Air plants can be displayed any which way
These quirky little plants do not require soil
By Jessica Damiano Associated Press
LET ME INTRODUCE
you to air plants, members of the Tillandsia genus in the Bromeliad family.
I first became acquainted with Tillandsia circa 2007, when I was invited to tour the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World in Florida. The larger-thanlife Disney character topiaries were blanketed in flowers, succulents, ivy, moss — and a variety of air plants. I was amazed by them.
The quirky little curiosities, which are related to pineapples, are native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, where — instead of growing in soil — they cling to trees, rocks and even buildings without parasitizing or harming their hosts. Since they do not have roots, air plants depend on specialized cells called trichomes that allow their leaves to absorb moisture and nutrients.
Sun exposure
Air plants require bright, indirect light, so should be placed near an east- or west-facing window, but not directly in front of it. Direct sunlight can scorch their leaves.
Watering
In homes with average humidity levels, soak air plants once a week by placing them in a bowl of room-temperature water for 30-60 minutes; in homes with dry air, more frequent soaking may be necessary.
Gently shake the plants to remove excess water, then place them upside-down on a towel to drip dry for several hours. This last step is essential to prevent water from pooling in the plant’s leaves, which can result in rot.
[Air plants] cling to trees, rocks and even buildings without parasitizing or harming their hosts.
It’s always best to allow tap water to sit for 12-24 hours to allow chlorine to dissipate before watering any plant, and air plants are especially sensitive to the chemical.
Fertilizing
Add an all-purpose houseplant, bromeliad or orchid fertilizer to the soaking water once a month to provide nutrients. Apply at half the rate recommended on the package.
Life cycle
Air plants bloom only once, their small pink, coral, purple or white flowers signaling their impending death. But no worries: The flowers will give way to offshoots, or “pups,” that can be separated into new plants once they grow to about one-third the size of their mother.
So many choices
There are more than 500 species of air plants to choose from. Notable species include the well-known Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), which is often found hanging from large trees in tropical and subtropical regions. In the home, it’s best grown in a humid environment, such as a bathroom.
Tillandsia ionantha, or sky plant, is a shaggy-looking specimen with green bracts that turn pink or purple at their tips before flowering.
Tillandsia caput-medusae is named for its resemblance to the snake-haired head of
Medusa, of Greek myth. The plant is beloved for its long, wavy leaves that grow upward from a bulbous base.
Perhaps the most unique species of Tillandsia is the tendrilled Xerographic air plant (T. xerographica).
Known as the King of Air Plants, it can grow up to 2 feet wide. The plant’s long, thin silver leaves curl downward to produce an overall spherical shape that distinguishes it from other air plants.
Display your Tillandsia
You can display your air plants in practically any spot that provides the required light exposure and good air circulation.
Inside open-topped glass globes or terrariums are popular display options, but you can also place the plants inside seashells or on rocks. You can even create a suspended Tillandsia garden by hanging several plants from fishing lines.
You might affix them to driftwood with wire or glue for a more nature-inspired display. Or grow them inside hanging frames.
Working within the parameters of the plant’s needs, you are limited only by your imagination.
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.
Above, this image provided by Air Plant Hub shows a Tillandsia caput-medusae air plant in Vacaville, Calif. Below, a Tillandsia xerographica air plant. Cover photo: An image provided by Air Plant Hub shows a Tillandsia ionantha air plant. (PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL
| In the Garden
LET’S SIT BACK AND ponder one of the wonders of plant life. Mycorrhiza, to be specific. Wait! Don’t stop reading! Sure, the word “mycorrhiza” appears intimidating. But mycorrhiza are important in your garden, in the forest, to your trees and shrubs, maybe even to your houseplants.
First, the pronunciation. Say: my-ko-RY-za. It sounds nicer than it looks.
Now let’s take the word apart to see what it means. “Myco” comes from the Greek word meaning “fungus” and “rhiza” from the word meaning “root.” Mycorrhiza, then, is a “fungus-root,” an association between a plant root and a fungus so intimate that the pair has been given a name as if it
was a single organism.
The association is symbiotic, beneficial to both parties. One end of the fungus infects a plant root, while the rest of the long, threadlike body of the fungus ramifies through the soil. Nutrients are absorbed from the soil by those fine fungal threads and pumped back to the plant. The result: mycorrhizal plants can draw nutrients and water from a greater volume of soil than can non-mycorrhizal plants, and plant nutrition is improved. To cite one practical demonstration of this benefit, agricultural scientists in California found that the presence of mycorrhiza was equivalent to the addition of more than one hundred pounds of phosphorus fertilizer per acre on citrus trees.
The mycorrhizal association might be termed a balanced parasitism; the fungus does exact payment for its services. Carbohydrates are, literally, the fuel of life, and though mycorrhizal fungi are adept at drawing minerals from the soil, they can’t make their own carbohydrates.
So, these fungi draw carbohydrates from their host plants, who can make it. In plants, sunlight fuels the photosynthetic reaction of carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen. Not all fungi are mycorrhizal. Non-mycorrhizal fungi get their carbohydrates by either eating living things without returning the favor, in which case they are called parasites.
microscopic photo of a blueberry root with a cell infected by a beneficial fungus.
GARDEN NOTES
SPRINGFIELD 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
Reich
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3
Others eat once-living organisms such as wood, leaves, and dead animals, in which case the fungi are called saprophytes. Some fungi feed on either or both the living and the dead.
