Buying for the long haul: How to choose a resilient house
By M ichele L erner
The Washington Post
AFTER A HOT
stormy summer, homeowners are more aware than ever of the toll that extreme temperatures, high winds, torrential rain and power outages can have on their families and homes. Home buyers naturally place a higher priority on the location and layout of a home but given the increasing instances of extreme weather and the high cost of repairs, they may want to take a closer look at the property’s resilience to climate change.
“Properties that never had water issues are now experiencing them because of the more severe weather patterns we’re experiencing,” said Tony Cammarota, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Distinctive in D.C.
While water issues can be hazardous and costly to repair, flying debris such as tree branches can damage roofs and windows. But there are steps buyers can take to evaluate risk before buying and that homeowners can take to mitigate risk before a storm.
Know the house’s past and present condition
Home inspections, whether a full two- to three-hour evaluation of a house or an hour-long pre-offer inspection, are highly recommended, Cammarota said.
“Buyers should follow the inspector to learn how systems work, how to maintain their home and to look for signs of previous damage,” he said.
Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), based in Tallahassee, recommends that buyers and homeowners find out which building code was used when their home was built with the InspecttoProtect. org tool.
“The building code is like a cookbook that tells you what ingredients and cooking methods were used to build your house,” Chapman-Henderson said. “The site will show you what upgrades to
consider depending on when it was built.”
For example, older codes allowed roofs to be attached with an angled nail, while new methods use straps, metal clips and roof trusses, she said.
“You can also research the history of local disasters such as floods, tornadoes and hurricanes that have impacted the house,” Chapman-Henderson said. “Now, though, severe thunderstorms sometimes cause damage that exceeds other insurance claims because of climate change and an aging housing stock.”
She recommends talking to neighbors when visiting a house and doing internet research on news reports about the neighborhood.
Tour the home
Whether you’re purchasing a home or already own one, you can download the FLASH Buy-
ers Guide to Resilient Homes and print checklists to share with your home inspector or a contractor.
Start on the outside and check to see what materials were used for your home, suggests Rob Farrie, vice president of construction for Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Maryland.
“Wood products tend to rot, but newer homes are built with cementitious board siding or Boral ash siding that are more resistant to climate impacts and require less maintenance,” Farrie said. “You also want to check the foundation coating and drain board system to make sure it channels water to a French drain.”
Foundations deteriorate over time depending on the material, Farrie said.
“You want to look inside at an unfinished basement to see if you can see effluence
such as white streaks or soil streaks on a cinder block or cement wall,” he said. “It’s harder to see that in a finished basement, so that’s when it’s really important to look at the grading outside to make sure moisture is diverted away from a house.”
Landscaping issues can contribute to a home’s resilience to storms.
“You need to make sure the trees are healthy and that you don’t have branches overhanging the roof or too close to windows,” said Marnie Oursler, owner of Marnie Oursler Custom Homes in Bethany Beach, Delaware. “The grading should divert water away
from the house and so should the gutters. You can also add gutter guards to improve their functionality.”
In addition to branches causing roof damage, as trees grow, their root systems can damage pipes and create plumbing issues, Cammarota said.
Check out the roof warranty with the sellers and have a home inspector look for water damage and to make sure the roof is installed properly, Oursler said.
Upgrade your home’s
resilience
When you’re building or remodeling a home, improvement projects can increase your household’s comfort during extreme temperatures and reduce weather-related impacts.
“Houses are often designed with the expectation that rain will come straight down, but heavy downpours are often sideways, so we use drainage house wrap between the sheathing and the drywall with a self-sealer to reduce the chances of water damage,” Oursler said. “You should also make sure the roof shingles are secured properly and that there are no gaps in the siding or around the windows and doors that could let water seep inside.”
Oursler recommends watching the water flow during a heavy downpour to make sure it doesn’t enter your home.
Anita Wolfsteiner walks through a neighbor’s yard in Houston after Hurricane Beryl in July. (PHOTO BY DANIELLE VILLASANA / THE WASHINGTON POST; COVER PHOTO BY BILL O’LEARY / THE WASHINGTON POST)
CLEAR, SUNNY DAYS AND cool nights are what brings out the best show of fiery yellow and orange leaves from sugar maples. Once that show is over, a number of other trees and shrubs, many not well known, can keep the landscape colorful longer.
Little known, for instance, is Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica). I planted it years ago as a shade tree. Big mistake! For shade, that is. It doesn’t grow very large and is more of a large, multi-stemmed shrub. I’m glad I planted it, though. The smooth, gray stems grow thick and often horizontally, then downward a little before heading skyward, sort of like a miniature beech.
But I’m writing about color, and Persian ironwood has it, the leaves emerging purplish in spring, turning a lustrous green in summer, then morphing into variable shades of yellow,
orange and red in autumn. Also not well known is Korean mountainash (also called Korean whitebeam, Sorbus alnifolia). It’s closely related to more familiar mountainashes except in a different subgenus, one whose members have simple, rather than compound, leaves. I first saw this tree one fall at the Scott Arboretum in Pennsylvania and, knowing the tiny fruits make a good nibble, ate some. And knowing a whole tree can be grown from a tiny seed, I saved some seeds for planting.
That was in 2006, and the tree is now over 25 feet tall and draped in rusty red leaves that are splashed with yellow. As an added plus, each spring the tree is draped in large clusters of foamy, white flowers.
Another rare tree is Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) which I planted — was it for its bark,
Korean mountainash is one of many trees that are not well-known but whose leaves come afire with color in autumn. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
for its flowers, or was it for its autumn leaf color? All are outstanding. The bark exfoliates in the same way as does sycamore, leaving silvery gray and charcoal gray patches against a khaki background. Its cup-shaped, white flowers with yellow center are like camellias, a relative. Right now, the leaves are a warm terra cotta color shading, in parts, to yellow.
Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardeneii) is one more lesser-known plant now aglow here. This small shrubs’ leaves sport a traffic-stopping, rich red color heightened by occasional blushes of yellow and dark red. Back in spring, candles of fra-
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming programs at Berkshire
Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs: Today, Sept. 22, “The Inner Harvest: A Meditation Gathering for the Autumnal Equinox,” 5 to 6 p.m. Learn to reflect upon your inner harvest time, in the early moment of fall, with mindfulness facilitator Sandrine Harris. Through a fluid mix of outdoor walking, quiet sitting and guided moments for reflection, be with the seasonality and energy of this time of year. Cost is $20 members, $25 nonmembers; Saturday, Sept. 28, “Fall Foliage Eco-Printing,” 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Capture a moment in time with Maggie Pate in this introduction to eco-printing on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will leave with a luscious 100 percent silk charmeuse scarf that they will design and eco-print during the class using local fall foliage. Cost $125 members, $150 nonmembers. To register or for more informa-
grant, creamy white flowers perched atop the ends of stems.
