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Home & Garden F |

| SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025

& Real Estate

INSIDE

ANTIQUES: Ceramic Christmas trees developed in the 1950s, F7

IN THE GARDEN: Seeking the wonderful aroma of balsam, F6

A Ralph Lauren Christmas

Company’s preppy style is having a major fashion moment. Page F2

F2 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025

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Andrea Felsted | Bloomberg

The ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ trend is marketing gold

F YOU’VE BEEN scrolling through social media lately, you won’t have escaped the plaid trimmings, pine garlands and rich red ribbons, all warmed by the glow of a roaring fire. Welcome to “Ralph Lauren Christmas.” The aesthetic, which demonstrates how to create Ralph Lauren Corp.’s signature style for the holidays, has been trending recently, sending the brand’s visibility soaring. This viral moment has been years in the making. Ralph Lauren has been polishing its image and honing its product range for the best part of a decade. And luck has been on its side, with the company squarely in the intersection of several fortunate trends. Preppy style is having a major fashion moment, and Ralph Lauren is the look, thanks to its traditional staples such as cable-knit sweaters, blazers and rugby shirts. Even the quarter zip craze, which heralds a return to more sophisticated casual dressing, is contributing to the brand’s popularity, Laurent Vasilescu, analyst at BNP Paribas SA, wrote in a recent note. Social media narratives take inspiration not just from how we dress but also how we feel. In uncertain times — particularly over the holidays — we often take comfort from the traditions of the past. Add in the old money vibe of quiet lux-

“It is really about incorporating things you love, the pieces that feel meaningful,” Smith says. (PHOTO COURTESY JEN SMITH)

Styles featuring a palette of red, couple of months should have burgundy and green, punctuhelped it deepen its connection ated by hints of gold, as well as with shoppers. tartans and teddy bear motifs The narrative has also highare appearing in chains on both lighted Ralph Lauren’s home sides of the Atlantic. Vans, for décor and hospitality offerings, example, has gone big on plaid. reinforcing its broader lifestyle Some social media posts show credentials, something the how to get the look for less at company is keen to develop. the likes of Amazon.com Inc. And when the preppy look At the other end of the price wanes, as it naturally will, spectrum, Hugo Boss AG has Ralph Lauren should be able to collaborated with teddy bear adapt. It is one of the few luxury maker Steiff, while Burberry companies to retain distinct Group Plc has created a Gund sub-brands, from its high-end bear as part of its tie-up with Purple Label to the heritage Macy’s Inc.’s Bloomingdale’s. workwear of Double RL, so it But given that the style is so has a good chance of tapping intrinsically linked with Ralph into whatever fancy comes Holiday decor in Jen Smith’s home in Massachusetts. Cover Lauren, the company is likely next. Its strategy of growing photo: Smith loves tartan but recommends that people focus in womenswear, particularly on layering rather than buying new decor. (PHOTOS COURTESY JEN SMITH) to be the biggest winner. The holiday pop ups have so far handbags, is another way to ury, which might be in its final its cafes and restaurants, the generated about $6 million in make up any shortfall. throes of popularity but refuses brand has been at the forefront value from social media posts, There is scope for Ralph Lauto disappear, and searches of luxury’s push into hospitality. engagement and articles, acren to continue flexing its marfor “Ralph Lauren inspired While Ralph Lauren Christcording to Launchmetrics. keting muscles, too. It recently Christmas” on Pinterest are up mas grew organically, the Revenue in the all-importrevealed the uniforms that the 3,000% in the four weeks to company has encouraged an ant golden quarter looks to be US Olympic and Paralympic Nov. 15 compared with the year association with the season. benefiting as well. Based on teams will wear for the winter earlier. This includes holiday pop-ups Bloomberg Second Measure games opening and closing cerSo, how did the company in Seoul, Tokyo, Los Angeles data for the third quarter to emonies in Milan in February position itself for this moment and London, where in Sloane date, Ralph Lauren’s sales and will outfit athletes again for in the viral sun? Under Chief Square visitors can sip hot choc- through its own US stores and the Los Angeles summer games Executive Officer Patrice Louolate, buy a holiday gift, make website are tracking well ahead in 2028. Ralph Lauren should vet, who took the reins in 2017 a seasonal floral display or visit of consensus expectations for consider an LVMH-style take— and of course its eponymous Santa’s grotto. North American sales growth, over of the event on its home founder, who remains actively The queues for selfies by according to Mary Ross Gilbert, turf to keep its name at the foreinvolved — Ralph Lauren has the vintage red pick-up truck an analyst at Bloomberg Intelfront of consumers’ minds. moved closer to the European — with some sporting the ligence. Ralph Lauren looks well luxury houses such as LVMH signature Polo Bear sweater The shares, which slipped positioned to adjust to changing Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton — underline Ralph Lauren’s after some investors were unseasons — and changing fashSE. It’s done so by taking its im- marketing genius. The founder derwhelmed by the next stage ions. If so, the buzz around the age upmarket and cutting back himself is Jewish, born Ralph of the turnaround outlined in brand should linger long after on selling through less chichi Lifshitz in the Bronx. Yet his September, hit a fresh high in the pine needles have dropped retailers. Even its outlet stores, ability to draw people from all late November. and the tree trims have been which play an important but un- walks of life into his particular Social media fads can quickly packed away. disclosed role in the business, vision of the American dream fade: Google and Pinterest data Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg have undergone a glow up. has made his company as much indicate that the Ralph Lauren Opinion columnist covering conAs part of this strategy, Ralph a Christmas staple as eggnog holiday aesthetic may have sumer goods and the retail indusLauren has invested in its core and It’s a Wonderful Life. And already peaked. But the halo try. Previously, she was a reporter stores — where its particular it’s worth noting that he’s done around the brand over the past for the Financial Times. holiday look is very much in so by embracing rather than igevidence — and concentrated noring the country’s diversity. HVAC ELECTRICAL PLUMBING on the products it is best known For an example, look to the refor. The timing has been fortu- tailer’s 2022 collaboration with itous: the brand is looking both two historically Black colleges, luxe and accessible even as Eu- which continued this year with ropean rivals have aggressively a collection celebrating Oak increased prices. Bluffs, a town on Martha’s The turnaround has been Vineyard that is a summer augmented by effective market- haven for Black Americans. ing, such as taking its Polo Bear Ralph Lauren isn’t the only from merchandise to the big one to benefit from the ChristYour Home • Your Comfort • Our Priority screen, with the mascot’s first mas trend, according to retail www.its-homeservices.com • 413.788.5080 animated film. And through intelligence company EDITED.

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F4 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025

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You might very well regret buying that viral couch By Rachel Kurzius

The Washington Post

T DAWNED ON SISTERS Olivia and Emily Davis, after more than a month of trying to convince themselves otherwise, that they had purchased, in Olivia’s words, “a terrible couch.” The Davises bought the Anabei modular couch as the key piece of furniture in the living room of their Los Angeles apartment, replacing one they had acquired on Facebook Marketplace. The sisters mostly furnished the place with secondhand stuff, but they both kept getting online ads for the Anabei, which touted that the couch was machine washable, sustainable, modular and more. “The pictures looked great. The design looked great,” Olivia says. “I just thought, ‘Oh, we are constantly looking into interior design stuff. We must be being fed this ad for that reason.’” Their high hopes for the couch came crashing down after prolonged attempts at lounging on it. “In every direction that you would want to get comfortable, you are quite literally barred from doing so, because if you lean to your side, there’s a metal bar. If you lean back, there is a metal bar,” Olivia says. “It’s quite brutal.” By the time the Davises felt certain that this was not the couch for them, the return window had closed. Now, they feel stuck with a $1,500 couch that doesn’t suit their relaxation needs. “This would be a great couch that would live in someone’s office where you’re not supposed to be getting too comfortable,” Olivia says. It would excel as “a place for you to sit and then leave very quickly.” Buying a couch has always been a high-stakes endeavor. It’s typically one of the largest pieces of furniture in a home, among the most expensive and one you will be living with for years. Modern economic forces have made the task trickier. Hungry for bigger profit margins, companies make furniture using cheaper materials

and construction — meaning the final product simply isn’t built to last, even if the price tag implies otherwise. And then there’s the internet. Today’s customers are operating under the subtle and overt influence of Instagram ads, TikTok Shop and actual influencers. The result: The rise of the viral couch, a piece of furniture that becomes inescapable online and may or may not be a piece of junk. “Certain products flare up like sparklers and suddenly appear to be everywhere, creating instant demand,” says Frida Ramstedt, the author of “The Furniture Handbook,” over email. The “boneless” Cloud couch. The stupendous sectional. And as quickly as they rise online, often accompanied by that little “paid partnership” tag, they can tumble, pilloried in posts by remorseful customers. The Viral Couch is a new and powerful force, one that often leads to much older feeling: Couch Regret. Ever since their TikTok about the couch went viral, the Davis sisters say they’ve gotten offers from popular furniture companies for collaborations. They’re trying not to be too tempted. “The last thing I would want to do is feed into the cycle of influencing people to buy couches that aren’t necessarily worth their money,” Olivia says. The Anabei isn’t the first couch to rise in the ranks of 20-something esteem only to face a precipitous fall. Perhaps the first example of a vaunted sofa gone awry is West Elm’s Peggy, a boxy, mid-century model that reached a level of infamy after the Awl’s essay “Why does this one couch from West Elm suck so much?” in 2017. The author, Anna Hezel, initially felt proud of her purchase. “West Elm felt like a really aspirational brand at the time, so it felt very sophisticated to me at that time in my life,” Hezel said. “Especially in a New York apartment, a sofa more than likely is going to take up like a quarter of

whatever room you’re putting it in … so it felt like a really big aesthetic decision, a really big financial decision.” But as she outlined in her piece, the couch began to fall apart shortly after the return window lapsed. At first, she castigated herself for screwing up this big purchase. Then, she learned that other owners of the Peggy similarly had issues:

