homegarden-20260426 by repubnews

You’re probably washing all of your pants wrong

Here’s how to do it right

By Jolie K err

The Washington Post

IT’S A FRUSTRATING TRUISM

of laundry that there are no hard-and-fast rules about how often you should clean a pair of pants. That makes it tricky to know when, exactly, it’s time for our legwear to take a spin in the washing machine. But there are some clear signs that tell us it’s time to do so.

“Invisible soils like sweat and body oils naturally build up, leading to dinginess and odors if they aren’t cleaned regularly,” says Kim Romine, a fabric care scientist at Procter & Gamble. “Signs that your garment needs washing include visible stains, noticeable odors and the fabric feeling oily or stiff from soil buildup.” That’s a helpful start, but there is more to know about how, and how often, to wash a pair of pants.

You must wash pants that have been exposed to contaminants

Regular washing is crucial to keeping pants free of stains and odors and to maintain the integrity of the fabric. But there are also times you must wash pants: When they have been in contact with such contaminants as pesticides, occupational chemicals or biological soils (blood, urine, feces, vomit), wash them as soon as possible. Avoid placing contaminated clothing in a laundry bag or hamper with other items and wash them in a load separate from other clothing and household linens.

Okay, but won’t overwashing ruin my pants?

Not as much as you might think, though washing pants does contribute to overall wear and tear. Actually, the real culprit is the dryer. If you want to preserve the look and longevity of your pants, whether they’re yoga pants, pajama pants or expensive jeans, wash them regularly according to the expert guidelines below, but try to avoid using the dryer. Air-drying pants — on a line or rack or laying them flat — or using a no- or low-heat dryer setting, is the best way to balance the need to wash these garments with ensuring they look good and last a long time.

Is it better to wash pants inside out or right-side out?

“Washing pants inside out is generally recommended,” Romine says. It helps protect the fabric’s outer surface from fading, abrasion and the pilling that can occur in the wash. “Additionally, most soils accumulate on the inside, where the fabric contacts your skin,” she says. “Turning pants inside out exposes these areas to more agitation, improving soil removal.” But if the outside of the pants is heavily soiled or stained, Romine adds, “washing them right side out can help target that dirt more effectively.”

A note on undergarments, or lack thereof

If you’re a member of the commando set, you’ll need to wash your pants accordingly. “No question,” says Robert Cardiff, the co-founder of Laundry Sauce, “if you’re going commando, treat those pants more like underwear. That means washing leggings and yoga pants every single wear, and bumping up the frequency on anything else that sits close to your skin. Your pants, and everyone around you, will thank you.”

How, and how often, to wash different types of pants

The good or bad news, depending on your perspective, is that even the experts don’t agree on how often to wash pants, so treat these recommendations as rough guidelines. And before laundering pants, Romine says, “always check the care label for specific instructions, as some fabrics may have unique washing requirements.”

Yoga pants, workout pants and leggings

“These should be washed after every wear because they trap sweat and body oils, which can cause odors and skin irritation,” Romine says. To target these soils, turn leggings and workout and yoga pants inside out before washing. Cold water and a delicate cycle is best for preserving such garments. Avoid washing them in the same load as towels and fleece, which can transfer lint, as well as with heavy or bulky garments such as hoodies and jeans, which cause friction that leads to pilling and other damage.

Don’t use fabric softener when washing leggings or workout and yoga pants, as it can leave a coating that traps odor-causing bacteria. Air-dry to prevent fading and shrinking and to preserve the garment’s longevity.

Lounge and track pants

Cardiff recommends washing lounge pants every three to five wears, “assuming you’re not sweating heavily in them.

But once they start losing their shape or smelling less than fresh, it’s time.” Unless the exterior is visibly soiled, wash casual pants inside out to target body soils and bacteria. Use cold water and air-dry or use a low-heat dryer cycle to maintain the fabric.

Pajama pants

Score one for the shower-at-night crowd: These can be worn two to three times before washing, Romine says, “especially if you shower at night before putting on your pajamas.

Overwashing kakis and chinos can ruin them quickly. Spot clean them between most wears and full-wash them only when really needed. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)

Usually, jeans only need to be washed every month or every other month. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)

Denim pants drying on a clothesline. Air-drying pants is the best way to ensure they look good for a long time. (PHOTO/COVER PHOTO ADOBE STOCK IMAGES)

Washing pants inside out is generally recommended. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)

Lee Reich | In the Garden

Is moon gardening effective?

FOR NO APPARENT

reason, my seedlings sometimes take longer than usual to poke up through the soil. Or one day’s transplants get off to a rousing start right after planting, while another day’s transplants sulk for a while before they grow. Fickle plants, or is the problem perhaps with the moon?

Some gardeners believe that the phases of the moon dictate the best times for gardening. No one has told me that my garden will be a flop if I ignore the moon, but paying attention to it as I go about my gardening activities will “take advantage of the impetus provided by nature” (as one moon-gardener has stated). Old-time gardeners used to say, “Plant potatoes by the dark of the moon.”

