Home and Garden, and Real Estate- November 24, 2024
the new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Cover photo: A female cardinal bird perches on a FeatherSnap Wi-Fi Solar Powered Camera Smart Bird Feeder. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. (FEATHERSNAP VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
This image provided by Pull Start Fire shows the matchless fire igniter in use. Made of 89% recycled materials, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. (PULL
These holiday gifts change the game when building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more
By Jessica Damiano Associated Press
FINDING THE PER-
fect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you.
Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a
“gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight.
But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, func-
tional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget.
A pepper grinder, really?
Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110.
To build a fire
Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand.
Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire start -
ers will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99.
Above,
The No Mess Utensils held upright on pot edges. The No Mess Utensil lives up to its name. The utensils, a serving spoon and a ladle, have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot. (ASHLEY CUOCO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The place for a ladle is on the pot
The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes, a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99.
Up
your birdwatching with this feeder
The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification
with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99.
Printing old-fashioned photos via Bluetooth
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95.
Houseplants don’t get much easier than this
The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their expe-
Owner
Fujifilm Instax’s Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the printer with film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. (FUJIFILM
TOO MANY PEOPLE
Don’t overprotect your fig trees
think fig trees are tropical plants. They’re not. They’re subtropical plants and that’s one reason those of us living in cold winter climates can harvest fresh, ripe figs. Fig trees like that little rest that cold weather offers them as long as temperatures are not too, too cold. They are hardy to about 20 degrees F.
Here in Zone 5, despite average winter lows of minus 10 to minus 20° F., I grow figs a number of ways
Some of my figs, like many of yours, are in pots. With nighttime temperatures now often below freezing, there’s an urge to grab the potted fig and carry it indoors. Don’t! Remember, they like a little winter cold. Experiencing some cold weather also toughens them to be more able to withstand even colder weather. My goal is to get these potted plants into a deep sleep, and to maintain that state as long as possible through winter, ideally until they’re ready to be carried outdoors again in spring.
If temperatures are going to be super cold, into the teens, move the plant to a temporary, but cool, location such as an unheated garage or mudroom, or garden shed.
Plants might still sport some
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming plant
care program at Berkshire Botanical Garden
leaves this time of year. Perhaps some of those leaves have been frosted. Not to worry. Eventually, a potted fig needs to be moved to a winter home. Around here, at least, not yet. Typically, I leave my potted fig trees outside — in a slightly sheltered spot near a wall of my home where temperatures are modulated — until sometime in December. A fully dormant fig tree sheds its leaves so won’t need light in winter. If any of my plants are still holding onto their leaves, I just pull them off before the plants move to their winter home.
The winter home should be cold, but not frigid, ideally 30 to 45°F. That previously mentioned unheated garage or mudroom, or garden shed might be suitable. A minimum-maximum thermometer is an inexpensive way to know just how cold a site gets during winter even when you’re not in there or looking — at 2 a.m., for example.
Some of my potted figs retire to my basement for winter, where winter temperatures are usually 40 to 45°F. More recently, I’ve set up an insulated, walk-in cooler, mostly for
storing fruits and vegetables. There’s also plenty of space for some potted fig trees. The cooler, which needs a little heat in the dead of winter, maintains a pretty consistent temperature of 39° F.
To help the plants remain asleep, I keep them on the dry side, perhaps watering them once or twice during this period.
To a point, the more stem growth of a fig tree, the more fruit it bears. So, a potted fig can only bear so much fruit. I want more figs from some of my trees.
Years ago, I built a greenhouse in which to grow cool-weather-loving salad stuff and greens such as lettuce, celery, kale, chard, arugula, mustard, mâche, and claytonia through winter. I soon realized that the hot summers and the cool (never below about 35°F) winters in the greenhouse mimicked the Mediterranean climate that figs call home. So, I planted four fig trees right in the ground in the greenhouse. The vegetables don’t mind their figgy neighbors because the figs leafless in winter.
Those fig trees are more than just leafless in winter; they’re also pretty much stemless. Each tree is trained to have a short trunk off which grows one or two permanent,
horizontal arms. (This method of training is called espalier.) Fruits are borne on shoots that grow vertically from these arms. Tomorrow I’ll lop all those vertical shoots back to the arms. Next year, new shoots will bear fruits and be cut back next fall, and the year after that, new shoots ... and so on.
Over the years, other figs of mine have weathered cold winters by such methods as being bent to the ground and covered to keep them warm and outdoors, by being grown in pots sunk into the ground then lifted before the arrival of frigid weather. etc., etc. You want to harvest fresh figs in summer? There are many paths to this mountaintop. The takeaway today is: Don’t protect your fig tree from too much cold too soon. Let the plant experience and benefit from the sleep-inducing and hardiness that some exposure brings.
And if you want to know more about growing figs in cold climate — varieties, method details, pruning, accelerating ripening, potting mixes, and more — see my book with the eponymous title “Growing Figs In Cold Climates,” available from the usual sources as well as, signed, from my website, www.leereich.com/books
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program: Tuesdays, Nov. 26 to Dec. 17, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This four-session program, taught by Jen Werner, focuses on factors that affect plant health care, including insects, diseases, pathogens, and abiotic influences. Basic diagnostic techniques will be taught. Learn to minimize potential problems through
proper site management, plant selection, and placement. Managing problems using biological, chemical, and cultural techniques will be discussed with a focus on integrated pest management. Cost is $215 members, $240 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshire botanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 W. Stockbridge Road.
SPRINGFIELD
2025 Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest
The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts together with the
USDA, Forest Service and National Garden Clubs, Inc., are giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.
Children from first through fifth grade are invited to participate in this annual drawing contest featuring conservation icons Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. Individual children can enter but groups, clubs and schools are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to impress upon their members or students the importance of taking a personal role in preventing wildfires or conserving natural resources. Posters are to be completed by individual students, have correct spelling
and all posters must feature Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl. Smokey Bear posters must include Smokey’s wildfire prevention message: Only You Can Prevent Wildfires! Woodsy Owl posters must include Woodsy’s conservation messages: Give-A-Hoot, Don’t Pollute or Lend a Hand — Care for the Land. Complete rules including size requirements, allowed materials and other important contest rules can be found on the GCFM website at www.gcfm. org/ngc-youth-contests. Being a member of a garden club is not a requirement, but all contest entrants must be sponsored by a GCFM recognized local garden club. Entries must be submitted to the sponsoring club by Jan. 10, 2025.
