The Washington Post
Some people might have been surprised to hear that Aretha Franklin kept the handwritten will for her estate, initially estimated to be worth up to $80 million, hidden under her sofa cushions.
But some respect for the Queen of Soul, please. It was not unusual for members of her generation to stash their important documents or cash under a mattress or in a cookie jar.
“I think this had to do with the way Aretha approached money. She insisted she be paid in cash and she put that money in her purse and took it onstage with her,” says Angela Neal-Barnett, clinical psychologist, professor at Kent State University and author of “Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic and Fear.”
“It dated back to when she was on the early circuit with her father and saw how Black musicians were treated,” Neal-Barnett adds. “Keeping her will under the sofa may have been her way of feeling in control of her money.”
Franklin also had a fear of flying, so she always traveled by bus. “She may have feared she would end up penniless,” Neal-Barnett says. “She was told by the legal profession that she needed a will, but she did it her way.”
Money often turns up in or under couch cushions, whether on purpose or after spilling out of a purse or pants pocket. A California woman found $36,000 in the cushions of a sofa she scored free on Craigslist. Cashstrapped college students have been known to scour their sofas for loose change at the end of the month, says Neal-Barnett. Plenty of other stuff turns up there, too.
“Sofas are the repository for many of our stories,” says Mark Rubin, who owns
multiple 1-800-GOT-JUNK franchises.
Rubin says he has seen a wide assortment of stuff fall out of sofas, including porn, sex toys, alcohol, weed, food and letters. Everyday items, including keys, jewelry, toys, photos, pens and ticket stubs, usually end up there by accident, says Rubin. “People snooze on the sofa and these small things get lost,” he says. Downsizers and cleaning services report that alongside the stray Goldfish crackers and pennies, they have found dangling diamond earrings, gift cards, uncashed checks and even steak knives when sofa cushions are removed. Remote control missing? It’s probably wedged in a crevice in your couch. In some parts of the country, junk haulers find handguns under there. Rubin says a job in Washington, D.C., once turned up a cache of intricate blueprints stashed under a cushion. “It didn’t say top secret,” says Rubin. “But how would I know?”
Libby Kinkead, co-owner of Potomac Concierge, a move management and downsizing firm, says, “You just never know where people are going to tuck things away for safekeeping.” (Her firm once found a dead cat in the freezer. Someone had stashed
it there for later disposal.)
But back to sofas.
“If you’ve lost anything, the couch should be one of the first places you look,” says Melissa Homer, chief cleaning expert at Microfiber Wholesale. It was part of Homer’s previous job, as the chief cleaning officer at MaidPro, to instruct cleaning teams about the proper way to vacuum a sofa. She says her staff watched videos that showed techniques and instructed them to leave any treasures found inside on the coffee table with a note. Legos were a chief nemesis, often getting stuck in vacuum crevice tools.
“I remember our cleaners having a fun running gag for
a while, posting on our private Facebook group all the little Lego men they’d saved from being stuck in their hoses after vacuuming couches,” she says. “They would post photos of them with either sad or happy faces after their rescue.”
And allowing Doritos crumbs or other food to pile up in your sofa can also lead to unwanted visitors.
Homer says one cleaner found a cache of acorns and rat poison under some cushions.
“The customer was battling pests in the house and instead of eating the poison, the mice were stashing it for a winter snack in different warm, cozy spots in their house, like the sofa,” Homer says.
Franklin’s will reminded Homer of her own family. “My mom until last year had
been keeping her will and other important documents in a cookie tin,” Homer says. “In Aretha Franklin’s generation, moms and dads kept important stuff tucked in envelopes in drawers or cookie jars.” The habit speaks to people’s larger insecurities, Neal-Barnett adds.
“Looking beyond Aretha, I think there are people still around who look back to the [Great] Depression and do not trust things, like banks,” she says. “We have people who still hide their money in their mattress or other places. People’s approach to money is often transmitted down from generation to generation. If you grew up with someone with this approach to money, you may be likely to emulate what they did.”
You’ve probably heard the expression, “Work smarter, not harder.” The same idea can apply to watering your garden in the dead of summer — when standing in the blazing heat, hose in hand, or swatting away mosquitoes while positioning your sprinkler are about the last things you want to do.
Though watering obviously becomes more critical as temperatures rise, deploying the right tools and strategies can make your routine easier and less frequent. In fact, you may already be watering too often. “Intuitively, people think, ‘Oh, it’s hot so I’ll water every day,’” says Cory Tanner, director of the horticulture program team at Clemson University. But just watering a little every day — rather than giving your garden a thorough, but less frequent soak — “actually encourages shallow rooting.”
Herewith, advice from gardening experts to help you water more efficiently in the heat.
Soil type plays a crucial role in the amount of water that can be absorbed and retained. “How much sand, silt and clay is in the soil informs all of our irrigation and nutrient management recommendations,” says Melanie Stock, assistant professor and urban and small farms extension specialist at Utah State University. Sandy soil, for example, does not hold water well. If yours is sandy, she recommends adding compost to increase its ability to absorb moisture so you won’t have to water as frequently. She says loam or silt loam soil can retain one-and-a-half to two inches of water in the top foot of dirt, and clay soil holds up to two-and-a-half inches. If you have one of those soil
types, you can probably get by watering less because the soil stays moist longer.
To determine if your plants actually need to be watered, “a good rule of thumb would be to check your soil moisture twice a week by sticking your fingers into the soil near the root crown,” says Todd Forrest, the New York Botanical Garden’s vice president for horticulture and living collections. “Water only if the soil below the ground surface feels dry to the touch.” (The root crown is where the stem meets the roots.)
Jeannine Bogard, horticulturist and president of the National Garden Bureau, suggests another quick way to know if your plants are thirsty: “If the soil color is light and it is dry to the touch, water.”
Experts advise watering deeply for most established plants, shrubs and trees. “That is, watering less often but for longer periods of time, and the goal is to get that water deeper into the soil,” says Stock. The deeper the water goes, the deeper roots can grow. The benefits are twofold: Deeper soil is cooler and deeply rooted plants are harder to stress out.
To better understand how the ground around your plants absorbs moisture, Bogard suggests thinking of your soil as a sponge. “A dry sponge will not easily absorb water and initially sheds the water. A damp sponge soaks up excess water,” she says. “Ideally, you want to gently water the plants so the water has a chance to soak into the soil, rather than run off.”
This is why water pressure is important. “The tendency is to turn the pressure up to get the job done faster, but using too-high pressure can damage the plants ... and the water just runs off, rather than soaks in,” says Bogard.
There are some exceptions: “Small plants don’t need deep watering, they need
regular superficial water — for example, a lettuce plant,” says Benjamin Eichorn, CEO and founder at Grow Your Lunch.
The roots of a plant need water, not the foliage — so you should water at the base. Eichorn encourages gardeners to water around the outermost perimeter of a plant’s base — beneath the widest part of the foliage — rather than directly where the stem emerges from the soil. “Healthy plant-root growth actually mirrors aboveground foliar growth,” he says. Growing plants in pots? He suggests watering at the edge of the container.