Some plants that I grow for their fruits are also more than earning their keep with fall color.
Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) is among the best of these, and the color makes up for its relatively poor yield of fruit. The deep red leaves look pretty highlighted among the evergreen leaves of rhododendron, mountain laurel, and lingonberry in my “heath bed.” (All are in the Heath Family, Ericaceae, and require similar, special soil conditions.)
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is another fruit plant here, this one with many tropical aspirations. Tropical aspirations? It’s the northernmost member of the mostly
tion, visit www.berkshire botanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
WILBRAHAM Garden Club meeting
The first meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club for the 2024-2025 season will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, at noon at the St. Cecilia’s Parish Center on Main Street.
A luncheon will be served and there is no guest fee for this meeting, so bring a prospective new member.
The speaker for the day will be Jacqueline Clark, who will speak on “Putting the Garden to Sleep.”
Clark is the owner of Garden Designs in Ludlow. Learn how to prepare gardens for the upcoming winter season, including what plants to cut back; how to do the mulching, soil amending, what containers, to use, tool tips and more. Clark will also teach techniques for saving seeds, fall plant divisions and bulb planting.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
tropical Custard Apple family (Annonaceae); its fruit has taste and texture reminiscent of banana; the fruits hang in clusters like bananas; and its long, drooping leaves would be visually at home in tropical climes. Come fall, the plants shed those tropical aspirations as the leaves turn clear yellow, especially nice when backlit by sunlight. I often rave about blueberry for its ease of growth, its pretty, white flowers in spring,
its long season of harvest, its health benefits, and of course, its delicious fruits. I’m sure I’ve also mentioned its fall color, to me one of the best of all plants. In fall, leaves are mostly crimson but depending on the variety and the season, also with some yellow.
One tree whose leaves, for me, are at their best after they fall to the ground, is ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). This fruit is edible, allegedly delicious.
The edible part is the nut (seed) inside the fruit. The problem, for me, is that the fallen fruits smell like an open sewer. Really! The way around this is to forgo the fruit by planting a male tree. The fan-shaped leaves of this living fossil, whose appearance dates back to the Early Jurassic, turn the clearest yellow imaginable in fall. On the ground beneath the tree, they look as if a sunbeam had fallen from the sky.
Terry and Kim kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Maker’s mark creates rare, fortunate event
IDENTIFYING FURNI-
ture can be tricky. Crediting a maker is often a matter of “style” or “attributed to.” Some makers’ names come to mean entire styles or time periods, like Chippendale, for example. Some styles remain popular for centuries or get revived multiple times. Wellmade copies of early pieces can even fool museums.
So, when you find a piece of antique furniture with a maker’s mark or signature, like this Louis XVI Revival chair by Alexander Roux, which sold for $1,230 at Brunk Auctions, it’s a rare and fortunate event. The auction’s description noted that Roux, a famous Victorian furniture maker who worked in New York from 1836 to 1881, had signed the chair’s bronze mounts with both “Roux” and “AR.”
This was unusual; Roux did not often sign the mounts on his furniture. Without a maker’s mark, it is sometimes possible to determine a maker based on the piece’s style and provenance. Sometimes, a piece can be matched to an image in a catalog or reference book.
Q. I posed the following inquiry to Heaven Hill and they referred me to you. I have a half-gallon bottle of Daniel Stewart Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey eight years old on a gold-colored wire swinging stand, probably from the 1960s or ’70s. I would say that it is in mint condition. The internet says that Daniel Stewart was produced at Heaven Hill. Does anyone there know anything about this bottle? What is its value? Is it drinkable?
A. Daniel Stewart bourbon was produced by Heaven Hill for export only. Sealed bottles usually sell for about $200 to $300. If your bourbon was stored upright in a cool, dark place, and the cork isn’t falling apart, it is probably still drinkable. Bourbon can go bad if it is exposed to light, heat or oxygen. Sometimes the alcohol
old white cotton socks are a good inexpensive source of safe fabric. You could also wrap them in acid-free tissue paper, also called archival paper, which can be bought from arts and crafts stores or where packing and moving supplies are sold. Anti-tarnish silver cloth may be available from fabric stores, jewelers or silver dealers. Avoid wrapping your cutlery in newspaper, wool fabric or rubber bands; these can damage silver.
Q. My father sent this vase to my mother during WWII. She kept it and, on her passing, he took it back. He gave it to me before he passed away, saying that maybe it was worth something. I have always just had it on the top shelf but as I am downsizing, I am wondering if it might be worth something or if it is just a pretty piece of pottery with a family story. It has a mark on the bottom that says “E.P.P. Co. Marquette E. Palestine, O.”
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Luster, silver, jug, globular, blue and white hunting scene, dogs, forest, cabin, angled handle, c. 1830, 5 inches, $85.
Textile, curtain, arts and crafts, multicolor, printed medallions, galleon ships, flowers, early 1900s, 69 x 46 inches, four pieces, $125.
Pottery-contemporary, bowl, brown and cream glaze, incised interior, two overlapping stylized faces, signed, dated, Edwin & Mary Scheier, 1985, 6 inches, $175.
Toy, horse, folk art, wood, ochre paint, molded composition mane, horse hair tail, black saddle blanket with star tacks, on green platform, red wheels, 19th century, 27 x 26 x 11 inches, $185.
Furniture, tea cart, art nouveau, brass frame, leafy scrolls, dragon top handles, two glass shelves, mirror bottom shelf, caster feet, 39 inches, $305.
can eat away at the cork, which will leave a sour and bitter taste. If you decide to drink your bourbon, smell it first; if it smells moldy, don’t drink it, of course!
Q.
I have three sets of nice cutlery, including one set of 24K gold (Florentine Gold) ware, one set of Rogers 24K Gold Plated and one set of Rogers Mfg. & Co. Original Rogers Silverware. Most are stored in what appears to be the plastic sleeves it came in; one each is enclosed. There is no damage to date. I just read in the AARP magazine to never store silver, no mention of gold ware, in plastic wrap; to use flannel chamois bags instead. I do not have, nor do I know where to
find them. (I live in a small village.)
