10 ways to get a better outdoor space without spending a lot of money
By D ina C heney
The Washington Post
OUTDOOR SPACES
are often treated like afterthoughts, but they should get top billing this time of year. The good news: You don’t need much effort — or a ton of money — to spruce yours up. “Even one little settee with a couple of colorful pillows can make a huge impact,” said Gideon Mendelson, the founder and creative director of Mendelson Group in New York. Here’s how to freshen up your piece of the outdoors, whether it’s a balcony, deck, terrace, patio or yard.
Clean up
It’s much easier to see your space’s potential when it’s clean and clutter-free. Start by weeding out unnecessary stuff
(pun intended). Sell or donate that bike you’re no longer using (maybe you’ll even earn some money you can put toward this project). Prune and deadhead any plants you plan to keep. Then give the area a good cleaning. Rent or borrow a power washer to remove dirt and mildew from surfaces, said Tamara Belt, the founder and owner of Hawthorne Garden Design in Washington.
Make a floor plan
Planning your space won’t cost a dime, but the result — a more polished look — is priceless. Figure out whether you’ll use the area for gardening, reading or hosting. Then “get measuring tape and create a floor plan,” Peter Dunham, the principal at Peter Dunham & Associates in Los Angeles,
said in an email. He recommends cutting out pieces of paper to represent a couch, table and other key elements, then rearranging them to help you decide on a layout. “Treat outdoor spaces as you would indoor party venues,” Dunham added. “Create areas that promote togetherness and conversation, even on a small scale.”
Add screening
Protect yourself from the sun with a tabletop or freestanding umbrella. Or if you’re craving privacy, try a lattice panel with climbing plants, a row of containers filled with tall plants, or a decorative metal screen, like the Evergreen decorative privacy panel By DESIGN-VU ($150.79 from Wayfair). To help disguise utility panels or a grimy exterior, try an artificial living wall, such as the 31-inch faux foliage hedge By Primrue ($172.99 from Wayfair).
Dress up the floor
Covering a cracked cement or worn wood floor surface doesn’t have to be an expensive project. Ikea makes interlocking, removable deck tiles, RUNNEN, which are a snap to install and don’t require tools or adhesives. They come in wood, artificial grass or plastic that simulates wood, and range in price from $20 to $60 for nine square feet. (If you’re in a rental, check your lease to make sure they’re permitted.) Soften up hard flooring surfaces with a natural fiber or patterned indoor-outdoor pick, such as the Lattice indoor/ outdoor rug from Rugs.com ($309 for a 10-by-14-foot rug)
Use what you have
Chances are, you have stuff around the house that you can repurpose or refinish to use outside. “You can re-stain wood furniture — it’s a weekend project,” Belt said. “It may sound overwhelming, but once you get the supplies, it’s inexpensive.” Several years ago, she and her daughter revived an old wrought iron rocking chair with a coat of lime green
spray paint. Or you can simply refresh your outdoor furniture, which is even easier. Buy a set of new cushions for a tired outdoor couch or use a colorful tablecloth to hide stains on a table. “Dress up simple outdoor sets from Target or Ikea with beautiful block printed tablecloths (my favorite finds are on Etsy),” Ariel Okin, the founder of Ariel Okin Interiors in New York, said in an email. Fun, stylish picks include H & M’s Turquoise/Floral water-repellent cotton tablecloth ($29.99 for a 55-by-126-inch cloth), or — for a bit of a splurge — the Morris & Co. x Williams Sonoma outdoor fruit tablecloth ($89.95 for a 70-by-108-inch cloth).
Shop secondhand
“Don’t jam [your space] up with lots of things — it’s not relaxing if there’s too much going on,” Belt said. But if you need (or want!) additional furniture or accessories, source
them from vintage shops, eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Not only will you save money, you’ll avoid a sterile, generic feel. “I like outdoor space to look eclectic, not like I just bought a furniture set,” Mendelson said.
Choose your planters wisely
If you’re going to splurge on something, Belt said, planters are the place to do it. A set of coordinated vessels will help create a cohesive look, and higher quality materials, like ceramic, tend to last longer.
Budget $300 to $500 for these pots, preferably in two or three different heights.
Also consider adding some small hanging planters for extra lushness. And be leery of self-watering pots, Belt said. The name is misleading; you still have to water the plants. Plus, water can pool on the bottom, leaving your plants vulnerable to root rot.
A hanging chair adds whimsy to this space by Colorado-based Annie Obermann, Forge & Bow. (CHRISTA TIPPMANN PHOTOGRAPHY)
Cover photo: On the porch of his Long Island home, Gideon Mendelson of Mendelson Group included teak seating, a metal mirror and console table, a ceramic garden stool, and vintage gears. (ERIC PIASECKI)
A privacy screen can help carve out a space for solitude, as in this design by Tamara Belt of Hawthorne Garden Design in Washington. (JEN PACKARD)
Lee Reich | In the Garden
‘No Mow May’
THE MONTH OF May has ended, as has “No Mow May.”
If you’ve never heard of “No Mow May,” it’s the rallying cry of a movement that began in the U.K., suggesting that all of us who nurture greenswards abandon our efforts for the month of May. In so doing, habitat and food, in the form of early blooming wildflowers such as dandelions, clover, creeping Charlie, and violets, would become more available to early season pollinating insects.
Let’s dive deeper into what “No Mow May” accomplishes, whether this movement has any drawbacks, and, finally, possible alternatives.
A lawn is typically a monoculture, or nearly so. Not mowing during this month when heat and rainfall spur rapid plant growth encourages more diversity, which makes environments more resilient.
Gasoline-powered mowers spew out great quantities of carbon dioxide and pollutants. Over the course of a year, one such machine pollutes the same amount as 43 new cars, each driven 12,000 miles! And all that noise. Not to also mention toxic pollutants entering the environment (13 billion pounds per year from lawns) and our collective lawns thirst for copious amount of water.
“No Mow May” puts a hold on all these environmental affronts, at least for the month. Take a closer look at what this deliberate neglect has fostered. Peer at a nomow lawn, perhaps yours, and you’ll see some of the aforementioned wildflowers. Wait, though. Plants such as dandelion and creeping Charlie, are not native. And dandelion, for one, can negatively impact animals and even other plants. Its pollen is nutritionally poor for bees, low in valine, isoleucine, leucine and arginine, all essential amino acids for honeybees. Problem is that bees can become faithful to
one plant, so might fail to sufficiently pollinate other plants or ignore more nutritious pollen sources if they get started on dandelions. And dandelion’s allelopathic pollen inhibits seed development of some other plants.