Watering just before sunrise — typically the coolest, highest-humidity part of the day — minimizes evaporation, meaning it will take less water to do a thorough job. “Watering in the morning means that moisture is going to mostly soak into the ground,” says Eichorn.
Using a drip irrigation system, setting up a sprinkler, or hand-watering with a hose all yield different results.
“Drip irrigation is our most efficient irrigation system,” says Stock. “The water is getting delivered directly to the soil and maximizing where the water is going.” You’ll want to regularly monitor the system to make sure leaks
down the bed, then returning and repeating the process again. On hot days, she may repeat a third time.
or other problems haven’t popped up.
While sprinklers are convenient and relatively inexpensive, they often require more water to get the job done. “In hot climates or dry climates where you’re spraying water into the air, a significant portion of that water evaporates,” says Tanner. Sprinklers are even less efficient on windy days. Another of their disadvantages, says Tanner, is they get foliage wet, which can contribute to disease and other problems in plants.
Though hand-watering requires the most effort, it is often the least wasteful way to care for your garden, especially in the heat. “Hand-watering is ideal because you put water exactly where you want it, when you want it,” says Eichorn.
When Bogard hand-waters her own yard, she says she spends five seconds watering the base of each plant, moving
Mulching keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps plants stay cool — both of which allow you to water less frequently. “Think of mulch like a blanket,” says Tanner. “In the summertime, it shields the soil from sunlight and prevents it from getting too hot.” He recommends applying a two-to-three-inchdeep layer of mulch made of organic material, such as leaves or straw, around your plants. Eichorn recommends placing the mulch slightly away from the stem and foliage of the plant. “If you want to discourage blight and mold, don’t have [the mulch] touch your plants,” he says.
The general rule in warm weather is that a garden requires one to two inches of rain per week to be sufficiently watered without additional help, says Stock. But many other factors, such as your geographical location and soil type, can affect this.
To know exactly how much rainfall you get, consider adding a rain gauge to your yard. Also keep in mind that rainfall will not evenly cover your entire landscape, so pay particular attention to drier spots that may need an extra drink.
LaurenDavid writes about gardening and sustainability.
The Agawam Garden Club will meet on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Agawam Public Library 750 Cooper St.
After a short business meeting, Peter Redfern and Patti Steinman from the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary will present a program about the birds found in our backyards. Club meetings are open to the public and not restricted to Agawam residents.
More information about the club can be found online at agawamgardenclub.com or on the club’s Facebook page.
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents these upcoming programs:
• Aug. 7, Music Mondays featuring Zikina, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. $10 members, $15 nonmembers;
• Aug. 11, Family Fridays present “Earth Rhythms, a song and story celebration”, 11 a.m., featuring Davis Bates. This program will include traditional and contemporary folk songs and stories about nature and animals from New England and around the world. Hear how coyotes got their howl, how foam came to be in the ocean, and more, and be prepared to sing, move and clap your hands. The celebration includes a short lesson on how to play music with spoons from a kitchen drawer and a guest appearance by a dancing wooden dog named Bingo. Included with general admission to the garden.
• Aug. 12 and 13, “The Grow Show.” Floral designers and
how coyotes got their howl, how foam came to be in the ocean, and more, and be prepared to sing, move and clap your hands.
backyard gardeners are the celebrities at the garden’s annual Grow Show, where beautiful floral arrangements and the peak summer harvest are spotlighted. Five design and nearly 80 horticulture classes will be on display in the Exhibition Hall. Anyone can enter. Whether you bring a single bloom or enter every category, there is no charge to participate in the Grow Show. The Grow Show is free with garden admission.
To register for these programs or for more information, visit berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Ware Grange’s next gardening workshop, “Flower Farmer,” will be held on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall at 297 Belchertown Road.
The presenter will be Roberta McQuaid, author of a weekly “In the Garden” column. Come learn about flowers that have a long vaselife and simple arrangement principles.
A door prize drawing will be held.
Visit the Ware Grange Facebook page or go online to waregrange.org for more information.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
WHEREVER JAPAnese beetles are going to be a problem, they have by now made their presence known. Even if the beetles themselves go unnoticed, threadbare leaves are a sure sign of the beetles’ work. The first beetles crept out of the soil in late June, but in
the last couple of weeks they have come out in numbers. Soon most of the beetles will stop feeding and females will lay eggs in the soil. These eggs will hatch into grubs which will remain underground to feed on plant roots — mostly grasses — then take a rest for the winter and feed again in spring before metamorphos-
ing into beetles next summer. Note that I began by stating: “Wherever beetles are going to be a problem...” Though this imported pest has spread throughout the country since first showing its face in New Jersey in 1916, they don’t descend in hoards on every single garden.
IN THE OLD DAYS
when clothes were sewn and mended at home instead of bought readymade, spools of thread were household essentials. You would see a spool cabinet in any country store, usually on the counter. They were shaped like a miniature chest of drawers, with lettering on the front of each drawer, often on a plaque or window, telling you the company’s name, the type of thread and colors of thread stored in that drawer. This one is a different stylewhich may be one reason why it sold for $1,063 at an auction by Case Antiques. It is cylindrical, with a stenciled glass door that leaves the contents visible. A revolving case ensures that you can get a look at everything inside. When it was filled with spools of thread, customers’ eyes must have been drawn to the colors and motion.
Merrick, the thread company this cabinet advertises, was known for this type of display. Like any company, they wanted to distinguish themselves from the competition. And not just to get customers’ attention: In 1893, Merrick Thread Co. was sued by Coats, another thread company that would later merge with Clarks, becoming J&P Coats Ltd., which is still producing thread today. Coats claimed that Merrick thread spools were marked with a design too similar to theirs, creating confusion between the two companies’ products. The case was dismissed. However, considering the patent date of 1897 on this cabinet, its unusual design may have been intended to assert Merrick’s identity.
Q. I have a hammered copper candy dish marked “Gregorian, Made in U.S.A.” I’ve had it for 69 years. What is it worth today?
A. Gregori Copper was started in 1946 by P.R. Gregori and
his brother, Fred. At first, they worked out of their parents’ garage in Capistrano Beach, Calif. In 1948, they moved into a building in San Clemente. P.R. Gregori designed the pieces and took care of manufacturing while Fred was the salesman. Pieces were hand-hammered and finished with a bluing process. They were lacquered and baked so the copper would keep its color. The company was
sold to Sunbelt in 1968 and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, later. Sunbelt sold the company to a company in Lemmon, South Dakota, in 1989, and the name became Gregorian Inc. This company made wholesale copper and silver jewelry for at least 20 years. Gregorian Inc. is now a manufacturer of farm and ranch equipment, portable steel buildings and garage doors. A 5-inch Gregorian
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.
Stained glass sculpture, abstract and crescent shapes, red, yellow, teal, dome shaped mount, square base, mid-20th century, 14 x 12 x 12 inches, $65.
