Home and Garden, and Real Estate- January 29, 2023

For the best local real estate listings, go to masslive.com/realestate

Home & Garden

& Real Estate

INSIDE

PROJECT OF THE WEEK: A home for childhood memories, F3

IN THE GARDEN WITH LEE REICH: Enjoy the snow and still pick fresh citrus, F4

ANTIQUES & COLLECTING: ‘Lover’s eyes’ pendant brings together fashion and romance F6

MORTGAGE RATES: US mortgage rate lowest lowest level in 4 months, F7

WMASS DEEDS, F7

7 inexpensive (or free!) ways to create a more organized closet, Page F2

7 inexpensive (or free!) ways to create a more organized closet

By H annah Holland The Washington Post

UNLESS YOU’RE A “Real Housewife” or Cher Horowitz from “Clueless,” your closet could probably use a little help. And though it’s certainly possible (even easy) to spend thousands of dollars on custom shelving and professional decluttering, we interviewed expert organizers who say a few simpler techniques can also go a long way toward creating a tidier, more manageable environment. Herewith, seven organizing tips that work just as well in modest apartment closets as they do in luxe walk-ins — and some of them won’t cost you anything.

1. Purge

Even the biggest closets get overstuffed at some

point — clear out the excess before you do anything else.

Ashley Coleman, founder and CEO of Done Neatly, says you should “perform an edit two times per year — before spring and summer and then again before fall and winter.” Ask the hard questions. Did you even wear that bodysuit last season? Do those pants still fit you? If the answer is no, it may be time to donate or sell those items.

One word of caution, though, from Jamie Hord, co-founder of New York City organizing business

Horderly: She notes that even the best intentions to turn giveaways into cash can end with your clothes in a “sell pile” that never leaves your closet. If you think you could wind up in that scenario, she advises just donating.

Or she suggests avoiding the need to do a big purge altogether, using the one-

in, one-out method. “Get rid of something old when you bring in something new,” Hord says. “This way, your closet is always staying pared down and maintained.” This practice also forces you to stay on top of what you already have, meaning you’re less likely to spend money on clothes you don’t need.

2. Start small Every expert we spoke to had the same advice: When you’re ready to begin organizing, start small. Annie Schmidt, owner of SOS Home Organizing and Design in Dallas, suggests targeting one drawer or category of items, such as shoes, then building from there.

“Once you tackle that [drawer] and gain momentum, it gets addicting,” says Schmidt. And resist rushing to buy new organizational

products — you need to know exactly what you’re keeping and where additional storage may be needed before bringing in more things. Once that first drawer evolves into tackling your whole wardrobe, mentally prepare for the process to take some time — days, even.

“Try to break organization overhaul into stages,” Schmidt suggests. “It is less overwhelming, and you will stay motivated if you don’t wear yourself out in the beginning.”

3. Use luggage (and other clever spots)

In especially small closets, purging sometimes isn’t enough. To free up space, rotate items in and out seasonally. One trick Schmidt suggests is nesting smaller pieces of luggage and other items you won’t need for a while inside larger suitcases. The space beneath your bed is also valuable real estate. You can find inexpensive rolling bins specially designed to SEE CLOSET, PAGE F9

(DAN GLEITER / DGLEITER@PENNLIVE.COM)

(ACKERMAN REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY)

A home for childhood memories

EVERY KID NEEDS A place to create the memories that fill a happy childhood, and this cottage-style playhouse is sure to become just that place.

With its big, inviting porch, Dutch door, flower boxes and decorative architectural details, the project is sure to capture the heart (and imagination) of any child who sees it.

Easy enough for most woodworkers, the project features all straight cuts, with full-size patterns for the angles.

Built from T111 plywood (which gives the appearance of vertical siding) over sturdy 2-by-2 framing, it’s also affordable.

With comparable prefabricated playhouse kits starting at around $1,500, do-it-yourselfers will enjoy big savings.

Step-by-step, illustrated instructions break the project down into smaller assemblies—from building the foundation to installing

GARDEN NOTES

STOCKBRIDGE

Botanical garden programs

Berkshire Botanical Garden presents;

• “Landscape Design II” on Thursdays, Feb. 9 to April 13, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. over a 10-week period. Learn skills essential for functional garden design that honors the site and meets client needs. Led by Chuck Schnell and Walter Cudnohufsky, this course will cover a different topic or technique focusing on the importance of getting to know the client and site as a basis of effective and ap -

pealing design. Essential and easy-to-grasp design principles will be introduced throughout the course, with a form-finding approach to garden design. Acquire the vocabulary essential for assessing a property’s potential and problems, and the right questions to realize a client’s wishes while avoiding common design mistakes. Learn how to make well-considered and sustainable choices for the elements and materials commonly used in the residential-scale garden. Students will complete an instructor-provided project and take it from creative concept to completed design plan, including site assessment

the roof—allowing the project to be completed over a few weekends.

Once the structure is complete, hang the door, add a coat of paint to match the big house, fill the flower boxes and help the kids move in.

The playhouse measures six feet square (including the porch) and stands about six feet tall.

The Cottage Playhouse plan, No. 942, is $10.95 and includes complete step-by-step instructions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, detailed construction diagrams 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.

Don and Dave Runyan | Project of the Week

Lee Reich | In the Garden

Enjoy the snow and still pick fresh citrus

YEAR ’ ROUND WARM weather does not attract me to the tropics. Yet the thought of plucking sun-warmed oranges from a backyard tree has appeal. I feel no need to relocate though, because I can enjoy the snow here and still pick fresh citrus simply by growing a plant in a pot, where it can wait out cold weather indoors. This idea is not new. A whole wing at Versailles, the orangerie, was built expressly for overwintering potted orange trees.

A potted citrus tree would be worthy of window space even if its fruit were inedible. The orange or yellow berries (yes, they are berries, botanically speaking) are set off by the luxuriously green foliage, and the fragrance of the flowers rivals that of gardenia or jasmine. The beauty of the plant is attested to by the fact that citrus most commonly grown as houseplants are the Calamondin and Otaheite orange.

The robust-flavored fruits of either plant are unpalatable, except perhaps diluted to flavor an “-ade.”

I reason that if I was going to

grow a potted citrus, the plant might as well also bear edible fruit. Oranges or grapefuits are a possibility, though a pot-sized plant cannot hold many fruits. And a small orange or grapefuit tree festooned with large fruits does tend to look sort of clumsy. Lemons or limes are good choices, since the juice of only one fruit will flavor a whole bowl of guacomole or a few servings of fish. I get the most out of one citrus plant by growing a type that has more than just lush foliage, fragrant flowers, and edible fruit. I am growing kumquats, whose skin is even edible! Just about any citrus plants can be started readily from seeds. “Volunteer” orange seedlings have sprouted at the base of a dracaena next to a rocking chair in my living room, evidently from seeds disposed of as someone sat rocking and eating a orange. (How do I know it’s an orange? Crushed citrus leaves smell much like the fruit.) The seeds germinate readily if sown fresh, before they dry.

