ON A MICROSCOPIC level, composting refers to a biological process where bacteria, fungi and even worms break down organic material to generate a product that looks like soil but is technically a soil amendment. This nutrient-rich blend can be used to improve soil quality, making it easier to grow everything from house plants to crops.
On a practical level, compost — a product formed in darkness — is increasingly stepping into the spotlight.
Earlier this year, New York City announced plans to expand its composting program citywide by late 2024, the latest example of a trend that in the U.S. started with San Francisco’s launch of a composting program in 1996. Other cities, including Seattle, Boston and Boulder, Colo., have also unveiled composting programs, and in 2020 Vermont went a step further, banning the disposal of food scraps in trash or landfill waste.
For municipalities, composting is often cheaper than landfilling over the long term, says Eric A. Goldstein, a lawyer who works on New
York City programs at the nonprofit NRDC. “The cost of disposal is higher at landfills and incinerators because municipalities are dropping off a product that is a waste product that has no practical use,” Goldstein says.
For individuals and locales looking to cut their emissions, composting also has the benefit of helping to address climate change.
“When food scraps and yard waste are buried in landfills, they decompose and generate methane, a very potent global warming gas,” Goldstein says.
“Landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions in the United States. So if we are going to get a handle on the climate crisis, we’ve got to find a way of keeping organics like food scraps and yard waste out of landfills.”
Actually doing that, though, can seem daunting at first — plenty of Americans are still figuring out what goes in which recycling bin. While composting guidelines vary based on where you are and what kind of bin you have access to, here are some tips for how to compost across the U.S.
There are a few different ways to compost. Your city or municipality can collect your food waste if it has a program in place. You can also drop
your food waste off at specific composting collection locations, or you can compost at home.
If your community has a composting program, it usually involves getting a dedicated composting bin — they’re green in San Francisco and brown in New York City — that is picked up on a set schedule, often weekly. In addition to compost pickup, many cities also have drop-off services that allow people to leave their compost at dedicated bins on the street, or in locales like farmers markets and community gardens. If you don’t have access to community collection or drop-off locations, that doesn’t mean composting is out of reach: There are a growing number of private residential composting services. In some parts of New England, for example, Bootstrap Compost will drop off a five-gallon bucket for
THERE’S NOTHING like a wishing well to add a little mysterious charm to the landscape. Children can’t resist the idea of making a wish, and even adults have been known to toss in a penny or two. Although this do-it-yourself version doesn’t hold water, it will add an instant focal point to the yard or garden.
The project is simple enough for most woodworkers. The wall is constructed of “bricks” cut from standard 2-by-4 lumber and laid out on a template using glue and nails, so there’s no masonry involved. Other materials include standard 4-by-6 and 2-by-6 lumber, plus a single 4-by-8 sheet of exterior plywood for the roof.
The wishing well is built from redwood as pictured, but cedar or even pressure treated lumber work well, because all three withstand the elements and require little maintenance. The project can be finished clear, stained or painted as the builder desires.
The wishing well measures four feet in diameter and almost 7 feet tall, and includes authentic finishing touches like a bucket and an operating windlass with a crank.
The Wishing Well plan, No. 371, is $9.95 and in-
cludes complete step-by-step instructions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, a shopping list and a cutting schedule. Please include $3.95 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.
The Agawam Garden Club will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Judy Clini Conference Room at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St. Refreshments will be served. After a short business meeting, the speaker will be Sharon Alexander, who will present “Thriller, Filler, Spiller,” a container garden demonstration. After the program, the prepared garden containers will be raffled.
The First Congregation Church, 7 Somers Road, is having a plant sale on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a selection of heirloom plants from the church gardens for sale. From the gardens of church members and friends, there will be a variety of plants, trees, shrubs, herbs, flowering
vines, ground covers and perennials for sale. Some herb pot and specialty items will be available for Mothers’ Day gifts. In the gazebo, will be free coffee and a bake sale. Inside the church, will be a garden related tag sale, a paperback book sale and a used jewelry sale. There also will be a raffle for an extra-large garden basket filled with things to use in your garden.
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming events:
• “46th Plant and Answers
Plant Sale,” May 12 and 13. Early buying is available for Botanical Garden members on May 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. Hours for the general public are May 12, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and May 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Curated by the garden’s horticulture staff, this year’s plant sale features hundreds of perennials, annuals and
The project of the week: Wishing well.
JUST RECENTLY, ROWS of small, bright yellow tubes dangling from the branches of my flowering currant flared open at their ends like trumpets. Instead of a trumpet’s blare, a heavenly, clove-like aroma wafts across the garden from the open flowers.
Flowering currant is not to be confused with the more commonly planted alpine currant, a dense, twiggy shrub with inconpsicuous flowers and no fruit; or red currant, of jelly fame. Flowering currant produces black berries. Once
again, confusion can arise. The black currants that dangle from the stems of flowering currant are not to be confused with dried black currants you find in boxes on grocery shelves. Those boxes of dried “currants” actually are dried ‘Black Corinth’ grapes.
Flowering currant is also not to be confused with European blackcurrant, which also yields black currants, but these with a totally different flavor from that of clove currant. European black currants are sometimes available in the U.S. and are very
popular in northern Europe. Fowering currant goes under the appropriate botanical name of Ribes odoratum, as well as other common names such as clove currant, Missouri currant, buffalo currant, golden currant, and pruterberry. The bush grows about five feet tall and wide.
As an ornamental, the plant is best suited to the informal garden because of its loose growth habit. The willowy branches first shoot upwards, then arch towards the ground under their own weight. Vigorous suckers poke up through the soil a foot or more from the crown. The leaves
are a glaucous green through the summer, then turn a rich coppery bronze in fall.