Pottery, bowl, Hopi, round, turned-in rim, cream ground, geometrics around upper body, black, solid brown, speckled brown, signed, Cheryl Naha Nampeyo, 10 1/4 inches, $150.
Glass-blown, tumbler set, diagonal stripes and multicolor canes, two each of yellow, blue, pink, green, signed, Black Sheep studio, c. 1996, 4 1/4 inches, eight pieces, $270.
Advertising, display, Curtiss Penny Candies, rotating, two tiers, each six sides, labeled slots, Use Your Cents, Lime Drops, Lemon Mints, Root Beer Mints, Wild Cherry Mints, Chocolate Drops, Orange Mints, red, yellow, blue, 16 1/2 x 8 inches, $360.
Furniture, chair, banister back, five vertical splats, double crested rail, rush seat, sausage turned legs, two stretchers, open scrolled arms, early 1700s, 49 inches, $440. Purse, handbag, Neverfull PM, Damier Azur canvas, blue gray and off-white checks, tan leather trim, Louis Vuitton, 11 x 15 x 5 inches, $705.
Wristwatch, Tourneau, Asymmetric Sectora, half-circle case, gauge layout, Arabic numerals, gold plated, brown leather band, $875.
Bicycle, wicker and bamboo frame, front basket, hand brakes, marked, Wuxing, 37 x 54 x 25 1/2 inches, $900.
Lamp, electric, bronze, art nouveau, relief peacock feathers, blue green glass insets, green beaded fringe, 17 x 9 x 11 inches, $1,025.
Silver-Japanese, vase, incised pigeons on ground under flowering tree, shoulders, flared rim, tapered base, Miyamoto Kinsei, 12 inches, $2,620.
hammered copper candy dish recently sold for $12 and a 7-inch candy dish sold for $17.
Q. I’d like information about the maker of a plate I bought at a house sale. It’s decorated with blue and white flowers and leaves and is marked “Windsor, W.R. Midwinter, Porcelon, Burslem, England.”
A. William Robinson Mid-
winter founded his pottery in Burslem in 1910. It was one of the largest potteries in England in the late 1930s. Production was limited under wartime restrictions during World War II. When the restrictions were lifted in 1952, new lines of dinnerware with contemporary designs and shapes were introduced. The company ran into financial difficulty and merged with J. & G. Meakin in 1968.
The Merrick Thread Company is known for its spool cabinets with rotating displays behind glass. They tend to sell for higher prices than the typical chest-ofdrawers spool cabinet. (COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose again this week, bad news for Americans seeking to upgrade or buy their first home.
The average rate on the 30-year home mortgage rate ticked up to 6.90% this week from 6.81% a week ago. A year ago, the benchmark home loan rate stood at 4.99%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday.
The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, climbed to 6.25% from 6.11% last week. A year ago, it was 4.26%.
High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already overpriced for many Americans.
High inflation has driven the Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark interest rate 11 times since March 2022. Its fed funds rate has hit the highest level in 22 years.
Inflation has come down steadily since last summer, and many analysts believe the Fed has reached the end of its rate hikes.
Mortgage rates don’t necessarily mirror the Fed’s rate increases, but tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note.
Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and what the Fed does with interest rates can influence rates on home loans.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage remains more than double what it was two years ago, when ultra-low rates spurred a wave of home sales and refinancing.
Brian J. Perreault and Nicole Maria Perreault to Tyler E. Houle, 106 Channell Drive, $285,000.
Jerry T. Dennis to Elizabeth Houlihan, 27 Greenacre Lane, $333,000.
Nicholas M. Pandolfi and Taryn K. Pandolfi to Yasin Yilmaz, 16 Corey St., $375,000.
Rob Realty LLC, to Asia Marie Realty LLC, 359 Walnut St. Extension, $350,000.
Aaron Raymond Kirley to Arron R. Kirley, trustee, and Aaron R. Kirley 2023 Family Trust, 23 Greenleaves Drive, $100.
Historic Renovations & Rental Properties LTD, to Lawrence Hansen, Lawrence D. Hansen, Valerie Hansen and Valerie A. Hansen, 738 Main St., $575,000.
Roxanne C. Schneider to Adam LeWinter and Anna G. Green, 18 Evening Star Drive and 18 Eveningstar Drive, $1,250,000.
James M. Bilger to Glenn J. Bilger, Thomas S. Bilger and Maryann Laflam, 688 Bird Hill Road, $100.
Christopher B. Page and Sarah P. Page to Nicole M. Downing and Joshua J. Bagley, 236 Gulf Road, $535,000.
Stephanie A. Cole Menino, Stephanie A. Cole and Peter J. Menino to Moussa Albert Siri, Marie Christine Siri and Bassihi Siri, 505 Allen Road, $400,000.
Jenilins Barbly to Javier Cruz and Hilda V. Fuentes Hernandez, 800 Franklin St., $350,000.
Amaz Cleveland to Kristin Fabre and Angela Soliz, 100 Barton Ave.,
$351,000.
FPG Massachusetts LLC, to FIP Master Funding XVIII LLC, 10 Maple St., $1,639,896.
Nancy R. Kurty to Michael J. Asselin and Karen A. Lunsford, Deer Run, $100.
Michael J. Asselin and Karen A. Lunsford to Nancy R. Kurty, Deer Run, $100.
Alex Hawke to Robert David McKie and Clara Ildiko Rubin-Smith, 80 Goodell St., $403,300.
Douglas R. Meneke and Laura L. Meneke to Kathreen Collado and Eric Roy, 136 Allen Road, $405,000.
David K. Allen and Susan G. Allen to Richard J. Donati and Robyn L. B. Donati, 283 Martindale Road, $460,000.
Janice H. Obeido to Arielle Diemand and Anthony M. Larareo, 32 South St., $295,000.
Dale Matthew Weaver and Holly Michelle Weaver to Allison Elizabeth Craig, 4 Huntington Road, $350,000.
Laura A. Hudock to Gwendolyn J. Levine, trustee, and GLJ RNL Nominee Trust, trustee of, 19 Second St., $311,000.
Barbara Bassingthwaite, trustee of the Mark Garvey Supplemental Needs Trust, and Edith M. Garvey to Rachel Sachs Riverwood, 50 Prospect St., $200,000.
Geoffery Gougeon to Lauren K. Gougeon and Geoffery Gougeon, 115 Old Chesterfield Road, $100.
Lina A. Kelley to Susan I. Zuroff and Dwight V. Baghdoyan, 24 Farmhouse Road, $405,000.
Alan N. Sharpe, commissioner, David Averill and Sandra Averill to Tan-Tan Associates LLC, 277 Grattan St., $185,000.
Alan Nathanson Sharpe, receiver, Karen Lee Gordon, Karen L. Kryla, Robert George Gordon and Robert G. Gordon Jr., to KEJB LLC, 5 Zoar Ave., $399,900.
Barbara Jo Ann Barrett, representative, and Claire Lucille Hudson, estate, to Alan C. Blankenship, 200 Lambert Terrace, 29, $240,000.