Whereas seedlings of most fruit plants do not bear fruits that are identical to the parent

plant, this isn’t the case with citrus. Many citrus exhibit apomyxis, which is the ability to form seeds without fertilization of the flower. The plants that grow from such seeds are genetically identical to the parents. Simply put, a ‘Valencia’ orange seedling eventually will bear ‘Valencia’ orange fruits. Not so for ‘MacIntosh’ apples or ‘Bartlett’ pears. Last year, I finally gave away a four-year-old tangerine seedling, and bought my present kumquat plant. The problem is that it could have taken a decade for the tangerine seedling to bear fruit. And this plant, like other juvenile citrus plants, had the undesireable property of being armed with stout, inch-long thorns. I bought my kumquat plant at a nursery, but if I’d known someone with a kumquat plant, I could have started the plant from a cutting. Most citrus root easily, and the cuttings usually flower and fruit early on. I once rooted a lemon cutting that was smothered with a half-dozen blossoms when the plant had only four leaves.

There are no special techniques to growing and fruiting

How to make your home more energy efficient — and get a tax break too

By E rica W erner

The Washington Post

EVER WISH YOU

were a little kid again playing with your dollhouse? We can’t make that fantasy come true, but if you’re now an adult who wants to play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, you’ll find that it’s getting cheaper and easier to upgrade your real house. And now, the federal government’s likely to pick up some of the tab - kind of like your parents used to.

The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, is the most ambitious legislation ever enacted in the United States to combat climate change. Starting this year, homeowners can get new tax credits and rebates for

making their abodes better for the environment. The benefits apply to big changes like installing solar panels, or smaller ones like swapping a gas stove for an induction range.

The benefits vary depending on your income, and additional benefits may be available where you live, so it’s worth checking with a tax expert, a consumer guide or a credible source like the Congressional Research Service or the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Here are some of the ways you can outfit your environmentally smart dream homeoften with help from the IRA.

• Heat pump

Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces, which are frequently

powered by natural gas, a fossil fuel. Heat pumps can replace air conditioners and even hot water heaters. They work by pulling heat from outside and pumping it into the home to raise the internal temperature, reversing the process to provide air conditioning.

The new law includes a credit of as much as $2,000 to help homeowners purchase heat pumps, which can cost anywhere from $1,500 to more than $10,000. Heat pumps also are included in a new rebate program included in the IRA to help low- and medium-income homeowners purchase certain electric appliances.

• Induction stove

Gas stoves have gotten a bad

potted citrus trees. The plants will grow in any potting soil suitable for houseplants. Sometimes, especially in midwinter, the young leaves tend to yellow, indicating a need for iron. The way to cure or avert this problem is by periodically using an “acid plant fertilizer.” For quick response, a plant can be dosed with a spray of “iron chelate.” For best fruit production,

citrus plants need sun. My kumquat now is in a cool room at a south window. The plant shows no signs of life, but I’m not concerned. Kumquats and other citrus just sit when the average daily temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. But all the while that the shoots and buds are quiescent, the roots are growing. Soon the tables will be turned, and the roots will rest as new shoots, and, hopefully, flowers push out from the buds. As soon as the weather settles in the spring, I will move the kumquat outdoors to a site almost in full sun. My kumquat — all kumquats — were for decades not true citrus plants; they were in the genus Fortunella. A few years ago, kumquat was welcomed into the Citrus, its botanical name changed to Citrus japonica. Not that surprising, since Fortunella was always recognized to be closely related to Citrus. They’re both in the family Rutaceae. And kumquat freely interbreeds with various Citrus to produce such strangenamed fruits as limequats and citrangequats. And botany aside, kumquats taste and look very much like little oranges. Any gardening questions? Email garden@leereich.com. Visit my garden at www.leereich. com/blog.

Hand-turning a home thermostat knob to set temperature on energy saving mode. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

rap recently because, unlike other appliances that run on natural gas, these stovetops produce emissions right into people’s living spaces. This can aggravate respiratory diseases in some people. An induction range uses an electric current and coiled copper wire to deliver more efficient cooking

heat than either gas ranges or conventional electric stovetops. Induction ranges can be pricey, though they’re getting more affordable, with models starting around $1,000. The IRA includes an $840 rebate for people with qualifying household incomes to

A kumquat makes a nice houseplant to bring the flavor, the appearance, and the aroma of warmer climates up north. (LEE REICH)

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting

‘Lover’s eyes’ pendant brings together fashion and romance

POPULAR FICTION inspires fashions in real life. The period shows and royal romances on television today have renewed interest in antiques among their fans. One piece that has captured attention is the eye miniature on a pendant worn by a character on the television show “Bridgerton,” a romance set in Regency England, but with modern influences. An eye miniature is a close-up of a single eye painted on ivory and set behind glass or crystal in a decorated frame. They were worn as pendants or pins. An eye miniature set in a goldtone frame as a pin sold at Brunk Auctions for $704. These miniatures are sometimes known as “lover’s eyes,” a romantic name coined by a 20th-century antiques dealer. They are said to have originated in the 1870s, when Prince George of Wales (who would later serve as Prince Regent for his father, King George III, giving the

CURRENT PRICES

Regency period its name) fell in love with Maria Anne Fitzherbert. They could not marry because he was Protestant and she was Catholic. To keep their relationship secret, they exchanged miniature paintings of their eyes set in jeweled frames. This meant they could still look into each other’s eyes when they were apart, and it was unlikely that anyone else could tell whose eyes they were. The prince wore his under his lapel. Eye miniatures became fashionable gifts between lovers. They were also worn as mourning jewelry in remembrance of loved ones.

Q. I have a 7-inch cylindrical glass vase that fits into a stand I think is made of copper that has turned green. The stand is about 5 1/2 inches tall and has three legs, each topped with a bust of a winged figure. The triangular base is marked with an etched curled arm holding

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.

Bohemian glass, bud vase, slender cornucopia shape, cranberry, heavy enamel and gold flowers in fan shaped medallions, clear applied decorated foot, 7 3/4 x 3 1/4 inches, $90.

Doorstop, Anne Hathaway cottage, cast iron, thatched texture roof, three chimneys, flowers growing on side, three piece casting, Hubley, 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches, $125.

Silver-American sauce server, cup form, pour spout, rolled rim, flared foot, arched ebony handle attached to side, marked “Sterling Hand Wrought At The Kalo Shop / SD1 / 1/4 Pints,” 3 1/2 x 7 inches, $220.

Lamp, chandelier, nine-light, two tiers, brass fixtures, glass Ice Cube shades with internal bubbles, Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier, 24 x 18 inches, $315.

Furniture, chair and ottoman, Bird, Harry Bertoia, shaped, thin and tall back, orange upholstery, label, Knoll, chair 39 1/2 x 37 x 33 inches, ottoman 14 x 23 x 16 inches, $690.