A. As far as we know, the main reason not to store silver in plastic is that, in a hot environment (like an attic during summer), the plastic may melt and stick to the silver. If that happens, the plastic must be professionally removed. Another risk is that plastic can trap moisture in a humid environment. But if you store your cutlery in a cool, dry place, it should be all right. With gold-plated silverware, the greatest risk is that the gold plating could wear off from abrasion, so pieces should be wrapped individually, and you should avoid abrasive cleansers and polishes. If you would prefer to store your silver in something other than plastic,
A. The mark on your vase was used by the East Palestine Pottery Company, sometimes called “E.P.P. Co.” by collectors. “Marquette” is the pattern name. The pottery was founded about 1880 in East Palestine, Ohio. In 1903, William Shaw George, who ran the Ohio China Company, bought the company and changed its name to the W.S. George Pottery Company. The company made dinnerware and other household ware. Today, their pieces sell for relatively low prices. Your vase’s value would be about $50 to $100.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product.
Advertising, sign, optician’s, W.C. Bauer, Refracting Optician, white lettering, black sand ground, painted, wood, two-sided, 19th century, 17 x 31 inches, $315.
Glass-Bohemian, goblet, amber, cameo scene, deer in forest, knop stem, splayed foot, c. 1850, 9 inches, $320.
Silver-Persian, box, hinged lid, rectangular, allover engraving, flowers, birds, gold-washed interior, hallmarks, early 1900s, 5 1/2 x 3 inches, $375.
Painting, oil on Masonite, landscape, river, gulls, boat, Florida Highwaymen, Al Black, frame, 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches, $585.
Pottery-midcentury, bowl, folded, bright blue glaze, red rim, earthenware, signed, Otto & Gertrude Natzler, c. 1960, 3 1/2 x 6 x 9 inches, $1,015.
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.
Alexander Roux signed the bronze mounts of this Victorian chair in the Louis XVI Revival style. Identifying the maker of a piece of antique furniture is not always so easy. (BRUNK AUCTIONS)
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage falls to 6.09%
Rates at lowest level since early February 2023
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S.
AGAWAM
edged closer to 6% this week to its lowest level since early February 2023. The rate fell to 6.09% from 6.20% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.19%. The last time the average
Betsy A. Souness to John Landolina and Susan Landolina, 1E Maple View Lane, $330,000.
John Plumador Jr., to Allen Collins and Crystal Grillo, 20 Frank St., $300,000.
Joseph Ruhl and Kristy Ruhl to Lawrence Ward and Michelle Ward, 3B Castle Hill Road, Unit B, $265,000.
Mariclaire Smith, representative, Stephen Walence, representative, and John E. Poliwczak, estate, to MHI Properties LLC, 81 Florida Drive, $252,000.
Maven Investments Co. LLC, and Maven Investment Co. LLC, to Anthony Cushman, 558 Southwick St., $565,000.
Paro Family Revocable Trust, trustee of, Lloyd William Paro, trustee, and Karen Lee Paro, trustee, to Salman Eshraghi, 212 Beekman Drive, Unit 212, $265,000.
Pavel Yusenko, trustee, and 38-40 Ley Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Christopher William Desautels, 38-40 Ley St., $525,000.
Traci Faucher to Matthew Nickerson and Amanda Nickerson, 46 Hall St., $267,000.
AMHERST
Jonathan J. Davey, personal representative, Elissa M. Greason, estate, and Elissa Lundberg to Pavlos Goulas, trustee, and PLG Realty Trust, 101 East Hadley Road, $275,000.
Ellen Silverberg to Viet Pham and Tram Vo, 45 Autumn Lane, $270,375.
Christian S. Olmsted and Nicole M. Hendrix to Nicole E. Wetherell and Jordan M. Helzer, 30 Hillcrest Place, $476,000.
ASHFIELD
Laura Harrington and Irving A. Steinfink to Laura Boban and Finn Phoenix, 384 Bellus Road, $495,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Michael A. Zuron and Susan M. Zuron to Michael A. Zuron, trustee, Susan M. Zuron, trustee, Michael A. Zuron Living Trust and Susan M. Zuron Living Trust, 27 Ledgewood Road, $100.
rate was this low was on Feb. 2, 2023.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also eased this week.
The average rate fell to 5.15% from 5.27% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.54%,
Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy decisions. That can move the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate for the first time in more than four years Wednesday.
Fed officials also signaled they expect further cuts this year and in 2025 and 2026. The rate cuts should, over time, lead to lower borrowing costs on mortgages.
Kathleen M. Methot to Anthony L. Methot and Michael D. Methot, 46 Pinebrook Drive, $100.
Jeffrey K. Hubbard, Christopher A. Hubbard, Todd E. Hubbard, Brian R. Hubbard, Carol E. Hubbard and Christopher A. Hubbard, attorney-in-fact, to Mark Plante and Diane Plante, 24 Jackson St., $338,500. 9 Stadler Street LLC, to Stadler Enterprises LLC, 9 Stadler St., $325,000.
Kyle J. Snide to Melissa J. Maiorella and Craig Slater, 134 Allen Road and 134 Allen St., $285,000.
QS Lending Two Trust and Steven A. Ross, trustee, to Matthew Masi and Shelby Masi, 252-256 Amherst Road, $215,000.
Raymond D. Fritz, trustee, Gaynell D. Fritz, trustee, and Frances H. Fritz Trust to Francis M. Garrow, Bay Road, $150,000.
BUCKLAND
John Joseph McCarthy III, to Anna DeFord and Dale DeFord, 10 Kratt Ave., $500,000.
Benjamin Halioua and Daniel Halioua, trustees of the Judith Halioua 2013 Revocable Trust, to Matthew M. Gignac, 119 Clesson Brook Road, $235,000.
CHICOPEE
Andrew J. Potts and Joszlyn Potts to Sean J. Ward and Christine Ward, 105 Northwood St., $300,000.
Donna M. Charette to Peter Maccarone, 35 Lafond Drive, $451,000.
Emily R. Kyser to Brian Anthony Wyckoff, 115 South St., Unit 14, $125,000.
Evan M. Wytas and Karla Wytas to Darlene R. Belle-Isle, 57 Woodstock St., $349,000.
Gloria M. Acevedo and Manuel T. Reyes to Mia A. Davis, 140 Grattan St., $291,000.