As a native to our Great Plains, the flowering currant would be expected to, and does, tolerate extremes of heat, cold, and drought. In my garden the plants receive better treatment than in the wild. The soil around each plant is blanketed under a deep mulch of leaves, and each year I prune the plants by cutting off
OPEN HOUSE | 274 WEST FRANKLIN STREET | SUNDAY, MAY
an old-fashioned, native shrub, offers flower that are not only attractive, but also deliciously fragrant.
warmer weather, flowers blooming and more time spent outdoors, especially in the garden. Even if you’re as avid a gardener as Terry Kovel, the garden is never just a place for work. It’s a place to sit, relax and enjoy the view of your beautiful plants and the birds and butterflies they attract.
Garden seats have been used for centuries. Early garden seats in China, called zuodun, literally “a block to sit on,” were shaped like barrels with a stretched skin top held in place with nails. Later garden seats were made of porcelain but had the same barrel shape and featured decorative rows of bumps to resemble the old nail heads.
In 19th-century Europe and America, majolica, an earthenware pottery with thick, colorful tin glaze, was a popular material for garden seats, planters
and other garden furnishings. They often had three-dimensional nature-themed decorations, like flowers, leaves and insects. However, majolica is fragile, prone to chipping and cracking, so it should be brought inside during inclement weather or kept indoors. Victorians often kept majolica pieces in conservatories, or greenhouses, so they could be part of a nature setting without being exposed to the elements. Majolica stools are still sought as decorative items. This one that sold for $160 at Bunch Auctions was made in the 20th century, but shares the vivid colors and three-dimensional decorations of its Victorian predecessors.
Q. We have a dining room set that belonged to my in-laws. I think it’s from around the 1940s. One of the escutcheons on the buffet is missing. I had the piece
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.
Clothing, scarf, chocolate and brown silk, allover nested diamond pattern, tag, Salvatore Ferragamo, Italy, 8 1/2 x 55 inches, $40.
Toy, pedal car, taxi, pressed steel, yellow, black and white checkered trim, “TAXI” on side with outline of eagle and checkered panels, painted rate card, black windshield frame, $185.
Map, West Indies, Caribbean Sea, inset with Bermuda, decorative border, hand colored, engraved by D.G. Johnson, published by A.J. Johnson, New York, giltwood frame, c. 1880, 24 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches, $255.
Fireplace, firkin, wooden stave construction, two horizontal wooden bands, old yellow paint, inscribed “B. Flour,” inset flattened lid, arched hinged handle with pegs, 1800s, 11 1/4 inches, $385.
Furniture, stand, curly maple, rectangular top with raised edge, single drawer with brass ring pull, twist carved legs, ball feet, 24 x 18 x 17 inches, $415.
Scientific instrument, compass with sundial, brass, pocket style, adjustable gnomon and latitude arm, outer ring marked Troughton & Simms, England, 1800s, fitted leather case, closed dial 3/4 x 2 5/8 inches, $575.
Photograph, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, black and white, close cropped, signed in pen by photographer Jack Mitchell, numbered 1/20, 1980, 15 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches, $700.
Poster, travel, Folies Bergere, La Grande Folie, art deco man in top hat and nude woman, black and magenta on cream color ground, linen backing, 1920s, 20 3/4 x 13 1/2 inches $855.
Silver-sterling tray, oval, stepped raised rim, shaped cutout handles on ends, marked, Gorham, 15 3/4 x 22 1/4 inches, $1,125.
Music, guitar, acoustic, Martin & Co. HD-28, six-string, spruce top, ebony fretboard, diamond pattern strip on back, marbled pick guard, Martin & Co. label inside, original hard case with green lining, 41 x 15 1/12 x 4 3/4 inches, $3,450.
refinished and was told to try to find a match or replace all the escutcheons! I haven’t been able to find an antiques dealer or other source that has this type of thing. It’s circular with scalloped edges, a simple design and a hole in the center for the drawer pull. I was told these were stamped on a machine. Do you have any suggestions?
A. Unfortunately, the chance of finding an escutcheon with the exact design is slim. Several companies make reproduction or replacement hardware. Some are listed in the Business Directory on Kovels.com. Try searching the internet to see if you can find something similar. Look for something that is large enough to cover the same space. Figure the cost and then decide if you want to replace all the escutcheons.
Q. I have a Little Miss Kay doll from my childhood over 60 years ago. She is wearing a white and pink dress. The doll was purchased by mailing in a number of box tops from cereal. I’ve never seen this doll at stores or flea markets. Does the doll have any value other than senti-
metal repair shop that does re-tinning. If there is no one near you, you can find other places online. The company that made the copperware, or a store near you that sells similar pieces, might be able to recommend someone who does re-tinning. If you can’t get the pieces re-tinned, just use them as display items.
Q. I’d like some information about the short-lived Grossbaum & Sohne company of Dresden, Germany. Any pricing info would be greatly appreciated.
mental value?
A. Little Miss Kay is a 13-inchtall vinyl doll offered as a premium by Kellogg’s in 1960. It sold for $2 plus two box tops from Kellogg’s cereals. The doll came with four different outfits, a pastel striped dress, a red body suit with red and white striped skirt, flannel pajamas and a “play set” consisting of a top and pants. Three extra outfits could be bought for $1 plus two box tops. Some of the outfits came with a hat and panties. It’s been offered for sale online, with the original outfits, for about $50. The doll by itself, dressed, has sold for under $10.
Q. I have several copperware casseroles that have worn spots and probably need to be re-tinned. How can I find a place to get this done without needing to ship them? Is it dangerous to use these pieces as they are?