Jewelry, ring, raised square, 25 round faceted synthetic emeralds, mixed sizes, each bezel set, 18K yellow gold, Modernist, size 7, $875.

Candy container, child on sled, Heubach bisque head and hands, red and white polka dot snowsuit and hat, red scarf with pompoms, wooden sled, 8 x 7 1/2 inches, $925.

Clock, tall case, S. Hoadley, Plymouth, Mass., alligatored finish, brass finials, arched door, wood dial, Federal eagle and landscape in beaded oval, green plume spandrels, Roman numerals, two sub dials, gilt starbursts, dial marked, 88 x 18 inches, $1,080.

Toy, Popeye spinning Olive Oyl, Popeye’s arms spin, Olive Oyl sits on chair and rotates balancing on Popeye’s nose, lithographed tin, key wind, Linemar, 9 inches, $1,600.

Pottery trivet, nude about to bathe in small lake, puffy clouds, multicolor with black outlines, matte double vellum glaze, flame mark, artist’s monogram for Jens Jensen, Rookwood Pottery, 1931, 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches, $1,750.

a hammer and the words “MADE BY HAND.” Can you tell me the age and value?

A. This mark was used by Old Mission Kopper Kraft company

the material and its worth?

A. Los Castillo is a silver workshop in Taxco, Mexico. It was founded by brothers Antonio, Jorge, Justo and Miguel

up.” Complete sets included a chamber pot, waste bowl, soap dish and other pieces. The sets aren’t very popular now. Price depends on maker, design and condition. Pitchers like yours sell for $40 to $50 and bowls for a little more.

Q. When were Tinkertoy construction sets first made?

We don’t know whose eye is depicted in this miniature, but it must have been someone well loved. Wearing a miniature painting of a loved one’s eye was fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries. (CREDITS: 2022 BY COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)

and by its founder, Fred Brosi. Brosi went into business with Hans Jauchen in 1916 and founded Ye Olde Copper Shop in San Francisco. Jauchen left in 1917 and started Jauchen’s Olde Copper Shop. Brosi changed the company name to Ye Olde Copper Shoppe. It continued until 1922 when Brosi started Old Mission Kopper Kraft. It was in business until 1925. Brosi worked from his home from 1927 to 1933 and continued to use this mark. Some pieces made by Old Mission Kopper Kraft and Fred Brosi are marked with just the maker’s mark. Some are made with the maker’s mark and this arm and hammer mark. Others just have the arm and hammer mark. The style of your vase seems to fit the time Brosi worked. A similar copper stand and bud vase with this mark sold for $295.

Q. My father bought an angelfish pin for me when he was in Mexico in the early 1960s. It’s made of striped metal. The back is marked “Los Castillo” and “Hecho in Mexico.” Can you tell me something about the maker,

Castillo in 1930. “Hecho in Mexico” is Spanish and means “Made in Mexico.” Los Castillo is known for pieces made of mixed metals, combining silver with copper and brass. The angelfish pin sells for $100 to over $295, depending on size.

Q. I have a 19th-century antique china Haynes pitcher and bowl decorated with pink Hibiscus. The pitcher is 10 1/2 inches high. The bowl is 5 inches high and 15 inches wide. They are marked “Haynes, Balto, Toulon.” Can you give me the value?

A. David F. Haynes started D.F. Haynes and Company in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1881. He bought Chesapeake Pottery in 1882. Ownership and company name changed a few times. It was D.F. Haynes and Son in 1896. The company made semi-porcelain toilet sets, jardinieres, dishes and novelty items. Toulon is probably the name of the line or pattern. Wash sets like yours were common before homes had indoor plumbing. Water was poured from the pitcher into the bowl and used for “washing

A. Tinkertoys were invented by Charles Pajeau, a stonemason and cemetery monument maker. He developed a construction set of wooden rods and discs. It was first displayed at the American Toy Fair in 1913. Pajeau and Robert Petit, a grain trader at the Chicago Board of Trade, established The Toy Tinkers company in Evanston, Illinois, in 1914. Sets with an electric motor were first sold in 1919. The name of the company was changed to Toy Tinkers, Inc. in 1924. Later it became Tinkertoy, Inc. The company was sold several times beginning in 1952. It became part of Hasbro, Inc. in 1986. Sets with plastic pieces were made beginning in 1992. Wooden sets were reintroduced in 2000. Tinkertoys have also been made by Basic Fun! since 2018.

TIP: Don’t let metal jewelry touch chlorine bleach. It may pit or discolor.

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, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels. com.

Average mortgage rate at lowest level in 4 months

By M ATT O TT Associated Press

THE AVERAGE

long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell to its lowest level in more than four months, giving some relief to homebuyers faced with higher prices for just about everything, including homes.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average on the benchmark 30-year rate inched down to 6.13% from 6.15% last week. A year ago the average rate was 3.55%.

The average long-term rate reached a two-decade high of 7.08% in late October and early November as the Federal Reserve continued to raise its key lending rate in a bid to cool the economy and tame inflation.

The big rise in mortgage rates during the past year has throttled the housing market, with sales of existing homes falling for 11 straight months to the lowest level in more than a decade.

The National Association of Realtors said last week that existing U.S. home sales totaled 5.03 million last year, a 17.8% decline from 2021. That is the weakest year for home sales since 2014 and the biggest annual decline since 2008, during the housing crisis of the late 2000s.

Though home prices have retreated as demand has declined, they are still more than 10% higher than a year ago. Higher prices and a doubling of mortgage rates have made homebuying much less affordable for many people, but recent rate declines could give some homebuyers new hope.

At its final meeting of 2022, the Federal Reserve raised its rate 0.50 percentage points, its seventh increase last year. That pushed the central bank’s key rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, its highest level in 15 years.

Though inflation at the consumer level has declined for six straight months, Fed officials have signaled that they may raise the central bank’s main borrowing rate another three-quarters of a point in 2023, which would be in a range of 5% to 5.25%.

Rates for 30-year mortgages usually track the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and what the Federal Reserve does with interest rates can also influence the cost of borrowing for a home.

The rate for a 15-year mortgage, popular with those refinancing their homes, also fell this week, to 5.17% from 5.28% last week. It was 2.80% one year ago.

Deeds

AGAWAM

Scott A. Zielinski and Madison E. Zielinski to Robert A. Beaulieu and Sharon E. Beaulieu, 15 Red Fox Drive, $125,000.

Shirley Weinrich to Sandra Sego, 90 Corey Colonial, Unit 90, $215,000.

Twelve Doors LLC, to First Nationwide Realty LLC, 299 Walnut St., $365,625.

AMHERST

Joyce B. Crouch to Andrew H. Crouch and Melinda Ricker, 95 Pulpit Hill Road, $100.

Lynn A. Hatch to Lynn A. Hatch, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Lynn A. Hatch, 731 South East St., $100.

