IN THE GARDEN: Tips for growing popcorn in the backyard, F4
ANTIQUES: Swatow porcelain from China has a freehand look, F7
HOME: Should germy shoes be worn in your house? F6
are embracing
“Native gardening for many people is empowering. It is something they can do that is rewarding, they see immediate benefits, and they’re getting a lot of reinforcement from scientists who are telling them, your yard really can make a difference.”
Bob Sullivan, an administrator of the Northern Illinois Facebook group.
Gaining ground: Native plants surge as gardeners try to save bees, butterflies
By Nara S choenberg
The Chicago Tribune
ON A QUIET STREET IN WILmette, Illinois, native plants bloom in broad sweeps and bright bursts, bringing color and life to what was once an ordinary strip of lawn separating the sidewalk from the curb.
The violet blossoms of blue vervain hover above clusters of frosty-white mountain mint, golden lanceleaf coreopsis, orange butterfly weed and pink poppy mallow.
Monarch butterflies visit the buffet of pollen and nectar, as do wasps, bees, bugs and moths.
Humans pause as well, with a passing bicyclist turning her head to look and a man in an orange Kia pulling to a full stop.
“Awesome!” the man calls out to
Amanda Nugent, who is standing nearby. “Is this your stuff?”
“It is,” Nugent says with a smile.
At a time of growing concern about declines in insect populations, native plants are having a moment, with local fans such as Nugent showcasing them in parkways and front yards and community garden walks featuring them alongside the traditional roses, salvias and lilies.
National trend data isn’t readily available, but the Northern Illinois Native Plant Gardeners Facebook page recently reached 10,000 members, up from 6,000 just two years ago. There’s also the Native Gardening in Illinois group with 6,500 members, and Native Plant Gardens in the Upper Midwest with 24,200 members.
Christy Webber, a Chicago garden center, reports spring native plant sales have almost doubled since 2023, from about $50,000 to $93,000.
And at the Monee native plant nursery Possibility Place, co-owner Tristan Shaw says his retail operation sold more native plants in the first eight months of 2025 than in all of 2024.
“There’s always been a core of people who have been preaching this (native plant) gospel, but it really just has gone crazy within the last 10 years, and especially within the last three or four,” said Bob Sullivan, an administrator of the Northern Illinois Facebook group.
People are turning to native plants for many reasons, including their natural good looks and low-maintenance profiles. But reports about declines in beneficial insects — including monarch butterflies and the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee — have played a major role, observers say.
“Native gardening for many people is empowering,” Sullivan said. “It is something they can do that is rewarding, they see immediate benefits, and they’re getting a lot of reinforcement from scientists who are telling them, your yard really can make a difference.”
‘An amazing shift’
Amanda Nugent had always been interested in both gardening and conservation, but she didn’t really appreciate the connection between the two until she read the book “Bringing Nature Home” by University of Delaware entomology professor Doug Tallamy.
Tallamy, a bestselling author and a leader in the native gardening movement, is among the scientists who say that insects — a vital link in the food chain — are in trouble.
An influential 2017 study in the journal PLOS ONE found a 75% decrease in flying insects in German nature preserves over 27 years, and in 2021 the National Academies of Sciences produced a special issue on insect decline, with the authors of one article writing, “Urgent action is needed on behalf of nature.”
Birds, many of which eat insects, are also struggling, with a 2019 report in the journal Science estimating that there were 29% fewer birds in North America than there were in 1970.
Planting natives is a great way to help, Tallamy says. That’s in part because many insects are specialists that evolved to rely on certain naturally occurring plants. Among the better-known examples: Monarch butterflies need milkweed, the only plant their caterpillars will eat.
Tallamy wants ordinary gardeners to fight back against insect decline by supporting his vision of a 20-million acre “Homegrown National Park.” Roughly the size of Maine, this park-without-boundaries would consist of native plants, shrubs and trees grown on private land by gardeners doing their part to protect and sustain wildlife. The idea is that as more native gardens join the “park,” they will start to provide continuous habitat for the insects that, in turn, support larger animals such as birds.
“It was a light bulb moment for me,” Nugent said of reading Tallamy’s book. She did some research and got increasingly excited about the ecological potential of her own lawn.
“I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking: What else can I support in my backyard?” she recalled.
Then the pandemic came, the program in which she taught elementary school nature science was canceled, and she found herself with more time on her hands.
She started her parkway garden, her first big native plant “experiment,” with a 4-by-4-foot bed between the sidewalk and the street. Every few weeks, the garden doubled in size. Today, it’s about 20 feet long, with natives flourishing alongside pollinator-friendly cultivars, or variations developed by humans.
CHICAGO
A male monarch butterfly sits atop of a coneflower in Amanda Nugent’s suburban garden on Aug. 25 in Wilmette, Illinois. Cover photo: Amanda Nugent works in her parkway garden. She has spent years cultivating a vast suburgan garden full of native plants and flowers that attract more than three dozen varieties of native bees and wasps. (PHOTOS BY STACEY WESCOTT / CHICAGO TRIBUNE / TNS)
An endangered rusty patched bumblebee forages on a stem of anise hyssop in Amanda Nugent’s parkway garden. Her extensive gardens in her front and back yards as well as the parkway has attracted more than three dozen varieties of bees and wasps. (STACEY WESCOTT / CHICAGO TRIBUNE / TNS)
Nugent also tore up half her front lawn and added a big bed of natives, and she shrunk the lawn in her backyard as much as she could.
Having basically run out of space for additional plants at home, she started a new career as a wildlife-friendly landscape designer. Nugent has gone further than many native plant enthusiasts, but her journey reflects broader trends. Attitudes toward natives have shifted in recent years, according to Aster Hasle, a lead conservation ecologist at the Field Museum. Hasle, who has studied how Chicago-area gardens can best support monarchs, points to the milkweed plant, once dismissed as a “highway weed.”
Today, milkweed is probably better known as “the monarch butterfly plant,” according to Hasle, who uses they/them pronouns.
“That’s an amazing shift,” they said.
Among the factors involved: In 2017 the rusty patched bumblebee — still seen in the Upper Midwest — became the first bumblebee to be granted federal endangered status. The buzz around the bee’s decline helped raise awareness of the plight of insects in general.
Hasle also points to broader public use of natives in public spaces, including in the Chicago Park District’s natural areas initiative, which now covers about 2,000 acres.
