Whether you are a mom scouting for a used bike or a college student looking for some apartment furniture, a garage sale can be like finding a pot of gold.
A villagewide garage sale is that much better, especially when it is in the quaint village of Altamont.
This year the village will hold its annual garage sale Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The streets will be lined with garage sales and, if past events are any indication, hundreds of bargain hunters are expected to seek out their treasure.
The sale, sponsored by the Altamont parent-teacher association, will also have refreshments on hand from local vendors, fried dough, ice cream and fresh lemonade, all available in Orsini Park. The village fire department will serve hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, chips and beverages.
Event coordinator Lisa Chrysler said one thing that has changed over the years is the market of people looking to buy. Chrysler said many of the big sellers could tell you that the usual shopper has expanded into the tech-savvy shoppers as well.
`It’s no longer just moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, seeking items for the kids and grandkids. These days, there also many eBay sellers on the lookout for good condition items for re-sale,` said Chrysler.
Veteran seller Cathy Glass said last year, eager eBay sellers approached her at her sale. She said while she understands that market, she prefers to see the items her children have outgrown going to others in the community.
`The sale is so popular that we have had people knocking on our door the night before. It is a fun day for everyone. Last year, we did have Internet brokers interested in some items. For the most part we were able to sell to our neighbors and to other residents on the community,` said Glass.
Sales will be held at local residences as well as other places of interest. The Altamont Free Library will be holding its book sale to raise money for the move to its eventual location — the old train station just a few doors down.
Various vendors will also be selling jewelry, crafts and other handmade items.
`Don’t miss this exciting day. It’s a great opportunity for those in the village to clean their houses and make some money and also a great chance for others to come and see all that our village has to offer,` said Chrysler.
Shoppers can pick up a map outlining the locations and descriptions of all sales and vendors throughout the village, including the fire department and the library.
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