For some moon-gardeners, instructions are more refined, taking into consideration the

Plants respond to the cycles of the moon, or maybe they don’t. (LEE REICH PHOTO)

sign of the zodiac along with the phase of the moon. Planting is not the only activity covered. There are ideal days for fertilizing (with different days for organic or synthetic fertilizers), for mowing the lawn (depending on whether

the goal is for quicker growth or slower growth), for harvesting, and even for making pickles. One year, to get the most beauty from my flowers I was supposed to set transplants out on June 6.

GARDEN NOTES

HAMPDEN Perennial plants wanted

The Hampden Garden Club is looking for perennial plant donations for their Memorial Day Plant Sale. If you are looking to thin out your perennials, garden members will come and dig the plants you want to donate. Please contact Lil Fedora at 413-566-1137 to set up a dig day.

WARE

Gardening workshop

Ware Grange’s first gardening workshop of the year, “Hands on with Summer Annual Flowers,” will be held on Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall at 297 Belchertown Road. The presenter will be Roberta McQuaid, author of the weekly “In the Garden” column for Turley Publications. Participants will learn

Sip, Sip, Hooray!

about easy to grow summer annuals and get to try their hand at seed starting. Such favorites as Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos and Bachelor’s Buttons will be covered. Visit Ware Grange on Facebook or at waregrange.org for more information.

MONSON Garden club plant sale

Monson Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 9 at a new location — in front of Memorial Hall on Main Street starting at 9 a.m. A wide selection of perennials in addition to wildflowers, vegetables, shrubs, house plants, bulbs and herbs will be available. Prices range from $3.00 and up. There will also be an assortment of special gift planters for Mother’s Day gifts. The plants come from members’ gardens, and members will be available to answer questions about the plants they enjoy.

Reich

Detailed instructions can be simplified for those who merely want to dabble in moon gardening. The period from two days before to seven days after the new moon is the best time to sow seeds whose germination times are either very short (broccoli, for example) or very long (parsley, for example). In the month or so that the latter seeds require to germinate, they will start to grow just as the moon has gone full cycle and is ready to enhance growth. Between the time of the full moon and seven days thereafter is the time to transplant seedlings and sow seeds such as peppers and eggplants that require a long (but not very long) time to germinate. Influences of the moon’s gravity, light, and magnetism are the foundations for all these guidelines. Lunar gravity, for example, is said to promote leaf growth and inhibit root growth. Hence, seedlings should establish well if transplanted during the third quarter, when decreasing moonlight and tidal pull slow leaf growth and stimu-

late root growth. Is there any scientific basis for reckoning with moon phases when gardening? Yes and no. Yes, when it comes to the light cast by the moon. It’s well known that many seeds need some light to coax them to sprout. Not a lot of light, and moonlight might be sufficient. Lettuce, for example, as well as many weed seeds. Typically, its tiny seeds that need light, which makes sense, because tiny seeds germinate best when sown on or near the surface of the ground. Planted too deep, a sprout from a tiny seed burns up what little energy it has it can emerge and capturing sunlight to make energy via photosynthesis.

Let’s turn now to other effects, or possible effects of the moon on plants. Blaming lunar gravity for good or bad seed germination presents some fundamental weak points. For instance, ocean tides occur because gravitational attraction is a function of distance, resulting in a differential pull of lunar (and solar) gravity between the side of the earth closest to, and the side farthest from the moon. But the two sides of a seed are only a fraction of an

Notes

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3

Proceeds from the sale are used for local community projects such as the downtown plantings, holiday greens, and scholarships.

Plant sale

Down to Earth Gardeners will hold its 285h annual plant sale on Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine at United Methodist Church, 162 Main St., Monson (corner of Main and Cushman streets, across from Dunkin’). Featuring many plants for shade or for sun, a large selection of perennials, ground cover, shrubs, herbs and more.

GREENFIELD Seed library

The Greenfield Public Library has officially launched its new seed library. Home gardeners are invited to visit the seed library, located on the second floor of the library at the information services desk, to choose up to five packets of seeds for their gardens. A wide variety of vegetable seeds (arugula to zucchini), as well as herb and flower seeds (amaranth to zinnia) will be available.

inch different in distance from the moon, so tidal effects in seeds are negligible.

On the other hand, there’s no question that the moon has an effect on such phenomena as barometric pressure, temperature, and cosmic radiation flux. Carefully controlled experiments have detected periodicities in plants, such as water uptake by seeds, shoot growth, nutrient uptake, and respiration.

The periodicity of these

responses is rarely in simple harmony with only lunar cycles. There seem to be other cosmic influences at work.

The zodiac, perhaps? Scientists concede that influences from the heavens affect plant growth, and these “pervasive geophysical factors” (a catchall phrase from one scientific journal) probably are mediated via radiation to the earth and/or water in the plant or the environment.

A large gulf exists between

an experiment showing water uptake by beans varying over the course of a month and instructions that tell me that the best day to sow bean seeds is on May 17. With that said, sometime around mid-May is when I drop bean seeds into furrows in my garden.

