Lee Reich | In the Garden
The journey to a bountiful Brussels sprouts harvest
YEARS AGO, A friend referred to Brussels sprouts as “little green balls of death.” Saying so never exactly increased the gustatory appeal of this vegetable for me. The same could be said for “a little boiled to death,” a too common way of preparing the vegetable, and perhaps that’s what the friend had actually said.
Still, I’m always up for a horticultural challenge, even if I had never had success with Brussels sprouts. What does “lack of success” mean with Brussels sprouts? Dimesize sprouts.
Sit tight. This season my Brussels sprouts are a roaring success and I’m going to impart to you what I learned about growing this sometimes maligned vegetable. Or, at least, what I did differently this year, which was a few things, so I’m not sure whether one or more of them was responsible for my achievement. It could even have been the weather, which I had no hand in.
Brussels sprouts is a very long season vegetable, so seeds need to be sown in spring for a fall harvest. Check. I planted mine indoors back in March for transplanting in May. They could have been sown a little later, at some sacrifice of yield.
A big difference in what I did this year was that the seeds I sowed were those of a new variety, Catskill. A new variety for me, that is. Catskill is actually an old variety, first introduced in 1941 by Arthur White, of Arkport, New York. It’s billed as yielding especially large sprouts (yes) on compact stalks (nope). In previous years I grew Gustus, Hestia, and Prince Marvel, and all were duds for me.
The Catskill Mountains are only a couple of hour’s
For brilliant foliage, look no further than native trees
By JeSSicA DAMiANO Associated Press
If you’re in the market for new trees, consider planting natives. They are generally lower maintenance than exotic species, require less water, fertilizers and pesticides, and often cost less, too.
drive away from my farmden, which perhaps explains my success with the samenamed variety. But, as they often say (quietly) in advertising, “your results may differ.”
My suggestion is to try a few varieties until you find one that does well wherever you garden or farmden.
Brussels sprouts requires a rich, near neutral soil high in organic matter. Check. My Brussels sprouts beds have always received, as do my other vegetable beds, an annual dressing of a 1-inch depth of compost. Decomposition of compost enriches the soil with a variety of nutrients, including nitrogen.
Still, another big difference in what I did this year was to give my plants an extra oomph with, in addition to the compost, a sprinkling (1 pound per 100 square feet)
of soybean meal, an organic source of nitrogen.
In anticipation or hope of large plants, each Brussels sprouts plant was afforded plenty of elbow room this year, with plants 2 1/2-feet apart down the middle of the 3-foot-wide bed. They were flanked on each side by a single row of early carrots which, I figured, would be harvested and out of the way by the time the Brussels sprouts plants were spreading their wings (leaves).
My previous efforts with Brussels sprouts always resulted in 3-foot-high plants that, early in their youth, flopped to the ground. Only after a plant’s supine stem had created a firm base would the end of its growing stem curve more or less upward, according to my original
Native trees also support our native wildlife, which evolved alongside them, so recognize them as food. The same can’t be said for many introduced trees. And the exotic trees that are recognized by insects might not have the
right-shaped flowers to accommodate their mouthparts. Others might adequately provide food, but not the nutrients our native animals require. These are some of my favorite native trees, sorted by fall
Big, fat Brussels sprouts are the result of an orchestrated “dance” that begins in spring and ends with harvest in the fall. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
This image provided by Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University shows the red fall foliage of a scarlet oak tree (Quercus coccinea) in Boston. (ARNOLD ARBORETUM OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY VIA AP)
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming events
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs:
• Tuesdays, Oct. 29 through Nov. 19, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. “Soil & Soil Amendments.” This is a four-session course offered on Zoom from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The online class, taught by Monique Bosch, will explain how plant growth is affected by soils, from drainage to pH and nutrients. Students need to get a soil sample before class and bring the results to the first class. Cost $215 members, $240 nonmembers;
• Thursdays, Oct. 31 through Nov. 21, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. “New England
Native Plant Design.” This four-week course, will help students better understand the principles and practices of ecological gardening with a focus on native plant communities. Students will learn the native plant palette, resources needed to identify these communities, and habitats and methods of introducing native plants into gardens. Identifying and controlling invasive plant species, in addition to restoring areas that have been impacted by invasives, will also be highlighted. Gardeners will learn how to enhance garden spaces with native plants that create sustainable and low-maintenance gardens. This course will be taught by Bridghe McCracken of Helia Land
Design. Cost $215 members, $240 nonmembers;
• Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to noon, “Sourdough Starter.” This hands-on class will be led by Brandon Cochran. The class offers a simple and effective approach to making a healthy and active sourdough starter by walking you through each step of the process. Cost $60 members, $80 nonmembers.
To register for these programs or for details, visit berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
WILBRAHAM Garden club
The second meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club will be held Thursday, Nov. 7, at
St. Cecilia’s Parish Center on Main Street at noon. A pizza party will be held at no charge. The Wilbraham Garden Club Flower Arrangers Group will be the speakers for the meeting who will host a presentation about harvest-themed centerpieces.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
SEASONAL AWNINGS
plan. That youthful waywardness wasted and muddied lowermost sprouts, with the sprawling plant demanding even more space, which was a problem in my intensively planted garden.
This year each plant had the companionship of a sturdy metal pole right from the get-go. Loops of string around the stalks and the stakes kept up with the plants’ upward mobility.
Finally, and very important, is pest control, specifically of any one of the few leaf-eating caterpillars, colloquially called cabbage worms, which are the offspring of those cheery, white moths that flutter among the plants on sunny days. The caterpillars also attack broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, all relatives in the cabbage family (Brassicaceae).
A very effective and nontoxic to most creatures (including to you and to me) control is spraying with Bacillus thuringienses, a naturally occurring bacterium extracted from the soil. This material is more easily remembered under the
name Bt, packaged under such commercial names as Thuricide, Dipel, and Monterey B.t. I checked the plants frequently through the growing season, at first just crushing any caterpillars I found and, only when the damage was getting severe, resorting to the spray. Cabbageworms, like any pest, can develop resistance to most pesticides, more likely the more that is used.
As an aside, that potential resistance of a pest to Bt is a problem with crops developed as genetically modified organisms wit Bt toxins. Almost all commercial corn and soybean have been genetically engineered in this way; the genetic material has also been incorporated into cotton, potato, rice, eggplant, canola, tomato, broccoli, collards, chickpea, spinach, soybean, tobacco, and cauliflower.
The problem arises because a field of plants expressing the Bt toxins is akin to that whole field being sprayed with Bt all season long. There is evidence of the development of resistance to Bt by insect pests of the genetically modified crop plants.
IT’S NOT JUST ORANGE & BLACK
Some twists for creative Halloween parties
By K IM C OOK Associated Press
‘I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” says the heroine in L.M. Montgomery’s book “Anne of Green Gables.”
