Menders bring broken items back to life

Menders bring broken items back to life

Nate MacFarland works on a bicycle May 31.

Patrick L. Sullivan

SALISBURY — If you needed your bicycle tuned up or a wobbly chair leg secured, Library Street on Salisbury was the place to be Saturday, May 31.

In the Congregational Church hall, there were stations for book mending, clothes mending, jewelry repair, small furniture repair, and small electric appliance repair.

And bullhorn repair. This counted as a small electrical appliance, and the church pastor, John Nelson, peered intently at the device, trying to come up with a solution.

The Fix-It event, a co-production of the Congregational Church and the Scoville Memorial Library, was supposed to be happening on the library lawn.

But it was raining off and on, and hard when it did.

So the fixer-uppers prudently moved operations inside.

The weather didn’t bother Nate MacFarland of Berkshire Bike and Board in Great Barrington.

He was under a couple of tents on the library lawn offering what he called “simple fixes” for bicyclists.

As he chatted to a reporter, he examined and then adjusted a bicycle seat which had come unmoored.

“That should do it,” he said to the bike’s owner.

Latest News

HVRHS triple jumper places 9th in New England
Anthony Labbadia set a new HVRHS record with a 44-foot one-inch triple jump June 14. The distance earned him 9th place at the New England track and field championship, which this year was held in New Britain, Conn.
Photo by Riley Klein

NEW BRITAIN — Anthony Labbadia soared to 9th place in the triple jump at the 2025 New England track and field championships Saturday, June 14.

On his first attempt of the event he leaped 44 feet and one inch, qualifying for the finals and setting the new Housatonic Valley Regional High School record. The previous school record of 43 feet eight inches was set by Don Hurlbutt in 1967.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pirates go back-to-back as league champs

The Canaan Pirates pose as champions after defending the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Majors Little League title.

Photo by Riley Klein

THOMASTON The Canaan Pirates are champions once more.

In the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Majors Little League title game Friday, June 13, the Pirates defeated Thomaston JRC Transportation by a score of 6-2.

Keep ReadingShow less
Red Sox end season with comeback win

NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Red Sox ended the season with a thrilling 14-13 win over the Tri-Town Phillies Thursday, June 12.

Canaan trailed for most of the game but kept it close. Ultimately, the Red Sox secured the victory with a final-inning comeback in front of the home crowd at Steve Blass Field.

Keep ReadingShow less
State Rep. Horn injured in running accident

State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) was treated for her injuries at Sharon Hospital.

Photo by John Coston

The day after concluding what has been described as a grueling legislative session, State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) had a running accident, leaving her with a broken pelvis and collarbone among other more minor bruises and abrasions. Despite the injuries, she is in good spirits and recuperating at home, eager to get back on her feet.

Horn said after spending weeks in the assembly hall, she was eager to get some outdoor exercise in, but perhaps pushed a little too hard too soon. She said she was excited to get a run in on the morning of Friday, June 6, but was still exhausted from her time in Hartford and in the final stretch of recovering from a meniscus repair surgery in December.

Keep ReadingShow less