The whole area of moon gardening may be worthy of further investigation and perhaps backyard experimentation. It’s a good thing our planet has only one moon.

Borrowing guidelines will be provided, and gardeners are encouraged to return seeds after the harvest season ends. This program is free and open to everyone. For more information, contact Nancy Little at nancy.little@ greenfield-ma.gov or call 413772-1544.

WILBRAHAM

Wilbraham Garden Club scholarship applications

The Wilbraham Garden Club is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for two, $1,000 scholarships. We are accepting applications from graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate college students majoring in or who plan to major in, one of the programs listed below. Eligible student must be residents of Wilbraham or Hampden, MA.

All applicants must be enrolled in one of these fields of study: Botany, Horticulture, Conservation, Environmental Science, Earth Systems, Forest Management, Natural Resources, Plant, soil and Insect Science, Sustainable Agricultures, Sustainable Horticulture, Food and Farming, Turf Grass Science & Management, Landscape Design & Management Technology, Landscape Architecture, Oceanography, Clean Energy Technology, Floral Design or Land Management.

Applicants must include a personal essay of 100-200 words, official high school or college transcript(s), two letters of recommendation, college acceptance letters(s) if available, along with the completed Wilbraham Garden Club Scholarship application. All required documentation must be received on or before April 30. Notifications will be made by mid-May and the recipients will be awarded their scholarships at the annual meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club on June 5. Scholarship

applicants will be available at the Wilbraham and Hampden Public Libraries, Minnechaug Regional High School and Wilbraham Monson Academy. They can also be found on the Wilbraham Garden Club Facebook page. Please contact howella413@gmail. com with questions or to receive an application.

Garden Club monthly meeting

The Wilbraham Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, May 7 at noon in the St. Cecilia Parish Center on Main Street. The guest speaker is Chris Ferrero, a Cornell Master Gardener. Her presentation, “Gardening for Baby Boomers: 10 Ways to Garden Smarter as We Get Older,” will focus on ways to reshape your garden design, change the plants you use, and modify how you work in our garden as you age. A light luncheon will be served and is open to all members. Guest fee will be $5. Please call Anna Howell at (413) 5375788 with any questions and to register.

Plant & bake sale

The Wilbraham Garden Club will hold its annual plant & bake sale on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the Wilbraham Public Library grounds. Shoppers will find a wide selection of perennials, annuals, hanging plants, sun-loving and shade-loving plants, and many other garden favorites — all offered at reasonable prices.

Inside the library’s Brooks Room, visitors can enjoy the club’s popular bake sale, featuring an assortment of homemade cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, bars, cupcakes, muffins, and more. This event is the club’s major annual fundraiser, supporting its scholarship program and a wide range of community service projects.

AGAWAM

Annual plant sale

The Agawam Garden Club

is planning its annual plant sale for Saturday, May 30. This year’s event will be held at the Historical Thomas Smith House, 251 North West Street, Feeding Hills and will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The sale will include many perennials and shrubs all from members gardens and all a bargain. Because the plants are all grown locally in members gardens, they are well acclimated to the area. Proceeds from the sale go towards funding the club’s scholarship and providing educational programs for the year. Please check the club’s website for further information, agawamgardenclub. com.

SPRINGFIELD

Miniature gardens exhibit

The Springfield Garden Club invites families, gardeners, teachers, and book lovers to experience “Children’s Books in Bloom: Miniature Gardens That Tell a Tale,” a whimsical exhibit transforming beloved children’s stories into enchanting miniature gardens. The event will take place May 1 - 3 at the historic Forest Park Monkey House. The event will kick off Children’s Book Week, May 4-10, which is being celebrated at area libraries. This imaginative show features 48 creative floral displays each inspired by classic children’s book. Visitors will discover their favorite stories—from magical castles and woodland scenes to beloved characters and adventures filled with plants and flowers. Designed for visitors of all ages, Children’s Books in Bloom combines gardening, storytelling, and creativity in an immersive setting. Guests can enjoy story time readings, explore enchanting garden displays, and share the joy of books with children and grandchildren. The exhibit also supports a meaningful cause. The event is free and open to the public, but donations are greatly appreciated. All donations from the event go towards a future Forest Park Kiddie Train.

Springfield Garden Club plant sale and scholarship fundraiser

The Springfield Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m.- noon at the Monkey House in Forest Park. Free entry to the plant sale is available at the Trafton Road entrance to Forest Park, 200 Trafton Road.

A spring tradition and the Club’s major scholarship fundraiser, this is not the kind of plant sale that focuses on re-selling plants from wholesale growers. Except for a few donations from generous area garden centers, these plants are from members’ gardens or have been grown from seed specifically for the sale.

This is a major fund raiser for their scholarship program and a lot of fun for club members and customers alike. There will be many experienced gardeners and master gardeners among here who can offer useful suggestions on which plants to buy or answers to some of your gardening questions.

The Springfield Garden Club awards an annual scholarship of at least $2,000 to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a full-time plant science or environmental studies program, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, land management or other allied fields.