All we autumn aficionados feel the same, right? The season usually takes its star turn in October, with peak leaves, sweater-worthy days, and the heady aromas of spice, apples, pumpkin and woodfire.
And for many people, stirring Halloween into that mix just makes it yummier.
Throwing your own Halloween party is a great outlet for getting creative with the season, and it doesn’t have to be all monsters and mayhem (though that’s fun). There are themes that bring a party mood and style to the table and the room, while still evoking Halloween’s mystery.
You don’t need to go all out on a homeful of décor. I do a simple mantelscape in my living room that’s just a few décor pieces in autumn colors, a string of festive lights and a banner with a seasonal message. The vibe’s just enough Halloween for me, and when it’s over I can easily edit the elements for Thanksgiving.
Some party and decor trends:
Whimsigoth and pinkowe’en
Claire Brito, House Beautiful’s social media editor, says she’s seeing people leaning into a flirtier, more feminine interpretation of the darker goth aesthetic.
It’s a nod to pop culture’s TV witches of the ’90s — Buffy, Sabrina, et al — and to the lifestyle vibe of cottagecore with its boho, natural, nostalgic vibe. Brought together, you’ve got “whimsigoth.” The look leans into moody purples and dusty pinks as well as vintage florals and plaids.
Another seasonal decor look with a goofy nickname: Say
boo! to decor’s “pinkowe’en.”
Brito says it echoes the trends of biophilia and the Year of Pink, with blush-toned pumpkins, lacy tableware and mismatched glassware. Adding indoor plants inside Mason jars and making stacks of books will create an “old greenhouse” and “romantic library” mood — both ideal for a Halloween gathering.
Macabre mysteries
House Beautiful’s deputy managing editor, Olivia Hosken, likes a good old-fashioned murder mystery, and recommends games that get everyone teamed up.
Masters of Mystery’s game kits set the crime in different eras and environments — among them, the Wild West, Broadway, a palace, a pirate ship and the 1920s. There are also mysteries themed around “Bridgerton,” “Rocky Horror,” James Bond or outer space. The game maker suggests how to set the scene for your murder mystery, including décor, menus, music and costumes.
For the Roaring Twenties, for instance, use a blackand-gold color scheme, with cocktail glasses filled with gold beads, strands of pearls, and black feathers for decorative elements.
Era-popular deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail and icebox cake also could be on the menu.
Victorian vibes
Author Lesley Bannatyne, who writes often about Halloween, says it was the Victorians who began turning Halloween into a celebration.
Jack-o’-lanterns on porches, blazing community bonfires, and doors hung with cornhusks and apples welcomed guests to the party.
Queen Victoria’s obsession with the supernatural fed a fascination with mystics and fortune tellers.
Try creating a 19th century look for your Halloween party
Think tarot cards, palmistry, astrology and astronomy art; glass jars filled with curiosities
like toy critters, paper butterflies, silk flowers; black or gold painted twigs; cobwebs made of chunky yarn or cheesecloth.
Get the family candlesticks out, and set them with black taper candles.
“Light them an hour before the party starts, so they’re extra drippy,” Hosken says.
Add dark purple or deep red flowers, and Spanish moss. When the party’s over, most of these items can be repurposed.
Toasting time
Some bottles ideal for the Halloween party table: 19 Crimes is an Aussie brand named for the number of
crimes it took for 18th century British convicts to be shipped off to Australia. The wines are named after colorful real-life rebels, with vintage photos on the labels. Scan the QR code on the back of the bottle to watch an augmented reality clip of the character’s story.
And California’s The Prisoner Wine Company has released an “Unshackled” line of reds and rose, with metallic labels evoking a vintage combination lock.
New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The Associated Press. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome.
This photo shows Kim Cook’s her Halloween mantelscape with trick or treat banner, fabric pumpkins, and a color scheme of objects to fit the season. (KIM COOK VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
color to make your landscape dreams a sustainable reality.
For red
Let’s start with oaks, considered a North American keystone species, they are vital components of the ecosystem. Oaks support hundreds of species of native insects, which feed, lay eggs and take shelter on and under their leaves.
Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) grows best in full sun, reaching 50-70 feet tall, and blazes with red foliage in fall in horticultural zones 5-9. Red oak (Quercus rubra) has similar attributes, while white oak (Quercus alba) can handle cooler temperatures, so is suitable for zones 3-9, and can grow 10 feet taller.
All native serviceberries
provide nice fall color, but Amelanchier x grandiflora
“Autumn Brilliance,” a hybrid of A. arborea and A. laevis, both eastern U.S. natives, really steals the show with striking, brilliant orange-red foliage. Plant it in full sun to part shade in zones 4-9.
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a single or multi-trunked tree with white or pink spring blossoms and red fall foliage, reaching 2040 feet in full to part sun in zones 2-10.
Also consider: Red maple (Acer rubrum), which commits to the color year-round, displaying red buds in winter and red blossoms in spring, in full to part sun in zones 3-9; and American mountain ash (Sorbus americana) in full sun in zones 3-6.
For yellow Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), a cousin of the
magnolia, is absolutely stunning in spring when it’s fragrant, tulip-shaped flowers bloom, and just as beautiful in fall when its leaves turn bright gold. These fast-growing trees reach 60-80 feet tall in zones 4-9 but are shallow-rooted and top-heavy, so may tip if planted in soggy soils.
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) produces yellow fruits with a taste reminiscent of bananas and papayas. The trees, which sport vibrant yellow-gold foliage in fall, grow to about 25 feet in zones 5-8, but in the right conditions (protection from winter winds in the north and scorching heat in the south), can thrive in zones 4 and 9.
For orange
Black gum, aka black tupelo tree (Nyssa sylvatica), will absolutely delight you with red, orange, yellow and maroon leaves all on the tree at once. Plant it in full to part sun in acidic soil and expect it to top out at 30-50 feet tall in zones 4-9.
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the state tree of New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont, and maples, in general, are the national trees of Canada — and for good reason. Not only do they command attention with autumn
American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) turns greenish-yellow in the fall. Grow it in full to part sun in zones 5-9, where it can grow as tall as 100 feet in rich, moist soil (shorter under less-than-ideal conditions). Plus, you’ll also get fruit. Also consider: Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) in zones 5-9 in full sun; American aspen (Populus tremuloides) in zones 2-8 in full sun; American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) in zones 3-9 in full sun to shade; and regional redbud (Cercis) varieties.
shades of orange, then yellow and ultimately red in zones 3-9, reaching heights of 40-75 feet in full to part sun, but in 40 years or so, they’ll also produce maple syrup.
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a fine-needled tree that looks like an evergreen. But this conifer’s needles turn brown and orange in fall and then drop, earning it its common name. It can handle wet, even swampy, soil, as well as dry and salty conditions. Plant it in full sun to part shade in zones 4-9 and expect it to reach 50-70 feet tall.
Also consider: Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) in zones 5-9 in full sun to part shade, and Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) in zones 3-7 in full sun to part shade.