Jonael Ruiz and Dejenae Ruiz to Deven Dupuis and Andrea Diaz Valdepares, 53 Sanford St., $278,000.
Kate A. Deady to David L. Bliss, 45 Doverbrook Road, $172,000.
Kenneth W. Chick to Christine Beauvais, 171 State St., $300,000.
Mark Thomas Menard to Joseph P. Hennessey, 123 Outer Drive, Unit L7, $180,000.
Michael B. Robb and Rosemary E. Robb to Judyth Rosario, 317 Broadway St., $180,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to Carolyn Margolin,
854 Grattan St., $325,000.
COLRAIN
Sonya A. Ciavola and Lucas I. Harms to Richard Schmidt and Sandra Schmidt, West Leyden Road, $217,000.
CUMMINGTON
Alan B. Weiner and Bonnie K. Weiner to Michael Joseph Boesse Jr., Michael J. Boesse Sr., and Donna M. Boesse, Yale Road, $95,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Anthony Moriarty and Tammy L. Moriarty to Nathaniel Lambert and Nadine Lambert, 25 Spring Valley Road, $434,000.
D R Chestnut LLC, to Donna F. Grimaldi and Richard D. Grimaldi, 17 Clover Lane, Unit V-18, $712,000.
Francis D. Driscoll, trustee, and Driscoll Family Trust No FDD-1, trustee of, to Seth T. Wheaton and Kathleen E. Wheaton, 10 Kenneth Lunden Drive, $324,500.
Nathan D. Lynch and Jessica Lynch to Michael D. Sarnelli Jr., and Jillian B. Sarnelli, 128 Chestnut St., $360,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Gilbert May to Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, 27 Ballard St., $85,000.
GILL
Kenneth R. Little II, and Tamra L. Little to Sarah E. Little, 15 South Cross Road, $28,498.04.
GRANBY
John Kobylanski, Mitchell Kobylanski and Lucy Lynch to Fairview Sportsmens Fish & Game Association Inc., 262 Carver St., $100,000.
Kevin W. Parent, trustee, Shelly A. Parent, trustee, and Willow Trust to Jaya Rawla, 11 Pine Brook Circle, $415,000.
GRANVILLE
Mindy Wojcik, Mindy Durgin and John Wojcik to Ryan Michael Nelson and Ysabelle
Stuard, 80 Barnard Road, $720,000.
GREENFIELD
Richard Paul Litskoski to Elizabeth A. Litskoski, 48 Thayer Road, $265,000.
Andrew G. Donelan and Emily M. Donelan, “fka” Emily M. Notarfrancesco, to Madeline V. Benjamin and Patrick D. Tenero, 28 Spring Terrace, $281,100.
HB2 Alternative Holdings LLC, to EDS Enterprises LLC, 124 Log Plain Road, $156,500.
HADLEY
Michael Sienkiewicz, trustee, and Coffey Irrevocable Trust to William Prashanth Watkins and Lilia Vreeland, 261 Bay Road, $442,000.
Peter J. Klimoski to Evan Scott Jacobs and Brian Austin Premo, 12 Cold Spring Lane, $495,000.
HOLLAND
Heather E. Johnson, Heather E. Morgan and Daniel Johnson to Luzannelis Pagan and Joseph Pizarro, 10 Blodgett Road, $350,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Tina Marie Rivera, 37 Wales Road, $303,500.
HOLYOKE
Angel L. Berrios to Rehab Home Buyers LLC, 293-299 Clemente St., $730,000. Christopher F. Bourque and Cassy K. Bourque to Christopher F. Bourque, 7 Edward Drive, $100.
Deborah Salois Donovan and Doreen Salois Salerno to Kelvin Ruiz, 33 Jarvis Ave., $388,000.
Emilia P. Houghton, Joseph M. Palombella and Emilia P. Schauer to Nydia Marrero, 47 Argyle Ave., $325,000.
James H. Byrnes, estate, and James A. Byrnes, representative, to Paul H. Courchesne and Catherine T. Courchesne, 6 Vassar Circle, $250,000.
Yaitza Figueroa Vasquez, representative, Harry John Rodriguez Sr., estate, and Harry J. Rodriguez Lopez De Ortiz, estate, to Maria Rivera and Maria N. Rodriguez, 469 Beech St., $115,000.
Deeds
HUNTINGTON
Frank J. Korfias, personal representative, and Gary B. Rom, estate, to Emilia Gregory and Joshua Karmon, 12 Nagle Cross Road, $385,000.
LEVERETT
Diana S. Fried and Michael Schvarczkopf to George Kiyoshi Herring and Laurel Anne Kroo, 30 Laurel Hill Drive, $850,000.
Laszlo M. Tikos, trustee of the Doris Tikos 2014 Trust, to Mark Stowell and Oksana Starzhevskaya Stowell, 85 Amherst Road, $305,000.
LEYDEN
Arnold J. Egloff to Michael A. Tine Jr., 366 East Hill Road, $380,000.
James L. Muka and Joyce L. Muka to Ella M. Muka and Matthew J. Muka, 209 South County Road, $185,000.
LONGMEADOW
Carol M. C. Samble to Hanbyul Chang and Hyeonhee Shin, 117 Blueberry Hill Road, $710,000.
Charles K. Bergin Jr., and Judith W. Bergin to Eris Nominee Trust, trustee of, and Bernard T. Oconnor Jr., trustee, 93 Northfield Road, $640,000.
James F. Foard Jr., to Thomas Gartman and Elizabeth Gartman, 31 Tabor Crossing, $410,000.
James Gregory Jones and Sheila Marie Flaherty-Jones to Michael S. Block and Amie S. Block, 6 Farmington Ave., $550,000.
John P. Sullivan Jr., representative, John P. Sullivan, estate, and John P. Sullivan Sr., estate, to Beachwood Builders LLC, 144 Viscount Road, $400,000.
Megan Downey to Maureen Elizabeth McDonough, 43 Greenacre Ave., $445,000.
Michael J. Murphy to Lupe Linkthun and Sonya Linkthun, 199 Brookwood Drive, $435,000.
MONSON
Paul A. Cote, estate, Beth Kane, representative, and Beth A. Kane, representative, to Fumi Realty Inc., 172 Bumstead Road, $150,000.
MONTAGUE
Elinor Janvrin to Florence Glynn and Maeve Hammond, 39 X
Street, $254,000.
ARPC LLC, to Christian Euvrard, 34 K Street, $235,000.