Leaving the mower parked in the garage or barn for May will, of course, change the appearance of your lawn, a look that has been part of our collective aesthetic from the past. Local ordinances might even prohibit “No Mow May.”
Despite certain drawbacks, a mown lawn is functional, providing a soft, inviting surface for lounging, for playing, for picnicking, and other civilized activities. Tall grass is not nearly so inviting, especially as mice and other rodents feel more secure from predators scampering beneath the cover of long grass. Ticks enjoy such habitat, and are carried around by the mice, increasing threat of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
OK, so it’s the end of the month and you’re ready to mow. It’s not going to be easy to plow through all that vegetation. And all those clumps of grass clippings? You’ll probably have to rake them up, so the lawn doesn’t get smothered.
The grass itself isn’t going to fare well with the drastic end-of-the-month pruning. Grasses are healthiest if blades are cut back by no more than one-third their length. So, two mowings may be in order to bring grass down to mown height. If you wait a few days between mowings, then clippings from the first cut have time to dry out, so you may be able to forgo having to rake them up.
When all is said and done, does one month of not mowing an established lawn really encourage a burst of wildflowers or other biological changes? Probably not.
GARDEN NOTES
WESTFIELD Nature workshop at Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a great place to see a variety of birds especially during the breeding season. This nature workshop, “Spring Bird Walk,” will take place on Saturday, June 7, from 8 to 10 a.m. Bring your binoculars and help us do an eBird count in the wildlife sanctuary. Beginners welcome, no experience necessary. Martha “Marti” Kane grew
up in Westfield but spent most of her career in North Carolina training park rangers and managing a nature preserve. She recently retired and moved back to the area. She enjoys doing eBird counts at area parks and monitoring nest boxes for bluebirds and other cavity-nesting songbirds. The workshop will meet at the main entrance sign to the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary located across from the recreation field. Rain or shine. Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray. Nature workshops are free of charge.
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming program at Berkshire Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs. Tuesday, June 3 to Friday, June 20. “Summer Bird Walks at BBG.” This summer, Ben Nickley, director of Berkshire Bird Observatory, will lead biweekly bird walks at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. During these leisurely walks through our leafy grounds, Nickley will help you learn how to find and identify dozens of dazzling birds that summer in the Berkshires. Come commune with nature! Few other outdoor pursuits offer physical, intellectual and spiritual benefits that come naturally with learning to notice, identify, and watch birds. Join us in our pursuit of connection with the natural world through the gateway of bird watching.
Week 1, Tuesday, June 3, 8: 30 a.m. and Friday, June 6, 8:30 a.m. Week 2, Monday,
June 9, 8:30 a.m. and Friday, June 13, 8:30 a.m. Week 3, Monday, June 16, 8:30 a.m. and Friday, June 20, 8:30 a.m.; Saturday, June 7, 1 to 4 p.m., “Grass Menagerie.”
Grasses are an integral component of naturalistic plantings, the garden style popularized by New York City’s High Line and the “Dutch Wave.” But with names like Schizachyrium, Spodiopogon, and Hakonechloa, they can be bewildering to even experienced gardeners. Join plantsman Robert Clyde Anderson for an overview of the most useful and beautiful species and cultivars for our climate, with an emphasis on their ecological value, distinguishing characteristics and design possibilities.
This three-hour session will include an illustrated lecture, handouts, and an on-site walkabout on the BBG grounds, as well as time for questions and shared experiences. Cost is $50 members, $70 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit berkshirebotanical.org.
Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Buy plants that will go the distance
For her first apartment, Belt made the mistake of loading up on plants in early spring, without paying attention to their expected lifespan. Then she had to replace them twice that year as plants died off. Don’t make the same costly mistake. Read labels carefully and choose varieties that will thrive in your space from spring through early fall. Also make sure they are suited for your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone and the degree of sun versus shade on your property. Drought-tolerant picks, including dead nettle, portulaca, sedum and mountain mint, are smart choices if you won’t be around often to water, Belt said.
Mind the sensory details
Drown out noisy neighbors with a small gurgling water feature, such as Hi-Line Gift Ltd.’s
weather-resistant fountain with light ($69.99 at Wayfair). To neutralize unpleasant smells, add a few pots of aromatic herbs, like rosemary and lavender. They’re inexpensive, easy to cultivate and can elevate your cooking. Plus, with your eyes closed, you might (almost) convince yourself you’re in a garden in Tuscany.
Layer lighting
Including different sources of light will add dimensionality to your space and make it more versatile. Swoop string lights, like Feit’s electric 48-foot LED filament set ($39.99 at Costco), overhead to illuminate the entire area. Then arrange votives, or candles in hurricanes, on a table for a warm glow. Or for a more structured look, try a couple of portable LED table lamps, like the Zafferano Poldina Pro Lamp ($175 from Amazon) or the Setago Rechargeable Lamp ($225 from Hawkins New York). Just remember to store portable lamps inside when not in use.
The “No Mow May” lawns that I see look mostly just like unmown grass. (For more on mowing and not mowing, see that chapter in my book “The Pruning Book.”)
Probably the easiest way to get the best of both worlds, or at least some of both worlds, would be with “One Mow May” or “Less Mow May” rather than “No Mow May.” Or replace part of the lawn with a garden, perhaps a wildflower garden, or even just areas with groundcovers rather than lawn.
My top alternative to “No Mow May” is what I’ve called Lawn Nouveau, an idea I stumbled upon years ago that reflected my lack of time and enthusiasm for mowing the lawn.
Here’s an adaptation of Lawn Nouveau, as I described it in the mowing chapter of “The Pruning Book”(lawn mowing is, after all, one of many pruning techniques): The low grass is just like any other lawn and kept that
mowing. An attractive mix of Queen Anne’s lace, goldenrod, chicory, and red clover might mingle with the grasses in a dry, sunny area, with ferns, sedges, and buttercups mixing with the grasses in a wetter portion.
use decorating the wall of a barn. I use a so-called Austrian-type scythe (purchased from www.scythesupply. com), which usually has a straight handle and is lightweight with a razor sharp, hammered-thin blade.
way with a lawnmower. Other portions are allowed to grow and are mowed infrequently — one to three times a year, depending on the desired look. Mowings from the tall grass portions must be raked up after mowing or else they’d leave unsightly clumps and smother regrowth, but they are good material for mulch or compost.
A crisp boundary between tall and low grass keeps everything neat and avoids the appearance of an unmown lawn. Tall and short grass can
help define areas. Rather than straight edges and 90-degree corners, curves in bold sweeps can carry you along, then pull you forward and push you backward, as you look upon them. Avenues of low grass cut into the tall grass invite exploration, and, like the broad sweeps, can be altered throughout the season.