NOTES, PAGE F5
Figs can be grown in cold climates; one way is to grow them in a pot, protected for winter. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
A Marxii Calathea plant in a small, beige, self-watering pot. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. (EASYPLANT VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Gifts
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3
rience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259.
Making your own (plant-based) milk
If you’ve got a no-dairy
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4
For more information or to connect with a recognized garden club contact Mary Bandouveres at gcfmyouthcontests@gmail. com.
WILBRAHAM Wilbraham Garden Club meeting
The December meet-
stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its spe-
cific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests foodwine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495.
Casting light on the grill after dark
Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its done-
ness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.
friend on your list, a plantbased milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400.
The perfect temperature for 350,000-plus wines For friends who prefer
ing of the Wilbraham Garden Club will be held at the St. Cecelia Parish Center on Main Street at noon on Thursday, Dec. 5. The speaker for the day will be Matthew Flatow, owner of Flowers, Flowers in Springfield. He will share his innovative and cutting-edge techniques with participants. Flatow’s beautiful arrangements will be raffled off at the end of his program. Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Home Finder
At times, saving money for a down payment and closing costs can be a challenge. That’s where we come in. CIBM Bank has partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to offer Downpayment Plus. This program offers up to $10,000 in assistance to eligible borrowers, and can help make your dream a reality.
At times, saving money for a down payment and closing costs can be a challenge. That’s where we come in. CIBM Bank has partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to offer Downpayment Plus. This program offers
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Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
This Thanksgiving-themed illustration is still appealing
THANKSGIVING IS A holiday steeped in Americana, and what captures that better than the classic cover illustrations of The Saturday Evening Post? Illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, who was born in Germany, studied art in Paris and opened an art studio with his brother in Chicago, created some of the magazine’s most famous holiday covers, including the annual New Year Baby.
A study for “Peeling Apples,” his Thanksgiving-themed illustration for the cover of the Nov. 28, 1925, issue, sold for $13,200 at an auction by Bruneau & Co. Leyendecker’s original art is quite valuable; in 2021, his painting for “Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,” which graced the Nov. 21, 1914, The Saturday Evening Post cover, sold for a record $4.1 million.
The “Peeling Apples” study is clearly unfinished, with visible grid lines and parts left without paint, but it still has (no pun intended) appeal. The unfinished spots provide a glimpse of the work that goes into the illustration. Like a Thanksgiving meal, it looks like a labor of love.
Q. I inherited a vintage bowl from a grandmother who passed before I was born. I know very little about this piece of china, only what it says on the back and that it is in wonderful condition for something this old. It measures 10 1/4 inches from handle to handle. Imprinted on the back it reads “Royal Windsor — Germany.” Any information you can provide will be so appreciated as I have done research but have found nothing.
A. The name “Royal Windsor” has been used by several factories in different countries. “Germany” started appearing on products exported from Germany as early as 1885. The Erdmann Schlegelmilch factory in Suhl,
Happy Thanksgiving! Artist J.C. Leyendecker’s illustrations often capture the simple things we’re thankful for like a homecooked meal and family to enjoy it with. (BRUNEAU & CO. AUCTIONEERS)
Germany, which operated from 1861 to 1937 used the “Royal Windsor” mark in the early 1900s. Collectors often call the porcelain made by Erdmann Schlegelmilch “E.S. Germany.” It is often associated with, but not related to, a similar type of German porcelain marked “R.S. Germany” or “R.S. Prussia.”
According to the International Association of R.S. Prussia Collectors, Inc. rsprussia. com, the Erdmann Schlegelmilch factory used the “Royal Windsor” mark on a specific series known as “Peace and Plenty,” which featured classical-style figures of women with doves (peace) or peacocks (plenty). They are often decorated with richly colored enamels, beading and gilt trim. There is speculation that the “Royal Windsor”
glass and carnival glass. Glass catalogs are helpful for identifying and dating vintage pieces. A glass collector or a collectors’ club may be interested in your catalog. Try contacting a collectors’ club like the National Westmoreland Glass Collectors Club (westmorelandglassclub. org), National Depression Glass Association (ndga.net), American Carnival Glass Association (myacga.com) or International Carnival Glass Association (international carnivalglass.com)
Sometimes auction houses that specialize in glass, like Woody Auction (woodyauc tion.com) or Jaremos Art Glass Specialists (jaremos. com), sell glass catalogs. Individual vintage catalogs can sell for about $20 to $75. If you cannot find a buyer, you may be able to donate your catalog to a glass museum like the Corning Museum of Glass (cmog.org) or the Ohio Glass Museum (ohioglass museum.org).
TIP: Use your silver often and wash it to keep it clean. Polish it as seldom as possible. Silver polish removes a small bit of silver each time it is used.
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.
Advertising, box, Sweet Clover Pure Japan Tea, Spring Leaf, red lettering, hinged lid, multicolor scene on interior, pine, 6 x 15 x 10 inches, $35. Sewing, basket, lid, round, on stand, lower tier, ring handles, four feet, Huron, Victorian, 27 inches, $55.
Bronze, tray, oval, leafy branches, flying bird, wide open weave rim, patinated, marked, Japan, c. 1910, 6 1/2 x 8 inches, $125. Cranberry glass, cup and saucer, gold enamel vine, white beading, gilt rim, raised scrolls, gilt handle, 2 1/2 x 5 inches, $180. Doll, Greiner, papier-mache, molded hair, painted black, blue eyes, red dress, stuffed cloth body, jointed, leather lower arms and boots, 29 inches, $190.
mark was meant to appeal to international customers. E.S. Germany porcelain pieces from this period sell for about $50 to $150.
Q.
A few years ago, I was given a Westmoreland glass salesman sample notebook. The notebook is complete. I was wondering if you might know of someone who would be interested in purchasing this catalog. It is in mint condition. It is fully intact with many brochures and labels that were used to put on the bottom of the glass.
A. The Westmoreland Glass Co. of Grapeville, Pennsylvania, was active from 1890 to 1984 and made many kinds of collectible colored glass, including pressed glass, milk
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
Clothing, gauntlets, beaded, orange and yellow circle on back, wide scalloped cuffs, stylized vine with flowers and fruit, Plateau, 17 1/2 inches, $340.