Mycorrhiza are almost ubiquitous on the earth. Walk through the woods in spring or fall and most of the mushrooms you see on the forest floor are the reproductive structures of mycorrhizal fungi, periodically popping up through the ground to spread spores. Below ground, these mushrooms are connected to nearby tree roots by fine fungal threads.
The plant known as Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora) offers an eerie signal of the presence of mycorrhizae below ground. This plant, with one nodding flower, is thoroughly white, lacking any chlorophyll with which it could use sunlight to fuel its growth. Instead, its roots tap into a specific mycorrhizal fungus whose underground threads are also tapped into the roots of a nearby tree. Indian pipes is a parasite; it takes from the
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
fungus and the tree, offering nothing in return.
Mushrooms are formed only by certain types of mycorrhizal fungi. Most mycorrhizal fungi are not so obvious, working unobtrusively in association with the roots of the vegetables and flowers in your garden, your lawn, shrubs, and trees.
The gourmet’s truffle is the underground reproductive structure of one type of mycorrhizal fungus.
Most plants on our planet are infected with mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza are absent only in special situations such as in the acidic, nutrient-poor spoils left from mining operations, in agricultural soils that have been sterilized to kill pests, and in sterilized potting soil in flowerpots.
Certain plants never become infected cabbage, spinach, buckwheat, and their relatives, for example.
The importance of mycorrhiza is not diminished by their ubiquity. Mycorrhiza is a general term, and not all mycorrhiza are equal.
A plant may be mycorrhizal, but perhaps not with the most effective species of mycorrhizal fungus or, perhaps, not enough of them.
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/spring
fieldgardenclub or visit them on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/ SpringfieldMAGardenClub/
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.
Are you struggling to sleep? Your pillow might be the problem
Pillows aren’t a one-size-fits-all item
By Stacey C olino The Washington Post
MOST PEOPLE REALIZE that mattress quality can affect how well they sleep. Pillow quality doesn’t always get the same consideration, but it should. Research has found that the right pillow can determine whether you have a good night of slumber, or one spent in discomfort.
This isn’t surprising, says sleep specialist Michael Breus, founder of SleepDoctor.com and author of the book “Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health.”
“The pillow is like a bed for your head,” he says. But “people don’t think about the equipment as much as they do the process,” he adds. “Sleep is a performative activity, and equipment matters for performance. Pillows are an important purchase.”
Pillows aren’t a one-size-fits-all item, though, making it tricky to find the sweet spot for your comfort. Experts say it’s critical to choose one that keeps your head, neck and spine in a healthy alignment. Beyond that, it’s a matter of personal preference, which can depend on many factors, including your sleep position and a pillow’s loft (or thickness) and firmness.
As far as comfort goes, pillow technology has evolved considerably in recent years. Gone are the days when the choice of filling was limited to down, cotton or feathers. You can buy pillows
filled with a down alternative (such as polyester or plant-based fibers), memory foam, latex or buckwheat hulls. “You may need to try several options before you find the perfect fit,” says Sean Wilging, a physical therapist with Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
In addition to the traditional pillow sizes (standard, queen, king or squareshaped Euro style), there are specialty pillows — such as neck (or cervical) pillows, body pillows, wedge pillows, knee pillows and pregnancy pillows — available to address specific health issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find your optimal pillow — and how to care for it once you find it.
Identify your preference for plushness
In other words, determine whether you gravitate toward squishy or firm pillows, Breus says. Having this info can help you start to narrow down what type of fill to look for. Down, feather and cotton pillows tend to be on the soft side, while memory-foam and latex pillows are firmer. Buckwheat pillows typically have a grainy texture.
If you don’t use dustmite-proof covers, the American Cleaning Institute recommends washing pillows at least four times per year.
Consider your initial sleep position “It doesn’t matter if you switch positions during the night,” Breus says — your starting sleep position should guide your pillow choice. If you start out sleeping on your side, you’ll want a thicker, firmer, high-loft pillow that keeps your nose in line with your sternum (or breastbone), Breus says. If you usually sleep on your back, a thinner, low-to-medium loft pillow can help your spine stay in a healthy position. And if you sleep on your stomach — which isn’t recommended because this position can strain your spine and neck — choose a pillow with a short height to avoid having your neck extended while it’s rotated, Wilging says.
SEE PILLOWS, PAGE F10
Mulching, fertilization, irrigation, chemical use and other gardening and agricultural practices alter the types and amounts of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. Rototilling or turning over the ground, as you might imagine, disrupts those fungal threads. Except for high fertility, what’s good for plants — plenty of soil organic matter, growing plants, good aeration, adequate moisture — is also generally good for mycorrhizae.
Old-time gardeners would throw a handful of soil from an old apple tree into the planting hole for a new apple tree. A crude form of mycorrhizal inoculation?
Agricultural researchers have tried to quantify why plants respond to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi at one site, and not another. Which are the best fungi? What affects them?
Recent research has shown that improved nutrition is only the most obvious effect of mycorrhiza. The mycorrhizal association also influences plant response to stresses such as drought, insects, and diseases.
As you might imagine, mycorrhizal fungi have been commercialized, available as inoculants or premixed into packaged potting soils. Under certain conditions, this might be beneficial. In many situations, it’s like “taking coals to Newcastle.” Usually, create conditions conducive to mycorrhizal formation, and a beneficial symbiosis will develop.
