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On Thursday mornings, a small group meets and cane their chairs. They come to the Milano Center, chair and materials in hand and go up to the Art Room. I have been told that they not only do their caning, but that it is great therapy also.
The group caught my eye as they brought in beautiful old chairs that had no seats. As the weeks went by I would see the intricate caning of the chairs progress. The first chair that I noticed was taken to the Center by Ted Bond. It was an old nursing chair, very low to the ground and so very, very unique. Mr. Bond took the time to speak with me about his progress as he would head up to the classroom. Each week I would ask to see the chair and he was so patient and kind in his explanations. He stated recently that you can totally lose yourself in thought as you are weaving the cane. He said that he has been doing this for years here at the Center and still enjoys it. Carmela Yannaco arrives at the Center with a chair that needs fixing Carmela Yannaco said that she has been caning here for over seven years. Her daughter came to her with a chair that had already been woven but the caning had a big hole right in the middle of the seat. When her daughter asked her where she could bring the chair to be repaired Carmela said that she knew that they caned here at the Milano Center. She brought the chair here to ask if someone could fix it. She met the group and decided to repair the chair herself and never left. Ted Bond takes pride in showing off his handiwork The group members all help each other and Donald Johnson and Ted Bond help the entire group and share their wealth of knowledge. Carmela told me there are seven steps to caning, from soaking the reed for three or four minutes to make it pliable, to pegging into the holes, weaving the cane and placing the spine in the edge after all of the steps have been completed. Unanimously, they all agree that you lose yourself in thought and can solve all of your problems. Elaine Cobucci, Don Johnson, Ted Bond, Frances Marinelli, Suzanne Walsh, Rosemarie Moscaritolo Don Johnson has almost completed his chair July 1, 2011
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