Home and Garden, and Real Estate- February 26, 2023

Home & Garden

& Real Estate

PROJECT OF THE WEEK: Do it yourself in a weekend, F3

IN THE GARDEN WITH LEE REICH: What is it to “garden,” F4

ANTIQUES & COLLECTING: Making the mark means more than just ink, F6

MORTGAGE RATES: Average long-term US mortgage rate jumps to 6.5% this week, F7

WMASS DEEDS, F7

The easiest ways to compost — even if you never thought you would, Page F2

The easiest ways to compost — even if you never thought you would

By M ichael J. C oren The Washington Post

FEW KNOW THIS, BUT I have 3,000 employees working for me at home. They don’t punch a clock, but they toil day and night. We never speak, but we meet for a few moments every few days. I supply them with as much food as they can eat, and in return, they furnish an endless supply of black gold.

I’m a worm farmer.

Composting is something most people assume they can’t or won’t do. And I get it. I was once a non-composter too. I’ve heard about the potential problems: The smells, the flies, the rats, it’s a hassle, no space, an unspoken fear of the unknown. I, too, have battled the fruit fly. But it turns out, these problems are all avoidable. A new crop of ways to compost has emerged over the past few years. American composters are a growing breed. Their numbers have ticked up over the years thanks to more municipal collection programs — mandatory in states like Vermont — as well as growing interest among those aware of the impact, and value, of their kitchen scraps.

It’s also much easier. New technology and services are available to meet that demand, whether you want a sleek appliance or a readymade worm farm. If you aren’t composting yet, get ready. As the country aims for net-zero emissions, composting may start to become as common as recycling. Plus, you’ll get the best tomatoes of your life.

• The food waste problem

Americans have never wasted so much food: 400 pounds per household. That’s about 35 percent of the total U.S. food supply ending up in the trash, according to ReFED, a California-based nonprofit

organization dedicated to ending food waste.

Today, Americans compost about 6 percent of kitchen scraps. The rest ends up mainly in landfills where it rots, generating methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent in the short term than carbon dioxide. Virtually none of our food waste ends up as compost fertilizing our yards or fields, depriving the soil of many of the nutrients that must be added with natural-gas-derived nitrogen fertilizer.

Homes generate most of the emissions from wasted food in the United States. It’s not just vegetables, leftovers and overripe avocados being squandered. It’s also the energy that went into plowing fields, fertilizing crops, running tractors and then trucking food to get it onto your plate. Most food-related emissions, it turns out, are generated long before your scraps hit the landfill. Yet, unlike other forms of waste, there is little social stigma or cost attached to it. “If you were to walk down the street and throw half a bag of potato chips on the sidewalk, people would look at you as if it were an awful offense,” says Dana Gunders, executive director of ReFED. “But if you throw it in the garbage can, they don’t think much of it.”

Composting, unlike recycling, has yet to gain mainstream acceptance. This is changing slowly. At last count, nine states have restricted sending food waste to landfills. Vermont is the first state to ban the disposal of food scraps in the trash or landfills for households.

Some cities are trying to scale up composting: Austin gives residents vouchers to buy compost bins. Los Angeles County discounts them for residents. But commercial composting hasn’t been scaled up to match our municipal waste stream. Doing

so will require more than $1 billion, according to ReFED estimates. Of the 5,000 composting facilities nationwide, only 500 accept food scraps, ReFED estimates.

So for now, composting friends, most of you are on your own. Luckily, you need not share my admiration for red wigglers to compost.

• What’s the best composting setup for you?

For this I turned to Amy Landers, who runs Gardens That Matter, an online gardening club offering classes and a community to help people garden. Her composting credentials date back to an eighth-grade science project, and she now composts on her farm outside Asheville, N.C. Her largest composting venture? The dead horse of a neighbor, whose owner couldn’t bear to send her beloved pet to the landfill. Everything but the bones was gone in about a year.

Most people, says Landers, overthink composting. “If it was ever alive, it can be composted,” she says. A large, hot, well-run compost

pile — no trivial feat — can digest almost any organic matter, eventually. But even something more modest in your backyard can handle quite a bit.

In fact, most of the organic materials coming into your home from groceries to junk mail to paper bags are just soil in waiting. Think of compost as a luxury high-rise for microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi, nematodes, worms, sow bugs and other invertebrates all thrive in compost. When

mixed into soil, compost allows it to hold more water and nutrients. Plants respond by growing larger roots, increasing yields and even sending sugars to the roots to feed more bacteria.

Landers advises playing it safe when you’re first starting, if you’re nervous: Go light or omit oils, meats, orange peels, dairy and bones. Pet waste is a no-no. Plastic too. But don’t stress. Many prohibitions are not hard and fast rules. “A lot

SEE COMPOST, PAGE F9

Don and Dave Runyan| Project of the Week

Do it yourself in a weekend

PERFECT FOR reading, napping or spending time with someone close, there’s nothing like a lawn swing when it comes to relaxing outdoors. The only drawback is that a free-standing lawn swing is a pretty ambitious do-ityourself project — at least it was until now. Believe it or not, even an amateur with a few basic tools can create this comfortable, sturdy, attractive and affordable lawn swing in a weekend.

Made entirely from about 100 feet of inexpensive, heavy-duty, schedule 40 PVC pipe — plus some canvas, PVC pipe joints, glue, chain and a little bit of common hardware — you won’t believe how quickly and easily the project comes together. In fact, it’s so simple you just might make two.

To build, cut the pipe to length and assemble the base, seat and cover separately.

GARDEN NOTES

STOCKBRIDGE Botanical garden programs

Berkshire Botanical Garden presents:

• Thursdays, March 2 to 23, “Tree Care for Gardeners,” 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This course is designed for those who want to better understand the largest plants in

the landscape. Learn from arborist Tom Ingersoll the basics of tree biology and identification, the tree’s role in the ecosystem, proper selection, siting, planting considerations, pruning of young trees, fertilization, pest identification, and when to call in the professionals. Cost $200 members, $225 nonmembers.

• Saturday, March 4, “An Introduction to Greenhouse Management,” in-person at

Monument Mt. High School Green house, 9 a.m. to noon. This compact course, led by landscape designer Bill Florek, will focus on the fine points of controlling the greenhouse environment. Whether maintaining a conservatory collection of ornamental plants or producing greenhouse crops, participants will learn how to grow, care for and maintain plants in a greenhouse setting.

SEE NOTES, PAGE F4

Next, attach the seat fabric and hang the seat. To finish, cut the cover material to size and fit it over the frame and add standard seat cushions of your choice.

The finished project measures about 5 feet by 6 feet at the base and stands 6 feet high.

