Dust and dirt do not take a vacation, so when my vacuum cleaner conked out recently I had to decide whether to get it serviced (and face a potentially long and expensive “fix”) or purchase a new one and deliver the old one to the Rice Lake recycling center.
Fortunately for me, an
Oct. 4 feature story in the News Tribune, headlined, “Toss it out or fix it up,” gave me a third option. Owners Chris and Nikki Bollman of the Duluth Technology Co. are hosting community fix-it clinics at their downtown location where, along with volunteers, they fix household items that otherwise would end up in the trash. Among the volunteers are members of the East High School robotics team, the story said. These students are getting a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge to the practical, valuable, hands-on experience required to repair electronics and small appliances. In turn, they are giving support to the Bollmans’ fix-it alternative in what is becoming, increasingly, a throw-away culture. Good for them.
Arriving at noon on Sunday, Nov. 9, I was met by one of the owners who directed me to the table where the East students eagerly awaited their new “patient.” With a little guidance from the pros, and after a quick examination and diagnosis of the problem, they went to work. Within an hour the vacuum cleaner was back in business.
Kudos to the delightful East Daredevils team members Anna Karas, Claira Allgood, and Connor Rentz and their coach Tim Velner. What can I say? I was swept off my feet.
Sandra Jablonski
Esko