Using proceeds from past plant sales, the club has given out over $80,000 in scholarships to students in the last 30 plus years and we look forward to adding to that this year. For more information on the 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.

Pants

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2

However, if you sweat heavily during the night or spill anything on them, it’s time to wash them.”

Khakis and chinos

Overwashing khakis and chinos “is actually one of the fastest ways to ruin them. It breaks down the fabric and fades the color,” says Cardiff, who recommends washing them every two to three wears. “Spot-clean them when you can, air them out between wears, and save the full wash for when they’ve genuinely earned it.”

Cords

“Corduroy is a thicker fabric that doesn’t absorb sweat as readily as lighter materials,” Cardiff says, “but the texture can trap dust and debris over time.” He recommends washing them infrequently — every four to five wears — and turning them inside out to retain their color and texture. Air-drying, or using a low-heat dryer setting, also can help prevent fading and other signs of wear and tear.

Linen pants

“For casual use, wash linen pants every one to two wears,” Cardiff says. “If it’s been a hot summer day, after every wear.” The fabric is highly prone to shrinking, so it’s important to wash linen garments in cold water only and to air-dry them.

Jeans

Ideally, says Kiya Babzani, founder of the men’s denim store Self Edge, you should wash your jeans every five to seven wears — but he’s also okay with washing them every 30 to 45 wears. “I had to balance the advice because it’s so against what denim culture tells you,” he says. He recommends washing your jeans every month or every other month, “unless you’re in a really dirty environment or you’re getting something on them all the time.” To prevent premature fading, turn jeans inside out, wash them in cold water and let them air-dry.

Zach Galifianakis brings humor to gardening in Netflix series

By Jessica Damiano

Associated Press

YOU MIGHT NOT realize it but watching Zach Galifianakis poke around in the dirt like he’s just discovered it is exactly what you need right now.

In “This Is a Gardening Show,” a six-part series that premiered last week on Netflix for Earth Day, the actor and comedian brings a kind of wide-eyed curiosity to gardening that feels at once sincere and ridiculous.

The episodes run an easily digestible 15 to 20 minutes each — just long enough to learn something new without feeling overwhelmed.

Learning from experts...

Galifianakis, who says he’s been gardening “on and off” for 25 years, doesn’t come across as polished, but it’s clear he’s not trying to.

‘Instead, he leaves experts in charge of their own domains — apples, tomatoes, foraging, root vegetables, corn and compost — taking it all in

with the wonder of a kid who just realized food doesn’t come from the grocery store. Those laid-back experts show him — and us — the ropes, demonstrating, among other things, how to graft an apple tree, and how to add nitrogen-rich ingredients to a compost bin.

...and kids

Each episode features amusing sit-downs with students from Brooklyn Elementary School in Comox, British Columbia. At first, you might think you’re watching a kids’ show. But then you realize you’re the kid.

Galifianakis interviews them with the same deadpan style he used on celebrities in his satirical talk show “Between Two Ferns,” which ran from 2008-2018. He asks questions like “How many children do you have?” and lets their sometimes off-thewall responses land however they may (“11,” in this case).

From the kids’ perspective, though, he’s probably the one saying the darndest

things. Galifianakis tosses out a knock-knock joke about Benjamin Netanyahu, suggests urinal cakes when asking about their favorite foods, and commits to an unexplained running gag about Ryan Reynolds, all of which go over their heads. It’s quirky and silly.

Gardening as Rx

There’s a callback for fans as he walks through greenery: “It’s nice to be between two ferns again,” he says.

Bloopers are woven into each episode, along with lines like, “If I were to offer a remedy to the human condition, it would be a garden … or acid.”

The humor doesn’t upstage the gardening, though.

“The future is agrarian,” he says, adding that gardening is “good for your heart.”

And so is this show.

Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for The Associated Press. She publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter.

At left, Zach Galifianakis appears in his gardening series “This Is a Gardening Show.” Above, Zach Galifianakis interviews a child about root vegetables in an episode from his gardening series. (NETFLIX VIA AP)

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting

Striking works by Nakashima furniture imitators

THINK OF WOODEN FURNIture and most of us picture defined shapes, even lines, and symmetry. Of course, that isn’t always the case. Historically, wood was left with uneven live edges when furniture was made quickly out of necessity, not as a design choice.

While raw edges, twig construction and irregular shapes gained favor among fans of rustic looks in the 19th century onward, live-edge furniture truly became an art form in the mid20th century, thanks largely to George Nakashima (1905-1990), furniture maker and founder of Nakashima Woodworkers. He recognized the natural beauty of wood and made innovative use of its live edges and natural grain in his designs.

Nakashima furniture is considered some of the best of the 20th century, but, like most popular designers, his style had many imitators, too. While they may not quite reach the same artistic heights, other makers’ designs can provide similarly striking looks at comparative bargain prices. Nakashima furniture can easily cost thousands of dollars, but this 41-inch mid-century freeform bench by an unidentified maker, for example, sold for $375 at Copake Auctions.