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buttons popping off, a leg snapping and general lumpiness. Hezel’s story has a happy ending. West Elm stopped selling the Peggy and ultimately decided to offer full refunds to the people who bought the $1,200 couch. Some popular sofas are indeed low-quality duds. But more frequently, the trou-

ble with a viral couch is sofa selection is deeply personal, Ramstedt says. (The Anabei and other viral couches have satisfied customers, too.) Individuals might find that what feels like sublime comfort to their favorite influencer is the wrong softness for their derriere or the wrong size for their living room.

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Couch CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4

Much like Hezel nearly a decade prior, the Davis sisters thought they were to blame for their couch woes. After reading in the instruction manual that “The pillow comes overstuffed, you can open the zipper and remove some of the filling to achieve the desired firmness,” Emily decided to take out some of the stuffing. “I was like, oh this must be the key, this must be the answer. The reason why the throws are so firm is because it’s customizable,” Emily says. While she made a complete mess with all the discarded stuffing, “I was so proud of myself.” Then her sister came home. “When Olivia got back, I was, like, ‘okay, isn’t it so much better?’ And she was like, ‘no, not at all,’” Emily says. In fact, it just deepened their dilemma. Kendyl Skinner similarly faulted herself first for not finding the Anabei comfortable. “I kept getting the ads on Instagram and I was seeing them on TikTok and then when I would go and look up the reviews, they were all very good reviews,” she says. So, after assembling it, when she disliked the experience of sitting on her newly assembled couch, she initially thought she had done something wrong. “I was trying to force myself to like it in my head. I committed to it,” says Skinner, who lives in Columbus, Ohio. First, she took off all the famously washable covers and washed them. When that didn’t help, she ordered a more premium, softer cover for the couch. “We get that on there and I sit on the couch and I’m like, ‘Okay, like this is better, but the couch is still so uncomfortable,’” Skinner says. “Comfort is very subjective,” Anabei’s head of customer service, Susan Dalton, said over email. “We have 6 brands at various price points and comfort levels but recognize that given how subjective comfort is ultimately the best customer experience is to ensure we offer free shipping and free returns (no fine print) to allow a prospective shopper to try it

for themselves and decide if Anabei is right for them. When purchasing a sofa that comes in a box, assembling it correctly is important to the overall experience. In many cases, through troubleshooting, we find comfort can be improved through proper assembly.” Ramstedt, the furniture expert, agrees that “comfort is deeply personal. A sofa can feel too hard, too soft, too angular, or the fabric might feel rough. These are things you simply can’t evaluate from a photo, which sets people up for disappointment,” she says. She recommends trying out furniture in real life before purchasing. She says you should ask yourself how you actually plan to use your sofa, which will help determine the best depth, firmness, back angle and other elements. “If you want to semi-recline while watching movies, you need a deeper seat. If you sit upright frequently, you may prefer a shorter depth, firmer cushion and a higher back,” Ramstedt says. “If the sofa will be used by kids or pets, durability and washable fabrics become essential. Your lifestyle should dictate your choice — not trends.” Ramstedt also takes issue with the idea sold by the internet that you should be replacing your sofa at all. When interior influencers constantly switch out their couches for a new look, she says, “it creates a false sense that swapping out your sofa every year is normal or reasonable. It isn’t.” Use smaller details, like throw pillows or blankets, to reflect a trend you like, she says, because those are “far easier to swap out without significant environmental or financial impact.” The Davis sisters can’t swap out their much-loathed couch right now, as much as they’d like to. Part of it is a question of affordability. There’s also an emotional component. “It feels like even starting the conversation of which couch to replace this couch with felt like we were just going to be sort of in that fun house, merry-go-round, heinous carnival ride again, and we were going to be tricked again,” Olivia says. “And we were feeling too emotionally wrought to put ourselves through that.”

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Lee Reich | In the Garden

Seeking the wonderful aroma of balsam

Above, after 30 years, my balsam fir tree soars above nearby evergreens. Below, balsam in name only, this balsam is an impatiens relative with no balsam-y aroma. (LEE REICH PHOTOS)

H, TO SIT BY THE fire on a cold winter’s eve. The fire’s warmth suffuses me with somnolence and drives into the air a resinous, woodsy aroma from balsam fir branches draped about the room. Now to float back down to earth and put my feet on the ground: It was almost 30 years ago that I was thinking of realizing this pleasant dream by planting balsam fir (Abies balsamea) for an annual supply of branches. I grow vegetables and fruits for good flavor, and flowers for beauty, so why not balsam fir for aroma? I knew that balsam fir would be an oddity amongst my plants. Some of the roses, the Chester blackberries, and Vanessa grapes are pushed to their northern limits in my garden; balsam fir, in contrast, would be pushed to its southern limit. It’s a plant of very cold climates. Most of my plants — most cultivated plants, in fact — require well-drained soils. Balsam fir grows in well-drained soil, but also tolerates swampy land, even very acidic (down to a pH of about 5), swampy land. The tree is native from northern New England to the tundra and mountaintops further south. I live in lowland. In its cold, moist, sunny or slightly shaded native habitats, balsam fir grows slowly to become a dense, pyramidal spire 50 feet tall with dark, shiny green, flattened needles. (Flattened needles are one way to distinguish firs from spruces, Picea species, which have rounded needles.) Despite cold winters here, summers can get hot, possibly too hot to grow balsam fir. Numerous books that I consulted admonish against planting balsam fir where it’s not native. With excessive heat, the needles fall prematurely so the tree thins out and becomes unkempt after a few decades. A few decades sounds like a long time, but most trees I plant for myself as well as for posterity. I knew I was opening myself

up to a slim chance for success in planting balsam fir. I could get my balsam-y aroma elsewhere. Many plants yield “true” balsam, an aroma from resins or oleoresins containing benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, or both. It’s too cold here, though, to grow most plants with this true balsam aroma. Here in the New World, that true balsam aroma could be found in Balsam of Peru and Balsam of Tolu, from Myroxylon pereirae and M. balsamum, respectively, both trees of Central America. Liquid storax, a balsam from Liquidambar orientalis, a tree of Asia Minor, and from the Javanese plant Altingia excelsa also yield true balsam. One plant that may be hardy here does yield true balsam aroma. This is sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), which yields a balsam known as liquid amber, or copal, balsam. It’s clear, reddish, or yellow, with a pleasant smell like ambergris. The tree exudes this liquid when it is wounded, or, commercially, by stripping, boiling, and pressing the tree’s bark. Over time it solidifies, and it’s been used to seal barrels, medicinally, and to make chewing gum. All that’s well and good, but was a far cry from the aromatic, winter greenery I envisioned. I also had to face the fact that it may not have been hardy here in the coldest part of Hardiness Zone 5. I emphasized “true” balsam above because there are other balsams that are something less than “true,” which means they lack both benzoic and cinnamic acids. The balsam-y aroma I sought actually is not a true balsam aroma. No matter: that’s still what I wanted. Technically, the aroma of balsam fir goes under the names of Canada balsam or, not very appealing, Canada turpentine, doesn’t yield a true balsam. The question of winter survival is a moot point for annual plants, and there are two annuals with “balsam” in their name. One of these is garden balsam, Impatiens balsamina,

a relative of impatiens. I grow this old-fashioned annual, whose upright stems are clothed from top to bottom in blossoms that could be mistaken for small red, pink, or white roses flower. Very pretty, but no woody, resinous odor ever hovered around my plants. One more annual balsam is balsam apple, Momordia balsamina, a vining cucumber relative that yields gherkinshaped, yellowish red “apples.” None of its relatives with which I have been intimate — winter squashes, summer squashes, gourds, pumpkins, and luffas — have any odor of balsam, and I doubt it does. So where did all that leave me for my balsamy winter greens? A hundred years previous I could have just gone out and bought a Christmas tree. Balsam fir was the most popular Christmas tree until the 1930s. Then, its general popularity was superseded by Scotch pine, which grows faster and holds its needles better. I could have forgone the greens for the aroma. A nice way to enjoy that aroma is with a balsam pillow, a small cotton bag stuffed with balsam leaves. Such pillows are said to cure headaches and bad dreams, and their woodsy aroma is enduring. I can attest to the last quality. Decades ago, I bought a balsam pillow while in Maine, and for decades after, whenever I fluffed it up, that wonderful balsamy aroma would transport me back to the couple of summers when, at 10 years old, I hiked, fished, and generally enjoyed Maine’s Kezar Lake and the surrounding woods and mountains. And I did get to have my fresh balsam greens also, by looking at all the planting recommendations in the face — and then ignoring them. I planted a balsam fir seedling, at the rear of my property. That tree survived and thrived, and now at about forty feet high, provides all the greenery, indoors and out, I could possibly lust for.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 | F7

