Benefits and techniques to maintenance pruning
ALONG TIME AGO, when I first started growing fruit trees and vines, I read a lot about the all-important pruning and training they require. But I couldn’t get clear on my head what exactly the difference was between “pruning” and “training.” I went on to learn that and a whole lot more about pruning, and eventually wrote a book, “The Pruning Book,” about pruning in an effort to present the techniques with more clarity and completeness than all the books I had read.
OK, to answer my question of yore. “Training” is developing the young plant to a permanent framework that is sturdy and will always have its limbs bathed in light and air, and whose fruits hang within easy reach. Training involves some pruning as well as coaxing stems to grow in certain directions. Once a fruit tree or vine’s training period ends, it generally only needs annual pruning.
I thought of all this today as I pruned hardy kiwifruit and grape vines. Both fruiting vines have been trained and are pruned similarly, with one slight variation that I’ll soon mention.
The kiwi and grape vines are trained as “double cordons” which are permanent arms sitting atop a trunk. They run in opposite directions along the middle wire of a 5-wire trellis, the wires parallel and supported about 6 feet of the ground on the cross-arms of T-posts. Each young vine was planted next to a metal or wooden stake to which the plant’s most vigorous stem was tied.
Once that trunk-to-be reached up to the middle wire, I tied it there and cut off all other stems. That trunkto-be does, of course, keep growing; that new growth gets bent over and tied along the middle wire. Bending coaxes new buds to burst just beneath the bend, one of which is also bent over and trained along the middle wire in opposite direction to the first stem.
stems. Kiwis bear best if those one-year-old stems are about 18 inches long. Grape 1-yearold stems can be left long or short, but for my method of training, I want each one about two buds long, which is just a few inches.
Step one is a no-brainer. The outermost wires are 4 feet apart, so I lop all growth back to just beyond those wires. My tool of choice for this is a battery-powered hedge trimmer although pruning shears would also do the trick, except at a snail’s pace.
Step two is to remove excess growth, which does two things. It removes potential fruits so that more of the plant’s flavor-rich goodness gets funneled into remaining fruits, and it decongests the plant. For this step, I cut back all stems 2 years or older.
There will always be too many 1-year-old stems for the plant to make tasty fruit. So, I reduce the number of potential fruits by removing some of the 1-year-old stems, enough to leave 6 to 10 inches between them on each side of a cordon.
Not finished yet. The final step is to shorten the fruiting shoots. For hardy kiwis, I cut them back to 18 to 24 inches long. For grapes, to about two buds or a few inches long.
Oh, one more thing to do: I prune off any new growth rising up from ground level or along the trunk lower than the cordons.
And one more thing: I step back to admire my handiwork. (I made a video of me pruning a kiwi vine, which you can view online at leereich.com.)
Both these horizontal stems became the cordons, permanent arms of the plant. Growing off at right angles to the cordons are the fruiting shoots which, weighed down with their weight of fruit, drape onto the other wires.
Today I’m maintenance pruning vines whose training period ended years ago. Maintenance pruning a mature fruiting vine keeps it bearing high quality fruit within easy reach year after year, all accomplished
with a renewal method. That is, except for the trunk and the cordon, the vine is completely renewed with each year’s pruning.
I’ll admit it: A vine looks like a tangled mess before being pruned. But step by step, it begins to take shape and make sense.
Knowing how a plant bears fruit is important in maintenance pruning. Kiwi and grape vines bear on new shoots growing off 1-year-old
But wait! Two-year-old stems have 1-year-old stems, the stems needed for bearing shoots, growing off of them. So rather than cut a 2-year-old stem all the way back to its cordon, I cut it back to a 1-yearold stem originating near the cordon. Some 1-year-old stems also grow right from the cordon. The best 1-year-old stems are those that are moderately vigorous and, of course, look healthy. Moderately vigorous stems, for grape or kiwi, are about pencil thick (if you can remember what a pencil looks like; if not, about 1/4-inches thick).
You might have noticed, early on, that I wrote about pruning and training “fruit trees and vines.” What about blueberries, currants, gooseberries, elderberries, and other fruiting bushes. Yes, they need annual pruning also. No, they do not need training. Although the plants are perennial, their stems are evanescent, all with a limited life. They are pruned by a renewal method — at ground level. All this and much, much more (pruning ornamental plants, houseplants; creating and caring for an espalier; how to scythe, etc) in “The Pruning Book,” of course.
Training and pruning fruit plants is important for bountiful, annual harvests, as shown with these spur-prunes grape vines.
(LEE REICH PHOTO)
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming program at Berkshire
Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program: Tuesdays, Jan. 14 to Feb. 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., “Sustainable Garden Care and Maintenance.” Learn about the maintenance considerations that should be integrated into the garden design process from Daryl Beyers. Students’ horticultural knowledge will expand to factor sustainable maintenance concerns and cost-effectiveness into plant selection. Learn procedures for perennials, woody plants and lawns, including transplanting, staking, fertilizing, winterizing, mulching, plant pathology, and pest control with an emphasis on deer control. Cost $215 members, $240 nonmembers. To register or
for more information, visit www. berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
SPRINGFIELD
Garden Club upcoming gardening series
The Springfield Garden Club will host “Year Round Color in the Garden: Horticultural Workshops” a series of 3 classes for anyone interested in year-round interest in their yards and gardens. The programs will be at 2 p.m. on three Sundays in January and February.