For my research as a graduate student, I studied the effect of, among other things, mycorrhizae in blueberry soils. Even my plants grown in sterilized soils in a greenhouse became mycorrhizal, which, while messing up that aspect of my experiment, did highlight how ubiquitous the association can be without the human hand.
If you want to lend your hand to the mycorrhizal association, you could actually extract and grow your own mycorrhizal inoculum. Read how and learn all about mycorrhizae in Jeff Lowenfels’ book Teaming with Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae. At any rate, mycorrhiza is a fascinating demonstration of ecology, the interrelationship of organisms on the earth.
Yellow wedge pillow designed for comfort in various settings, ideal for use in bed or while seated on a chair. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
A pillow with organic buckwheat hulls. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
19th-century paperweights were often works of art
WHAT CITIES come to mind when you think of glassmaking?
Venice, Italy? Waterford, Ireland? Sandwich, Massachusetts? How about Millville, New Jersey? Millville had a thriving glass industry by the 1860s. Many glassworkers were immigrants, familiar with techniques like lampworking and millefiori that had been practiced around the Mediterranean for hundreds of years.
Working in the Millville factories, they developed and experimented with new techniques, often by making paperweights. These paperweights were not production items; glassworkers made them on their own time to try out techniques or to sell or give to friends and family. They were part folk art, part glass art.
The most famous design was the “Millville rose,” which had a realistic-looking rose with crimped petals and leaves inside the clear glass ball. Another design, made by pulling chips of colored glass, is said to be inspired by a lily flower, but is today called the “umbrella.” The two paperweight inkwells pictured here, which sold together for $256 at Alderfer Auction Company, have the umbrella design.
Q. We have about 50 butter molds and stamps, mostly wooden, collected over the last 60 or so years that we would like to donate to a museum, hopefully in Northeastern Ohio. Are you aware of any that feature these and would like additional items for their collection?
A. We do not know of any specific museums that will accept a butter mold collection, but you can check The Official Museum Directory, published by the American Association of Museums, to find out about museum collections. Your local library, historical society
their famous lithograph prints from 1857 to 1907. They have been reproduced many times since then. Check the size of your print. Currier & Ives prints were originally made in specific sizes. They could be very small (up to 7 x 9 inches), small (8 4/5 x 12 4/5 inches), medium (9 x 14 inches to 14 x 20 inches), and larger. Other sizes are usually later reproductions. Sometimes, original prints are trimmed to different sizes, which lowers their value. There are many books on Currier & Ives prints that can help you identify and value yours. Look for them at your library. A dealer who specializes in prints or books may be able to help you authenticate yours by its coloring, paper and printing method.
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. Majolica, jardiniere, embossed fruits, multicolor, mottled brown ground, goat’s mask handles, three paw feet, England, 1800s, 11 x 10 inches, $30. Sabino, bowl, Coquilles, opalescent glass, molded clam shells around exterior base, four-footed, 2 x 5 inches. $95. Clock, shelf, E. Ingraham, mahogany case, steeple, four posts with peaked finials, frosted lower door, stylized flower bouquet, paper label, 19 1/2 inches, $100.
or a local museum may have access; or you can contact the directory online at www. officialmuseumdirectory. com. A museum that specializes in folk art, agriculture, local history or early American history may be interested in your collection, especially in a region with a history of farming or dairy industry. A university with an agriculture department or folk-art collection could be another option.
Q. I like to collect cat figurines. We bought this pottery one at a flea market, most likely $5 to $10. Recently, I decided to find out about the signature on the bottom and was surprised to discover that it might be a collectible by Fantoni. I’ve noticed his other animal and human figurines and vases have square heads. Since this has pointed ears, I wonder if it’s a fake.
A. Italian ceramicist Marcello Fantoni, known as “the master of beauty,” started his ceramics studio in 1936 and
kept working into the 2000s. Some of his best-known midcentury pieces were made for the import company Raymor. We have seen a similar cat figure with pointed ears attributed to Fantoni, but we think you’re right to be skeptical. There are many fake Fantoni pieces with convincing-looking marks on the market. It is extremely difficult to recognize pottery fakes from photos alone. Some of the best clues, like the weight of the piece or the texture of the clay or glaze, must be experienced in person.
An auction house that specializes in modern design and has experience with Fantoni pieces, like Wright, Rago, Toomey & Co. or Palm Beach Modern Auctions may have more information and identification advice. If your cat is a genuine Fantoni figure, it may be worth about $200. If it is a copy, its value is closer to $50.
Q. I have a color print by Currier & Ives. How can I tell if it is an original?
A. Currier & Ives made
TIP: If using a glass shelf to display a paperweight collection, be sure it is strong enough. The ideal size is 18 inches long, 4 inches deep, 1/4 inch thick. Paperweights are very heavy, and collectors tend to add “just one more,” which overloads the shelf. Glass will become more brittle and break with age.
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.
Folk art, birdfeeder, figural, house, Dutch Colonial style, porch, windows, red chimneys, hinged roof, wood, metal tag, Henry Mayster, c. 1981, 19 x 43 x 27 inches, $185. Lamp, electric, Balmer, Brutalist, steel base, abstract, metal plinth, painted, black, Laurel Lamp Mfg. Co., c. 1970, 42 inches, $210.
