(Sep. 10)

Ted and Karen Nichols, owners of Nichols Hardware in Purcellville, Va., were killed in a car crash on Sept. 5 after their SUV ran off a highway and hit a tree, according to an article in the Washington Post. The couple, along with five other relatives, were returning from an apple-picking outing to celebrate the 90^th birthday of Doris Louer, Karen Nichols’s mother. Louer also died in the single-car accident.

The driver, Robert Louer, 65, of Florida, ran his Chevy Suburban off the side of Highway 55, over-corrected and drove over an embankment into a tree, according to Virginia State Police.

All of the vehicle’s passengers were taken to the hospital with injuries. Two of the fatalities, Ted Nichols, 64, and Karen Nichols, 63, operated the 100-year-old hardware store in downtown Purcellville, Va., which had been in their family for three generations.

(Sep. 10)

Jeff Gross purchased Ormond Ace Hardware in Ormond Beach, Fla., for the second time in his life, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Gross was a part owner with his uncle until 1996, when he left the business to pursue a career at Ace Hardware as a Florida-wide business and project manager. Later his uncle sold the business to Nick and Harriet Pasquine.

In July Gross purchased the business back from the Pasquines, who are set to retire.

(Sep. 9) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Black & Decker, announced the voluntary recall of the Black & Decker Random Orbit Sanders.

The recall affects approximately 192,000 units.

According to the release, the black plastic disc (called the platen) that holds the sandpaper can fly off or break apart during use, and the disc, or pieces of the disc, can hit the user or those nearby, posing a laceration hazard.

Black & Decker has received 73 reports of incidents involving the platen breaking or falling apart, including 15 reports of injuries from flying pieces, one of which involved a serious facial laceration.

Also in cooperation with Innovage, the CPSC has announced the voluntary recall of its FIXIT One Million Candlepower Rechargeable Spotlights.

The recall affects approximately 1.4 million spotlights.

According to the release, the spotlight’s charging adapter can overcharge the battery, forcing it to rupture and leak battery acid. This poses a chemical burn hazard to consumers. The firm said it received 13 reports of incidents involving minor skin chemical burns and battery acid burn holes in upholstery, clothing and carpeting.