The “tall grass” becomes more than just grass as other plant species gradually elbow their way in. Which ones gain foothold depends on the weather and frequency of
I now have a one-and-a halfacre meadow which, along with some lawn around my home, constitutes Lawn Nouveau here. No need for large property, though; my original property was three-quarters of an acre, and that’s where Lawn Nouveau began way back when. My preferred implement for mowing the tall grass is a scythe. Not the so-called American-type scythe, with a curved handle and stamped blade, which is put to best
Much of my 1-acre meadow gets a once-a-year mowing with my tractor, but you’ll still find me out there early summer mornings with my scythe. It’s a joy to step out in the dewy coolness and swing my scythe, the only sounds being that of birds singing and the scythe blade whooshing through the turgid, green stalks of meadow plants. For a short scything video, see https://www.leereich. com/video.
Lawn Nouveau is another approach to the goals of “No Mow May,” leaving a large portion of the lawn an unmown meadow of wildflowers and grasses for the whole season. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
How to turn your water heater into a battery and ditch the gas company
By M ichael J. C oren
The Washington Post
THREE YEARS AGO, TED
Treadwell turned his water heater into a battery.
His home in Santa Rosa, California, had relied on a gas-powered furnace and water heater for a quarter century to stay warm. But as the equipment neared the end of its life, the retired software engineer wanted something new — and to sever his ties to the gas utility.
So, he chose a system designed by Harvest Thermal. Unlike systems that heat water and air separately, this one does both. One ultraefficient heat pump brings water up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit in a 119-gallon tank. This acts as a “thermal battery” capable of storing heat for 24 hours or more.
When Treadwell turns on the showers, hot water flows from the tap. When it’s cold inside, a fan blows air over coils recirculating hot water from the tank into the home. It’s all controlled by a small computer that ensures the heat pump uses electricity when it’s cheapest and cleanest. The company estimates that it shaves 20 to 30 percent off the average utility bill and 90 percent of emissions from heating the average home.
In Treadwell’s case, the utility now pays him each month.
Thanks to solar photovoltaic panels on his roof and the ability to soak up energy when it’s most abundant, he often generates more energy than he uses, and Pacific Gas and Electric adds credits to his bill. He expects to recoup his investment within a decade.
“It’s a great system,” Treadwell said. “I wish more people knew about it.”
Converting America’s water heaters into smart batteries could help address both climate concerns and energy issues.
Homes contribute about 20 percent of U.S. emissions. Roughly half of this energy goes to heating and cooling living spaces, while another fifth runs appliances that heat water, such as dishwashers and water heaters.
Utility companies are building pricey power plants, transmission lines and storage to meet this demand and ensure electricity keeps flowing during the few hours each day (or even a few moments each year) when power demand peaks but supply is short (the dreaded “duck curve”).
The shift to electrification and the
rise of renewables is amplifying this mismatch. Electrons are typically cheap, clean and plentiful in the middle of the day (solar panels) or at night (wind turbines). Demand is highest as people return from work and in the early evening.
Decarbonizing America’s homes would be much easier if they could soak up power outside peak hours. A big tank of water may be the answer.
How it works
Jane Melia, co-founder of Harvest Thermal, was her own first customer. After her HVAC system began failing in 2018, Melia, an engineer with a PhD in fluid dynamics, jury-rigged a system in her Berkeley, California, basement. It became the prototype for the one her company sells.
For Melia, the technology was simple. “It’s just a heat pump and a tank, right,” she said. “It’s not rocket science.”
floor systems). New versions of the system also integrate with AC units. The company’s success depends on a tiny computer enabling the tank to serve as a heat battery. By ramping up or down, it can shift heating loads across the day. The controller checks the weather forecast, tracks energy prices, senses water temperatures and predicts household demand to minimize emissions and electricity costs. If utilities begin offering demand-response programs, homeowners can earn money by enrolling their Harvest Thermal system to power up or down. “We’re future-proofing the house for homeowners,” Melia said.
Shifting the load
Load-shifting technologies already do this. Utilities can ask factories to turn off machines. University campuses store energy as heat (or ice) in water tanks equivalent to Olympic-size swimming pools. But these are mostly for big customers. Single-family homes are only now getting into the game. Utilities are piloting payments for homeowners to lower their thermostats or delay EV charging at critical moments. Home lithium-ion batteries connected to utilities can send electrons back to the grid (although these are quite expensive).
So far, these don’t supply enough juice to substantially close the gap. Theoretically, a big cheap battery in every home might.
In 2022, Peninsula Clean Energy, a nonprofit municipal utility just south of San Francisco, decided to test the idea in customers’ homes, said Blake Herrschaft, who manages building electrification programs for the utility. It installed free Harvest Thermal systems in four homes in its service area.
Is it right for you?
Most Harvest Thermal systems use a 5 foot tall cylindrical tank similar to a standard water heater. If reheated twice a day, the tank stores heat energy equivalent to about 10 kilowatt-hours, slightly under the capacity of a Tesla Powerwall. Heat comes from a SANCO2 air-to-water heat pump that’s three to four times more efficient than gas appliances and uses CO2 as a refrigerant, rather than more climate-damaging chemicals. To heat homes, an air handler replaces the furnace and blows warm air over water-filled coils into the home’s ductwork (it can also plug into radiant
“They exceeded my expectations,” said Herrschaft, keeping homeowners comfortable and costs competitive: $22,500 after incentives, similar to the cost of installing a separate heat pump water heater and HVAC. Most importantly, he said, virtually all of the load was shifted to the night and noon hours, avoiding periods of peak demand.
Today, thermal batteries are part of Peninsula Clean Energy’s strategy to electrify hundreds of homes for low- to moderate-income families each year, lowering rates by upgrading ratepayers’ homes rather than new infrastructure.
Cooper Marcus, CEO of QuitCarbon, helps homeowners electrify their homes. Thermal batteries are a powerful technology. “But like a lot of things,” he said, “it’s not for everyone.” Today’s systems are best for smaller homes (about 3,000 square feet or less, according to Harvest), with lower heating needs in milder climates. People also need to be comfortable with new technology developed and supported by companies that don’t yet have a long track record. Since heat pumps warm up rooms over time, they don’t offer blasts of hot air like gas furnaces. They’re also expensive. To make financial sense, Marcus advises homeowners to replace their water and air heating at the same time, and tap into incentives that include state and federal rebates exceeding 30 percent of the entire system cost (such as the 25D tax credit for energy storage, which Congress is considering cutting in the latest budget bill). To maximize utility bill savings, homeowners will also want to enroll in time-of-use pricing. I priced my own home to see what it would cost. Swapping out my aging appliances with gas ones would be the cheapest option, at least up front: around $6,000 to $8,000 for a new gas water heater and furnace. That would, however, lash me to gas bills and fixed connection charges of at least $70 annually.