Hasle remembers a time when natives were hidden away in obscure places or placed behind shrubbery. Now native plants are highlighted — with, say, boardwalks for better viewing — and that sends a message, Hasle said.
“If it’s in the park, then it’s kind of like the government gave it its stamp of approval,” they said.
Similarly, the Field Museum installed its own large, colorful and prominently situated Rice Native Gardens, starting in 2016.
“I don’t think there was a moment when people said, ‘Oh, yeah, native plants are great.’ It’s been a lot of small shifts,” Hasle said.
Insects win fans Chicagoan Loyda Paredes was just looking for plants that would do well in her yard.
By chance, the plants she found 10 years ago on an online store included native cultivars.
Then, over the years, as she experimented in her garden, learned from her local garden club, joined more Facebook groups, and read articles people recommended, she got interested in native plants themselves.
Being out in her garden and seeing the insects it supports has shifted her outlook, too.
“You start to learn,” said Paredes, a real estate agent.
“It isn’t just the monarchs and bumblebees — there’s all these other insects that are beneficial and important and interesting.”
Paredes now has about 30 species of native plants growing in the front yard of her Northwest Side bungalow.
She has spotted a Carolina mantis on her property. But the eye-popping hummingbird moth, which does indeed look like a melding of the two creatures it’s named for, has (so far) eluded her.
“I’ve only seen videos,” she said.
Oak Park resident Judy Klem’s roots in native gardening go back further, but over time she, too, has leaned into the wildlife aspect.
Klem’s four children, now in their teens and early 20s, were still very young when she decided low-maintenance native plants were a good choice, given the demands on her time. She also wanted a pesticide-free yard that was great for the environment.
And she was inspired by Chicago’s influential Lurie Garden, which opened in 2004. The high-profile garden in Millennium Park has a naturalistic look and includes many native plants.
“They definitely turned the concept of a public garden up on its end,” said Klem, a nonprofit executive. “Once Lurie Garden demonstrated, ‘Here’s what you can do with a public space and look, it’s attracting all these interesting birds and butterflies,’ it was like, ‘Ooooh! I want some of that.’”
An ailanthus webworm moth on mountain mint in Amanda Nugent’s suburban garden. Nugent remarked, “These moths are good pollinators, and their bright colorings are a warning to possible predators to indicate that they taste bad (like Monarchs), because of the leaves that the caterpillars eat.
(STACEY WESCOTT / CHICAGO TRIBUNE / TNS)
Lee Reich | In the Garden
Popcorn can be easily grown in a backyard
AS THE CURTAIN CLOSES ON the summer garden and the autumn garden edges towards its glory, I’d like to offer thanks. No, not a religious thanks for a summer of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, okra, and other warm weather vegetables. But thanks to a person, the person who bred the Sungold cherry tomato.
Anyone not familiar with Sungold tomato should be. It’s sweet and tangy, not at all cloying, enveloped in persimmon-orange skin. I once grew over 20 varieties of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), including Sungold, for a magazine article. As a friend walked down the row, sampling fruit from each plant, she proclaimed, “That’s one row of lousy tomatoes.”
Agreed, excepting a few varieties, one of which was, of course, Sungold. The other exceptions were Gardener’s Delight, Sweet Million, and Suncherry, all three of which are rarely seen these days, probably because Sungold eclipsed the others with its distinctive
GARDEN NOTES
WEST SPRINGFIELD 9/11 Garden dedication
The West Springfield Garden Club will host a dedication of the recently redesigned 9/11 Memorial Garden on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. The location is at the town green on Park Street, opposite the West Springfield Public Library. The new garden is made possible by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the West Springfield Cultural Council. The public is invited to attend.
STOCKBRIDGE
Upcoming events at Berkshire
Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program. Thursdays, beginning Oct. 2 through Oct. 23, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. “New England Native Plant Design.”
This four-week course led by
Hanging ears of popcorn from a kitchen rafter provide decorative storage of these two great-tasting varieties, Pink Pearl popcorn and Pennsylvania Dutch Butter popcorn. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
appearance and, I think, even better flavor.
(My cherry tomato row didn’t include marble-size, so-called currant toma-
Bridghe McCracken, will help students better understand the principles and practices of ecological gardening with a focus on native plant communities. Students will learn the native plant palette, resources needed to identify these communities, habitats and methods of introducing native plants into gardens. Identifying and controlling invasive plant species, in addition to restoring areas that have been impacted by invasives, will also be highlighted. Gardeners will learn how to enhance garden spaces with native plants that create sustainable and low-maintenance gardens. Cost $215 members, $240 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
WILBRAHAM Wilbraham Garden Club
The Wilbraham Garden Club will hold its annual
toes, botanically, S. pimpinellifolium. They are very sweet, very small, and very tasty. I don’t grow them anymore because, for me, they’re too messy,
“Welcome Back” meeting in the St. Cecilia Parish Center at noon on Oct. 2. Rebecca Sadlowski, the owner of Rooted Flowers in Agawam will share “Flower Farm Life & Lasagna Layering in Pots” and will demonstrate how this method of bulb placement will yield a concentrated burst of spring. All levels of gardeners are welcome to attend and there is no guest fee for this meeting. Please contact Anna Howell at 413-537-5788 with any questions
SPRINGFIELD Horticulture specialty show
The Springfield Garden Club will present a Horticulture specialty show, “Let’s Party!” from Oct. 10-11. The purpose of the show is to expose to and educate the viewing public about the vast world of horticulture and will be staged in the Old Monkey House in Springfield’s Forest Park, which is next to the administration building. The show will feature
dropping fruits all over the place. The following year, seedlings can grow to become a tomato jungle.)
So, who was it that gave us Sungold? The only information I could sleuth out was that Sungold was developed in the 1990s by Japan’s Tokita Seed Co. Sungold was introduced to American and British gardens in 1992, soon became very popular, and has remained popular ever since.
With all that beauty and flavor, Sungold is not hard to grow. It starts bearing relatively early each season and remains healthy, bearing heavily all season long, well into fall weather. If Sungold has one fault, that would be that its thin skin is very prone to cracking. Since growing my row of lousy cherry tomatoes, I have heard good things about the varieties Golden Sweet, Sunsugar, Sunpeach, and Isis Candy. Mostly, they are touted as having very good flavor and thicker skins, less apt to crack following a downpour.
exhibits and themed horticultural categories, collections, and displays. The horticulture division will have 46 separate classes ranging from zinnias and coleus to boxwood and rhododendron to herbs and garden vegetables. There will be an educational division, “Pollinator Fiesta,” emphasizing the importance of pollinators as well as explaining what a pollinator is and the important work they do.
