jannie G. Birks to 29 Eton Realty Trust, trustee of, and Bruce Arnold, trustee, 29 Eton St., $150,000.
Jessee M. Dabrea and Dallas Ortiz to Mariah Perez Martinez, 94 Webber St., $260,150.
Jose Gonzalez to Wendy Reyes De Mata and Nestor Velez Rodriguez, 514 Chestnut St., $280,000.
Joseph A. Cretella to Ramon Torres Vega and Yanice E. Martinez, 92 Briggs St., $355,000.
Kirsten P. Dillaire, trustee, and Pedersen Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Terry Lee Owens and Hans Edward Albright, 57 Wendover Road, $345,000.
Kristen Dowd, Susan Oliminski, Julie Mikaelian and Marykate Larsen to Emily Benoit, 41 California Ave., $260,000.
Lesly A. Reiter and NRES LLC, to Geoffrey R. Cone, 103 Hastings St., $295,000.
Michael Dunphy, representative, Tara Dunphy, representative, and Carol Ann Dunphy, estate, to Thaddeus Tokarz, 379 Roosevelt Ave., $140,000.
Patrick Unachukwu and Patrick Unachukwv to Guyseymore Wilson, 708 Main St., $130,000.
Peter J. Hopkins to Juan C. Alvarez and Paula A. Garces, 22 Braywood Circle, $227,500.
Robert J. Lefebvre to Jiijo Ali, 104106 Dunmoreland St., $310,000.
Sir Construction Inc., to Luis Baez Pimentel, 249-251 Quincy St., $320,000.
Thao Thanh Pham to William Lovett, 140 Hermitage Drive, $260,000.
Virgilio Santos to Ivette Hernandez and Wilma I. Ferrer Hernandez, 182 Ambrose St., $245,000.
Laurel Turk to Emily Emond Campbell and Todd Campbell, 167 North Main St., $411,807.
Robert F. Lopes and Lisa A. Lopes to Adam C. Smedberg, 28 Monson Road, $350,000.
Phyllis M. Demers to Arthur P. Demers, 416 Palmer Road, $95,000.
Carol A. Hutchinson to Nicholas G. Straight and Sarah Straight, 31 Monson Turnpike Road, $192,000.
Alfred Loader Jr., to Daniel A. Bruso and Holly E. Bruso, 9 West St., $166,200.
Dailla Rios to James E. O’Dell Jr., 211 Monson Turnpike Road, $440,000.
Abigail R. Shapiro to Jacob Slack and Laura Ann Torraco, 22 Checkerberry Lane, $325,000.
Malgorzata Spooner and William Spooner to Brenda Scibelli and Stacy Scibelli, 196 Jennison Road, $74,900.
James M. Killay Jr., and Karen T. Killay to Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc., Gate Lane, “aka” Gage Lane, $215,000.
Alyce K. Beaudry to George Yacoub and Ashley Yacoub, 140 Craiwell Ave., $306,000.
Christine Ciollaro, representative, Anthony Michael Ciollaro Sr., and Michael D. Ciollaro, estate, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Azusa Realty Trust, trustee of, 52-54 Ashley St., $150,000.
Duane H. Mason to Logan Warren Boyles and Logan
Don & Dave Runyan | Project of The WeekAGREAT WAY TO add a little do-ityourself “wildlife” to the yard this summer, this trio of do-it-yourself deer planters is perfect for the porch, patio or even indoors.
And they’re guaranteed not to sample the greenery!
Each planter calls for just 14 traceable pieces cut from standard pine or fir lumber (plus wooden balls and buttons for the noses and eyes).
All three sizes are constructed following the same five basic steps, so once the first is done the others are especially easy—so easy the whole family can help.
To build, simply trace the parts onto wood, cut everything out and sand. Next, assemble the parts using glue and nails. To finish, add the eyes, nose and a coat of clear sealer (as pictured), paint or stain. Do-it-yourselfers can build any or all of the three in
W. Boyles, 64 Poplar Ave., $350,000.
Ion Lighting Distribution Inc., to James Jaron and Sean M. Callahan, 235 Western Ave., Unit 2A4, $200,000.
Jillian N. Janicki, Jillian N. Williamson and Daniel E. Williamson Jr., to Michael Aaron Kocot, 161 Robinson Road, $331,000.
Joseph F. Douglas and Candice Douglas to Patrick J. Lewis and Amy M. Lewis, 36 Laurel Road, $295,500.
MAA Property LLC, to Joshua W. Gerrish and Kristen S. Spath, 561 Amostown Road, $345,000.
Maureen Crickard and George Crickard III, to L&A Property LLC, 1051 Elm St., Unit 1, $200,000.