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting

20th-century ceramic Christmas trees still shine

RTIFICIAL CHRISTmas trees have been around since the 19th century, if not earlier. Trees made of dyed feathers originated in Germany and were introduced to the U.S. by the early 20th century. The mid- to late-20th century saw trees made from several new materials. There were some made of brush bristles. The famous aluminum Christmas trees, sparkling in silver before any lights or ornaments were added, were first made in the 1950s. New types of plastic that gained widespread use after World War II proved to be perfect for making durable, realistic-looking synthetic pine needles. But one tree trend of the 1950s to 1970s used a very old material: ceramic. Small ceramic Christmas trees measuring between 12 and 24 inches were just the right height to display on a table — and still are, to the many families that kept theirs. An electric light hidden in the attached base shines through the transparent plastic ornaments attached to the tree’s limbs, and the tree often came with a small star to put on top. While many companies made trees like these, the most famous are by the Atlantic Mold Co., which copyrighted the design in 1958 and continued making them until 1999. Atlantic Mold trees are usually marked, but, as with many ceramics, be careful if the mark includes a date. It might be the date the mold was created; the tree itself may be newer. Unmarked trees may still be distinguished by their shape, decorations, and especially the shape of the base. An unusual example sold at Keystone Auctions LLC for $127. It is unmarked but has a scrolled base like the Atlantic Mold tree. At 23 inches, it is taller than the usual ceramic tree. A close look shows the tiny plastic bulbs come in shapes like birds and holly sprigs, adding extra festive touches. And one more detail doesn’t come through in pictures: a music box in the base.

Merry Christmas! Ceramic trees like this one have color, light and, in this case, music. And they last for decades with no risk of drying out and losing their needles. (KEYSTONE AUCTIONS LLC)

Because rarity is an important

Q. I was wondering about factor in the value of collecta porcelain doll that I have and whether it is worth money. There is a tag attached to it that reads “Original Vanessa Collection by Vanessa Ricardi — Special Edition of Fine Genuine Porcelain Doll.”

ibles, modern porcelain dolls generally have a low resale value. The same problem is seen with most mass-produced modern collectibles, like Beanie Babies in the 1990s, current baseball cards, and many porcelain figurines. Vanessa Collection Vanessa Collection porcelain porcelain dolls were made by dolls are typically worth about a company called Timeless $15 to $50. The original tag, Treasures. They were released packaging, and certificate of as limited editions from the authenticity will put the price 1990s to 2000s. at the higher end. Generally, a Unfortunately, the trouble doll’s value will start increaswith most porcelain dolls ing about 20 years after it was made after the 1970s is that made. the market quickly became saturated. Buyers purchased My grandparents them as collectibles and inbought a settee in the 1920s. vestments, so they often kept I have it now, and it has them in their original packag- been refinished and reuping; unlike antique porcelain holstered. It has interestdolls, which were bought and ing gold trim with carved played with as children’s toys. human faces on the upper It is rare to find antique por- arms. Can you tell me anycelain dolls in good condition, thing about it and what it so they can sell for high prices. might be worth?

Furniture with gold trim and carved masks has come into fashion many times; most notably during the American Empire (c. 1815-1840) and Greco-Egyptian Revival (c. 1860-1890) periods. Decorations like these, as well as imagery like sphinxes, winged mythological figures, and furniture feet carved to look like animal hooves or paws evoked a sense of the ancient world and its luxury and exoticism. They were inspired by major archaeological expeditions. There was another Egyptian Revival in the 1920s, when your grandparents bought their settee, after the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Designers incorporated Egyptian-inspired motifs in art deco furniture and jewelry. The value of your settee will depend on its material and condition. Identifying a maker will increase the value. Settees from the 1920s without a known maker can sell for anywhere between about $150 and $500. TIP: Don’t try to restore old ornaments. A little damage and wear add to the charm of old Christmas ornaments. It indicates an antique that has seen many holidays of use. Restoration lowers value. 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 close-up 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, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectors gallery@kovels.com.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions. Imperial Glass, BlackEyed Susan, punch bowl, red, marigold iridescent overlay, pierced scalloped rim, short foot, 4 x 9 inches, $25. Furniture, fire screen, Georgian, mahogany, octagonal frame, fabric insert, pole, turned finial, baluster shape base, three cabriole legs, 56 inches, $45. Coca-Cola, van, VW Combi, red and white paint, Drink Coca-Cola, die cast, Solido, 1966, 3 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches, $75. Christmas tree, stand, cast iron, molded house and flowers, pierced base, four panels, train, boat, car, zeppelin, figures, four-footed, Germany, 8 1/2 x 10 inches, $110. Paris, vase, blue, flared neck, scenic, landscape, deer, gold leaves, black border, round foot, 24 inches, $130. Bells, sleigh, 28 brass bells, light brown leather strap, cotter pins, buckle, 74 inches, $150. Candlestick, candleholder, silver plate, flared cup, allover repousse, leafy vines, scrolls, flowers, panels with figures, round base, marked, Elkington, England, c. 1900, 6 1/2 inches, $255. Quilt, patchwork, Christmas tree, 12 trees, red and green leaves, white ground, feathered wreath quilting, green trim, late 1800s, 75 x 61 inches, $430. Lamp, electric, steel shade, mirrored, cylinder, Lucite base, Karl Springer, c. 1970, 22 x 15 1/2 inches, $935. Candy container, Santa Claus, standing, holding Christmas tree, red cap and coat, blue trousers, white trim, fur beard, molded and painted face, rectangular base, snow, mica, Germany, 14 1/2 inches, $1,080.

HOME & GARDEN

F8 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Average US long-term mortgage rate edges down Rate remains near its low for the year

rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell this week. The rate averaged 5.47%, down from 5.54% last week. A By Alex Veiga year ago, it averaged 5.92%, Freddie Associated Press Mac said. The average rate on a 30-year U.S. Mortgage rates are influenced by mortgage edged lower this week, several factors, from the Federal Restaying relatively close to its low for serve’s interest rate policy decisions the year. to bond market investors’ expectaThe decline brings the average long- tions for the economy and inflation. term mortgage rate to 6.21% from They generally follow the trajectory 6.22% last week, mortgage buyer of the 10-year Treasury yield, which Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year lenders use as a guide to pricing ago, the rate averaged 6.72%. home loans. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixedThe 10-year yield was at 4.12% at

Deeds

Kovaci to Thomas M. Caprarella and Emily L. Ashley, 551 West St., $540,000.

AGAWAM

Jane M. Mahmoodi and Leda Mahmoodi, attorney-in-fact, to Leda Mahmoodi, trustee, and Mahmoodi Family Irrevocable Trust, 26 Greenleaves Drive, $100.

Bulldog Realty Group LLC, to Caleigh Caroleo, 85 North Alhambra Circle, $295,000. Daniel J. Willett, representative, Terry A. Willett, representative, and Steven Michael Willett, estate, to Anthony Willett and Holly Willett, 64 Fox Farm Road, $350,000. Elaine Meara, trustee, and Elaine Meara Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Karen Withee, 25E Castle Hill Road, $379,000. Gail G. Borkosky, representative, and Gloria A. Oberheim, estate, to Troy D. Conlin, 95 Meadowbrook Road, $327,000. Kelly Marie DeGray and Mark Thomas DeGray to Adam Carmel, 122 Southwick St., $275,000. Lynn M. Wiggins and Lynn M. Bovat to Nicholas Piechota, 142G Autumn St., Unit 142G, $211,000. Mark C. Watson, trustee, and Vincent Dilorenzo Family Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Elaine Meara, 25E Castle Hill Road, $302,000. Teodoro Manzi and Rosalba Manzi to Sawsan Abdoo, 64 Blairs Hill Road, $620,000.