Sunday, Jan. 26 will kick off the series with the class “Some of the Best Perennials and Shrubs for Seasonal Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall and even WINTER!” Wondering what to plant? How to layer them for best effect? This hands-on workshop has you evaluating a wide variety of new and tried-and-true plants for the unique needs of YOUR yard. Led
by Vana Nespor, District Director, Garden Club Federation of MA. Sunday, Feb. 9 is “Trees that Bring Joy all Year Long” Looking to plant and care for a small tree that you will enjoy year-round? Learn which small trees bring joy to both you and the wildlife around you. Where best to place them, and learn how to make sure they survive in our changing climate.
Led by Alex Sherman, Tree Warden and City Forester for Springfield.
Sunday, Feb. 23 is “Landscaping for Year-Round Beauty” Want to enjoy your garden more in the spring, summer, fall, and winter? Learn how to design a garden that showcases vibrant color and fascinating textures that make it shine in every season.
The classes will be held in the Old Monkey House, in Forest Park on Sumner Ave. The fee is $10 per class and tickets are available at the door, on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@gmail.com or by calling 413-285-3163.
For more information on this and other Springfield Garden Club events go to www.gcfm.org/ springfieldgardenclub or visit them on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/Springfield MAGardenClub/
SOUTHAMPTON
Garden program
The Hampden Hampshire Conservation District will present a program at Edwards Public Library, 30 East St., on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. The title of the program is “How to Maintain a Native Plant Garden.” Learn the choices you have for managing the changes in your garden. There will be time for questions and discussions. In case of bad weather, a Zoom option will be available. To register, email shampgeg@gmail. net.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
CONCORD, N.H.
Smart bird feeders gain popularity and spark interest in bird-watching
By Holly R amer
Associated Press
MARIN PLANK
truly had no interest in birds when she gave her husband a camera-equipped bird feeder for his birthday. But by Christmas, she had become so obsessed with birds that most of the gifts she received this year — books, stickers, notecards — were related.
“This is who I am now,” she said.
Acquaintances have stopped Plank on the street to discuss the bird photos she shares on Facebook. From copious amounts of research, she now knows the best birdseed blend and has a premium membership to a store that delivers giant bags of it to her Delaware home.
It all started when she got her first postcard from the Bird Buddy app, which provides photos and video clips that can be downloaded or shared.
“You’ve just got to click, and then the bird is in your face looking at you and mugging for you, and it’s like your own little private show,” she said. “Something about their little eyes and their goofy little faces just drew me in, and now I’m a bird enthusiast.”
While North American bird populations decline dramatically, paradoxically, the number of people watching them has increased. While the coronavirus pandemic spurred many people to head outside in search of birds, for others, smart feeders that snap photos and video of backyard visitors have brought the hobby inside.
“It really delivers value with very little input,” said
Franci Zidar, founder and CEO of Bird Buddy, which has sold 350,000 smart bird feeders since 2022.
“If you’re actually kind of a hardcore bird watcher, that can be a very demanding hobby. There are, however, 20 to 30 species of birds in most U.S. backyards that people either don’t really know or appreciate.”
Several other companies, including Birdfy, make similar bird feeders that are mounted with cameras. And while standard bird feeders tap into people’s altruistic sides by allowing users to take care of animals, smart feeders take it a step further, Zidar said.
“Ultimately, I think it marries two really beautiful things. One is your need to nurture and to give back and to connect with nature, and the other one is to kind of see it and appreciate it,” he said.
Bird Buddy has proven so successful that the company is expanding its portfolio to include a tiny flower-shaped camera called Petal, and Wonder Blocks, which can be assembled to provide habitats for butterflies and other insects.
Details were announced Monday at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics show, in Las Vegas, with a Kickstarter campaign this spring.
“Let’s not ask people to do crazy things, because they won’t. Let’s just give them value by just pointing a camera into this beautiful natural space,” Zidar said. “We’ll give you the drama, the happenings, the life that’s happening in that corner of your home.”
A rare yellow-colored northern cardinal is known to visit a backyard birdfeeder in Bath Township, near Lansing, Mich.
(PHOTO BY LINDA VAIL
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
New twists appear in late 19th-century chairs
SOMETIMES PEOPLE
like to think of the past as a steady, stable time where tradition ruled the day. Ironically, learning about antiques can prove that notion wrong; and some of the best lessons can come from 19th-century furniture. Technological advances made complicated furniture designs more accessible, and the growing nouveau riche meant more customers in need of furniture, often with more extravagant tastes.
The Merklen Brothers of New York, active between the 1880s and 1900, were among the furniture makers taking advantage of new tools and catering to new tastes. The chair pictured here, with twisted posts, a lattice back and a pair of brass finials shaped like storks’ heads, is an example of their work. It sold for $409 at Forsythe’s Auctions LLC.
Unusual shapes, barley twists and figural brass fittings make Merklen Brothers furniture unique. An identification tip: Furniture feet in the form of a carved wood claw clutching a glass ball were popular at the time. Merklen Brothers, however, made their ball-and-claw feet with a wooden ball, as seen on this chair.
Q. Do you have any suggestions for finding out more information about a wooden mannequin head that was recently donated to us? Google search was not helpful.
A. Most wooden mannequins we see date to the mid-to-late 19th century or early 20th century. As the 20th century progressed, most store mannequins were made of other materials, like plaster, composition and, later, fiberglass. 20th-century mannequins often have painted, sometimes molded, hair and can usually be dated by hair and makeup styles. Your mannequin head may have been part of a full-body mannequin, or it may have displayed hats or wigs. Today, many col-
The Merklen Brothers made furniture in the late 19th century. Many furniture makers of the time took a creative approach, using newly invented tools and making pieces with unusual features. (FORSYTHE’S AUCTIONS LLC)
lectors consider antique country store displays a type of folk art, and mannequin heads like yours are no exception. Auction houses, collector’s clubs or museums that specialize in folk art, advertising, country store collectibles or fashion history may have more information about mannequins.