The PVC Lawn Swing plan, No. 678, is $9.95 and includes complete step-by-step instructions with photos, 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 741 Olive Ave., Vista CA 92083.

To order by credit card, visit U-Bild on the web at u-bild.com.

The finished lawn swing measures about 5 feet by 6 feet at the base and stands 6 feet high. (U-BILD)

Lee Reich | In the Garden

What is it to ‘garden’?

WITH THE LULL in garden activity that inevitably comes in February, what better time to ponder etymology? (Etymology, not entomology, the study of insects; aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies will be crawling around soon enough.) What exactly do we mean when we talk about a “garden” or “gardening?”

The word “gardening” is pretty much synonymous with “horticulture,” the latter word from the Latin hortus meaning a garden, and cultura, to culture. According to Webster, horticulture is the “art or science of cultivating fruits, flowers, and vegetables.” The word “horticulture” was given official recognition in The New World of English Words in 1678 by E. Phillips, though the Latin form, horticultura, first appeared as the title of a treatise of 1631.

Horticulture, then, is about growing fruits, flowers, and vegetables; nothing is said about cultivating a field of cotton or wheat. These latter

Notes

crops are in the ken of agronomy, from the Latin root ager meaning field. Once again quoting Webster, agronomy is the “science or art of crop production; the management of farm land.” Horticultural crops are more intensively cultivated than farm crops — and more apt to be threatened by neglect.

In fact, “gardening” and “horticulture” are not exactly synonymous. Horticulture is usually associated with growing plants for a livelihood, and is broken down into pomology (fruits), olericulture (vegetables), floriculture (flowers) and landscaping. Gardening usually implies something more homey and intimate.

Over the centuries, there have been many spellings of “garden.” “A chronicler of the 13th century wrote “gardynes,” in the next century Chaucer wrote the word a bit differently: “Yif me a plante of thilke blessed tre And in my gardyn planted it shall be.” We see yet another spelling early in the sixteenth century: “My lord you have very

good strawberries at your gardayne in Holberne.” Finally, by the time of Shakespeare, we have: “Ile fetch a turne about the Garden.” Here, “garden” at least, is spelt the moderne way. The root of the word “garden” comes from the Old English geard, meaning fence, enclosure, or courtyard, and the Old Saxon gyrdan, meaning to enclose or gird. These words are closely related to our modern words “yard,” “girth,” and “guard.”

Medieval gardens were physically enclosed. Mine is too, but mostly as protection against rabbits that love my peas and beans, not against knights practicing their jousting or wild pigs roaming the fields. The medieval garden was against the house and protected by a high wall, or, perhaps a wattle fence. Over the centuries, “garden” and “gardening” have come to mean more than the fenced medieval garden. The

archetypal Persian garden is dominated by refreshing pools or fountains of water. In the Italian garden, we find trees and shrubs, and stone stairways, balustrades, and porticos. Grand parterres characterize the French style of gardening.

About a hundred years ago, the increasingly grand style of gardening fell from favor as an Englishwoman, Gertrude Jekyll, came forward to laud and design gardens that emulated intimate, colorful, and informal cottage gardens. She wrote that the “... first purpose of a garden is to give happiness and repose of mind, which is more often enjoyed in the contemplation of the homely border ... than in any of the great gardens where the flowers lose their identity, and with it their hold on the human heart.”

What does “garden” and “gardening” mean today?

A few tomato and marigold plants, separated from the dwelling by an expanse of lawn? A woodland glen of ferns and bleeding hearts? Or a knot garden of herbs within a white picket fence — in the medieval style, one might say?

Any gardening questions? Email garden@leereich.com. Come visit my garden at www. leereich.com/blog.

The relationship between temperature, water, light, fertilization, plant health and diseases will be covered, with a strong emphasis on integrated pest management. Cost is $60 members, $65 nonmembers.

For more information, or to register, visit www. berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 W. Stockbridge Road.

will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Smith Vocational High School. There will be displays of blooming orchids from local growers as well as growers from other New England societies. Commercial growers will have plants for sale as well. For more information visit amherst orchidsociety.org/clubevents/our-show-sale/

High School senior or a recent graduate of East Longmeadow High School, 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.

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.

WILBRAHAM Garden Club meeting

NORTHAMPTON Orchid Show

The Amherst Orchid Society is having their annual Orchid Show after a 2-year hiatus. The show

EAST LONGMEADOW Garden Club Scholarship

Applications are now 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

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

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.

The first meeting of the 2023 year of the Wilbraham Garden Club will meet on Thursday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia’s Parish Center on Main Street. Coffee, tea and breakfast type refreshments will be served. The speaker for the meeting will be Bobbie Albano, whose topic will be “Art Influence in Wreath Making.” Bobbie will be making floral wreaths incorporation her artistic background. She will discuss and demonstrate how art influences the making of floral wreaths and arrangements. These wreaths will be available as

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3 SEE NOTES, PAGE F10

This walled garden captures boldly the etymological root of gardening, that of an enclosure. (LEE REICH)

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques and Collecting

Making the mark means more than just ink

Brass inlaid inkstands were not a rarity in Victorian times. This one recently sold for $188 at New Orleans Auction Galleries. It features a brass handle, two compartments for ink pots and a stamp box in the center. Its most unusual feature isn’t immediately obvious in a picture: If you turn it upside down, you can see a nearly intact paper label on the base. The original paper label adds value to an antique. It also provides useful information, often more than just a mark.

A label can tell you the name and possibly the address of the maker or retailer. This inkstand was made by “L. Leuchars, Writing & Dressing Case Maker,” located at “38 Picadilly, London.” The label mentions the maker also made “Ink Stands, Chess Men, Tea Chests” and “Work Boxes,” and it includes a crest with a crown showing a royal warrant “To Her Majesty and the Royal Family.” An online search for “L. Leuchars” brought up Lucy Leuchars, the widow of James Leuchars, who took over his business. Later, when their son joined the business, it was called “Leuchars & Son.” The royal warrant was issued in 1837, the first year of Queen Victoria’s reign.

Q. I have many Barbie dolls and collectibles, Ertl metal tractors that were my husband’s and airplane banks that I’d like to sell. None of my great-grandchildren seem to be interested. Do you have a price list that tells what I might be able to sell them for? I could use the money.