AMHERST Thomas B. S. Quarles Jr., trustee, Carolyn S. Quarles Irrevocable Family Trust, and Thomas B. S. Quarles Sr. Irrevocable Family Trust to Christopher M. Ronkese, 24 South Sunset Ave., $716,000. Emily S. McDermott, trustee, John W. McDermott, trustee, and Emily S. McDermott Revocable Trust to Rachel E. Hebert and Max C. Hebert, 148 Wildflower Drive, $495,000. Heather Irene Kovaci and Klajd

Steven M. Waskiewicz, Sandra M. Gillis and Michael A. Waskiewicz to ARPC LLC, 141 Tracy Circle, $281,321. Michele Miller to Yao Chen and Yiji He, 958 East Pleasant St., $652,500,

BELCHERTOWN Richard C. Royce Jr., and Ann V. Royce to Paul Anthony Jubinville, 25 Sycamore Circle, $763,000. Patricia Proulx to Christine M. Wallin, 111 Daniel Shays Highway, $455,000. Scott Swistak and Scot Swistak to Joel J. Harder, 105 Railroad St., $234,570. Paul D. Tierney and Lisa A. Tierney to Paul D. Tierney, trustee, Lisa A. Tiereny, trustee, and Tierney Family Trust, 15 Chestnut Drive, $100. George L. Trusz and Judy E. Trusz to David S. Triffletti and Kelsey A. Triffletti, 32 Sherwood Drive, $460,000. MWC Homes LLC, to Gilda Horgan, 460 Federal St., $470,000. Khalid Elkalai and Kathleen Traphagen to Peter J. Kierkla, Sabin Street and Cordner Road, $290,000.

BRIMFIELD David R. Girouard and Rebecca A. Girouard to Timothy Garlington and Katherine Garlington, 85 East Hill Road, $815,000.

midday Thursday, unchanged from a week ago. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has been mostly holding steady in recent weeks since it dropped to 6.17%, its lowest level in more than a year, on Oct. 30. Mortgage rates began easing in July in anticipation of a series of Fed rate cuts, which began in September and continued this month. An encouraging report on inflation on Thursday could give the central bank cause to keep cutting interest rates next year. The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, but when its cuts its short-term rate

that can signal lower inflation or slower economic growth ahead, which can drive investors to buy U.S. government bonds. That leads to lower yields on long-term U.S. Treasurys, which helps lower mortgage rates. Still, Fed rate cuts don’t always translate into lower mortgage rates. That’s what happened in the fall of 2024 after the central bank cut its main rate for the first time in more than four years. Instead of falling, mortgage rates marched higher, eventually cresting above 7% in January this year. At that time, the 10-year Treasury yield was climbing toward 5%.

Rebecca Rhodes, Integra Sinclair, Deborah Simpson and Ryan Hall Thomas A. Charland and Joyce A. Denise Draper to Jill Melinda Brad- Charland to Josue Lissaint, 43 Pine to Rebecca Rhodes, 12 Clark Lane, ley and Aaron Scott Plaquet, 11 $100. St., $410,000. Maple St., $213,000. Trevor Lucas to Mikhail Golubitsky Eduardo R. Nunez and Kelly BenDouglas P. Ranck to Adam Jarat and Bevin Colleen Peters, 41 Glen- abou to Lei Xing and Run Jian, 26 Thouin, 21 Sylvester Hamilton Colonial Ave., $465,000. dale St., $475,000. Road, $380,000. Dianne L. King, Dianne T. Tanguay Valerie D. Cardone to Bennie James D. Adams to Victoria Wright Jr., 40 Greenwood Terrace, and Keith King to Russ Fuller L. Scataglini, 7 William St., and Julia Fuller, 12 Pine Hill Road, Unit 6144C, $200,376. $291,000. $725,000. William F. Pauze and Brenda Cynthia J. Powers, personal Pauze to Evan M. Paton and representative, Patricia Ann Elliott, CHICOPEE Katelyn Guiel, 10 Highland Ave., estate, and Patricia A. Elliott, $206,250. Cheryl M. Rivers, representative, estate, to Patricia L. Hill, 120 Line and Alberta Eleanor Jordan, estate, St., $250,000. to Kyle Robbins, 89 Jean Circle, COLRAIN Laurie Lamoureux, trustee, and $344,000. Robert J. Pollard Living Trust to Paula J. Perrotti-Flanagan, “aka” Danielle R. Congo and Danielle R. Kristen Cuddy-Pease and Natalie Paula J. Perotti-Flanagan, to Leah Berthiaume to Marilyn Bushey, 29 Chrystal Coburn and Steven Peter Rose Cuddy-Pease, 33 Sterling Meadowlark Lane, Unit 6086C, Drive, $425,000. Coburn, 271 Thompson Road, $230,000. $600,000.

CHESTER

Frederick T. Szlosek Jr., to Elizabeth A. Partyka-Narey, trustee, and Elizabeth A. Partyka-Narey Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, 1307 Burnett Road, $400,000. Gina Formhals, representative, Eugene L. Moreau, estate, and Eugene Leon Moreau, estate, to Round Two LLC, 14 Ferry St., $360,000. Kim Nyiri, conservator, and Suzanne T. Switalski to Malachi Robinson, 81 Poplar St., $300,000. Marilyn L. Bushey to Paul F. Griffin, 107 Glendale St., $285,000. Samuel Vona III, and Marie R. Larocque, estate, to Matthew Kisiel, 450 East St., $300,000.

Sean Fournier to Cristaly Alvarado, 157 Pendleton Ave., $395,000. Stanley A. Szlachetka, trustee, and Lagomarsino Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Samuel I. Diamond and Samuel Diamond, 585 Sheridan St., Unit 12, $285,000. Tavernier Investments LLC, to Arleni Cruz, 757-759 Chicopee St.,

$612,000.

DEERFIELD Amy Louise Barker, trustee of the Donald L. Swicker Funding Trust, to Marybeth Hayes and Andrew Hendricks, 7 Stage Road, $375,000.

EAST LONGMEADOW 465 North Main Street LLC, to UMassfive College Federal Credit Union, 465 North Main St., $2,000,000. Ronald R. Widmer Jr., representative, Robert W. Widmer, representative, Alice Mary Widmer, estate, and Alice M. Widmer, estate, to Pro Olive LLC, 91-95 Elm St., $425,000.

EASTHAMPTON Roxanne C. Mariani-Prall and Sarah D. Prall to Donald J. Carter and Dora Reyes, 34 Briggs St., $660,000.

ERVING 25 Old State Road LLC, to Western Massachusetts Climbers Coalition Inc., 25 Old State Road, $182,500.

GOSHEN Steven C. Calderone, trustee, Marie K. Calderone, trustee, Marie E. Kelly Calderone, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Steven C. Calderone to Steven C. Calderone, trustee, Marie E. Kelly Calderone, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Marie E. Kelly Calderone, 66 West Shore Drive, $100.

GRANBY Christina Deangelo and Gary Deangelo to Dakota P. Richards, Burnett Street, $15,000. Donna G. Kmelius to Robert C. Gould and Aimee C. Gould, 18 Smith Ave., $273,000. SEE DEEDS, PAGE F9

HOME & GARDEN

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Deeds CONTINUES FROM PAGE F8

GRANVILLE Daniel M. McGorty, trustee, Patti A. McGorty, trustee, and Daniel M. McGorty & Patti A. McGorty Living Trust, trustee of, to Olivia E. Clark, 715 Main Road, $325,000.

GREENFIELD Harold F. Green and Jennifer L. Lesperance to Ruth S. Charney and John G. Lord Jr., 10 Tulip Lane, $355,000. Ann E. Norwood, personal representative of the Estate of Jonathan Juhl Norwood, “aka” Jonathan J. Norwood, “aka” Jonathan Norwood, to Andrew Kyle Smith, 79 Burnham Road, $280,000.

HATFIELD Victoria M. Blunt, trustee, and Terry & Victoria Blunt Family Trust to Jill Griffin and Kimberly Lucey, 166 Rocks Road, $559,900. Daniel Heon, trustee, Christopher Heron, trustee, Pamela Smith, trustee, and Heon Family Irrevocable Trust to David Herbert Brill and Abby Winkelmeyer Brill, 106 Elm St., $860,000.

HOLYOKE Brett J. Lunardini to Cornerstone Homebuying LLC, 15 Myrtle Ave., $155,000. Deborah A. Walker to Noah Thomas Galko and Briana Marie Cristofori, 46 Cherry Hill Road, $368,000. Eileen E. McMahon to Ian E. Baldwin and Mariam N. Fayek, 20 Linden St., $236,500. HHA-South Holyoke Homes II LLC, to Alexis Lasanta and Delyann Lasanta, 197 Clemente St., $240,000. Joan C. Petta, Cynthia L. Knightly and Daniel J. Frisino to Daniel J. Frisino and Christine M. Merkel, 2 Knollwood Circle, $200,000.

Zaho, 73 Depot Road, $799,000. Ari Juels, personal representative of the Estate of Helen Rhoda Juels, “aka” Rhoda Juels, to Mary Ellen Kelly, trustee of the Mary Ellen Kelly Revocable Trust, and Steven D. Morgan, trustee of the Steven D. Morgan Revocable Trust, Lawton Road, $121,000.