If I wanted a separate heat pump water heater and HVAC system, it would cost around $26,000, according to Aaron Gianni of Larratt Brothers Plumbing. The sticker price for a Harvest Thermal system installed by Larratt Brothers was more expensive before government incentives, roughly $36,000, but came out cheaper after expected rebates.
Harvest Thermal co-founder Jane Melia says the company is “future-proofing the house for homeowners.”
(COURTESY OF HARVEST)
Thermal batteries are best for smaller homes with lower heating needs in milder climates. (COURTESY OF HEY ZINAH PHOTOGRAPHY)
Eight pitchers that are perfect for summer entertaining
By Monica K hemsurov Bloomberg
YOU MAY NOT HAVE realized it, but summer is pitcher season. Think about it: For iced tea at lunch, for margaritas at sunset, for sangria at dinner and, of course, for ice water always. Sipping lemonade on a porch? Better with a full pitcher for refills. Need to bring instant charm to a meal eaten outdoors? Don’t bother with a tablecloth-bring out a pitcher instead. Trust us. The pitcher life is the best life.
Completedworks
Thaw Glass Jug
This graceful bottle-green glass pitcher from a jewelry and housewares line in London has a captivating forward tilt to it and is part of a collection inspired by “the way drapery has been used by painters to convey movement.”
Completedworks; $345
Battery
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F6
Koppel Pitcher from Georg Jensen
A reissue of 1950s design by Danish artist and product engineer Henning Koppel, this sleek vessel has a matte black exterior that hides an interior of mirror-polished stainless steel. George Jensen; $249
Dreamlike Pitcher by Ornamental by Lameice
The tall, color-blocked carafe was designed by Palestinian artist Lameice Abu Aker and made by a family of glassblowers in a small village near Jerusalem. It plays with scale, combining large bubbles for the body and a string of small bubbles for the handle.
Mociun; $175
Emily Jug by Home Studyo
This cheerful moss-colored pitcher from a Belgian collective called Home Studyo is an object lesson in contradic-
A federal 25D tax credit promised $11,340. If I capped my gas line (as these are my last two gas appliances), I could knock off another $9,000 courtesy of California’s Energy-Smart Homes. The final price tag was around $15,000. That’s well under standard heat pumps, and I could save on my utility bills each month.
The key is avoiding peak consumption. That can be the difference between saving money or paying more when you electrify your home — at least in California, as frustrated homeowners beholden to the state’s investor-owned utilities are discovering. Pacific Gas and Electric, for example, has raised electricity rates more than 100 percent since 2014, reports the California Public Utilities Commission’s Public Advocates Office.
Melia said Harvest Thermal is expanding into Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado and, soon, Vermont.
The clean energy rebates are a bridge until the company can bring down costs. Congressional Republicans have indicated they plan to cur-
From left to right, some of our favorite pitchers from Completedworks, Georg Jensen, Ornamental by Lameice, Home Studyo, Niko June, Toogood, Helle Mardahl, and Poterie Barbotine.
tions: Made from ceramic, it has a chunky solidity but was designed to imitate the shape of plastic blow-up toys.
MoMA Design Store; $98
Niko June Kantine Pitcher
This bright apple-red number is part of a full set of matching stoneware plates, bowls, cups and more from the Copenhagen-based workshop. The
collection is meant to evoke the sturdy institutional tableware of a bygone school cafeteria. Niko June; $99
Toogood Dough Pitcher
Faye Toogood is a British sculptor and furniture and clothing designer known for her handmade, lumpy-puffyyet still decisively modern-aesthetic. Her housewares line
tail or eliminate many clean energy incentives, while maintaining those for fossil fuels. “Getting this cheaper than gas furnaces, that’s certainly something we’re working towards,” she said.
But the value isn’t just being cheaper than gas, something Harvest Thermal can’t do for the foreseeable future. It’s controlling how and when you consume energy in the future, argues Marcus at QuitCarbon.
Utilities across the country are beginning to price electricity based on the time of day, raising electricity rates by 40 percent or more during peak hours. While most states still offer flat-rate electricity, “those places are going away,” Marcus said. Natural gas, he predicts, will become more expensive relative to electricity, as natural gas exports rise and cheap renewables come online. Investing in thermal batteries is
includes this stoneware vessel, which was molded by hand in clay before it was cast for production.
Toogood; $108
The Jug With a Twist by Helle Mardahl
Based in Denmark, Helle Mardahl Studio specializes in colorful, dreamy-yet-minimalist glassware hand blown from recycled glass. The red glass ball on this jug, which functions as a handle, is the proverbial cherry on top.
Helle Mardahl; $475
Poterie Barbotine Blue
Marbled Pitcher
Handmade from earthenware by artisans in Aubagne, France, this classic piece of marbled European crockery was inspired by a shard found while excavating the medieval quarter of Saint-Maximin-laSainte-Baume in Provence.
Toast; $130
Today, thermal batteries are part of Peninsula Clean Energy’s strategy to electrify hundreds of homes for low- to moderate-income families each year, lowering rates by upgrading ratepayers’ homes rather than new infrastructure.
a hedge against this future and a down payment on reducing climate pollution. “We’re starting to get past subsidies for electric cars,” said Marcus. “We aren’t yet quite there for most forms of electric homes. And it would be a shame to take away the rebates right before we get there.”
For Treadwell, the investment is already paying off. He no longer worries about his utility bills. He’s on track to earn back his investment within 10 years, even after dipping into his 401(k) to finance the solar panels and Harvest Thermal system. Not only did he reduce his home’s emissions, but he is cleaning up the electricity grid.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Jane Melia, co-founder of Harvest Thermal, said the company is expanding into Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado and, soon, Vermont.
(DAVID CHOW FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Southern face vessels were a big hit with tourists
SOMETIMES, CONTEMporary artists break with traditions, and sometimes they follow them. But some of the most interesting works of art come about when they put their own spin on well-established forms and techniques.
