Best garage sale in town' starts today at church

CHAGRIN FALLSThe sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the kids are outside playing and garage sale season is in full swing.

With the economy still in a slump, regular garage sale goers and hosts expect it to be a busy summer.

Shirly Ashby, chairperson of the biannual rummage sale at United Methodist Church, 20 S. Franklin St., expects the sale, which begins today, to be a successful one.

"We're anticipating this year, since the economy is not so good, it might be even more popular than usual," she said.

Hours are 4-8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

On the opening day, there is often a line out the door of people waiting to get first dibs on popular items, like furniture and clothing.

"We've heard people say we have the best rummage sale in town," Ashby said.

Church members donate items to the sale, which usually includes clothing, toys, furniture, household goods and rugs.

All items left over after the sale are donated to charity, and money raised from the sale goes to church mission projects.

Many residents are also holding garage sales to help clean out their closets or make some extra cash.

Janet Moore held a garage sale -- her first in five years -- last weekend at her Haskins Road home.

She threw the sale together at the last minute because she realized she had extra stuff she wanted to get rid of.

Moore said when people go to garage sales they are looking for bargains, so she tried to price her items reasonably.

She said she occasionally shops at garage sales herself, her best finds being a patio umbrella and a volleyball net.

Another resident, Lisa Gruden, also had a garage sale last weekend at her home on Millbrook Drive. She said she has a garage sale every year so she can get rid of old kids stuff, like clothes and toys....