LONGMEADOW Ann-Marie Rosen, Robert Rosen and Kara Bilotta to Dana Merrill Jr., 384 Longmeadow St., $605,000. Arthur Rickless and Carol Rickless to Bodhico LLC, 127 Magnolia Circle, $515,000. Daniel Perruccio and Lisa A. Perruccio to Krystal Rae Kittle, Krystal Kittle, Andrew Kim Smolak and Andrew Smolak, 25 Whitmun Road, $490,000. George P. Delivorias, representative, and Georgia Delivorias, estate, to Mullen Acquisitions LLC, 151 Wolf Swamp Road, $321,500. Irma C. Schikorra, trustee, and Irma C. Schikorra Trust, trustee of, to Michael Elfman, 182 Crestview Circle, $800,000. Joel Wun and Paula Wun to Heather Bliss and David Bliss, 7 Viscount Road, $450,000. Lauren E. Malone to Eva Yusenko, 22 Hawthorne St., $395,000.

LUDLOW Adrian Zapala, Jeannie Zapala and Monika Zapala to Angela Lussier, 32 Berkshire St., $295,000. Christina Kuehn to Turning Point Properties LLC, 63 Helene St., $303,750. Iman Afnan to Wendi Elizabeth Lawson, 517 Ideal Lane, $375,000. Joao A. Dias and Julia E. Dias to Mackenzie Babb and Timothy Martin, 57 Beachside Drive, $750,000. Kevin F. Trombley and Heather M. Trombley to Kaytlin Ann Nelson and Daniel Eric Walter Morabito, 32 Elaine Drive, $490,000.

Maura A. Mooney to Jacob Zucker, 4 Claren Wendi E. Lawson and Linda S. Lasante to Drive, $405,000. Alex Parker and Toni Parker, 355 Miller St., Meghan O’Sullivan, representative, David $569,000. O’Sullivan, estate, and David F. O’Sullivan, estate, to Sean M. Fournier, 11 Longfellow Road, $380,000. MONSON Michael O’Bannon and Theresa Jenoure to Vahan Roma, 9 Prew Ave., Unit A4, $115,000. Myles Darby to Eric Wojtowicz, 352R Maple St., $120,000. Randell M. Puza to Timothy M. Puza Jr., 238 Rock Valley Road, $260,000. Yarland Properties LLC, to General Enterprise LLC, 24 Wolcott St., $462,125. Yarland Properties LLC, to General Enterprise LLC, 7 Thorpe Ave., $945,750.

LEVERETT Craig Nelson to Jangrae Jo, 259 Long Plain Road, $519,900. Jeremy Ober to Xiaoqian Gong and Yinhai

Derrick A. Talbot and Deana Talbot to Jacob Talbot, 4 Lincoln St., $347,000. Diana M. Batch and Emily R. Graves-Harrison to Donald Dunn, 20 Country Club Drive, $475,000. Harry J. Courniotes III, representative, and James H. Courniotes II, estate, to Robert G. Pafumi Jr., and Deborah Pafumi, 0 T Peck Road, $775,000.

MONTAGUE Bruce Musicus, personal representative of the Estate of Athena M. Morris, to Samuel Thomas Guerin and Kelley Mathewson Jewell, 15 Crescent St., $339,000. Patricia A. Martin, “fka” Patricia Ann Kroll,

and Thomas R. Martin to Doralinda Puente, 495B Federal St., Unit 1B Covered Bridge Condominium, $290,000.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 | F9

SOUTH HADLEY

Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC, to Brad A. Farner and Jennifer M. Farner to Jonabelle Fresco and Mark Aries Fresco, 38 Diane M. Batch, Life Estate and Emily R. Graves-Harrison, 50 Pine St., $535,000. Randall Wood Drive, $480,000. Dino Marinello to Shane L. Kouflie and Elizabeth G. Kouflie, Edgewater Lane, NORTHAMPTON $350,000. Martin Cahillane to Shihyun Kim and Jung Gyu Lee, 80 Damon Road, $196,000. Traci L. Borowski to Tasha A. Rimany, 8 Tara Circle, $352,300. T. Stephens Jones and Adele L. Franks to T. Stephen Jones, trustee, Adele L. Franks, trustee, T. Stephens Jones Trust and Adele L. Franks Trust, 123 Black Birch Trail, $100. Sari T. Miettinen to Jeffrey C. McQueen, trustee, Amy Kahn, trustee, and Irrevocable Support Trust for Lauren Marketl Kahn-McQueen, 61 Crescent St., $545,000. David Morse and Joan Morse to Elizabeth H. Preston, trustee, Cindy L. White, trustee, and Preston White Revocable Trust, 137 Emerson Way, $850,000. Sovereign Builders Inc., to Anne Paradis and MaryJane Canavan, 32 Nagle Court and 152-154 South Main St., $1,100,000. Nasreen Azam, Sarah Hanif and Hafsah Hanif to Dena Novak and David Novak, 36 Landy Ave., $705,000. Gregory J. Chiara and Ann W. Chiara to V. Heather Peters, 5 Prospect Court, $575,000.

NORTHFIELD Deborah Guillotte and Zane Selanis to Hayden Young-Palmer and Miles Young-Palmer, 529 South Mountain Road, $315,000.

ORANGE Kristina A. Inforati, Peter A. Lawson and Diana L. MacKinnon to Colleen Taylor, 121 Pleasant St., $180,000.

Mary Gail Dunphy, Patrick O. Dunphy, Rosemary Dunphy-Long and Eliza Rose Farris to William R. Guilfoile Jr., and Elizabeth Ann Guilfoile, 19 Hadley St., $400,000. Christopher Desorcy and Jodi Desorcy to James F. Bachand Jr., 8 Summit St., $120,000. Dorothea E. Cloughley to Dorothea E. Cloughley, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Dorothea E. Cloughley, 89 Granby Road, $100. John Mark Fiegenbaum to Nicole Amrani, 12 College View Heights, $82,000. Shirley L. Aubuchon, estate, and Veronica Sullivan, personal representative, to Veronica Sullivan, 43 West Summit St., $100.

SOUTHAMPTON Jay M. Belanger, Dawn M. Benoit, Misty A. Torrey and Betty Jane Belanger to Anthony J. Loughran, 57 Middle Road, $309,270.

SOUTHWICK Anastasios E. Karathanasopoulos, trustee, and Tasos Family Trust, trustee of, to WF Capital LLC, 2 Hummel Lane, $132,500. Jose Canini to Jason R. Stevens, 181 South Loomis St., $300,000. Richard J. Bosak, representative, and Kevin R. Bosak, estate, to Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC, 29 Birchwood Road, $156,500. Richard J. Mannion and Gail A. Mannion to Zachary D. Godbout, 157 Vining Hill Road, $55,000. Thomas S. Reed and Ann B. Reed to Joshua Avey and Payton Reyes, 20 Great Brook Drive, $625,000.

PALMER Mary Ann McCormick, Michael A. McCormick, Matthew E. McCormick and Suzanne Strempek Shea to Diane Hunter, trustee, and Diane Hunter Living Trust, trustee of, 45-47 Belchertown St., $315,000.

PELHAM FI Properties LLC, to Nicholas Azadnia, 121 Amherst Road, $555,000.

RUSSELL Daniel J. O’Connell and Michael L. O’Connell to Jamoliddin Jobirov, 347 Huntington Road, $155,000.

SHELBURNE Leo V. Ojala, trustee of the Ojala Investment Trust, to Matthew Michael Murry and Beth M. Vettori, 163 Zerah Fiske Road, $480,000.

SPRINGFIELD A&M Investments LLC, and Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, to Sweety Agarwal and Priyanka Rajan Bhalla, 130 Dickinson St., Unit 130, $242,500. A&M Investments LLC, and Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, to Sweety Agarwal and Priyanka Rajan Bhalla, 132 Dickinson St., Unit 132, $242,500. Andrae S. Green and Priya Nadkarni to Caleb Ezewuzie, 24 Bangor St., $309,000. Andrew Collins and Lindsay Collins to Liam Patrick Kelly and Casey Nicole Dempsey, 274 Abbott St., $300,000. Ashley L. Montagna, Ashley L. Baker and Shawn Montagna to Shenita N. Guyton, 64 Plumtree Circle, $289,900. Bally Holdings LLC, to Ali Z. Storage LLC, 435-441 Springfield St., $300,000. Boniface Anoje to Roseline Omeh, 204 Commonwealth Ave., $232,000.