Silver-American, flatware set, Town & Country, ebony handles, stainless steel knives, Allan Adler, c. 1955, 18 pieces, $980. Pottery, pot, blackware, burnished, geometrics around rim, tapered base, signed, Blue Corn, San Ildefonso, 20th century, 3 x 4 inches, $1,050.
Average rate on 30-year mortgage in US rises to 6.84%
Rates now at highest level since July
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. edged closer to 7% this week as it climbed to its highest level since July.
The rate rose to 6.84% from 6.78% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That’s still down from a year ago, when the rate averaged 7.29%.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Aleksandr Karpolyuk and Alesya Karpolyuk to Vladimir Shevchuk, 155 Shoemaker Lane, $447,500.
Ashley B. Magin and Callum F. Poole to Yildiz Ucar, 208 School St., $395,000.
Barbara Lantz, Barbara Stowe and Barbara P. Stowe to LLC, Ruby Rose Property Investments, 30 DePalma St., $160,000.
Bridget Donovan and Katie Donovan to Tyler Devoe and Yvan Wampler, 182 Mill St., $405,000.
David L. Sirois and Renee D. Sirois to Anthony Leitao and Diane Leitao, 26 Morningside Circle, $470,000.
Doina Stoian Barrows to Michael Gatanio, 142 Autumn St., Unit F, $205,000.
Ernest R. Serra and Patricia A. Serra to Queilyn Marie Velazquez and Reynaldo Velazquez, 23 Norris St., $260,000.
James R. Typrowicz and Todd J. Typrowicz to Kenneth J. French, Mary Lou French and Albert M. French, 420 Main St., Unit 47, $220,000.
Jeffrey Turrini to Alan J. Fortin, 74 Dogwood Lane, $230,000.
Joann LaPlante to Ralph Curtis Shortt III, and Emma Elizabeth Shortt, 78 Regency Park Drive, Unit 78, $150,000.
Michael P. O’Brien, trustee, Paul D. O’Brien Jr., trustee, and JP Joseph Realty Trust, trustee of, to Callum B. Hastings, 11 Joseph St., $263,000.
Vincent Guardione and Barbara A. Guardione to Meghan Goshea, 27 Woodside Drive, $285,000.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixedrate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also ticked up this week. The average rate rose to 6.02% from 5.99% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.67%, Freddie Mac said.
When mortgage rates increase they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, reducing homebuyers’ purchasing power at a time when home prices remain near all-time highs, even though U.S. home sales are on track for their
AMHERST
Priscilla A. White to Tanya Campbell and Jared Campbell, 318 Lincoln Ave., $700,000. Gohen Dori-Hacohen and Shiri Dori-Hacohen to Xiaohui Zhang and Haoli Jin, 10 Salem Place, $288,000.
Diane J. Levin, personal representative, John L. Levin, personal representative, and Donna J. Levin, estate, to Daniel Smith and Silvia Paulina Baltazar, 5 Evergreen Lane, $500,000.
Joshua M. Kranz to Seemo M. Amzil and Sylvia K. Amzil-Rolle, 170 E. Hadley Road and 170 East Hadley Road, $172,000.
Ellen V. Kosmer to Ellen V. Kosmer, trustee, and Ellen V. Kosmer 2024 Trust, 15 South Orchard Drive, $100.
Richard Iacovelli, trustee, and Richard Iacovelli Revocable Trust to Alfred Nutile and Emma Quigley, 4 Dwight Circle, $392,500.
ASHFIELD
John Dunphy and Troy Santerre to Heather Davis, 912 Creamery Road, $275,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Kathy L. Powers and William J. Innamarato to Mickalina Reid, 11 Robin Lane, $380,000.
Walter S. Maslon to Steven F. Maslon, Mark A. Maslon and Jason P. Maslon, Keith Avenue Off, $100.
Patricia J. Fontaine and Patricia J. Lamica to Marguerite Ansorge and Stephanie Capsuto, 12 Clark St., $399,000.
Michael A. Flynn, Cynthia A. Flynn and Kathleen Sullivan to Patricia J. Lamica, 110 Kennedy Road, $400,000.
Sarah A. Madison and Mark J. Phillips to Oscar Saravia and Emily
worst year since 1995.
While the average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to a two-year low of 6.08% in late September, it’s been mostly rising since then, echoing moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The yield, which has mostly hovered around 4.4% since last week and was below 3.70% in September, has been rising in recent weeks following mixed reports on inflation and the economy. It also surged after the presidential election, reflecting
Urquhart, 163 Chauncey Walker St., $549,999.
BERNARDSTON
Cheryl J. Misch, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of John Stanley Misch, to Cheryl Smith and Joseph Smith, 271 Martindale Road, $295,000.
BRIMFIELD
Chestnut Hill Homes LLC, to Paul David Bourque Jr., 47 Tower Hill Road, $300,000.
Steven C. Tonken, trustee, and Michelle Tonken Supplemental Needs Trust, trustee of, to Ronald A. Hudon, Oakwood Road, $15,000.
CHARLEMONT
Joseph H. Gougeon and Megan Gougeon to Jeffrey T. Carantit and Julie A. Carantit, 327 West Hawley Road, $225,000.
CHICOPEE
755 New Ludlow Road LLC, to Snacky Ventures LLC, 755 New Ludlow Road, $1,133,000.
Alex Fenderson and Madeline Fenderson to Nicholas Adamczyk and Alison Rogalewski, 61 Abbey Memorial Drive, Unit 104, $237,000.
Aramis C. Lozada and John Lozada to Steven Hayes, 8-10 Washington St., $308,000.
Arthur J. Bonsant Jr., and Debra J. Bonsant to Caitlin Marie Devine, 30 Joy St., $315,000.
Carl Robinson and Deborah Robinson to Pablo Flores Hernandez and Sugeilen Santos, 97 Britton St., $339,000.
Carol Jennison, Carol T. Jennison, representative, and David A. Rivest, estate, to Peter T. Denoncourt and Jose Guadalupe Gonza-
expectations among investors that President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed economic policies may widen the federal deficit and crank up inflation.
The average rate on a 30-year home loan hasn’t been this high since July 11, when it was 6.89%. Despite its latest uptick, the average rate is still down from 7.22% in May, its peak so far this year.
Economists predict that mortgage rates will remain volatile this year, but generally forecast them to hover around 6% in 2025.
lez Jr., 112 Beesley Ave., $319,900.
Charles E. Samson to Edwan Alzuhairi, 755 Grattan St., $255,000.