Jason J. Weakley and Jane K. Weakley to Andrew Robert Spielvogel and Jessica Lynn Keene, 33 Red Gate Lane, $850,000.

James Scott Leland and Oliver Stevens Leland III, to Catherine A. Olds, 26 Greenleaves Drive, $181,000.

Yiping Shen to Li-Jun Ma, 68 South Mount Holyoke Drive, $100.

Paul A. Ita to Emad Mady and Marwa Ahmed Elleboudy, 535 West St., $408,500.

Helen H. Grabel and Helen A. Grabel to Juliana Hatfield, 626 Station Road, $380,000.

BELCHERTOWN

Courageous Lion LLC, to Jennifer Kalmansson, 192 Franklin St., $345,000.

Carol A. Spellman and Melanie E. Spellman to Joan Mikos and Martin J. Mikos Jr., Bardwell Street, $200,000.

John M. Wegiel Jr., to Keith J. Wegiel, 8 Metacomet Circle, $100.

BLANDFORD

Paul C. Brewer, Jeffrey C. Brewer and James G. Brewer to Jeremy Reinford and Kendra Reinford, 184 Otis Stage Road, $400,000.

BRIMFIELD

Christopher Stocks and Karen Stocks to Sandra Riverson, 71 Dunhamtown Palmer Road, $335,000.

Roderick W. Jensen and Alyshia

M. Jensen to Darren A. Wiemer and Penella A. Wiemer, 79 Warren Road, $456,000.

CHESTERFIELD

June Hinton, trustee, George Hinton, trustee, June Hinton Living Trust, Amy L. Roberts and Richard C. Roberts to Julie Ann Roberts, 127 East St., $180,000.

CHICOPEE

Brady Realty Trust, trustee of, and Denise E. Tabin, trustee, to Justine R. Jaworski, 42 Jacob St., $225,000.

Derwood Lifgren Jr., to Tony Tereso, 67 Mayflower Ave., $213,515.

Gabriel M. Jaworski and Justine R. Jaworski to Emmanuel Quinn and Jezare Zorymar Lopez, 0 Pickering St., $275,000.

Ira Helfand, Deborah Smith and Anne C. Pratt to David Vilkhovoy, trustee, and Charles Realty Trust, trustee of, 3 Charles St., $420,000.

Lisa Cerruti to, Top Notch Transitional Services Provider LLC, 145 Clarendon Ave., $141,000.

Matthew J. Walker and Madison E. Walker to Newton Fred Asaah Achu, 19 Marshall Ave., $280,000.

Maynard D. Forrette and Cynthia A. Forrette to Joanne K. Gilmour, 90 Kelley Road, $170,000.

Nelson E. LeClair and Olga LeClair to Wilber Moreno, 45 New York Ave., $256,500.

Tomroc Holdings LLC, to Jose Cortes and Gladys Jimenez Cortes, 16 Atkins St., $235,000.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Andrew A. McGrath and Linda M. McGrath to Carlos U. Bermejo Arcentales and Carlos Urbano Bermejo Arcentales, 78 Cooley Ave., $380,000.

Angelina P. Italiano to Ryan Provencher, 298 Pease Road, $240,000.

Henrod Holding LLC, to Denvor Realty LLC, 79 Maple St., $490,000.

Shaleice Parris and Dustin Parris to Cory Battles and Samantha Battles, 146 Meadowbrook Road, $560,000.

Speros Frangules to Joseph Pantuosco, 200 North Main St., Unit 1202, $100,000.

EASTHAMPTON

CPI East Hampton I LLC, SPC Associates LLC, CPI East Hampton II LLC, and CPI East Hampton III LLC, to Weny Pat LLC, 118 Northampton St., $6,000,000.

Daniel J. Noonan and Teresa L. Noonan to Richard K. Brown and Anita L. Loose-Brown, 15 Lyman St., $411,100.

Meghan J. Royal and Frederick D. Royal to 17 Florence Road LLC, 17 Florence Road, $330,000.

GRANBY

Steven Albert Stimpson, estate, Steven Stimpson, estate, Kate Marie Stimpson, personal representative, and Kate Marie Stimpson to Stanley Hill, 435 East State St., $209,000.

GRANVILLE

Byard T. Miller, representative, and Stephen T. Miller, estate, to Elizabeth T. Miller, 267 North Lane, SEE DEEDS, PAGE F8

indicates Registered Mortgage Broker, NYS Banking Dept., (loans arranged through third parties). “Call for Rates” means actual rates were not available at press time. All rates are quoted on a minimum FICO score of 740. Conventional loans are based on loan amounts of $165,000. Jumbo loans are based on loan amounts of $548.250. Points quoted include discount and/or origination. Lock Days: 30-60. Annual percentage rates (APRs) are based on fully indexed rates for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). The APR on your specific loan may differ from

Deeds

CONTINUED FROM PAGE F7

$65,000.

HADLEY

Patricia L. Izatt, trustee, David Skiba, trustee, and Dian Ossolinski Revocable Trust to Sarah Lucinda Gilleman, 4 Wampanoag Drive, $424,500.

HOLYOKE

Celia E. Overby and Jamie-Lynn

M. Overby to Lelise Rae Roberts and Campbell Abbott Hart, 27 Concord Ave., $335,000.

DNKB Properties LLC, to Vida Iglesia Bautista Quechua-Nueva, 474 Pleasant St., $410,000.

Robin T. Lazorik to Damian Rene Fernandez and Crista I. Fernandez, 81 Bemis Road, $348,900.

Sean T. Rohan to Haley Gaudette, 69 Ashley Road, $294,000.

William Rivera to Juan A. Velez, 54-56 Brown Ave., $225,000.

HUNTINGTON

Charlene Call to Brent L. Fox and Linsey D. Carver, 7 Cullen Hill Road, $165,000.

LONGMEADOW

Aaron D. Kugelmass and Karen E. Ambrose to David Alexander Stassen, trustee, Beth Allison Atkins, trustee, and Stassen Family Trust, trustee of, 951 Longmeadow St., $865,800.

LUDLOW

Celia A. Tarasavitch to Rebecca Rondeau, 75 Heritage Drive, $350,000.

Chloe Molitoris, Peter Neil Molitoris Jr., and Chloe E. Canter to Amy Doble, 39 Michael St., $265,900.

MONSON

Heather A. Winter, trustee, to Dawn Audrey Rogers and Alex Phillip Rogers, 23 Brimfield Road, $150,000.

Thomas J. Keller Jr., to Alyshia

M. Jensen, 24 Betty Jean Drive, $311,000.

NORTHAMPTON

Sunwood Development Corp., to Jeffrey D. Caird and Jamie Caird, 148 Emerson Way, $925,340.

Eric N. Wolpin to Eric N. Wolpin, trustee, and Eric N. Wolpin Revocable Trust, 64 Cherry St.,

$100.

Eric N. Wolpin to Eric N. Wolpin, trustee, and Eric N. Wolpin Revocable Trust, 37 Holyoke St., $100.