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the Associated Press and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
Home Finder
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Vintage collectibles keep spirit of Halloween alive
YOU DON’T HAVE to be a Halloween collector to know the symbols associated with the holiday. And there are a lot of them. Pumpkins are always a favorite, especially carved into jack-o’-lanterns, but anything spooky — witches, spiders, skeletons, monsters, ghosts — fits in. Anything related to nighttime, like bats and owls, or even moons and stars, is on theme, too. And if you’re still at a loss for ideas, anything orange and black will do.
All this variety is just one reason why vintage Halloween decorations are so collectible! Look at this plastic Halloween decoration, which sold for $540 at Milestone Auctions.
You have a witch on her broomstick, which can move on a spring for added fun. Not only is she flying by a crescent moon, it looks like the man in the moon is there, too. And the moon rests on the arched back of a black cat. Well, it’s a mostly black cat; it appears to be wearing an orange mask. It’s definitely the kind of sight you would see on Halloween night.
Q. Could you please help me determine the value of the antique clock I got from my grandfather? I think it was actually part of a grandfather clock at one time. I recently saw one that looked very similar in a museum, although the face of the clock was painted differently. The information at the museum said it was from circa 1850 and probably made by the Kroeger clock making firm near Chortitza.
A. The Kroegers, a Mennonite family, made clocks until the early 20th century. The first-known clockmaker in the family was Peter D. Kroeger, who lived in Prussia in the mid-1700s. His descendant Johann started his shop in Chortitza, a Menno -
Who else is over the moon for Halloween? This collectible, which sold for $540 at Milestone Auctions, sure is. (MILESTONE AUCTIONS VIA COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)
nite colony in what is now Ukraine. Kroeger clocks had elaborately painted dials and were often gifts or heirloom in Mennonite families. They are a style called wag-on-thewall, which, as its name suggests, is a wall-mounted clock the weights and pendulum exposed. They were popular in Europe in the mid-1800s. For some people, buying a wagon-the-wall clock and having it cased later was a thrifty way to get a grandfather clock, also called a tall case clock. Some people liked to leave the weights and pendulum exposed. There is an online museum of Mennonite clocks, kroegerclocks.com, with more information. Antique wag-on-the-wall clocks can sell for anywhere from $100 to
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.
Copper, cauldron, fireplace, bail handle, slightly tapered sides, turned-out rim, 7 1/2 x 12 inches, $70.
Box, jewelry, hinged lid, fabric covered, embroidered flowers, lace trim, fitted interior, latch closure, key, Victorian, 4 x 11 x 8 1/2 inches, $85.
Moser, box, dresser, lid, blue poppy flower and bud, wide gilt trim, cobalt glass, round, brass stand, three paw feet, 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, $130.
Advertising, print, Perfectos cigars, baseball, gold lettering, Handmade, American League, National League, black ground, Alfonso Rios & Co., frame, 9 x 9 inches, pair, $135.
Rookwood, pitcher, standard glaze, leaves, olives, ruffled rim, squat body, Jeanette Swing, 1889, 4 1/2 inches, $200.
Store, sign, trade, Home Made Chocolates, Orders Taken, gilt lettering, red outline, black ground, painted, wood, raw edge sides, two hanging loops, two-sided, early 1900s, 8 x 24 inches, $310.
Furniture, sideboard, Federal, mahogany, long drawer over two-door cabinet, flanked by drawer over door, inlaid oval, Massachusetts, c. 1800, 40 x 69 inches, $510.
Silver-Danish, kettle, dome lid, oval ring finial, bail handle, gooseneck spout, on stand, burner, marked, Laurits Berth, Copenhagen, 1906, 9 1/2 inches, $695.
Toy, carousel, six horses, riders, painted, tin, red and white flag finial, windup, early 20th century, 20 x 9 inches, $810.
Porcelain-Chinese, box, lid, round, Famille Rose, outdoor scene, children playing in landscape, goats, red and blue trim, 20th century, 4 1/2 inches, $1,890.
about $500. Usually, the more information you have about the clock, the higher the price. An appraiser or repairer of antique clocks can help you narrow down the date and value of yours. A clock collectors’ club like the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Inc. (nawcc.org) can help you find more information and resources.
Q. I have what I believe to be my great-grandmother’s reading glasses. The lenses are small and oval with wire rims, and they fold out from a dark gray metal stick with raised swirls and a purple gemstone. I was wondering if you could tell me what they would be worth and where I should take them.
A. Your great-grandmother’s glasses sound like a lorgnette, which is a small pair of glasses with a single handle. They were popular in the late 19th century. Today, they often sell as jewelry. Gray metal (possibly pewter?) swirls and purple stones are all characteristic of art nouveau jewelry, which was at its most popular from the late 1800s to early 1900s; about the same time as lorgnettes. Art nouveau lorgnettes usually sell for at least $100. Remember that, like most jewelry, the value will depend on its material. Look for any maker’s marks or quality marks; in addition to providing more information, they often raise the value. You may want to consult a local antique shop or jewelry dealer to find out more. Look for one that sells similar pieces; for example, a dealer who specializes in gold jewelry with diamonds may not be interested in or as knowledgeable about a piece like yours. There are also deal-
ers and collectors who specialize in antique glasses.
TIP: Old papier-mache jacko’-lanterns originally had a thin piece of paper in the eyes. The light from the candle showed through the paper. You can make a replacement with tracing paper and watercolor paint.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. 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 collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
WASHINGTON
Average rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 6.54%
Highest level in nearly 3 months
By A LEX VEIGA Associated Press
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose again this week, reaching its highest level in nearly three months.
The rate rose to 6.54% from 6.44% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Despite the recent uptick, the average rate is down from a year ago, when it climbed to a 23-year high of 7.79%.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Birdie Properties LLC, to Rebecca Balmir, 5 Church St., $415,000.
Jason S. Donaldson, trustee, and Coalie Realty Trust, trustee of, to Hedge Hog Industries Corp., 309 Rowley St., $205,000.
Jason S. Donaldson, trustee, and Coalie Realty Trust, trustee of, to Vasquez Remodeling Inc., 1341 Suffield St., $200,000.
Kenneth E. More and Mary Ellen More to Judith A. Locke, 48 Mountainview St., $272,500.
Serena M. Tylenda to Andrew Gruska, 44 Belvidere Ave., $325,000.
SM Real Estate Investments LLC, to Bo Wu and Rebecca Diana Chen, 31 Sabrina Way, Unit 3A, $469,900.
Stanislav Anisiomov and Olga Anisimov to Andre J. Beauchane and Shannon R. Mills, 55 School St., $380,000.
AMHERST
Barbara Finlayson to Barbara Finlayson, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Barbara Finalyson, 39 The Hollow, $100.
Howard Curtis Siddall, H. Curtis Siddall, Mark H. Siddall and Jennifer E. Siddall to Jennifer E. Siddall, 129 Strong St., $290,000.