SEE DEEDS, PAGE F10

HOME & GARDEN

F10 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Creating a simple garden sanctuary for year-round relaxation By Jessica Damiano

Associated Press

ITH TEMPERATURES dropping and dusk arriving early, the firepit section of my garden has been on my

mind. It’s a simple setup. Eight colorful Adirondack chairs are arranged in a circle around a stacked stone hearth, surrounded, during the growing season, by easy-growing, low-maintenance button bush, hydrangeas, hosta, clumping Liriope and coleus. And simple is what makes it special. The important part is the feeling it provides — unfussy comfort, serenity and relaxation. The garden, after all, is a sanctuary — a place to hide, relax our shoulders and catch our breath while the rest of the world speeds by. Studies indicate that time spent in the garden lowers stress, but the types of plants don’t

Deeds CONTINUES FROM PAGE F9 Bonnie L. Brown to Kayla Burgess and Stephen Burgess, 221 Glenoak Drive, $340,000. Cedar Investment Group LLC, to Kara Bilotta, 104 Grandview St,, $315,000. Charity P. Steptoe to Julisa McLeod, 88 Dunmoreland St,, $197,500. Charles Winston to Maxise Pierre, 50 Fox Woods Drive, $397,500. Christine A. Valardi to Carlos D. Maldonado and Amneris Gonzalez, 42 Geneva St., $330,000. Christopher Collins and Jessica V. Rogers to Thomas Donahue and Jay Patruno, 32 Spruceland Ave., $460,000. Darren D. Petraske, Emily Dube Petraske and Emily Dube-Petraske to Lisa Corona and Mark Maldonado, 803 Armory St., $230,000. Edward J. Fallon and Jacqueline S. Fallon to William Cone and Jassmine Elizabeth Carrie Fletcher, 25 Bremen St., $395,000. Empire One Investments Inc., to Jadier Ortiz, 1083 Sumner Ave., $487,000. Freddy Cepeda to Seferin Pena, 11 Olive St., $200,000. GBS Realty LLC, to BBBN LLC, 672676 Dickinson St., $470,000. Gemini Town Homes LLC, to Ana L. Torres, 44 Central St., Unit 501, $206,000. Ibrahim M. Aljashaam to Evena JeanRisme and Sheloves Lamandier, 31 Burton St., $349,900.

matter; our nervous systems don’t require a botanical showplace to unwind. It doesn’t take much to give yourself the gift of peace — just a chair, a few unfussy plants that won’t become burdensome and some attention to detail. And if you can enjoy it year-round, all the better. Sights, sounds and scents Now’s a good time to start thinking about next year’s garden. Large, native grasses lend a sense of calm when they sway in the wind. Flowers like lilacs, old garden roses, jasmine and sweet peas bring fragrant bliss. And the sound of a windchime or a steady trickle of water can provide meditative tranquility. There’s no need to get fancy; a small tabletop bubbler will do. You don’t need a large yard either. Tuck a chair under a shade tree, install a window box or hanging basket, or line your balcony with potted annuals.

JBLD Realty LLC, to BSD Care LLC, 1795 Main St., Unit 203, $70,000. JM Partners LLC, to WPB Partners LLC, 306 Greenway Drive, $87,500. Julie Velthouse to Kimberly Dawson, 27 Goodwin St., $259,000. Justine M. Trowbridge to Sunasia Akins, 85 Paulk Terrace, $340,000. Louise B. Smith and Louise Smith to Wanda M. Tiburcio-Duran, 129 Eastern Ave., $195,000. Lucas Giusto, trustee, Dominic Santaniello, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to Share Point LLC, 167 Maple St., $130,000. Majid Khabir and Farkhondeh Goonouei to Janet Gray, 8-10 Brunswick St., $450,000. Maryanne E. Carroll to Marthe LLC, 915 Bradley Road, $110,000. Miroslaw C. Wloch to Joseph Laliberte, 130 Mazarin St., $289,900. N & W Associates Inc., to Nery A. Bernal, 55-57 Leslie St., $100. Nery R. Bosque Jr., to Stephanie Runnells and Beatriz Rosario, 181-183 Marion St., $390,000. Patrick Y. Greenhalgh, Joseph D. Greenhalgh and Joseph D. Charter to Eileen McMahon, 235 State St., Unit 220, $200,000. Roberto R. Gray and Janet M. Gray to JoeJoe Properties LLC, 97-99 Pine Grove St., $260,000. Samuel I. Diamond to Khristy Lord, 80 Williamsburg Drive, $205,000. Sareen Properties LLC, to Nancy Perez and Christopher Lopez Rivera, 116 Merida St., $250,000. Thanh Nguyen to Bianca Cotton, 1235 Bay St., $335,000. Thomas J. Crisinati Jr., representative,

With two empty Adirondack chairs next to a fire pit, a rainbow stretches across the sky at Adams Pond in East Derry, N.H., Thursday July 1, 2010. (CHARLES KRUPA / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE)

Create a habit Now think up a small ritual that will bring you to your spot every day. Wild entertainment Maybe it’ll be where you drink your Nature can handle some of the work afternoon tea, read your mail or write for you. A birdfeeder or birdbath and entries in your notebook. For me, it’s a some pollinator-friendly plants will pro- walk around the garden every summer vide plenty of entertainment, allowing morning in my pajamas, coffee in one you to zone out as birds splash and bees hand, pruners in the other, just checking and butterflies flutter from flower to on things before the day gets away from flower. me.

Then just sit out there for five minutes, breathing.

and Thomas Crisinati Sr., estate, to Jessenia Burgos, 96 Merida St., $210,000. Thomas J. Donahue to Chanphilom Chanthanasihn, 32 Pennsylvania Ave., $305,000. Yuk Chang and Li Bin Chan to 36-38 Montcalm Street Holdings LLC, 3638 Montcalm St., $350,000. Zygmont J. Szczawinski III, and Laurel Szczawinski to Susanne Bettis, 63 Judith St., $295,000.

SUNDERLAND Barbara E. Williams and Robert O. Williams to Michelle Carr-Mal and Niranjan Carr-Mal, North Mountain Road, $170,000.

TOLLAND Sara Skibski Hiller, Julie Ann Skibski, Cheryl Elizabeth Mierzwa, Ann E. Skibski and Raymond M. Skibski to Kenneth B. Doucette and Pamela K. Tatlow-Doucette, 590 Colebrook River Road, $560,000.

WALES Gerald S. Busker, representative, Bernard J. Busker, estate, Irene Busker, estate, and Marvin Busker, estate, to Christopher Sebolt and Layne C. Sebolt, 120 Stafford Road, $5,000.

WARE

Osborne Road, $100.

351 North Elm St., $200,000.

Tractor Supply Co. Northeast LLC, to ExchangeRight Essential Income 7 DST, 256 West St., $6,657,741.

Mark Gaspari, representative, and Rudolph Gaspari, estate, to Honeyrock Home Buyers LLC, 24 Jaeger Drive, $170,251.

Legacy Land Co LLC, to Ingrid Delvalle and Miguel Delvalle, Gilbertville Road, $70,000. Daniel J. Neffinger to Christopher B. Muldrew and Jennifer M. Muldrew, 14 Woodland Heights, $387,000. George V. Boudreau Jr., personal representative, and George V. Bourdreau, estate, to Jason A. Whiteloon-Keating and Maureen Keating, 84 Anderson Road, $375,000. Suzanne M. Harper to Emma Harper and Jeffrey Ryan Anderson, 133 Greenwich Road, $400,000.

WEST SPRINGFIELD Cig4 LLC, to Benjamin Ouellette, 84-86 York St., $515,000. Lawrence J. Beauregard, representative, Estelle Beauregard, estate, and Estelle M. Beauregard, estate, to Cari Breault, 258 Poplar Ave., $375,000. Vladimir Garkavyi and Irina Garkavaia to Noor Dheyaa Noori, 44-46 Spring St., $360,000.

WESTFIELD Corey J. Hinckley and Malerie Hinckley to Keith Francis Brownlee and Katherene Ann Brownlee, 128 Crane Ave., $585,000.

Tallage Brooks LLC, to Mountain Stream LLC, Crescent Street, $40,000.

Done Right Homes LLC, to Yuliya Reva and Aleksei Reva, 22 Root Road, $570,000.

Jason L. Sterndale and April E. Sterndale to Jane A. Sterndale, 184

Jeanne S. McGrath and Felix T. McGrath to 351 North Elm Street LLC,

Round Two LLC, to Victor M. Fraga Luzardo, 244 Union St., $375,000. Sierra Swords, Sierra B. Swords, trustee, and Keith A. Swords & Rebecca J. Swords Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Layne L. Fuller and Madison J. Carpenter, 30 Cross St., $370,000. Walter G. Gummelt Jr., and Pamela A. Gummelt to John Schrecke and Darlene M. Schrecke, 78 Granville Road, Unit 11, $550,000. Westfield Gardens Holdings LLC, to Westfield Propco LLC, 37 Feeding Hills Road, $4,365,000.

WHATELY Hannah Eileen Spinner and Andrew Szkiladz to Nancy E. DeLong and David A. Jemison, 22 Eastwood Lane, $870,000.