Catherine E. Dodds to Gretchen E. Green, 50 Prospect St., $464,900.
NORTHAMPTON
Mary B. Adams and Hugh S. Adams to Mauro P. Correa and Mary Ellen M. Correa, 888 Florence Road, $670,000.
Cristi Kay Lindblom to Matthew Eric Albertson Konda and Vani Albertson Konda, 35 New South St., $483,500.
Todd Willard, personal representative, and Dorothy M. Meehan, estate, to Steven Niedbala, 32 Trumbull Road, $450,000.
Jean M. Watt to David B. Musante and M. Janet McNeil, 3 Dewey Court, $599,999.
Catherine Woronzoff-Dashkoff to Rachel Simmons, 12 Rustlewood Ridge, $729,900.
Joseph O’Rourke and Marylynn Salmon to Kathleen Wright and Jonathan Ostrowsky, 12 Birch Lane, $745.000.
Louis J. Benoit to Laurel Turk, 575 Bridge Road, $315,500.
Robert Cilman to Susan Pauline Cassel, 29 Warner St., $325,000.
Deevia Patel to Joseph M. Flynn and Julie A. Howd, 23 Randolph Place, $284,000.
Edward L. Wingfield Jr., and Sherry B. Wingfield to Edward L. Wingfield Jr., 419 Burts Pit Road, $100.
Susan Pauline Cassel and Susan P. Cassel to Susan Pauline Cassel, trustee, Robert Cilman, trustee, and Susan Pauline Cassel Trust, 29 Warner St., $100.
Edward L. Wingfield Jr., to Miranda L. Wingfield, Jacob A. Wingfield, Zachary E. Wingfield and Abigail J. Frey, 419 Burts Pit Road, $100.
NORTHFIELD
Carlton A. Browning and Joyce S. Browning, trustees of the Browning 2021 Revocable Trust, to Karin Browning and Samuel Browning Jr., Millers Falls Road, $70,000.
Theresa A. Patnode to Brian Davis and Leslie Davis, 118 Alexander Hill Road, $544,000.
Leslie B. Krichko to Jeffrey James Stringer and Melody Mills Stringer, 9 Wood Way, $170,000.
Jennifer A. Tufts, trustee of the Rosalind G. Tufts Living Trust, to Rachel Anderson and John Romano, 152A Mount Hermon Station Road, $650,000.
Mark A. Horta to Amanda Martin, 142 West Northfield Road,
$329,000.
ORANGE
Melissa E. Dunphe, “fka” Melissa E. Cronin, and Michael R. Dunphe to Kyle R. Johnson, 76 Eagleville Road, $410,000.
Debra Chase, personal representative of the Estate of Mark I. Chase, “aka” Mark Irwin Chase, to Hagitte Gal-Ed, trustee of the Hagitte Gal-Ed Trust, 113 New Athol Road, Unit 120 Pioneer Place Condominium, $337,000.
Michael P. Sheridan and Mildred L. Sheridan to Hope Hunt and William Hunt, 181 Daniel Shays Highway, $295,000.
PALMER
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Varakas Realty Trust, trustee of, to Vincent J. Einck, 43 Fuller Road, $519,987.
Elizabeth M. Bromage to Ramin Piri Alamdari, 25 Bourne St., $125,000.
Robert J. Guerin and Becki J. Guerin to Lori-Beth Lind and Joseph M. Sablack, 1315 Park St., $170,000.
PLAINFIELD
Alice M. Schertle, Alice M. Schertle, trustee, and Alice M. Schertle Investment Trust to Alec Leavitt and Nicole Fenton, 34 Hallockville Road, $485,000.
SHUTESBURY
Joseph Salvador and Kathleen Salvador to Craig E. Kannel and Rebecca H. Mazur, 10 Haskins Way, $295,000
John J. Hayes, Kevin Hayes and Maureen Hayes Zak to Kathryn Carey and Daniel Hayes, 45 Plaza Road and Off Plaza Road, $300,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Robert J. Schroeter to Jason Shea, 14 Grant St., $317,000.
Robert L. O’Connor and Bonnie Jean O’Connor to Michael Conor McNally and Bridget Lily Likely, 47 Searle Road, $400,000. Lynn Boucher to Jennifer Lynn Wilson, 38 Westbrook Road, $405,000.
Marcela C. Bustamante to Carolina Betancur, 187 Morgan St., $100.
SOUTHAMPTON
Ben A. Scoble and Suzette M. Scoble to David K. Webber and Patricia A. Webber, 15 Geryk Court,
$639,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Aaron G. Cope to Jonathan Casillas, 242 Breckwood Boulevard, $285,000.
Andrew Jalbert and Vera Jalbert to John Andrew Rosa, 95 Mayflower Road, $290,000.
Berle Walter to Wei Qiang Ni, 194196 Massachusetts Ave., $20,000.
Carlos Porfirio to Round Two LLC, 166-168 Main St., $163,000.
Cawrue LLC, to Rosario Blas, 98 Forest Park Ave., $445,000.
Chenevert Properties LLC, to Mitchell Ortiz, Andrew J. Ortiz and Rosa G. Ortiz, 79 Monmouth St., $359,000.
Dreamwake Homes Inc., to Erick Moates and Stephanie Moates, 148 Knollwood St., $337,000.
Edvalda M. Defaria, Ed Valda M. Defaria and Silvio Roberto Defaria to Bernard Boniface Ocheme, 2426 Clantoy St., $450,000.
Emtay Inc., to Jeremy Gomez, 94 Ellsworth Ave., $420,000.
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Alexis E. Hernandez Lopez and Walberto Hernandez Lopez, 15 Glenham St., $230,000.
Ermelinda Cardona to Paul Deleon, 1140 Page Boulevard, $250,000.
Janel M. Ellis and Richard J. Gaviorno to Cara L. Gaviorno, 293 Abbott St., $247,220.
Jason A. Seymour and Jennifer R. Seymour to Purple Flower LLC, 36 Firglade Ave., $440,000.
Jennifer L. Wilson, Jennifer L. Boucher and William D. Wilson to Bryan J. Richton, 64 Hillside Drive, $325,500.
John J. Ferriter, representative, and Albert W. Johnston, estate, to Tok Chang, 511 Parker St., $145,500.
Juan Galarza-Vasquez, Juan Galarza and Migdalia Agosto to Lizbeth Cruz-Velez, 18 Claremont St., $220,000.
Marilyn F. Jette to Berenise Bien-Aime, 23-25 Wigwam Place, $345,000.