David T. Washburn and Laura S. Washburn to Cheikh Thiam, 91 Woodlot Road, $700,000.
When mortgage rates increase they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers. The average rate has now risen four weeks in a row. It hasn’t been this high since Aug. 1, when it was 6.73%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixedrate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also increased this week. The average rate rose to 5.71% from 5.63% last week. A year ago, it averaged 7.03%, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions and data
on inflation and the economy. That can move the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
Four weeks ago, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage slipped to 6.08% — its lowest level in two years — after the Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate for the first time in more than four years and signaled further cuts through 2026. While the central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, its policy pivot cleared a path for mortgage rates to generally go lower.
However, Treasury yields have pushed higher in recent weeks following reports showing the U.S. economy
remains stronger than expected. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was at 4.20% Thursday afternoon. It was at 3.62% in mid-September, just days before the Fed’s rate cut.
“The continued strength in the economy drove mortgage rates higher once again this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Over the last few years, there has been a tension between downbeat economic narrative and incoming economic data stronger than that narrative. This has led to higher-than-normal volatility in mortgage rates, despite a strengthening economy.”
Nicholas S. Diehl and Laura B. Balzer to Jasmine Syrotchen and Subhana Begum, 103 Larkspur Drive, $750,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Jing Yang to Christopher M. Fisher, 7 Old Pelham Road, $323,000.
Gregory Fedora to Gregory Fedora and Daniel R. Sheldon, 314 North Liberty St., $100.
Deborah Madden to Tang Properties LLC, Oasis Drive, $85,000.
Edmund L. Vanasse Jr., to Lawrence E. Vanasse, 95 Green Ave., $100.
Joan Partyka, trustee, Joseph F. Partyka Jr. Trust, Richard M. Zielinski, Martin A. Zielinski and Richard M. Zielinski, attorney-in-fact, to North End Farm LLC, Rockrimmon Street, $270,000.
BERNARDSTON
Alexander F. Fiorey and Amy Fiorey to Pinnacle Mountain LLC, 19 South St., $150,000.
Nathan R. Santerre to Nicholas Krom, Fox Hill Road, $35,000.
BRIMFIELD
Dolores Arment, Alfred R. Arment and Dean M. Sharpy to James F. Wuelfing and Betty S. Wuelfing, 216 Palmer Road, $460,000.
BUCKLAND
Stephen A. Sangillo, personal representative of the Estate of Thomas A. Mina, to Karen Stokes, Old Hawley Road, “fka” Old East
Hawley Road, $3,000.
Stephen A. Sangillo, personal representative of the Estate of Thomas A. Mina, to Thomas J. Crosson, Clesson Brook Road, $4,000.
CHARLEMONT
Berkshire East Ski Resort LLC, to Palmeri Properties LLC, 9 Route 8A North, “fka” 9 North Heath Road, $240,000.
CHESTER
Leah A. O’Brien and Timothy J. O’Brien to Adam Washburn and Melissa Washburn, 0 Lynes Road, $55,000.
Mark K. Leahy and Teresa A. Leahy
to Mikhail Kirpichev, Lot 19, Round Hill Road, $42,000.
Matthew Carrier to Kevin Kuper and Melissa Kuper, 36 Lyon Hill Road, $430,000.
Matthew T. Hewes to Matthew A. Stenson and Aleisha Stenson, 0 Goss Hill Road, $38,360.
CHESTERFIELD
Joseph A. Audette and Susan Audette to Darryl L. Weyant, trustee, Barbara W. Weyant, trustee, and Weyant Family Trust, Old Chesterfield Road, $25,695.
CHICOPEE
Amber Haywood and Eduardo H. Haywood Jr., to Kemal Ozdemir, 90 McKinstry Ave., Unit 305, $116,000.
Anderson Builders & Son LLC, to June Sousa and Christopher Walsh, 175 Beauregard Terrace, $335,000.
Blue River Properties LLC, to Fut4gen Investment LLC, 7 Charbonneau Terrace, $2,979,000.
Cody Hammon and Thomas Malek to Yovannie Felix Cordero and Ivan Felix Lugo, 2 Archie St., $435,000.
Hunter J. D. Parks and Allyson Parks to Julian M. Bazalar, 53-55 Gladdu Ave., $375,000.
Jeffrey J. Jasinski, Stacy L. Jasinski and Stacy L. Green to Anthony Kareh, Mariette Zalloua De El Kareh and Mariette Zalloua De El Kareh, 14-16 Madison St., $435,000.
Kimberly A. Blair, representative, Richard W. Vincellette, estate, and Richard William Vincellette, estate, to Hector Morales Velez and Judcel Quiles, 30 Barby Ave., $290,000. SEE DEEDS, PAGE F11
Deeds
Kimberly J. Askew to Sherry Ann Manyak, 111 Caddyshack Drive, $605,000.
Margaret Clark to Ann Mary Lewis-Quartey and Anita Pacquette, 274 Grattan St., $400,000.
Rafael Nouel to Althea Haines and Victor Morales, 71 Kaveney St., $445,000.
Rosemary Manyak to Ruben Vazquez and Karla Vazquez, 85 Savory Drive, $450,000.
William H. Maxwell III, to Jessica A. Giroux, 15 Carter Drive, $301,000.
Yassine Zian to Delia Allen-Fuller, 370 Grove St., $435,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Marian Canas to Veronica C. Addison, 20 West Allen Ridge Road, $355,000.
Michael Carabetta to Paul D. Babineau, 177 Vineland Ave., $250,000.
Theresa J. Smith to David W. Morgan and Lauren T. Morgan, 64 Meadowbrook Road, $105,000.
Wellington CSA Holdings LLC, to LaPlante Construction Inc., 39 Bond Ave., $330,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Whitney A. Squires and Kasey Squires to Kevin Curran, 41 South St., $262,000.
Chester D. Ozimina to Nancy Smith, 155 Hendrick St., $140,000.
Caleb G. Ritter to Emma J. Zec, 111B Pleasant St., $280,000.
ERVING
James B. Counter Jr., and Pamela J. McNamara to Douglas G. Cleveland and Karen Ann Rhodes, 22 River Road, $425,000.
GILL
Bruce D. Yukl to Joseph C. Yukl, 49 French King Highway, $250,000.
GRANBY
Michael A. Kibbie and Kimberly J. Kibbie to Agnieszka E. Stebbins and Kristos N. Stebbins, 319 Batchelor St., $48,000.
Cassandra M. Os and Randall L. Hoy to Cassandra M. Os, 123 Carver St., $100.
Denise J. Fedele to Sherab Gyaltsen and Choenyi Dorjee, 86 West St., $425,000.
GRANVILLE
Linda A. Platt to Tiffany Allison Bixby and James Michael Bixby, 177 North Lane, $234,000.