Q.I have a large collection of cut glass, including some pieces by Tiffany, and would like to know the value.

A. The value of cut glass will depend on its maker, age, pattern, and the type of piece. Do not confuse cut glass marked for Tiffany & Co. with the leaded glass lamps or iridescent glass made by Tiffany Studios or signed for Louis Comfort Tiffany. Tiffany & Co is the store founded by his father, Charles Lewis Tiffany, that sells silver, jewelry and decorative arts made by other manufacturers.

If you do not know the maker of a piece of glass, look for a signature. That will also increase the value of a piece. Signatures on cut glass can be tricky to find, since they are usually acid-etched and faint. Look at a smooth surface on the glass and turn it to catch the light. Not all cut glass is signed, however. You may still be able to identify the patterns and find the value that way.

Look for books on cut glass at your library, like “Identifying American Brilliant Cut Glass” by Bill and Louise

Sometimes, nature is the best designer. This bench from

the mid-20th century takes advantage of the live edges and natural shapes in the wood that composes it for an entirely unique look. (COPAKE AUCTION INC.)

Boggess or “20th Century Factory Glass” by Lesley Jackson. A cut glass collector’s club, like the American Cut Glass Association (cutglass.org), may have further information to help you identify and value your pieces.

Once you know the maker or pattern of your glass, you can look up prices in price guides, pattern-matching sites, or auction results. If your glass has flaws such as nicks, cracks or a cloudiness that does not wash clean, it will lower its value. Some features, like an unusual type of foot or the use of both colored and clear glass, will raise the value.

Q. I have a porcelain figure of a woman in a medieval dress with braided hair. There is a blue mark on the underside that looks like two crossed arrows with a number above them. The number is partly worn away, so I can’t read it. I haven’t been able to identify the mark. Can you tell me about it?

The most famous porcelain maker that used a mark with two crossed arrows is the Kalk factory that operated in Eisenberg, Thuringia, Germany, in the 20th century. It was founded in about 1900 with the merger of two porcelain companies and closed in the 1970s.

Kalk is known for hand-painted porcelain figurines, dishes, and trinket

boxes. However, the mark with two crossed arrows has been copied by other companies; most notably by Arnart Creations, an importer located in New York that opened in the 1950s. Most of their porcelain products were made in Japan, but they used marks that resembled those of famous European porcelain factories, including the Kalk crossed arrows mark.

If you can see how many digits are in the number in your mark, that may be a clue to whether it is an authentic Kalk or an Arnart imitation. When Kalk marks include a number, it usually has only one or two digits. Arnart marks usually have four. Arnart figurines generally have lower values than Kalk’s, but neither company’s figurines sell for exceptionally high prices today. Kalk figurines often sell for about $25 to $50; Arnart, about $15 to $25.

TIP: Treat your furniture the same way you treat your face. Wash it to remove the dirt. You do not want to remove the skin. Don’t sand too much or use a “dip strip.”

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

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.

Satin glass, ewer, shaded pink, gilt leafy branches, frosted handle, ruffled rim, pontil, 9 inches, $35.

Cloisonne, bowl, green, scrolling leafy vines, flowering branches, blue blossoms, flared scalloped rim, ring foot, wood stand, Japan, 10 inches, $95.

Rug, Navajo, storm pattern, gray, beige, cream, black border, wool, 56 x 38 inches, $150.

Nautical, telegraph, ship’s orders, round, dial, brass frame, marked, Henry Robb Ltd., Leith, Scotland, mid-1900s, 15 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches, $210.

Kitchen, butter stamp, lollipop shape, carved, bird, sun, crimped edge, tiger maple, 8 inches, $260. Rug, Tekke, red field, repeating geometric medallions, burgundy border, alternating black and gold medallions, wool, hand knotted, Turkmen, 20th century, 10 feet 1 inch x 6 feet 7 inches, $350. Lamp, electric, hanging, Murano glass, grape cluster, multicolor, gold tone metal frame, flower garlands, pierced bows, flared leafy finial, early 20th century, 16 x 11 1/2 inches, $405.

Furniture, cabinet, corner, Chippendale, walnut, heart pine, two tall over two short paneled doors, six interior shelves, shaped bracket feet, North Carolina, early 1800s, 81 x 48 inches, $510.

Silver-American, platter, oval, wide scalloped rim, repousse flowers and leaves, scrolled trim, marked, S. Kirk & Son Co., 15 inches, $1,125.

Rookwood, vase, standard glaze, shaded brown, dark to light, squat base, flowers, flared rim, signed, A.V.B., Artus Van Briggle, c. 1891, 19 inches, $1,790.

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.

Average US long-term mortgage rate slips to 6.23%

Rate falls for third consecutive week

By A lex Veiga Associated Press

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate dropped for the third week in a row, easing borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers as the spring homebuying season rolls on.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.23% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.81%.

The average rate is now at its lowest level since March 19, when it was 6.22%.