Brandon J. Francis and Evelyn Cisneros to Lynette C. Mailhott, 259 Fletcher Circle, $340,000.
CFI Propco 2 LLC, to Obsidian ML 6 LLC, 1061 Memorial Drive, $3,331,597.
Christopher Alan Cove and Caryn Cove Malloy to Tomasa Henriquez and Carlos A. Henriquez, 55 Henrick St., $395,000.
James Fiore to Richard Morganstern, 9 Lucretia Ave., $80,000.
Karol J. Thomas to Michele L. Alves, 46 Honeysuckle Drive, Unit 46, $185,000.
Katherine Finneran, Katherine Bosnjakovic and Luka Bosnjakovic to Jossie R. Figueroa Gonzalez and Leslie A. Silva Castoire, 68 Hearthstone Terrace, $290,000.
Lisa S. Judkins, representative, and Frances B. Marszalek, estate, to Charlotte Funk and Michael H. Funk, 56 Thaddeus St., $211,000.
Malia Homebuyers LLC, to Lajeunesse Revocable Trust, trustee of, Ronald N. Lajeunesse, trustee, and Phyllis J. Lajeunesse, trustee, 100 Manning St., $300,000.
Mary Ellen Lowney, Timothy M. Lowney and Kathleen L. Abdalla to Kassim S. Manzi and Zainab K. Manzi, 61 Abbey Memorial Drive, Unit 116, $226,000.
Michael J. Harrington to Amjad Real Estate LLC, 536 East St.,
$135,000.
Michael Mailhott and Lynette Mailhott to Elwira Tyra and Mateusz Sudol, 62 Sycamore Lane, $552,000.
Mint Realty Group LLC, to Myrtha Quinones, 47 Alvord Ave., $465,000.
Murat Polat and Tugba Polat to Qian Zhu Li and Yanying Wu, 68 Lariviere Drive, $400,000. No Limit Assets LLC, to Carla Hines and Samuel A. Hines, 255 East St., $269,900.
Patricia J. Fitzgerald and Monica Ann Egan to Kathleen Lukasik, 42 Lukasik St., $280,000.
Peter D. Roy to Kimberly Roy and Thomas Insalaco, 29 Beaumont Ave., $287,500.
Cheryl A. Billiel to Sarah Davenport and Shawn M. Davenport, 685 Patten Hill Road, $232,800.
George A. Fenton III, and Kathleen M. Sheridan to Michael P. Quinto and Amy L. Quinto, 127 Mount Road, $840,000.
Nathan Chu to Jonah Desjarlais, Greenfield Road, $100,000.
Joyce A. Dailey, Thomas F. Dailey and Walter W. Dzenis, “aka” Walter Jennis, to Tamela R. Gaylor and Susan M. Patterson, 7 Jackson Road, “nka” 24 Jackson Road, $300,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Amenadiel Realty Trust, trustee of, to Amy Thrall, 137 Mapleshade Ave., $275,000.
Edward C. Corl to Sonia Carina Baltazar, Daniel C. Alban and Joao C. Baltazar, 40 Redin Drive, $315,000.
SEE DEEDS, PAGE F8
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 with 5% down payment. VA mortgages include funding fees based on loan amount of $165,000 with 5% down payment. The Republican does not guarantee the accuracy of the information appearing above or the availability of rates and fees in this table. All rates, fees and other information are subject to change without notice. The Republican does not own any financial institutions. Some or all of the companies appearing in this table pay a fee to appear in this table. If you are seeking a mortgage in excess of $548.250, recent legislation may enable lenders in certain locations to provide rates that are different from those shown in the table above. Sample Repayment Terms-ex. 360 monthly payments of
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F7
Len H. Dickson and Jodie A. Dickson to Brandon Lariviere and Brianna Goldrick, 182 Pleasant St., $275,000.
Michelle A. Sherman and Robert H. Douville to Thomas Chapdelaine, 843 Somers Road, $301,000.
Nicholas Kososki to Joseph Kenney and Kelly Kenney, Bella Vista Drive, Lot 11, $220,000.
Robert M. Mack to Robert B. Mack and Brianna N. Dirico, 119 Colony Drive, $491,000.
Amber Gruszka and Stephanie
E. Cange to Robert E. Dragon Jr., Joyce M. Dragon, Jeffrey E. Labonte Sr., and Judith A. Labonte, 116 Holyoke St., $120,000.
David Erba to Deborah Toledo, 41 South St., $229,500.
Katherine R. Dellolio and Katherine R. Ross to Laura V. Healy, 17 Kenneth Road, $345,000.
Serio Family Realty LLC, to Matthew C. Drake and Emily S. Drake, 213 Park St., $535,000.
Katy A. Eagles and Robert J. Eagles to Sheila Lee Webster and Beau Charles Webster, 5 Graystone Ave., $315,000.
Marc L. LaFlamme and Bruce A. LaFlamme to Viet N. Nguyen, East Street, $100,000.
Charles H. Maheu to Melissa Harter and Daniel W. Gerstenfield, 326 Batchelor St., $599,900.
Raymond J. Smith, Raymond Smith and Gayle M. Smith to Charles H. Maheu and Cynthia Hackworth, 167 Taylor St., $950,000.
Jan M. Mastej, personal representative, Jan Mastej, personal representative, and Teddy J. Kazimierczak, estate, to Samantha O’Grady and Bailey Pereira, 19 High St., $218,000.
Christine Marie Westerholm, estate, and Robert W. Meyer Jr., personal representative, to Devin Kwisnek, 141 West St., $259,900.
John W. Rudd, “aka” John Rudd, and Virginia L. Rudd, “aka” Virginia Rudd, to Caitrin M. Lawlor and Christopher M. Sella, 56 Forest Ave., $359,000.
Dan V. Oros to Gregory A. Holloway and Fathima Jasmin Lebbe, 332 Deerfield St., $265,000.
Gregory R. Augustine and Hannah R. Augustine, “fka” Hannah R. Powers, to Rachel Marie Chenette
and Casey Duggan, 55 Grinnell St., $361,000.
Green River Cemetery Company to Lindsay Barnard O’Neil, Wisdom Way, $52,000.
Dorothea Melnicoff to Rodney Rafael Pagan-Diaz and Desiree Vittoria Svegliati, 14 Kenwood St., $269,250.
Ashley N. Bulseco and John Burgess to Aaron C. Estilette and Stephanie A. Estilette, 31 Gold St., $299,900.
OV Properties LLC, to Ijaz Estates LLC, Fairview Street East, “fka” 107 Fairview St., $260,000.
Suhua Chia and Steven Chen to Ross J. Nickerson, 717 Bernardston Road, $409,000.
Jill C. Smith, personal representative of the Estate of Mae Louise Robinson, “aka” Mae L. Robinson, to Sandra Richter, 88 Fairview Street East, “aka” 88 Fairview Street. $200,000.