Q. My father received a picture, possibly in the 1950s, that I am trying to identify. It looks like it is signed in pencil, but I can’t make out the signature.
A. Based on the signature, it sounds like your picture is a print. If it has any publisher or copyright information, that can help you with identification. Usually, the best way to identify a picture is to contact an art museum. Some large art museums have events where the public
can have artworks authenticated and learn more about them. If there is a college or university with a fine arts department in your area, they may also be able to help. You can also check your library for access to online art databases or printed artist directories.
Q. I have an antique piece made by Union Porcelain Works, New York. It is shaped like a cylinder with a large opening on the side, near the base. I know the history in the dates behind this piece. However, what exactly is this called? Also, is there an approximate value on this item? When I look it up it says it cannot be identified.
A. Your porcelain piece sounds like part of a parlor stove. A complete stove would be on a stand and have a cap on
top. Cylindrical parlor stoves were popular in the Victorian era. Most known examples are cast iron, but some were made in porcelain, faience and other ceramics. Ceramic stoves appear to have been more popular in Europe, but some were made and used in America.
We have not found any other examples of stoves made by Union Porcelain Works, although we know they made fireplace tiles.
They are known for many kinds of porcelain items, both utilitarian and decorative, from ornate pitchers to simple water coolers, hotel door markers and match strikers. Their famous pitchers and vases with elaborate relief decorations can sell for thousands of dollars. Simpler utilitarian pieces like tiles or water cisterns tend to sell for about $100 to $300. A stove collectors’ club like the Antique Stove Association (antiquestoveassociation. org) or a dealer that specializes in stoves may have more information and may be able to help you determine a value.
TIP: Lick a cotton swab and use it to remove dirt from small carvings on furniture. Saliva has enzymes that help dissolve the dirt.
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.
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.
Toy, horse, riding, metal, molded mane and tail, painted, white, red saddle, plastic reins, hanging footrest, wheels, Mobo, 30 1/2 x 28 inches, $50.
Leather, toiletry case, latch closure, top handle, glass bottles, retailer’s mark, Mitsukoshi Gofukuten, Tokyo, Japan, $65.
Royal Doulton, figure, cat, Lucky, sitting, black, white face, open mouth, marked, 2 1/2 inches, pair, $75. Cloisonne, bowl, 1,000 Flowers, multicolor, gilt rim, carved wood stand, Chinese, early 1900s, 5 x 10 inches, $150. Baccarat, vase, two paneled bands, cranberry cut to clear, flared, fluted, acid mark, France, 20th century, 7 inches, $180.
Furniture, secretary, Gothic Revival, mahogany, glass panel doors, slant front base, fitted interior, drawer over two doors, shaped bracket feet, mid-1800s, 92 x 44 1/2 inches, $375.
Silver plate, tea set, modernist, square, round finial, angled handle, straight spout, teapot, coffeepot, sugar and creamer, marked, Italy, D.F. Sanders & Co., 1980s, coffeepot 6 inches, four pieces, $460.
Stoneware, churn, cobalt blue feathers, applied arch handles, stenciled, capacity mark, salt glaze, slip glaze interior, wood dasher, Hamilton & Jones, Greensboro, Pennsylvania, base 17 inches, $810.
Furniture, table, Louis XVI style, kingwood, tooled leather top, three drawers, leafy scrolling ormolu mounts, caryatid mounted legs, sabot feet, France, 1800s, 31 1/2 x 69 1/2 inches, $1,535.
Photography, advertisement, Mr. Beard, Daguerreotype or Photographic Portraiter, color, posterboard, London, 12 x 9 1/2 inches, $1,950.
Five cleaning projects for a snowy day
By Jolie K err The Washington Post
THERE’S SO MUCH promise in a snow day: You might curl up with a good book, bake a batch of cookies, indulge in a movie marathon, or get out the Yahtzee. But with time, restlessness sets in — and since we’ve all seen “The Shining,” we know what comes next.
Something that is annoying but deeply true is that industriousness is the enemy of cabin fever, making the hours, days, weekends that we’re stuck inside due to inclement weather a perfect time to tackle a seasonal or deep cleaning task. Do you need some ideas? Well, we’ve got some!
Some projects should be avoided in winter: Shampooing the rugs or furniture when it’s cold, damp and the entire household is stuck inside is a recipe for misery (long drying times, you see). Jobs that call for chemical cleaning agents that contain bleach or ammonia and require ventilation are also a bad idea when it’s too cold for open windows.
These five tasks, however, are ones you can tackle in about an hour, maybe two. Put on a great playlist or fire up your favorite podcast to make the job go by faster.
Clean out the refrigerator
Estimated time: 30 to 45 minutes.
Supplies you’ll need: all-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloths, a non-scratch scrub sponge, an eraser sponge, trash bags, a cooler (optional).
Start by taking everything out of the refrigerator, including that old box of baking soda. Toss out obviously old, expired and unused foods as you go and place highly perishable items, like milk or yogurt, in a cooler or in the freezer for temporary keeping.
Then, remove the drawers and shelves from the unit and clean them with all-purpose cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth or a non-scratch scrub sponge; an eraser sponge may be useful for removing stains from food spills. Rinse and dry them, and set them aside while you clean the interior of the fridge, working from the top of the unit down to the bottom. Finally, return the shelves and drawers to the unit, and begin putting food back. As you return items, do a second pass and throw away any food that is expired or that you simply do not use.
