Brenda Edwards considers the four bedroom ranch-style house where she has lived for 20 years her forever home. It’s where the 70-year-old retired nurse and her 79-year-old husband want to stay as their mobility becomes more limited.
So she hired an interior designer for $20,000 and spent another $95,000 to retrofit their house in Oakdale, California. She had the kitchen aisles widened to accommodate a wheelchair in case she or her husband ever need one. The bathroom now has a walk-in steam shower and an electronic toilet seat that cleans the user when activated.
“We felt comfortable,” Edwards said in explaining why the couple decided to invest in the property instead of downsizing. “We have a pool. We have a spa. We just put a lot of love and effort into this yard. We want to stay.”
Even if they wanted to move, it wouldn’t make financial sense, Edwards said. Their house is almost paid for, and “it would be too hard to purchase anything else,” she said.
Like Edwards and her husband, a vast majority of adults over age 50 prefer the idea of remaining in their own residences as long a possible, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. But staying put is becoming less of a choice. Some baby boomers and older members of Generation X are locked into low mortgage rates too good to give up.
More inside: Tips on making a house or apartment safe and accessible for older adults living at home, Page F10
Skyrocketing housing prices fueled by lean supply further complicate the calculations of moving house.
Despite feeling tied down, a subset of these older adults have enough extra cash to splurge on upgrades designed to keep their homes both enjoyable and accessible as they age. The demand for inconspicuous safety bars, lower sinks, residential elevators and other amenities has given home improvement chains,
contractors, designers and architects a noticeable lift.
Home Depot, the nation’s largest home improvement chain, is revamping its Glacier Bay brand to include sleeker grab bars and faucets that are easier to use. Rival Lowe’s created a one-stop shop in 2021 that offers wheelchair ramps, teak shower benches, taller toilets and
Agawam Garden Club is holding its annual plant sale on Saturday, June 1. This year’s event will be held at the Historic Thomas Smith House, 251 North West St., in the Feeding Hills section and will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The sale will include a variety of perennials and shrubs, all from members’ gardens. Proceeds from the sale go towards funding the club’s scholarship and providing educational programs for the year. For more information visit agawamgardenclub. com.
The Hampden Garden Club will be host its annual Memorial Day plant sale on Monday, May 27, from 8 a.m. to noon on the lawn of Academy Hall located on Main Street. The sale is the club’s only fundraiser of the year, with all proceeds supporting the club’s effort to promote gardening and beautifying the town of Hampden. Call Lil with any questions at 413566-1137.
Berkshire Botanical Garden will present “Stonemasonry: An Overview” on Saturday, May 25, at 9 a.m. This workshop, led by Sam Mercier, will focus on the steps that are needed to start new projects as well as methods for fixing existing problems. The class will begin with a demonstration and Q&A at 9 a.m., then participants will take a walk of the grounds, examining masonry and looking at techniques for fixing stone projects that have been worn down over time. After an in-depth look at the basics on the planning board and in the field, instruction will move to masonry tools, finishes and fabrication. This
MORE KNOWLedge makes for a better gardener. That’s what I had in mind with my most recent book, “The Ever Curious Gardener,” excerpted here: With occasional hot weather nowadays, and soon to be a regular occurence, I pity my plants. While I can jump into some cool water, sit in front of a fan, or at least duck into the shade, my plants are tethered in place no matter what the weather. And don’t think that plants enjoy searing sunlight. High temperatures cause plants to dry out and
consume stored energy faster than it can be replenished. Stress begins at about 86 degrees Fahrenheit, with leaves beginning to cook at about 20 degrees above that.
One recourse plants have in hot weather is to cool themselves by transpiring water. Transpiration, which is the loss of water from leaves, can cool a plant by about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Over 90 percent of the water taken up by plants runs right through them, up into the air, exiting through little holes in the leaves,
called stomates. Carbon dioxide and oxygen, the gases plants need to carry on photosynthesis, also pass in and out through the stomates.
All this is fine provided there’s enough water in the ground. If not, stomates close, transpiration and photosynthesis stop, and the plant warms. Even if the soil is moist, stomates might close in midsummer around midday if leaves begin to jettison water faster than the roots can drink it in. This situation puts most plants in a bind. Should they open their pores so that photosynthesis can carry on to give them energy, but risk drying out, or should they close up their pores to conserve water, but suffer lack of energy?
Enter cacti and other succulents (all cacti are succulents—that is, plants with especially fleshy leaves or stems—but not all succulents are cacti): their fleshy stems and leaves can store water for long periods. After more than a year without a drop of water, my aloe plant’s leaves still look plump and happy. Besides being able to store water in their stems and leaves, jade plants, aloes, cacti, purslane, and other succulents have another special trick, Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, for getting out of this conundrum. They work the night shift, opening their pores only in darkness, when little water is lost, and latching onto carbon dioxide at night by incorporating it into malic acid, which is stored until the next day. Come daylight, the pores close up, conserving water, and the malic acid splits apart to release carbon dioxide within the plant, to be used, with sunlight, to make energy.
I’ve actually tasted the result of this trick in summer by nibbling a leaf of purslane—a common weed, sometimes cultivated—at night and then another one in the afternoon. Malic acid makes the night-harvested purslane more tart than the
one harvested in daylight. Try it.
Another group of plants, called C4 plants, function efficiently at temperatures that have most other plants gasping for air and water.
C4 plants capture carbon dioxide in malate, the ionic form of malic acid, which is a four-carbon molecule, rather than the three-carbon molecule by which most plants— which are “C3”—latch onto carbon.
The enzyme that drives the C4 reaction is so efficient that C4 plants don’t have to keep their stomates open as much as do C3 plants. The C4 pathway also does its best work at temperatures that would eventually kill a C3 plant, and cells involved in the various steps are partitioned within the leaf for greatest efficiency.