Entries will be judged by 18 Massachusetts nationally accredited flower show judges who will grant awards in all classes as well as for the overall show. All judges have
had years of rigorous training as well as winning awards themselves.
The show will be open to the public, Friday, Oct. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the show is included with admission to Forest Park. For more information on this and other Springfield Garden Club events go to www. springfieldgardenclubma. org or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/SpringfieldMA GardenClub/
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
What can happen if people wear their germy shoes in your house?
By L indsey B ever
The Washington Post
THE QUESTION: IS IT
true that your shoes can spread germs to the floors in your home and make you sick?
On any given day, you might trudge through a variety of stuff, including dirt and dog poop — and then walk into your home.
Your shoe soles can also pick up various microorganisms, including bacteria, and deposit them on the floors of your home, where your children and pets play.
That is one reason, aside from cultural and religious considerations, some people kick off their shoes at the door. But while gross, the germs on your shoes are unlikely to cause illness, some experts said.
In a small, widely cited study, researchers found that fecal bacteria such as E. coli, which can make you sick if they are ingested or make their way into a cut in your skin, were commonly present on the bottoms of shoes. And when those shoes came into contact with clean flooring, 90-99 percent of the bacteria were transferred to it. (The study was not peer reviewed and was funded by a shoe company marketing washable shoes.)
“The first three or four steps when you walk in the house are the most contaminated on the floor because you’re bringing all that stuff from outside and walking on the floors,” said Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona and co-author of the study.
Other studies have reported that Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can also be found on the bottoms of shoes.
“We live in a germy world,” and bacteria and viruses can be found on nearly any object, including our shoes, said William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University. But there aren’t any instances in the scientific literature of pathogens being transmitted from the soles of shoes to noses or mouths in high enough numbers to initiate infections, he said.
“That’s why we don’t have public health recommendations that people sanitize their shoes,” he said.
Schaffner, who sometimes wears street shoes in his own home, said it is more notable that “our hands can pick up germs, and then we touch
For me, a more major limitation of Sungold is that it’s not an heirloom. It’s an F1 hybrid variety, which means I can’t save seed myself for next year’s plants. Not if I want Sungold, that is, as opposed to a tomato that hints of Sungold but isn’t the real thing. Ever since Sungold was introduced, gardeners have been trying to develop an open-pollinated twin, that is, one that would be “true” from seed. So, I still buy and plant Sungold seed each year. I might try Isis Candy, which can come true from seed. Too bad about Sungold because saving vegetable and flower seeds provides such primal satisfaction, guarantees that you can grow a
our mouths, noses and eyes. That’s the mode of inoculation.”
Going shoeless at home has another benefit, some experts said.
When you wear shoes all the time, it may lead to deconditioning of the deeper muscles of the foot, said Amiethab Aiyer, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle conditions at Johns Hopkins. “Their relative strength and relative conditioning could lapse over time,” he said.
“From the perspective of maintaining strength and conditioning of the musculature in the feet, and to avoid the germ elements, it may be helpful to not wear shoes around the house,” he said.
From a cultural perspective, Aiyer, who is Indian American, said he and his family do not wear shoes in the house, both for cleanliness and out of respect for the home.
However, some people shouldn’t go barefoot at home. For example, if you have poor circulation or conditions such as neuropathy, which is nerve damage in the feet that can be caused by diabetes or chemotherapy, it can lead to the loss of protective sensation that may affect your ability to detect objects under foot, Aiyer said. Additionally, people who are at
favorite variety even if it’s no longer offered for sale, and saves some money. Every year I save seeds from such vegetables as Shirofuma edamame, Sweet Italia pepper, Picnic Orange pepper, and Ventura celery. Especially satisfying are the popcorn and polenta seeds I’ve saved over the years. Corn, after all, is a staple, a grain that we can each easily grow in our backyards. It’s more suited to backyard production than other grains because its grains (kernels) remain attached in profusion in a neat, husk-wrapped cylinder. That’s perfect for making the grain easy to gather at the end of the season, although not so good for a wild grain because the seeds are poorly dispersed.
Corn’s ancestor, teosinte, which originated in Mexico, was a better
increased risk of falling may need traction or improved perceived balance that shoes can provide, he said.
What else you should know
The experts we spoke to said there’s no real reason for you to routinely clean the bottoms of your shoes. However, if you are concerned about dirt or germs, here are tips from experts:
• Hand-wash shoes with soap and warm water to remove dirt and debris, particularly from the soles of shoes. Mix water with a small amount of dish soap and a washing powder (sodium carbonate), and give the bottoms “a good thorough scrub with a strong bristle brush,” said Zachary Pozniak, co-owner of Jeeves New York, a dry cleaning and shoe cleaning and repair service. Insoles that are removable can be handwashed and air-dried before placing them back in the shoe.
wild plant for dispersal, with each primitive ear hosting just a few kernels that had plenty of elbow room to grow once they dropped to the ground and sprouted.
Recently, we harvested one bed each of Dutch Butter popcorn and Pink Pearl popcorn.
These two varieties, in my opinion, taste far better than commercial varieties I’ve tasted even if they don’t puff up as large when popped. The white or pink ears also look very pretty hanging all winter from a rafter in the kitchen.
I started growing and saving polenta corn seeds a few years ago after being given a couple of mature ears of Otto File, an heirloom Italian variety whose name translates to “eight row,” which it has. The kernels have an orange tinge and, once ground —
• Disinfect the soles with a spray or wipe to help kill germs. Look for products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency to kill particular pathogens such as norovirus, a highly contagious germ that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. For better control when using disinfectant sprays, spray a clean towel with the solution and wipe the soles of the shoes rather than spraying directly onto the shoe, Pozniak said.
• Machine wash shoes only when the manufacturer label states so. Before washing shoes in the machine, pretreat stains by hand in the sink, Pozniak said. Do not wash materials such as leather or suede.
• Air dry unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Clothes dryers can ruin shoes. The bottom line: Our shoes can carry germs into the house, but they alone are unlikely to cause illness.
especially if ground fresh — cook up into a delectable polenta of distinctive flavor. This variety was almost lost, and I was given it as part of an effort to maintain it.