Nicole Bieniek, “fka” Nicole Linscott, to Cheyenne L. Frost and Colen B. Stack, 7 Loomis Road, $349,900.
Todd C. Pelletier and Tammey
D. Jones to Kenneth Nygren and Kelly Nygren, Scantic Road Lot 2, $125,000.
David J. Englehardt and Mary M. Englehardt to Rebecca M. Englehardt, trustee, and 161 Pantry Road Irrevocable Trust, 161 Pantry Road, $100.
Center School LLC, to Valerie D. Caro, 58 Main St., $545,000.
Robin F. Vollinger, trustee, Robert F. Vollinger, trustee, Robin F. Vollinger and Robert F. Vollinger to GSM Properties LLC, 50 Elm St., $250,000.
Vollinger 2019 Revocable Trust to GSM Properties LLC, 50 Elm St., $250,000.
HEATH
Christopher L. Bradway to Cameron C. Hall, Cheyenne Street, $5,000.
HOLYOKE
Andrzej Grzyb to Mental Health Association Inc., 763 Homestead Ave., $565,000.
Beatrice Elfman to James Agudelo, 1716 Northampton St., $389,000.
Christina M King to Nellys Marie Melendez-Marcano, 71 Brown Ave., $283,000.
Shannon L. Steele to Alan J. Smith and Joanne Custance-Smith, 352 Pleasant St., $332,518.
Suzanne M. Pelott to Claudia Isbell
Hicks, 520b Pleasant St., Unit 520B, $129,900.
Winners O LLC, to Xavier Grace and Tucker Grace, 252 Walnut St., $225,000.
Bank of New York Mellon, “fka” Bank of New York, as trustee for the Certificate Holders of CWALT Inc., to Jennifer B. Siegel and Richard J. Siegel, 106 Wilson Road, $320,000.
Albert E. Rosati Jr., and Joyce G. Rosati to Kimberly Ann Parker and Robert Daley Stankus, 41 Cooley Drive, $295,000.
Anna E. Tsirka and Satkiran S. Grewal to Jessica Lea Winter, 403 Pinewood Drive, $776,000.
Clayton T. Shay Jr., to Andrew J. Krywucki, 215 Converse St., $355,000.
Dana M. Hartigan and Jeffrey L. Martineau to Jie Chen and Zhaoqing Zhang, 163 Cedar Road, $372,000.
Jacqueline J. Quimby, trustee, B. Dane Dudley, trustee, and Irving A. Quimby State Only Marital Trust, trustee of, to David J. Martel and Jane G. Martel, 39 Morgan Ridge, Unit 301, $550,000.
Jane L. Rothschild 2019 Trust, trustee of, Jane L. Rothschild, trustee, and Daniel M. Rothschild, trustee, to Peter Stutman and Debra Stutman, 169 Captain Road, $527,500.
Jane M. Bajek, John P. Bajek, Mark J. Bajek and Stephen P. Bajek to Rinaldi Avenue LLC, 23 Edgewood Ave., $215,000.
Jingzhou Zhao and Yin Wu to Justin Levsky and Adrian Levsky, 22 Meadowlark Drive, $390,000.
Nancy S. McKay and David A. McKay to David Andrew Bull, 174 Blueberry Hill Road, $975,000.
Stanislav Rukhman to Hoa P. Nguyen and Thao Nguyen, 117 Crescent Road, $470,000.
Marc A. Tyburski to Emily Engel, 44 Pleasantview St., $210,000.
Robert J. Paquette and Mary C. Paquette to Evan Dellolio and Katherine Dellolio, 162 Lawton St., $499,000.
Whitetail Wreks LLC, to Daniel Marinello and Catarina Pereira Marinello, Balsam Hill Road, Lot 81, $154,900.
Kristopher Longtin and Bettina Longtin to Dominic Anthony Pannozzo III, and Natalie A. Klassanos,
14 Circle Drive, $415,000.
Suzanne E. Davis, trustee of the Riel Investment Trust, to Lorraine B. Mauran and Richard A. Mauran Sr., 76 Montague St., $300,000.
David S. Barnes and Heather J. Barnes to Erica Tero and Christopher Tero Jr., 5 Lavoie Lane, $200,000.
Richard H. Oliver to Rebecca Emet, 297 Locust St., $510,000.
Herald Thor Hemenway, personal representative, Eliza Q. Hemenway, personal representative, Carolyn Goldner Hemenway, estate, and Carrie Hemenway, estate, to Richard A. Ziehler, 167 South St., $250,000.
William M. Girard and Blake E. Doherty to Molly G. Keehn and Ryan M. Lewis, 36 Pine St., $637,500.
Joseph D. Squires and Michelle L. Squires to Si Ci Zhu, 300 Bridge St., $380,000.
Simon Daillie and Sharon Levy to Eli Lotan and Alexander L. Werth, 60 Forbes Ave., $830,000.
Lawrence P. LaFountain, Cindy J. Kadish and Kenneth B. LaFountain to Nicole Walsh, 26 Henry St., $476,000.
Jesse Daniel McCool, trustee, Joanna Karen McCool, trustee, and JM Revocable Trust to Gregory M. Ciardi and Margaret F. Ciardi, 575 Bridge Road, $350,000.
Karen E. Gillespie, trustee of the Karen E. Gillespie Revocable Trust, to Christina L. Williams and Oliver G. Williams, 59 Strowbridge Road, $125,000.
Gregory W. Nye and Robyn L. Nye to Taylor Shapiro, 188 Pleasant St., $114,000.
Amarkis Aquino and Justin Michael Frost to Robert Bergquist Jr., 7 Eddy St., $230,000.
Daniel H. Roy and Nancy B. Roy to Michael Arillotta, 1098 Park St., $300,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Stoney Realty Trust, trustee of, to Ashleigh Sturgis and Devan Cohen, 169 Thompson St., $480,000.
FPG Massachusetts LLC, to Fip Master Funding XVIII LLC, 1475 N Main St., $1,779,887.
Frank J. Tomaszewski, representative, and Clothilda A. Tomaszewski, estate, to John P. Kukla and Susan A. Lebida, 3057 Pine St., $230,000.
Fumi Realty Inc., to Ritah Nalunga and May Nsubuga, 37 North St., $325,000.
Wendy L. Story to FPG Massachusetts LLC, 10 Squier St., $75,000.
William Cameron Weimar to Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc., Cadwell Street, $100,000.
Cheryl A. Billiel to Sarah Davenport and Shawn M. Davenport, 685 Patten Hill Road, $232,800.
Jonathan the Ninth LLC, to Elizabeth C. Smith and Randall P. Smith, Oak Knoll Drive, $10,000.
David A. Paine to Nicholas S. Paine, 18 Pine Hill Road, $344,000.
Andrea Lopes, Andrea Marie King and Nikkolas Michon to Mitchell J. Brand and Monique M. Brand, 18 Harvard St., $296,000.
Gwen Mark and Gwen Fitzgerald to Seth Bracci and Sarah Van Ells, 41 West Summit St., $181,000.