A. Don’t use the casseroles if the tin lining is worn off. Direct contact with tomatoes or other acidic food can cause small amounts of copper to leach into the food. If you live near a big city, you might find a local
A. Porzellanmalerei R. Grossbaum & Sohne (Porcelain Painting Grossbaum & Sons) was a porcelain decorating company started by R. Grossbaum and his sons in 1890. It was in business until 1914. The company decorated white porcelain blanks made by other companies. Most were hand painted with flowers and gilt trim. Not many pieces have been sold recently. Four demitasse cups and saucers sold for $54. A 10-inch plate was offered for sale for $170 and a 9-inch leaf-shaped plate for $150. Other asking prices are even higher, but that does not mean they will sell for that much.
TIP: Set heavy garden urns or statues on a foundation, usually a cement block set in the ground.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@ kovels.com.
THE AVERAGE long-term U.S. mortgage rate edged lower this week, a modest boost for homebuyers looking for relief as a stubbornly low inventory of properties for sale fuels bidding wars in many markets.
The average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixedrate home loan fell to 6.39% from 6.43% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.
A year ago, it averaged 5.27%. The average rate fell for five straight weeks before rising the last two weeks of April.
This week’s drop in mortgage rates is welcome news for prospective homebuyers, many of whom have been pushed to the sidelines during the past year as the Federal Reserve cranked up its main borrowing rate in a bid to tamp down persistent, fourdecade high inflation.
All told, the Fed has raised its benchmark rate 10 times since March 2022, including an increase this week that pushed it to 5.1%, the highest since 2007, from virtually zero early last year.
Shifts in the Fed’s shortterm lending rate don’t directly affect mortgage rates, but they do influence the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. That’s because higher rates push bonds prices lower, which then causes their yield to go up. Investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys also influence
Bretta Construction LLC, to Mahmood Ahmed, 19 Damato Way, $615,000.
mortgage rates.
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage reached a two-decade high of 7.08% last fall after months of Fed rate hikes and stubbornly high inflation. So far this year, it has averaged around 6.36%.
Higher rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for homebuyers on top of already high home prices.
The combination, along with a near-historic low level of homes for sale, has led to a lackluster spring homebuying season.
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell 2.4% from February to March and were down 22% from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors.
“Interested homebuyers are acclimating to the current rate environment, but the lack of inventory remains a primary obstacle to affordability,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
The average rate on 15year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, rose this week to 5.76% from 5.71% a week earlier.
Daniel F. Melbourne to Muhammad Razzaq and Uzma Razzaq, 109-111 Sheri Lane, $440,000. Mubeen Ishtiaq, Surriya Ishtiaq, Ishtiaq Ahmad and Sahar Bari to Matthew J. Collier, 6D Mansion Woods Drive, $243,000.
Pine Crossing Construction Inc., to Steven Tencati and Lorie Tencati, 61 Villa Drive, Unit 21, $449,900. Timothy W. Reimers, Fern I. Reimers, Paul E. Reimers, Harry J. Reimers and Sandra F. Feld to Diana Horning and Jacob Kopyscinski, 30 Federal St. Extension, $350,000.
Huong Chen Chow and Hong Chen Chow to Christopher Kueffner, 130 Leverett Road, $390.000.
Tse-Sheng Elizabeth Chan to TseSheng Elizabeth Chan, trustee, and Tse-Sheng Elizabeth Chang 2023 Trust, 36 Sheerman Lane, $100.
Martha Braun to Margaret Anne Perkins, 27 Greenleaves Drive, $167,000.
Steve A. Ozcelik and Nuray Ozcelik to 80 Acres, 850 Belchertown Road and 142 Harkness Road, $562,000.
Emily Timmons Hamilton and Emily Redman to Sean Douglas Lopez and Trang Huong Nguyen, 40 Berkshire Terrace, $425,000.
Barbara H. Rosenn and Daniel W. Rosenn, trustees of the Briar Hill Road 190 Realty Trust, to Christopher Hart and Jennifer Hart, 190 Briar Hill Road, $825,000.
Nicole Romer to Jon Tristan Romer and Helene M. Uprichard, 1029
Spruce Corner Road, $320,000.
David R. Hansen to David R. Hansen and Jeremy J. Young, 1823 Hawley Road, $100.
Brian G. Thompson and Kathleen C. Thompson to Bruce Walker IV, and Jessica Bucknell, 10 Governor Fairbanks Road, $465,000.
Herbert F. Seymour III, to Nathaniel Oswald and Iona Parks, 99 Brookfield Road, $354,900. MacGillivray Brothers LLC, to CD Mac LLC, Wales Road, $40,000.
Robin Tower and Vaughn Tower to Troy Alan Fortin and Jordyn Leigh Hall, 3 High Street, “fka” 3&11 High St., $280,000.
Alexandre C. Holan to Irene Kepler, 22 Harrington Road, $289,900.
Jeffrey B. Bryan and Cynthia J. Bryan to Chelsea Rosalia Connelly, 50 Fredette St., Unit I 6, $139,900.
John E. Rhodes JR., and John E. Rhodes to Sergey Privedenyuk, Jennings Street, $255,000.
Lawrence P. Rodrigues JR., and Carlene Rodrigues to Govindbhai P. Patel, 14 Royalton St., $180,000.
Lillian M. Mika to Kaycee Pereira, 25 Keddy Boulevard, $205,000.
Susan A. Lazier, Denise M. Pavao and Ronald M. Plante to Natalie Sacdal, 924 McKinstry Ave., $269,900.
Olivia B. Blumer and William C. Blumer to George W. Siguler, 244 Pine Hill Road, $925,000.