The one problem with growing popcorn and polenta corn is that each kind and variety has to be sufficiently isolated so that no cross-pollination occurs. So, I planted sweet corn in my north vegetable garden, and clumps of Otto File in the south field between the dwarf apple trees.
The two popcorn varieties go into the south vegetable garden. Evidently, they weren’t sufficiently isolated from each other because Dutch Butter sometimes has some pink kernels, and Pink Pearl sometimes has some white kernels. Even the mutts — Pink Dutch Pearl Butter? — taste very good.
The experts we spoke to said there’s no real reason for you to routinely clean the bottoms of your shoes. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Swatow a rustic, distinctive type of Chinese porcelain
COLLECTORS OFTEN CATEgorize types of East Asian porcelain by region or place name. For example, within the broad category of Chinese export porcelains, you have Canton and Nanking, both of which are blue and white with scenic patterns. Swatow porcelain, also named after a port city that exports passed through, may not be quite as popular, but it is more distinctive. It often has a more rustic look than other types of Chinese porcelain, with a coarse texture and gritty base. Designs have a looser, freehand look, and color fields often spread slightly past their outlines. It can be blue and white, but it can also be seen in other colors, like red, green, turquoise, and sometimes yellow. Many designs and patterns exist, including landscapes, animals, and mythical creatures.
The Swatow dish shown here, which sold for $322 at Turner Auctions + Appraisals, has a popular pattern in turquoise and red, with a split pagoda in the center and oval vignettes alternating with blocks of seal script. It dates back to about the 17th century, which was believed to be the peak of Swatow ware production. The script on this dish may be entirely decorative, without an intended meaning. Swatow porcelain was made to export; its prospective buyers were not expected to be able to read Chinese characters. Some known examples have Arabic lettering. Others depict European ships. Designs like those indicate where the pieces were meant to be sold. Experts consider the name “Swatow ware” a misnomer. Historical and archaeological evidence indicate that the porcelain was made in Zhangzhou, another Chinese port city.
Q. I have an old black-and-white photo that my father took when we visited New York City in 1954. It was at a theatre showing King Kong and Abbot and Costello. There is a large King Kong figure outside the theatre. Is it worth anything?
A. It may be. Even if your father isn’t a known photographer, “found photographs” of everyday subjects taken by amateurs have sold as art since the 1990s. You may want to contact an antique dealer in your area. Some antiquarian book dealers buy and sell antique photographs, too. Because of the subject of your photograph, it may also interest movie memorabilia collectors. They would probably give you the
Swatow porcelain can be recognized by its rustic look. Some pieces were blue and white, but multiple colors of overglaze enamels, like turquoise and red, were also popular. (TURNER AUCTIONS + APPRAISALS)
best price. Look for a dealer or auction house that sells classic movie posters or other memorabilia.
Q. I have an antique sword with a long, thin blade and a small flower on the metal guard on the handle. It has a scabbard with a metal loop. What can you tell me about it? I am looking to sell it for the right price.
A. It sounds like your sword is what collectors call a Russo-Japanese sword, also known as a kyu-gunto. They were Japanese swords used from about 1883 to 1945. The design was based on European sabers, but the flower on the hilt is a Japanese cherry blossom. Officers carried them during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) and World War II. These swords come in many different designs. They had different ornamentation according to an officer’s rank or where the officer was stationed. Blades could be hand forged or machine-made. Scabbards could be made of various materials, including metal, wood, lacquer, or leather. These swords generally sell for about $200-$300, but a high-ranking officer’s sword or
one with a very elaborate or distinctive design can sell for thousands of dollars. For more specific information about yours, like a precise date or what rank it was for, look for the book Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 by Jim Dawson. Military Trader magazine, published by the same company as Kovels Antique Trader, may also have more information. Before you sell your sword, be sure to check your local laws. Some cities and states have strict restrictions on selling any kind of weapon. Look for a dealer or auction house that specializes in military collectibles. World War II reenactors may also be interested in your sword or help you find a buyer.
TIP: Maroon and yellowish chromegreen colors were never used to decorate porcelain during the 18th century.
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
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, plate, figural, flower, shaded purple to brown, four petals, yellow center, green leaves, lobed trim, France, 6 1/2 inches, $45. Toy, chicken, Susie the Laying Hen, spring mechanism, tin lithograph, box, Wyandotte, 7 x 8 inches, $60.
Glass-Bohemian, vase, amber cut to clear, flared, globular base, short pedestal foot, blown, 11 inches, pair, $160.
Lamp, electric, wrought iron, painted, black, pierced shade, peaked top, green leaves, pierced base, tapered, spirals, leaves, round foot, art deco, 22 1/2 inches, $185. Toy, car, coupe, Fire Department, Siren Fire Chief, red, yellow lettering, black tires, Marx, 16 inches, $240.
Textile, tapestry, La Dame A La Licorne, medieval style figures, two women, lion, unicorn, flags, trees, printed, France, 54 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches, $305.
Advertising, sign, Spur, Canada Dry, bottle graphic, crown and shield logo, Ice Cold, It’s a Finer Cola, green, white, red, tin, 30 x 13 1/2 inches, $470.
Bookends, Prometheus, figural, kneeling figure, holding dish with flaming torch on shoulders, bronze, square base, art deco, 15 1/2 inches, $515.
Lantern, paper, multicolor scene, red characters on reverse, hand-painted, wrought iron stays, brass collar, collapses, Chinese, 42 inches, $905.
Furniture, sideboard, Tom Robertson, Dunvegan, teak, three graduated drawers beside two doors beside fall-front compartment, pullout tray, label, McIntosh, mid-20th century, 30 x 79 inches, $1,845.
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, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels. com.
MCLEAN,
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage edges higher
Rate rises after declining the previous 4 weeks
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year U.S. mortgage ticked up this week, ending a four-week slide that brought down borrowing costs for homebuyers to the lowest level in nearly a year.
The rate rose to 6.3% from 6.26% last week, mortgage
Deeds
AGAWAM
buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.08%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also edged higher. The average rate rose to 5.49% from 5.41% last week. A year ago, it was 5.16%, 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 in-
David L. Wells and Karen E. Foss to Jennifer Cote, 62 Clematis Road, $375,000.
Dolores T. Shea to Mykola Mokhnatskyi, 96 Roberta Circle, $365,000.
Hayder Dawood and Nejaih Darraji to Christopher T. Lombardi, 529 Mill St., $330,000.