A. Old toys sell at house sales, estate sales and garage sales. The price you can get depends on rarity and condition. Parents buy them for their children to play with and may even buy the toy if it’s in worn “used” condition if the price is right. Adult collectors look for vintage Barbie dolls, banks and farm toys in good condition. Prices for toys are

listed in our latest price book, Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price List 2023. You can also check eBay and other online sources to see what toys like yours have sold for. Be sure to check “Sold” prices, not asking prices. Barbie dolls sell for $12 or less to a few hundred dollars or more. Barbie’s clothing and accessories sell for a variety of prices. Ertl tractors in used condition sell for $25 or less. Some in good condition sell for $60 to a few hundred dollars. A 1920’s aluminum “Spirit of Saving” airplane bank commemorating Charles Lindbergh’s flight sold for $480 recently. It was in near mint condition.

Q. I have five porcelain ramekins and underplates marked “I.G. Dillon Co., Wheeling, West Virginia.” They also have a mark with a conjoined “WV” surrounded by what looks like wheat. I’d like information on the age and maker.

A.

I.G. Dillon was a jeweler who partnered with W.A. Turner to establish Turner & Dillon in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1875. Dillon became the sole owner in 1880 and changed the name of the business to I.G. Dillon Co. It became I.G. Dillon & Co. in 1887. By 1890 it was the largest jewelry company in West Virginia. It sold jewelry, clocks, watches, silver

CURRENT PRICES

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.

Box, Iroquois, hinged lid, beaded, multicolor, leaf on front and back, green accents, borders alternate clear and color bead clusters, flared base, beaded loop fringe, 3 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches, $70.

Advertising crate, Victor, dog and phonograph logo on front, Nipper, “His Master’s Voice,” hinged lid, latch front, wood, 28 x 20 x 19 inches, $180. Satin glass, pitcher, water, cased, Cut Velvet, rose pink, diamond pattern, opal interior, square rim, shoulders, applied reeded handle, polished pontil mark, c. 1890, 8 inches, $280.

Lamp, electric, copper dome shade, adjustable, chain pull, round stepped base, brass stand, Hubbell, 1920s, 50 x 7 3/4 inches, $310.

Porcelain-Asian, bowl, blue underglaze garden scene, peony flowers, ivory ground, soft paste, short foot, six-character Chenghua mark, Vietnam, 4 3/4 inches, $360.

Wheatley vase, pottery, mottled blue ground, painted flower spray, wild roses, white and yellow, incised marks, T.J. Wheatley & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1880, 8 1/2 x 5 inches, $455.

Toy, Universe Traveler, lithographed tin, two-tier track, multicolor space graphics, planets, stars, rockets, space station, blue ground, two spacecrafts, X-100, red & yellow, X-200, silver and yellow, box, Modern Toys, Japan, 10 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, $675.

and pottery made by other companies. The conjoined “WV” mark was used by the Ohio Valley China Company in Wheeling. It started as the West Virginia China Company in 1887. It became Ohio Valley China Company in 1891. The company made porcelain tableware, hotel ware and artistic wares. It was in business until at least 1893.

Q. I have a copper mechanical scene of a woman and man seesawing to the tune of “Happy Days Are Here Again.” There is a small house, fence, flowers and umbrella. It’s 10 inches long and 5 1/2 inches high and is in excellent condition. Stickers on the bottom say “Item No. 23890, Happy Days,” “Not a Toys (wrong spelling) for decoration only” and “Do not overwind, Made in China.” Is it worth anything?

A. The song “Happy Days Are Here Again” was written in 1929 and used in a 1930 movie. It was also a campaign song used in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1932 presidential campaign. The copper sheet metal scene with two people on a seesaw is one of several mechanical musical scenes made of sheet copper in China and imported into the United States. It’s not as old as the song. It was probably made in the late 1900s or

Blanket, Navajo, double saddle, cream field, light brown, pink, 16 Valero stars, eight feathers, early 20th century, 30 x 53 1/2 inches, $750.

Chair, Fritz Hansen, beechwood frame, blue wool-blend upholstery, butterfly back, pillow, open sculptural arms, c. 1950, 40 x 27 x 35 inches, $1,600.

Jewelry, necklace, arts & crafts, three multicolor enamel plaques, five amethyst cabochons, two freshwater cultured pearls, gold chain, marked, James Cromar Watt, 1910s, 15 3/4 inches, $5,850.

later. This scene sells online for $25 to $45. A smaller version with the tune “It’s a Small World” sells for about $20 to $25.

Q. I found an unopened box of 24 cans of King Oscar Brisling sardines in a cupboard while cleaning out my parents’ house. They were given to my father 15 years ago and never opened. Are the sardines still safe to eat?

A. If the cans have been stored properly and not exposed to temperature extremes or moisture, the sardines should be safe to eat for about five years from the date of purchase. The quality and taste might not be as good as it was originally. Fifteen years is too long. Don’t eat the sardines you found. You can use them to fertilize the plants in your garden if the fish were packed in water, not oil. Add the contents of one can of sardines to the hole before planting a new plant. Sprinkle some used coffee grounds on top to discourage animals

from digging up the sardines and to absorb the fish odor. The fish and coffee grounds add nutrients to the soil.

TIP: The longer the cylinder on an old music box, the higher the price.

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.

This brass inlaid inkstand was made in Victorian London. A label on its base provides insight into its history. (2023 BY COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)

Average long-term US mortgage rate jumps to 6.5% this week

By M ATT O TT Associated Press

THE AVERAGE

long-term U.S. mortgage rate jumped this week to its highest level since November, more grim news for a housing market that’s been in decline for a year.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average on the benchmark 30-year rate rose to 6.5% from 6.32% last week. The average rate a year ago was 3.89%.

The average long-term rate reached a two-decade high of 7.08% in the fall as the Federal Reserve continued to raise its key lending rate in a bid to cool the economy and quash persistent, four-decade high inflation.

At its first meeting of 2023 earlier this month, the Fed raised its benchmark lending rate by another 25 basis points, its eighth increase in less than a year. That pushed the central bank’s key rate to a range of 4.5% to 4.75%, its highest level in 15 years.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted at the time that some measures of inflation have eased, but appeared to suggest that he foresees two additional quarter-point rate hikes this year. Minutes from that meeting released Wednesday mostly corroborated that view, but a series of strong economic reports in recent weeks has some analysts forecasting

more than two rate increases this year, to a range of 5.25% to 5.5%.

While the Fed’s rate hikes do impact borrowing rates across the board for businesses and families, rates on 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 big rise in mortgage rates during the past year has battered the housing market, with sales of existing homes falling for 12 straight months to the slowest pace in more than a dozen years. January’s sales cratered by nearly 37% from a year earlier, the National Association of Realtors reported on Tuesday.

For all of 2022, NAR reported last month that existing U.S. home sales fell 17.8% from 2021, the weakest year for home sales since 2014 and the biggest annual decline since the housing crisis began in 2008.

Higher rates can add hundreds of a dollars a month in costs for homebuyers, on top of already high home prices.