Meanwhile, borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular

AMHERST

Robert Hughes Jr., and Judith Hughes to Helen Blatz and Lauren Croce, 19 Baldwin Lane, $470,000.

Robert A. Ludwig, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Robert A. Ludwig to 105 Pomeroy Ln LLC, 105 Pomeroy Lane, $340,000.

Amhad Development Corp., to Dvora Eisenstein, 28 Greenleaves Drive, $375,000.

James P. Turati and Jean E. Turati to Laura Wattenberg, 24 Greenleaves Drive, $355,000.

Amhad Development Corp., to James Turati and Jean E. Turati, 28 Greenleaves Drive, $295,000.

Dominick C. LaCapra and Jane V. Pedersen to Douglas Rice and Laura Rice, 18 Bayberry Lane, $850,000.

Mark Weinfeld and Pamela Weinfeld to Christina Rowley and Philip Avila, 167 Rolling Ridge Road, $765,000.

310 Belchertown Road LLC, to Hamed Zamani and Helia Hashemi, 310 Belchertown Road, $800,000.

BELCHERTOWN

Colman O’Connor and Rachel Cohen to Colman O’Connor, trustee, Rachel Cohen, trustee, Rachel Cohen Revocable Trust and Colman O’Connor Revocable Trust, 285 Old Enfield Road, $100.

Connor J. Gemme to Miranda G. Gemme, 285 Rockrimmon St., $50,000.

with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week. That average rate dropped to 5.58% from 5.65% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.94%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.

Rates have been declining of late, echoing some easing in the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.30% in midday trading on the bond market Thursday, down slightly from 4.32% a week ago. The yield was at just 3.97% in late February, before the war with Iran broke out.

BUCKLAND

Laura A. Letendre to Quinn Lumsden, 7 Hog Hollow Road, $280,000

Norman E. Daby Jr., individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Norman E. Daby Sr., to James C. Bragdon, 141 North St., $150,000.

CHICOPEE

Alfredo Lopez, Rubidia Orozco Lopez and Rubidia Orozco Lopezlopez to 129-131 Church Street LLC, 129-131 Church St., $100.

Carol Ann McCarthy, Michele St. Germain and Michael A. Justice to DGL Properties LLC, and Daniel Stamborski, Westover Road, Lot B, $90,000.

Gillian Szlachetka Dubay, trustee, and Augustyn Family Trust, trustee of, to Elisabeth J. Laflamme, 69 Beston St., $163,500.

Lawrence J. Pease, Shirely A. Pease and Shirley A. Pease to Jin Woo Choi and Yoo Jung Choo, 104 Johnson Road, Unit 1103, $270,000.

Mazel Real Estate LLC, to Isaac Paige, Depot Street, $375,000.

Omar Gshimawy to Servicenet Inc., 541 Grattan St., $470,000.

Paul D. Baker, trustee, and Baker Family Revocable Living Trust, trustee of, to Paul D. Baker, 58 Nonotuck Ave., $100.

Rohirrim Inc., to 1535 Memorial LLC, 1535 Memorial Drive, $600,000.

Thomas Edward Duffy and Kristiana Tadeo to Edson Galdino Souza and Brianna Lucy Souza, 18 Devlin Drive, $435,000.

As recently as late February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage slipped just under 6% for the first time since late 2022. It started climbing last month as the war with Iran sent energy prices soaring, heightening worries about higher inflation.

Bond yields, and mortgage rates, have been volatile in the weeks since as the conflict drags on despite attempts by the U.S. and Iran to negotiate a ceasefire.

The war has ratcheted up worries over higher inflation and the trajectory of the economy at a time when consumers are feeling less confident about the job market. That, plus the volatility in mortgage rates, has clouded the outlook for the spring homebuying season.

The U.S. housing market has been

Yevgeniy Predein to Donna M. Gaudrault, trustee, Gaudrault Family Trust, trustee of, Cynthia J. Whalen, trustee, and Cynthia J. Whalen Family Trust, trustee of, 57 Colonial Circle, Unit D, $176,000.

DEERFIELD

Louis A. Velazquez to Connor Owen and Melody Owen, 15 Crestview Drive, $925,000.

Troy Santerre to Kathleen Elizabeth Carpenter and Samuel Holmes Short, 208 Greenfield Road, $410,000.

EAST LONGMEADOW

David Ayers, David J. Ayers, Kathleen O’Sullivan and Jessica L. Ayers to Marco L. Basile, 241 Hampden Road, $440,000.

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustee, and Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc. Series 2005-R7, trustee of, to Sunlight Properties LLC, 54 Rogers Road, $344,500.

EASTHAMPTON

Kelly A. Davis to Charles Davies and Emma Parish, 6 Wilton Road, $552,500.

Barbara F. Kozash to Marjorie L. Likens and Lawrence W. Dodge, 5 Overlook Drive, $100.

GRANBY

Tan Realty Corp., to Ludlow Road Realty LLC, New Ludlow Road, $145,000.