Daniel Michael Laduke to Joseph A. Condino and Rachel M. Nawrocki, 37 White St., $260,000.
Deborah Farrar and Debbie Farrar to Pablo Rodrigues Sousa and Dolcimar Ferreira Sousa, 472 Broadway St., $390,000.
Donnalee M. Fields and Donna Lee M. Fields to Jean Israel, 1 Daviau Drive, $393,900.
Jenisa Figueroa Fast, Jenisa J. Figueroa, Adam Fast and Adam Fast Jr., to Ashley Bonilla, 48 Baltic Ave., $350,000.
Joanne T. Houghtalin to Romney Biddulph, 254 Meadow St., $324,000.
Joseph A. Golen to Stanislaw Borek, Helena Borek and Katherine Sobieraj, 39 Fanjoy Drive, $220,000.
Keys Upgrade LLC, to Olga Merced Ayala and Lucas Gonzalez, 139 Beauregard Terrace, $350,000.
Madeleine Joann Riel and Drew
Michael McAuslin to Ryan Della Penna and Jana Paecht, 220 Casey Drive, $295,000.
Michael S. Midura, representative, and Kenneth J. Midura, estate, to West Co. Investments LLC, 46 Guerin St, $40,000.
Patrick T. Moriarty and Karen Moriarty to Sarah Fenton, 172 Horseshoe Drive, Unit 6165D, $220,000.
Posiadlosc LLC, to Maria B. Pichazaca Alvarez and Jonathan F. Bermeo, 123-125 Meadow St., $385,000.
Richard P. Kida to Shavena Martin, 238 Chicopee St., $400,000.
Richton & Wynne LLC, to M & G Renovations LLC, 85-87 Charles St., $255,000.
Robert R. Asher, estate, and Ronald J. Asher, representative,
to Legacy Edger and Cameron Provenzsano, 474 New Ludlow Road, $220,000.
Robin L. Miller to Johanna Torres, 55 Empire St., Unit 11, $214,000.
Sherry A. Howell and Sherry A. DeChristopher to Flipping Best LLC, 46 Armanella St., $130,000. Tri-City Management Inc., to Carlos Alberto Aguilar Chacon, 92 Rivers Ave., $382,500.
Yocasta Lara and Fernando Lara to Patrick W. Marchinkowski and Jessica M. Mattoon, 61 Montello Road, $299,900.
COLRAIN
John M. Peters and Valeda R. Peters, trustees of the Peters Investment Trust, to John Peters Jr., and Loretta Peters, 98 Nelson Road, “aka” 88 Nelson Road, $115,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
D. R. Chestnut LLC, to Double R. Enterprises LLC, 8 Clover Lane, $820,800.
Dominic J. Nardi to Marc Anthony Frisino and Melissa Jean Bernat, 322 Parker St., $360,000. Frank Colaccino to Rosa Montefusco, Giovanni Montefusco and Anna Montefusco, 74 Harwich Road, $400,000.
Fumi Realty Inc., to Andrew Huta and Andrew Randall Huta, 16 Hamlet St., $305,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Ace Asphalt Maintenance Inc., Farmer Circle, Lot 14, $199,000.
James A. Fiorentino and Lauren E. Fiorentino to Kyle Sullivan, 299 Parker St., $470,000.
Jennifer Nicole Rossi to Richard P. Baca and Theresa Baca, 217 Pleasant St., $517,500.
Paul Heath to Jennifer Nicole Rossi, 5 Amalfi Drive, $725,000.
Deeds
EASTHAMPTON
Donald Torrey, personal representative, Richard Allen Bond, estate, Richard A. Bond, estate, and Richard Bond, estate, to Margaret Kennedy and Alan J. Huot, 18 Lyman St., $480,000.
ERVING
Frank A. Fellows, Cheryl J. Morin and Cynthia O’Connell to Justin Fellows, North Street, $40,000.
Justin Fellows to Susanne M. Herk and Walter C. Herk, North Street, $5,000.
Deana Desreuisseau to Melanie Scopa and Thomas J. Scopa, 119 North St., $400,000.
GRANBY
Wayne M. Beaulieu to Wayne M. Beaulieu, trustee, and Wayne M. Beaulieu 2017 Revocable Trust, 47 Amherst St., $100.
Michael A. Lorge and Daisy C. Pennell to Daisy C. Pennell, 2 Carver St., $100.
GRANVILLE
Joseph Walsh and Karen Walsh to Lori Cesan and Paul Rescigno, 0 Barnard Road, $65,000.
GREENFIELD
Theodore J. Burrell to Nuray Ozcelik and Steve Ozcelik, 309 Chapman St., $230,000.
Joshua S. Breitner to Catherine Rennie Smith, 24 Linden Ave., $200,000.
Margaret Beth Davenport, trustee of the Marion E. Davenport Revocable Trust, to Hurricane Properties LLC, 27 Gold St., $185,000.
Johanna Zeman to Alicia Hunter and Aaron Lakota, 462 South Shelburne Road, $385,000.
Michael R. Gullage to Elyssa L. Carner, 280 Wells St., $225,000.
HADLEY
Sandra J. Deforge to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Methuselah Realty Trust, 47 Bay Road, $15,000.
Matthew J. Hudak and Debra J. Fiacchi-Hudak to Debra J. Fiacchi-Hudak, trustee, Matthew J. Hudak, trustee, and Matthew Hudak & Debra Fiacchi-Hudak 2024 Trust, 140 Huntington Road, $100.
Cindy Shy to Mark Peter Bombardier and Jennifer Elaine
Bombardier, 18 Cold Spring Lane, $190,000.
HAMPDEN
Annabel Gubelman and Tre Gubelman to Christopher Kennedy and Leah Marossie, 11 Old Coach Circle, $455,000.
HEATH
Kenneth Thane and Paula Thane to Brendan Owens, Brunelle Road, $55,000.
HOLLAND
Mark A. Germain, Robert Germain, Gary Germain and Brian Germain to Chandle Danielle Scanlon and Stephen D. Comtois, 35 North Wales Road, $380,000.
HOLYOKE
Erica F. Kulas, Erica F. Schomer and Brian W. Kulas to Cassandra L. Cutler and Zaida E. Hoyt, 40 Lower Westfield Road, $321,000.
Irene Deperry to Wilny A. Ojeda Santos and Wilfredo Santos, 12-14 Harrison Ave., $330,000.