Deeds

AGAWAM

Anthony E. Heim and Olivia Heim to Mitchell J. Sparrow and Denise Spina, 70 Lealand Ave., $399,900.

Anthony Surrette and Nicole E. Apostle to Carrie Ann Pouliot and Brett A. Raymond, 103 Lealand Ave., $308,000.

Bernard R. Tatro Jr., to Betty Bonavita and Laura Bonavita, 12b Castle Hill Road, $300,000.

Betty L. Bonavita, Laura M. Bonavita-Suarez and Jon Brett Suarez to Gregg A. Richers and Nida Richers, 60 Dogwood Lane, Unit 60, $265,000. Norman A. Pelley to Timofey Pchelka, Mark Drive, Lot 1, $70,000.

Richard E. Strawn and Yvonne

M. Favreau to Anna Meassick, 24 Horsham Place, $285,000. Stage Harbor Realty LLC, to 40 Bowles Road LLC, Andrew H. Mirkin, trustee, and Andrew H. Mirkin Revocable Indenture Of Trust Of, trustee of, 40 Bowles Road, $1,250,000.

Telman K. Bilalov and Zarina Bilalova to Jonathan Alicea and Maria Silva, 955 River Road, $460,000.

Wendy F. Preston and Wendy E. Preston to Timothy R. Roy and Alyssa Fondakowski, 17 Merrell Drive, $265,000.

AMHERST

Matthew Dufresne and Elizabeth Dufresne to Matthew S. Goldberg and Larissa R. Chernock, 30 Dana Place and 0 Dana Place, $1,500,000.

Jill C. Villatoro, personal representative, and Kay F. Butler, estate, to USA Housing & Urban Development, 7 Bedford Court, $142,825.

BELCHERTOWN

J. N. Duquette & Son Construction Inc., to Richard C. Royce Jr., and Ann V. Royce, 25 Sycamore Circle, $561,625.

CHESTER

Joyce Crawford, Joyce H. Crawford and Matthew Paul Crawford to Robert J. Pierce and Heidi J. Pierce, 72 Maynard Hill Road, $40,000.

CHICOPEE

Christine Ann Larson to Nelson Delgado, 585 Sheridan St., Unit 2, $240,000.

Michael A. Ruyffelaert and Paula N. Ruyffelaert to Aida Done Tejada, 22-24 Monroe St., $390,000.

Ramona Mejia Romero to La Cunca LLC, 872 Meadow St., $400,000.

Susana Navarro and Jesus F. Navarro to Karen O’Connor, 44B Colonial Circle, $177,500.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Nilda Doris Wotton to Tyler Stuhr and Elizabeth Amoroso, 331 Elm St., $343,650.

Tho Le to David Robbins and Samuel N. Robbins, 12 Speight Arden, $271,000.

EASTHAMPTON

Chris C. Murphy and Jennifer F. Silver to Chris C. Murphy and Jennifer F. Silver, 26 Hisgen Ave., $100.

Scott N. Phaneuf, Scott Phaneuf, Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf and Donna Phaneuf to Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf, trustee, and Phaneuf Family 2023 Irrevocable Trust, 0 Water Street, $100.

Scott N. Phaneuf, Scott Phaneuf, Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf and Donna Phaneuf to Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf, trustee, and Phaneuf Family 2023 Irrevocable Trust, 15-25 Maple St., $100.

Joseph P. Yarasavych and Christina T. Yarasavych to Paul-Michael

McKenna, trustee, and Yarasavych Irrevocable Trust, 116 Cottage St., and 5 Orchard St., $100.

Jessie R. Casinghino and Melissa A. Casinghino to Margaret Mary O’Neill, 61 West St., $360,000. Michael J. Doherty, Henry J. Doherty and Quinn J. Doherty to Stephen C. Robinson, 6 Hill Ave., $250,000.

Alfred J. Albano Jr., commissioner, and Timothy Polonis to Veteran Stan LLC, 23 Mt. Tom Ave., $170,000.

GILL

Michael R. Duprey to Christopher M. Duprey, 25 Riverview Drive. $120,000.

HADLEY

John T. Sibley, Christina S. Sibley and Christina S. Monet to Roxanne Schneider, 3 Birch Meadow Drive, $672,014.

HATFIELD

Mill River Ventures Inc., to Prospect Court LLC, 2-4 Prospect Court, $380,000.

Scott N. Phaneuf, Scott Phaneuf, Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf and Donna Phaneuf to Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf, trustee, and Phaneuf Family 2023 Irrevocable Trust, 80 Prospect St., $100.

Scott N. Phaneuf and Donna Helems-Phaneuf to Donna M. Helems-Phaneuf, trustee, and Phaneuf Family 2023 Irrevocable Trust, 84 Prospect St., $100.

HOLLAND

Wittig Properties LLC, to David Wittig, 6 Vinton Road, $100.

HOLYOKE

Alyssa R. Sampson, representative, Sabrina A. Sampson, SEE DEEDS, PAGE F8

$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 the sample used. Fees reflect charges relative to the APR. If your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s value, you will be subject to private mortgage insurance, or PMI. FHA mortgages include both UFMIP and MIP fees based on loan amount of $165,000

Deeds

CONTINUED FROM PAGE

representative, and Diane R. Sampson, estate, to Massachusetts Comm Capital Asset Management & Maintenance, 155 Fairmont St., $250,000.

Angel L. Garcia to Ayannah J. Cruz and Lydia A. Pares, 17-19 Dexter St., $320,000.

Gary Croteau, representative, Gerard R. Croteau, estate, Raymond Croteau, Roland Croteau and Denis Croteau to Kathleen A. Hughes, trustee, and Raleigh Realty Trust, trustee of, 81 North East St., $182,500.

Jennifer Bonnano, Jennifer Bonanno and Donna L. Horkun to Ryan Partridge, 26 Edbert Drive, $257,000.

William L. Kozlowski and William J. Kozlowski to Plata O Plomo Inc., 136 Pearl St., $70,000.

HUNTINGTON

Wayne F. McKinney and Amy Hollowell to Edward K. Osborn and Wendy Osborn, 0 Norwich Lake, $7,500.

Robert I. White and Marion E. White to Massachusetts Comm Conservation & Recreation, 0 Jourdan Road Off, $95,000.

LEVERETT

Keith Smukler, trustee of 15 Chestnut Hill Road Trust, to Donna L. Zimmerman and Roger P. Zimmerman, 15 Chestnut Hill Road, $620,000.

LONGMEADOW

Bruno M. Gallerani, Nancy Jean Busque, Nancy Gallerani, Deena Gallerani and Deena Perrault to Zachary C. Bell, 43 Maple Road, $375,000.