C4 plants are indigenous to parched climates, but not uncommon visitors in our gardens. Corn is a C4 plant. (Cool climate grains such as wheat, rye, and oats, are C3 plants.) Looking at my lawn, I see another C4 plant. Hot, dry weather in August drives Kentucky bluegrass, a C3 grass, into dormancy. Not so for crabgrass, a C4 plant, which remains happily green.
I also find some other C4 plants, in addition to corn, in my garden. As many vegetables and flowers flag, all of a sudden lambsquarters and pigweed, both C4 weeds (or vegetables, for those who like to eat them), appear as lush as spinach in spring. Can I do anything to help out my plants in hot weather? Keeping the garden watered helps. (Ways to apply water and how much is needed are all-important, and topics unto themselves.)
Sprinkling or misting plants could keep them cool without their having to pull water up from the soil. But the 30 gallons of water that runs up through a tomato plant in a season, or the 50 gallons that flows through a corn plant, is for more than
just cooling these plants. It also carries dissolved minerals from the soil into the plant. So it’s debatable how well a plant would grow with too much misting. And besides, wet plants are predisposed to disease.
A better alternative to sprinkling plants is to grow plants adapted to the climate
and the season. My lettuce, spinach, peas, and radishes are doing fine now; despite today’s heat, it’s not really all that hot — yet. And nights are still cool. Mostly, I avoid growing these cool weather plants in summer. Except that I like my lettuce salads, so I extend its season by growing it in the shade be-
neath trellised cucumbers. Fortunately, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, and squashes, although they are neither cacti nor C4 plants, can take quite a bit of heat. They have very deep roots.
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.
THIS TIME OF THE year, many of us have gardens on our minds, whether plans involve planting, pruning or decorating. Garden gnomes are some of the most popular garden decorations, and have been since the 1800s. They were first made in Thuringia, Germany, a region known for its ceramics.
In German folklore, gnomes were said to guard against evil and sometimes help with garden tasks like digging and weeding when no one was looking. In fairy tales, gnomes often guarded treasure, so maybe there was a little wishful thinking along with the whimsy of keeping them in the garden.
Today, garden gnomes are made from materials like concrete, resin or plastic. Antique and vintage gnomes made of iron or pottery are more valuable. Case in point: Bidders at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries brought this pottery gnome, whose presale estimated value was $200 to $300, to a final price of $2,875!
This one is a little atypical, which may have contributed to
the price. While most gnomes have red caps, his is blue. Instead of the usual garden tools in his hands, he holds a bag over his shoulder. “Germany” is impressed on the back, indicating he was made for export. With his boutonniere, brimmed hat and a bag over his shoulder, he certainly looks ready for travel.
The mark also offers clues to when the gnome was made, assuming he was exported to the United States. After 1891, anything imported by the United States had to be marked with its country of origin. This mark usually included the words “Made In” after 1915. From the end of World War II to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, German products were marked for East or West Germany. So the gnome was probably made either in the early 20th century or toward the end.
Q. I am preparing my family house for sale after my mum’s passing, and she had a bedroom furniture set in her possession. My mother told me that it was originally her grandmother’s. I’ve been told that
the style is art nouveau, and that it is circa 1900s. There are two wardrobes, one three-door and the other two-door, a dresser (with mirror), and a bed headboard and footer. I’m looking for information on the pieces and an approximate value.
A. To date furniture from family history, the general rule is to add 25 years for every generation that owned it, then add your age. However, people buy furniture at different times in their lives, so, while this method can determine the maximum possible age of a piece of furniture, it is not always a reliable way to date it. Style and construction will give you more accurate information. The art nouveau movement began in France in the late nineteenth century and influenced American design from about 1895 to 1910. Art nouveau style featured long, flowing lines, asymmetry, human figures, and natural elements like flowers and insects. It took inspiration from French and Japanese decorative arts. There were only a few American makers;
S. Karpen and Brothers of Chicago is probably the most famous. Simpler versions of art nouveau styles were mass-produced. Art nouveau bedroom sets with unknown makers have recently sold at auctions for about $750-$1,500. If you can find a label or maker’s mark, the value will be higher. A bedroom set usually gets the best price when it is sold as a unit instead of selling each piece individually.
Q. I recently found a teapot that is shaped like an old country cottage, and it is marked on the bottom as made in Occupied Japan. What does that mean, and could it be worth something?
A. “Occupied Japan” is the mark on ceramics, toys and other items made in Japan during the American occupation after World War II, about 1947 to 1952. There are collectors who specialize in Occupied Japan products. To them, the mark is the most important part; at antiques shows, Occupied Japan items are displayed upside down so the mark is immediately visible. Novelty ceramics like
With his sharp dress sense and smiling face, who wouldn’t invite a gnome like this one into their garden? The high selling price might be off-putting to most of us, though. (COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)
your teapot tend to sell for low prices. We have seen a similar teapot, along with a matching sugar bowl and creamer, sell recently for about $20. This style of teapot, shaped like a cottage, is sometimes called “cottage ware.” We have seen it attributed to the Marutomu ceramics company.
Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
will cover cutting stone with saws large and small, splitting stone, chiseling, and other finishes necessary in stone projects at 3 p.m. Cost $140 members, $160 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit berkshire botanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
The Springfield Garden Club will host a “Magical Fairy Garden Tour” for two afternoons and two evenings in May. Thirty magical hab -
through sunset and to dusk. Tickets are available at the gate, but advance tickets are recommended. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. com. Admission for all the tours is $10 for adults, $5 for children and $20 for a family (up to six people).
through June 2024 support Springfield Garden Club and its programs.
itats will be on display May 25-26 as well as Memorial Day, May 27. The tour will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. and will be set in the landscaped yard of Al & Vana Whitehouse at
48 Park Edge Ave. in Springfield. In addition, two evening tours on May 21-22 from 2 to 9 p.m. are being offered so guests can watch the habitats as they sparkle and shine
During the show, each design will have its own special story page that tells of the journey of The Shy Giraffe in the soon to be published children’s book, “Tell Me about Your Happy Place,” written by Haabiba Rothenberg-Whitney with photographs by Natalie Fielding. A full color version of the book and/or a coloring book of the story featuring photographs of each creation can be ordered during the tour. All profits form the tour and the sale of the books purchased
On Saturday, June 1, the Springfield Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon at the Old Monkey House in Forest Park. Free entry to the plant sale is available at the Trafton Road Entrance to Forest Park, 200 Trafton Road.
A spring tradition and the club’s major scholarship fundraiser, this is not the kind of plant sale that focuses on re-selling plants from wholesale growers. Except for a few donations from generous area garden centers, these plants are from members’ gardens or have been grown from seed specifically for the sale. Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. fell for the second straight week, giving some relief to home shoppers already facing skyhigh prices and a shortage of supply.
The average 30-year rate fell to 7.02% from 7.09% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.39%.
The recent pullbacks followed a five-week string of increases that pushed the average rate to its highest level since November 30. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing options.
“The decrease in rates, albeit small, may provide a bit more wiggle room in the budgets of prospective homebuyers,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also declined this week, trimming the average rate to 6.28% from 6.38% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.75%, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage stayed below 7% this year until last month.
Athena Sheehan to Joanne T. Mason, 12H Castle Hills Road, $315,000.
Carole J. Handler to Lisa Cecchini, 178 Brookfield Lane, Unit 178, $296,000.
Daniel Jock, representative, and Elwin A. Jock, estate, to Gary Dionne and Amber Dionne, Warren Street, Par A, $15,000.
Douglas C. Johnson to Michael A. Osowiecki and Maryrose V. Osowiecki, 28 Carmel Lane, $335,000.
Elias Family Limited Partnership, Aziz S. Elias and Deborah Elias to Abby L. Citro, 4 Maple View Lane, Unit E, $315,100.
James A. G. Fraser, representative, and James D. Fraser, estate, to Joshua James Dennis Fraser, 27 Adams St., $275,000.
Judith N. Schachte, trustee, JHNEC Trust, trustee of, and Frank C. Pignatare to Andrii Tverdokhlib, O Suffield Street, $180,000.
Kevin Martin to Christopher Herberger and Meghan Fallon, 192 Brookfield Lane, $250,000.
Margaret A. Burns to Jordan Magnolia, 128 Corey Colonial, $228,000.
Michael J. Oleksak and Rita A. Oleksak to Gary W. Chirgwin Jr., and Morgan V. DiBacco, 15 Patriot Lane, $527,000.
Michael L. Baxter, representative, and Lawrence B. Baxter Jr., estate, to Tyler A. Moccio, 153 Regency Park, $150,000.
Robert E. King to Shelly J. Goncalves, trustee, Steven Melanson, trustee, and Unfolding Beauty Trust, trustee of, 45 Zacks Way, $700,000.
Robert K. Belniak and Deborah A. Belniak to Robert K. Belniak, life estate, Deborah A. Belniak, life estate, Alan S. Belniak and Carolyn E. Piwowar, 6 Faymore Drive, $100.
Robert W. Donnelly to Stephanie Nettles, 254 Regency Park Drive, $100,000.
Samuel J. Bonk, Lindsey Bonk and Lindsey Warner to Mackenzy Ryan, 111 Plantation Drive, $270,000.
Vet Properties LLC, to Mass Veterinary Services LLC, 305 Suffield St., $350,000.
Zachary Dominique and Savannah Marcotte to Jeffrey Duggan, 63 Plantation Drive, Unit 63, $258,000.
Keely Hartley to Minsuk Cha and Minyoung Cha, 8 Cranberry Lane, $460,000.
Geraldine S. Grant-Hansen, trustee, and Grant-Hansen Families Revocable Education Trust to Galina Melman, 3 Canton Ave., $789,000.
Tamara Agarwal and Gaurav Agarwal to Tamara Agarwal, trustee, and 58 Antigua Nominee Trust, 58 Sunset Ave., $100. Honeylyne Stavropulos, Honeylyne G. Teruel, and Paul Stavropulos to John Feffer and Karin Lee, 1 Poets Corner, $588,000.
Parisa Nassiri to Guojin, 170 East Hadley Road, $265,000.
Alexander Ian Marquardt, Alice Meta M. Cherry, and Alice M. Cherry to Sheila Carel and Roland Carel, 435 Henry St., $570,000.
Robert Wade Bassett to Eujean Law and Nathaniel Law, 171 Tatro Road, $550,000.
Nelson I. Garrow, Nelson I. Garrow III, and Joanne L. Garrow to Nelson I. Garrow III, Joanne L. Garrow, and Francis M. Garrow, 419 Bay Road, $100.
Michael A. Palazzo and Carla J. Palazzo to Matthew G. Mueller and Jaime A. Mueller, 126 Kennedy Road, $432,150.
Jason M. Carter and Diana M. Carter to Jing Yang, 7 Old Pelham Road, $320,000.
John P. Budz, Judy A. Surniak, John Budz, and Judy Surniak to William D. Ingram and Madisen Bang, 45 West St., $365,000.
Kathryn A. Kelley and David R. Kelley to Bandith Vorasane, 29 Eugene Drive, $675,000.
Hui Hui Wu to Karen Devine, 85 North Main St., $315,000.
Tyrone Stinson and Barbara J. Stinson to Alexander Scalfano, 22 Raymond Drive, $305,000.