Paper, ticket, Grand Ballon Captif, hot air balloon, 50 centimes, cancellation stamp, Paris, 1879, $415. Poster, Nina Simone, M. Morton Hall, January 15, Martin Luther King Day, Kennedy Center, glossy cardstock, 1979, 29 x 23 inches, $570. Furniture, chair set, Anders Jensen, teak, curved rail, four spindles, upholstered seat, tapered legs, marked, Holstebro, Denmark, 39 1/2 inches, six pieces, $1,125.
Jewelry, necklace, Navajo, turquoise, squash blossom, pendant, 10 blossoms, beaded chain, silver, signed, Henry Sam, late 20th century, 26 inches, $1,185. Political, program, Illinois Rally For Civil Rights, I Cared I Was There, Martin Luther King, Jr. photograph, June 21, 1964, trifold, 18 x 8 inches, $1,300.
These paperweight inkwells demonstrate the unique glassmaking styles of Millville, New Jersey, and showcase the skill and creativity of their glassworkers. (ALDERFER AUCTION COMPANY)
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in US hits 7%
Rate marks fifth straight increase and highest level since May
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. ticked up this week to slightly above 7%, the highest level in eight months.
The rate rose to 7.04% from 6.93% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.6%. It has risen for five straight
Deeds
AGAWAM
Gina M. Maloney, representative, Betty A. Manchino, estate, and Betty Ann Manchino, estate, to Michael Curran, 4 Corey Colonial, Unit 4, $250,000.
Jackie YK Tang and Xueling Luo Tang to Chenghao Xu and Shiling Wu, 322-326 Springfield St., $358,000.
Laura A. Marcoux to Bradley Montanez, 162 Mallard Circle, $375,000.
Nga T Kieu to Lockhouse Development LLC, 315 Regency Park Drive, $195,000.
Patrick A. Ganieany to Lockhouse Development LLC, 241 Regency Park Drive, $146,000.
Pine Crossing Construction Inc., to Timothy Moenk and Eva Moenk, 121 Villa Drive, Unit 41, $510,000.
Serg W. Abramchuck and Serg W. Abramchuk to Stephen Grabowski, 21 Line St., $280,000.
Silver Snake Properties LLC, to Matthew Spinale and James Falcon, 397 Southwick St., $380,000.
Wayne J. Buzzee, trustee, Susan Buzzee, trustee, Snickers Trust, trustee of, and Suzi Buzzee, trustee, to Lockhouse Development LLC, 145 Regency Park, $159,000.
WMass Properties LLC, to Takiah S. Helton, 165 Regency Park, Unit 165, $155,700.
Wynter E. Manyak to Getuar Preniqi, 80 Corey Colonial, Unit 80, $245,000.
AMHERST
Susan Pearson to Joshua Arnold, 846 East Pleasant St., $915,000.
Snell Baker LLC, to Dudleys View LLC, 21 Baker St., $700,000.
weeks.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixedrate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also rose this week. The average rate increased to 6.27% from 6.14% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.76%, Freddie Mac said.
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 4.61% as
30 North East Street LLC, to Sarah Cowls Mountain View LLC, 30 North East St., $800,000.
29 Strong Street LLC, to Ballet School LLC, 29 Strong St., $750,000.
Nathan A. Treloar to James E. Sarris, 25 Greenleaves Drive, $305,000.
Mosaic Real Estate Amherst LLC, to 169 Meadow Street LLC, 169 Meadow St., $654,481.
Seth H. Yablans, personal representative, Robyn M. Levy, personal representative, and Stanley J. Rabinowitz, estate, to Pleasant Hill Apartments LLC, 98 East Pleasant St., and 98 E. Pleasant St., $432,500.
ASHFIELD
Domenic C. Cimino and Karen A. Sullivan to Cynthia Feiker and Frederick C. Feiker, 30 Smith Road, $570,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Lindsay A. Hoadley to Bryan Castro and Emma Bodamer, 39 South Main St., $298,000.
DRC Firearms & Shooting Training LP., and Daniel Ciejka, general partner, to Christopher Elias, Michael Sears Road, $100.
Milky Way Realty Inc., to Crystal Spring Enterprises LLC, Harris Way and 147 Bay Road, $100.
BRIMFIELD
Jason Almy to Nicole M. Look and Eric R. Matland, 7 Knollwood Road, $350,000.
CHARLEMONT
Susan L. Knight and Thomas Knight Jr., to Andrew B. Nitschke and Maryelizabeth L. Nitschke, 144
of midday Thursday.
The elevated mortgage rates, which can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, have discouraged home shoppers, prolonging a national home sales slump that began in 2022.
While sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November for the second straight month, the housing market was on track to end 2024 as its worst year for sales since 1995. Fullyear home sales data are due out next week.
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since
Avery Brook Road, $365,000.
CHICOPEE
Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to John Syper and Marta Syper, 50-52 Sherman Ave., $268,500.
Elaine J. Labbe, trustee, and Trudel Family Trust, trustee of, to Christopher T. Doyle, 68 Colonial Circle, Unit B, $190,000.
Jessica Dahlquist to William Stetson and Urszula Stetson, 16 Walton St., $299,950.
Joseph J. Bye Jt., to Danielle Laporte, 23 Fairview Village Court, Unit 7, $345,000.