GREENFIELD
Eujean Law and Nathaniel Law to Rebecca Bastron and Kelly Marciano, 47 Haywood St., $363,000.
Diane M. Clark and William P. Clark to Diane M. Clark, 12 Western Ave., $10,000.
Gloria Easton, trustee of the Andrew T. Conti Trust, to EFMI Properties LLC, 335 Deerfield St., 329 Deerfield St., 353 Deerfield St., and Deerfield Street, $340,000.
Joan C. Morel, trustee of the Morel Family Trust, to Sergey Glebov and Natalia Glebova, 37 Meadowview Manor, “aka” 37 Princeton Terrace, Unit 37 Meadowview Manor Condominium, $160,000.
Kaylie Ann Love to Jennifer Chi and Fulu Liu, 139 Silver St., $323,500.
Deborah A. Jennison, trustee of the Clark S. Mitchell Revocable Trust, to Elizabeth Ramlow, 65 Harrrison Ave., $317,900.
John M. Pregony to Paul M. Weeden, 21 Cedar Glen Circle, “fka” 18 Garfield St., Unit 21, “aka” Unit B21 Greenfield Town Homes Condominium, $210,500.
HADLEY
Matthew J. Tudryn and Allison Tudryn to David E. Stearns and Tess Z. Griffin, 3 Sunrise Drive, $530,000.
HAMPDEN
Keith T. Cotter to Dianne J. Yvon, 20 North Road, $436,500.
Margery E. Littlefield, representative, Kevin Charles Moore, estate, and Kevin C. Moore, estate, to 29 Hampden SRF LLC, 50 East Longmeadow Road, $175,000.
HOLLAND
Nicholas C. Truax to Nathan Donahue, 21 Heritage Drive, $312,000.
HOLYOKE
Andrea Pacheco, Andrea D. Pacheco, Mikayla D. Pacheco, Mikayla Pacheco and Robyn L. Peters, conservator, to Samuel J. Fausel, 92 Franklin St., $255,000.
Ernest Craven, Ernest E. Craven, Moira Craven and Moira B. Craven to Nadia Tafreshi, 158 Central Park Drive, $525,000.
Eva Marcial to Abram Isaiah Delacruz Derman, 57 Linden St., $227,000.
Joseph E. Bryda to Richard A. Say-
kin and Elizabeth Saykin, Southampton Road, Lot B-1, $8,000. Luis Rodriguez and Raquel Rodriguez to Jennifer Hayes, 8 Field St., $316,500.
Michael J. Dubois, representative, and Prudence L. Dubois, estate, to C Noir Properties LLC, 18 Steven Drive, $240,000.
Michael J. Fitzgerald, Marilyn A. Fitzgerald and Michael J. Fitzgerald III, to Frank A. Demarinis, 224 Westfield Road, $449,000.
PNC Bank to Feliciano A. Bonilla, 903 Dwight St., $131,250.
Three Harps LLC, to Angeljoy Co LLC, 64 West St., Unit 64, $415,000.
William E. Fountain to Yadira Basile, 639 W Cherry St., $24,500.
HUNTINGTON
Matthew T. Hewes to Matthew A. Stenson and Aleisha Stenson, 265 Goss Hill Road, $38,360.
LEVERETT
Michael B. Mazur to Michael B. Mazur, trustee of the Michael B. Mazur 2024 Trust, 16 Rattlesnake Gutter Road, $100.
Michael B. Mazur and Marianne Carter Wall to Michael B. Mazur, trustee of the Michael B. Mazur 2024 Trust, Rattlesnake Gutter Road, $100.
LONGMEADOW
Alfred A. Vitiello and Daniela Vitiello to Brendan Fidelis Abad and MacAyla Marie LaChance, 260 Williams St., $510,000.
Jacqueline Crowley Soltz Anderson and Alison Anderson to Micah Larroque and Alyssa Neville, 13 Glenwood Circle, $345,000.
William N. Holm Jr., and Elizabeth W. Holm to Timothy G. McKenna and Mary Ellen McKenna, 147 Shaker Road, $974,900.
LUDLOW
Edward Perreault to Aleksandr Katykhin, 184 Howard St., $105,000.
Jesus Reyes to Lauren Bonatakis and Tyler Martin, 316 Miller St., $375,000.
Mary Lynn Zeigler, conservator, and Judy Mary Zeigler to NKZ Realty Inc., 130 Center St., $185,000.
Phillip Michael Lubas and Philip Michael Lubas to Michael Sotiropoulos, 648 Chapin St., $240,000.
Steven M. Charron, representative, Katherine C. Doar, representative, Verna M. Charron, estate, and Verna Mae Charron, estate, to Kathryn
C. Mercier, 65 Chapin Greene Drive, $296,500.
Theodore J. Chmura, Theodore J. Chmura Jr., and Akiko Onari to Jean G. Vecchiarelli and Mark W. Vecchiarelli Sr., 22 Cherry St., $260,000.
MIDDLEFIELD
Wicked Deals LLC, to Extremely Clean 2 LLC, 70 Townhill Road and 70 Town Hill Road, $120,000.
MONSON
Arthur J. Laurion Jr., and Eileen M. Laurion to Beth Papesh and John Crean, Brimfield Road, Lot 170-001, $40,000.
Nancy C. Godbout, conservator, Theodore Wachta and Theodore A. Wachta to Congamond Management LLC, 12 Homer Drive, $180,000.
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity Inc., to Frank Higginson, Ely Road, Lot 8, $25,000.
MONTGOMERY
Christopher J. Lutat and Faith B. Lutat to Zachary Kulas and Kayla Kulas, 0 Southampton Road, $75,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Rebecca Emet to Rebecca E. Fanton, 297 Locust St., $650,000. Florice B. Simeone and Florice Simeone to Catherine M. MacDonald-Amias, Charlotte Ann Capogna-Amias and Justin Kim, Riverside Drive, $5,000.
Jill L. McFadden and Jonathan S. McFadden to Jill L. McFadden, trustee, Jonathan S. McFadden, trustee, and Jill L. McFadden Living Trust, 130-132 High St., $100.
Lanette Palmquist to Nu-Way Homes Inc., 396 Bridge St., $225,000.
Marijon Shearer and John R. Godleski to John R. Godleski, 72 Barrett St., $85,000.
Mary Jo Nagle and William P. Nagle Jr., to Sovereign Builders Inc., 152 South Main St., and 154 South Main St., $275,000.
Scott A. Savino, Jill M. Buzzell and Jill M. Sniadach to Dale A. Veasey and Ashlie M. Veasey, 239 Brookside Circle, $455,000.
Laura A. Jurkowski to Ashley Brown, 29 Pleasant St., $440,000.
Christen Anne Mucher to Colleen Probst Woods to Laura A. Jurkowski and Laura Jurkowski, 6 Graves Ave., $540,000.
PALMER
Mary E. Simard and Michael F.