Hillside Development Corp., to Sharon Hamel and David Hamel, 166 Nicole Terrace, $625,000.
Jennifer Cote and David Arthur Cote to Todd Helems, 125 Woodside Drive, $565,000.
John S. Convertino to Sherrie Szafranski, 38 North West St., $320,000.
Sharleen Diaz to Nelcilia Telfort and Willy Telfort, 30 Royal Lane, $425,000.
AMHERST
Jean A. Kentfield to Audrey Bulger, 1535 South East St., $410,000.
Dennis Dwayne Corkran, trustee, Dennis Dwayne Corkran Revocable Living Trust, Peggy Jeanne Corkran, trustee, and Peggy Jeanne Corkran Revocable Living Trust, to Lawrence E. Manire, trustee, and Manire Revocable Trust, 124 Pomeroy Lane, $560.000.
Amhad Development Corp. to Judith Brodsky, trustee, and Brodsky Living Trust, 28 Greenleaves Drive, $415,000.
ASHFIELD
Gerald A. Itzkoff and Julia Itzkoff Ruby, “aka” Julia Ruby, individually and as trustees of the Itzkoff Realty Trust, to Jeffrey B. Barden, trustee of the Bassett Farm Realty Trust, John Ford Road, $390,000.
BELCHERTOWN
John C. Nadeau and Laurie A. Nadeau to Javier Cruz and Hilda V. Fuentes Hernandez, 595
flation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The yield was at 4.19% in midday trading Thursday, up from 4.16% late Wednesday.
Starting in late July, mortgage rates mostly declined in the lead-up to the Federal Reserve’s widely anticipated decision last week to cut its main interest rate for the first time in a year amid growing concern over the U.S. job market.
Bardwell St., $370,000.
Laura E. McLaughlin and Michael J. McLaughlin to Brian Sousa and Julie Sousa, North Liberty Street, $110,000.
Edward O. Mathurin Jr., and Lore E. Mathurin to Bryan Hughes and Meghan Hughes, 33 Helen Lane, $685,000
PAH Properties LLC, to Choquette Capital Properties LLC, 485 Amherst Road, $475,000.
Belchertown Town to Robert Mileski, 720 Franklin St., $150,300.
Darin W. Braese and Angela Braese to Allison Cote and Ethan Lafleur, 612 North Liberty St., $415,000
Kira Dulaney, trustee, and Eva Adelheid Kristensen Revocable Trust to Joseph Bye Jr., 85 North Main St., $346,000.
Joseph A. Jacintho, trustee, and Joseph A. Jacintho Revocable Trust to B&B Realty Partners LLC, 285 Granby Road, $225,007.
Gordon W. Boyce and Debra-Ann Boyce to Cordelia McKusick and Alexander Washut, 12 Old Bay Road, $950,000.
BRIMFIELD
Andrew T. Porter and Cynthia Sowa Forgit to Tiyika Minton and Kimberly Minton, 12 Paige Hill Road, $458,000.
Janelle N. Morin to Thomas G. Lynds, Brookfield Road, $100.
Jewel Real Estate Inc., to Mark Kline, 199 Palmer Road, $130,000.
Jewel Real Estate Inc., to Mark Kline, 67 Tower Hill Road, $65,000.
CHESTER
Brendan Mackechnie, Zachary Mackechnie and Scott Mackechnie to Zachary Mackechnie and Dallas Seltzer, 277 Skyline Trail, $550,000.
Deane R. Messeck Jr., and Kimberly Ann R. Messeck to Kyle Bienia and Anna Bienia, 275 Goss Hill Road, $480,000.
Karen L. Sakaske to J. Sperry Realty LLC, 11 Campbell Road, $200,000.
The recent downward trend bodes well for prospective homebuyers who have been held back by stubbornly high home financing costs.
The housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. And, so far this year, sales are running below where they were at this time in 2024.
This week’s rise in rates could signal a repeat of what
Richard A. Light and Rosemarie S. Light to Michael Szalaji, 0 Skyline Trail, $40,000.
CHICOPEE
Audrey J. Bovard, estate, and Carol Ann Karol, representative, to Jason R. Bliss, 51 Doverbrook Road, Unit 6071A, $225,000.
Christian A. Cosme and Julianna K. Martinelli to Brianna Dunn, 67 Mitchell Drive, Q10, $198,000.
David C. Berthold to Danielle Lefebvre and Alfredo David, 47 Sullivan St., $305,000.
David J. Dingee and Maureen S. Dingee to Renee A. Rodolakis and Joseph E. Currier, 233 Basil Road, $479,000.
Diane M Szlachetka, Richard Bolduc, Nancy J Harper, Roger Bolduc and Yvette Bolduc to Anthony Wheeler and Lauren Wheeler, 63 Chapin St, $225,000.
Elite Investment Group LLC, to Carlos Rivera-Melo, Maria Melo De Rivera and Maria Melo De Rivera, 72 College St., $350,000.
Slawomir P. Madro and Gianna Madro to Clarissa Torres, 200 Lambert Terrace, Unit 71, $267,000.
DEERFIELD
Mary Ann Warner and Paul Warner to Casey Downie and Keegan Downie. Pine Nook Road, $151,500.
Bank of America NA, trustee of the Anne D. Rogers Trust, to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Pine Nook Road and River Road, $1,520,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Bryan Hughes and Meghan Hughes to Trevor
happened about a year ago after the Fed cut its benchmark rate for the first time in more than four years. Back then, mortgage rates fell for several weeks prior to the when the Fed cut rates at its September 2024 policy meeting. In the weeks that followed, however, mortgage rates began rising again, eventually reaching just above 7% in mid-January. Like last year, the Fed’s rate cut doesn’t necessarily mean mortgage rates will keep declining, even as the central bank signals more cuts ahead.
S. Banas and Samantha R. Gilpatrick, 103 Pleasant St., $330,000.
Erin Beck-Richard and Erin Beck to Brittany Trombley and Kyle Tomas, 65 Harwich Road, $365,000.
Gaurav Yadav, Inda Gaurav and Inda Yadav to Julie Burger and Oded Burger, 10 Silver Fox Lane, $655,000.
Irina Taylor to Zhi Huang, 37 Terry Lane, $718,000.
Sai Wen He and Sheng Dong to Thomas A. Prosser Jr., 18 Brook St., $460,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Sally Rourke to Tiny Dreams Property LLC, 15 Davis St., $330,000.