Eric N. Wolpin to Eric N. Wolpin, trustee, and Eric N. Wolpin Revocable Trust, 9 Trumbull Road, $100.

Michael E. Aleo and Katherine Bradford Aleo to Valerie Marcus and Peter Miller, 591 Riverside Drive, $427,500.

Tessier Family Irrevocable Trust and Tina T. Champagne, trustee, to D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc., 504 Easthampton Road, $742,000.

Daniel L. Plotkin and Sheri Katz-Plotkin to Michael B. Sharick and Laura J. Tiktin-Sharick, 96 Woods Road, $577,500.

Benjamin A. Barnes to Pamela J. Barnes, trustee, and Alondra Mishell Barnes Supplemental Needs Trust, 117 Riverside Drive, $100.

Sarah L. Gilleman to Richard C. Weis, 40 Spring St., $388,000.

Twomarks Nominee Realty Trust and DiFranco Realty Inc., trustee, to Christopher A. Spagnoli, 323 Coles Meadow Road, $625,000.

PALMER

Carol Ann Lee to Kevin Germain and Ann Marie Germain, 25 French Drive, $195,000.

Charles H. Reynolds to Joaquim Santos and Mary Ellen Santos, 201 Breckenridge St., $50,000. Mint Realty Group LLC, to Katie Pilleri and Timothy Pilleri, 2191 Main St., $280,000.

Robert M. Mileski to Robert M. Mileski Jr., 3157-3159 Main St., $130,000.

RUSSELL

Tanis M. Meisenhelder, Donna L. Zeo, Linda S. Forare and Brian K. St. Jean to Michele Lea Horvath-Spear, 923 General Knox Road, $190,000.

SOUTH HADLEY

Carlos U. Bermejo Arcentales to Layne V. Raczkowski, 165 Pine Grove Drive, $300,500.

Kevin Garvin to Abigail Patricia Lukasik, 25 Judd Ave., $322,900.

Gary P. Biela, Gary Biela, Patricia

L. Biela and Patricia Biela to Jamie-Lynn Mueller Overby and Celia Overby, 41 Viviani St., $445,000.

Janice M. DeToma, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Janice M. DeToma to Victor Perpetua, 31 Ashfield Lane, $408,000.

Thomas D. Simpson, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Thomas S. Simpson to David M. Brown, 87 Woodbridge St., $300,000.

SOUTHAMPTON

Timothy H. Hopkins and Henry E. Hopkins to Timothy H. Hopkins, 6 Coleman Road, $100.

SOUTHWICK

Fiore Realty Holdings LLC, to Hamelin Framing Inc., 9 Tall Pines Trail, $150,000.

Paul R. Carbonneau and Margaret A. Carbonneau to Leslie Bannish, 13 Wynnfield Circle, $385,000.

SPRINGFIELD

3N Property LLC, to Thembisa Thandi Gilgeous and Jacqueline Na Murray, 543 Newbury St., $275,000.

Alonzo H. Johnson and Jaquan A. Johnson to Dnepro Properties LLC, 81 Cherokee Drive, $190,000.

Amy S. Moore, trustee, Alan R. Vaughn, trustee, Vaughn Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, Ray Vaughn, Mary V. Vaughn, Vaughn Joint Family Trust, trustee of, Roy Vaughn, trustee, and Mary Viola Vaughn, trustee, to Amy Moore and Daniel G. Webster Jr., 66 Pinta Circle, $238,000.

Brandi M. Gamble-Eddington to Julio Cesar Sanabria, 42 Thompson St., $235,000.

Brian Griffin, trustee, 50 Kenway Drive Trust of Springfield, trustee of, and Regina M. Griffin to GR Remodel LLC, 50 Kenway Drive, $200,000.

Carol Martin to Minerva Cabrera, 84 Penrose St., $255,000.

Eddie W. Leverett and Teresa Copeland Leverett to Sybil Maynard-Holder, 58 Massachusetts Ave., $250,000.

Felicia Raphael Marie Barber to Luisa M. Diaz-Marcano and Abel Gonzalez, 34 Revere St., $350,000.

Gertrude M. Gibbs to Devon King, 127 Webber St., $220,000.

Halina Piorkowska to Michelle Cooper and Secoha M. Cooper, 181 Fernbank Road, $218,000.

Hanh N. Pham, Hong-Hanh N. Tran, Thanh P. Huynh and Ouyen Huynh to Monique Osbourne, 72-74 Maryland St., $257,000.

Home Staging & Realty LLC, to Gianni Cofer-Smith, 48-50 Mansfield St., $317,000.

Jeffery Hyde and Jeffery M. Hyde to Abdulrazaq Abdulrazaq, 18

French St., $260,000.

Jeffery R. Fellion, representatiave, and Jeffrey E. Fellion, estate, to Jose M. Rios, 107 Donbray Road, $280,000.

Jennifer L. Bifulco and John V. Kelpinski Jr., to Adam David and Amy David, 19 Harkness Ave., $234,999.

Joanne K. Gilmour to Robert McCarty and Karen J. McCarty, 95 Birchland Ave., $250,000.

Jose R. Fernandez and Mercedes Fernandez to Hanna A. Baffour and Georgina Baffour, 35 Wendover Road, $480,000.

Joseph E. Frederick, Sandra A. Pellegrini and Anna M. Frederick to Marjorie-Ann Garza, 1105 Dickinson St., Unit 1105, $243,400.

Karen Cebula Brown, Joan Cebula Wertheimer and William R. Brown to James J. Nason and Tammy R. Nason, 43 Spence St., $75,000.

Keith A. Walmer, representative, and Ellen K. Walmer, estate, to Stefen S. C. Welch and Ashley A. Twitchell, 15 Buick St., $230,000.

Marcus Moore and Kyra Rodriguez to Kyra Rodriguez, 27 Malibu Drive, $200,000.

Martha L. Black to Adrianna Marie Rivera, 92 Malden St., $195,000.

Micah Y. Feldman and David Rosoff to Pah Properties LLC, 24 Pearl Lane, $181,000.

Michael George Shepard and Maureen Ann Shepard to Mark Melikian, 12-14 Sylvan St., $325,000.

Nancy Chicklowski, estate, Nancy A. Nardi-Chicklowski, estate, Nancy A. Nardi, estate, and Dominic J. Nardi, representative, to Devin Bushey, 140 Hudson St., $245,000.

Nhuan Ngoc Nguyen to Tam T. Nguyen, 821 Allen St., $300,000.

Nicholas Ayala and Nicolas Ayala to Rodrigo Bustillo and Janelis Nyleen Rodriguez, 17 Champlain St., $322,000.

Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts Inc., to Revitalize Community Development Corp., 240 Cadwell Drive, $840,000.

Precious Williams to Myrtho Lambert, 50 Orange St., $317,000.

Purchrock LLC, to KB Estates LLC, 1189-1191 Worcester St., $230,500.