Nicola DiFilippo and Maria Mancuso to Procon Group LLC, 685-689 James St., $550,000.
Steven M. Gutkowski and Alicia A. Gutkowski to Enid M. Swienton, 5 Gonet St., $470,000.
CUMMINGTON
Joy M. Johns to Anwyn Dickinson, Trow Road, $100.
Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB, trustee, Stanwich Mortgage Loan Trust and Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, attorney-in-fact, to Andrew Liebenow and David Poindexter, 54 Lilac Ave., $176,000.
DEERFIELD
Judith L. Kuzdeba and Peter M. Kuzdeba, trustees of the Peter M. Kuzdeba & Judith L. Kuzdeba Joint Revocable Trust, to Jennifer E. Healy and Jesse D. Hunsicker, Cross Street, $150,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
C & S Partnership LLC, to 108 Shaker Road LLC, 108 Shaker Road,
May 9, when it was at 7.09%.
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 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.
$1,200,000.
Michael Kane to Dina A. Lukina, 24 Favorite Lane, $277,000.
Willard Brown III, and Mary D. Brown to Quercus Properties LLC, 8 Ainslie Drive, $320,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Margaret M. Ryan to Alpi Properties Inc., 26 South St., $260,000. New England Remodeling General Contractors Inc., to James T. Jewitt and Amy L. Jewitt, 74 Leadmine Road and 40 Mineral St., $391,000.
Ronald A. Perrier, trustee, Simone B. Perrier, trustee, and Perrier Family Living Trust to Michael J. Greene and Carol J. Greene, 22 Chapin St., $387,000.
Harriet M. Carlson to Erica A. Carlson, 2 Chantel Court, $100.
GILL
Nicole A. Gaspar, “fka” Nicole A. Coombs, and Paul G. Gaspar to Shari Louise Sollars, 143 Barney Hale Road, $290,000.
GRANBY
Mary I-K Sambrook to Richard Nye, 44 Granby Heights, $261,000.
GRANVILLE
Charlcy G. Oleksak to Weatherwax LLC, 614 Main Road, $180,000.
GREENFIELD
Parody Builders LLC, to Rohan J. Providence, 108 James St., $275,000.
David C. Brooks, trustee of the Jen and Bob Family Trust, to Benegan 2 LLC, 35 Mill St., $199,900.
In-Town Self Storage LLC, to Silver Place LLC, 17-19 Silver Place,
$313,000.
Joyce Thibodo to Marcus Magee and Melanie Magee, 194 Briar Way, Unit 4B, Briar Knoll Townhouse Condominium, $236,000.
Teresa A. Podlesney to Elisabeth Cary Sheldon and John I. Sheldo, 8 Marshall St., $302,000.
HAMPDEN
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Yabela Realty Trust, trustee of, to Benjamin R. Rislove and Andrea Rislove, 66 Forest Hills Road, $595,000.
William Brown and Henry Brown to Daniel R. Brown and Paul A. Devries, 131 Glendale Road, $175,000.
HATFIELD
Joanne H. Huyler and Mark T. Huyler to Minh Le and Lizbeth Torres, 36 Depot Road, $498,000.
119 Real Estate LLC, to Zachary D. Vollinger, 27 Elm St., $345,000.
HOLYOKE
Albert G. Lehmann to William Raleigh, 19-21 Thomas Ave., $50,000. Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to Equity Trust Co., custodian, Robert Lareau IRA, and Robert Lareau, 109-111 Brown Ave., $160,000.
Michael J. McClellan and Melissa-Ann E. McLellan to Cameron M. Asselin and Corinne L. Asselin, 41 Arthur St., $280,000.
Patrick D. Mulvaney and Jessica S. Redfern to Blase Anna Provitola and Blase Provitola, 8 Orchard St., $317,000.
Legacy Property Investment Group LLC, to Royal Vibe Homes LLC, 428 Maple St., $950,000.
Deeds
LONGMEADOW
Neva L. Frumkin to Yossi Chait, 17 Westmoreland Ave., $100.
Vini E. Carrillo and Jennifer M. Carrillo to Jeanermy Hernandez and Nashalice Veguilla Diodonet, 50 Sunet Lane, $290,000.
Yong Il Han, Jonathan Yong Han and Jean Ahn to Victoria Lauro Wright and Timothy Wright, 162 Magnolia Circle, $960,000.
LUDLOW
Christine L. Colucci and Christine L. Vala to Dwight Manganaro and Leeann Manganaro, 10 Alden St., $470,000.
David B. Vieira to Drew Brissette and Jessica Pinto, 260 Woodland Circle, $515,000.
Joseph V. Casagranda and Jennifer M. Casagranda to Steven J. Mastalerz, 15 Adams St., $381,000.
MONSON
Marcia A. Donovan and Robert J. Donovan Sr., to Mary Jo Clavin and Robert Smalser, 74 Cote Road, $238,500.
MONTAGUE
William L. Phillips, trustee of the William L. Phillips Trust, and Donald N. Gagnon to Pacled Properties Inc., 55 Main St., $276,280.48.
Elizabeth Ramlow to Jacob Goldman, 77 Fifth St., $185,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Carl E. Glowatsky and Karen M. Glowatsky to Norwich Properties LLC, 111-113 Hawley St., $385,000.