LUDLOW

Brian Dooley and Mirangeles Davis Dooley to Julia Jaye Barrett and John Patrick Kearns, 69 Old Coach Circle, $440,000. P & E Properties Inc., to Kelly Morin, 12 Pleasantview St., $375,900.

Revampit LLC, to Harry V. Mills, 38 Stivens Terrace, $350,000. Veteran Stan LLC, to Healthy Neighborhoods Group LLC, 60 Blanchard Ave., $145,000.

MONSON

Argolica LLC, to Samantha Pond and Tyler Augusto, 85 Upper Palmer Road, $345,000.

Penelope W. Quinlan, trustee, and Quinlan Land Trust, trustee of, to Russell Wilmot and Floramie Wilmot, Reimers Road, $57,900.

Wayne A. Jasmin and Lori Jasmin to Ronald T. Chamberlin, 50 Thayer Road, $232,500.

MONTAGUE

Benjamin Crane Miller to Steven A. Carra and Alexandra M. Lucey-Carra, 7-9 Federal St., $311,661.

NORTHAMPTON

Jonathan A. Wright to Forty-Eight Bates LLC, 48 Bates St., $780,000.

Don Lia to Cosenzi Automotive Realty LP, 171 King St., 187 King St., and 0 King St., $5,250,000.

Charles D. Breguet, personal representative, John P. Breguet, personal representative, and Patricia A. Bregeut, estate, to Elliot Ezcurra, 356 Chesterfield Road, $327,250.

Stacy L. Page to Nu-Way Homes Inc., 0 Milton St., $135,000.

ORANGE

Alan E. Leblanc to Tina Hayat Benali, 501 Oxbow Road, $595,000.

Mark R. Monette to Steven D. Swift, 97 Adams St., $350,000.

Nelson J. Bezio,Jr., to Andrew P. Kuppermann, 48 Camp Road, $330,000.

Catherine M. Hatch, personal representative of the Estate of Erick Armstrong Starr, “aka” Erick A. Starr, to Jillian Cluett and Jarad May, 75 Mechanic St., $173,000.

Arthur D. Johnson and Maureen L. Johnson to Homestead Real Estate Investors LLC, 12 Chase St., $250,000.

Katelyn A. Batutis and Brody M. Cullen to Tracy Fisher, 78 Shelter St., $278,000.

PALMER

Daniel J. Dupuis to Daniel J. Dupuis and Alicia T. Farrell, 2098 Calkins Road, $20,064.

Helena Paez to Jacqueline Dieppa and Jessica Spiece, 4026 Pleasant St., $350,000.

Joel Wall and Charmaine L. Wall to Paul Ireland, 395 Wilbraham St., $180,000.

Ryan A. Marriott to Sheila Sullivan, 4129 Main St., $299,000.

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College and

Trustees of Mount Holyoke College to Azam Khan and Mamoona Azam, 79 College St., $385,000.

Vantage Care South Hadley Realty LLC, to South Hadley Property Holdings LLC, 573 Granby Road, $9,000,000. South Hadley Property Holdings LLC, to Properties of Reddy Family LLC I, 573 Granby Road, $2,726,000.

Properties of Reddy Family LLC I, to South Hadley Property Holdings LLC, 573 Granby Road, $2,726,000.

Joanne Hay and John J. Hay Jr., to Brian Dooley and Mirangeles Davis Dooley, 369 Granby Road, $475,000.

SOUTHAMPTON

Donald W. Fanska and Vicky Lynn Fanska to Carol Ann Childers and Jewell W. Childers, 6 Bluemer Road, $125,000.

Penny S. Lambert and Bryan M. Lambert to Daniel Joseph Regan Jr., Melissa Anne Querceto and Melissa Anne Regan, 36 College Highway, $280,000.

SOUTHWICK

Stephen Werman and Michael Werman to Rebecca Frances Vanossenbruggen, 44 Birchwood Road, $245,000.

SPRINGFIELD

181 Chestnut LLC, to 181 Chestnut Street LLC, 181-187 Chestnut St., $960,000.

Allan P. Scully to Quest Wedderburn, 85-87 San Miguel St., $312,000.

Andrea Lieber Brinnel to Alexander M. Cohen and Chava Z. Cohen, 30A Halifax Court, Unit G131, $275,000.

Aziz Salem and Vivian Salem to Ru Jing Jhao, E\S Ambrose St., $295,500.

Brittney C. Patrie, Brittney C. Musiak and Martin Musiak to Aziz F. Salem and Vivian J. Salem, 247 Hanson Drive, $300,000.

Craig David and Mary A. David to Wayne A. Jasmin and Lori A. Jasmin, 321 Grand Valley Road, $365,900.

Diplomat Property Manager LLC, to ML Saleh Holdings Inc., 8082 Silver St., $215,000.

Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Papaoutai Realty Trust, trustee of, to Wiljanet Cornier, 166 Laurelton St., $200,000.

Hedge Hog Industries Corp., to Cindy Mercedes, 122 School St., $290,000.

Home Care VNA LLC, to Razzak Building LLC, 39-41 Mulberry St, $365,000.

Jessica Spiece and Jacqueline Dieppa to Victor Ramirez and Leyla Ramirez, 1293 Bradley Road, $272,000.

Justin C. Ngendakumana and Juayesi Mukobwajana to Ovidio A. Bravo Soto, 36-38 Chapel St., $300,000.

Kevin J. Czaplicki to Jeanette Enriquez, 49-51 Dubois St., $385,000.

Laila L. Atta and Patrick C. Bennett to Thomas Christopher Weldon, 97 Nassau Drive, Unit 97, $157,000.

Lawrence Pellegrini to Maria Placanica, 235 State St., Unit C12, $6,000.

Madeleine Cadorette to Khalif Mohamed and Shakayla Lawrence-Mohamed, 581 Tinkham Road, $332,000.

Mercedes Delgado and Mercedes Delgado Lorenzo to Kevin M Perez Delgado, 585 Chestnut St, $273,000.

Naylor Nation Real Estate LLC, to Elvis A. Presinal, 229 Walnut St., $310,000.

Nicholas B. Commisso, Susan M. Gwozdz and Susan M. Commisso to Jenna Frangiamore, 53 Treetop Ave., $247,000.

Noor K. Naji, Naji K. Naji and Noel Nieves to Maria T. Cancel Rodriguez, 1023 Allen St., $260,000.

Springfield Redevelopment Authority to Ana Nieves, South Side Bay St., $1,000.

Ramon Rivera to Erick C. Weber and Annamay A. Weber, 68-70 Wallace St., $245,000.

RBT Enterprise LLC, to Kyle D. Ollmann, 3-5 Noel St., $330,000.