The man-in-the-moon jug pictured here is the work of contemporary South Carolina potter Michel Bayne. It fits in with the longstanding Southern tradition of face vessels. While artists around the world have decorated jugs, vases and other ceramic containers with human, animal or mythological faces since prehistory, the face vessels made in the southern United States, particularly South Carolina and Georgia, are believed to have originated in African traditions practiced by enslaved potters. The distinctive style had strong appeal, and, by the twentieth century, Southern face vessels were mass-produced for tourists.
Local artists continued making them as folk art and still do today. Bayne follows the tradition of making his pottery by hand out of local clay, and the man-in-the-moon jug shows the grotesque features and exposed teeth characteristic of Southern face jugs. However, the man on the moon isn’t a common subject, and this jug’s round, flat shape suggests a completely different ceramic style from farther away: Chinese moon flasks, or moon vases. They are usually made of porcelain decorated with flowers, symbols or figural scenes. The round, flat shape makes them practical for carrying water. The apparent combination of the moon flask shape with Southern folk pottery caught a buyer’s attention; the man-inthe-moon jug sold for $1,143 at Slotin Folk Art Auction against an estimate of $200-$300.
Q.
This bowl has been in my family for many years, and we have often wondered about its history or origin and value. It is round with a crimped opening and
This contemporary man-in-the-moon jug recalls both Southern folk pottery and Chinese moon flasks, which apparently made it extra appealing to buyers. (SLOTIN FOLK ART AUCTION)
dimensions are 40 inches around, 11 inches high and a 7-inch opening. It is covered with gold; is it gold leaf? There are raised scrolls and three-dimensional flowers with painted leaves. Do you know what it was used for?
A. You have an unusual piece!
Your bowl is shaped like a rose bowl, a very popular style of vase in the Victorian era, but it is much bigger. Most rose bowls were about 5 inches tall or even smaller, although some glassmakers occasionally produced larger ones.
Decorative bowls the size of yours are usually centerpieces. We have seen glassware with decorations like your bowl, heavy gilding and three-dimensional flowers, sold as both Bohemian and Venetian glass. It can be difficult to tell the difference, especially without seeing the glassware in person.
Glassmakers often copy one another’s techniques, and, historically, many Bohemian glassmakers trained under Venetian glassmakers. Whether it is Venetian or Bohemian,
I did some research on the Internet but was not very successful. Can you tell me anything about it?
A. The number you mentioned is a regulatory code and the last two digits tell you the year the regulation standard was set. So your box of cigarettes is from 1958, during the time of the Soviet Union. It is not quite as old as the dresser, but still a good reminder to always check the drawers and cabinets in antique furniture! “MOCKBA” is “Moskva,” Russian for Moscow; which is the city depicted in the print. Colorful prints are characteristic of Russian cigarette boxes from the 1950s; packaging became more decorative after the end of World War II.
CURRENT PRICES
this style of decoration appears to have been popular in the early- to mid-20th century. The gold may be gold leaf, paint, or dust. The flowers are enamel or porcelain and applied to the finished piece. We have seen Bohemian glass in this style listed as “Queen Helene,” although we haven’t found out the origin of the name or a specific maker; and Venetian as “Tre Fuochi,” or “fired three times,” because the glass gets fired again after the gold has been applied. Value of your bowl is about $300.
Q. I found a box of cigarettes taped to the underside of the bottom dresser drawer that belonged to my mother-in-law. The dresser is approximately 100 years old. The box is not very big; it is 4 1/2 inches from side to side and 1 inch deep. There is a colorful print of a view of the city and the word “MOCKBA” on the front and Russian writing on the back. The number “3935-58” is on the back lower left corner. The box is in mint condition.
Full vintage packs of cigarettes usually have a value of about $20 to $30. For more information, you may want to contact a club for collectors of smoking paraphernalia. World War II memorabilia collectors or reenactors may also have more information about Soviet artifacts.
TIP: When packing a piece of pottery for shipping, look at the shape. If it has a hollow space larger than one inch across, fill the space with sponge, foam or bubble wrap.
Kovels answers 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 are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions. Kutani, tea set, teapot, sugar and creamer, dome lid, petal finial, round, figural panels, gilt trim and handles, red and gold character mark, Japan, teapot 8 inches, three pieces, $45. Radio, Grundig, Majestic, 1070, broadcast, shortwave, FM, Hi-Fi, volume and tuning dials, bass and treble controls, 1958, 13 x 20 inches, $70. Toy, lion, curly brown mane, glass eyes, stitched nose and paws, tag in ear, Steiff, 32 inches, $100. Rug, Caucasian, Kazak, center diamond medallion, blue border, dark red field, ivory main border, 49 x 30 inches, $160. Meissen, cup, painted panel, scenic, two children reading book, multicolor, lyres on reverse, gilt, flared lip, double snake handle, three paw feet, crossed swords mark, 1800s, 4 inches, $165.
Furniture, chair, lounge, Kontur, Alf Svennson, wood frame, upholstered seat and back, stretchers, open arms, Fritz Hansen, midcentury, 41 x 29 inches, $185. Sabino, vase, amber glass, oval, molded, allover mimosa leaves and flowers, short neck, flared lip, signed, 1930s, 4 inches, $350. Picture, watercolor, strawberries, on vine, leaves, beetle, script label, frame, 1800s, 11 x 9 inches, $560.
Silver-German, salt, Renaissance Revival, figural, shell shape, glass lining, dolphin stem, child riding, scallop shell foot, marked, Hanau, c. 1900, 6 x 4 inches, pair, $975.
Silver-Chinese, teapot, dome lid, bamboo shape finial, handle and spout, relief coiled dragon, bamboo shape stand, burner, marked, Shingfat, c. 1900, 11 x 8 inches, $1,430.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Mary A. Ledwell, trustee, and Ledwell Investment Trust, trustee of, to Ann Ledwell, 28 Robin Ridge Drive, $170,300.
Samuel K. Impionbato, Elizabeth M. Impionbato, Samantha E. Impionbato, Samantha G. Impionbato and Rebecca A. Impionbato to Qendrim Avdyli, 50 Sunnyslope Ave., $264,675.
AMHERST
Samuel O. Kochan to Jordan Adair, 88 Mechanics St., $525,000.
Donna L. Ainsworth to Jay Sachs and Mary De Voe, 39 Dennis Drive, $723,100.
Christopher J. Bonak and Mary A. Antonellis to Su Lu, 43 Tamarack Drive, $315,000.
D.J. Engineering Consultants LLC, to Ozgur Yilmazel and Sibel Yilmazel, 2 Lawrence Circle, $900,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Edward Noga to Elliot Burkart, 665 Federal St., $390,000.