Jillian M. Duclos to Christopher St. Martin, 2 Mutter St., $66.500
David H. Lucchesi and Eva-Maye Lucchesi to Kyle Lucchesi and Alyssa Burgess, 119 Ferry St., $425,000.
Dawn Lemoine, Renee Gworek, Sherill Larouche, Sherill A. Larouche and Dawn Lemoine, attorney in fact, to One Root RE LLC, 211 East St., $350,000.
GRANBY
Kimberley J. Kibbie to Kimberley J. Kibbie and Michael A. Kibbie, 11 Griswold Circle, $100.
Michael P. Sheridan and Robin R. Sheridan to Kristy J. Daniels and Sandra Orsulic, 68 and 74 Aldrich St., $595,000.
Edward C. Shyloski & Sons Inc., to Kotowicz Custom Homes LLC, Chicopee Street, $65,000.
Brian J. Williams and Kimberly A. Williams to William Bateson and Elayna Bartolomeo, 12 Pleasant St., $435,000.
GRANVILLE
Patrick Sullivan and Colleen K. Sullivan to Scott Robert Taylor Jr., and Susan Alice Behan, 176 Silver St., $995,000.
Deeds
GREENFIELD
Anastasia E. Sirois and Michael P. Sirois to Zachary A. Pyfrom, 292 Deerfield St., $280,000.
Cynthia A. Gammell to Ronald B. Golay and Virginia D. Golay, 161 Wisdom Way, $328,185.
Christina Gexler and Jesse Gexler to Kevin P. Shimeld, 25 Keegan Lane, Unit 5C, College Park Condominium, $195,000.
HADLEY
John A. Stanley to Tammy J. Stanley, Susan A. Brand and Alan H. R. Stanley, trustees, and John A. Stanley Irrevocable Trust, 282 Bay Road, $100.
HAMPDEN
Constance C. Cooley, trustee, Constance Cooley Revocable Trust, trustee of, and Constance C. Cooley Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Joseph F. Davis and Emma L. Chechile, 181 Sessions Drive, $300,000.
Keith D. Lemelin-Bliss and Stephanie L. Lemelin-Bliss to Rowan Sutton and Rowdy Vinson, 376 Chapin Road, $496,000.
Scott T. Mason, Jaime M. Bordoni and Jaime M. Mason to JoeJoe Properties LLC, 12 Rose Circle, $460,000.
HEATH
Christopher L. Bradway to Angelo A. Naticchioni, 8 Eastbrook Drive, “fka” 4 and 8 Cheyanne St., $5,000.
Margaret M. Sitko to Barbara June Gordon and David J. Gordon, 60 Avery Brook Road, $142,000.
HOLLAND
Bruce Przygocki to Gary Naples and Sarah Irene Naples, 43 Lake Drive, $215,000.
Renee Snay, representative, Jeremy P. Fontaine, representative, and Kenneth R. Fontaine, estate, to Lisa Boudreau LLC, 61 Sturbridge Road, $200,000.
HOLYOKE
B&B Real Estate LLC, to John E. Leahy and Rebecca J. Leahy, 14 Longfellow Road, $470,000.
Dnepro Properties LLC, to Madison Palffy, 526 Pleasant St., Unit F, $165,000.
Gary S. Olszewski, trustee, and Gary O. Family Trust, trustee of, to Cheryl A. Jacques, 717 Northampton St., Unit 65, $501,000.
Joseph Whitman to Iakov Nazarov, 2 Arbor Way, #C, $128,000. Netflips LLC, to Dennis Burgos, 349-351 Main St., $300,000.
PAH Properties LLC to Leannice Del Valle, 136 Oak St., $485,000.
LONGMEADOW
Barbara S. Thomas to Kelly Elizabeth Loftus and Christopher Timothy Loftus, 223 Wolf Swamp Road, $380,000.
David L. Rainey and Elizabeth A. Rainey to Matthew Murphy and Taylor Hodle, 291 Deep Woods Drive, $630,000.
Stephen Thomas George DiGiacomo and Jessica DiGiacomo to Meili Song and Shengyi Wu, 72 Converse St., $450,000.
Susan E. Denmark and Scott H. Sheldon to Nakul Ravikumar and Prarthna Bhardwaj, 7 Twin Hills Drive, $1,050,000.
LUDLOW
Ludlow Town to Gary P, Matthess, O Chapin Street, $8,000.
Ludlow Town to SZF Properties LLC., 32 Rood St., $195,000.
Michael A Obrzut, representative, and Michael Stanley Obrzut Jr., to Jospeh P. Sepanek, 763 Chapin St., $298,000.
MONSON
HB4 Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust to Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, 37 Bridge St., $150,000.
Paradise Lake Road LLC, to Geoffrey D. Parke and Ruana G. Parke, 34 Paradise Lake Road, $350,000.
Sheilah M. Keane and Louis Albert to John W. Hibbard Jr., and Melissa A, Hibbard, 18 Palmer Road, Unit 19, $331,000.
MONTAGUE
Mirna Alvarez to Jimena D. Cabezas de Pareja and Byron R. Pareja, 34 O St., $335,000.
NEW SALEM
Nicholas J. Curry and Ruth M. Curry to Joseph J. Daley, 182 Neilson Road, $359,000.
NORTHAMPTON
John Moran and Karen Moran to Matthew J. Markert and Lucia C. Markert, 8 Warner St., $775,000. Marie C. Brouwers, personal representative, and Lissa A. Brouwers, estate, to Jason S. Donaldson, trustee, and Coalie Realty Trust, 208 North Elm St., $316,000. Ortega LLC, to Five Rivers Inc., 80
Damon Road, $250,000.
WAM LLC, to GBT Associates LLC, 115 Industrial Drive, $2,950,000.
Ronnie L. Field and Lawrence Field to Ronnie Lea Field, trustee, and Lawrence Henry Field, trustee, 15 Rustlewood Ridge, $100.
Robert W. Burkhart to Ashley Rehner, 34 Laurel Park, $280,000.
Emily C. Griffen and Anders A. Griffen to John Olin Mitchell, 35 Marshall St., $520,000.
Kelly R. Baxter and Nathan A. Moyer to Meredith Rochette and Renee Rochette, 237 Glendale Road, $640,000.
ORANGE
Elizabeth Livingston and George Raheb to Melani P. Ogando and Ruben Ogando, 19 High St., $299,900.