Jamrog to Heather M. Simard, 4145 Pleasant St., $250,000.
MG & MG LLC, to PAH Properties LLC, 2166-2168 Main St., $235,000.
Palmer Town to European Home Improvement LLC, Cavin Street, $125,000.
Palmer Town to Mirash Isufi, 4023 Main St., $400,000.
Richard Joseph Brown and Allison M. Smith to Alyssa A. Conti and Jason Garcia, 232 Breckenridge St., $360,000.
Steven J. Carignan and Diane D. Carignan to Anthony C. Penna and Carey A. Penna, 1059 Overlook Drive, $365,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Cameron A. Gibbs and Tara A. Gibbs to Vikki Missale, 414 Newton St., $386,000.
Alan H. Durfee, estate, and Elizabeth T. Durfee Hengen, personal representative, to Rebeccah Lijek and Thomas Veltman, 20 Atwood Road, $562,200.
Robert W. Lynes and Suzanne M. Lynes to Daniel D. Parsons and Kimberly A. Parsons, 11 Stonegate Drive, $100.
SOUTHAMPTON
Katherine T. Lorigan to Stephen A. Lorigan, trustee, and Katherine T. Lorigan Irrevocable Trust, 34 Maple St., $100.
Jill L. McFadden and Jonathan S. McFadden to Jill L. McFadden, trustee, Jonathan S. McFadden, trustee, and Jill L. McFadden Living Trust, 51 Pequot Road, $100.
SOUTHWICK
Amy R. Caruso, representative, to Michael R. Duncan, 91 Coes Hill Road, $150,000.
Joseph R. Racicot and Lina C. Racicot to Keith T. Cotter and Gina Anne Lisella, 13 Pine Knoll, $665,000.
Episcopal Missions of Western Massachusetts to F & W Holdings LLC, 660 College Highway, $750,000.
Russell Land Co., LLP, trustee, and 71 Kline Road Land Trust, trustee of, to Debra A. Buckley, trustee, Elizabeth A. Buckley, trustee, and Debra A. Buckley Trust, trustee of, 71 Kline Road, $295,000.
SPRINGFIELD
14 Girard Ave. Duplex LLC, to Mariana Otiniano, 14-14 1/2 Girard Ave., $341,000.
Angel L. Aguayo to Veronica Monczka and Hector Jael Lopez-Ramos, 89 Merida St., $230,000.
Create festive fall planters with cold-hardy pansies
By M elinda Myers
Star Tribune
Pansies have long been a fall and winter garden favorite. These cheery flowers are sure to brighten landscapes and containers and add a smile to any occasion. Look for fun and new ways to add them to your garden and fall celebrations. You will find these cool-weather favorites at your local garden center. Pansies thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall and during mild winters when your summer annuals fade or succumb to frost. They make great fillers in garden beds and containers or displayed in their own planter.
Cool Wave, WonderFall and other trailing pansies are perfect for hanging baskets, as trailers in container gardens or as edging plants in garden beds. You will need half as many of these pansy varieties to cover the same garden space.
Plant a basket of white trailing pansies, add some sunglasses and you have a ghost for Halloween. Scoop out the inside of a pumpkin, add some drainage holes and use it for a planter. Fill it with potting mix and you’ll have a biodegradable pot for the compost pile when finished. Or, simply set a container of pansies inside your pumpkin pot.
Be sure to include a few favorite colors, fragrant varieties and some All-America Selections winners. Ultima Morpho was the 2002 winner that was selected for its distinct blue and yellow flower design. Padparadja is a true orange pansy that is perfect for fall and Ma-
jestic Giants pansy, selected in 1966, can still be found for sale. Generations of gardeners have planted this large-flowered, traditional-faced pansy. Include pansies in your fall meals and gatherings. Only use pansies and other edible flowers that have not been treated with pesticides. Be sure to let your guests know that the pansies are safe to eat, so they can enjoy this unique dining experience.
Pick a few flowers, remove the reproductive parts and freeze them in ice cube trays to serve in your favorite beverage. Float a few of the flower ice cubes in your favorite punch.
Add a gourmet touch, some unique flavor and color to your salads by topping a bed of greens with a few flowers. Continue the theme by decorating cookies or cakes with a few of your favorite pansies. The cheerful flowers will generate happy thoughts and for some, a way to enjoy the last of this season’s garden.
Brighten the start of school and your classroom while showing your favorite teacher a bit of appreciation. A do-it-yourself planter filled with cheery pansies is sure to elevate the mood of students and teachers alike.
Purchase plenty of pansies. You are sure to find other creative ways to utilize them this fall or simply use them as colorful fillers for voids in gardens and containers.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook” and “Small Space Gardening.”
You will find these cool-weather favorites at your local garden center. Pansies thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall and during mild winters when your summer annuals fade or succumb to frost.
Decorative assortments of pansies are perfect for fall. (BARBARA HELGASON / DREAMSTIME / TNS)
Angel L. Rivera to Peter J. Nunez Nova, 71 Eastern Ave., $258,000.
Armando Lassend Sanchez, Arnoldo Lassend, Arnaldo Lassend and Evelyn Rivera to Round Two LLC, 394-396 St James Ave., $310,000.
B9 Industries Inc., to Francisco Perez, 858 Belmont Ave., $455,500.
Alpha & Omega Ministry Intl Inc, to Zainul Abideen, 0 Calhoun Street, $100,000.
Charlotte M. Zanolli to Caitlin Hawkins, 14 Brookside Circle, $310,000.
Christopher A. Cheney and Evelina M. Novikova to Lindsay Fontaine and Justin J. Douglas, 6 Baird Trace, $325,000.
Courageous Lion LLC, and Altostratus LLC, to Edward Robert Alicea and Isaac Miranda, 64 Denver St., $259,900.
Daisy Santos, representative, and Gloria M. Lopez, estate, to Ericka Gonzalez Carrillo, 171 Massasoit St., $285,000.
Deborah Magill to Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaniello, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 53 Champlain Ave., $95,000.
Dina Pham Lam and Huy Hoang Lam to Lucindo Hernandez Garcia and Arely Yoc De Hernandez, 110112 Noel St., $305,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Varakas Realty Trust, trustee of, to Mamba Capital LLC, 0 WS Almira St., $51,000.
Eric L. Allen and Bianca R. Small to Yebelkis Rijo, 182-184 Commonwealth Ave., $315,000.
Fannie Mae and Federal National Mortgage Association to Armando Mendez, 60 Carew Terrace, $287,000.
George Wihbey and Marsha M. Wihbey to Feizollah Rastegar and Mahvash Zakeri Pour, 20 Smithfield Court, Unit 20, $355,000.
Gerardo Bonilla to Pratik Mandavgade, 179 Bloomfield St., $453,900.
Gettes Waring and Ethel R. Waring to NRES LLC, 104 Andrew St., $102,500.