Robert A. Hickson, representative, and Oliver C. Mitchell, estate, to Moncerrate Delgado and Zor Garcia Delgado, 145 South Branch Parkway, $260,900.

Russell Seelig to Geraldo S. Kwakye, 116-120 Longhill St., Unit 2C, $112,000.

Scott A. Burns to Kathryn P. Merchand, 143 Gilbert Ave., $235,000.

Sherry Scagliarini and John Scagliarini to Equity Trust Co., custodian, Robert Lareau IRA, and Robert Lareau, 58 Blaine St., $160,000.

Stephen Waite and Michaelena Waite to Andrew Gove and Makayla Cote, 47 Sierra Vista Road, $317,000.

Tammy A. Jarry, Tammy A. Cassidy and Randall R. Jarry to Tyler Leslie Henderson, 1427 Sumner Ave., $175,000.

WALES

Brandon J. Wettlaufer to Susan Michelle Commisso, 8 Polly Road, $330,000.

WARE

Meiling Shi and Hong Rong Li to Mark Rovezzi, 42 Dunham Ave., $295,000.

Gary B. Hebert, Mieko Hebert and Gary B. Hebert, attorney-in-fact, to Gary B. Hebert, 55 Shoreline Drive, $100.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Clement G. Fasolino and Genevieve V. Pacitti to Joseph Rocco, 211 Bonnie Brae Drive, $84,400. Wicked Deals LLC, to Blackrock SH Group LLC, 15 East School St., $239,900.

WESTFIELD

Angel Naula to Marat Markarian and Valerian Saribegov, 240 Russellville Road, $105,000. Bals Properties LLC, to Sohair Arno and Andrea A. Kallfa, 89 White St., $212,500.

Douglas Swain, trustee, Mary Swain, trustee, and DMS Realty Trust, trustee of, to Kathleen Hocker, 555 Russell Road, Unit F39, $161,000.

Eileen Sullivan-Boss, conservator, and Hilda Surprenant to William M. Adamczyk, 68 Meadow St., $136,000.

Magerick LLC, to Andrey Agapov and Yana Agapov, 456 N Road, $163,500.

Richard W. Witherell and Peter C. Witherell to Arsenika Merenkov, 8 Sunflower Lane, Unit B, $265,000.

WESTHAMPTON

Kimberly A. Pedigo to David W. Kelley, 348 Southampton Road, $650,000.

Janna V. Ugone to Nancy Whalen-Viola and James S. Viola, 44 Pine Island Lake, $320,000.

WILBRAHAM

Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Lost Sailor Realty Trust, trustee of, to Lisa A. Massie, 109 Silver St., $652,000.

David F. Gibb Jr., trustee, Jennifer M. Silva, trustee, and David F. Gibb Revocable Indenture Of Trust Of, trustee of, to Maryann Nunez, 9 High Pine Circle, Unit 9, $459,750.

Golden Gorillas LLC, to Martin Musiak and Brittney Musiak, 23 Rochford Drive, $410,000.

Compost

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2

of the composting guidelines are built for the safest, lowestrisk situation,” she says. “Your compost bin should never keep you up at night.”

Here are the best composting operations no matter your level of commitment, or your living situation:

• A 400-square-foot apartment

Anyone can collect food scraps in a bin. The main problem for urban dwellers is to find a spot for the food to break down and do its thing. They have more options now.

- Easy: Hundreds of cities and private firms collect curbside composting. GreenBlue, an environmental nonprofit organization, has mapped them out. It’s a nobrainer to take advantage of these. If your city doesn’t offer compost pickup, it may have drop-off sites. To find or create a place near you, try MakeSoil, a nonprofit entity that matches people with food scraps to composting sites. If you live near one, it’s easy enough to store a few days’ worth of compost in a bin, freezer or bucket to take there. Another option: You can band together with neighbors or a community garden to start your own. If you have easy access to off-site compost, that’s the way to go. But if you want to compost in your apartment, you have several choices.

- More involved (and expensive): There’s the emerging (almost) composting space. These are slick devices starting around $300 that process food scraps at the click of a button. Appliances like the Vitamix FoodCycler, Lomi and Mill grind up scraps and then dehydrate them. The resulting food grounds — not yet true compost since they are mostly dried-out organic matter — can be added to any garden strip or sent back to the company to be fed to livestock.

Mill’s bin, for example, fills up over the course of about

three weeks for an average U.S. household. The device turns food waste into dried particles that are sent back to the company via the Postal Service for chicken feed. Membership for Mill’s service gets you all the equipment, shipping and filter refills for $33 per month.

Mill co-founder Matt Rogers, who helped launch the Nest smart thermostat, this year started to help households, and eventually cities, deal with their food waste problem. “It’s too hard to do the right thing right now,” he says. Based on an independent life cycle analysis, Mill estimates each household with its appliance prevents about half a ton of carbon emissions per year, equivalent to driving about 1,200 miles, primarily by avoiding landfills and replacing crops grown for livestock poultry. The machine uses the same amount of energy as a dishwasher — about $6 per month.

red wiggler worms online (imagine earthworms), and they’ll happily root around in your scraps and soil. It’s a bit of work, but some composters enjoy the process (and doit-yourself versions exist). Your affinity for the little invertebrates will probably determine whether this is for you.

One benefit? It’s the world’s best houseplant fertilizer. “Vermicompost outdid everything,” says Brown. (More on worms later.)

• A house with a yard

Your options widen if you have outside space, even if it’s not very much.

air to keep the microbes happy. It’s insulated to trap heat and requires no mixing. Worms are optional. One with rave reviews sells for $379.99 at Costco. That’s pricey, but gardeners say the cost is quickly offset by a steady stream of rich compost, which they would otherwise buy for as much as $30 a bag.

I was skeptical the energy penalty of operating the appliance would outweigh climate benefits, but Sarah Brown, a soil scientist at the University of Washington who consulted with the company, says it’s still a net-positive for the environment since it avoids methane emissions from landfills and crop production for poultry. “This is why I’m excited about these appliances,” says Brown. “They make it easy. You have no excuse not to use one of these.”

Except, perhaps, price. The Lomi VIP sells for about $542. - Most involved (with side benefits): There are small vertical worm farms with several trays that fit under the sink or in a closet. Done right, they don’t smell or attract flies. You mix food scraps with some shredded paper or other brown material the worms love. Within days, the worms begin creating crumbly black soil and move upward as new food is added to each layer. You can order bags of live

- Easy: One technique popular in the United Kingdom is the green cone digester. A perforated basket is buried a few feet underground or in a container on a hard surface. A green double-walled plastic cone sits above it. You dump in food scraps. The trapped heat from the sun and natural organisms in the soil rapidly decompose everything inside, an oxidation process that happens more slowly with true compost. This process breaks down as much as 90 percent of the volume into nutrients that migrate into the soil as they decompose, nourishing nearby plants.