Mary Ann Donze to Ralph B. Swan Jr., and Mary Ann Donze, 68 Harris St., $100.

in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. They have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in January and February and March from a year earlier.

“Looking ahead, mortgage rates will likely continue to be volatile throughout the spring,” Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, said in an email. “For the market to regain full momentum, we will need to see more than just a temporary dip in rates. Rather, we need sustained stability in the global energy market and a clearer sign that domestic inflation is back on a downward trajectory.”

Ralph B. Swan Jr., and Mary Ann Donze to Christopher P. Roy, trustee, and Better Together Irrevocable Trust, 68 Harris St., $100.

GREENFIELD

Marleen R. Sumner, “fka” Marleen R. Willard, “aka” Marlene R. Willard, to Gerald D. Lashway, 202 Chapman St., $175,000.

Elisha Hutchinson and Heath Hutchinson to Austin Ordoyne and Kelli Poulin, 28 White Birch Ave., $370,000.

Bernard T. Ethier Jr., and Judith Betz Ethier to Jeffrey J. Benoit, “aka” Jeffrey Joseph Benoit, 696 Bernardston Road, $448,000.

Daniel S. Kimball and Emily R. Eash to Mary C. Collins, 46 Kenwood St., $265,000.

Nancy J. Ambo, Sally A. Randall and Janet L. Randall-Parda to Victor M. Nieves Corsino and Caitlyn E. Hatch Nieves, 259 Wisdom Way, $320,000.

Lisa L. Sandri, “aka” Lisa A. Sandri, to Central Arts LLC, 435 Deerfield St., $345,000.

HADLEY

Robert S. Niedbala, trustee, and Peter D. Niedbala Living Trust to Daniel T. Niedbala, trustee, Josh Messer, trustee, and Separate Share Trust, 136 East St., $100.

Janet M. Scott to Naples Home Buyers Inc., 180 Bay Road, $318,000.

HAWLEY

Hai Zheng Olefsky and Maxine M. Z. Olefsky to Stephen Lee Gingras.

153 East Hawley Road. $580,000.

HEATH

Stephen Farias to Glenn K. Phillips, Sadoga Road, $16,995.

HOLYOKE

Karol Makusiewicz to Dylan Vautrin and Shannon Vautrin, 51 Jarvis Ave., $395,000.

Mary Hatch and Dominic Alfano to Barbara A. Goll, 151 Lincoln St., $550,000.

Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity to Pedro Aponte Hernandez and Demaris Zorrilla De Aponte, 358 Chestnut St., $150,000. Witman Properties Inc., receiver, Holyoke City and James R. Laptas to Witman Properties Inc., 188 Lyman St., $353,000.

LONGMEADOW

Steven B. Fieldman, trustee, and Revocable Indenture Trust of Neil Fieldman, trustee of, to Matthew Fioretti and Caroline Fioretti, 211 Academy Drive, $520,000.

MONTAQUE

US Bank NA, trustee for RMAC Trust, Series 2016-CTT to Christopher R. Ewell, 12 Ferry Road, $297,000.

Erica Smith to Nicholas Clough, 709 Fairway Ave., Unit 709 Fairway Condominium, $277,200.

1 Burnham Street LLC, to Applied Behavioral Analysis Services LLC, 1 Burnham St., $399,000.

estate, and Arthur L. Stanley, estate, to Aixa Kidd, 124 Silver St., $530,000.

Daniel Maynard to Victor M. Maldonado, 20 Lyman Terrace, $340,000.

Nancy F. Papalardo, trustee, Mary E. Norris, trustee, Mary Norris and Papalardo-Norris Family Trust to Coleen S. Nauman and Cynthia A. Bisner, 11 Stewart St., $800,000.

SOUTHAMPTON

Harold A. Butson to Harold A. Butson and Lori A. Butson, 92 Crooked Ledge Road, $100.

NORTHAMPTON

Jeremy Jones and Lyndsay Jones to Ryan Bissi, 892 Westhampton Road, $362,500.

Emmy Clausing to Christopher Rucinski and Ariel Wampler, 23 Ford Crossing, $999,000.

William J. Miller and Kristel Applebee to Kristel Applebee, 62 Chestnut Avenue Extension, $100.

Five Rivers Inc., to Gustavo Consulting LLC, 80 Damon Road, $279,000.

Eugene C. Maag, trustee, Ruth L. Maag, trustee, and Eugene C. Maag & Ruth L. Maag Joint Declaration of Trust to Peter Salovey and Marta Elisa Moret, 80 Damon Road, $187,500.

Kimberly A. Sheridan, trustee, and Revocable Indenture of Trust of Kimberly A. Sheridan to Lucas Iain, 30 Pleasant St., $395,000.

Sara Spooner, conservator, Virginia Wooster and Virginia E. Wooster to Ryan Wickles and Thomas Wickles, 32 Stonewall Drive, $315,000.

Melissa A. Fowler and Melissa Fowler to Melissa A. Fowler, trustee, and Revocable Living Trust of Melissa A. Fowler, 6 Warner St., $100.