Vacuum mattresses, upholstered furniture and window treatments
Estimated time: 30 to 60 minutes.
Supplies you’ll need: a vacuum with a soft brush and upholstery and crevice attachments.
If you’re not up to facing the three-week-old lasagna carcass in your fridge, try this low-effort deep cleaning job: Grab your vacuum and its attachments — in this case, the soft brush or upholstery attachment and the crevice attachment — and show your mattresses, upholstered furniture and fabric window treatments some love.
Birds
In Ipswich, Massachusetts, Judy Ashley already had 11 bird feeders in her yard when she got a Bird Buddy last year. She has taken down some of the older feeders in hopes of attracting more birds to the camera to capture photos of those hanging out lately in her yard, especially a yellow-throated warbler, which is rarely seen in New England. She finally succeeded on Monday.
“What’s amazing is how close you can see the details of backyard birds that you just wouldn’t see if you just stood there for hours with binoculars,” she said. “You just realize how amazing nature is.”
Rachel Matthews in Austin, Texas, has three camera-equipped feeders, including one specifically for hummingbirds. While she grew up with bird feeders, the smart feeders have increased her interest, she said.
“I love having the camera, and I see detail that even with my binoculars I’d never seen,” she said. “The female cardinals with their red eyebrows and little feathers — it’s just phenomenal.”
In November, the National Audubon Society announced a partnership with Bird Buddy to
increase awareness about bird conservation. The arrangement could provide a pathway to get data from the company’s
community science platform to scientists, said Nicolas Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Audubon Society.
This photo courtesy of Judy Ashley shows a cardinal on her bird feeder in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Dec. 20, 2024. (JUDY ASHLEY VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The rare yellow northern cardinal forages under the McDaniels’ feeder in Bath Township along with a normal-colored cardinal and a dark-eyed junco. (PHOTO BY LINDA VAIL)
Average US long-term mortgage rate inches up to 6.93%
Rate increases for fourth straight week
By M att O tt Associated Press
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked up again this week, remaining at its highest level since July. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate loan rate rose to 6.93% from 6.91% last week, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. It was at 6.66% a year ago. It has risen for four straight weeks.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Carrie Mayer, Robert Mayer and Douglas J. Janik to Konstantin S. Skovorodin, 25 Westford Circle, $330,000.
Ruperto Perez to Skyspec LLC, 29 Editha Ave., $300,171.
AMHERST
Herbert J. Bernstein, Mary Bernstein and Mary M. Bernstein to Herbert J. Bernstein, trustee, Herbert J. Bernstein 2024 Trust, Mary M. Bernstein, trustee, and Mary M. Bernstein 2024 Trust. 266 Shays St., $100.
Sarah B. Stookey to Sarah B. Stookey, trustee, and Sarah B. Stookey 2024 Trust, 51-53 Fairfield St., $100.
Michael M. Powell and Adriana Powell to Jennifer A. Rulf and Gabriel A. Arboleda, 149 Pomeroy Lane, $555,000.
BERNARDSTON
Stephen D. Kelsey and Susan F. Kelsey to Erik A. Bardwell and Jennifer M. Bardwell, 57 Deane Road, $349,000.
BRIMFIELD
Shannon Kelly to Tyler J. Fournier and Madison D. Fournier, 21 Hollow Road, $335,000.
BUCKLAND
Janice K. Dompke, “aka” Janis K. Dompke, and Alan Ross to Christopher Miner, 142 Bray Road, $302,000.
James R. Schaefer to Peter Q. Warinner, Charlemont Road, $475,000. *
The uptick in the cost of home loans reflects a rise in the bond yields that lenders use as a guide to price mortgages, specifically the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury. The yield on the 10-year Treasury has climbed from 3.62% in mid-September to 4.66% this week.
The increase is occurring with the price of homes rising steadily.
Elevated mortgage rates and rising home prices have kept homeownership out of reach of many would-be homebuyers. While sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in
CHARLEMONT
James R. Schaefer to Peter Q. Warinner, River Road, $475,000. *
CHICOPEE
7 One 7 Capital LLC, to Latorya Adams, 41 Pennsylvania Ave., $287,000.
Arthur A. Psholka, trustee, Patricia W. Psholka, trustee, and Psholka
Family 2017 Trust, trustee of, Davis
M. Foster and Diane D. Foster, 32 Pheasant Way, $232,000.
Rattell Real Estate Holding LLC, to A & L Realty Trust LLC, 1416 Granby Road, $600,000.
Harvey Marmolejos to Eliezer
Jonatan Romero Ashley, 43-45 Tourtelotte Ave, $485,000.
Hillary Haupt, Hillary Melinosky and Thomas Melinosky to Joshua Gosselin, 61 Abbey Memorial Drive, Unit 10, $219,900.
Mark Devoto to Aaron G. Boutot, 10 Nadeau Drive, $329,900.
Robert J. Duga to 1633 Property Holdings LLC, 1633 Memorial Drive, $300,000.
Scott Levreault to Koda Penny Realty LLC, 9 Massachusetts Ave., $265,000.
Susan P. Ladue, Timothy F. Shea and Michael J. Shea Jr., to Tyrus T. Ferguson, 95 Greenwood Terrace, $235,000.
WSP Realty LLC, to Walkis Figueroa, 136 Exchange St., $329,900.