Jessica L. Norman to Zain Naveed, 186 Bald Mountain Road,
$250,000.
Alan A. Pratt to Donna Digeorge, Jordan Digeorge and Scott Digeorge, 102 Bald Mountain Road, $55,000.
Bell Point LLC, to Misty L. Farrell, Warren Road, Lot 3.1, $15,000.
Irene M. Shedd to Nicholas J. Chiusano, 115 Lyon Hill Road, $70,000.
Annemarie Begley-Gibson to Shannon M. Moineau and Thaddeus D. Goff, 43 Lariviere Drive, $375,000.
Bernash Realty LLC, and Kmak LLC, to Jose Lopez, 106 Garland St., $350,000.
Christie L. Kapusta to Michael P. Beninati and Kathleen A. Beninati, 343 Chicopee St., Unit 36, $164,000.
DSLP Memorial Drive LLC, to SEVV Realty LLC, 1329 Memorial Drive, $1,200,000.
Florence C. Jacksen to JJJ17 LLC, 50 Wheatland Ave., $275,000.
Gary R. Bernashe and Barbara M. Bernashe to Michael J. Goncalves and Luana S. Antunes, 27 Walter St., $290,000.
Jolanta Korenkiewicz, representative, and Barbara Grajko, estate, to David Olczuk, 2-4 Gardner Road, $400,000.
Jonathan Stephen Dean to Robert Rojowski, 107 Edward St., $170,000.
Joseph W. Zakrzewski III, Saritha Perdumbadarakalam and Saritha Perumbadarakalam to Osarodion Osa Igbinomwanhia, 585 Sheridan St., Unit 17, $270,000.
Nathan Howell and Bethany Ann Leblanc to Katelyn Kirby and David W. Beyer, 190 Asselin St., $345,000.
Richard R. Benoit to Sha-taisja L. Jones and Azeez Bolaji, 20 Sanford St., $278,000.
Skyspec LLC, to Antonio Diera Pitts, 24 Pendleton Ave., $275,000.
Yekaterina A. Alekseyeva and Justin A. J. Brooks to Xiumei Ye, 11-13 Reed Ave., $355,000.
Steven H. St. Clair, “aka” Steven A. St. Clair, to Alix P. Casey, 360 N. Green River Roa, $200,000.
A. Geoffrey Kenseth and Arnold Geoffrey Kenseth to Dylan G. Kenseth, 216 Bryant Road, $100.
Agnieszka Kloskowska to Michael P. Hearing, 33 Avery St., $356,000.
Doris H. Alleman to Ebak Projects LLC, 622 Prospect St., $232,000.
Giuliano Basile and Daria V. Basile to Martinson Antwi-Boasiako and Mabel Antwi-Boasiako, 139 Glynn Farms Drive, $926,000.
Jessica M. Valadares to Austin Shea and Thaisa Shea, 118 Parker St., $408,000.
Michael A. Taylor and Nicole Marie Taylor to Kristen M. Smith, 2 Pine St., $301,000.
Robert S. Songini, trustee, and Elaine A. Songini Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Erica L. Moulton, 30 Orchard Road, $525,000.
Trevor C. Kirk, Taylor-Ann K. Kirk and Taylor-Anne K. Kirk to Timothy Daniel Gillette, 126 Gates Ave., $290,000.
413 LLC, to Petite Four LLC, 40 ½ Holyoke St., $310,000.
A-Z Storage & Properties LLC, and Autumn Properties LLC, to Lennox & Bennett LLC, 4 Liberty St., $650,000.
Alexander N. Buendo to Laura Carr and William Carr, 11 Plaza Ave.,
$400,000.
KMAK LLC, and RG East Street LLC, to Michael D. Ginsberg, 26-28 Federal St., $450,000.
Cheryl A. Krueger and Frank J. Szela to Olivier F. Doisneau and Melissa L. O’Brien, 7 Bittersweet Lane, $697,316.
Eric D. Lane and Lauren Lane to Joel Meissner, 231 Silver St., $380,000.
John W. Corrigan, Deborah J. Corrigan and John W. Corrigan Jr., to Lauren Lane and Eric Lane, 11 North Lane, $490,000.
Craig Ryan and Kaitlynn Ryan, “fka” Kaitlynn Kuznik, to Christopher Storozuk, 83 Wisdom Way, “fka” 81-83 Wisdom Way, $240,000.
Sean Connors to Amber M. Ortiz and Chad E. Wright, 12 Stanley St., $285,000.
Daniel J. Albert Jr., and Thomas E. Nasiatka to Elizabeth Prager and Megan Morrow, 171 Rocky Hill Road, $475,000.
Alan Vieu Jr., and Aidmarie Vieu to Robert L. Bailey and Sara R. Siegel, 15 Morning Star Drive, $552,000.
Shane R. Conklin and Roselee Jane Conklin to Newell Court LLC, 76 North Maple St., $432,500.
Shane Conklin to Norwottuck Rentals LLC, 229 River Drive, $510,000.
Joshua Daniel Binney, Leah Marie Binney and Sarah Colette Palmer to Anthony Decesare and Mary Decesare, 34 Bayberry Road, $409,900.
Francis Leon Motyka, personal representative, Frank L. Motyka Jr., personal representative, and Jane M. Motyka, estate, to Lauren Gottschalk, 138 Chestnut St., $335,000.
Richard H. Emery, “aka” Richard H. Emery Sr., to Jodi Walsh, 103 Avery Brook Road, $145,000.
Aaron D. Thayer, Heather A. Thayer
and Heather A. Sutter to John P. Hanley and Linda L. Hanley, 11 Hemlock Drive, $510,000.