KAB Properties LLC, to Johnpal Singh Sidhu, trustee, Jatinderjeet Sidhu, trustee, and Sidhu Family Living Trust, 33 Main St., $921,000.
Michael J. O’Brien and Vicki L. O’Brien to Jeremy Burns and Kristen Hinchey, Aldrich Street, $26,000.
Michael J. O’Brien and Vicki L. O’Brien to Erin Szczepanek and Christopher Szczepanek, Aldrich Street, $26,000.
Morgan H. Lavalle and Kelsey M. Lavalle to Darrin C. Booke and Elizabeth Booke, Stebbins Street, $76,000.
PAH Properties LLC, Mohammad Sabzi and Yasaman Behshad, 5 Bay Road, $631,000.
Sherry L. Coale and John K. Coale to Christopher Antoine Brown and Durreshahwar Muhammad, 124 Barton Ave., $600,000.
BERNARDSTON
AGT Homes LLC, to Julio Hanono and Carlos A. Rios, 200 River St., $620,000.
BLANDFORD
LaFond Septic Services LLC, trustee, and 16 Kaolin Road Land Trust, trustee of, to Adam K. Gryszko and Teagan N. Gryszko, 16 Kaolin Road, $443,000.
BRIMFIELD
Paul P. Porra and Carol A. Porra to
George Lattouf, Apple Road, Lot 3.11, $175,000.
SRV Properties LLC, to Joseph B. Finnegan and Molly Finnegan, 119 Sturbridge Road, $30,000.
CHARLEMONT
Dean M. Rankin to Nicholas Guggino, Legate Hill Road, $140,000.
CHESTERFIELD
Ruby Realty LLC, to Bryan R. Guillemette and Angela L. Guillemette, 11 Bryant St., $389,900.
CHICOPEE
Cary Gray and Paula K. Gray to Dreampath Homebuyers LLC, 78 Saratoga Ave., $225,000.
David J. Letasz to Omar Alhalabi and Inaam Alhalabi, 16 Elliot Ave., $436,000.
John Zazyczny, Pearl S. Zazyczny and Donna Montemagni to Luis Sostre and Cynthia Montanez, 48 Longwood Drive, $390,000.
Kamlesh S. Mistri and Rachna K. Mistri to Tony Tereso, 206 Fairview Ave., $510,000.
Kim Pham to James Ryan Harrison, 69 Kaveney St., $480,000.
DEERFIELD
John S. Stobierski, trustee of the North Main Street 2018 Revocable Trust, to Jolanta Noska and Michael A. Noska, 192 North Main St., $440,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Ronald E. Humason to Kimberley Strother and William Strother, 68 Senecal Place, $50,000.
Shu Wan to Jiahao Liu and Lindsday Li, 114 Vineland Ave., $380,000.
Springhouse Properties LLC, to Jordan V. Demedeiros, 29 Melvin Ave., $317,500.
EASTHAMPTON
Melody Rae Jacobson, James E. Jacobson and Melody Rae Carroll to John Thompson and Sara Bader, 2 Broad St., $440,000.
Sibyl D. Jayne, trustee, and Sibyl C. Smith Living Trust to Tassy Nicole Hayden and William John Michalski, 9 Westview Terrace, $357,800.
Stephanie Faria to Naomi Desilets, 211 East St., $201,300.
Sarah Jane Kitiyakara-Fogel to Craig Nelson, 5-7 West St., $168,625. A-Z Storage & Properties LLC, and Autumn Properties LLC, to ServiceNet Inc., 2 Mechanic St., and 18 Liberty St., $715,000.
John Dunphy and Matthew A. Still to Benjamin Niles and Jean Burger,
22 Gaston St., $470,000.
GRANBY
Mark E. White and Mary Patricia White to Andrea L. Cartabone, Erika L. Corona and Rebecca A. Labonte, 133 Pleasant St., $100.
Micheline D. Turgeon to Richard R. Turgeon, 56R Ferry Hill Road, $65,000.
Bryan R. Guillemette and Angela L. Guillemette to Joseph Roy Mileti and Jennifer Rose Paulhus, 505 East State St., $650,000.
Denis Bratnichenko and Agnesa Bratnichenko to Desmond G. Rentas and Brooke Alyssa Barre, Pleasant Street and Morgan Street, $115,000.
GREENFIELD
Laura L. Richards to 123 Hope Properties LLC. 3 Russell Street. $145,000.
Darlene A. Holland to Christina M. Drumgool and Nicholas S. Drumgool, 54 White Birch Ave., $266,500.
Peter G. Bos to Cynthia Gammell, 8 Silver Crest Lane, Unit 6, Silver Crest Condominium, $355,000.
Theda R. Silver-Pell to Clayton N. North and Jessica M. North, 25, “aka” 5B, Keegan Lane, Unit 5B, College Park Condominium, $195,000.
Matthew D. Squires to Michael Mecagni, 54 Adams Road, $365,000.
HADLEY
Evergrain Orchard LLC, to Lucas Tragos, trustee, Antonio DiTommaso, trustee, and 17 North Maple Street Realty Trust, 17 N. Maple St., and 17 North Maple St., $494,000.
HATFIELD
Patricia A. Young, trustee, and Patricia A. Young Revocable Trust to Dorothy D. Scotten, trustee, and Scotten Investment Trust, 34 King St., $350,000.
Phyllis Lavallee, personal representative, and Richard Miastkowski, estate, to James Lavallee, 116 Main St., $425,000.
HAWLEY
Jonathan Schroeder Fremerman and Sylvia Fremerman to Daina L. Faulhaber and John Utley, 103 East Hawley Road, $395,000.
HEALTH
Stanley Fadziewicz to James Egge and Robbin Egge, 36 Cascade Drive, $20,000.
SEE DEEDS, PAGE F10
Average rate on US 30-year mortgage rises to 6.89%
Rate at highest level since early February
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. rose this week to its highest level since early February, further pushing up borrowing costs for homebuyers.
The rate increased to 6.89% from 6.86% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.03%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose. The average rate ticked up to 6.03% from 6.01% last week. It’s still down from 6.36% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. The key barometer is the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
Bond yields have been trending higher, reflecting bond market investors’ uncertainty over the Trump administration’s ever-changing tariffs policy and worry over exploding federal government debt. The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.43% in midday trading Thursday, down from 4.47% late Wednesday.
The average rate on a 30year mortgage has remained relatively close to its high so far this year of just above 7%, set in mid-January. The average rate’s low point so far was six weeks ago, when it briefly dropped to 6.62%. After rising for three straight weeks, the average rate is now at its highest level since Feb. 6, when it averaged 6.89%.