Vantage Home Buyers LLC, to Marie Wakelee and Jude C. Wigmore, 62 Lower Massachusetts Ave., $336,000.
Aaron Platt and Amy Platt to Nicole E. St. Jean, 121 Highland Ave., $248,000.
Ann M. Crum to Kelsey Wyman and Zachary Wesson Wyman, 15 State St., $325,000.
Ann P. Koerber to David D. Healey and Cynthia E. Healey, 78 Granville Road, Unit 19, $479,900.
Duane Clauson, representative, and Bryan K. Clauson, estate, to Mark Dupuis, 1161 East Mountain Road, $290,000.
Elizabeth B. Simmons, estate, and Anne S. Grauel, representative, to Heather Maloney and Kevin Hill, 32 Cross St., $205,000.
Jeffrey M. Besnia and Keith A. Besnia to Vantage Home Buyers LLC, 140 Meadow St., $150,000.
Michael J. Garcia to Tracey Burke, 29B Harold Ave.,
$230,000.
Nancy L. Heathcote to Vyacheslav Chekhovskiy, 28 Brookline Ave., $275,000.
Stephen L. Pack, trustee, Nancy J. Fowler, trustee, and Pack Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Adam J. Dempsey, 61 Sherwood Ave., $303,000.
Thomas C. Jacques and Jillianne Jacques to Henry G. Slapski Family Irrevocable Trust Identure, trustee of, Henry G. Slapski, trustee, and Stephen O. Allaire, trustee, 419 Southwick Road, Unit J43, $282,000.
Vasily Zhuk, Svetlana Zhuk and Svetiana Zhuk to Daniel Mosijchuk and Kateryna Mosijchuk, 121 Otis St., $350,000.
Xiuyu Ma to Bobby Ray Williams Jr., 53 Christopher Drive, $390,000.
Northcountry Properties LLC, to Fortier Properties LLC, 1 Main Road and Route 66, $380,000.
Alan R. Ross, trustee, Patricia A. Ross, trustee, and Alan R. Ross & Patricia A. Ross Declaration of Trust, trustee of, to Heather M. Leone and Evan Lau, 11 Deerfield Drive, $700,000.
Vincent Pelletier and Denise Pelletier to Tyler Hadley and Caitlyn Elliott, 43 Glenn Drive, $335,000.
Zachary K. Pueschel and Kenneth F. Pueschel to Laurie A. Boganski and Sharon L. Wall, 1084 Stony Hill Road, $293,000.
Evelyn Voorhees and Dean A. Kent to Allen Rosario, 68 Thrasher Hill Road, $167,500.
any combination or quantity. The smallest deer is 16 inches tall by 14 inches long by 7 inches wide; the medium deer stands 24 inches tall by 22 inches long by 10 inches wide; and the large deer
measures 32 inches tall by 30 inches long by 13 inches wide. The Deer Planter Trio plan, No. 745, is $9.95 and includes step-by-step directions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, an assem-
bly diagram and a shopping list and cutting schedule.
Please include $3.95 per order for postage and handling and allow about two weeks for delivery.
To order by mail, clip this
article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Republican, 741B Olive Ave., Vista CA 92083. To order by credit card, visit U-Bild on the web at u-bild.com.
unusual andirons.”
Sometimes it’s the first purchase she makes when furnishing homes for clients, she said, “because it’s the focal point” — not just of the fireplace but of the room.
Hagan favors vintage andirons and coordinates them with the period and style of each home, from curly wrought-iron pieces for a casual, colonial-style home to weighty brass ones topped by heavy ball finials in a formal space. Others opt for more playful designs. When Gary McBournie and Bill Richards, the married partners of Boston-based interior design firm Gary McBournie Inc., were accessorizing a fireplace in Wellesley, Mass., they chose anchor-shaped andirons.
“An anchor is about as cute as we get,” Richards said, adding that they like the contemporary andirons made by John Lyle, who crafts models with anchors, fish, stars, human figures and other sculptural elements, as well as more traditional English designs from Jamb.
You could buy a set of matching fireplace tools with a stand that sits on the hearth, but Hajj and Hagan prefer a more minimalist approach: They limit the number of tools — often using a single poker or a pair of fireplace tongs — and simply lean the tools against the mantel when they’re not in use.
“I don’t typically like tools in a stand,” said Hagan, who
that have built up and clean them with a damp rag. Salt can also be useful for cleaning cutting boards, since “it gets into the grooves and cuts that knives have made for a deeper clean,” Koch writes. After dusting
considers it too formal. “I like them casually placed at the fireplace.”