David E. O’Brien, trustee, Susan M, O’Brien, trustee, David E. Obrien Revocable Trust, trustee of, and Susan M. Obrien Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Alan M. Vieu Jr., and Aidmarie Vieu, 104 Saint James Ave., $410,000.
Grace James Realty LLC, to Onkar Properties LLC, 0 Canal Street, $57,000.
Grace James Realty LLC, to Onkar Properties LLC, 0 South Summer Street, $750,000.
Karen M. Croteau to Caitlyn Waddell, 53 Westfield Road, $320,000.
Matthew L. Gilligan, representative, and Elaine P. Gilligan, estate, to Patricia Gilligan and Vasilios Anastasios Karsaliakos, 23 Dillon Ave., $140,000.
Real Jacques and Laurie Y. Jacques to Gaelin Mackenzie Ryan and Sonny Rajiv Lalchandani, 78 Vermont St., $445,000.
Sarah Elizabeth St. Pierre to Kassandra M. Jean-Marie, 39 Moss Ave., $276,000.
Stephanie Saad to Erik Williams, 56 Taylor St., $270,000.
Henry Wielgosz Jr., to Randolph J. Merritt and Sherri B. Merritt, 118 Norwich Lake, $350,000.
Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, to Allison Brown and Scott Besancon, 7 Rocky Brook Drive, $324,900.
James L. Muka and Michael G. Muka to James L. Muka and Joyce L. Muka, 209 South County Road, South County Road and Off County Road, $170,000.
A. Russell Fanelli, trustee, Lee G. Fanelli, trustee, Russell & Lee Fanelli Living Trust, trustee of, Alphonse R. Fanelli and Lee Glenn Fanelli to Stephanie K. Dimichele and Jessica A. Orcutt, 69 Greenacre Ave., $485,000.
Alfred J. Albano Jr., Sarah R. LaPolice and Sarah J. Tyson to Timothy R. Cejka and Crystal Cejka, 1195 Longmeadow St., $413,750.
Brian John Danahey and Diane Marie Danahey to MA Dunsany LLC, 95 Dunsany Drive, $585,000.
Cheryl R. Blonder to Rebekah Larochelle, trustee, and Cheryl R. Blonder Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, 715 Williams St., $100.
Min Ho Cho to Thi Phuong Tran, 33 Woolworth St., $435,000.
Plata O Plomo Inc. to Caitlin
B. Thunfors, 41 Shaker Road, $550,000.
Sara Sarno to Rachel Anne Harrington and Brian Robert Bak, 338 Maple Road, $390,000.
Thomas Jagodowski to Ryan William Gendron and Caroline Grace Lussier, 44 Lawnwood Ave., $325,000.
Anne B. Clement, representative, and Chester J. Giza, estate, to Elzbieta Kloc, 134 Yale St., $91,000.
Ashley A. Preman to Elzbieta Kloc, 134 Yale St., $91,000.
Cory Batista to Vernon Peabody Jr., and Pamela Peabody, 17 Lakeview Ave., $250,000.
George Leastman, Sophia Leastman and Sophia Hess to Ashley Park and Amy Park, 13 Waters Edge Drive, Unit 13, $260,000.
Jillian Bowyer and Jillian L. Bowyer to Erika L. Pouliot and Sam R. Pouliot, 28 Deer Hill Circle, $500,000.
Louronne Hartley to Craig Burton and Michael Perlotto, 85 North Road, $204,500.
Bell Point LLC, to Frank Davis Johnson Jr., and Joan Elizabeth Simmons, Silver Street, Lot 2, $45,000.
Norman Waterhouse and Norman W. Waterhouse to Thomas John Jagodowski, 1 Waid Road, $403,500.
T & Son Property LLC, to Daniel S. Marti, 378 Boston Road, $305,000.
Susan E. LaVallee to Edmond A. Jazab and Patricia A. Duffy, 0 Westhampton Road and 0 Route 66, $69,000.
Sovereign Builders Inc., to Laurie B. Winston, trustee, and Laurie B. Winston 2008 Revocable Trust, 29 Sherman Ave., $856,500.
Janet S. Taft to Hugh Conway Hilliard III, 21 Moser St., $925,000.
Carmen L. Montes to Ismael Alvarado, 1237 Burts Pit Road, $285,000.
Bruce M. Weinraub and Bruce M. Weinraub Revocable Trust to Holly A. Moran and James Moran, 130 Coles Meadow Road, $571,650.
Rishi P. Chhatwal to Penelope Burke, 9 Pomeroy Terrace, $602,500.
Hawley O’Connell LLC, and O’Connell Development Group Inc., to Pranab K. Banerjee and Deborah E. Banerjee, 10 Hawley St., $685,000.
Orange Ryan J. Calvi to BHO Realty LLC, 31 Dexter St., $104,975.
Kathleen M. Feerick, personal representative of the Estate of Marlys E. Kelley, to Eric Jack and Melinda Jack, 71 Packard Road, $183,000.
Kaitlyn M. Chuba-Kraner and Benjamin D. Kraner to Brianna Kayland Russell and Jordan William Russell, 310 Walnut Hill Road, $315,000.
David A. Bren to Nathan W. Jensen, 1422 Park St., $338,400.
David E. Granger to Stephen G. Fellers, 13 South High St., $175,000.
Michael Anthony Langone and Michael Joseph Langone to Tavernier Investments LLC, 2066 Palmer Road, $255,000.
Stephen T. Masley Jr., to 1063 Park Street LLC, 1063-1065 Park St., $350,000.
Thomas Griffiths to Casey Daviau and Francesco Teta IV, 1045 Circle Drive, $358,000.
Veteran Stan LLC, to Asley Marie Cruz Rodriguez and Jose Luis Rodriguez Santiago, 1041 Pine St., $415,000.
Gale A. Bulissa and David R. Bulissa to Trinity Estate Alliance LLC, 169 Grant St., $875,000.