Rosa Burgos to Emmanuel De Jesus Marte, 29-31 Wigwam Place, $255,000.

Sonya E. Gonzalez to Marsha X. Qian, 53 Sherman St., $120,000.

Steven W. Lewis, Steven R. Mousette and Eric S. Jarry to Patricia Y. Cheeks and Joseph E. Cheeks, 32 Breckwood Circle, $197,000.

Suzanne Patnaude to Jessenia Y. Dechert and Hector J. Luna, 23 Puritan Circle, $302,500.

WMG Springfield Realty LLP, trustee, and WMG Springfield Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Mercy Hospital Inc., 299 Carew St., Unit 419, $475,000.

WMG Springfield Realty LLP, to Mercy Hospital Inc., 299 Carew St., Unit 401, $100.

TOLLAND

Matthew D. Scharff and Carol H. Scharff to Yong Ju No and Carole C. Chatagner, 58 Porcupine Point Road, $420,000.

WARE

JRES LLC, to Blackrock SH Group LLC, 135 Main St., $450,000.

Ronald Kupiec and Cathleen A. Kupiec to Elizabeth Vadnais, trustee, and Kupiec Family Irrevocable Trust, 10-12 Mechanic St., $100.

Carl R. Waal and Joan M. Waal to Audra Ekmalian, 1 Briar Circle, $400,000.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB, trustee, Upland Mortgage Loan Trust A and Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, attorney-in-fact, to Peter D. Harper and Suzanne M. Harper, 26 Grove St., $175,000.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Antoinette Bodzioch, estate, and Karen Bodzioch, representative, to William L. Siano, 30 Robinson Road, $255,000.

Carmela A. Fraziero, trustee, and Giovanni Daniele Revocable Trust, trustee, to Lancaster Properties LLC, 33-2A Colony Road, $98,000.

Deborah L. Passerini, trustee, John Cataldo Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, and Elda C. Cataldo Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Eric R. Boudreau and Johanna M. Kasidi, 516 Bear Hole Road, $410,000.

Earl Robinson Jr., to Nathaniel Ledoux, 80 Brush Hill, Unit 38, $120,000.

Paul R. Dickey and Karla M. Dickey to Dennis Clark, 117 Sibley Ave., $250,000.

Walter J. Palasz to Raul Portorreal and Paul Styckiewicz, 15 Avondale Ave., $317,000.

West Springfield Town to Summerwood Realty Co. LLC, 218A

Closet

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2

fit there at big box retailers such as Walmart, Amazon and the Container Store. Schmidt prefers bins that are climate-controlled, with “lids to protect from dust and moths.” Take stock of high-up shelves in your home and secondary closets (such as in a guest room, hallway or office) that may be underused. Those spots could be perfect for storing bulky, cold-weather items in warm months, says Schmidt. If you hang up winter sweaters, Coleman suggests using padded hangers that won’t stretch their shoulders.

4. Hang up shoes

When kept on the floor, shoes can spread around a closet like a plague, consuming premium space. One of the easiest solutions: Hang them up. Most types of shoes will fit in a hanging organizer. Easy to find and very affordable, they can fit behind most standard-sized

Notes

CONTINUED FROM PAGE F3

diagrams, conceptual sketches and schematic drawings.

Each class will involve instruction and evaluation of projects in progress.

Group discussions and exercises will put theory into action.

Students will make a formal presentation at the final class with the primary goal of conveying a coherent design narrative and process leading to proposed solutions.

Cost $400 members, $450 non-members.

Berkshire Botanical Garden can help with financial aid.

For more information, or to register, visit www. berkshirebotanical.org

Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.

closet doors. Boots are trickier, but if you have free space on your closet rod, Hord suggests hanging them up, too, using hanging shapers.

For boots that have to stay on the floor, Coleman recommends regular shapers, sometimes made of Styrofoam or plastic. They ensure your favorite pair will maintain their integrity and keep from flopping over (and taking up even more space). Schmidt also suggests taking advantage of the unused space under your bed once again, storing boots and shoes in skinny bins designed specifically for them.

5. Maximize closet rods

If you have lots of clothes and limited hanging space, invest in slim hangers that allow you to fit more onto rods. From there, Hord suggests “organizing tops by sleeve length, and then color within sleeve length.” That way, your clothes are situated in what she calls “silhouette order” and your silk tank top won’t get lost

AMHERST Virtual garden tour Feb. 2

• “Artists’ Gardens in New England”: Join the Jones Library and escape winter weather with a virtual garden tour on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., presented by Jana Milbocker. Register directly via Zoom at : https://us02web. zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4jIO8aCiRjibt -

vZ2sKeHuQ .

• “Gardens and Gardening”: Visit the private havens of Edith Wharton, Julian Alden Weir, Childe Hassam, Daniel Chester French, Emily Dickinson, Augustus SaintGaudens, Celia Thaxter and others in the first session in a planned series.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Janet Ryan at 413-259-3223.

among your button-downs. She also suggests using rod dividers that you can label yourself.

Coleman says any closet can benefit from cedar or lavender hanging blocks. Hang them among your clothes to keep everything fresh and to repel moths.

6. Treat drawers like filing cabinets

We all know this story: You sleep through your alarm and rip through your drawers in a desperate search for that shirt. To avoid this scenario, every organizer we spoke to offered two words: file folding. This method, made famous by the messiah of organization, Marie Kondo, is very easy and comes with multiple benefits - not only does it make each item of clothing easier to see, it allows you to fit more items into the drawer. Instead of folding your clothes and stacking them like sheets of printer paper on top of each other, fold them in half once more

and stack them side-byside like files in a filing cabinet (hence the name). You can do this with jeans just as easily as T-shirts. Schmidt also suggests using spring-loaded drawer dividers to separate items (such as shorts, T-shirts and socks). They provide the effect of customized drawers for much less money.

7.

Corral handbags

Sort of like shoes, handbags tend to sprawl out in the absence of an organizing strategy - and there are several to try. Hord suggests hanging them up with hangers designed to maintain the shape of leather handles. You can also take advantage of the nesting tactic and store smaller bags inside larger ones, or group formal clutches and wallet-sized bags inside acrylic holders. Schmidt suggests putting out-of-season bags on the top shelf of your closet in bins or boxes and “attaching a Polaroid photo of the bag on the front so you know exactly which bags are stored.”

Deeds

Day St., Unit 2C4A, $25,000.

WESTFIELD

Douglas Fuller to Colibri Properties LLC, 46a Chapel St., $400,000.

Leslie A. Bannish to Christopher R. Rumplik and Sydney M. Cassell, 57 Crescent Circle, $430,000.

Mieczyslaw Niziol to John H. Thomas and Dennis Edmund Coffey, 15 New Broadway, $700,000.

Nickole Kugel to Guven Orman and Marina Orman, 141 Otis St., $165,000.

Richard E. Hannan Jr., Barbara J. Rogers, Mary F. Tierney and Patricia M. Wysocki to Vera Jimenez, 324 Russell Road, Unit 113, $155,000.