Amy B. Royal to Adam Czachorowski and Katherine Donnelly, 300 Conway Road, $545,000.
Naka J. Ishii to Naka J. Ishii, trustee of the Naka J. Ishii 2023 Trust, 5 River Road, $100.
Dallae Kang to Jacob Garcia and Yolanda Garcia, 3 Peachtree Road, $536,500.
Gregory A. Riberdy and Mary Beth Riberdy to Robert J. Racicot, 73 Redin Drive, $340,000.
Custom Homes Development Group LLC, to Johnna S. Healey and Rebecca E. Healey, 180 Westwood Ave., $505,000.
Susan L. Rademacher, trustee, and 461 Prospect Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Nancy Weithofer, 461 Prospect St., $372,000.
Christopher E. Gobillot and Cindy L. Gobillot to Trouble Factory LLC, 8 Summer St., $275,000.
Katherine E. Buckley to James Cherewatti, 346 East St., $380,000.
Brittany J. Earl and Jacob Michael Earl to Kaitlyn Barnes, Diane Steingart and Mark Woodbridge, 16 Flagg Hill Road, $338,250.
Arthur D. Johnson and Maureen L. Johnson to Jose Solano Carmona and Andres A. Ortega, 93 Mountain Road, $370,000.
Jean Donovan, “aka” Jean G. Donovan, individually and as trustee of the Alyce, “aka” Alice, A. Sokolosky Irrevocable Real Estate Trust, and Ann M. Daly to Daniel Croteau and Catherine Woolner, Mountain Road, $153,000.
Lauren Lee Eldred to Lauren Lee Eldred and Daniel Henry Kebba, SEE DEEDS, PAGE F8
CONTINUED FROM PAGE F7
West Street, $100.
Paula M. Lapite and Raymond J. Lapite to Raymond J. Lapite, 13 Ferry Hill Road, $100.
Great Bally Inc., to Andrea Beaupre and Bryan Denley, 64 Aldrich St., $531,000.
Joanne Zywna to Jacob S. Rhodes and Jacqualin R. Rhodes, 54 Glenbrook Drive, $315,000.
David C. Brooks, trustee of the 452 Realty Trust to Savannah Donahue and Jacob Wright, 144 Elm St., $254,000.
Marlynn K. Clayton to Andrea P. Llamas and Paul D. Mervine, 289 Silver St., Unit 2 Silver Crest Condominium, $310,000.
Robert J. Escott III, to Michelina R. Armenti and Steven J. Viveiros Jr., 16 Michelman Ave., $335,000.
MLE RE Enterprises LLC, “aka” MLE RE Enterprises, to John B. Dunphy, 52 French King Highway, $210,000.
Margaret Martin, “fka” Margaret E. Johnson, to Frances De Luca Hadsel, 20 Plum Tree Lane, $262,000.
Joseph S. Buckowski, Patricia Russilillo and Peter Pekala to Matthew Olszewski and Linsey Olszewski, 21 Lawrence Plain Road, $400,000.
Meegan Lynn Bullock to Juanita Mandanna, 82 Stafford Road, $260,000.
Four Harps LLC, to Zailly Martinez and Zailly Isabel Martinez Sanabria, 175 Pearl St., $220,000.
Mailhott LLC, to Partnership Appleton Redevelopment Limited, 5 Essex St., $425,000.
Holyoke Redevelopment Authority to Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts Education Fund Inc., 772 Dwight St., $6,000.
Anne Killeen, representative, and Judith B. Killeen, estate, to David Thor and Emily Thor, 168 Concord Road, $561,500.
Emilio Melchionna and Donna Doyle Melchionna to Gregory Morrison and Blake Morrison, 90 Ellington St., $572,000.
Jessica L. Mack and Patrick R. Melzer to Ashley Thielen, 300 Tanglewood Drive, $590,000.
Lindsey Jones, Taylor Cole Jones and Taylor Jones to Song Ja No, 144 Brookwood Drive, $375,000.
Helen T. Winiewski to Abel Goncalves, Church Street, $53,500.
Jennifer Hansen and Christopher Hansen to Christopher John Sternowski, 24 Helena St., $321,000.
JT Realty Associates Inc., to Jorge Vieira, Jorge Baltazar Vieira and Tabitha Vieira, 29 Baker St., $312,500.
Susan D. Callahan to Brian D. Deraleau, Poole Street, Lot 56, $15,000.
Victoria Langlois to Tammy L. Berube, 58 Chapin Greene Drive, $255,000.
WestMass Area Development Corp., to A Crane Properties LLC, Riverside Drive, Lot B-1, $180,000.
Bridget W. Wallace to BP LLC, , $165,000.
Gene C. Majka and Joan M. Majka to Elyssa S. Schwendy, Town Farm Road, Lot 9, $56,000.
James E. Meurisse Jr., to Frank Hull, 246 Stafford Road, $230,000.
Shawn A. Gouger, estate, and Somer Davis, representative, to Domingo Tavarez, 135 Upper Palmer Road, $145,000.
Gwendolyn Hubler, personal representative of the Estate of Dale E. Ewell, to Richard Palmisano, 188 Millers Falls Road, $120,000.
Joseph P. Klepadlo, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Joanne K. Murphy, “aka” Joanne Murphy, to Peter J. Klepadlo, 6 Bulkley St., $250,000.
Edmond C. Tolzdorf Jr., and Tammy Tolzdorf, “fka” Tammy Berard, to A&A New Street LLC, 2 New St., $339,000.
Ki Suk Kang and Kyung M. Kang to Douglas R. Ruopp and Sara L. Ruopp, 59 Cooleyville Road, $415,000.