Lawrence J. Kardynal to Cynthia E. Rosendale, trustee, and Rosendale Investment Trust, 191 River Road, $55,000.
Robert J. Spencer to Riverside Pippin LLC, 77 Bridge St., $79,000.
Karen S. Sutherland and James E. Baker, attorney-in-fact, to Danielle Rossoni and Agathe Hoffer-Schaeffer, 410 River Road and 447 River Road, $440,000.
Mary Lois Lesperance and Patricia M. Dowling, power of attorney, to Robert J. Schroeter, 14 Grant St., $222,000.
James C. Foley and Donna Foley to Kevin Foley and Matthew Foley, 11 Magnolia Terrace, $100.
Michael C. Bean to April Grudgen Whalen, 11 San Souci Drive, $120,000.
Susan M. Kasa to Susan M. Kasa, trustee, and Susan M. Kasa Revocable Living Trust, 71 Middle Road, $100.
Hamelin Framing Inc., to Wendy S. Abraham, trustee, and Wendy S. Abraham 2022 Trust, trustee of, 20 Silvergrass Lane, $170,000.
Peter J. Pappas and Julie Ann Pappas to Jeffrey J. Webster and Meaghan Webster, 9 Overlook Lane, $1,150,000.
Scott J. Citro and Abby L. Citro to Peter A. Rocca, trustee, Joanne F. Rocca, trustee, and Peter A. Rocca & Joanne F. Rocca Living Trust, trustee of, 7 Pine Knoll, $465,000.
Susan Paul and Terrance P. Brennan to James R. Vollinger and Sarah E. Hoyle, 5 Pine Knoll Drive, $492,000.
Cutchins Programs For Children & Families Inc., to 26 Ridgewood LLC, NS Ridgewood Terrace, $1,500,000.
Aleyssa Centeno and Marilyn Centeno-Ortiz to Coral Vega, 51 Emerson St., $336,000.
Alfredo Vega and Ramona Fernandez to Finly Turnier, 55-57 Horace St., $385,000.
Amalfy Reyes to Soriano Market LLC, 260-262 Hancock St., $300,000.
Antonio Frank Basile and Antonio F. Basile to Felicia Copeland, 754 White St., $289,000.
Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, to Joel Padilla Tirado and Kiara Francheska Zapata Flores, 276 Dickinson St., $302,500.
Beverley A. Cunningham to Dorca Marquez and Jeicol Luis Marquez, 21 Oak Grove Ave., $345,000.
Boston Road Associates LLC, to Noorzad Realty Llc, 879 Boston Road, $600,000.
YMCA of Greater Springfield Inc., to 275 Chestnut LLC, 275 Chestnut St., Unit 1, $300,000.
Cubby S. Owens Sr., representative, and Lee A. Owens, estate, to Northern Flooring & Remodeling LLC, 245 Quincy St., $40,000.
D & M Realty & Investments LLC, to Gary M. Troncoso, 94 Massachusetts Ave., $435,000.
De Leon Holdings LLC, to Jenny Diaz, 34 Brunswick St., $280,000. Diptiman Bose and Dithi Banerjee Bose to Eric Gordenstein, 40H Halifax Court, Unit G-127, $262,000.
Edward L. Giza to Alice Martinez-Balseca, 103 Emerson St., $312,500.
Edwin Mendez to Jaqueline Santos
Da Silva, 30-32 Woodside Terrace, $369,900.
Harriet Rossi to Thomas Sliwa and Mariah Peets, 29 East Alvord St., $170,000.
Hoa Thi Lam, Steven Quang Truong and Denny Quang Truong to Dreamwake Homes Inc., 37 Groveland St., $200,000.
HP Rum LLC, to 99 Federal Street LLC, 99-103 Federal St., $2,215,000.
Ibrahim M. Aljashaam to Deolinda Andrade, 60 Grand St., $294,900.
New England Farm Workers Council Inc., to Main & Taylor LLC, 15-17 Lyman St., $250,000.
James C. Voltz to Wilson Manuel Tamay and Marcia R. Naula, 124 Catharine St., $238,000.
James Fiore to Sean Robert Agustynowicz, 278 Pheland Ave., $285,000.
Jessica L. Chiba to Luis Enrique Zambrano, 91-93 Malden St., $310,000.
Joejoe Properties LLC, to Louisa Morris, 127 Millbrook Road, $380,000.
John B. Mason and Sandra L. Johnson to Alexandria K. Johnson, 54 Malcolm Road, $143,617.
Jose A. Pena and Celia Pena to Jose Ariel Rosario, 4-6 Wolcott St., $270,000.
Joshua L. Messer to Christopher Scott Heaney, Catherine Heaney and Courtney Heaney, 55 Glenoak Drive, $300,000.
Kelli L. Phillps and Kelli L. Phillips to CT Assets 2 LLC, and Onyx Investments LLC, 65 Hollywood St., $170,000.
Kerriann Diana Baugh and Kerriann Diana Van Allen to Marco A. Negron Marrero and Nelly Vargas Crespo, 24 Kathleen St., $275,000. Keys Upgrade LLC, to Rony Ronaldo Godinez Mazariegos, 66 Crystal Ave., $275,000.
Kristen B. Kenyon to Maria F. Alban and Angel O. Alban, 75 Shamrock St., $150,000.
Loretta M. Enos, representative, and Thomas Arthur Enos, estate, to Tawnya Kopec and Kayley Kopec, 453 Page Boulevard, $180,400.
Lori Arpin and Barbara J. Khan to Jalen Merced, 94 Holly St., $345,000.
MAA Property LLC, to Sarah Whitlock and Pilar Tapia Reyes, 72 Clement St., $295,000.