FPG Massachusetts LLC, to FIP Master Funding XVI LLC, 646 Newton St., $2,529,839.
Thomas Fregeau and Maureen Fregeau to John T. Fregeau and Meghan J. Jolivet, 36 Mountain Ave., $300,000.
Gary R. Campbell and Sandra S. Campbell to Erin M. Cherewatti, trustee, and Erin M. Cherewatti 2023 Trust, 22 Helen Drive, $711,000.
Indus Land Development MA LLC, to U S A, 56 North Longyard Road, $2,065,000.
John E. Gravell and Tammy A. Gravell to William E. Curran Jr., and Mary T. Curran, 8 Depot St., $246,250.
Alexandria Arizmendi and Carlos Rosario to Neisha Nixon, 13 Bither St., $300,000.
Allison E. Craig to Kirsten R. Grimaldi and William G. Grimaldi III, 45 Upton St., $250,000.
Amy B. Thrall to Angelique Branch, 23 Tacoma St., $175,000.
It became part of the Wedgwood Group in 1970. Meakin & Midwinter (Holdings) Ltd. closed in 1987. “Windsor” is the name of the pattern on your plate. The transferware design was made in blue, brown, red, multicolor and other variations. The word “Porcelon,” a trade name used by Midwinter from the 1930s until about 1953,
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F8
Augusto Figueroa and Yenny Figueroa to Isaac Barnes, 91-93 Fenwick St., $306,000.
Beverly R. Mulvaney to Delilah Santiago and Arberto Santiago, 113 Canton St., $250,000.
Brandon Blaine to Heriberto Pupo-Ortiz, 272 Denver St., $225,000.
Kimball Towers Homeowners Association, Angel Luis Santos Jr., Makayla Leeann Santos, Corey Fisher, auctioneer, Angel Santos, estate, and Angel L. Santos, estate, to Natanael Crespo, 140 Chestnut St., Unit 204, $47,000.
Cumberland Farms Inc., to Obsidian ML 6 LLC, 466 Sumner Ave., $1,494,780.
David Harris Jr., estate, David Harris, estate, and Jaida Chevelle Lyons to Plata O Plomo Inc., 80 Florida St., $154,500.
Dina Hutt to Yodaliz Castillo, 53 Keith St., $315,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Azusa Realty Trust, trustee of, to MHI Properties LLC, 130 Manchester St., $152,500.
Donna M. Rodriguez and Donna Marie Rodriguez to Wesley Swan and Shalimar Swan, 135 Starling Road, $339,500.
Frank C. Salas to Timothy Hansen, 23-25 Carlisle St., $330,000.
Gary A. Daula to Joseph M. Santaniello, 877 Belmont Ave., $210,000.
Heidi M. Cote to Daisy K. Quiles, 60 Georgetown St., $215,000. James Low III, to Danita M. Boutiette, 76 Temple St., Unit 2, $115,000.
John J. Foster, Cathyann Turner Foster and John W. Foster to Emily Elizabeth Benander, 73 Nassau Drive, Unit 73, $196,500.
Judith D. Kelly to Charles J. Despres and Karima Lahreche-Despres, 98 Bellevue Ave., $320,000.
helps date your plate.
Q. I have an old gooseneck lamp. It’s in good condition and it works, but the finish is worn. Here is what’s on the back: “Magic Arm Co. PAT. 2665.870.” Would you be able to let me know if it’s worth anything?
A. A “Magic Arm” is an adjustable, articulated arm often used in drafting lamps. These lamps were kept on or attached to draft-
Karen M. McHugh, Mary C. McDowell, Kevin M. Marsella and James J. Marsella to Josue Duperrier and Marie Maude Gustamar, 34 Atwater Place, $450,000.
Kiomarie Santiago, Kiomarie Jones-Santiago and Jaytwan A. Jones to Luis J. Cruz, 108 Wilber St., $245,000.
Lachenauer LLC, to Criselly Cabrera Aponte and Nelly Esther Aponte Cabana, 389-391 Wilbraham Road, $328,000.
Melro Associates Inc., to Adam Gomez, 447 Riverside Road, $305,000.
Michael L. Wiersma to Hedge Hog Industries Corp., 64 Colonial Ave., $92,500.
Pane Sivongxai to Giustina Zito, 46 Alderman St., $175,000.
Patricia A. Donovan to Veronica Flores, 169 Newton Road, $356,000.
Quaker Capital LLC, to Angel E. Lopez Mendez and Maria R. Gomez Esteban, 121 Northampton Ave., $315,000.
Rodrick Barton and Roderick R. Barton to Juan L. Santiago Perez, 968-970 Worthington St., $290,000.
Rososky Family Trust, trustee of, and Michael A. Rososky, trustee, to Christopher Anthony Godaire, 112 Ellendale Circle, $330,000.
Scott P. Osbourne to Kimberly Weir, SS Fayette St., $48,000.
Sherrie Robinson and Sherrie Stewart to Kevin M. Morrison, 115 Carnarvon Circle, $312,500.
Sheyla Silva to Miguel A. Jimenez and Lisandra E. Acevedo Negron, 17 Mark St., $270,000.
Teina C. Larose to David P. Whitehead, 52 Hanson Drive, $290,000.
Thomas Prendergast, Thomas F. Prendergast, Katelyn Prendergast, Francis Prendergast and Barbara Prendergast to Joel Wun and Paula J. Wun, 1147 Dickinson St., $240,000.
Yajaira Torres Feliciano and Alexander Martinez Torres to Prime
ing tables or drawing boards for artists, designers and engineers. The magic arm gives the user more control and precision over where the light is focused, which helps when you are working with small details. The term is used by multiple companies that make drafting lamps and other design supplies today. Acme made Magic Arm drafting lamps in the mid-20th century. Vintage drafting lamps have sold at recent auctions and in online shops for $50 to $200, depending on their
Partners LLC, 376 Hermitage Drive, $260,000.
Daniel J. Fisk and Cynthia M. McGuire to Mildred E. Green, Jaime Recore Jackman and Jeremy Jackman, trustees of the 238 North Main Street Trust, 238 N. Main St., $855,000.
Donna K. Bosworth, personal representative of the Estate of Barbara A. Klemyk, to Expedio Group LLC, Plumtree Road, $300,000.
John R. Wills and John R. Willis to Seth Anthony Botvin and Christina Marie Botvin, New Boston Road, $290,000.
James Machnik to Linda J. Lehman, trustee, and Lehman Family Trust, trustee of, 25 Shore Drive, $250,000.
Speedway LLC, to Ware Food Stop LLC, 18 West St., and 26 West St., $1,250,000.
Arline S. Ely to Meagan Golightly and Hayden Theodorakis, 82 Laurence Drive, $305,000.
Besnik Preniqi, Ruzhdi Preniqi and Bahtije Preniqi to Muhammad Ashraf and Nasira Ashraf, 33 Hampden St., $318,000.
Diane Quaglini to Karen Gamelli, 46 Jensen Circle, $172,000.