Thomas W. Donahue to Annette J. Allain and Thomas H. Allain, 92 Wheeler Ave., $310,000.
Darrian J. Kiely and Torin C. Kiely to Abdullah Usman, 387 S. Main St., $175,000.
PALMER
Kevin M. Jusko and Sherri L. Lajzer to Daniel Touchette, 89 Belanger St., $220,000.
Renee E. Rochette and Meredith D. Rochette to John Lendway and Samantha Lendway, 23 Fieldstone Drive, $499,000.
PELHAM
Joseph S. Larson and Wendy N. Larson to Marion E. Larson and Sandra F. Larson, trustees, and Larson Family Trust, 27 Arnold Road and Butterhill Road, $100.
PLAINFIELD
Beverly A. White to Beverly A. White, trustee, and White Family Revocable Trust, 44 Campbell Road, $100.
RUSSELL
Dewey M. Kolvek and Kimberly A. Kolvek to Joseph Liberti and Monica Liberti, 716 Woodland Way, $615,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Ian Gabbidon to Laurel J. Dugre, 41 West Summit St., $260,000.
Amanda Denz to Huilang Yuan, 124 College St., $264,900.
William Jerome and Brenda Jerome to Lisa Ann Paixao, 41 West Summit St., $190,000.
Zachary Evan Martin and Pamela Rose Martin to Michael Sawicki, 149 North Main St., $415,000.
William T. Baxter Sr. and William T.
Baxter to Brandon St. Hilaire and Kayla St. Hilaire, 4 Lyman Terrace, $450,000.
William Baxter Jr., attorney-in-fact, William T. Baxter, attorney-in-fact, William Baxter Jr., William T. Baxter Jr. and Erika Frado to Brandon St. Hilaire and Kayla St. Hilaire, 4 Lyman Terrace, $450,000.
Philip S. Thomas, Sarah A. Thomas and Sarah A. Bourbeau to James Duffy and Kara Duffy, 309 Hadley St., $595,000.
Timothy T. O’Donnell and Brandon J. O’Donnell, attorney-in-fact, to Lindsay Louise Smith, trustee, Lindsay Louise O’Donnell, trustee, and Timothy Thomas O’Donnell Irrevocable Trust, 84 Pine Grove Drive, $452,000.
Patrick Murphy to Andrea Ricketts-Preston and Stephanie Ricketts-Preston, 64 Bardwell St., $361,000.
Kyle J. Callahan to Crystal Barnes, 11 Laurie Ave., $330,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Sarah E. O’Donnell to Julianna K. Martinelli and Christian A. Cosme, 198 College Highway, $318,000.
Carol A. Paluca, trustee, and F. Daniel Paluca & Carol A. Paluca Realty Trust to Zachary Anthony Cabana and Lauren Cabana, 4 Susan Drive, $112,000.
Deborah M. Trudeau to Liam C. O’Connor and Kaitlyn N. Daysh, 121 East St., $320,000.
SOUTHWICK
Deborah Elias to Michael Leander and Linda Leander, 116 Congamond Road, $537,500.
Lisa M. Morse to Bridget Mancini, 24 Congamond Road, $425,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and 102-104 Davenport Trust, trustee of, to Leyfi Arias Sanchez and Juliana P. Hiraldo, 443-445 Cadwell Drive, $415,000.
Carlos Cruz, Veronica Cruz and Veronica Breban to Neffortiti Bamfo Okyere, 24 Arliss St., $350,000.
Darla Rivest to Hahn Chanh, 44 Gillette Road, $371,000.
David Ehrlich and Sharon Ehrlich to Susan Scaletta, 109 Jamestown Drive, Unit 109, G66, $349,000.
Diane H. Hunter to Luis Daniel Arroyo Jr., and Isaliz Marie Reyes, 103 Monrovia St., $275,000.
Everett Handford to Everett Handford and Latanya Handford, 95 Patricia Circle, $100.
David J. Pluta Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, and Todd C. Ratner, trustee, to Pablo Heriberto Flores-Martinez, 1396 Berkshire Ave., $275,000.
Fernando D Dos Santos and Fernando Dias Dos Santos to Jennifer De Jesus De Vasquez and Jose Anibal Vasquez Urena, 166 Drexel St, $300,000.
Forest Orchard LLC, to Unlimited Plus Realty LLC, 396 Main St., $110,000.
Gemini Townhomes LLC, to Roberto J. Ortiz Martinez, 54 Morris St., Unit 602, $227,000.
Jeffrey P. Czelusniak and Aggie M. Czelusniak to Vicki L. Anderson, 331 Parkerview St., $330,000.
Jessica U. Bergeron to Cassidy Britton, 50-52 Milton St., $365,000.
JJJ17 LLC, to Jinzy Mariam George, 89 Firglade Ave., $517,500.
Linda Pierson to Luis Manuel Torres, 130 Merida St., $225,000.
Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaniello, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to Marian N. Tombri, 84 North Brook Road, $322,000.
Michael L. Biscaldi and Thomas F. Connors to Karla Maria Rivera Lozada, 111-112 Farnham Ave., $75,000.
Milagros Rodriguez and George Rodriguez to Megan Fueston, 34 Canterbury Road, $260,000. Mint Realty Group , to Nyasia Lopez, 854-856 Worthington St., $394,000.
NRES LLC, to Joshua Fines, 25 West Crystal Brook Drive, $420,000.
PAH Properties LLC, to Grace Obeng, 48 Lawnwood St. $380,000.
PAH Properties LLC, to Jesus Manuel Vazquez Rosario, 117 Croyden Terrace, $340,000.
Parmar Enterprises Inc., to Burhan Holdings One LLC, 1356 Boston Road, Unit 3, $285,000.
Randall C. Wing to Anibelka Reyes, 94 Fenimore Boulevard, $345,000. Robert Lopez to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Kokoleka Realty Trust, trustee of, 61-63 Wilcox St., $160,000.
Round Two LLC, to Jose Alex Hincapie, 169 Centre St., $300,000.
Round Two LLC, to Shakayla Stetesha Jones Washington, 21-23 Howes St., $410,000.
Salvatore DeCesare and Gia DeCesare to Jose Javier Garcia, 46 Wildwood Ave., $360,000.
Samone Arielle Nowlin and Samone Nowlin to Reinaldo Pacheco and Alisha E. Rodriguez Rivera, 67 Grandview St., $268,000.