Meg Realty LLC, to Rawam Ebrahim, 258-260 Orange St., $390,000.
Genevieve Construction Development Group Inc., to Jacob Montalvo, 249-251 Oak Grove Ave., $365,000.
Naji K Naji to Joejoe Properties
LLC, 19 Greene Place, $130,000.
Nancy Winterhalter to Michael Patrick McCool and Molly McCool, 68 South Branch Parkway, $444,000.
Nashalie Lebron Delgado to Mildred Veronica Velez Vega, 266 Rosewell St., $265,000.
Norman Couture, trustee, and Rock Ridge Trust, trustee of, to Viktor Savonin, 0 Wilber Street, $33,000.
Pontiac LLC, to Carlos Ruiz, 29-31 Ledyard St., $370,000.
Robert G. Flenke and Tracy A. Flenke to Robert Henry Flenke, 66 Barrison St., $280,000.
Napolitano Roofing of Massachusetts LLC, to Anne M. Leutsch and Andrea G. Leutsch, 19 Schuyler St., $250,000.
Spring Forth Properties LLC, to Marlon Pino Fernandez, 127-129 Ranney St., $273,000.
Store Master Funding XII LLC, to Bar CW Springfield LLC, 739 Boston Road, $4,722,706.
Sybel Gonzalez to Yahaira Alonso-Santiago and Alfredo Alicea Diaz, 89 Carroll St., $300,000.
Terina M. Simmons, representative, Peggy Bowling Bates, estate, and Peggy S. Bowling, estate, to Edward C. Kennedy, 27 Mortimer St., $165,000.
Thomas W. Sacco to Joaquina Rival and Mary Pothier, 195 Riverton Road, $260,000.
Wei Qiang Ni to Xiuyu Ma, 101 Mulberry St., Unit 505, $49,500.
William T. Mulrooney to Zaid Jalil and Meghan Pereira, 122 Garnet St., $312,000.
Xaver Sierra to Yarangelis Saned Aguilera, 71-73 Price St., $375,000.
U.S. Bank Trust NA, trustee for LSRMF MH Master Participation Trust II, to Timothy E. Mimitz, 258 Plumtree Road, $188,750.
Nicole Ferdinand and Clem Dupre to Nicole Ferdinand, 57 West Main St., $100.
Gordon Watt Richards III, to John T. Conner, Sherman Hill Road, $48,000.
Citadel Projects LLC, to Darin Witt, 95-97 North St., $390,000.
Hull Forestlands LP, to John F. Williamson and Mary Williamson, Northfield Road, $95,000.
Bruce A. Stone, Pamela J. Herrlein, Bridget A. Bell, Michelle L. Stone,
Cherky B. Stone-Phillips and Cheryl B. Stone-Phillips, to AG Brothers LLC, 485 Birnie Ave., $280,000.
CGS Realty LLC, to Buildex Construction Inc., 231 Western Ave., Unit 2A2, $125,000.
Gabriel Quaglia and Angelo Quaglia to Mohanad M. Jumaah, 42 Massasoit Ave., $170,000.
Stephen G. Wilson and Susan M. Wilson to Sautam Saha and Sandepa Saha, 147 Squassick Road, $425,000.
Tommy Seidell to Vasim Shaikh, 66 Clarence St., $235,000.
West Springfield Town to 83 Worthen Street Inc., Vine Street, Lot 20, $10,000.
Barbara Eisner, representative, and William F. Sokolowski Jr., estate, to Matthew Lein and Kathleen Lein, 141 Western Circle, $325,000.
Darren F. Lecrenski to Sally Annasiry, 32 Harvest Moon Lane, $734,000.
Frank Doshna to Sky Blue Properties LLC, 22 Woronoco Ave, $210,000.
James R. Vollinger to Larry S. Kelly, 139 Union St., Unit 3, $249,900.
Jeffrey W. Thackeray, trustee, Thackeray Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, Sheila A. Thackeray and William D. Thackeray to Yelizaveta Belyakova, 12 Woronoco Ave., $320,000.
Michael Seklecki and Jacqueline Seklecki to Michael A. Raiford and Aisha S. Cintron, 123 Old Farm Road, $450,000.
Morais Enterprises LLC, to DM United Realty LLC, 209 Lockhouse Road, $800,000.
Rachel N. Bunce to Tyler Foster Plane, 111 Union St., #8, $250,000.
Richard J. Morini, trustee, Sherri A. Morini, trustee, Richard J. Morini Living Trust, trustee of, and Sherri
A. Morini Living Trust, trustee of, to Power Global Inc., 1251 East Mountain Road, $565,000.
Roy E. Frye and Mary V. Frye to James Pratt and Katelyn Bartish, 15 Raymond Circle, $565,000.
Trudy M. Weaver, Gertrude M. Hall and Lois J. Bailey to Daniel Cioch and Elaine Cioch, 589 Montgomery Road, $200,000.
William M. Beattie, Michele B. Mayhew and John J. Mayhew to Samuel F. Provo Jr., and Elizabeth Provo, 50 North Road, $416,200. Yelena S. Pavlenko to Vadim Martynyuk and Darina Martynyuk, 25 Tannery Road, $180,000.
Zolgalys Sanchez to Matthew Buchanan, 10 Greenwood St., Unit 7, $165,000.
Susan E. LaVallee, trustee, Francis B. Rauch Living Trust, and Phyllis I. Rauch Living Trust to Jennifer M. Milikowsky and Tylan Calcagni, 0 Hathaway Road, $270,000.
Lorraine W. Spencer, trustee, and Spencer 2007 Revocable Trust to Amy J. Florek, 47 Southampton Road, $250,000.
Donna J. Mansfield, personal representative of the Estate of Donna Marie Nehring, “aka” Donna M. Nehring, to Peter C. Uden, trustee of the Peter C. Uden Revocable Trust, 34 Grey Oak Lane, $625,008.