WILBRAHAM Jason A. Caron, Michelle M. Caron and Michelle M. Croze to Kenneth N. Gagne, Christine E. Gagne and Sarah A. Andrus, 407 Monson Road, $375,000. Mullen & Associates LLC, to Neshamah Roller, 88 Manchonis Road, $398,000.

WILLIAMSBURG Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Justin Edward Tomsovic, 6 Nichols Road, $131,601.

CLASSIFIED

THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 F11

Auctions

Best local auctions in print and online at masslive.com

PUBLIC AUCTION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH AT 11:00 A.M.

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7TH AT 11:00 A.M.

•AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS •

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

•AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS •

★GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY★

APARTMENT BUILDING “CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ALL AMENITIES”

APARTMENT BUILDING LOCATED ON

To be Sold on the Premises

873 Springfield Street AGAWAM, MA

★(16) UNIT ★ TWO STORY

438 Springfield Street AGAWAM, MA

Features:

THE CORNER OF SPRINGFIELD & HIGHLAND STREETS To be Sold on the Premises

• (28) Unit Apartment Building • ±22,216 S/F (0.51 Acres) Of Land • • (20) Studio Units: Open Concept w/ Living Room/Bedroom, Kitchen & Bath • • (8) One Bedroom Unit: w/ Kitchen, Living Room & Bath • • All Units w/ Electric Heat • A/C Wall Units • Carpeted & Vinyl Flooring • • Basement • Brick Exterior • Paved Parking for ±30 Vehicles • • Public Water & Sewer • Zoned Business-A • Assessor’s ID: G11-2-9 • • Hampden County Registry of Deeds: Book 20566, Page 409 •

1% BROKER INCENTIVE OFFERED!!

Terms of Sale: $25,000.00 Deposit is Required at Time of Auction in Certified Funds. 5% Buyer’s Premium Applies. Other Terms to be Announced at Time of Sale.

1% BROKER INCENTIVE OFFERED!!

Sale Per Order Of Mortgagee Attorney Jonathan C. Sapirstein Of the firm of Sapirstein & Sapirstein, PC 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA Attorney for Mortgagee

Terms of Sale: $25,000.00 Deposit is Required at Time of Auction in Certified Funds. 5% Buyer’s Premium Applies. Other Terms to be Announced at Time of Sale.

Aaron Posnik

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

★(8) UNIT ★ SINGLE STORY

APARTMENT BUILDING WITH ON-SITE PARKING FOR ±10 VEHICLES 49 North Street AGAWAM, MA To be Sold on the Premises

Features: • (8) Unit Apartment Building • ±13,939 S/F (0.32 Acres) Of Land • • (6) One Bedroom Units w/ Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen & Bath • • (2) Two Bedroom Units w/ (2) Bedrooms, Living Room, Kitchen & Bath • • All Units w/ Electric Heat • Slab Foundation • Wood Shingle Exterior • • Carpeted & Vinyl Flooring • Parking for ±10 Vehicles • Public Water & Sewer • • Zoned Business-A • Assessor’s ID: I14-4.4 • • Hampden County Registry of Deeds: Book 23653, Page 186 • 1% BROKER INCENTIVE OFFERED!!

Sale Per Order Of Mortgagee Attorney Jonathan C. Sapirstein Of the firm of Sapirstein & Sapirstein, PC 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA Attorney for Mortgagee

Terms of Sale: $25,000.00 Deposit is Required at Time of Auction in Certified Funds. 5% Buyer’s Premium Applies. Other Terms to be Announced at Time of Sale.

Aaron Posnik

PUBLIC AUCTION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7TH AT 1:00 P.M.

MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

•AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS •

★GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY★

★(22) UNIT ★ TWO STORY

APARTMENT BUILDING KNOWN AS “THE WALNUT HILL APARTMENTS” 21 Dwight Street AGAWAM, MA

Features:

To be Sold on the Premises

• (22) Unit Apartment Building • ±29,621 S/F (0.68 Acres) Of Land • • (22) Efficiency Units w/ Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen & Bath • • All Units w/ Electric Heat • A/C Wall Units • Basement • • Brick Exterior • Azek Decking • Paved Parking for ±24 Vehicles • • Public Water & Sewer • Zoned Residence B • Assessor’s ID: J16-2-7 • • Hampden County Registry of Deeds: Book 25173, Page 472• 1% BROKER INCENTIVE OFFERED!!

Sale Per Order Of Mortgagee Attorney Jonathan C. Sapirstein Of the firm of Sapirstein & Sapirstein, PC 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA Attorney for Mortgagee

Terms of Sale: $25,000.00 Deposit is Required at Time of Auction in Certified Funds. 5% Buyer’s Premium Applies. Other Terms to be Announced at Time of Sale.

Aaron Posnik

3218241-01

Aaron Posnik

★(28) UNIT ★ TWO STORY

Features:

• (16) Unit Apartment Building • ±20,909 S/F (0.48 Acres) Of Land • • (16) One Bedroom Units: w/ Kitchen, Living Room & Full Bath • • All Units w/ Electric Heat • A/C Wall Units • Carpeted & Vinyl Flooring • • Basement • Brick Exterior • Paved Parking for ±23 Vehicles • • Public Water & Sewer • Zoned Business-A • Assessor’s ID: H14-11-14 • • Hampden County Registry of Deeds: Book 22974, Page 571• Sale Per Order Of Mortgagee Attorney Jonathan C. Sapirstein Of the firm of Sapirstein & Sapirstein, PC 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA Attorney for Mortgagee

PUBLIC AUCTION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH AT 1:00 P.M.

AUCTIONEERS•APPRAISERS

West Springfield, MA • Philadelphia, PA 413-733-5238 • 610-853-6655

www.posnik.com • E-Mail:info@posnik.com

MA Auc. Lic #161 • PA Auc. Lic. #AY000241L

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F12 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM

Animals Birds Cats Dogs Exotic Animals Feed Fish Horses Livestock Pet Services Pet Shows Pet Supplies Pets - Lost & Found Pets Wanted

Birds 4’W x 5’T bird cage for Cockatoo or larger bird. $200. Call 413-304-9359

Cats Orange Siamese-Bengal Mix Kitten, 1 male, 7 weeks old, $25, Call 413777-9659 or text 413-5751389

Dogs AKC Springer Spaniel puppies for sale, top of the line pedigree, great for hunting & pets. Health check & shots Oct. 21st. Ready to go end of Oct. 1 year health guarantee. Males & females. Call 413-774-4640.

Merchandise Antiques/Collectibles Appliances Articles for Rent Articles For Sale Audio Building Materials Cameras Camping Equipment Clothing Coins and Stamps Construction Equipment Do-In-Yourself Materials Electronics/Compuiters Fitness Equipment Flea Markets Forklifts and Equipment Fuel Furniture, Etc. Good Things To Eat Hot Ticket Items Jewelry Lawn & Garden Lawnmower & Snowblower Machinery & Tools Med. Equipment Sales/Wanted Miscellaneous Musical Instruments Office Equipment Pools, Spas & Accessories Professional Equipment Restaurant Equipment Seasonal Snowmobiles Sports Television Tickets Video Vintage Clothing Wanted to Buy Wood-Burning Stoves

Articles for Sale

Auctions

200 plus VHS movies all for $90.00. Call 413-304-9359

LOOK HERE!

Auctions MORTGAGEES’ REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS TO BE SOLD ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISE

MONDAY DEC. 29, 2025 12:00 PM EAST LONGMEADOW, MA 38 LENOX CIRCLE DEPOSIT $10,000 TERMS OF SALES: DEPOSITS IN THE AMOUNTS SPECIFIED ABOVE ARE TO BE PAID BY THE PURCHASER(S) AT THE TIME AND PLACE OF EACH SALE BY CERTIFIED OR BANK CHECK. ALL BALANCES DUE ARE TO BE PAID WITHIN 30 DAYS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SALE. OTHER TERMS, IF ANY, TO BE ANNOUNCED AT EACH SALE. CALL OUR AUCTION SCHEDULE LINE AT (617) 964-1282 FOR A LIST OF THE CURRENT DAY’S AUCTIONS AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.commonwealth auction.com FOR CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED SCHEDULING INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL SCHEDULING INFORMATION COMMONWEALTH AUCTION ASSOCIATES, INC. (617) 964-0005 MA LIC 2235

1,000’s of Baseball, Football, Basketball cards from early 1900 to present. All Hall of Famers. Also, selling boxes for $2.92. BUYING ALL SPORTS CARDS, RETIRED VETERAN CALL 413-596-5783

Furniture, Etc. 5 1/2 ft long pine dresser w/2 pine end tables, $30./all. Call 413-304-9359

CLASSIFIED

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Professional Service Directory in Print and Online Place your service ad 24/7. Call (413) 788-1234 or go to: www.MassLive.com