Mary Ann Richard and Mary Ann Appiah to Joseph B. Pena, 28 Burns Ave., $270,000.
Mike Werman, receiver, Michael Werman, receiver, Springfield City and NJP Enterprises LLC, to Springfield City of Homes Development LLC, SS Melville Street, $30,000.
MS Homes LLC, to Maximo Bernabel Pena, 857-859 Carew St., $510,000.
Thomas Hansen and Larisa Allen to Estela J. Zuniga and Josue Zuniga Cantor, 147 Pineywoods Ave., $275,000.
SUNDERLAND
John S. Fleming, Kathryn J. Fleming, Cynthia F. Majewski and Deborah Spataro, “aka” Debbie L. Spataro, to Ronald A. Washburn and Stephanie Washburn, 168 N. Main St., $450,000.
WALES
Joanne R. Degray, estate, and Jeffrey P. Degray, representative, to Carolyn Haley, 25 Sichols Colony, $240,000.
WARE
Linn H. Morrison, trustee, and Morrison Family Trust to Rehab Home Buyers LLC, 22 Spring St., $105,000.
Rehab Home Buyers LLC, to Chamber Investment Group LLC, 22 Spring St., $131,000.
John W. Demereck and Carol A. Demereck to Lynn Marie Enterline, 101 Doane Road, $100.
Paul Phillips and Linda M. Phillips to Bertnell Realty Inc., 38 Cummings Road, $130,000.
Joyce S. Lyman to Dario Dayhoff, trustee, and Rhyleigh Falls Estate Trust, Old Belchertown Road, $45,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Elmore B. John and Leela John to Brad F. Desmarais, 810 Birnie Ave., $450,000.
MHI Properties LLC, to Manuel Casiano, 88 Spring St., $290,000.
Paul Temple, Paul A. Temple, Barton Temple and Barton E. Temple to Mark Gurt, 121 Beacon Hill Road, $405,000.
Salman Eshraghi to Catharine Bevona, 1550 Memorial Ave., Unit 1, $135,000.
WESTFIELD
Bruce L. Cordero to Kara Lombard and Gordon J. Rogers, 1071 Shaker Road, $350,000.
Edwin Antonetty to Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaniello, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 63 Eliabeth Ave., $370,000.
Foley Capital LLC, to Jose L. Quinones and Lourdes Quinones, 97 Sandy Hill Road, $233,000.
Fred W. Geiger Jr., and Colleen A. Secovich to Patrick Crowley and Ashley Deleon, 86 Ridgecrest Drive, $525,000.
Monica N. Strzempko and Stanley D. Strzempko to Stanley D. Strzempko, trustee, Monica N. Strzempko, trustee, and Stanley & Monica Strzempko 2024 Trust,
What to do when caulk keeps coming off the bathtub
By Jeanne Huber
The Washington Post
Q. My landlord’s novice repair person caulked around the bathtub — twice. Both times, the caulk pulled away from the wall. Why? And what’s the right way to do it?
A. New caulk doesn’t stick well to old caulk, especially if the old caulk was silicone. It’s very likely the problem stems from incomplete removal of whatever caulk was around the tub before the novice repair person got involved. That wouldn’t be too surprising, given that old caulk, especially old silicone caulk, is a pain to remove completely.
How to remove old caulk
The best way to remove old caulk depends partly on what kind of caulk it is. Silicone, which seals best but is the most difficult to apply neatly, remains somewhat flexible and rubbery over years. Acrylic caulk and siliconized acrylic caulk become hard over time.
Begin by assuming you have silicone. Use a single-edge razor blade or a breakoff utility knife — the kind that has an extendible blade that can be snapped off to expose a new cutting edge — to slice the caulk free of both the tub and the wall. If you’re using the knife, extend the blade enough so the cutting edge is flat against
House
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2
“If you’re adding hardscape to a yard, you can choose eco-friendly products that allow water to penetrate the surface with drainage underneath that diverts the water away from the house,” Oursler said.
New homes are built with a sump pump to prevent water infiltration, Cammarota said. Depending on the site, a sump pump can be added for about $15,000.
“You may want to install a generator to make sure your sump pump continues to work during an extended power outage,” he said.
If you’re in a flood-prone area, Chapman-Henderson recommends using a platform to elevate appliances from the lower level of the house. Moving electrical
the top edge of the tub or the face of the tile.
The trick is to keep the blade flat against the tub or wall to avoid scratching anything.
If the caulk is too hard to slice through, stop and proceed as if you have latex caulk. Apply a caulk remover, such as Goo Gone Caulk Remover ($9.99 at Ace Hardware) and wait for the time recommended on the label for the caulk to soften — two or three minutes, in the case of Goo Gone. Then try again to slice the caulk free from the tub and wall. One caution, though: Check the label first if your tub has been refinished. Caulk removers can damage these finishes. You’d be better off just cutting out the stiff caulk, without softening it.
If you’re dealing with silicone caulk, you might be able to pull it off in long strips once you’ve sliced the edges. Needle-nose pliers can help pull out shorter pieces. Latex caulk is more likely to come off in bits and pieces as you repeatedly scrape it away. A plastic putty knife or a caulk-removal tool, such as the Allway 3-in-1 Caulk Tool ($8.59 at Ace Hardware), can come in handy.
If there is caulk in corners of the walls around the tub, remove that, too; it’s impossible to make a watertight seam between new and old caulk. Once you think you’ve removed all the caulk, go over the surfaces again with a razor blade held flat
sockets higher on the wall can prevent water infiltration.
“You should also elevate any fuel tanks outside and make sure they can’t break free in a storm,” Chapman-Henderson said.
She recommends reviewing FEMA’s Flood Smart tool, which shows that even a small amount of water that infiltrates your home can cause thousands of dollars or damage.
“We’ve recently done research that shows how important it is to board up your garage door or install a brace on it before a hurricane,” Chapman-Henderson said. “We discovered that if garage doors fail, the roof is more likely to fail as well in high winds.”
To mitigate extreme heat or cold, you may want to upgrade to a high-efficiency heating and air conditioning
Before you start, make sure the surfaces are completely dry and no moisture remains in the crevice along the rim of the tub. New caulk does not stick well to damp surfaces. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGES)
to the tub or wall to get off any last remnants. As an extra precaution against leaving a film, follow preparation instructions for the caulk you will be applying. GE’s Supreme Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant, for example, recommends using mineral spirits and a nonabrasive pad for final cleaning of most surfaces (but not for plastic or painted surfaces, which would include some tubs; for those, use rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth).