CONWAY
Douglas A. Blowers to Douglas A. Blowers, trustee of the Douglas A. Blowers 2024 Trust, 851 Roaring Brook Road, $100.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Daniel S. Gusovsky to Alyssa Guiel
November for the second straight month, the housing market remains in a slump and on track for its worst year since 1995.
The government’s report on December home sales is due out later this month.
Interest rates have been climbing since the Federal Reserve signaled last month that it expects to raise its benchmark rate just twice this year, down from the four cuts it forecast in September.
The Fed is tapping the brakes on rate cuts because inflation remains
and Daniel Bartlett, 33 Taylor St., $354,900.
Ramon Tapia to Leo Fennell, 66 Nelson St., $337,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Deborah A. Buckley to Donald Robadue Jr., and Rose Robadue, 128 Ferry St., $525,000. Krumpholz Revocable Trust and Carol A. Krumpholz, trustee, to Carol A. Krumpholz, 14 Harvey St., $100.
Carol A. Krumpholz to Kevin J. Krumpholz and Brian K. Krumpholz, 14 Harvey St., $100.
Jessica Tierney and Matthew Tierney to Precious King and Shai Lev-King, 239 Park St., $435,000.
GRANBY
Kathryn Y. Buckley-Brawner and William H. Brawner to Garrett Postema, 133 Aldrich St., $570,000.
John P. Shontz and Nancy N. Shontz to Massachusetts Comm Conservation & Recreation, Batchelor Street Off and Ridge Path, $14,000.
Carrie A. Richard and Jason R. Richard to Jason R. Richard, 17 Cold Hill Drive, $45,000.
GREENFIELD
Kearin M. Laroche, individually and as trustee of the Ronald C. Laroche Jr. Irrevocable Supplemental Needs Trust, and Jean P. Boulanger, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Ronald C. Laroche Sr., “aka” Ronald C. Laroche, to Andrea Platner and George H. Platner Jr., 14 Keegan Lane, Unit 14, $207,000.
Gary Scott, personal representative of the Estate of June F. Scott, to Katharine Franks Kyros, 276 Chapman St., $270,000.
stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% target, even though it’s fallen from its mid-2022 peak.
Economists also worry that President-elect Donald Trump’s economic policies, notably his plan to vastly increase tariffs on imports, could fuel inflation.
The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance, ticked up to 6.14%, up from 6.13% and also the highest since July. It was at 5.87% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.
HADLEY
David F. Marsh, Thao T. Marsh and Thao T. Nguyen to David F. Marsh, 232 River Drive, $100.
HAMPDEN
Tawnne J. Ostrander to Wenda M. Luff, 600 Glendale Road, $150,000.
Toni E. Olstein, representative, and Shirley A. Hebert, estate, to Jaime Pardave and Lucila B. Pardave, 60 Greenleaf Drive, $420,000.
HATFIELD
Walter R. Thayer Jr., trustee, and Inter Vivos Trust Agreement of Walter R. Thayer to Richard F. Thayer and James W.C. Thayer, 153 North Hatfield Road and 157 North Hatfield Road, $312,851.
HOLLAND
Freedom Mortgage Corp., to John David Holdcraft, 124 Old County Road, $80,000.
John H. Lindsey to Jonnathan Blas, 25 Stagecoach Road, $385,000.
HOLYOKE
C. Noir Properties LLC, to Christine L. Braen Futia and James F .Skinner Jr., 18 Steven Drive, $319,000.
Gladys M. Torres to Meara Properties LLC, 9 Washington Ave., $340,000.
Jessica Delgado Morales and Jovany Vega Vega to Cocowa Consulting Inc., 676 Hampden St., $330,000.
Mara Rebecca Lopez and Patrick A. Presto to Raymond Ogochukwu Edi-Osagie, 434 Pleasant St., $290,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to Nailiyah Alves and Aaliyah Alves, 268 South St., $307,000.
Rinaldi Pease Acquisitions LLC, to 97 Elm Holyoke Rental LLC, 97 Elm St., $425,000.
LEVERETT
Andreia Correia and Dario Rosenstock to Hanna Freedlund, 168 North Leverett Road, $425,000.
LUDLOW
Kazimierz Borawski and Danuta Borawski to Berkant Bayram, 35-37 Rogers Ave., $340,000.
Numeri Capital Investments LLC, to Ashley Mason, 1 Parkview St., $450,000.
MONSON
David F. Martin, Susan L. Martin and Jill E. Barker to U S A Housing & Urban Development, 23 High St, $166,000.
Philip R. Brault to Philip R. Brault and Jennifer Gohra, 10 Gates St., $100.
NORTHAMPTON
David M. Kotz, trustee, Karen A. Pfeifer, trustee, and Pfeifer-Kotz Revocable Trust to Hui li and Wing Hang Wong, 18 Pilgrim Drive, $672,000.
Jan G. Gustavsen and Gwendolyn C. Gustavsen to Jan G. Gustavsen, trustee, Gwendolyn C. Gustavsen, trustee, and Gustavsen Family Living Trust, 29 Williams St., $100. Renate M. Schulte to Carol B. Waldron and David D. Waldron, 286 Coles Meadow Road, $555,000.
NORTHFIELD
Patrick Weyers and Sharon L. Weyers to Meghan L. Manke and Justin Moody, 598 Mt. Hermon Station Road, $439,000.
How to get that drain unclogged, and other wisdom from plumbers
By Jolie K err
The Washington Post
AFUNNY THING ABOUT plumbing disasters is that they are, indeed, quite funny — unless they’re happening to you, that is. There’s a wild world of hilarious clogs out there: Sticks of deodorant, undergarments, children’s toys, adult toys — you name it, plumbers have not just seen it, they’ve extracted it from a pipe.
