Dare to repair? Why wouldn't you?

There were a pair of real-world events last weekend that were as current today as they would have been a century ago.

“Dare to Repair” sponsored by the Tool Library and Niagara Falls Beautification Commission and “The Art of Lit” at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center sponsored by Niagara Orleans Libraries, the NACC and Better Off Read.

At Dare to Repair, a dozen “fixers” traveled from Buffalo to greet a steady stream of residents bringing items for repair at the Packard Court Community Center

In one corner, two men dealt with an electric chainsaw which fired a spring clip across the gym floor. Such clips are easy to fire and fly great distances. That’s why they call them “Jesus” clips.

In another corner, Felicia Lenzo took apart an antique Singer sewing machine, lubing its mechanism.

Hallie Taylor mended a sweater and a fleece. The sweater, particularly, had holes in its knitting that most people would never attempt to repair. She carefully stitched a patch inside and then used similar colored thread to hide the evidence. It wasn’t new but it was improved.

There seemed to be a steady stream of low-end e-bike being brought in, sometimes for a motor problem, sometimes for a flat.

Concurrently at the NACC, volunteers signed in book nerds who each donated a tome for recycling (that means givin away for either free or perhaps $1.)

Racks of books were offered for sale. At least 50 vendors filled the first floor of the main hall as well as the Townsend Gallery.

Most of them seemed unaware of the haunting tribute to the Love Canal tragedy surrounding them on the walls of the Townsend Gallery. If you are interested in Dana Tyrell's works, stop back and pick up a sheet that explains. 

Lewiston Librarian Michelle Kratts who helped set the event up, staffed a table to sign people up for library cards.

Cherrish Beals was there to sign people up for book clubs as well as teach them about the Turtle. She was handing carefully folded information sheets from John Luke, a University at Buffalo PhD student completing his thesis. The obverse of his unfolded work was a poster from 1988 featuring Monsters of Mosh including DRI, Gang Green and Monsters of Mosh.

Art of Lit is kind of an offshoot of Better Off Read. Most of the author's books were self-published. It will likely happen again next year.

Lissa Rhodes of the Tool Library said the hardest part of “Dare to Repair” is finding enough volunteers who will fix things. Most of those involved Saturday came from Buffalo, where the program started in 2017 with just 3 volunteers.

For it to happen more often in the Falls, volunteers willing to repair things would be needed. There is a chance to do it again in 6 months but it most likely won't happen for a year. If you would like to help with that, please call (716)-510-1745 or email info@thetoollibrary.org