Diane E. Liebert, trustee, and Diane E. Liebert Trust to Diana S. Fried and Michael J. Schvarczkopf, 4 Mountain Laurel Path, 605,000.
Marta Rudolph to Marta Rudolph Trust and Marta Rudolph, trustee, 78 Maynard Road, $100.
Susan M. Flores and Susan Marie
Flores to Susan M. Flores, trustee, Aram Flores, trustee, Juano Flores, trustee, and Susan M. Flores 2023 Trust, 144 South St., and 215 West Hill Road, $100.
Thomas J. Wickles and Brenda J. Wickles to Jai M. Alterman and David J. Rosenthal, 12 Rick Drive, $477,500.
Benjamin C. Matthews and Hank R. Matthews to Jennifer Ann Carbery and Peter Carbery, 61 Austin Circle, $289,999.
Christine Edna Young to Sarah Emily Coburn, 250 North Maple St., $450,000.
Douglas Lee Dresser to JoEllen Dresser Toney and Wesley Toney, 66 Lucky Clapp Road, $60,000.
David W. Leduc and Lori A. Leduc to Micheal Neeley and Promise Neeley, 271 West Road, $442,000.
Annemarie Barber, Margaret T. Bousquet, M. Constance Greco, Mark S. Greco and Robert M. Greco to Jillian Ketola and Neil Ketola Jr., 177 South Main St., $287,000.
Eliot E. Nottleson and Elizabeth M. Nottleson to Mark John Hettinger and Jaimi M. Stejskal, 66 Packard Road, $500,000.
Mark R. Cristofori, as trustee of AMLN Revocable Realty Trust, to Jennifer N. Stone and Joshua T. Stone, 114 Warwick Road, $520,000.
Rhiron Realty LLC, to Thomas H. Duncan-Emmons and Philip Andrew Duncan-Emmons, 17 Temple St., $270,000.
Susan M. Flores and Susan Marie Flores to Susan M. Flores, trustee, Aram Flores, trustee, Juano Flores, trustee, and Susan M. Flores 2023 Trust, 144 South St., and 215 West Hill Road, $100.
Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC, to Gregory A. Roach, 1441 Blandford Road, $140,000.
John G. Crowley, personal representative, and Grace M. Kelly, estate, to Mary Ellen Bray, 102 Lyman St., $364,900.
Skinner Woods LLC, to Paul E. Worth and Claudia J. Worth, 10 Skinnerwoods Way, $559,900. Barbara J. Smith to Neal D. O’Meara, 464 Amherst Road, $562,500.
Scott Family Properties LLC, and Scott Family Property LLC, to Marissa Lynn Bailly, 415 Granby Road, $235,000.
Hamelin Framing Inc., to Mark S. Karangekis and Amy L. Karangekis, 6 Silvergrass Lane, $585,000.
P. Jennie Hart to Richard F. Taylor and Jennifer E. Taylor, Congamond Road, $45,000.
1685 Boston Road LLC, Eastfield Associates LLC, and Boston Road Retail LLC, to Onyx Springfield Crossing LLC, 1655 Boston Road, $4,500,000.
Anthony Brice to Shreyas Ovalekar, SS Greene St., $400,000.
Antonio V. Lopriore to Dayanara Caban, 41 Hardy St., $250,000.
Betsy A. Cavanaugh to JJJ17 LLC, 58 Governor St., $153,000.
Billy Molina Jr., to Delissa Kraus, 81 Anniversary St., $244,000.
Birch Properties LLC, to Rejuvenate Real Estate LLC, 15 Leete St., $165,000.
Charles Taylor to Sharon Y. Taylor-Brown, 76 Athol St., $100.
Cynthia J. Lajzer to Carlton Minott Jr., 264-266 King St., $235,000.
DDM Page LLC, to Penelope LLC, SS Page Boulevard, $460,000.
Debra St. Pierre to William H. O’Connell, 851 Wilbraham Road, $20,000.
Eric Ukrainets to Viktoriya Privedenyuk, 17 Amore Road, $100,000.
Evelyn Fernandez to Juan L. Rodriguez and Juan Rodriguez, 170 Pendleton Ave., $244,000.
Jesenia Santiago to Damian Carrizo, 28 Nathaniel St., $185,525.
Jose A. Cuevas and Doris M. Santa to Emmanuel Pinywah, 131 Ranney St., $335,000.
Mass Investors LLC, to Derrick Tad Whitley II, 67 Glenham St., $275,000.
Mayra Uceta to Farah Pimentel, 84 Mayfair Ave., $190,000.
Nehal Parekh to Jesus A. Burgos, 27 McBride St., $195,000.
Springfield Redevelopment Authority to Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Falcons Way, $1,000,000.
Panther Development LLC, to Danielle Emelyn Johnson and Patrick Johnson, 26 Kimberly Ave., $400,000.
Patrick M. Hogan, representative, Kevin P. Hogan, estate, and Mary H. Lataille to Roberto Lugo, 75 Clydesdale Lane, $236,000.
Peter S. King to Denise Caraballo and Steven Santiago, 15 Sue St.,
$215,000.
Plata O Plomo Inc., to Prestigious One LLC, 35 Cedar St., $180,000. Robert L. Wanamaker, trustee, and Briarwood Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Candido I. Del Moral III, 315 Lexington St., $230,000.
Samantha M. Anderson to Erika Marie Ortiz Alvarado and Zelma Alvarado, 72-74 Kenyon St., $262,500. Saremi LLP, Deborah K. Saremi and Kaveh Kevin Saremi to Mirzai 87 LLC, 83-97 Main St., $800,000.
Son Vo to Minh T Chau, Willy Luu and James Luu, 346 Dickinson St., $260,000.