Dina Bashinskaya and Sergiy Nikitchuk to Samuil Levchuk, 15 Browning Ave., $335,000.
Dzemal Jusufbegovic and Enisa Jusufbegovic to Vincent Demaio, 10 Lower Beverly Hills, $440,000.
Hasija Bajraktarevic to Kandra Nelson and Nathan Racine, 27 Pine
size and condition.
TIP: An unglazed rim on the bottom of a plate usually indicates it was made before 1850.
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
St., $236,000.
Lindsay C. Folsom to Thomas Piccin, 125 Robinson Road, $309,900.
Logan G. Rafferty and Matthew Krach to Bryan Carl Stockhaus and Kelley Lynn Stockhaus, 280 Rogers Ave., $450,000.
Olga Liogky to Adam Herbert, 76 Nelson Circle, $264,000.
Susan A. Kwong, Marie Swiatlowski, John J. Ferriter, representative, and Alexander R. Day, estate, to Fanny Naranjo, 18-20 Colton Ave., $111,000.
Alice L. O’Connor to Steven Weinberg and Amy Weinberg, 72 Falley Drive, $370,000.
Brandon Tessier and Keeley Tessier to Scott Von Jouanne, 282 Montgomery Road, $420,000.
Claire Ashe and Henry T. Warchol to Cynthia Ciarcia, 133 Mullen Ave., $285,000.
Garrett Lee Welker, Hannah Leigh Welker and Hannah Leigh Torff to Elizabeth Cote, 62 Elizabeth Ave., $380,000.
Jason MN McDonald, Melissa A. McDonald and Melissa A. Burns to Michael A. Mundorf and Linda L. Mundorf, 66 Flynn Meadow Road, $560,000.
Luiza Tereshchuk and Anatoliy Tereshchuk to Binda Preniqi and Besnik Preniqi, 27 Jeanne Marie Drive, $590,000.
MHI Properties LLC, to Cecelia Howard and Delwyn Eley, 54 Beverly Drive, $370,000.
Robina Doherty-Dilworth to Heidi M. Cote, 91 Beverly Drive, $275,000.
Scott R. Gornall, Jeffrey W. Gornall and Gail Ellen Kelliher to Seth A. Wilkinson and Melanie L. Wilkinson, 61 Rosedell Drive, $305,000.
Sherrie L. Sperry, representative, Glenn A. Korostynski, estate, and Glenn Korostynski, estate, to Raymond J. Salois Jr., and Darlene E. Biggs, 27 Brookline Ave., $525,000.
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.
Theresa E. Puza to Andrey Korchevskiy, 172 Russellville Road, $120,000.
Thomas Maloney to Dereck Hoeckh, 119 Union St., Unit #3, $180,000.
Vantage Home Buyers LLC, to James Pettigrew and Debra Pettigrew, 161 Loomis Ridge Road, $590,000.
Vyatcheslav Tsukanov and Yanna Tsukanov to Alannah Marie Walker and Brandon John Walker, 26 Skipper Lane, $260,000.
Wieslawa A. Seaha to Ann D. Mangold, 37 Wilson Ave., $305,000.
Christopher P. Mullen, personal representative, and David M. Cleveland, estate, to Alison L. Thirkield, 77 Edwards Road, $581,500.
Enace J. Lococo Jr., and Petra A. Lococo to Jessica R. Brand, 148 Westbrook Road, $750,000.
Gary Petzold Living Trust, trustee of, Gary Petzold, trustee, and Susan M. Petzold, trustee, to Michael W. Day and Chelsea Day, 742 Monson Road, $439,900.
James E. Kneeskern and Katherine Kneeskern to Alan S. Bishop and Samatha Frappier, 15 Circle Drive, $405,000.
Rosalind Burtch, trustee, Linda Schoch, trustee, and Eva Ersing Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Carmen I. Cabrera-Fuentes, 34 Glenn Drive, $327,000.
Steven B. Luzi to Susele D. Luzi, 17 Rochford Drive, $120,000.
Diane G. Elliott, Diane G. Elliott, personal representative, and Daryl E. Finch, estate, to John Godden, 9 Bridge St., $223,000.
The refrigerator features a freezer on top, and the oven has a window in the door (to keep an eye on what’s cooking). The sink uses a plastic bowl for a basin, while the china cabinet has plenty of room for play dishes and tea sets.
(SUBMITTED)
Don & Dave Runyan | Project of The WeekNO CHILD CAN REsist an invitation to help in the kitchen, “cooking” just like a grown-up. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that most kids love the idea of having a child-size kitchen all to themselves. That’s where this do-it-yourself kiddy kitchen project comes in.
Safe, durable and easy-tobuild, the project includes four detailed pieces. The refrigerator features a freezer on top, and the oven has a window in the door (to keep an eye on what’s cooking).
The sink uses a plastic bowl for a basin, while the china cabinet has plenty of room for play dishes and tea sets.
Inexpensive to build, the kiddy kitchen calls for plywood, a small quantity of standard lumber, some common hardware and a few easyto-find “odds and ends” (like the plastic bowl for the sink). Simple construction and fullsize patterns make the project as easy as it is affordable.
The china cabinet (the largest piece) measures about 41
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F5
Mine happens to be a garden they used to avoid, although I could never pin their absence on anything that I did. I have always grown roses, apples, grapes, raspberries, and zinnias, all of which are delicacies to Japanese beetles. Perhaps my soil was replete with a tongue-twister like Neoplectana glaseri, a nematode which kills Japanese beetle grubs while they are still in the ground. (Commercially preparations of various species of nematodes have developed for Japanese beetle control.) Perhaps there were sufficient tachinid flies and tiphiid wasps also keeping Japanese beetle populations in check. Or moles
and shrews, which relish the fat, white beetle grubs. Birds such as purple grackles, starlings, pheasants, catbirds, and meadowlarks also enjoy a meal of Japanese beetles. Where Japanese beetles are a problem, gardeners commonly spread milky spore disease (Bacillus poppilae) on the ground or set traps for the beetles. Both these measures are benign as far as human and environmental health; unfortunately, they also are of dubious value in controlling the pest. Milky spore is applied by dropping teaspoonfuls of the powder (marketed under such trade names ‘Doom’ or ‘Japademic’) on the ground, where it is supposed to wash in and infect the grubs. Current research suggests that some commercially available formulations of the disease do
not perform satisfactorily in the field, and especially so in our cooler climate and soils.
Japanese beetle adults are adept fliers. Consequently, besides innate ineffectiveness of commercial milky spore disease powder, infecting grubs in your yard also is fruitless if healthy beetles fly in from surrounding, disease-free areas.
The beetles’ flying ability also makes Japanese beetle traps useless. These scented traps can lure beetles from all over a neighborhood, only some of which end up in the trap.
A tried-and-true method of Japanese beetle control is handpicking beetles off leaves into a can of soapy water. The best time to go mano a mano against the pest is in the cool of early morning, while beetles still are slug-
gish from night’s chill. The sound of a half-dozen beetles plunking into the can at once can be enjoyed merely by tapping heavily infested leaves held over the can.