Robert B. Upham, Joanne L. Sheardy, Richard Sheardy and Irene Upham to Norman W. Rice and Susan H. Rice, 723 Ryan Road, $500,000.
Cindy M. Haseltine, trustee, Cindy Hewes, trustee, Cindy M. Haseltine Living Trust, Cindy M. Haseltine and Cindy Hewes to Brett M. Haseltine, 197 Spring Grove Ave., $250,000.
Rodman Capital Group LLC, to Daisy Conway Marquis and Randall Conway, 78 Cahillane Terrace, $355,000.
Barbara Weinberg and Stephanie Maychack to Balaji Belur and Pallavi Bandalli, 267 Locust St., $171,000.
Elizabeth R. Hynes to 98 Pine
Street LLC, 87 Prospect St., $750,000.
Meghan E. McCormick to Noah T. Winer and Sarah Zlotnik, 64 Ridgewood Terrace, $875,000.
Hayes House LLC, to Laura Wright, Chesterfield Road, $2,500.
Patricia A. Mahar and Thomas J. Mahar to Patricia A. Mahar and Patrick J. Diggins, 15 Cloverdale St., $100.
NORTHFIELD
Edward J. Dembek, trustee of the John S. Dembek and Alice R. Dembek Trust, to Tyler Zilinski, 68 Cross Road, $250,000.
Susan B. Finnell and Robin B. Paquette to Erica Kotarski and Jonas Kotarski, 153 Main St., $344,000.
ORANGE
Lorna L. Robichaud to Zanga Development LLC, 53 Cottage St., $245,000.
PALMER
Citadel Projects LLC, to Stephanie Ruocco, 2098 Calkins Road, $411,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Celeste Anne Pelissier to 136 East Street LLC, 136 East St., $350,000.
Michael Dipon to Daniel M. Ouellette and Miranda J. Ouellette, 3 Greenacre Road, $410,000.
Brian W. Scott to James F. Foard Jr., and Michelle K. Foard, 7 Rivercrest Way, $510,000.
Liz Beatrice Lescarbeau, Timothy J. Lescarbeau and Taylor D. Wadsworth to Mariola Rivera and Luis A. Rivera, 16 Central Ave., $274,000.
Vincent Calvanese Jr., and Katrina Barnes to Sheila Mulvaney, 77 Fairview St., $390,000.
Robert J. Schark, personal representative, Katherine Schark, estate, and Katherine Emma Schark, estate, to Jeryl G. Brown and Elana Lopez, 40 Westbrook Road, $358,000.
Alice C. Kennedy to Annmarie Murdzia and Alec Martunas, 35 Pine Grove Drive, $349,900.
SOUTHAMPTON
New England Remodeling General Contractors Inc., to James T. Jewitt and Amy L. Jewitt, 74 Leadmine Road and 40 Mineral St., $391,000.
Dexter G. Sullivan to Lloyd D. Sullivan and Becky A. Sullivan,
29 Lead Mine Road, $250,000.
SOUTHWICK
Deborah I. Sedor to Jalyn Sedor, 16 Renny Ave., $100.
SPRINGFIELD
Adnan Rahim to Jose Urbina, 1211 Page Boulevard, $280,000.
Alison A. Vanderleeden, Alison A. Shewchuk and Erik Vanderleeden to Fehmida Biki and Sufin Aslam, 55 Norman St., $275,000.
Bryon R. Cyr to Carlos David Cruz Rodriguez, 83 Hazen St., $280,000.
Constantin Gellis and Sofia Gellis to Emtay Inc., 64-66 Farragut St., $185,000.
David B. White and Kimberly L. White to Elvis J. Pujols and Bethania Fernandez, 19 Rogers Ave., $239,000.
Eileen M. Mulligan, trustee, and Julia C. Hogan Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Benjamin S. St. Amand and Jessica St. Amand, 14 Hadley St., $300,000.
Ernest F. Skwisz and Linda Durocher to My Sweet Spot LLC, 99 Lyons St., $281,000.
Fannie Mae and Federal National Mortgage Association to Shushmabahen Patel and Yogeshbhai Patel, 68 Fargo St., $320,000.
Maple Springfield Associates Limited Partnership and Maple Springfield Management Corp. to Praveen Devineni, 110 Maple St, $2,025,000.
Jeffrey McDonald to Christopher M. Hopkins, 123 Newhouse St., $319,000.
Kelly A. Ambrogio, representative, and Roger Steven Manahan, estate, to William Lucas and Amber Lucas, 142 Westminster St., $180,000.
Northern Flooring & Remodeling LLC, to Ayotunde Alexandra Akinwande, 151-153 Catharine St., $455,000.
London Realty LLC, to Havenhub LLC, 174 Locust St., $744,681.
Melissa Gallant Miga, trustee, Christine L. Gallant, trustee, and Robert Gallant Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Nehcole Jacqueline Felix and Christopher Mark Hooper, 142 Thompson St., $450,000.
Nhu Ngoc Nguyen, representative, Cuong Huu Nguyen, estate, and Cuong H. Nguyen, estate, to Bethania Market Realty LLC, 2595 Main St., $325,000.
NRES LLC, to Alessandro Malafronte, 63 Grandview St., $249,000.
Peter J. Waltermire and Yolanda
Ramos-Waltermire to Stanley Ortiz-Brown, 72 Maebeth St., $269,000.