Jeffrey J. Judge to Jennifer Lynn Charette and Christopher Louis Charette, 38 George St., $455,000.
Linus Nkansah to Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, 38 Saint Kolbe Drive, Unit D, $163,000.
Marisol Rivera to Halifax Capital LLC, 4 Whiting Ave., $195,000.
Rosemary A. Barrett to Jamie M. Pagana, 295 Linden St., $288,000.
Steven E. Minkley, trustee, and Edward W. Minkley Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Miguel A Hernandez Jr., 544 Hampden St., $200,000.
LONGMEADOW
Robin J. Cadirov to Robin J. Cadirov and Anthony M. Cadirov, 17 Sherwood Drive, $100.
Stanlies M. Dsouza, trustee, Deepika Fernandes, trustee, and Dsouza & Fernandes Realty Trust, trustee of, to Jonathan Baston and Anna Uretsky, 196 Concord Road, $699,000.
Timothy G. McKenna and Mary Ellen T. McKenna to Deirdre Rocklein and James Francescangeli, 197 Farmington Road, $795,000.
William G. Scibelli, representative, and Lynn A LaPierre, estate, to CKJ Realty LLC, 150 Captain Road, $300,000.
LUDLOW
Lisa Golden, trustee, and Elaine H. Golden Trust, trustee of, to Robert R. Histen and Nancy Histen, 19 Laurel Lane, $393,000.
Lori A. Goulet, Steven T. Desilets and Ann Marie Allard to Zackary R. Auclair, 75 James St., $300,000.
Thomas Saloio and Susan A. Lamondia to Cong Ni, 53 Lakeview Ave., $295,000.
MONSON
Mark Wegryn and Laura A. Wegryn to Robert Smigiel Jr., and Nicole Smigiel, 243 Wilbraham Road, $610,000.
MONTAGUE
Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB, as trustee for Finance of America Structured Securities Acquisition Trust 2019-HB1, to EDS Enterprises LLC, 132 Meadow Road, $200,001.
Vernon W. McClish to Amy M. Chilton and Samuel J. Mulligan, 12 Unity St., $257,000.
Iomay Caban and Brian Keith Johnson to Caleb Chapin, 52 Dell St., $280,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Richard C. Weis to Dane Boryta, 40 Spring St., $437,500.
Paul L. Holt and Pamela K. Holt to Jonathan Liebman and Anne G. Fine, 25 Day Ave., $646,000.
Kenneth D. Arnold and Wendy L. Arnold to 88 Lyman Rd LLC, Lyman Road, $250,000.
Bonnie R. Reilly, trustee, and Walter J. & Rosemary M. Skiba Irrevocable Trust to Christopher Vaughn Karney and Carol Karney, 41 Hatfield St., $369,000.
Thomas J. Diemand, personal representative, and Thomas E. Diemand, estate, to Joshua M. Baum and Rebecca T. Hawkins, 40 Ryan Road, $355,000.
DF Properties LLC, to Bartlett M. Doty and Johanna Hoogendyk, 125 Straw Ave., $560,000.
Mark G. Sullivan, Roberta Sullivan and Roberta A. Sullivan to David Edward McCann Kates and Katie Rebecca Temes, 83 Maynard Road, $1,310,000.
Anne C. Bauer, trustee, and Bauer & Dym Family Trust to John W. Nields Jr., and Gail Tenney Nields, 92 Olander Drive, $1,000,000.
Sharon M. Moulton to Grace Schiaffo, 48 Evergreen Road, $212,000.
O’Connell Hawley LLC, and O’Connell Development Group Inc., to Elizabeth D. Perrin and
Lisa A. Smith, 10 Hawley St., $970,000.
Lee Armstrong to Kathleen A. Sullivan, 420 Fairway Village, $393,000.
PALMER
Carol A. Thomson, trustee, David G. Thomson, trustee, and Thomson 2016 Family Trust, trustee of, to David G. Thomson, trustee, Carol A. Thomson, trustee, and Thomson Realty Trust-2024, trustee of, 19 Old Farm Road, $100.
Gino P. Castoldi and Sandra M. Castoldi to John Mercier, 158 Chudy St., $350,000.
JoeJoe Properties LLC, to Karin Cowles, 33 Arnold St., $255,000.
Thomas L. Brown to Jaycob Savicki, 1021 Church St., $450,000.
Wayne C. Albrecht and Brenda L. Albrecht to Frank Mendelsohn, 246 Warren St., $45,000.
PLAINFIELD
June M. Lynds to Joan Wattman, trustee, and 2024 Skyland Trust, Mountain Street, $59,000.
RUSSELL
Nathan J. Leveille to Karl Henry Jackson and Stephanie D, Dalton, 27 Park Cir, $425,000.
SHELBURNE
Refined Design Homes Inc., to Kenton Matthew Shirk, 190 Old Albany Road, $680,000.
Judith C. Truesdell, individually and as trustee of the Judith C. Truesdell Real Estate Trust, to Kyle Mitchell, 178 Patten Road, $470,000.
SHUTESBURY
Janet M. Puffer and Stephen J. Puffer to Cameron Pennington and Sarah Pennington, 389 Leverett Road, $426,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
William E. Dalton III, personal representative, Olga Dalton, estate, and Olga J. Dalton, estate, to Raymond H. Faginski III, 23 Dale St., $350,000.
Gary O’Brien to BLS Properties LLC, 11 Industrial Drive, $1,000,000.
Robert L. Peloquin to Jennifer Seymore, 77 Lamb St., $100.
356 Newton Street LLC, to Stay in Motion LLC, 356 Newton St., $373,000.
Scott Walsh, Mary O’Neill and Mary Walsh to Richard Juang, 31
Park Ave., $423,000.
Elizabeth M. Austin, Lindsey M. Freer, Mary Ellen Bray, Patrick Goff and Camden Realty LLC, to Kemp Realty LLC, Camden Street, $100.
SOUTHAMPTON
Edward J. Kosakowski to Robert M. Lamica, 64 Cold Spring Road, $218,800.
Marcia V. Placzek, personal representative, and Dolores Ann Wolfe, estate, to Roger P. Lipton, trustee, and Dolores Ann Wolfe Revocable Trust, 11 Cook Road, $100.
Lisa A. Gawle to Jonathan Neumann and Jennifer Neumann, 5 Bissonnette Circle, $770,000.