STV Realty LLC, to Son Vo, 346 Dickinson St., $260,000.
U S A Veterans Affairs to Jose Antonio Vazquez Jr., 85 Covington St., $172,000.
Kathleen A. Maiewski, personal representative of the Estate of Joseph B. Maiewski Jr., Alice M. Maiewski and Joanne M. Kocot to JJK Investments LLC, 406 Russell St., $205,000.
Cioccolate Realty Trust, trustee of, and Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, to Tina M. Ehrstein, 50 Monson Road, $280,000.
Russell P. Kularski and Kathleen M. Kularski to Russell P. Kularski and Lynn Kularski, Osborne Road, $100.
E. Steven Kolenovic, trustee, and Jasmina Nominee Trust to Ye & Zheng Family Trust, Wan Feng Ye, trustee, and Jian Qing Zheng, trustee, 123 Main St., $500,000.
Ronald E. Ellithorpe to Matthew Crowner and Lauren Richards, 83 Coffey Hill Road, $285,000.
David Jay Mendelsohn to Mooch Properties LLC, 4-6 Eddy St., $260,000.
Michael Raymond Rebeiro to Michael Raymond Rebeiro and Rebecca Lynn Rebeiro, 61 Old Poor Farm Road, $100.
MRT Development LLC, to Robert W. Karrasch and Kathyrn A. Karrasch, Coldbrook Drive, $55,000.
Christopher J. Murphy and Mary Durr to James A. Hoag, Indian Hill Road, $30,000.
Angel Otero to Christopher Fall and Karissa Massicott, 337 Gooseberry Road, $415,000.
Dana E. Vient, trustee, Melissa L. Vient, trustee, and Lothlorien Trust, trustee of, to Dvon Cordero and
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F5
at their bases some of the oldest and the youngest branches. This way, there is always enough — but not too much — young vigorous growth on the bush. I also fertilize the soil beneath the plants each year with either soybean meal or strawy horse manure.
This is not to say that my plants are coddled. I never water established plants nor do I spray for pests. Actually, my flowering currants never have had any pests that warranted spraying. Even rabbits and
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deer leave these plants alone.
In spite of flowering currant’s beauty and aroma, ornamental qualities were secondary when I chose to grow this plant. The fruit is what attracted me. The shiny, black berries, a half to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, ripen in midsummer. They are slightly tart, and very aromatic: excellent for jellies and jams, but to my taste fine for popping into my mouth right out in the garden also. The berries tend to ripen over a long period of time in summer, so it’s a good idea to freeze them as
they ripen in order to get enough for a batch of jelly or jam. You’re not likely to find flowering currant plants lined up for sale with potted forsythias, spireas, and apples at most garden centers. The plant is not now widely available, even though superior varieties such as ‘Deseret’ and ‘Missouri Black’ were selected a hundred years ago. The plant was a common dooryard shrub a hundred plus years ago, planted near porches or windows so that the delicious fragrance could be enjoyed. I can just picture scraggly bushes of ‘Crandall’ —
once a widely planted ornamental variety — flowering near porches of white, clapboard farmhouses in the early part of the last century. Flowering currant, one of the fruits featured in my book Landscaping with Fruit, is not common today, but still is worth planting for its fragrance, its beauty, and its fruit. And because it’s so easy to grow.
Any gardening questions? Email them to me at garden@leereich.com and I’ll try answering them directly or in this column. Come visit my garden at leereich.com/ blog
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vegetables with a focus on diversity and nature-based landscaping.
compostables and pick it up weekly for $11 or biweekly for $15. North Carolina-based company Compost Now offers a similar service in parts of the Southeastern U.S. and in Ohio. You can also craft a DIY composting solution. If you have a yard or other outdoor space, that means getting a dedicated bin to put food scraps in and figuring out the right ratio of “greens” (like food scraps) and “browns” (like leaves and cardboard) to ensure your materials break down relatively quickly and without stinking. Done right, it takes three to six months for everything to break down and the pile should have an earthy smell.
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Kelsey Cordero, 163 Woodmont St., $343,900. HVC LLC, to Darrin J. Begley, 42 Janet St., $120,000.
Joanne E. Begley, estate, and Darrin J. Begley, representative, to HVC LLC, and VCO LLC, 42 Janet St., $240,000.
Paul J. Sears to West Springfield Town, East Side Morgan Road, $200,000.
West Springfield Town to DDMNS Realty LLC, 194 New Bridge St., $2,500.
A number of detailed composting guides are available online, with insights on everything from choosing a bin to rodent-proofing to checking compost quality. Even apartment-dwellers can take a stab at composting indoors by using worms.
If your compost is going to a commercial facility — like those used by municipal compost systems — you can drop in almost anything that’s edible or comes from a plant. That includes yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) and foodstuffs (banana peels, orange rinds, slightly spoiled lettuce, etc.) It also typically includes animal products — whether it’s eggshells, old cheese or the roasted chicken leftovers that went bad at the back of the fridge (bones, too).
WESTFIELD
Ali Reza Salehi and Mandana Salehi to Rupinder K. Multani and Jogeshwar Singh, 177 Munger Hill Road, $729,900.
Fay Aline Callahan Wood, John M. Callahan and Robert C. Callahan, estate, to William J. Conklin, Park River Drive, Lot 4, $311,500.
Gabriella C. Hernandez and Danielle A. Mickey to Elizabeth Muenzen and Steven Patrick Lamica, 120 Roosevelt Ave., $305,000.
James R. Labrie, trustee, Laurie
Ann Nulph, trustee, and R & L Golden Acres Realty Trust, trustee of, to Monica Bermejo and Diego V.