2301 Boston Road LLC, to Dominic F. Ragucci and Janice M. Ragucci, 7 Sunrise Glen, $521,800.
Borys Bakum and Devon Louise Bakum to George D. Leastman and Sophia R. Leastman, 38 Blacksmith Road, $473,000.
According to a 2023 analysis of the 2011 American Housing Survey by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, less than 4% of U.S. homes combine single-floor living with no-step entry, and halls and doorways wide enough for wheelchairs.
Tips on making a house or
T
he Associated P ress
With a majority of Americans preferring to live in their own homes as long as possible, experts stress the importance of modifications to keep dwellings safe and accessible. Here’s a summary of tips from the National Institute on Aging and AARP, which offers a free room-by-room guide with practical suggestions for older adults living independently.
ENTRANCE WAY:
Have at least one exterior doorway with step-free access. If not possible, consider a ramp.
Add a bench in the foyer to sit on when removing shoes or to set down items while locking or unlocking the door.
BATHROOM:
Install a walk-in shower with a bench and nonskid decals or mats to prevent falls. Add a hand-held nozzle to the shower head to facilitate rinsing off while seated. Install grab bars on the shower wall and near the toilet.
Put in a taller toilet or add a toiler riser.
Consider plugging in a nightlight.
BEDROOM:
If stairs are too difficult to manage, create a bedroom on the main level by transforming a den or an office. Make sure the bed is easy to get in and out of. Purchase bed risers, if needed.
Invest in an adjustable bed for extra comfort.
KITCHEN:
Purchase a stove with safety features that alert the resident when a burner is on or have automatic shut-offs. Relocate major appliances to make them easier to reach. Add slide-out drawers or trays to existing cabinets for better access.
Install a lever-style, lighttouch or sensor faucet, which is easier to use than a faucet with turn-style knobs or handles.
FURNITURE AND RUGS: Get rid of furniture and clutter to make rooms easier to move around in.
Replace chairs with armrests to make it easier to stand and sit.
Avoid furniture with sharp corners, which can cause bruises and cuts when bumped up against. Hide cords out of pathways — but don’t put them under rugs.
Area rugs, if used, should be secured to the floor with a nonslip mat or anti-slip rug tape.
The Administration for Community Living, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, operates a website https://eldercare.acl. gov/Public/Index.aspx and a hotline ( 1-800-677-1116 ) for people looking for local services or resources.
about $3,000, included replacing her tub shower with a walk-in version and installing a higher toilet.
Perkins values her independence and said retirement facilities are beyond her means. “I am on a fixed income,” she said. “I have Social Security, and I have a pension.”
According to a 2023 analysis of the 2011 American Housing Survey by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, less than 4% of U.S. homes combine single-floor living with no-step entry, and halls and doorways wide enough for wheelchairs.
The Harvard center analysis found that 20% of survey respondents age 80 and above with incomes below $30,000 reported accessibility challenges, compared to 11% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more.
other products geared toward older boomers.
“They aspire for bathrooms that exude beauty and elegance, with essential accessibility features seamlessly integrated,” Lowe’s Trend and Style Director Monica Reese said of the target customers.
Toto USA, a subsidiary of a Japanese company that introduced a luxury bidet toilet seat in 1980, markets the bathroom fixture to older people by saying it can help prevent urinary tract infections and reduce the burden on caregivers.
Toto USA research showed a 20 percentage point spike in ownership of the Washlet seats among consumers ages 46-55 between early 2020 and the end of last year. The increase indicates customers are thinking ahead, said Jarrett Oakley, the subsidiary’s director of marketing.
“The growing older demographic is more knowledgeable about renovations and planning for their future needs, especially as they prepare to age in place,” Oakley said. “They’re looking
to future-proof their homes thoughtfully and with a focus on luxury.”
Wendy Glaister, an interior designer in Modesto, California, who worked with Edwards, reports more clientele in their late 50s and early 60s remodeling their homes for the years ahead. The typical bathroom renovation in California costs $45,000 to $75,000, she said.
“Your home is your safe place,” Glaister said. “Your home is where you hosted your family for holidays.”
The need to age-proof properties will become more urgent in the decade ahead. By 2034, people age 65 and older are expected to outnumber those under age 18 for the first time in U.S. history, according to a U.S. Census report revised in 2020.
But the issue has exposed a divide between well-heeled and lower-income boomers regarding their ability to remain in place safely.
Cathie Perkins, 79, a retired teacher who has chronic fatigue syndrome, had a local non-profit group modify the first-floor apartment she owns in Beaverton, Oregon. The changes, which cost
Jennifer Molinsky, director of the center’s Housing an Aging Society program, urges policymakers to address the shortage of affordable housing that’s a good fit for older adults.
“There are all these options for those people who have a lot of money,” Molinsky said. “But there’s a lot of disparity. There are people, through no fault of their own or for systemic reasons, who may not have the money to modify.”
Gene Carr, 67, and Sallie Carr, 65, have lived in their two-story, four-bedroom house in Henderson, North Carolina, for 27 years. The married couple had the money and vision to renovate in August 2022, hoping to stay in their home for at least another 20 years. They hired builders to put a master bedroom and a bathroom on the first floor, both wheelchair-accessible. As the project neared completion a year ago, Gene Carr had a minor stroke that he describes as a “wake-up call.” His condition has improved, but the renovations make it easier to deal with ongoing balance issues, Carr said.
“We’ve got two pets that are old, and they don’t like going up and downstairs anymore either,” he said.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2 A grab bar next to the bathtub is shown in the recently remodeled home of Gene and Sallie Carr on May 7 in Hendersonville, N.C. (CHRIS CARLSON / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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