Sheila Scott to Michael Munoz, 3537 Daviston St., $376,000.
Native
As time went on, Klem became more interested in the wildlife her garden sustains, including goldfinches, butterflies and bees.
Today, she keeps binoculars in the kitchen, so family members can enjoy backyard highlights such as a recent two-week visit by a fledgling cardinal.
“It was like this entertainment show in the backyard,” Klem said of the cardinal’s sojourn. “We were all sending pictures to the whole-family chat.”
Hopes and fears
During a tour of her garden, Nugent pointed out one insect after another.
There were the big black wasps, surprisingly striking with their iridescent blue sheen. There was the fluffy yellow and black bumblebee with bright orange “pollen baskets” on her hind legs.
Deeds
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F9
“They’ll collect all this pollen on their bellies and fur and then at some point they’ll rest and use their legs to kind of rub it and collect it down into their pollen baskets, and pack it down,” Nugent said.
A hummingbird moth appeared as if on cue; an ailanthus webworm moth with jewel-like orange and white patterns running down its back crawled onto Nugent’s finger. A pair of fierce-looking ambush bugs mated on a boneset plant.
During a recent group tour of Nugent’s gardens, a black swallowtail emerged from its chrysalis, the hard covering that protects the insect as it transforms into a butterfly.
“That’s my favorite part: that there’s magic happening all the time — if we just look for it,” Nugent said.
Gardening with a purpose comes with its own pressures. Nugent said she worries that native plants aren’t catching on fast enough
to head off the decline of insects.
“But then I spend the time
WENDELL
Standing Bear LLC, to Unlimited Plus Realty LLC, 178-180 Main St., $500,000.
Tower Property Management LLC, receiver, Springfield City, Warren A. Lavoice Sr., Garealdine Lavoice, Kathleen Shield, Robert Duchesne and Gail Brown to Tower Property Management LLC, 53 Freeman Terrace, $141,500.
Tuan Truong to Thy Truong, 123 Appleton St., $220,000.
Wanda Sanchez and Eugenio R. Tejada Diaz to Orlando J. Tavarez Monegro, 43 Plumtree Road, $325,000.
Welhington S. Dasilva to Mariela Melendez De Martinez, 49 Prospect St., $455,000.
SUNDERLAND
KIPA Realty Inc., to Deborah A. Madden and Laura Madden, 414 Russell St., $455,000.
Ronald A. Washburn and Stephanie Washburn to Andrew D. Clogston and Amanda Majewski, 168 N. Main St., $474,230.
WARE
Michael R. Horrigan, personal representative, Cecelia K. Horrigan, estate, and Robert Horrigan to Michael R. Horrigan, Bondsville Road Off, $100.
David R. Silloway and Norma D. Silloway to Hunter Piche, 60 Cummings Road, $675,000.
Jan M. Stiefel to Drew Joseph Handy and Giovanna Violetta Handy, 129 Montague Road, $430,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Bayram Kadimov and Asiya Iskandarova to Nilson De Sa, 94 Baldwin St., $400,000. Christopher D. Fager to Christopher Comack, 87 Havenhurst Road, $540,000.
Dmitriy Shalypin and Lilia N. Shalypina to Roman Kirstia, 39-41 East School St., $500,000.
Geecaa Investments LLC, to Wendy Deboise, 80 Brush Hill Ave., Unit 26A, $192,000.
Marc R. Bryden, Tammy Bryden and Tammy F. Nova to Sara Koizumi, 40 Field St., $284,900.
Sally H. Langton, estate, Sally Hathaway Langton, estate, and Christine F. Cosby, representative, to James M. Stoddard, 20 Harney St., $290,000.
WESTFIELD
Francis L. Blanchard, trustee, John H. Blanchard, trustee, and Francis E. Blanchard Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Denis Godbout, Surrey Lane, $85,000.
Joseph P. Liberti and Monica J. Liberti to
in my yard, or my clients’ yards, and I see all the ‘buzz’ and I think, it’s all OK. And
then I get hopeful,” she said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Nancy A. Brown and Thomas E. Brown, 30 Radisson Lane, $571,000.
Julie A. Thompson and Michael Pease to Bryan Mruk, 14 Old Park Lane, $647,000.
Karen Siart to Amber Whitehill, 419 Southwick Road, Unit M-56, $320,000.
Marlene Wresien, representative, and Eleanor C. Maloney, estate, to Zachary Mackechnie, Brendan Mackechnie and Scott Mackechnie, life estate, 59 Susan Drive, $434,000.
Scott G. Mortimer to Mikaela Spence, 48 Darby Drive, $458,000.
Squires 101 LLC, to Emmanouil Karathanasopoulos and Emmanouil Fotaras, 33 Miller St., $359,900.
Zachary S Mackechnie and Zachary S. Mackenchnie to Jack Masciadrelli, 22 Pinewood Lane, $335,000.
WILBRAHAM
Amandeep Guliani and Nidhi A. Thaker to Philip M. McCarthy, 5 Kensington Drive, $830,000.
Bretta Construction LLC, to Ryan Costello and Melissa J. Fecteau, 20 Wellfleet Drive, $810,000.
Krista M. Mazucca, Krista M. Marinelli, Michael Mazzuca and Krista M. Mazzuca to Veronica Cruz and Carlos Cruz, 7 Scenic Drive, $558,000.
MCO Construction LLC, to Aidan John Baceski, 25 Pineywood Ave., $326,250.
Sean B. Fitzgerald and Jennifer C. Fitzgerald to CKJ Realty LLC, 495-497 Springfield St., $395,000.
Walter W. Tyszka to Fumi Realty Inc., 3076 Wilbraham Road, $206,000.
WILLIAMSBURG
Denise Rondeau to GB Property LLC, 27-29 Goshen Road, $72,000.
Jonathan Caplan to Stephaine R. Reitman, 15 North Main St., $346,800.
Carol Demerski, personal representative, and Jean York, estate, to Rachel Goodenow, 2 North St., $355,000.
WORTHINGTON
J. Huntington Chase to Dylan Young, 269 River Road, $392,000.
A great black wasp, a type of digger wasp, walks on a non-native ornamental onion in Amanda Nugent’s suburban garden on Aug. 25 in Wilmette, Illinois. While most of Nugent’s gardens are filled with native plants, Nugent says she plants the onion “to thwart the serious bunny population.” (STACEY WESCOTT / CHICAGO TRIBUNE / TNS)