She buys tools with the longest handles she can find because they tend to be more elegant and are easy to use from a safe distance.
An ash shovel is also helpful for cleaning up after the fire has gone out, but it doesn’t have to be stored near the mantel, so it needn’t match the other tools. “I actually find the shovels awkward,” Hagan said. “Personally, I prefer a dustpan.”
If your fireplace doesn’t have built-in doors or metal mesh curtains, a fire screen that will prevent sizzling logs from spewing burning embers into the room is essential. There’s a wide range of designs available — from flat-panel models that nearly disappear when in use to folding ones with multiple panels and those that curve out into the room, which often look more traditional and provide easier access to the fire.
Whichever style you choose, the most important thing is to use one that matches the size of the firebox opening. If it’s too small, it won’t do its job; if it’s too big, it will look awkward.
“We see a lot of fire screens that are too small or too big, and it looks kind of like the fireplaces are wearing the wrong size clothes,” Parris-Lamb said. She and Jesse often order screens in custom sizes from Wm. H. Jackson Co. or Etsy vendors.
Most fire screens are made with a metal mesh, but glass models are becoming more popular. They offer a clear view of the fire and can block some of the heat — which
may be desirable or not, depending on the room.
That was Filicia’s goal when he designed one dining room with a fireplace. “We chose a glass fireplace screen that almost perfectly fits in the space so it deflects a lot of the heat,” he said. “It makes it so that when you’re sitting at the dining table, you’re not overwhelmed by the fire. That was really important.”
To keep the fire going, you’ll need logs at the ready — and somewhere to store them. Many manufacturers make special metal racks and leather slings for holding a few logs by the hearth, but almost any large-scale, good-looking container will do.
McBournie and Richards usually search out big, sturdy baskets woven from natural materials. “Typically, we’ll have a large basket that can hold at least a day-and-ahalf’s worth of firewood,” Richards said.
Hajj uses a big Moroccan copper urn in her own family room and has bought similar copper buckets for clients’ homes. “I always try to get these big buckets,” she said.
A bonus: The buckets capture dirt and wood shavings that fall off the logs, keeping the mess off the floor.
Pull up some seats
“There is a sort of primal interest in fire. It’s an attraction,” Richards said. “That means people are going to want to sit by it.”
To create the coziest spot in the house, Hajj likes to put a big, comfortable chair or chaise longue right next to the fireplace.
Hagan has designed rooms with upholstered stools that sit directly in front of the hearth, a couple of feet from the flames. “It’s a nice place to sit,” she said. “It’s very cozy during the winter.” And in the summer, the stools can easily be moved elsewhere.
In a New York City row house, Jesse Parris-Lamb placed thick, tasseled floor cushions near the fireplace.
“It’s nice to have some kind of ottoman, stool or floor cushion close to the fire so you can cozy up,” she said.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
the surface with salt, use half a lemon to spread the natural exfoliant around.
To scour the garbage disposal, she suggests tossing in a quarter cup of salt, a handful of ice cubes, a drizzle of dish soap and just enough cold water to lubricate before allowing it to run for a few minutes. “The salt will help scrub gunk off the blades,
which are actually more like teeth,” Koch writes. The same cocktail of ice, salt and soap can banish the stains in a coffee pot, too.
Another clever way to use salt is to pour it over a broken egg, according to Koch. This will help the yolk and whites clump up, making it easier to wipe off the counter or floor.
Okay, so they technically aren’t a pantry staple, but they are a common household item, and we thought this tip was clever enough to merit inclusion. In addition to protecting your hands from water or harsh cleaning agents, rubber gloves work wonders for removing pet hair from upholstery,
according to Solomon. The next time you don them to scour the sink, wet the gloves under the faucet, then rub your palm across your furniture, almost as though you were petting it. The fur will lift from the fabric to form clumps that you can then gather and toss in the trash.
Jenny Xie is a freelance writer in New York.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2022 413-788-1234
weekoldkitten,litterbox trainedandheatinghard foods,Allgoodand healthykitties,Raisedindoorswithchildrenasking$290perkitty.No Shots.Callortextat413386-5105
British short haired kittens (4) $500/ea. Text or call 413-824-5801
KITTENS (2) $195.00/each. Call 413-244-7901
Maine Coon (Mixed kitten?) Has "M’’ on forehead. $500/BO. Info. text or call 413-523-6002.
English Springer Spaniel, Liver/white female, ready Dec. 1st. Vet checked, 1st shot. $1,500. 413-596-8190
FRENCH BULL DOG PUPPIES Parents on premises $3500 to $4500/each. Call 413-478-0763
Golden Retriever puppies, dad is chocolate Labradore.