Grahams Construction Inc., to Kayla Jones and Nishawn Jones, 30 Leitch St., $530,000.
Heidi Caroline Horne and Nicole R. Lewis to Harry Isaac, 18-20 Newport St., $339,900.
Isabel Lucero-Martinez to Aletheia Woodford, 501 Belmont Ave., $430,800.
James C. Adams IV, and Sarah A. Adams to Bernard B. Moultrie and Shayla D. Douchette, 224 Burt
Road, $370,000.
Jason Burchell and Erika Burchell to Malissa Naylor Realty & Investments LLC, 138 Stapleton Road, $187,000.
JJJ17 LLC, to Damien Piechota, 106 Barber St., $252,000.
Joanne P. Lanzillo-Epaul and Michael Epaul to Jean W. Auplant and Ketia C. Auplant, 259 Harkness Ave., $345,000.
John M. Murphy Jr., representative, and Frances Murphy, estate, to Nariada Arroyo, 23 Sherbrooke St., $260,000.
Jonathan Rodriguez and Frances Rivera to Juan Marcelino
Vazquez-Padilla and Maria A. Lugo, 830-832 Carew St., $495,000.
Joseph Boudreau Jr., to Alexander Theodore Martinez, 2449 Roosevelt Ave., $265,000.
Kevin Cox and Sheila Rollend to Elizabeth Ocasio and Alyshia I. Ortiz, 433 Carew St., $280,000.
Mamba Capital LLC, to Antony G. Wambui, 0 WS Emily St., Lot B, $460,000.
Matthew Walczak and Cattaleeya Walczak to Ryan Le, Hang Bui and Kevin Le, 30 Lumae St., $300,000.
Miguel A. Rivera Rivera and Idaliz Noble-Borges to Karla I. Rivera, 256 Ambrose St., $275,000.
Nancy J. Rooke and Nancy Janet Rooke to Gary Daula, 138 Jeffrey Road, $225,000.
NRES LLC, to Michael D. Bergenheim and Frank Axel Thomas Steinbach, 58 Maryland St., $282,000.
PAH Properties LLC, to Nahun E. Flores and Mariajose Flores, 131 Arvilla St., $305,000.
Plumtree Associates Inc., to Dreampath Homebuyers LLC, 73 Jasper St., $150,000.
Springfield City to Concerned Citizens for Springfield Inc., 58 Itendale St., $5,000.
Stephen Lawlor and Virginia Mae Lawlor to Levaughn Waldron, 95 Fenway Drive, $351,000.
Thomas Botta to Emmett Earl Riddick Jr., Emmett Riddick Jr., and Kimberly Giannetti, 35 Leete St., $395,000.
Tina Yi Lei and Ming Ke to Joseph D. Bernard and Judith M. Bernard, 301 Longhill St., $532,000.
William Thomas Raleigh and William Raleigh to Selion Enterprises LLC, 88 Lloyd Ave., $272,000.
WJ Capital LLC, to A2 Realty LLC, 3 Leete St., $625,000.
WALES
Dianne Jaworski to Constance M. Tierinni and John J. Tierinni, 21 Shore Drive, $300,000.
WARE
Tegra Properties LLC, to Steven Partlow, 5 Williams St., $205,000.
Mark Sinclair to Ian Ainsley McMartin, 5 Barnes St., $100,000.
Mark Medina and Marissa Radzick to Paul T. Bouchard, 32 Maple Ave., $292,000.
Casimir A. Gurski and Annette V. Gurski to Suzanne E. Fountain, Deborah A. Gurski, Patricia A. Orszulak and Joanne M. Saletnik, 12 King St., $100.
Carl Crevier to Roy Crevier, 130 Gilbertville Road, $100.
Davluc Investments LLC, and Davluc Investment LLC, to Davifern LLC, 9-9 ½ Vigeant St., $450,000.
Jerilyn R. Vadnais to Jerilyn R. Vadnais and Charles W. Vadnais, 100 North St., $100.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Arjun Basnet and Tika D. Adhikari to Bhim Rai, Chandra Rai and Sabina Acharya, 5 Piper Cross Road, $480,000.
Cardinal Homes Inc., to Yanzel Santo Homs, Hathorn Avenue Unit 6, $295,000.
Damien Piechota to Thea Vergara, 56-58 Worthen St., $330,000.
Gita B. Oza, representative, and Shruti B. Oza, estate, to Ramon
Isidro Tejada-Damaso and Yulissa D. Pena Cabrera, 717 Elm St., $365,000.
Nick M. Zaporozhchenko to Ozal Bababayli, 1608 Memorial Ave., $167,000.
Susan Hoey, representative, Kristen Ann Allard, estate, and Kristen Hoey, estate, to John Joseph Tierney and Bronwyn Stephanie Tierney, 1359 Morgan Road, $430,000.
WESTFIELD
Albert F. Kasper IV, representative, and Roger R. Beaudoin, estate, to Michael V. Epaul and Joanne P. Lanzillo-Epaul, 111 Susan Drive, $350,000.
Caitlin Fenner to Nathan Burdick and Nikia Burdick, 32 Hillcrest Circle, $555,000.
Falcon Drive LLC, Community Action Pioneer Valley Inc., 0 Southampton Road, $1,150,000.
Felicia Wichrowski, trustee, and Simon A. Wichrowski Trust, trustee of, to Stephen Kenneth LaFlamme and Catherine Lewis, 126 Highland View St., $361,000.
Jennifer R. Carlson to Mason Lococo, 19 Spring St., $265,000.
Katherine V. Kirby, estate, and Judith A. Galczynski, representative, to Madeline Heredia and Daniel R. Taylor, 11 Montgomery St., $259,900.
Kristina Lynn Lemire and Jacob R. Duffus to Jennifer Lasky Taylor, 111 Union St., Unit 13, $265,000.
Linda A. Morell and Douglas A. Reed to Joao D. Pinto, life estate, Livracao M. Pinto, life estate, Angela Whitcher and Sandra Graham, 25 Colony Drive, $360,000.
WESTHAMPTON
Janet F. Laprade and Janet F. Lyman to Janet F. Laprade, trustee, and Janet F. Laprade 2017 Revocable Trust, 269 Main Road, $100.
WILBRAHAM
Joseph J. Haggerty and Cozette Haggerty to Jorge Delgado Saborio, 29 Briar Cliff Drive, $682,500.
Kyle B. Bourgoin and Elizabeth M. Bourgoin to Dominic Cabral and Stefanny Julieth Cabral, 111 Bartlett Ave., $357,000.
Leighton L. Stewart and Christina M. Stewart to Chrystopher Mongeon and Rachel Mongeon, 30 Sunnyside Terrace, $465,000.
Robert A. Desrochers and Ann Desrochers to Thomas J. Dufault and Elizabeth Brennan, 13 Nokomis Road, $100,000.
Starlene A. Klaus, representative, and Dianne Nawrocki, estate, to John H. Saalfrank Jr., 1 Laurel Lane, $519,000.