RM Blerman LLC, to Casandra Burgos, 165 Laurelton St., $285,000.
Ruth E Pafumi, representative, Joel Walker, estate, and Joel O. Walker, estate, to Daniel Defoe, 887 Berkshire Ave., $300,000.
Springfield City to Springfield City of Homes Development LLC, 18 Highland St., $2,440.
Springfield City to Springfield City of Homes Development LLC, 26 Terrence St., $439.
Springfield City to Springfield City of Homes Development LLC, 524 Union St., $784.
Stephen P. Smedberg to Michael Biasetti and Sara Smedberg, 6 Cornwall St., $240,000.
Sulla M. Silva and Hullyerton Moreira Dias Sales to Pilar A. Peralta Guzman, 123-125 Ranney St., $410,000.
Wesley Blask to Christine Colucci, 65 Cherokee Drive, $310,000.
Xiuyu Ma to Wayne Lawrence, 135 Massasoit St., $129,000.
WARE
Pinto Realty Managers LLC, to Jeff Amazan, 55 North St., $400,000.
Ross C. Pelski to Brian St. Onge and Jolene St. Onge, Walter Drive, $60,000.
WARWICK
Kanin Graton to Emily Graton and Alyksandr Kostecki, 45 Pine St., $210,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Aptly Main St., LLC, to BRVS LLC, 1013-1015 Main St., $1,300,000.
Eric D. Demers and Karen L. Demers to Brian P. Kapinos and Sarah A. Kapinos, 277 Greystone Ave., $469,500.
Irene L. Balise, Robert P. Balise and Andrew P. Balise to Dmitriy V. Sergeychik and Anna Anita Arbuzova, 41 Partridge Lane, $480,000.
John M. McCarthy to Ali Abdraba, 41-43 Hampden St., $315,000. Manchester Enterprise LLC, to Eric Liptak,15 Hazel St., $338,500.
Pearson Way Development Co., and Thomas J. Henshon to Pearson Way LLC, 31 Pearson Way, $100.
Ruth Rivera to Donald Joseph Finamore, 96 Garden St., $315,000. 228 East Main Street LLC, to Panther Dev Westfield LLC, 225
East Main St., $1,300,000.
WESTFIELD
Chapel Street Realty LLC, to GSE Realty LLC, 9-13 Chapel St., $390,000.
Eric Liptak and Emily Liptak to Lindsey E. Malinowski, 24 Rambling Drive, $410,000.
Michael S. Chaloux Jr., to Zachery Hartdegen-Naldrett, 12 Coolidge Ave., $324,900.
Orlando Huertas Jr., and Nadine Huertas to Ian P. Dixon, 37 Summit Drive, $345,000.
Three J. Partners LLC, to River Prop I LLC, 189 Springfield Road, $970,192.
Victor J. Strycharz to Samuel Johnson and Miriam G. Alexander, 4 Old Quarry Road, $400,000. Westfield Oaks LLC, to Oaks Prop I LLC, 404 Southwick Road, $2,154,807.
WESTHAMPTON
David Solomkin and Susanne Marcus to Dawn Elizabeth Perkins and Miguel Jose Pacheco Rosado, 258 Chesterfield Road, $310,000.
Gerald Hinkle to RMC Real Estate LLC, Chesterfield Road, $230,000.
WILBRAHAM
Lisa Manuell, representative, Paul Daniel Pirro, estate, and Paul D. Pirro, estate, to Michael David Pirro, 239 Soule Road, $350,000.
WORTHINGTON
William Chamberlin, personal representative, Guy Mason, estate, and Robert Guy Mason, estate, to Diane M. Reckless and Andrew C. Kauffunger, 585 Kinnebrook Road, $195,000.
The leather on my office chair is peeling. How can I repair it?
By Jeanne Huber
The Washington Post
Q. I have an office chair with bonded leather stitched together. Mechanically, the chair is good shape and could last years. But the leather is worn on the headrest and arms, which are attached by screws. I tried a “leather” tape but that did not look good and did not work for long. How do I make the worn leather look good or at least not worn away?
A. Leather-care companies sell a variety of products designed to mend tears, fill cracks, add color to what sunlight faded or restore the suppleness of leather upholstery, whether on office chairs or couches. But your chair has “bonded” leather upholstery. Also known as reconstituted leather and composition leather, bonded leather is a faux product made by spreading a mixture of shredded leather and a binder over a fiber or paper backing. Bonded leather is often far less durable than natural leather. Even if you hadn’t mentioned the type of
Pillows
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F6
Factor health considerations into your choice
upholstery on your chair, the picture you sent shows that it’s not the kind of leather that grew as the skin of an animal, according to a woman who answers customer inquiries for Furniture Clinic, which sells repair products for furniture components made of leather, fabric and wood.
“Animal skins can crack,” she said. “This is peeling.” Products the company sells for repairing leather might work to repair a small cut or a cigarette burn on bonded leather. But they will not repair a large area where faux leather has peeled away from its backing, she said. Because bonded leather is man-made and produced in different ways using different manufacturing processes and ingredients, there is no way to give repair advice that would work on all bonded leather or even the types used for upholstery. Bonded leather is also found in luggage, clothing, shoes, purses and other accessories.