High mortgage rates, which can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrow-
ers, have reduced purchasing power for many prospective homebuyers this year. That’s helped keep the U.S. housing market in a sales slump that dates back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from the rock-bottom lows they reached during the pandemic.
Last year, sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. Sales fell last month to the slowest pace for the month of April going back to 2009.
Rising mortgage rates have helped dampen sales during what’s traditionally the peak period of the year for home sales. Mortgage applications fell 1.2% last week from a week earlier as home loan borrowing costs rose, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for a loan to buy a home were up 18% from a year earlier.
New data suggest sales could slow further in coming months. An index of pending U.S. home sales fell 6.3% last month from March and declined 2.5% from April last year, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.
There’s usually a month or two lag between a contract signing and when the sale is finalized, which makes pending home sales a bellwether for future completed home sales.
“At this critical stage of the housing market, it is all about mortgage rates,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “Despite an increase in housing inventory, we are not seeing higher home sales. Lower mortgage rates are essential to bring home buyers back into the housing market.”
Economists expect mortgage rates to remain volatile in coming months, with forecasts calling for the average rate on a 30-year mortgage to range between 6% and 7% this year.
Deeds
HOLLAND
Bricmore Property Investments LLC, to Timothy David Karlowicz and Carolina Karlowicz, 26 Amber Road, $439,000.
HOLYOKE
Carmen A. Luna to Behyar Roohi and Sita Roohi, 10 Maple Crest Circle, Unit 10E, $180,000.
Ian M. Guenette and Jackalyn H. Guenette to Lynn Weaver, 31 Bray Park Drive, $320,000.
Luis E. Crucetts and Marta Gomez to Tracey A. McFadden, 60 Claremont Ave., $320,000.
River Valley Renovation LLC, to Savino Richard Basile, 1851 Northampton St., $540,000.
William T. Hash and Jackalyn Hash Guenette to Ian Guenette and Jackalyn Hash Guenette, 39 Bray Park Drive, $140,000.
LONGMEADOW
John E. Tyler and Jacquelyn R. Tyler to Kevin E. Hulverson and Samantha G. Lynch, 40 Circle Road, $429,000.
Scott C. Milas and Ewa C. O’Malley to Cathy Ann Paige and Michael P. Williams, 251 Academy Drive, $640,000.
LUDLOW
Anthony T. Torres, Donna M. Torres and Donna M. Wishart to Susan R. Coates and Penny L. Coates, 13 Autumn Ridge Road, $919,000. Madeleine Monat to Antonio Carvalho, 424 Chapin St., $242,000.
MONSON
Michelle Amadei to Jeanette Tetreault, 18 Palmer Road, Unit #18, $350,000.
MONTAGUE
Joseph A. Higgins III, to Matthew J. Thornton, 4 T Street, $315,000.
Gwen D. Gannon to Evan Anthony Fagundes, 236 Federal St., Unit 5B, Stoneyside Condominium. $250,000.
Charlene Gatker and Paul Gatker to Benegan 2 LLC, 112 L Street, $440,000.
NEW SALEM
Yan Yao Deng to Christopher Boucher and Jessica Boucher, 13 Daniel Shays Highway, $428,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Owen Colas and Gertrude W. Kaiser to Katherine M. Barkasy, 5 Winchester Terrace, $402,000.
Brian J. Campedelli and Rebecca Thomas to Thomas John Pavlu, trustee, Alisha Brittany Pavlu, trustee, and Pavlu Trust, 223 Cardinal Way, $1,300,000.
Judith Irene Fine, personal representative, and Charles Joseph Miller, estate, to Ian Alexander Steele, 80 Damon Road, $225,000.
Elizabeth M. Fullam, personal representative, and Timothy Ralph Fullam, estate, to Ortega LLC, 80 Damon Road, $140,000.
Sovereign Builders Inc., to Yu Liu and Kun Qian, 29 Sherman Ave., $645,000.
Elizabeth A. Henneman to Melina Garro-Duplisea and William Thornton, 23B Lyman Road, $375,000.
John H. Kroll, trustee, and Kallet Kroll Revocable Trust to Diane L. Bartholomew, 29 Pomeroy Terrace, $807,500.
NORTHFIELD
William Chula, personal representative of the Estate of Joanne F. Spencer, to Khushwant Dhaliwal and Gabriel Willis, 162 Main St., $690,000.
ORANGE
Mizuta Corporation to Angela Garcia and Felicia Marie Rodriguez, 552-554 East Main St., $475,000.
Tegra Properties LLC, to Peggy S. McGill and Ralph H. McGill, 65 East Myrtle St., $290,000.
PALMER
MFJ Enterprises LLC, to Cosmic Developers LLC, 1139 Thorndike St., $2,400,000.
Robert Hutchinson and Amy Hutchinson to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Lumturi Realty Trust, trustee of, Peterson Street, Lot 4, $60,000.
Susan B. Magee, trustee, and 2018
Susan B Magee Revocable Trust of, trustee of, to Michael F. Mastriani and Michael J. Mastriani, 3042-3044 South Main St., $265,000.
Susan L. Bartlett to Sean Christopher Spohr and Macee Candiano, 17 Mason St., $280,000.
PLAINFIELD
Martin Downey and Kimberly Ann Downey to Standish Acres LLC, 27 Broom St., $495,000.
SHUTESBURY
Jay L. Garfield and Blaine Garson to Mahip Rathore and Lena Ruth Utah Sclove, 105 January Hills Road, $425,000.
Charles W. Ladd Jr., and Roberta F. Ladd to CPG Land LLC, Wendell Road, $12,500.
SOUTH HADLEY
Jeffrey Chmiel to Kevin Chmiel, 36 Westbrook Road, $275,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Kathleen Boruchowski and Matthew Boruchowski to Matthew Boruchowski, trustee, Kathleen Boruchowski, trustee, Matthew Boruchowski 2025 Revocable Living Trust and Kathleen Boruchowski 2025 Revocable Living Trust, 9 Fitch Farm Way, $100.
Appleton Grove LLC, to Dale Nasuta and Ashley Nasuta, 222 College Highway, $362,000.
SOUTHWICK
Jada Homes LLC, to Lisa Ann Guerin Living Trust, trustee of, and Lisa Ann Guerin, trustee,13 Sawgrass Lane, $638,900.
SPRINGFIELD
Agatha N. Landford to Carmita M. Naranjo Cantos and Ildefonso Chimborazo, 15-17 Grover St., $239,900.
AJ Capital Inc., to Vinh Quang Co, Lan Ngoc Huong Nguyen and Cong Thanh Co, 64 Cherokee Drive, $325,000.