Amy Underwood, trustee, and Underwood Family Trust to Jacob Bacis, 14 Crooked Ledge Road, $400,000.
SOUTHWICK
Allyson Barbeito, Allyson R. Crooke and Roland Barbeito to Sandra S. Ciarci and Paul Ciarci Jr., 58 George Loomis Road, $335,000.
Keith Samsell, trustee, and Samsell Children Trust Agreement, trustee of, to Russell C. Wakelin, 11 2nd St., $278,500.
Tanya Kellogg, trustee, and Seth Kellogg Trust, trustee of, to Berry Construction Group LLC, 370 North Loomis St., $20,000.
SPRINGFIELD
40 Warriner Avenue LLC, to Marlyam Real Estate LLC, NS Warriner Ave., $1,395,000.
Adela Colon and Nelsie Perez to Umulhaire Mayaki, 18 Elaine Circle, $480,000.
Anil Soto, Daniel Salas and Daniel Sales to Rodney Rodriguez and Bladimir Rodriguez, 545-547 Wilbraham Road, $300,000.
Anthony Sanabria and Elizabeth Sanabria to Daniel P. Ranson Jr., and Calla M. Vassilopoulos, 1070 Plumtree Road, $440,000.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Anthony Santiago, 82 Judson St., $420,000.
Christina M. Rosado, Christina M. Casimiro, Elisabete M. Jusko, Alda Bastos and Carlos Rosado to Brian J. Kelly and Renee J. Courtois, 1440 Wilbraham Road, $325,000. City Enterprise Inc., to Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, 64 Berkshire Ave., $130,000.
Claudete Oda Castro, trustee, Claudete Ayako Oda Castro, trustee, and Irrevocable Good Trust, trustee of, to Chenevert Properties LLC, 600 Union St., $144,000.
Daniel Defoe to Wilmer Abelino Vasquez Berduo and Cristina Castillo, 18-20 Medford St., $340,000.
Dealexcell LLC, to Heriberto Cruz and Giovanni Cotto, 25-27 Calhoun St., $500,000.
Edwan Alzuhairi to Adela Colon and Nelsie Perez, 131 Savoy Ave., $310,000.
Fernando Rosa and Elizabeth Rosa to Dnepro Properties LLC, and Jose R. Ortiz, 87 Villa Parkway, $135,000.
Fraziero Parking LLC, to William St. Holding LLC, 67 William St., $80,000.
Fresnel Anglade and Marie M. Anglade to Phillip Myrie, 187-189 Westford Ave., $225,000.
Gladysh Capital LLC, to Aimable Niyonshuti Sr., WS Crane St., Par 2, $380,000.
Grahams Construction Inc., to Jonathan D. Speck and Grace M. Speck, 92 Crystal Brook Drive, $647,000.
James Ezell and Doris Ezell to Stephanie Hayden, 86 Breckwood Boulevard, $227,500.
Jason Bolanos and Jaimarie Bolanos to Jean Pantoja, 73 Lamont St., $175,000.
Jazzil Lynn Melendez and Jordon R. Melendez to Daniel S. Pennington and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Pennington, 135 Tamarack Drive, $382,000.
Jorge Santiago to Luis Miguel Diaz Alviles and Amada Margarita Diaz, 65 Puritan Road, $294,900.
Joy Dolores Crenshaw, estate, Joy D. Crenshaw, estate, and Carl W. Wilson, representative, to Sony Joseph and Geralda M. Joseph, 25 Lorenzo St., $295,000.
Juan Del Valle Jr., representative, and Juan Del Valle Sr., estate, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Lumturi Realty Trust, trustee of, 12 Conklin St., $147,000.
JVCDND LLC, to Christopher Tejada Cruz and Gino Cruz, 56-58 Campechi St., $347,000.
Katherine P. Keough, Katherine P. Wrona and Kevin P. Keough to Shane Leroy Guertin Dit Milette and Jessie Joseph Wright, 92 Agnes St., $300,000.
Lucretia A. Wright to Malia Homebuyers LLC, 89 East St., $160,000.
Margarita Correa Santiago to Damaris Montilla West, 124 Buckingham St., $100.
Mark C. Henshaw, representative, and Judith Ann Henshaw, estate, to Nola Property Management LLC, 191 Pheland St., $170,000.
Marta Rivera and Melvin Rivera to Sybel Gonzalez, 86 Florence St., $155,000.
Matthew J. Lewis to David A. Goncalves, 19 Redden St., $271,000.
Genevieve Construction Development Group Inc., to Garcia Bennett, 1375 Page Boulevard, $270,000.
Michael Gatanio to Gianna Rodriguez, 47 Rush St., $332,000.
Miguel A. Aviles to Gary Zheng, 11 Florida St., $276,000.
Miguel A. Jimenez and Lisandra E. Acevedo-Negron to Nyasia Garcia, 17 Mark St., $305,000.
Mikey Diaz to Steven Davis and Tiffany Silverman-Davis, 101 Kimberly Ave., $308,000.
Muhammad Abbasi and Saman Sana to Leon H. Jenkins and Tyree H. Jenkins, 3537 Woodlawn St., $375,000.
Nancy E. Keefe, representative, and John C. Keefe, estate, to Megan J. Johnson, 75 Powell Ave., $245,000.
Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Dominic Santaniello, trustee, to Isabella Far, 1853 Roosevelt Ave., $254,000.
Oleg Aliyev and Lilia Aliyev to Jonathan Garcia, 0 Church Street, $60,000.
Osbert A. Stewart to Angel Torres, 45-47 Sylvan St., $390,000.
PAH Properties LLC, to Matthew D. Cieboter and Alyssa M. Guerette, 79 Westbanks Court, $332,500.
Patrick R. Kelly to Anastaysha Roller, trustee, and And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry St. Realty Trust, 101 Mulberry St., Unit 417, $75,000.
Patrick R. Kelly to Anastaysha Roller, trustee, and Yertle the Turtle Realty Trust, trustee of, 101 Mulberry St., Unit 302, $75,000.
Peter B. Hogan Jr., and Donna M. Hogan to Mehrdad Khabir, 1313 South Branch Parkway, $515,000.
PFGC LLC, to Yanelva Hidalgo Nepomuseno and Jaritza Hidalgo Nepomuseno, 70-72 Middlesex St., $372,000.
Post Investment LLC, to Wanina Justiniano, 63 Margerie St., $305,000.