Of course, we would all like to avoid a plumbing disaster, and who better to advise us on how to coddle our pipes than the experts themselves? We spoke to plumbers about the most common clogs (and some of the strangest), how to prevent them, how to deal with them
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CONTINUES FROM PAGE F8
PALMER
Charles J. Gilbert to Robin M. Lamothe, Scarlette M. Lamothe and Linea A. Lamothe, 1090 Thorndike St., $450,000.
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Dylan S. Swist, 3144 Main St., Unit #23, $145,000.
Linda A. Regis and Linda A. Leigh to Elias Coleman Jr., and Geneva Pitts, 146 Mason St., $355,000.
PLAINFIELD
Leonard H. Roberts and Joan Roberts to Ruth Debrot, Grant Street, $90,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Andre J. Duquette and Dawn M. Duquette to Emma Zanazzi and Stephen Liable, 47 Columbia St., $360,000.
Patricia M. Matty and Patricia Mae Matty to Patricia Mae Matty, trustee, Michael R. Matty, trustee, and Patricia Mae Matty Revocable Trust, 22 Spring Meadows, $100.
Jennifer Kuivinen, personal representative, and Gerard J. Potvin, estate, to Samuel Dorval and Carleigh Clark, 2 Yale St., $310,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Jane A. Rothchild, Jane Rothchild, Adell R. Donaghue and Adell Donaghue to Katherine C. Hankins and Thomas E. Hankins, 15 Cold Spring Road, $77,000.
Yevgeny Selin and Liliya Selin to
and how to know when you should call a professional.
Know thy drains — and their clogs
Weird clogs make for the best stories, but the majority of clogs plumbers are called upon to service are actually quite predictable. “We can usually determine the culprit depending on what type of drain is clogged,” says Docia Boylen, the owner of Handyman Connection.
Toilets: “With a toilet, the number one thing obviously is toilet paper,” says Roy Barnes, a partner at Service Force Plumbing, “and flushable wipes. Golly, there’s times where we snake these pipes, and we’ll pull out a couple hundred of them.” He says that tampons
David Selin and Anna Selin, 92 Pequot Road, $310,000.
John Lawrence Enright Jr., and Patricia Enright to Jessica L. Tierney and Matthew W. Tierney, 7 Courtney Lane, $585,000.
SOUTHWICK
Bradley Wright and Anne Wright to Leonid Ignatyuk, 33-35 Point Grove Road, $434,900.
SPRINGFIELD
Anthony C. Diaz, Karen N. Diaz and Karen Nayeli Diaz to Ashley J. Lapointe, 151 Fox Hill Road, $310,000.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Mohammad Solaiman and Mohammad Saber, 10 Kittrell St., $489,902.
Carlos H. Villa to To Tran and Lieu Loc, 1047 Carew St., $280,000.
Carolyn E. Loyd and Seth F. Hamilton to Stephanie Garner, Stephanie Barnes and Matthew Barnes, 98 Fox Wood Drive, $412,050.
Celia Y. Pena, Jose Antonio Pena, Celia Pena and Jose A. Pena to Felipe Gomez Salas and Luis Gomez Diaz, 862 Carew St., $285,600.
Clinton R. Stonacek and Kristen L. Stonacek to William Forte Jr., 40 Norfolk St., $235,000.
Daniel Stamborski to Angelica Mendez, 48 Hope St., $230,000.
Dianne Tatro and Paul Keyes to Yasmine Mercado, 158 Davis St., $242,000.
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Kokoleka Realty Trust, trustee of, to Ruperto Perez, 27 Ontario St., $265,000.
Donna Bihler, Susan Allen, Susan Buckmaster, Monica Stechshulte, Gil Paquette and Gary Paquette
and “sometimes condoms” round out the three most common causes of a clog in the commode.
Tub and shower drains: Hair and soap scum mingle in tub and shower drains, forming an unholy union. “In the shower, you are using soap, you’re using shampoo, you’re using conditioner,” Boylen says. “That stuff can clog up drains.” Experts recommend placing a hair catcher in drains to prevent clogs from forming in the first place.
Sink drains: In the bathroom, sink drains suffer the way that tub and shower drains do, namely at the hands of hair and soap scum. Over in the kitchen, oil and grease from cooking are enemies No. 1 (they’re a bonded
to Jason M. Sisko, 10 Frederic St., $284,900.
Dwayne Christopher Burey and Ashley Marie Caron-Burey to Aisha E. Caulton and Daisha G. Parks, 329 Forest Hills Road, $470,000.
Elizabeth Correa and Julio Alberto Rivera Almenas to Adrion Watt, 1298 Parker St., $325,000.
Gregory Vatrano to Cesar Ruiz Jr., 1030 State St., $485,000.
Heather Cooper, Heather M. Bruso and Chad A. Cooper to Mark Hayden and Debra Hayden, 104 Oregon St., $312,000.
Ileana Colon Rodriguez to Angela Daniels, 296 Quincy St., $210,000.
Jaime Pardave and Lucila B. Pardave to Stephanie Cristal Mercado Guerra and Antonio Oyola, 28 Pinta Circle, $350,000.
Kerry P. Carnevale, Adele M. Bogacz, Adele M. Bogasz, Mark P. Carnevale and Randy L. Carnevale to Phaneth Son and Chansophy Lim, 55 Balboa Drive, $281,000.
Rahsaan Bryant to Elis Hernandez, 140 Chestnut St Unit 316, $88,000.