These fun-loving skeletons
are a modern twist on an immortal tradition
Skeletons just might be going soft
By R achel Kurzius
The Washington Post
Skeletons, it seems, have gone soft.
No longer content to loom over you from a height of 12 feet, the latest en vogue Halloween collectibles are skewing more farcical than fearsome. A skeleton sitting on the toilet, for example, hunched over a laptop or scrolling on a cellphone. (Even death cannot sever us from our screen addictions.) Or two skeletons in an amorous embrace, of which there are many varieties: fondling over a gravestone, in a midair canoodle, in front of a Victorian mirror or in a colorful bubbled tub. Lust of the flesh, as it turns out, does not require flesh.
These are just a few of the more attention-grabbing tchotchkes at arts and crafts store Michaels this spooky season - all smaller than an average adult tibia bone.
Violet de la Torre, a special effects makeup artist and horror film reviewer, was in a Michaels in Colma, California, with her boyfriend when she saw the figurines in early September. First, she saw the skeletons in the bathtub. “I was like, ‘OK, that’s kind of silly but cute,’” she says. “We kept walking down the aisle and I kept spotting more, and they got more and more, like, provocative or intimate, I guess you could say.” They burst into laughter.
So she decided to film the little skeletons. “Honestly, I thought they were pretty cute and romantic,” she says, while still being “very goofy at the same time.” She posted a video of them on TikTok with the
text “I didn’t know Michaels was so freaky,” in a post that has since gone viral.
“They’ve definitely gotten sillier,” says Melissa Mills, senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Michaels. “We got permission from our customer to go a little crazy.” Many of the goofy figurines are among the retailer’s highest-selling Halloween items, and this year Michaels is offering twice as many of “these little skeleton options” as it did in 2023, per Mills.
But while a figurine depicting a bag o’ bones couple taking a selfie is decidedly modern, small decorative skeletons — including those with a healthy dose of whimsy — have been a part of the cultural landscape for millennia. They serve as a memento mori, a sort of skeletal YOLO that acts as both a reminder of the inevitability of death and a call to live it up until the Reaper comes to collect.
The idea of a skeleton representing death is so intuitive as to be overly obvious. Once we shuffle off this mortal coil, our bones will be the last to leave the party. So, throughout human history, people have brought bones — whether real or ersatz — to all manner of celebrations.
In ancient Rome, tiny skeletons would sit on the table near the food “when you were having some blowout banquet to say, ‘Yeah, you’re having fun, but tomorrow’” you could die, says Anita Guerrini, an emeritus professor of history at Oregon State University.
“The Satyricon,” a novel from the 1st century A.D., includes a description of a silver skeleton that could be posed in grotesque postures. In the book, the host of the banquet says of the small sculpture, per Sarah Ruden’s translation:
“Woe is us! / This is what happens, for all our fuss. / When Orcus comes to get us, this is what we’ll all become. / So while we’re still alive, let’s have some fun!” The rhyme wouldn’t be out of place in the lyrics of a modern pop song. The Dance of Death was a popular trope in medieval art. Paintings and woodcuttings would show a version of death - typically a skeleton - visiting people while they go about their routines and leading them to the grave. Whether the living are paupers or princes, “you’re going to die,” Guerrini says. “In some ways, [the trope is] laughing about it. And you know, the idea that the moneylender is going to die, too, and all this money is not going to save him is very, in many ways, satisfying.”
In a similar vein, but with a heaping dash of judgment, Vanitas paintings during the baroque period featured skulls among flowers and fruit in still lifes. These served as a reminder of the inescapability of death and pointed to the fleeting nature of superficial pleasures. The message of these works: “You’d better prepare yourself now to live beyond those vanities, because death is coming,” says Paul Koudounaris, an art historian who writes about rituals of remains, most recently in “Faithful Unto Death: Pet
Cemeteries, Animal Graves, and Eternal Devotion.”
The notion of skeletons performing the same tasks as their fleshy living counterparts has long been a source of humor - and potential profit. Guerrini is especially fond of the Moving Skeleton, a curiosity advertised in the Daily Courant, Britain’s first daily newspaper, for more than a year in the early 19th century. People could pay to watch a real skeleton rigged with wires do a range of movements, including smoking a pipe “as naturally as if Alive,” the advertisement claims. Guerrini describes it as “macabre, but also very silly … the discomfort is part of the amusement.”
And calaveras, the skulls and skeletons that have become synonymous with Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebrations, traditionally come with the bite of satire. The modern iconography was popularized by José Guadalupe Posada, who illustrated Day of the Dead newspaper poems. “They’re little short, humorous poems that will poke fun especially at politicians or at actors, athletes,” says Duncan Tonatiuh, the author and illustrator of “Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras.” In Posada’s hands, the calaveras have “a political
truth to power, a kind of social commentary vibe,” he says. “In more modern iterations, I don’t know how much of that survives.”
In modern times, most of the skeletons used in spooky season decor are intended to be funny, if not particularly profound. The joke is generally referential: Here is something in the zeitgeist — perhaps a much-memed Australian breakdancer — only it’s a skeleton. The real memento mori, if you’re not totally desensitized, is the slew of social media and news apps bringing you face-to-face with horrifying suffering and death every time you scroll. The wacky displays, meanwhile, are divorced from the literal definition of a skeleton. They’re less “remember that you will die” and more “remember that pop culture event?”
For Michaels, it means money. The company’s Halloween sales are up more than 23 percent year-over-year at this point, and skeletons in the bathtub and on the toilet have been among the chain’s top 10 items since mid-July. As the silly skeletons continue to exceed their sales expectations, the retailer sees them as part of its future. “It’s great because we’re working on next Halloween right now, and that informs how we approach next year,” Mills says.
(ADOBE STOCK)
Live Onsite &Webcast PUBLIC AUCTION
PUBLIC AUCTION
PUBLIC AUCTION
MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION
Monday, October 28, 2024
3:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD
88 Price Street
sgl fam, 990 sf liv area, 0.11 Ac lot,
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
LOOK HERE!
1,000’s of Baseball, Football, Basketball cards from early 1900 to present. All Hall of Famers. Also, selling boxes for $4.50. BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS, RETIRED VETERAN CALL 413-596-5783
8Ftlongconferencetable w/8paddedchairs,excellentcondition,Asking $525, Call 413-210-1486.
Roto-tillerBigRedTroy Bilt,3yrsold,10HPw/ furrowblade,$1,900,call 413-588-8988
BackyardTagSale,new& useditems,199ArthurSt, Springfield,Fri10/25& Sun 10/27, 8-4
752 Allen Street Sat. 10/26, 9-5
10/27, 9-5
MORTGAGEES’ REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS TO BE SOLD ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISE MONDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2024
10:00AM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 111 MANCHESTER TERRACEDEPOSIT $5,000
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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