Income Restricted Homeownership Opportunity Amherst Community Homes – 195 Montague Road in Amherst, MA 30 Income-restricted Units # of Units

# of bedrooms 2

Landscaping Ron’s Fall Clean-ups/Gutter Cleaning/Snowblowing, Insured since ’96, Chicopee, Call or text Ron Roberts at 413-313-6507

# of 2 Units

# of stories

Amherst Community Homes – 195 Montague Road in Amherst, MA 30 Income-restricted Units 1 995sf $163,000 $226 80% 1 1 30 Income-restricted Units # of 1.5 bedrooms

# of Units 22

# of 1 bedrooms 2

1.5 2

2 4 4 8 4 8

# built out for # adaptable for Estimated Income Restricted Monthly Maximum Homeownership Opportunity Price mobility mobility impairments Square Feet Condo Fee Income Limit impairments build out Amherst Community Homes – 195 Montague Road in Amherst, MA

# of Estimated 1,090sfSquare Feet $170,000Price stories

# of

995 sf

$342

1stories

Square Feet$163,000 Price 995sf

1.51,091sf

$260,000 1,090sf $170,000 $361 $236

$226

Maximum 80% Limit Income

# built out for mobility impairments

# adaptable for mobility impairments build out

Monthly Maximum # built out for # adaptable 100% Condo Fee80% Income Limit- 1 mobility for4 1 mobility impairments impairments build out 100%80%

- -

2 1 995sf $163,000 $226 80% 1 80%100% - 22 11,222sf 995 sf$182,000 $246,000 $253 $342 2 1.5 1,090sf $170,000 $236 80% 1.51,222sf 1,091sf 38 $275,000 $382 $361 100% 2 22 1 995 sf $260,000 $246,000 $342100% 100% - 4 2 1.5 1,222sf $253 23 1,091sf $182,000 $260,000 $36180% 100% HUDÕS ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS AND MASSHOUSING WORKFORCE HOUSING 33 2 1,222sf $182,000 $253100% FUND) 80% PROGRAM 8 MULTIFAMILY 2 SUBSIDY 1,222sf $275,000 $382 (OPPORTUNITY TAX PROJECTS (Effective 100% 4/1/2025) 3 MTSP (Effective 2 4/1/2025) 1,222sf $275,000 $382 AMHERSTHUDÕS TOWN-NORTHAMPTON, MA MSA AMHERST TOWN-NORTHAMPTON, MA MSA ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS AND MASSHOUSING WORKFORCE HOUSING HUD’SMULTIFAMILY ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS AND - HOUSEHOLD MASSHOUSING WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX PROJECTS (OPPORTUNITY FUND) PROGRAM HOUSEHOLD 80%SUBSIDY AMI 100% AMI MULTIFAMILY TAX SUBSIDY PROJECTS (OPPORTUNITY FUND) PROGRAM MTSP (Effective 4/1/2025) (Effective 4/1/2025) SIZE MAXIMUM INCOME SIZE MAXIMUM INCOME AMHERST TOWN-NORTHAMPTON, MA MSA AMHERST TOWN-NORTHAMPTON, MA MSA MTSP (Effective 4/1/2025) (Effective 4/1/2025) 1 $67,000 1 $83,300 HOUSEHOLD 80% AMI HOUSEHOLD 100% AMI AMHERST TOWN-NORTHAMPTON, MA MSA AMHERST TOWN-NORTHAMPTON, MA MSA SIZE MAXIMUM INCOME SIZE MAXIMUM INCOME 2 HOUSEHOLD $76,550 80% AMI 2 HOUSEHOLD $95,200 100% AMI $67,000 1 $83,300 SIZE 1 MAXIMUM INCOME SIZE MAXIMUM INCOME 3 $86,100 3 $107,100 34

Find your next home or apt.

Estimated

$246,000

Monthly

$236 Condo Fee

$76,550

4--

1 4

$95,200

1 $67,000 1 $83,300 $95,650 4 $119,000 $86,100 3 $107,100 2 3 $76,550 2 $95,200 5 $103,350 5 $128,550 $95,650 4 3 $119,000 3 4 $86,100 $107,100 6 $111,000 6 $138,050 $103,350 5 4 $128,550 4 5 $95,650 $119,000 5 $103,350 5 $128,550 $111,000 Applications are available6during the application period for 60-days, 6from December 26,$138,050 2025 to February 24, 2026 6request 6from $138,050 anduring online$111,000 application or period to havefor one sent by email or mail,26, email ApplicationsTo are available the application 60-days, December 2025 to February 24, 2026 4

amhersthomes@dvmconsult.com orone call 617-209-9262 request online application to have sent by email or email Applications are available To during thean application period foror 60-days, from December 26,mail, 2025 to February 24, 2026 amhersthomes@dvmconsult.com call 617-209-9262 will hold two informational listed below: ToWe request an online application or tomeetings have oneoras sent by email or mail, We will hold two informational meetings listed below: email amhersthomes@dvmconsult.com or callas617-209-9262 Date & Time Address Virtually We will hold In-Person two informational meetings as listed below: Join Date & Time In-Person Address Join Virtually Date & Time In-Person Join Virtually North AmherstAddress Library Join Zoom Meeting: Thursday, January 15, 2026 North Amherst Library Join Zoom Meeting: Thursday, January 15, 2026 North Amherst Community Room Thursday, 15, 2026 North Amherst Library Room https://bit.ly/ACHInfoSession Join Zoom Meeting: 6:00PMJanuary to 7:00PM North Amherst Community https://bit.ly/ACHInfoSession 6:00PM to 7:00PM 8 Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002 Dial-In #: 8 North Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002Zoom 6:00PM to 7:00PM Amherst Community Room Zoom Dial-In #: https://bit.ly/ACHInfoSession (929) 205-6099 (929) 205-6099 8 North Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002 Zoom Dial-In #: Amherst Library North Amherst Library Saturday, February 2026 7, 2026 Saturday, 7, February North Amherst Community Room North Amherst Community Room Meeting Meeting ID: Saturday, 7, 2026 North Amherst Library (929)ID: 205-6099 12:00PMFebruary to12:00PM 1:00PM to 1:00PM 8 Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002826826 8 Montague Amherst, MARoom 01002 4384 3221 4384 3221 12:00PM to 1:00PM NorthRoad, Amherst Community Meeting ID: 8 Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002 826 4384 3221 Applications are available in person on the following days, dates, and times in the following place(s)

Applications are available in person on the following days, dates, and times in the following place(s)

Day Date on the following days, Time Location Applications are available in person Date Timedates, and times in the following Location place(s) Valley Community Development Day - Friday Time Location Monday January 2, 2026Date - February 24, 2026 9:00AM – 4:30PM Valley Community Development 256 Pleasant St, Northampton, MA 01060 Monday - Friday January 2, 2026 - February 24, 2026 9:00AM – 4:30PM Northampton, MA 01060 Monday - Friday January 2, 2026 - February 24, 2026 9:00AM – 4:30PM256 Pleasant ValleySt,Community Development North Amherst Library Thursday January 15, 2026 5:00PM – 7:00PM PleasantAmherst St, Northampton, MA01002 01060 8 256 Montague Road, Amherst, MA North Library Thursday January 15, 2026 5:00PM – 7:00PM Amherst, MA 01002 Thursday January 15, 2026 5:00PM – 7:00PM 8 Montague Road, North Amherst Library North Amherst Library Saturday February 7, 2026 9:00AM – 1:00PM 8 Montague Road,Amherst, Amherst, MA01002 01002 8 Montague Road, MA North Amherst Library The best local classifieds Saturday February 7, 2026 9:00AM – 1:00PM Saturday February 7, 2026 9:00AM – 1:00PM 8 Montague Road, North Amherst Library Amherst, MA 01002 DEADLINE: Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than February 24, 2026. 8 Montague Road, Amherst, MA 01002 in print in The Republican DEADLINE:Mailed to: DVM Housing Partners c/o Amherst Community Homes, 35 Batchelder Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than February 24, 2026. DEADLINE: Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than February 24, 2026. ● Selection by Lottery. Mailed to: DVM Housing Partners c/o Amherst Community Homes, 35 Batchelder Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 and online www.masslive.com ● DVM AssetHousing & Use Restrictions Mailed to: Partnersapply. c/o Amherst Community Homes, 35 Batchelder Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 Selection Lottery. Apply. ● by Preferences •Selection by Lottery. Asset & Use Restrictions apply. For more information, language assistance, or reasonable accommodations Preferences •AssetApply. & Use Restrictions apply. for persons with disabilities, please call 617-209-9262 or email amhersthomes@dvmconsult.com. •Preferences Apply.assistance, or reasonable accommodations For more information, language For more information, please language or reasonable amhersthomes@dvmconsult.com. for persons with disabilities, callassistance, 617-209-9262 or emailaccommodations for persons with disabilities, please call 617-209-9262 or email amhersthomes@dvmconsult.com.

Day