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Bargains abound at the citywide yard sale

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer 3:05 AM Sunday, May 17, 2009

TRENTON — If one person’s junk is another person’s treasure, the Trenton Yard Sale is where you might be able to find that special something at a bargain.

While the annual citywide yard sale is officially supposed to run on Saturday, May 16, and today, May 17, some folks started selling their wares on Friday night.

Although it rained earlier in the day, that did not deter bargain hunters clogging up streets as they scoured the town for clothing, furniture, electronics, DVDs, glassware, dishware and other knick-knacks.

For some families, it was an opportunity to clean house and sell unwanted items. Tom Chamberlain of Douglas Avenue, said he cleaned out his son’s closet and sold things he didn’t want anymore.

“I don’t know if people have much money this year,” he said. “Seems like there’s more sellers than buyers this year.”

Chamberlain said the citywide yard sale is “kind of fun. People are driving around, stopping and looking and some get out and ask how much something costs.”

Jeff Hayes of Carlisle was selling various items at the home of his friend Mitch Rhule on Douglas Avenue.

“This is a national holiday for Trenton,” Rhule said.

Hayes said there have been a lot of people looking and he sold a lot of electronic items, and had so far made about $400.

“The people have been very nice and I have not met an upset or disgruntled person,” he said. “It’s amazing what people will buy. ... We really had a good day and a wonderful time.”

One resident used the yard sale as an opportunity to help the less fortunate.

Shelley Berry of Clara Drive decided to donate the nearly $300 she collected from the yard sale to donate to the Hope House homeless shelter in Middletown.

She the day “went well and had a lot of success.

“We had a little of everything,” Berry said, including kids clothes and her son’s old toys.

Berry said she had volunteered at the shelter and helped out as part of a church project.

“I have a special attachment to the work they do,” she said. “I really appreciate the work they do for the community.”

Over on West Roger Drive, Susan Cheek hosted three other families in selling stuff.

As of late Saturday afternoon, Cheek said the four families had made about $1,500 and had sold all of their big items, such as a hot tub and a refrigerator.

“This is the fifth year we’ve being doing this,” she said.

The items being sold were things the families had accumulated during the year, Cheek said, such as old toys and clothes.

“We sold a lot of kids clothes this year,” she said.

Her husband, Doug, believed the reason for that was the current economy.

Kim Burton, selling items at the Douglas Avenue home of Amber Holcomb along with Scott and Amy McGuire, said the families made about $400 so far through Saturday afternoon.

Burton said children’s clothing was a big seller, along with electronics and NASCAR memorabilia.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com

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