ORANGE

Teresa J. Woodbury, “aka” Theresa J. Woodbury, “fka” Theresa J. Hill, devisee under the will of Jeannette E. Schafron, and Mark Schafron, devisee under the will of Donald M. Schafron, to Stephen E. Schafron, 39 Stone Road, $25,000.

Erik M. Maloney to Kyle Nathan Burgos, 313-315 Walnut Hill Road, $505,000.

Marwa Al-Rebaueei to Travis Flagg and Marissa Keeney, 222 West River St., $320,000.

PALMER

Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Stoney Realty Trust, trustee of, to Nicholas Connolly, trustee, and Carroll Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, 32 Country Lane, $649,000.

SOUTH HADLEY

Sarah J. Bacon and David S. Hall to David S. Hall, trustee, Sarah J. Bacon, trustee, and Sarah J. Bacon Revocable Trust, 1 Amherst Road, $100.

Lisa E. Richter, personal representative, and Dorothy A. Richter, estate, to Collin A. Morley, 73 Lavalle Ave., $168,600.

Mark W. Stanley, personal representative, Arthur Loran Stanley,

Cynthia A. Bisner, trustee, Coleen S. Nauman, trustee, Cynthia A. Bisner Revocable Trust, Cynthia A. Bisner and Coleen S. Nauman to Jeffrey Bibeau and Lynne Bibeau, 1 Old Harvest Road, $874,000.

SOUTHWICK

Anthony Antico and Sharyn Antico to Sharyn Antico, 363 R North Loomis St., $100.

Anthony Antico and Sharyn Antico to Sharyn Antico, Off North Loomis Street, $100.

Donald C. Michaud, Donald Michaud, Pauline Michaud and Pauline M. Michaud to 25 Point Grove Realty Inc., 23-25 Point Grove Road, $305,000.

SPRINGFIELD

Algernon D. Anatol to Pamella Alves Mahnic, 1450-1456 Carew St., $610,000.

Daniel P. Thorpe to Javed Shah and Sakina Shah, 111 Cloran St., $150,000.

David Maina and Nelly Nganga to Sujan Biswa and Rachit Ramdam, 104 Appleton St., $385,000.

Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Kokoleka Realty Trust, trustee of, to Adriana Berly Moreno and Christopher Moreno, 187 Lamont St., $300,000.

DPN Homes LLC, to Junior Simon Williams, 24 Wands St., $368,000.

Edward Balaban to Malia Homebuyers LLC, 1175 Dickinson St., Unit 1175, $175,000.

Edwin Guerra and Nancy Guerra to Alex Guerra, 125 Phoenix Terrace, $230,000.

Family & Developments LLC, to Dillon M. Childs, 17 Jeanne Marie St., $310,000.

J R H Realty Inc., to Bank Building LLC, 1675-1677 Main St., $293,000.

Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC, to FH Vision Estate Inc., 217 Mazarin St., $223,000.

Ramon Arce to Wilmer Ferrer Castro, 89 Rochelle St., $258,000.

Richard A. David to Richard A. David and Crystal A. Detres, 38 Howes St., $100.

Robert Flowers to Veteran Stan LLC, 2306 Wilbraham Road, $272,500.

Robert T. Yvon Jr., and Christine A. Yvon to Christopher Desaulniers, 46 Eckington St., $382,500.

Shirley R. Gauthier to Jhazmin R. Collins and Jhazmin Collins, 54 Dudley St., $214,000.

Tamaria Sherman, representative, Robert Dennard Jr., estate, and Phyllis Sherman, estate, to NRES LLC, 171 Tyler St., $120,000.

Tejdada Properties LLC, to Sheileen Feliciano and Jadrien A. Feliciano, 19 Emily St., $320,000.

Thomas H. Krivacs and Kelly Lavertue-Krivacs to Kyle Deane and Sarah Foley, 236 Glenoak Drive, $310,000.

SUNDERLAND

Joanne E. Frazier to H2 Asset Solutions Inc., 243 Amherst Road, $152,000.

WARE

Joel J. Harder to Craig Fauteux and Kathleen Fauteux, 201 Upper Church St., $550,000.

Jessica L. Edwards to Caryn Edwards Roso, 8 Fourth Ave., $100.

Adonis P. Edwards to Caryn Edwards Roso, Fourth Avenue, $100.

Raymond L. Skowyra Jr., to R. Louis Skowyra III, and Nicholas John Skowyra, 17 Benham St., $100.

WARWICK

Patricia A. Carolus, Daniel G. Farley, Joseph D. Farley and Steven C. Farley and Leah A. Farley, trustees of the Steven & Leah Farley Family Revocable Trust, to Robert W. Farley, 172 White Road, $281,200.

Robert W. Farley, Daniel G. Farley and Steven C. Farley and Leah A. Farley, Trustees of the Steven & Leah Farley Family Revocable Trust, to Patricia A. Carolus and Joseph D. Farley, White Road, $126,777.50.

Damien Higgins to Tanner Ames and Everest J. Peacock, 833 Northfield Road, $100,000.