Because paper comes from trees, it too can be composted in a commercial facility as long as there isn’t any plastic or waxy coating. Greasy pizza boxes, food-stained paper plates or napkins, and coffee filters and grounds can all go into your compost bin.
The rules are a bit different if you’re composting at home or in a community composting project. Yard clippings, vegetable waste and things like pasta in tomato sauce can still go in, but meat and other animal products can’t. That’s because smaller-scale composting doesn’t get warm enough to kill the potential pathogens from animal products, or have the ability to handle things like biodegradable plastics (unless they’re specifically labeled okay for home
SEE COMPOST, PAGE F10
Sarmiento, Old Long Pond Road, Par 1, $450,000.
Jennifer C. Leshure and John P. Leshure Jr., to Brenda M. Leduc, 549 Russell Road, Unit 17C, $70,000.
Mackenzie C. Coffman to Jason Pope and Aubrey Gamelli, 139 Union St., #38, $220,000.
Madeleine E. Smith to Oscar Naula Naranjo, 5-7 Morris Ave., $275,000.
Michael Werman to Timothy Basak and Emma J. Doull, 285 Valley View Road, $275,000.
Sao Joao Realty LLC, to Pioneer Valley Trading Co. LLC, 475 Southampton Road, $1,300,000.
• “Beginner Botanical Watercolors and Mimosas for Mother’s Day,” May 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This beginner’s class is designed for mothers/mother figures and their adult children. Participants will be introduced to sketching and painting botanicals with watercolors. Spend the morning exploring art exercises to loosen up, have fun and build new skills. After lunch, begin creating a work of art to bring home! No previous experience is necessary. All materials will be provided. Cost is $95 members, $110 nonmembers.
For more information or to register for programs, visit berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
The Pioneer Valley Christian Academy annual plant sale will be held on May 13 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the PVCA gymnasium at 965 Plumtree Road. The plant sale
Speedway LLC, to Metrolube Realty LLC, 310 East Main St., $615,000.
Thomas Hopper, Robert Monfette, Susan Delargy and Linda Costa to Megliola Realty LLC, 113 New Broadway, $200,000.
Wendi L. Mello to Travis Bruce, 150 Hillside Road, Unit #9, $205,000.
Brian Nogueira and Jennifer Nogueira to Sarah E. Johnson and Francis A. Nick, 11 Circle Drive, $390,000.
will feature more than 10,000 plants, including annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, nursery plants, orchids, hanging baskets, patio plants, roses and more. The PVCA concession stand will be selling Chick-fil-A sandwiches, donuts, beverages, and snacks. Plants are provided by local wholesale distributors and 100% of the proceeds benefit PVCA.
The Wilbraham Garden Club will host its annual plant and bake sale on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilbraham Public Library. Perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, herbs and potted plants will be available for sale.
The bake sale will include cakes, pies, breads, muffins, cookies and other homemade treats. This is the garden club’s major fundraising event of the year; all proceeds benefit projects to enhance life in Wilbraham.
For more information, contact chair Christine Scibelli at 413-596-3355. The library is located off Main Street behind the Veterans Memorial at Crane Park.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Maryann Nunez to Lisa A. Hutchison and Joseph B. Hutchison, 9 Bittersweet Lane, $400,000. Richard A. Jodoin and Madeline M. Jodoin to Jonathan Eliza and Bianca Eve Eliza, 19 Three Rivers Road, $312,000.
Lorraine Mae Kerley to Matthew Cross, 53 Buffington Hill Road, $73,000.
Susan J. Van Buren to Kenneth A. Gooch and Debora S. Phillips, Cummington Road and Cummington Road Off, $4,756.
HEALTHY PLANTS are the most critical component of a thriving garden. And one of the best ways to keep them that way is to make sure your soil’s pH level suits their needs.
Every plant requires a specific soil pH range within which it can best absorb essential nutrients. Because the optimal range is different for every plant, gardeners should learn the pH requirements of each one.
For example, carnations require a pH range of 6.76.9; turfgrasses, 6.3-6.8; tomatoes, 6.2-6.8; rhododendrons and azaleas, 4.5-6; blueberries, 4.5-5.5.
• What’s pH?
Soil pH indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil, as measured on a 14-point scale. A pH of 7 is neutral. Values below 7 are acidic, and those above 7 are alkaline. Each unit on the scale is 10 times removed from the next, so a pH reading of 7.0 is 10 times higher than a reading of 6.0. That means a mere 1-unit difference is huge.
If the pH isn’t suited for a specific plant, it won’t be able to absorb enough nutrients, whether natu-
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F9
composting). Coffee grounds and filters are still fine, as are relatively clean pizza boxes. (If you’re worm composting, shred the boxes first.)
What you can’t compost
Plastics can’t be composted unless they’re specifically marked otherwise. Paper products that are in good condition (i.e. not stained with food) should be recycled, not composted, if your community offers paper recycling. Metals (like cans and alumi-
rally occurring or applied as fertilizer. That results in deficiencies that present as stunting, discoloration and even death. Improper pH can also poison your plants, because just as it inhibits the uptake of essential nutrients, it can also increase the absorption of other nutrients to the point of toxicity.
• How to test your soil
To learn the pH of your soil, use a testing kit, strips or an electronic meter,
num foil) should also go in recycling.
Milk cartons, which are made from coated paper, should not be composted. Tea bags used to be reliably compostable, but because they are now often made with plastics, these too should be left out (though the tea itself is compostable).
Natural-fiber clothing (like wool, cotton, and silk) could in theory be composted. But because they’re often blended with synthetic fibers that are not compostable, including polyester, acrylic and elastane, you should avoid composting fabric.
which are widely available at nurseries and online retailers.