You don’t get compost out of the system, but it’s an easy way to return two pounds of daily kitchen waste to the soil within an area of a few square feet - even pet waste, allegedly, according to the manufacturer, since the temperature inside can exceed 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You can buy digesters online, or through your waste authority in places like Vermont.

- More involved: Another option replaces the more traditional big tumblers or plastic bins, both of which require more tending than some people might like. The Aerobin Composter, an Australian invention, essentially combines the benefits of the large plastic bin — a hot, self-contained and pest-resistant container — with an internal air conduit so compost receives enough

Plus, you’ll avoid the fate of my intrepid editor, who installed two large plastic composting bins in her backyard. Her intentions were good. Each was filled to the brim with eggshells, yard waste, kitchen scraps, a Christmas tree and at least one coconut. But without the right moisture level and aeration, the microbes and worms failed to thrive. The composting process has ground to a halt. Two years later, she’s living with the equivalent two large garbage cans.

Now she knows how to restart the process — and she has her eye on an Aerobin.

- My choice: I live in a condo with a small backyard. I have a little concrete pad where I use a flow-through system called the Urban Worm Farm. It’s essentially a large canvas cone hung on a frame. You dump organic matter on top. The worms, which prefer the freshly added food, migrate up, allowing you to empty mature compost at the bottom over time.

Worms used for composting can consume about a third of their own weight daily. A farm like mine with a few thousand worms can process one or two pounds of scraps and waste per day, according to the manufacturer. About half emerges as compost.

I haven’t had a problem with smells or pests. When the mixture appeared too wet, I shredded a few paper bags and added them. The worms seemed to throw a party in their new, drier digs. Ultimately, I’ve found the little creatures, once you get to know them, are charming in their own way. Now, I can wait as long as two weeks before throwing out the trash. And the compost? Well, you should see the tomatoes I grow.

(MICHELLE MISHINA KUNZ / THE NEW YORK TIMES)

Annual plant shows and sales return

NEW ENGLAND

Botanic Garden at Tower Hill recently announced the lineup of annual plant shows slated to appear at the Boylston-based Garden this year. On select weekends from February to October, shows hosted in partnership with regional plant societies will dazzle Garden visitors with beautiful blooms and artful displays grown and created by society members. Each show spotlights a specific plant group such as camellias, rhododendron, dahlias, lilies, carnivorous plants, and more. Visitors can experience the fascinating variety that exists within plant families and gain plant care tips from experts.

New England Botanic Garden event specialist Cassie Lane collaborates with plant societies to coordinate these events, and she is excited to share this year’s calendar with the community. “We’ve seen

Notes

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4

raffle items.

SPRINGFIELD Garden Club Scholarship

The Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for their annual $2,000 scholarship awarded to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a full-time plant science or environmental studies program, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, land management or other allied fields.

The candidate must be a resident of Hampden County, demonstrate financial need

that these shows provide an excellent platform for spreading knowledge and enthusiasm for growing different plants,” she says. In addition to lectures, demonstrations, and displays, many plant shows at the Garden also feature rare and unusual plants available for sale. “If you’re looking for something unique to add to your own houseplant or garden collection, and you’d like tips for growing it successfully, plant shows are for you,” Lane adds.

Schedule of 2023 plant shows:

• New England Camellia Society Display: Sunday, Feb. 26.

• Baystate African Violet Society Exhibit and Sale: Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30.

• Seven States Daffodil Society Show: Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7.

• Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododen-

and have adequate academic standing. High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate college students are eligible for consideration. For additional information and to request a copy of the application contact Jane Glushik at SGCscholarship@ gamil.com or Elizabeth Tongue at 413-627-5503. Scholarship applications are to be completed and meet the submission deadline of March 31 to be eligible for consideration.

AGAWAM Garden Club Scholarship

The Agawam Garden Club is offering their annual scholarship to a graduating senior of Agawam High School or a college student who graduated from Agawam High School. One of the following majors qualify: botany,

dron Society Show and Sale: Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21.

• New England Rose Society Show & Sale: Saturday, June 17.

• New England Lily Society Show: Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16.

• New England Daylily Society Show and Sale: Saturday, July 22.

• Buxton Branch of the American Begonia Society and the New England Chapter of the Gesneriad Society Show and Sale: Saturday, Sept. 16,

environmental engineering, environmental science, earth systems, forest management, natural resources, plant soil & insect science, sustainable agriculture, sustainable horticulture or food & farming, turf grass science and management, landscape design and management technology, clean energy, technology studies: wastewater, or other environmental studies not mentioned above.

Interested applicants must submit the following required documents: a copy of high school transcript and a copy of college acceptance letter for high school seniors, copy of all college/university transcripts for a college student who graduated from Agawam High School, two references, and a completed scholarship application which includes a paragraph on who or what was most influential in your commitment to intended major, how this scholarship

and Sunday, Sept. 17.

• New England Dahlia Society Show and Sale: Saturday, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24.

• New England Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale: Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1.

• Boston Chapter of Ikebana International Show and Sale: Friday, Oct. 13, Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15.

Plant shows at New England Botanic Garden are included in regular admis -

would impact your future goals, and post college graduation plans. Applications are available at the Agawam High School Guidance office or online at https://agawamgardenclub.com. Documents should be mailed to Denise Carmody, Secretary, Agawam Garden Club, 40 Primrose Lane, Agawam, MA 01001 and must be received by April 1.

WEST SPRINGFIELD Garden Club Scholarship

The West Springfield Garden Club has announced that two $1,000 scholarships are available to qualifying high school senior students during the spring of 2023. Applicants must be a resident of West Springfield and be a current student with a minimum “B” average or better in science related courses.

sion, and purchasing tickets online in advance is recommended. To learn more about this year’s upcoming shows, visit nebg.org/shows/ With questions about New England Botanic Garden and its array of events and exhibitions, contact Public Relations Manager Liz Nye at lnye@nebg.org.

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is located in Boylston and open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

They must submit a written 1-page document which demonstrates their plans for after high school graduation in any of the below-mentioned fields and how the grant will assist in their career choice.

Scholarships are available for students with a focus of study in one or more of the following areas: horticulture, agriculture, ecology, botany, environmental studies, landscape design or forestry. Eligible candidates will submit their completed application and written entry to the WSHS Guidance Office no later than April 14. Please pick up instructions & application forms from the WSHS Guidance Department.

The successful candidates will be notified via mail in mid-May.