Robert Kent Perry and Patricia R. Perry to Jane Gray and Nancy Gray, 127 Abbott St., $410,000.
Sareen Properties LLC, to Jarelys Velez and Pedro Alvarez, 37 Wilber St., $275,000.
Springfield College to AJ Capital Inc., 89 Melrose St., $3,000.
Springfield College to AJ Capital Inc., 89 Melrose St., $40,000.
Springfield College to AJ Capital Inc., 99 Melrose St., $40,000.
Sylvia J. Reid and Sylvia J. Parker to Azeem Ashraf, 46-48 Silas St., $380,000.
Veteran Stan LLC, to Zoe Taylor, 35 Montclair St., $270,000.
Victor Dupre Jr., to Gary Mapp, 191-
pair). Fibrous vegetables, which coil around garbage disposal blades like hair wrapped around a vacuum’s beater bar, are another. Things that pretty obviously don’t belong in a drain, like silverware or melted wax, are not uncommon. And starches, including and especially potatoes, expand in pipes, creating massive blockages that can require extreme measures to repair.
Washer stand pipes: The wild card entry on the list is the laundry standpipe, which connects to a washing machine’s discharge hose. “You get a lot of oil saturation there,” Barnes says, “and when you add the lint from your clothes, it becomes like Velcro.”
193 Middlesex St., $176,400.
SUNDERLAND
Robin F. Luberoff and Neal R. Pruchansky to Asheley R. Griffith, trustee of the Curtis-Griffith Family Trust, 7 Karen Drive, Unit 7, $474,000.
WALES
Chandle D. Scanlon and Stephen Comtois to Laura Phifer, 23 Holland Road, $265,000.
WARE
Kimberly A. Davis, personal representative, Stephen D. Boucher, personal representative, and Roberta Fay Boucher, estate, to Eric J. Carroll and Tammy Lynn Hobbs, 103 Beaver Road, $450,000.
Bennett Properties LLC, to PFGC LLC, 5-7 Canal St., $125,000.
G & W New Construction LLC, to Andrew J. Bonneau, 31 Meadow Road, $375,000.
Selin Nacar to Jennifer L. Lagarda, 26 Sorel Road, $400,000.
Sarah M. Stafford and Sarah M. Desroches to Patricia A. Wilmot and William G. Goodfield, 29-31 West Main St., $320,000.
David Trudeau, personal representative, Robert Trudeau, personal representative, and Robert F. Trudeau, estate, to Brendan Douglas Miller and Annie Danielle Watkins, 39 Eagle St., $265,000.
WARWICK
Ian Warner Lippincott and Aja Warner Talarico to Cody F. Gibbons, Old Winchester Road, $95,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Jamie Mitchell and Jeffrey Mitchell to Matthew Sawyer and Kimberly Charette, 202 River St., $399,000. Kevin C. Sheehan to Joseph S. Spano, 91 Grandview Ave., $155,000.
Manchester Enterprises LLC, to Mihail Dobrin and Liliya Kondratiouk, 20 Gregory Lane, $355,000. Oleksandr Bak, Irina Bak and Aleksandr Bak to Angela Marie Southwick, 24 Angeline St., $340,000.
Robert D. Sullivan Jr., representative, Robert D. Sullivan Sr., estate, and Linda Connolly Sullivan, estate, to Edward C. Guerrero, 21 Craiwell Ave., $400,000.
WESTFIELD
Karen A. Shaw to Teresa Johnston and John Johnston, 161 Steiger Drive, $475,000.
WHATELY
Susan P. Martin and Troy T. Martin to Holly Berrigan and Niclas Jansson, 155 Christian Lane, $575,000.
WILBRAHAM
Douglas W. Smith to Alex Kibbe, 29 Pineywood Ave., $265,000. Phyllis Sharon, representative, Sandra B. Clark, estate, and Sandra Ann Clark, estate, to Joseph S. Fusco, 2205 Boston Road, Unit D-38, $267,500.
WILLIAMSBURG
Robert M. Barrack, personal representative, Lorraine Carol Barrack, estate, and Lorraine P. Barrack, estate, to Eden Swasey, 2 Judd Lane, $470,000.
Projects
Work from top to bottom, vacuuming straight, overlapping lines; use the crevice tool to get into tight spaces where crumbs like to lurk to eliminate dust, dander, hair, dust mites and other soils, leaving household fabrics looking and smelling fresher.
Purge and clean the medicine cabinet
Estimated time: 30 minutes.
Clogs
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F9
Supplies you’ll need: Trash bags, all-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloths, a non-scratch scrub sponge, an eraser sponge. Cleaning out the medicine cabinet is an easy task with a big payoff, making it a perfect chore to squeeze in between episodes of your favorite binge-watch. Just like with the refrigerator, start by taking everything out, throwing out expired or unused items as you work. Then, use a microfiber cloth and/or a non-scratch scrub sponge and all-purpose cleaner to wipe the interior of the medicine cabinet. Do a second pass as you return items to their storage space, properly disposing of anything that is expired, empty or will not be used. (For tips on safely ditching medications, read here.) Then, make note of any pain
He recommends putting a metal lint sock over the washer’s discharge line to trap debris before it enters your plumbing system and cleaning it out every three to six months.
Abandon chemical drain openers
Put down the bottle of liquid drain opener, please! “The first thing I’ll tell you is, when it comes to any type of clogs, as a plumber, we don’t use any type of chemicals,” Barnes says.