Kits typically involve applying a few drops of a chemical dye on a soil sample, waiting a minute or so, then comparing its changed color to a chart.
Similarly, test strips change color when dipped into a mixture of soil and water. And pronged electronic meters provide a reading after they are inserted into the soil, sometimes
Like some clothes, pet waste can also be composted in theory. But adding it to the mix carries the risk of spreading pathogens, so to be on the safe side you shouldn’t. The good news is there are organizations piloting projects that compost dog poop with additional safety measures.
One of the trickier parts of the composting process is figuring out how and where to store excess food scraps before they’re dropped off or added to an outdoor compost bin.
for the site. It’s best to call ahead for specific directions.
You’re all set if your soil’s pH falls within your plant’s required range. However, if the reading is outside the range, your next step should be to amend the soil with elemental sulfur to lower its pH or ground limestone to raise it.
Work the product about 8-12 inches into the soil before planting. Read the package label for quantity recommendations.
Cooperative extension-provided tests offer the added benefit of expert guidance. Your results will arrive with advice about how much of which amendment to add to meet your specific plant’s target range, as well as the size of the area you are treating.
with water. You can also bring a soil sample to your county’s cooperative extension office; find yours online at http://npic.orst.edu/pest/ countyext.htm, which likely offers soil testing for a nominal fee.
General guidelines will instruct you to dig up a quarter cup of soil from three separate areas 4 inches deep within the same bed (or lawn), and mix them together to create an average
If you have a worm bin, the easiest thing to do is keep the bin in the kitchen and put scraps directly inside. If you’re doing yard composting, you can get a small kitchen container and take it out daily. For those who have to go longer between pickups or dropoffs, keeping a modest-sized compost bin in the freezer can cut down on odors and flies. For those with bigger needs, a five-gallon bucket (like the kind paint comes in) with a tightfitting lid can also work. If your food scraps are going to a commercial facility, you can line the containers with compostable bags to make
Be sure to test each section or bed in your garden separately. It’s not uncommon for variations — sometimes big ones — to occur, even within a small yard. It’s also best to run a pH test every two or three years, as conditions can change and amendments wear off.
Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for The Associated Press. She publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
cleaning easier.
While composting is a great way to curtail your carbon footprint, there is one even more effective way of keeping food waste out of landfills: Don’t produce it in the first place. Americans currently throw away roughly a third of the food they bring home from the supermarket.
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted a solid waste hierarchy of how to sustainably handle waste,” Goldstein says. “And of course at the very top by far and away the best thing you could do is to generate less of it in the first place.”
2:00 PM-FEEDING HILLS (Agawam) 657-659 Springfield Street
2 fam, 1,500 sf liv area, 0.11 ac lot, 8 rm, 4 bdrm, 2 bth, Hampden: Bk 14785, Pg 396 3:00 PM-AGAWAM 158 Florida Drive
sgl fam, 1,224 sf liv area, 0.43 ac lot, 6 rm, 4 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Bk 17022, Pg 182
2:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD 29 Yale Street
2 fam, 2,080 sf liv area, 0.17 ac lot, 10 rm, 4 bdrm,
Brimfield - 8 N. Main St. May 6 & 7 Sat/Sun 9am-3pm. Antiques, tools, furn, sewing, kitchen, Vtg skis & wheelchair, Panasonic bike, and Much More! (Lori)
Brimfield - TOOLS, TOOLS, TOOLS - AND MORE! May 6 & 7, 8am-3pm. 138 Old Palmer Rd. For details call Diana 413-221-0299
Chicopee - 38 Parkwood Drive, Sunday May 7th 8am-3pm. Tools, Electronics, Home décor, Collectibles & much more
9 month old medium hair black cat, dog friendly, neutered, all shots, w/chip. $60.00. Call 413-292-3650
Beautiful 2 Level Cat tower, 16’’ wide x 31’’ high, brand new, incl. scratching post. $95.00/b.o. Call 413-455-4867
BengalKittens,2available, readylateJune,$700,will bedewormedand1stset ofshots,CallorTextfor more info. 802-323-2538
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 $4.00 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
3-PieceLivingRoomTable set,Removablemarble tops,drawers,$150firm, 413-896-0232
Queen box spring, excellent condition, $50. Call 413-538-7758
Lowrey Royale Organ, beaut., walnut finish, incl. Tufted bench, cost $60K, ask. $1,620. 413-519-8108
Peavey 1810 3 speaker Bass guitar cabinet, great condition, $150. call 413-388-9744
German Shepherd/Lab Mix puppies, 1st set of shots, dewormed. 2 females, 1 male $300/each. Call or text 802-323-2538.
German Shepherd pups, Champion Czeck. & Belgian blood lines. Avail with first shots and dewormed now. 4M, 3F. 30 years experience. $850. 413-218-2321
Golden Retriever, 4.5 Year Old, female, available, friendly, great with kids. $50.00. Call or text 802323-2538
Golden Retrievers Puppies, 1st shots & dewormed. $650. 2 females & 1 Male Call 802-895-2784
Labradorpuppies,9wks old,blackandyellow available,vet-checked, 1stsetofshotsand wormed,parentsonsite, asking $900, 413-813-1585
TechnicsStereoSytem,5 component,5speaker, withremoteaudiocabinet.Excellentcondition, $250, Call 413-388-9744
Cash paid, LP records 45’s, CD’s, reel-to-reel tapes. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Classical. Scott 518-424-8228
AARON POSNIK & CO. INC. Indust & Comm. Auctions 31 Capital Dr. W. Spfld. 733-5238 www.posnik.com
DouglasAuctioneers.com ESTATES-ANTIQUES 413-665-2877