Mildew stains on the tub should just wipe off. If lower edges of the grout between tiles are stained, apply a bleach solution — oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Wait a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
SEE CAULK, PAGE F10
Deeds
trustee of, 31 Ridge Trail Road, $100.
Nextgen RE LLC, to Keith Manning Keith-Hunter and Eoin Farrell Keith-Hunter, 43 Jaeger Drive, $430,000.
Nicole L. Fenton and Nicole L. Crockwell to David Raucher and Maureen Raucher, 211 Russellville Road, $360,000.
RM Pioneer Holdings LLC, to Westfield Gas & Electric Light, 99 Medeiros Way, $3,700,000.
Stephen A. Jodoin, trustee, and Jodoin Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Robert A. Henrichon, 0 Bayberry Lane, $20,000.
WESTHAMPTON
Garry D. Cousins and Christine M. Cousins to Nicholai Wykowski, 264 Main Road, $342,500.
WILBRAHAM
AC Homebuilding LLC, to Charles W. Hughes and Kristina E. Hughes, Sandalwood Drive, Unit 92, $615,510.
Breanne E. Gouvin to Gracie E. Pighetti and Dominick Ratkiewicz, 64 Old Boston Road, $280,000.
system.
“It’s illegal to use a type of Freon that older air conditioning systems use, so you may have to get a new system,” Cammarota said. Typically, that costs $9,000 to $15,000 but will be more efficient and reduce utility bills.
Adding spray foam insulation to an attic or during a renovation can help your system work more efficiently and make your home stay comfortable longer during a power outage, Farrie said.
“In a house we remodeled recently the second floor was 74 degrees and the attic was 95 degrees,” Farrie said. “We added spray foam insulation to the attic and the temperature difference went down to five degrees.”
Chapman-Henderson recommends weatherizing your home with caulk around all windows, doors and flashing.
“An attic solar fan costs about $350 and can reduce the stress on your air conditioning in summer by keeping your attic cooler,” she said. “In the winter, it can reduce moisture and prevent ice dams that occur when hot and cold air collide.”
Shutters and blackout curtains can also mitigate extreme temperatures, she said.
A more costly option but worthwhile if your windows and doors are older is to replace them with newer glass that offers better insulation and strength.
While shopping for new counters or upgrading your floors may be more fun, taking the steps to make your home more resilient to climate impacts can keep you and your family safe, reduce repairs and potentially avoid insurance claims.
James B. Leydon, Candace R. Leydon, James F. Leydon, Colin J. Leydon and Katie E. Edgett to James F. Leydon, Colin J. Leydon, Casey Leydon, Katie E. Edgett, James B. Leydon, life estate, and Candace R. Leydon, life estate, 53 High Pine Circle, Unit 53, $100.
Raymond R. Courtney and Deborah A. Courtney to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Waiwai Realty Trust, trustee of, 7 Ruth Drive, $361,200.
Thomas Dean Jr., to Custom Homes Development Group LLC, 524 Ridge Road, $286,500.
Designers hoarding incandescent lightbulbs before they disappear
By K athryn O ’ Shea- E vans
The Washington Post
WHEN THE ENERGY
Department announced a new efficiency standard in 2022 that would effectively render old-school incandescent lightbulbs unsellable, panic rippled through the design community. The original Thomas Edison-patented bulbs — characterized by the burning-hot tungsten filament inside — cast a particular mood around a space. Interior designers and many homeowners adore their warm glow.
The LED bulbs that have replaced them tend to have a cooler look that designers find noticeable, even in bulbs designed for visual warmth.
Although compliance with the new energy-efficiency standard won’t be enforced until 2028, incandescents for lamps — not appliances — have already become nearly impossible to find from typical sources, including Lowe’s and other hardware stores. That’s caused a Prohibition-type mindset among those who simply refuse to accept the demise of beautiful lighting.
Like 1920s bootleggers, they scrounge up their contraband wherever they can find it.
“We are literally probably the people that are keeping the secondhand incandescent bulb market alive, because we not only buy them in bulk, but stockpile them, buy them on eBay, buy them off market, anywhere we can get our hands on them,” says designer Brittany Bromley, who has offices in Bedford, New York, and West Palm Beach, Florida. “The difference in the color, and in terms of how true the color is, is incredible.”
Bromley and other designers scour
Applying new caulk
Before you start, make sure the surfaces are completely dry and no moisture remains in the crevice along the rim of the tub. New caulk does not stick well to damp surfaces. Caulk sticks best when it connects two surfaces, not three. You want it to bridge only between the tub and the bottom edge of the tile or
Many continue to seek out incandescent lightbulbs, preferring the color and warmth of their light over LEDs.
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the internet for the bulbs, willing to take a chance on online sellers on eBay (where a four-pack of 60-watt incandescent bulbs is currently going for $13.90, plus shipping) and Facebook Marketplace. “You can’t find them at Home Depot,” Bromley says. “I’m not opposed to diving to the bottom shelves of the Vermont Country Store, but for the most part, those sources have definitely been exhausted.”
And yes, designers say, incandescent bulbs are worth the trouble.
“My husband loves efficiency, so he is a huge fan of LED bulbs,” designer Tracy Morris, of McLean, Virginia, said in an email. She has hoarded about 100 incandescent bulbs that she hopes will last her until LEDs improve. “To tease me, he will switch out my incandescent bulb for an LED bulb in one lamp in a pair. He likes to see how long it will take me to see the difference.
surround. If the joint is wider than about a quarter to threeeighths of an inch, stuff the seam first with caulk backer rod, a foam-type material that comes in rope form. Leave the front quarter-inch empty so you can fill that with caulk. Silicone caulk seals best and lasts longest, but siliconized acrylic caulk is easier to apply and clean up, so choose accordingly. Have a good-quality caulk gun, such as the Workpro Adjustable Hand Caulk Gun ($21.99 on Amazon). This model lets you
Average discovery time: 1 hour!”
Designer Gabriela Eisenhart, of Silo Studios in Atlanta, just renovated a bathroom in her home. “I begged my contractor: I was like, ‘I just want incandescent canned lights in here. I don’t even care. Run up my electric bill!’”