To repair your chair or at least make it look better, you need to find something that sticks, can be tinted or painted, and remains flexible enough so the patch stays intact. It’s a big
Some pillows are designed to address specific health needs. If you have chronic neck pain, for example, choose a neck or cervical pillow that has a divot in the middle to support and elevate the neck while cradling the head, Breus says. “You cannot get into deep sleep when your neck is in pain,” he adds.
Compact pillows designed to be placed between the knees can reduce pressure on the hips and legs while you’re sleeping. These can also be helpful for people “with low back pain who may benefit from a pillow placed between the knees to minimize lower back curvature,” says Sudha Tallavajhula, a sleep medicine physician at UTHealth Houston. Wedge pillows placed under the head may help with snoring and
challenge, made even more complex because binders for bonded leather range from natural rubber to polyurethane, a plastic.
The website vonbaer.com, which sells leather accessories, suggests strategies that might work when faux leather peels. First, gently hand-sand the damaged area to remove any loose bits of upholstery. Use fine-grit sandpaper and work in a circular motion with a light touch so you don’t damage the backing. Avoid sanding beyond the damaged area. Wipe away the debris.
Then, according to the blog post by Von Baer co-founder Albert Varkki, there are five things you can try to recolor the damaged area: a permanent marker, shoe polish, acrylic leather paint, leather filler or nail polish. For the paint, the blog post suggests Angelus acrylic leather paint ($29.95 on Amazon). For leather filler, it suggests Arcssai leather and vinyl repair kits ($19.90 on Amazon).
For a good color match, you may need to go over the area multiple times with a marker, shoe polish or paint. And there are cautions: Shoe polish
Down, feather and cotton pillows tend to be on the soft side, while memory-foam and latex pillows are firmer. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
congestion. People with allergies or asthma might want to try hypoallergenic pillows, says Tallavajhula, which resist the growth of bacteria, mold and other allergy triggers.
Pregnant people may benefit from using a pregnancy pillow, which typically has an elongated C- or U-shape that contours to the entire body, Breus says. “Placing the lower section of the pillow between the legs can help reduce pressure on the knees and spine.”
might rub off and stain clothes. Paint is likely to peel, so plan on redoing it periodically. Nail polish dries fast and can be difficult to clean up if you apply too much. Whatever you try, treat a small area first, let that dry, then decide whether to repair the whole damaged area the same way. For the most accurate color match, work where you have natural daylight.
For real leather upholstery, peeling won’t be an issue. But you might want to clean the leather, repair tears, make scuffs or scratches less noticeable, or restore color that’s faded. You can find recipes online for homemade leather cleaner — half water, half white vinegar plus sometimes a little clear hand dishwashing detergent — but it’s probably safer to buy a leather cleaner. (Furniture Clinic’s version is $11.95 for 8.5 ounces.)
To mend small holes or tears, you need a patch, but you don’t want to glue it on top of the tear — that would look obvious and ugly. Instead, stuff it through the tear and smooth it in place under the leather using tweezers or another tool.
Then apply adhesive to the cut edge to seal the cut and
And pregnant or not, if you tend to get hot while you’re sleeping, “you may find that [pillows with] feather or synthetic filling have a cooler feeling, while foam materials tend to be warmer,” Wilging says.
Practice good pillow care
Proper care can maximize the lifespan of your pillow. “Be sure to change out or wash pillows every so often,” Wilging says, “because pillows can trap dust and other allergens that may affect your nasal passages while you’re sleeping.”
If you don’t use dust-mite-proof covers, the American Cleaning Institute recommends washing pillows at least four times per year. Consult the manufacturer’s care instructions on how to clean your pillow. Recommendations vary depending on the pillow’s materials and construction.
Know when to replace your pillow
“It’s time to replace your pillow
bond it to the patch. This way, the patched cut is not anchored; it will move with the leather and stay intact as people use the furniture.
You can buy a kit such as Furniture Clinic’s leather repair kit ($19.95), or improvise by using a fabric scrap and an adhesive such as Loctite vinyl, fabric and plastic flexible adhesive ($3.98 at Lowe’s), as suggested on a YouTube video. It’s worth watching the video to see the process even if you buy a kit made for patching leather. One advantage of the leather-repair kit: It comes with colorant and small vials to tweak the color to match your furniture.
To make scuffs and scratches on real leather less noticeable, the process depends on how deep the damage is. To make scuffs and worn areas blend in, rub on a colored paste, such as Furniture Clinic’s leather re-coloring balm ($29.95 for 250 milliliters). To fill scratches, you need a flexible leather filler, such as Furniture Clinic’s flexifil ($11.95 for 50ml). If the cracks are deep enough to feel when you run a hand over them, apply leather binder ($17.95 for 8.5 ounces) first, then the filler.
when it no longer supports your head and neck in an aligned position,” Wilging says. “If you find your head and neck tilting forward, backward or to the side in a major way, it’s time to buy a new pillow.” The same is true if the pillow develops irregular clumping, deep impressions or unpleasant odors — or if you’ve changed your sleep position. Replacement time may come sooner than you expect. “Pillows should be replaced a lot more often than they are — between 18 and 24 months for down or natural fill,” says Breus. “The structural integrity degrades quickly.” By contrast, memory foam pillows can last for up to three years.
Think of it this way: “You sleep every single night for hours and hours. The pillow is an important purchase,” Breus says. “It’s a small thing that can make a big difference,” he adds — both in the quality of your shuteye and how you feel the next day.
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