Raffaele Russo and Xinh Nguyen-Russo to Kimberly Maria Duarte Carrascoza and Karla M. Duarte Carrascoza, 74 Adams St., $340,000.
Robert Lareau, Robert Lareau IRA, and Equity Trust Co., to Scott Davis, 103 Santa Barbara St., $259,000.
Roberto Pabon to Dindo S. Delloson, 20 Rollins St., $260,000.
Sareen Properties LLC, to Edward J. Cyr, 54 Bevier St., $199,000.
Sareen Properties LLC, to Ryan MacFarland and Lea Ann Dailey, 281 Newton Road, $399,900.
Sean Curran to Betzaida Collazo, 143 Fountain St., $301,000.
Shu Li to Kids Club 1 Root Inc., 101 Mulberry St. Unit 409, $111,000.
Springfield City to Astro Chemicals Inc., Boston & Albany RR Site, $40,000.
Tinkham Glen Realty LLC, to Hutton Springfield MA St LLC, 700-710 Liberty St,, $1,100,000.
William J. Belcastro, James F. Haines and Drs. William J. Belcastro & James F. Haines General Partnership, to Pulse Primary RE Holdings LLC, 299 Carew St., Unit 318, $320,000.
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, trustee, and Vi-A Residential Credit Opportunities Trust, trustee, trustee of, to Karol Michelle Villafane Lopez, 96 Mayfield St., $332,000.
Yolimar Torres to RBT Enterprise LLC, 107 Thompson St., $250,000.
WARE
Stanley A. Pulchtopek to Bennett Properties LLC, 5-7 Canal St., $50,000.
Jane L. Barnes, Alyssa R. Barnes, Brittany Desjardins and Matthew Barnes to Jane L. Barnes, 28 Park Ave., $100.
David E. Roy and Gary W. Roy to Gary C. Moulton and Lorna J. Moulton, Walker Road and Sorel Road, $9,500.
Kim M. Goodreau, personal representative, and Paul D. Young, estate, to Kim M. Goudreau, Keith M. Goudreau, Devin P. Goudreau and Ian M. Goudreau, 1 Oak Ridge Circle, $190,000.
W. David Kelly and Walter David Kelly to W. David Kelly, trustee, Walter David Kelly, trustee, and Kelly 2024 Realty Trust, 26 Shoreline Drive, $100.
WENDELL
Dukes LLC, to Johanna M. Fitzgerald and John C. Fitzgerald, 131 Lockes Village Road, $76,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Allen T. Wright to Manchester Enterprises LLC, 20 Gregory Lane, $265,000.
Christopher J. Kennedy and Christopher Kennedy to Ariana Becker, 138 Ashley St., $279,000.
Dawn E. Nooney to West Side Property LLC, 160 Baldwin St., $330,000.
Frances M. Circosta to Manchester Enterprises LLC, 22 Primrose St., $210,000.
Jason Ginman, representative, and Ronald E. Ginman, estate, to Kristin Orsucci, 18 Lotus Ave., $222,000.
Luis E. Guillen to Hend Abaas Marza, 169 Main St., Unit 4, $239,000.
Wolcott Properties LLC, to Jayme Elizabeth Morin and Jason Edward Dinicola, 203 Wolcott Ave., $340,000.
WESTFIELD
Americo C. DiLorenzo and Wanda DiLorenzo to Bridget Donovan and Katie Donovan, 138 Ridgecrest Drive, $549,900. Anastasios E. Karathanasopoulos, trustee, and Tasos Family Trust, trustee of, to Evan Cardenales, 82 South Maple St., Unit 4, $135,000.
Anthony M. Ennis to ONJB LLC, 555 Russell Road, Unit 22D, $140,000.
Eric L. Primack to Noraima Nunez-Morales, 69 Broad St., $375,000.
Jasmine R. Montanaro and Paul A. Montanaro to AK Remodeling Inc., 14 Woronoco Ave., $420,000.
Kathryn J. Dugan, representative, and Michael J. Dugan, estate, to Matthew Murphy and Dawn Murphy, 251 Southwick Road, $300,000.
Kenneth G. Diegel, Dulce I. Santiago-Diegel, Dulce I. Santiago, Patricia Grundy, Candida Blais and Jeffrey Santiago to Brian W. Kulas and Erica F. Kulas, 23 Deveno
Lane, $550,000.
Linda E. Lancto to Dreampath Homebuyers LLC, 16 Locust St., $80,000.
Nadja Lempke to Sandra Panchenko, 549 Russell Road, Unit 11D, $140,000.
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity Inc., to Sviatoslav Pylypenko, 0 Montgomery Road, $50,000.
Scott A. DeGray to Taylor L. Saimeri, 1 Webster Ave., $290,000.
Vera A. Vdovichenko and Yelizaveta Vdovichenko to Anthony Tsatsos, 111 Union St., Unit 16, $271,000.
Z & M Investments LLC, to Christian Roche and Catherine Acevedo, 134 Western Circle, $419,000.
WILBRAHAM
AC Homebuilding LLC, to Louis Bortolussi Jr., Sandalwood Drive, Unit 90, $499,900.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Feifei Li, 5 Briar Cliff Drive, $1,180,000.
Evergreen Design Build Inc., to Alex Bloom, 645 Glendale Road, $1,075,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Alison F. Downing to Megan Mewherter and Kyle Mewherter, 63 Nash Hill Road, $575,000.
Gerardo Rojas Araya and Talia Cossin to Beth L. Bellavance-Grace and Mary Doherty, 6 Hyde Hill Road, $410,000.
Laura J. Vanguilder to Katharine Dawn Walker, 137 Main St., $261,000.
WORTHINGTON
TCI Holdings LLC, to Jeffrey Lynch, trustee, and 95 Dalton Avenue Nominee Trust, 138 Ridge Road, $575,000.
Miguel Goncalves and Lauren E. Dones to Steven Otto and Samantha Otto, 11 Echo Hill Road, $925,000.
Thanh T. Lam and Duc H. Huynh to Danielle Marie Vear, 4 Sunnyside Terrace, $320,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Unlimited Construction Services Inc., 19 Dudley St., $165,000.