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

Camellia blossom at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. (CREDITS: NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN/ MEGAN STOUFFER)

APARTMENT WANTED

I am a new member of the leadership team at The Republican and am looking for a studio or onebedroom apartment to rent in Hampden County. I own a home in Franklin County but seek weekday housing close to Springfield. I can provide references, including from a 2020 housing rental during a journalism fellowship in Wisconsin. I’m flexible on availability, but would like to occupy in March or April. I would like to occasionally bring my very well-manned border collie mix, Charlie, to stay at the apartment and to accompany me as I get to know the Springfield area. Please contact me at lawrence.parnass @gmail.com or text 413-588-8341.

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

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

7 Year old Golden Retriever male, available, friendly, great with kids. $50.00. Call or text 802-323-2538

BE MY PUPPY VALENTINE 8 weeks only, Boston Terrier AKC Puppies, 4 black & white females, 1 red & white male. Call for details. 413-252-1463

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

German Shepherd Pups, 6 males, 3 females, AKC paperwork, shots & wormed, written hip & health guar. Parents on premises. Raised in country setting. $1500/ea. Call 978-249-3724

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

Labradorpuppies,9wks old,blackandyellow available,vet-checked, 1stsetofshotsand wormed,parentsonsite, asking $900, 413-813-1585

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 details

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

1,000’s of sports cards, all big stars, at least 50% off. 1950’s to present. BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS, RETIRED VETERAN Selling at $5.00 per box. CALL 413-596-5783

2022 National Purple Heart $5 Gold Proof coin. Issued by US mint, low mintage with box, COA, $810./best offer, call 413-426-7063

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 $$$ Cash For Stamps $$$

New:Twowickerchairsw/ cushons,twofootstools w/cushons,onewicker table.$275orbestoffer. 413-733-1613

Cash paid, LP records 45’s, CD’s, reel-to-reel tapes. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Classical. Scott 518-424-8228

413-665-2877

Aaron Posnik

PUBLIC AUCTION

FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD AT 11:00 A.M. MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE • SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS •

• (30) RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM UNITS •

• (1) COMMERCIAL OFFICE UNIT • (1) STORAGE UNIT •

• (14) INTERIOR ATTACHED

PUBLIC AUCTION

THURSDAY, MARCH 9TH at 11:00 A.M.

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

• SPRINGFIELD

1½ STORY CAPE STYLE HOME

BUILDING: Four Story Brick Condominium Building • ±1¼

Acres of Land (±53,325 S/F) • ±122’ Frontage on Sumner Avenue

• (2) Curb Cuts on Sumner Avenue • Public Water & Sewer •

• Slab Foundation • Flat Roof • Passenger Elevator • (4) Common Stairwells • Sprinklered (Retail & Storage Spaces, Mechanical Rooms) • Central Fire Alarm • Smoke Detectors • Pull Stations •

• Common Amenities: Laundry Room, Storage Rooms, Main Lobby & All Surface Parking Spaces •

CONDOMINIUM UNITS: Units range in size from ±590 to ±925 S/F • (30) One & Two Bedroom Units (22) Two Bedroom Units & (8) One Bedroom Units • (1) Commercial/Office Unit (±2,710 S/F) • (1) Storage Space (±1,498 S/F) • Each Unit:

Gas-Fired HVAC Units • Central Air Conditioning •

• Sheetrock Walls • Units Individually Metered • Carpeted, Vinyl & Ceramic Tile Flooring •

INTERIOR GARAGES (ATTACHED): (14) One Car Garages •

• Ranging in Size from ±236 S/F to ±247 S/F •

OUTSIDE GARAGES (DETACHED): (9) One Car Garages •

• Ranging in Size from ±260 S/F to ±268 S/F •

1% BROKER INCENTIVE OFFERED!! Sale Per Order Of Mortgagee

ERS

- BOARD GAMES – NINTENDO GAME BOYS - AF BOOKS - WII GAMES – SEGA GENESIS –GAME CUBE – DREAM CAST DVD GAMES – POKEMON – PS5 GAMES (NEW RELEASES). GAMES ALL IN SEALED BOXES FROM $19.95 TO $350 PLUS. REPAIR KITS, CABLES, ADAPTERS, CONTROLLERS, CORDS, DISPLAY RACKS AND SHOWCASES, LARGE SCARY CANVAS WALL DISPLAY, MODEL PAINT, FLAT SCREEN TV’S, FOLDING TABLES, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS SEALED VIDEO GAMES, 3 DRAWER METAL STORAGE CABINETS, FIXTURES, AUTOGRAPHED PICTURES, CASH REGISTERS, OFFICE EQUIPMENT, SCARY STATUES, LOADED BASEMENT OF NEW INVENTORY SEALED GAMES AND VIDEOS, PLAYSTATIONS, CONTROLLERS

EVERYTHING WILL BE SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. NO HOLD-BACKS. MUST VACATE THE PREMISES UNLESS TERMS CAN BE MADE WITH THE CURRENT OWNER(S) OF THE PREMISES.

TERMS: CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS ONLY OR A BANK LETTER GUARANTEEING YOUR CHECK. INSPECTION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. ONLY. RESELLERS MUST BRING AND LEAVE A COPY OF THEIR RESALE CERTIFICATE WITH AUCTIONEER OR 6.25% MASS. SALES TAXES WILL APPLY. 15% BUYERS PREMIUM WILL APPLY ON ALL SALES. A $200 REFUNDABLE CASH DEPOSIT WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN BIDDERS CARD. (NO EXCEPTIONS OR PERSONAL CHECKS). REMOVAL CAN START ONCE YOUR PURCHASES HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL WHEN AUCTION IS OVER. ALL INVOICES MUST BE PAID IN FULL AT THE END OF THE AUCTION (NO EXCEPTIONS). COME PREPARED. BRING EMPTY BOXES, HELP, HAND TRUCKS, CASH. ALL OTHER TERMS ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO THE AUCTION SALE. GO TO WWW.ESSA.US.COM FOR PHOTOS SALE PER ORDER COMM. OF MASS. DEPT. OF REVENUE TAX SEIZURE UNIT, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. OFFICE.

EDWARD F. SMITH MA LIC #126 EDWARD F. SMITH, JR LIC #2294 AVENUE AUCTION SALES 80 MYRTLE ST., NO. QUINCY, MA AUCTIONEER 617-770-1600 FAX 617-770-1635 APPRAISER WWW.ESSA.US.COM

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

12:00 PM - CHESTER

70 Ingell Road

Multi-Bldg,

NORTH CHELMSFORD (978) 251-1150 www.baystateauction.com

MAAU#: 1029, 2624, 2959, 3039, 2573, 116, 2484, 3246, 2919, 3092, 3107, 0100030, 3099