Excessive damage from the beetles or the grubs calls for discrete use of pesticides. Before getting out your sprayer though, note that beetle populations decline rapidly after midsummer, beetle populations usually are low following dry summers, and grub infestations on lawns are spotty (and require only spot treatments). No need to spray at the first sign of beetles; plants — and hopefully you — can tolerate some damage.
One could approach Japanese beetle control in yet another way: don’t grow the beetles’ favorite plants. This is easier said than done, since
inches tall by 24 inches wide by 15 inches deep.
The Kiddy Kitchen plan, No. 363, is $9.95 and includes step-by-step instructions with photos, traceable patterns, diagrams and a complete shopping list and cutting schedule. Please include $3.95 per order for postage and handling and allow about two weeks for delivery.
To order by mail, clip this article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Republican, 741B Olive Ave., Vista CA 92083.
the beetles feed on over 250 different flowers and deciduous trees and shrubs. Lawngrasses provide especially good fodder for the beetle grubs. The pest would have a harder time of it if we limited the areas devoted to lush, manicured lawns. Watering throughout the summer facilitates egg-laying, and broad spectrum pesticides wipe out the beetles’ natural predators.
As testimonial to the effectiveness of natural controls against Japanese beetles, the insect is considered only a minor pest in Japan — in many areas there, it’s difficult even to find beetles!
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.
Safe, durable and easy-tobuild, the project includes four detailed pieces. The refrigerator features a freezer on top, and the oven has a window in the door (to keep an eye on what’s cooking).
Furniture - Early, Custom and Modern, Fine Art - 100+ Paintings, prints and sculptures, sterling, dolls, Asian, glass and china, 30+ oriental rugs, and more.
PREVIEW: THURS. 8AM - 4PM & FRI. 8AM - 6PM VIEW CATALOG ONLINE www.DouglasAuctioneers.com
MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
10:00 AM-HAYDENVILLE (Williamsburg) 26 High Street
sgl fam, 1,408 sf liv area, 3.37 ac lot, 6 rm, 3 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampshire: Book 11643, Page 1
11:00 AM-HOLYOKE 225-227 Beech Street
2 fam, 2,502 sf liv area, 0.14 ac lot, 10 rm,
4 bdrm, 2 bth, Hampden: Bk 17670, Pg 499
TERMS: Cashier’s or certified check in the sum of $5,000.00 as a deposit must be shown at the time and place of the sale in order to qualify as a bidder. No CASH. No personal checks will be accepted. Cashier/certified checks should be made out to whomever is going to bid at the auction. The balance to be paid within thirty (30) days at the law offices of Korde & Associates, P.C.900 Chelmsford Street, Suite 3102, Lowell, MA 01851, Attorney for the Mortgagee. Auctioneer makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.
NORTH CHELMSFORD (978) 251-1150 www.baystateauction.com
MAAU#: 1029, 2624, 2959, 3039, 2573, 116, 2484, 3246, 2919, 3092, 3107, 0100030, 3099
EnglishAKCLabradorPuppies,Black,Yellow,and FoxRed,1stshots,health guarantee,andmicrochips,vetchecked,$2150 Call607-237-7342,Honeys ucklelabs@gma il.com and on FB
GoldenRetreiver,Female,3 yearsold,happyand healthy,UTD,$750,Call 413-531-1373or413-3672405 August 2023
MiniatureSchnauzers,1M &1F,Salt&Peppercolor, currentvaccinations, 7yrsold,$300each,call 413-596-8190
Toro22inRecyclerPersonalPaceLawnmower,$175 orB/o.MountainBike, $45orB/o.10ftfolding wood ladder, $125 or B/o. Call 413-592-6510
BeautifulFancyNecklace& Earringsetforbride, bridesmade, or prom. $25. Call 413-218-7924 or 413-732-0917
10FootMetalswingwith newcushion,askiingfor $45 Call 413-739-4641
Lowrey Royale Organ, beaut., walnut finish, incl. Tufted bench, cost $60K, ask. $1 620. 413-519-8108
MORTGAGEES’ REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS TO BE SOLD ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISE
MONDAY
AUGUST 14, 2023
10:00 AM - CHESTER, MA 12 EMERY STREETDEPOSIT $5,000
BengalKittens,2available, male&female,$400,will bedewormedand1stset ofshots,CallorTextfor more info. 802-323-2538
Kittenforsale,male,2 monthold,lookslikeatiger,$200,callfordetails 413-244-8046
11montholdfemaleGermanShepherd/Labmix, Goodtemperament, walksonleash,very friendly,$250,callortext 802-323-2538
3 Puggle puppies for sale, $800, 1 boy & 2 girls, call 413-883-7302 for more details
6Yorkshiremix,home raised,$550orbestoffer, maleandfemaleavail. hypoallergenic,dewormed,callortext413291-4429
PureBredFrenchBulldogs (PUPPIES),Parentsfrom Europe,2M(1BlendTan) &2F(1black1blendfemale),1stshotdewormed&healthcertificatebothparentsin house,$3,000.Call413478-0763
Teddy Bear Puppies, pure white $650/ea. For info. text or call Lori 413-966-9152
Beatles1987SGTPepper Poster,60x40,20years agotoday,RARE,Soldout oninternet,$150,Call 413-207-4692 for info
11:00AM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 71 FENWAY DRIVEDEPOSIT $5,000
4:00 PMWEST SPRINGFIELD, MA 73 HERRMAN STREETDEPOSIT $5,000
TERMSOFSALES000DE-
1,000’s of sports cards, all big stars, at least 50% off. 1950’s to present. BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS, RETIRED VETERAN
drawers, ex. shape, 30Hx60Wx33D comes apart $200 firm. Call 860-741-2768
POSITSINTHEAMOUNTS SPECIFIEDABOVEARETO BEPAIDBYTHEPURCHASER(S)ATTHETIME ANDPLACEOFEACH SALEBYCERTIFIEDOR BANKCHECK.ALLBALANCESDUEARETOBE PAIDWITHIN30DAYSOF EACHINDIVIDUALSALE. OTHERTERMS,IFANY, TOBEANNOUNCEDAT EACH SALE. CALL OUR AUCTION SCHEDULE LINE AT (617) 964-1282 FOR A LIST OF THE CURRENT DAY’S AUCTIONS AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.commonwealth auction.com FOR CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED SCHEDULING INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL SCHEDULING INFORMATION COMMONWEALTH AUCTION ASSOCIATES, INC. (617) 964-0005 MA LIC 2235
(UNUSUALUPPERBODYPAIN,ORDISCOMFORTINONEORBOTHARMS,BACK,SHOULDER,NECK, JAWORUPPERPARTOFTHESTOMACH)
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SP F12 | SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
you•Shortnessofbreath•Nausea•Light-headednessorsuddendizziness
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Ifyouexperienceanyoneofthesesymptoms,don’tmake excusesforthem.MaketheCall.Don’tMissaBeat.