Robin Sheldon and Glen Korostynski to Renee Gonnello and Jerome Malcovsky Sr., 26 Lois St., $272,000.

WESTHAMPTON

Valerie Haggerty, trustee, to Cole Irrevocable Trust FBO Ellery Cole Buckowski and Daniel L. West, Main Road, $100,000.

WILBRAHAM

EAST LONGMEADOW Garden Club Scholarship

Applications are open for the 2023 Esther A. Rosati Memorial East Longmeadow Garden Club Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Applicants must presently be an East Longmeadow High School senior or a recent graduate, be planning to attend an institution of higher learning, or a graduate student who is a resident of East Longmeadow and is attending or planning to attend an institution of higher learning, or an East Longmeadow student who is a resident and has been accepted to participate in a special program.

All applicants must be planning to pursue a degree in agriculture, botany, conservation, ecology, environmental engineering, environmental science, floral design, forestry, landscaping architecture,

oceanography, perma-culture/ agro-ecology or a related field.

Applicants must include a copy of an official grade transcript and applications must be received on or before Feb. 28. Applicants being considered will be contacted by the East Longmeadow Garden Club’s Scholarship Committee for an interview. The recipient will be awarded the scholarship at the annual May meeting of the East Longmeadow Garden Club. Scholarship applications can be picked up at the high school guidance office or the East Longmeadow Public Library or download it from eastlongmeadowgard.wixsite. com/gardens.

Send completed application and transcript to East Longmeadow Garden Club Scholarship Committee, c/o Diane A. Tiago, 38 Rogers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.

Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub. com two weeks prior to publication.

Charles F. Bennett and Susan L. Bennett to Elizabeth M. Lopata, 2205 Boston Road, Unit F-50, $275,000.

David R. Scudder and Karen L. Northup-Scudder to Josette Dawkins and Fred Donelson, 17 Shirley St., $640,000.

J&P Holdings LLC, and J & P Holdings LLC, to Richard W. Stoddard and Lori A. Stoddard, 2205 Boston Road, Unit F-49, $365,000.

Jolanta E. Oleksak and Janusz Oleksak to Veteran Stan LLC, 36 Linwood Drive, $225,000.

Richard W. Stoddard and Lori A. Stoddard to Paul G. Lenke, 2205 Boston Road, Unit P-156, $300,000.

Sarah Stout, Sarah Colen and Timothy Stout to Choctaw American Insurance Inc., 29 Brainard Road, $270,000.

Shelia I. Slawiak and Thomas A. Slawiak to Charles F. Bennett and Susan L. Bennett, 2205 Boston Road, Unit O-145, $235,000.

Stephen G. Cote and Lynn Ann Cote to Christopher Stocks and Karen Marie Stocks, 125 Soule Road, $425,000.

Energy

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4

purchase an electric range. Induction ranges and traditional electric coil stoves would qualify. The rebates are available to people making up to 150 percent of the median income in their area.

• Electric vehicle

More people are turning to plug-in cars as the technology improves and the country takes steps to generate more of its electricity through renewable, clean sources. President Biden has set a goal for half of all car sales to be electric by 2030.

The IRA continues an existing $7,500 tax credit for electric and hybrid plug-in passenger vehicles, but makes some significant changes. To qualify, vehicles would have to be assembled in North America, something that’s not the case for many carmakers.

The law also sets limits for consumers to be able to claim the credit, with an income ceiling of $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for joint filers. The law also sets price limits for vehicles: Cars that cost more than $55,000 and trucks and SUVs costing more than $80,000 would not be eligible. The credit is currently claimed on your federal tax return, but the law envisions that it could reduce vehicle prices at the point-of-sale beginning in 2024. There’s a new credit for sales of used electric vehicles, and a credit for charging equipment is being restored and extended.

• Solar panels

Solar panels that convert the sun’s energy into electricity can significantly reduce a home’s energy bills and reliance on the energy grid. But they can be expensive to install, with costs ranging above $20,000.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in January 2022 found that 8 percent of U.S. homeowners have solar panels, up from 6 percent in 2019.

The IRA increases the 26 percent tax credit for solar panels and installation to 30 percent for the next 10 years, after which it drops to 26 percent in 2033 and 22 percent in 2034 and then phases out completely unless Congress extends it. The

Energy Department says the tax credit will cut the cost of installing rooftop solar by more than $7,500 for an average system.

• Home battery

Solar panels collect and produce energy in daylight hours, but that’s not always when the energy is needed most. A home battery storage unit paired with solar panels stores excess energy until it’s needed; some states and utilities also allow households to sell energy back to the grid. The IRA extends the solar panel credit to cover battery storage systems, which were not previously included.

• Radiant floor heat

Radiant floor heat relies on a system of tubing underneath or incorporated into the floor of a house, which heats up when hot water is forced through it.

(There are also electric and hot-air-based systems, but the water-based hydronic systems are most cost-effective and popular, according to the Energy Department.) These systems are more efficient than most baseboard or forced-air systems. These systems can be expensive, costing as much as $20 per square foot, and they are not singled out for subsidies in the IRA.

However, homeowners eyeing a broader home-energy-efficiency retrofit might want to consider them. The IRA sets up a new $4.3 billion program called HOMES

(Home Owner Managing Energy Savings) for states to provide rebates — up to $8,000 for low-to-moderate-income households; and $4,000 for everyone else — based on measuring how much total energy savings have been achieved from a retrofit. (Low-to-moderate income is defined as up to 80 percent of an area’s median income.)

• Electric water heater

Warming up water accounts for a quarter of the natural gas used in a home that uses the fossil fuel for heating, hot water and cooking, according to a Stanford University study from 2020. The same study concluded that the 58 million U.S. water heaters that use natural gas leak around 91,000 tons of methane — a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide — per year. Conventional water heaters

can be run by natural gas or electricity, but the IRA aims to nudge consumers to purchase heat-pump water heaters, which pull heat from the surrounding atmosphere and use it to heat water in a tank. Since the device is not actually producing heat itself, it is more efficient than alternatives. The IRA offers up to $1,750 in rebates to qualifying households toward the purchase of a heat-pump water heater.

benefit. Still, cool roofs should be considered for anyone thinking about a whole-house energy-efficiency retrofit, which offers rebates based on total energy savings achieved.

• Washer and dryer

According to the Energy Department, the average American family washes about 300 loads of laundry per year. That’s a lot of water and energy. Replacing an old washer and dryer with an Energy Star-certified model can

landscaping expenditures — unless you have an electric mower big enough to qualify for the electric vehicle tax credit. (That’s not a joke. Large riding mowers like the kind used by landscaping companies may actually qualify.)