Alfredo Lopez to Maria Adelaida Rodriguez and Delia Rodriguez, 235 State St., Unit 203, $36,299.
Cheryl Jamitkowski to Sareen Properties LLC, 25 Malden St., $192,000.
Cristina Gonzalez and Luis Gonzalez to Lidia Disla, 178-180 Commonwealth Ave., $315,000.
Edwin O. Aponte to Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, 19 Emily St., $152,500. Exiba LLC, to Margarita Rodriguez, 38-40 Washington St., $365,000.
Irene A. Kissi to Yashika Walker, 6971 Forest Park Ave., $350,000.
KMAK LLC, and Ryan Randall Realty LLC, to Miguel A. Vazquez Jr., and Alexandria Cardona, 11 Hanson Drive, $287,500.
Lauren Gougeon to Doris Manaquoi Smith-Brown, 50 Nassau Drive, Unit 50, $260,100.
Linda A. Marzano, Mary Ann Marzano, Josephine A. Smith, Carmela Kirk and Elizabeth Marzano to Hestia Tyche Holdings LLC, 29-31 Firglade Ave., $399,000.
Luis Sostre and Cynthia Montanez to Sy Thac Nguyen, Thi Ngoc Suong Lang, Thach Tam Nguyen and Thach Han Nguyen, 63 Agnes St., $333,000.
Manfredo Aguilar Medina to Joanmary Lopez De Alba, 230-232
Oakland St., $410,000.
Mary Kate Fenton and Donald A. Hunter to Jose Garrafa and Oldelis Ramos Garrafa, 188 Winton St., $400,000.
MS Homes LLC, to Zarek Sanders, 87-89 Orpheum Ave., $396,000.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Ameer Almaliki, 107 Massreco St., $210,000.
Patrick J. Roberts and Caitlin N. Roberts to Leah T. Gara, 312 Dutchess St., $400,000.
Napolitano Roofing of Massachusetts LLC, to Jonathan Long, 0 NS Eagle Street, $484,000.
Tatiana M. Soto to Anober Bravo-Morales, 10 Wilber St., $314,000.
Virginia A. Maria and Virginia A. Marte to Diana Rosario, 62 Somerset St., $294,900.
SUNDERLAND
Asheley R. Griffith, trustee of the Curtis-Griffith Family Trust, to Michael P. Robinson, 455 Montague Road, $695,000.
Ellen K. Brower-Gately and Edward J. Gately III, to Daniel Peretz Kramer and Deborah Jean Timberlake, 2628 Hadley Road, $431,500.
WARE
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Belspring Realty Trust to Roger N. Peterson, 204 Old Belchertown Road, $230,000.
Sarah Valentine to David Lipinski and Geeta Lipinski, Lee Road, $25,000.
Jeremy Desjardins-Smith to Jeremy Desjardins-Smith and Rachael L. Desjardins-Smith, 174 Osborne Road, $100.
Kim Laramee, personal representative, and Donna M. Latour, estate, to Teren John Young, 10 Gareau Ave., $270,000.
Cheryll A. Renert and Cheryll A. Sellers to Francisca Acheampong, 36 Pleasant St., $115,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Adam Gryszko and Teagan Gryszko to Nicholas Ferreira and Loradona Ferreira, 27 Miami St., $328,000.
Dream Realty Group LLC, to Fay Rentals LLC, 1540 Memorial Ave., Unit 2A, $142,500.
Evelyn C. Okolo, Diane M. Fanelli, Luann P. Nowill, Cheryl O. Wagner, Cheryl A. Wagner and Dianne M. Fanelli to Allison Joylynn Logue and Kara Khristine Wright, 5 Kent St., $330,000.
Helene Dutil, trustee, and Helene Dutil Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Andrew T. Neal, 288 Morgan Road, $350,000.
Jonathan D. Gagnon and June C.
Gagnon to Adam Ventulett, 52 Day St., $365,000. Luis Gonzalez to Lidia Disla, 29-31 Irving St., $355,000.
Marina Otero to Camden J. Ferri, 156 Upper Beverly Hills, $279,900. Therese Remillard, Therese Quirion, Therese Yvonne Remillard, Doris Beauregard Shecrallah, Doris Shecrallah, Diane Warner, Diane Riopel, Claire Remillard and Doris Beauregard-Shecrallah to Bradley D. Miller and Amanda L. Miller, 130 LaBelle St., $326,000.
WESTFIELD
Citizens Bank to Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, 1368 Granville Road, $245,100.
Dave H. Hiller Jr., to Alyssa Poole, 555 Russell Road, C-11, $215,000.
Henry Rau Talbot Jr., to Leonard Denette and Itzelh Denette, 107 Tannery Road, $340,000.
Joseph F. Mucha to Matthew Slowik and Kelli Abreu, 194 Lockhouse Road, $110,000.
Juan Galindez and Darlene C. St George-Galindez to Bogdan O. Moshkivskyy, 16 Joann Drive, $460,000.
Karen L. Kryla to Andrey Okhrimenko and Elena Okhrimenko, 59 Old Feeding Hills Road, $850,000.
Sean P. Major, representative, and Patrick M. Major, estate, to Corrine I. Gougeon, 195 Susan Drive, $350,000.
Vantage Home Buyers LLC, to Henry Rau Talbot Jr., 997 Western Ave., $445,000.
Xiaoli Li to Rory McLean, 465 Montgomery Road, $600,000.
WHATELY
Jason P. Bohonowicz to Daniel J. Cleary and Katelyn Cleary, 169 River Road, $385,000.
WILBRAHAM
AC Homebuilding LLC, to Lydia B. Brady Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, and Lydia B. Brady, trustee, 95 Sandalwood Drive, $715,636.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Caren L. Reed and Christopher J. Reed, 650 Tinkham Road, $799,990.
Dany L. Nguyen and Hang T. Tran to Sandra F. Ogiamien, 324 Stony Hill Road, $475,000.
Evan Nyman and Ronald Kenniston to Olivia Mahony and Austin Mahony, 23 Carla Lane, $657,000.
WORTHINGTON
Daniel J. Theberge and Christine M. Theberge to Alison Watts and Ladd Watts, 345 Harvey Road, $420,000.
PUBLIC AUCTION
Hampden: Bk 22357, Pg 371
01851, Attorney for the Mortgagee. Auctioneer makes no representationas to the accuracy of the information contained herein. NORTH CHELMSFORD (978) 251-1150 www.baystateauction.com MAAU#: 1029, 2624, 3039, 116,
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