Here’s how to touch up kitchen cabinets with paint
By Jeanne Huber
Special to The Washington Post
Q.When my house was built in 2018, a local cabinetmaker built and finished all of the cabinets. The finish now needs touching up, so I contacted the cabinetmaker to get the paint type and color. I took the answer to a Sherwin-Williams store and learned that the paint was a lacquer paint that had been sprayed on and was not usually used for touch-ups. They did not have any suggestions as to what to use or how to do the touch-ups. Spraying a finish seems unfeasible for the small scuffs near the floors or along the edges. Could I sand/ scuff these small spots, then paint them with a latex paint?
A. You encountered one of the results of how Sherwin-Williams, a 64,000-employee company based in Cleveland, organizes its products and the places that sell them. Most company-owned paint stores, including the place where you probably went for advice, sell paints and other coatings mostly to homeowners and house painters. But Sherwin-Williams also has Commercial stores that cater to professionals, as well as places called Product Finish Facilities. These are part of an entirely different division, the Performance Coatings Group, which caters to automobiles, aerospace, packaging and other industries, including cabinet manufacturers. Products available in these stores vary depending on what local businesses need.
Sherwin-Williams sells spray-on lacquer paints through its Commercial and Product Finish Facilities, not the consumer-focused stores. A store-locator tool on the company website can point you to them, but before you make the trip, you might want to decide how important it is to you to duplicate the original paint. There are different types of lacquer paint: nitrocellulose lacquer, pre- and post-catalyzed lacquer, and conversion varnish. Whoever applied the original finish would know what type you have, or you could take a cabinet door to a Commercial store and ask for advice. Getting an exact match would be the best way to make sure you’re matching the sheen, said Ben Davis, manager of a Sherwin-Williams store in Panama City, Florida. But to get that
Dab on just a tiny amount of paint, using a small brush or even a cotton-tipped swab. Less is more — you can always go back and apply a second coat if the first
one is too thin. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGES)
exact match, you’d need to spray the lacquer, he said. Spray lacquer dries so fast that applying it by brush or roller leaves obvious marks.
Because of the solvents in spray lacquer, cabinet finishing companies apply it in a spray booth, with excellent ventilation and explosion-proof wiring. For touch-ups, Davis said, it’s possible to pour a little of the
removable. Mask off nearby surfaces, extinguish all flames, and open windows for ventilation.
Sherwin-Williams also makes water-based lacquer, called its Gallery Series. But it’s probably not the best option if you want to avoid the solvents in lacquer. It’s sold only in gallons and recommended for use only with professional spray guns,
Even if you have details about the color used on your cabinets, take a door or drawer front with you to a paint store to get a color match because colors shift over the years from exposure to light.
paint into a Preval sprayer ($5.98 at Home Depot for a sprayer with a 9-ounce capacity), a device that comes with a replaceable aerosol canister connected to a glass jar that you can fill with a small amount of finish — sort of a make-your-own can of spray paint. Davis has used this kind of sprayer for touch-ups and found it worked quite well. “Apply light spurts,” he said.
Because you won’t be in a spray booth, take doors and drawer fronts outside, if possible, and limit indoor spraying to surfaces that aren’t
and there’s no guarantee the sheen would match your cabinet finish.
Davis said that when someone wants to touch up lacquer paint with something other than lacquer, he recommends Sherwin-Williams’s Emerald Urethane, which is sold in quarts ($51.99). One quart is probably all you’d need for touchups. Sherwin-Williams stores each customer’s color matches, so you could always buy a second quart if you need more. Apply this paint with a brush or, for larger jobs, a roller. The Preval sprayers don’t work well
with paints designed to be applied by brush or roller, Davis said. The general advice for painting or repainting is to clean the surface, allow it to dry, then scuff-sand so the new paint sticks well. But for touching up finish on cabinets, you’re better off skipping the scuff-sanding step, Davis said. You’d be sure to sand a wider area than the one that needs repair, making the overall effect much more noticeable. Instead, dab on just a tiny amount of paint, using a small brush or even a cotton-tipped swab. Less is more — you can always go back and apply a second coat if the first one is too thin.
If you need to cover areas where the original paint chipped off, try to get the new paint only over the gaps and avoid smearing it across a wider area. But if you’re trying to touch up areas where the initial paint wore through, there are probably no clearly defined borders around the areas that need touching up. A little smearing might make the new paint blend in a bit better. Test by treating a door that’s not especially noticeable, let the paint dry overnight, then go with what looks best.
Even if you have details about the color used on your cabinets, take a door or drawer front with you to a paint store to get a color match because colors shift over the years from exposure to light. If you plan to buy lacquer at a Commercial store that is far from your house, you can get an equally good color match by going to your local paint store, which will probably do it while you wait. It might take a few days at a store that caters to industrial users. But the actual tinting needs to be done where the lacquer paint is sold because the colorants are different.
One challenge in trying to wade through advice about touching up painted cabinets is determining what level of perfection you require. Professionals who stand by their work and stores that sell finishes to them aren’t likely to opt for solutions that result in less than like-new results. But homeowners who are tired of looking at chipped or wornoff paint and don’t want to invest in completely repainting their cabinets are likely to be happy with a solution that erases most of the chips and wear, even if the touch-ups aren’t exactly like the surrounding surfaces. A brush-on urethane enamel tinted to match might be the best overall solution.
Live Onsite &Webcast PUBLIC AUCTION
PUBLIC AUCTION
PUBLIC AUCTION
MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
11:00 AM-WESTFIELD
12 Woodland Road
sgl fam, 4,314 sf liv area, 1.22 ac lot, 11 rm, 5 bdrm, 1.5 bth, Hampden: Bk 23262, Pg 195
1:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD 73-75 Kenyon Street
2 fam, 2,602 sf liv area, 0.1 ac lot, 12 rm, 7 bdrm, 2 bth, Hampden: Bk 17102, Pg 68 2:00 PM-SPRINGFIELD 63 Hope Street
sgl fam, 1470 sf liv area, 0.12 ac lot, 5 rm, 3 bdrm, 1.5 bth Hampden: Bk 21569, Pg 19
TERMS: Cashier’s or certified check in the sum of $5,000.00 as a deposit must be shown at the time and place of the sale in order to qualify as a bidder. No CASH. No personal checks will be accepted. Cashier/ certified checks should be made out to whomever is going to bid at the auction. The balance to be paid within thirty (30) days at the law offices of Korde & Associates, P.C. 900 Chelmsford Street, Suite 3102, Lowell, MA 01851, Attorney for the Mortgagee. Auctioneer makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.
NORTH CHELMSFORD (978) 251-1150 www.baystateauction.com