LEDs are significantly more energy-friendly than Edison’s version. “They give more light output per watt,” says Terry McGowan, director of engineering for the American Lighting Association. “An incandescent bulb is about 10 lumens — that’s a unit of light — per watt. An LED bulb is 150 to 200 lumens per watt. So, what I like to say to people is, well, ‘Just think of that in miles per gallon.’ What if their car was changed from a 10-mile-per-gallon car to a 200-mile-per-gallon car? By going to LEDs, we’ve really made that jump in efficiency.”
Still, there’s reason to covet the ghosts of lightbulbs past. Incandescents provide the same atmospheric appeal as a table adorned with candles, Anna Matthews, a designer in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, said in an email. “While LEDs are undoubtedly more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, which is of the utmost importance, there has not been a solution yet to the blue light emitted by LEDs.”
Eisenhart adds: “If allowed by my clients I will, for any kind of task or accent lighting, still use incandescent bulbs to get that warmth I’m looking for,” she says. “I’m unwilling to give them up!”
Kathleen Hay, a designer in Nantucket, prefers their old-school softness so much that she has a cache of around 100 bulbs, including smaller chandelier versions.
spread a uniform bead until you get to the end of an edge, then switch to dripless mode to automatically retract the push rod when you release the trigger.
Decide whether to spread painter’s tape along both sides of each seam before you caulk. Doing so helps ensure a tidy job, but silicone caulk skins over very fast. If you don’t get the tape off before that happens, you can wind up with raised edges of caulk that collect moisture and give mildew a place to grow.
“Certainly, I like the color better,” she says. “It’s way warmer even than the warmest LEDs. That said, I do feel LEDs have improved and hopefully will continue to improve, because it is nice not to have to change a bulb very often.”
One pain point that makes it worth swapping bulbs more often is that LED versions don’t dim properly, designers say. “When you dim an LED bulb, it gets very gray and you get sort of that spooky, operating-room-in-a-horror-movie sort of a vibe,” Bromley says. “There’s nothing worse. The light is so important in a room, and it takes everything that you’ve done and either highlights it or really changes it. And so, for us it’s crucial to have incandescents.”
That may not be the case for long, though; LED technology is constantly improving, McGowan said in a follow-up email after our call. Part of the reason for the dimming issues has to do with available light fixtures. LEDs “that can be dimmed are marked ‘dimmable,’ but not all dimmers can dim LEDs,” McGowan says. “That’s changing and, at some point, only dimmers which dim LEDs will be available. For now, use dimmers specifically marked for controlling LEDs.”
And try bulbs that attempt to mimic an incandescent-like glow. When she is required to use LEDs in client projects, Hay looks for dimmable versions at 2700K for warmth. “And then I try to find the ones that have more of the look of an Edison or vintage bulb, because the filaments are a lot more attractive,” she says.
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans is a design and travel writer in Colorado.
Slice the tip of the caulk tube at an angle and pierce the inner seal with a nail or the rod on your caulk gun, if it has that feature.
Spread an even bead along the seam between the tub and wall. If you need to re-caulk vertical joints, go up just a couple of inches on those and continue on the whole tub edge. Then go back and complete each vertical. Immediately shape the caulk using a gloved finger or a caulk-shaping tool. (The Allway 3-in-1 includes this feature.) With
silicone caulk, you have just a few minutes to do that and remove the tape, if you used it. With siliconized acrylic caulk, the window is more like 15 minutes. Smooth the caulk just once; avoid going back to perfect the shape, as that is almost guaranteed to create a mess. Finally, clean up any smears. Use mineral spirits or paint thinner to remove uncured silicone.
Use a damp sponge to clean up uncured siliconized acrylic caulk.
ANTIQUE AUCTION
FRI, SEPT. 27, AT 6 P.M.
Large quantity of fine art including paintings, prints, and bronzes, Sporting art including hunting and fishing prints, sculptures, decoys and bird carvings, Furniture - early, Victorian, modern and custom, ship models, pond boats, clocks, glass and china, oriental rugs, and more.
PREVIEW: THURS. 8 AM - 4 PM & FRI. 8 AM - 6 PM View Numbered Catalog Online www.DouglasAuctioneers.com
85 Jerilis Dr., Spfld, MA Sept. 27 thru 29th, 9-3. 1000’s of TOOLS (hand, power, workshop, yard, garden, etc.) mens clothes, Nat’l Geo. Mag., Magic cards, housewares, kit. items, lampware, art & crafting, too much more to list. NO CHILDREN MANY OPEN POWER TOOLS AND GLASSWARES THAT CAN HARM OR BE DAMAGED. Springfield, 141 Waldorf St., 10am-2pm, Sat 9/21 & Sun. 9/22, video gear, furn., collec., tools. West Springfield
50 Harbey Road Sat. 9/21, 9-5 Sun. 9/22, 9-5
1
Prominent local family moving. Elegant furnishings, loaded gar. & basement, china & glass, DR set, tables, lamps, mirrors, poker table, lge stained glass window, leather recliner, Fender elec. guitar & amp, lots of wall art, 2 queen beds, bureaus, futon, home gym, high-end wicker furn. Our email has been hacked, please rely only on the original Mary Russo & MGM gallery notifications.
John & Jackie M.R. Russo Company
2024, 12:00 Noon
480 White Street, Springfield, Ma
• Believed to be a • Multi family Home
• 7 bedrooms, 2.5 baths,
3574 square feet of building
5998 sq ft lot
Terms of Sales: TEN THOUSAND ($10,000.00) DOLLARS of the purchase price must be paid in cash or bank check at the time of sale, the balance paid within thirty (30) days.
Mausoleum Hillcrest Cemetery, Parker Street Sprigfield, Niche holds 2 urns. $1,800 plus ownership transfer fee. Call/text 413-262-3173
MaineCoonmixkittens, 1m&1f,1readynow,otheratendofJuly.$50/ kitten call 413-575-1389
AKC German Shepherd Pups, 5 males, 4 females, black & tan, black & red, AKC paperwork & shots, wormed, written hip-andhealth guarantee, parents on premises, great family pets, raised in country setting. $1000, call 978-249-3724
German Shepherd Puppies, 2 female & 2 male, mom & dad AKC Reg. Purebred, $ 500.00. Ready for new home 1st week of Oct 413-339-5391
MORTGAGEES’
10:00 AM - WESTFIELD, MA 105
TERMSOFSALES:DEPOSITSINTHEAMOUNTS 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
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Bengal Kitten, female, TICA reg. Shots, health guar., Ware, MA, $1,500, 413-967-4496
Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535.