The experts we spoke to agreed that when it comes to clearing a clog, tools designed to open drains are the way to go — chemical drain openers are simply not as effective as augers, plungers and those little zipper-y tools designed to snare hairballs. If you must pour something down a clogged drain, make it boiling water, Boylen says. “Boil a kettle of water and run it slowly down your drain in stages. You would be amazed at what boiling water will do — basically, it will heat up anything that got stuck there because it got cold.” She says this technique is particularly effective on a clogged kitchen sink drain.
One chemical agent that plumbers do recommend is an enzyme-based product called Green Gobbler. “They come in strips that you put down the drain,” Boylen says. “The strips disintegrate, and the enzymes break down
points — items that don’t really belong in the cabinet in the first place, things that you can’t access easily — and find organizing solutions that fit your needs.
Deep clean the grout
Estimated time: 30 to 45 minutes, plus drying time. Supplies you’ll need: a scrub brush and oxygen bleach; or a handheld steam cleaner; or a liquid grout cleaner like X-14. When crazy-making restlessness takes hold, a deep cleaning job that gets the heart pumping
organic matter, like grease or fat or food particles.” Enzymes work slowly, so these products will not offer relief for clogs, but they can help to keep clogs from forming. They are also safe to use in septic systems, unlike other chemical drain openers, which should never be used to clear a pipe that drains into a septic system.
When it comes to clogged pipes, tools & agents
Once you’ve put down the chemical drain openers, it’s time to pick up some tools: a plunger, an auger or one of those little zippy things (technical term).
Plungers: Of course you know about plunging a toilet, but plumbers want you to know that plungers are great for all kinds of clogs — including clogs in sinks, tubs and showers. “I love plungers for sinks because it gets the back pressure and it can get a stubborn clog pulled out,” Boylen says. “For a sink, the old-fashioned round plungers work the best.” When plunging a sink or tub, block the overflow by holding a wet washcloth over the opening. “If you block that overflow and create pressure with the plunger while you’re plunging, it can be very effective on minor clogs,” says Nathan Hudelson, the owner of Schlueter Plumbing. Augers: Drain augers, or drain snakes, are tools designed to remove obstructions from drains. Power augers should only be used by professionals, but hand augers can be a
and the blood flowing is exactly what’s called for — and cleaning the grout will have you working up a sweat. There are three good methods for deep cleaning grout: with slow-acting but gentle oxygen bleach, with a handheld steam cleaner like the Bissell Steam Shot, or with a liquid grout cleaner like X-14. Each method has its pros and cons, but they all work. (Note: X-14 and other commercial liquid grout cleaners do require ventilation.) Just remember that significant drying time is needed to reveal those bright white grout lines, so the payoff won’t be immediate.
Clean up your home office
Estimated time: 45 to 90 minutes.
Supplies you’ll need: trash
useful tool for amateur use — just take care when working with one, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. “We see more problems from hand augers with homeowners than we see things fixed,” Hudelson says. “Of course, maybe they’re not calling us when they fix things with them.”
Zipper snakes: Plastic drain snakes with teeth like a zipper designed to grab hair and other clog-y messes are a fantastic tool for the home plumber. “If it’s a tub or bathroom sink,” Hudelson says, “I always recommend using the zip strip first.”
Consider the plumber
You’ve put down the chemicals, picked up a plunger or a snake and still, the clog persists. At what point do you call a plumber? Boylen says that if you don’t know how to use a snake properly, don’t risk damaging your pipes: “I always say, when in doubt, call a plumber.”
Another thing plumbers would like you to know relates to truth-telling: Do not lie to your plumber — if you poured a chemical drain opener in your pipes, tell the plumber for their safety (they promise you will not get in trouble) — but be aware that your plumber may be willing to lie for you!
Hudelson tells a story about a customer who poured a box of instant mashed potatoes into the sink and ran just enough water to flush them out of the sink basin — but not nearly enough to keep them moving through her
bags, a shredder, microfiber cloths, disinfecting cleaner, cord ties or wraps. Could your home office or workspace use some TLC? (And could you use a break from your family?) Use the downtime of a snow day to set yourself up for success by organizing and cleaning your desk. First thing’s first — throw out or recycle any trash that’s cluttering up the space.
Then, gather all your paperwork and files, and organize or shred them. After clearing off the hard surfaces, dust and disinfect them, paying particular attention to high-touch items like keyboards and telephone handsets. Have the cords taken over? Identify and implement cord management solutions, such as a cable management box, cable clips, or cable sleeves.
plumbing system. “It made mashed potatoes in her pipes,” he says, “all the way down to the basement was completely full of mashed potatoes. I couldn’t open it with an auger because when I put the auger in it, the mashed potatoes would collapse behind it.” The solution was to cut the pipe apart and use a Shop Vac to suck the mashed potatoes out. “She made me promise not to tell her husband. She said: ‘Please don’t write that on the service ticket. Just put the kitchen drain was blocked. I’ll pay the bill.’ So, I did that for her.”
Children and adulterers are the enemy of toilets
Here’s something that would be infuriating if it wasn’t so cute: “For some reason, kids love to throw things in the toilet and watch it go down,” Hudelson says. “So, a lot of the big things we see that stop up toilets are toys. We’ve pulled out stuffed animals, Matchbox cars, Superman.” Poor Superman. Children’s toys aren’t the only playthings that find their way into toilets. “Of course, we found sex toys down in there,” Barnes says, listing other oddball finds that include deodorant and tiny cups used for gargling mouthwash. And the oddest objects they found? “We found about 150 condoms that were stuck in the toilet,” he says, “and it was just the woman and her husband that lived there.” Can you guess the sordid punch line? “Her husband doesn’t use condoms.”
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