PINKHAM NOTCH, N.H.

Registration already closed for one mountain bike race

It’s a long way off from the annual bicycle races up Mount Washington, but registration is already closed for one of them.

A total of 635 cyclists have registered for the 42nd Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, which is scheduled for Aug. 16. Over the years, the race has attained great popularity and usually fills quickly.

Openings are available for the ninth annual Newton’s Revenge, scheduled for July 12.

Cyclists recognize the auto road course as difficult; the road rises for 7.6 miles at an average grade of 12 percent, with the added challenge of Mount Washington’s unpredictable weather.

EXETER, N.H.

Bauer signs deal to buy Easton-Bell for $330 million

Sports equipment company Bauer Performance Sports has signed a deal to buy Easton-Bell Sports’ baseball and softball business for $330 million.

Exeter, N.H.-based Bauer is best known for its hockey equipment.

Under the deal announced Thursday, Bauer will own the Easton brand name and the baseball and softball business, which will continue to operate out of Van Nuys, Calif., and Salt Lake City.

Bauer’s other brands include Maverik Lacrosse, Mission Roller Hockey, Cascade Helmets, jersey maker Inaria and Combat, a maker of baseball and softball gear. Easton-Bell owns football equipment company Riddel, helmet maker Bell and the Giro and Blackburn sports equipment brands.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Mechanic crushed by truck he was trying to hook to tow

A mechanic at a Providence car dealership has died after a pickup truck fell on him.

WPRI-TV reported that 50-year-old Jose Carrion died Wednesday at Rhode Island Hospital.

Carrion worked at Elmwood Auto Sales. The fire department said he was trying to connect the pickup to a tow truck around 4:45 p.m. when it somehow fell and crushed him.

His boss, Giovanny Johnson, called it an accident and says they don’t know what happened. He said Carrion put the truck in neutral and “the thing came right down on him.”

FITCHBURG, Mass.

Co-workers support aide after racy modeling foray

A teacher’s aide at a Massachusetts elementary school suspended over racy modeling photos says she has received support from co-workers since returning to school.

MassLive.com reported that 23-year-old Kaitlin Pearson returned to work late last month after she was put on paid leave for more than 10 days after someone anonymously sent modeling photos to a local newspaper as well as the South Street Elementary School.

— From news service reports