Somewhere along the way, we became a throwaway society, making decisions based on convenience and short-term benefits. Today, when the toaster, electric razor, blender or vacuum breaks, we toss it out and buy a new one.

Richard Ferretti, Sr., saw firsthand these changes coming. The small appliance repairman and longtime owner of Hoppe’s Authorized Vacuum & Appliance Repair in Vero Beach was even featured in Press Journal stories on the subject back in the 1990s. (“Repair vs. Replacement:  Repairmen Try to Stay Busy in Disposable Society” read one of the headlines).