The 23rd annual Community School Garage Sale at the Sage Willow Campus will begin on Saturday, Oct. 6, the usual way. There will be a line of eager early shoppers snaking through the dew-laden grass, clutching coffee cups to keep warm and chatting quietly with their neighbors. When the big barn doors open, volunteers will collect a $3 admission charge, and the great hunt will be on.
The garage sale, which is just a nickname for this gigantic town feeding frenzy of goods, is run by a coterie of The Community School parents, including this year's co-chairs, Wendy Crosby, Maria Gearhart and Christine Anderson.
"We hope for about $100,000 gross," Crosby said. "We were concerned this year with the fires. For about a three-week period we didn't receive any donations, but it's come in a flurry for the past 10 days or so."
On hand daily has been Val Kanellitsas, a Florida resident and grandmother of four kids at the school.
"My two sons live here with their families," Kanellitsas said. "I try to come and spend as much time as possible. My daughter in law, Randy, said I have something for you to consider. So I came out June 18, and have been here at the barn ever since. Being a greenhorn I had no idea what I was doing. It just evolved from there. One day I was kind of frustrated. My goodness. I started sorting. The mountain of bags and boxes slowly disappeared."
She said Gearhart has been a guardian angel.
"I've never seen anyone work like that," Kanellitsas said. "She's marvelous. I've met so many wonderful people doing this. The key word is community."
Crosby said that Kanellitsas worked at the barn seven days a week all summer.
"She's the queen of the barn," Crosby said. "It's been really helpful to have one person who is there consistently, who knows where things are and takes ownership. She's been absolutely amazing with a great attitude."
At the sale, shoppers will be able to find computers, thousands of books, sporting goods, mystery items of questionable collectibles, some great jewelry and great art this year. Also there are high-end items, which are put in the silent auction such as electric guitars, nice furniture and jewelry.
The silent auction will begin on Saturday morning and end at 2 p.m. People can either make a field bid of the top price they'll pay or do an open bid. At the end of the auction, "we compare the high open bid to the field bids to see who wins. Some people outbid themselves," Crosby said.
The contents of one entire household were donated this year.
"Linens, tablecloths, kitchen items, furniture, even a playhouse—that was huge," Crosby said. "We have an antique table that was in same family over 70 years, and is over a hundred years old. A telescope that's valued at $3,500, in excellent condition. The usual adult and children boutique clothing, designer name and tennis rackets donated by a certain pro tennis player in the valley."
Wendy Crosby, left and Val Kanellitsas sit down momentarily on Wednesday while prepping for this weekend?s Community School Barn Sale.
Photo by David N. Seelig