• Smart thermostat

Installing a smart thermostat that you can control from your phone is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to bring down energy usage and expenditures. They may cost $100 to many times that on the front end, but by tracking your energy use — which typically nudges you to use less — and allowing you to switch the AC or heating on or off from anywhere, they typically pay for themselves. Though it’s smart to get a smart thermostat as part of an overall approach to home energy efficiency, it’s not covered in the IRA.

• Whole-house fan

• Windows and doors

Ever sit near a door or window on a cold day and shiver in that draft? Tons of heat can escape through drafty doors or single-pane windows. Upgrading to energy-efficient options can make a big difference in lowering energy bills and potentially reducing emissions from your heating source.

The IRA offers 30 percent tax credits — up to $1,200 annually — for energy-efficiency home improvements, specifying $600 for windows and $500 for doors. It also pays up to $150 for a home energy audit that can assess your home’s energy use.

• Cool

roofs

A “cool” roof that reflects sunlight rather than absorbing it can keep buildings cooler in summer, reducing the need for air conditioning. Some homeowners even install green roofs — a lawn or garden on top of the house. Depending on the materials used, installing a cool roof is not necessarily any more expensive than a new roof made from traditional roofing materials. Here’s the rare instance, though, where the IRA removed rather than added a

reduce energy use by 20 percent per load, and water use by 30 percent per load, the Energy Department says. Heat-pump clothes dryers also are available. Most households let the “gray water” produced by their washing machines go to waste, but there are multiple uses for it, including garden irrigation — though it’s not appropriate for all plants. Gray-water systems are not covered by the IRA but they help your water bill and your garden.

The IRA offers an $840 rebate for an electric heat-pump clothes dryer. Upgrading to a more standard but Energy Star-certified washing machine and dryer doesn’t get a direct benefit, but would pay off for anyone aiming for a wholehouse energy-efficiency retrofit, or simply looking to lower their water and energy bills.

• Landscaping

Your outdoor space can also save water and energy. Shade trees can help keep your home cool. Drought-resistant plants in place of a lawn will keep down your water bill in arid or drought-prone climates.

The IRA doesn’t offer benefits directly to taxpayers for their

A whole-house fan that pulls cool air from outside and circulates it throughout your house can be a fantastic alternative to running your AC during summer months, especially in regions that are hot during the day but cool down at night. Run the fan at night, and you might not have to use your AC at all on many days. However, the fans are typically useful only one or two seasons out of the year. Whole-house fans can cost between $500 to $2,000, but they can allow you to go without your AC for weeks at a time. Although they previously qualified for limited energy-efficiency credits, the IRA does not include them — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider installing one. It could bring down your energy bills and help achieve savings if you’re considering a wholehome retrofit.

• Wind turbine

Solar panels are a more common energy collection device for individual homeowners, but if you live in a windy climate you might want to consider installing a small turbine on top of your house to capture wind power. Design and cost varies from a couple hundred dollars to thousands, and the costlier models are able to capture more kilowatts of power. The IRA provides a 30 percent tax credit for home wind energy projects.

Workers from the solar company Sunrun install solar panels on the roof of a home in California. (MEL MELCON/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS)

THISISWHATAHEARTATTACKFEELSLIKETOAWOMAN.

(LIGHT-HEADEDNESSORSUDDENDIZZINESS)

OtherHeartAttackSymptomstoWatchOutFor:

Chestpain,discomfort,pressureorsqueezing,likethere’satonofweighton you•Shortnessofbreath•Nausea•Unusualupperbodypain,ordiscomfort inoneorbotharms,back,shoulder,neck,jaworupperpartofthestomach

•Unusualfatigue•Breakingoutinacoldsweat

Ifyouexperienceanyoneofthesesymptoms,don’tmake excusesforthem.MaketheCall.Don’tMissaBeat.

Tolearnmore,visitWomensHealth.gov/HeartAttack

PUBLIC AUCTION

PUBLIC A

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE • MELROSE • 8 ROOM / 4 BEDROOM

2-STORY

COLONIAL STYLE HOME

±1/3 ACRE

662 Franklin Street MELROSE, MA To be Sold on the Premises

Features:

• 2 Story Colonial Style Home • ±13,052 S/F of Land •

• Total of (8) Rooms w/ (4) Bedrooms & (2 ½) Baths • • ±3,932 S/F of Gross Living Area Above Grade • • Oil Hot Water Baseboard Heat • Full Basement • • Fireplace • Open Porch

Public Water

Aaron Posnik

Aaron Posnik

West Springfield, MA • Philadelphia, PA 413-733-5238 • 610-853-6655 MA Auc. Lic #161

**ADORABLEKITTENSfor FOREVER HOMES** Ihave3veryfriendly9 weekoldkitten,litterbox trainedandheatinghard foods,Allgoodand healthykitties,Raisedindoorswithchildrenasking$290perkitty.No Shots.Callortextat413386-5105

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.

Two kittens, Maine Coon, Bengle mix, $50.00/each. Call 413-777-9659

Black Exotic Yorkie male puppy, 1st shots, dewormed. Very tiny, parents on premises. $1,000. Call 413-777-3536 or 413-657-0960

English Springer Spaniel, Liver/white female, ready Dec. 1st. Vet checked, 1st 500. 413-596-8190

FRENCH BULL DOG PUPPIES Parents on premises $3500 to $4500/each. Call 413-478-0763

German Shepherd/Lab Mix puppies, 1st set of shots, dewormed. 2 females, 1 male $400/each. Call or text 802-323-2538.

Golden Retriever puppies, dad is chocolate Labradore. 7 females, each $1,500, 3 males, each $1,300. Call or text 413-309-1747

Golden Retrievers Puppies, 1st shots & dewormed. $500. 2 females & 1 Male Call 802-895-2784

Teddy Bear Puppies, pure white or pure black $600/ ea. Just in time for Valentine’s Day. For info. text or call Lori 413-966-9152

TwofemaleHuskypups available,born11/12. $750,Vetchecked,1st shotanddewormed.Call /text802-624-1291between4P-7Pforfurther

West Highland White Terrier, male, 9 weeks, Vet checked & current vaccinations. $1800. Call 413-596-8190

Yorkshire Terrier puppy, male, has most of his shots. Great little dog. Only $2000. (413) 549-5225

Auctions

2022 National Purple Heart $5 Gold Proof coin. Issued by US mint, low mintage with box, COA, $900./best offer, call 413426-7063

GAZEBO 12x10, 4 sided netting, new in box, $500. Call 413-589-0249. Lowrey Royale Organ, beaut., walnut finish, incl. Tufted bench, cost $60K, ask. $1,800. 413-519-8108

U.S. #1 Stamp (U) $300./OBO Call Ron 413-896-3324 $$$ Cash For Stamps $$$

Patriots leather Carl Banks coat, XL (new zipper) pictures avail. Great shape, $100.00. Call 413-313-3658

LOVESEAT good condition Madres Plaid, $75.00/B.O. Call 413-782-4620 New:Twowickerchairsw/ cushons,twofootstools w/cushons,onewicker table.$275orbestoffer. 413-733-1613