Citywide garage sale is a success

The city could face monetary penalties next year if it does not reduce its trash output, although the state will be lenient on those cities who put out a "good faith effort," according to Ron Java, a spokesperson for California Integrated Waste Management.

"Our primary reason for doing it is to get some credit for our good faith credit," said Tonya Light, the founder of the event and one of the coordinators this year. "It's also important because it gives a sense of community. We're all so busy we often don't get a chance to introduce ourselves to our neighbors, and the city-wide garage sale gives us the chance to meet each other in a very fun atmosphere."

Jan McKeighen, who held a sale in front of her house on Alameda de Las Pulgas, said she has met a lot of her neighbors at the sales. She did the city-wide garage sale last year too, although she has been holding them independently for eight years.

"We meet all our neighbors here," she said. "We go to them and we enjoy giving them. It's good because we clean the closets out. Sometimes you get things you don't use-I think if you're not using something you should do away with it."

Amid her tables of glassware, books, and clothes, casual shoppers browsed, looking for items they needed or things that caught their fancy.

One woman, who bought a woven purse and a barrette, said she stopped by on her way out of town. "It's a nice activity to get out. I like the recycling aspect of it and I like the treasure hunt," she said.

Bruna Campus, who lives on Caribbean Way, held a garage sale full of her grandchildren's outgrown clothes and toys. She said the sale was a way to clean out the garage, and to give back to the community."Children outgrow things, and now other children can benefit from it," Campus said.

For the grandchildren, there is also the benefit of making extra money. Last year, the four kids, ages 5 to 10-years old raised about $350 at the citywide garage sale. One of the children, Michelle Bottarini, age 9, isn't using the extra cash for short-term pleasures. "I'm putting it in the bank," she said. "I'm saving for a college education."

Other residents were also using the sale as a way to fulfill their dreams.

Ellie and Ben Rheenen were getting rid of records, fabric pieces, and furniture so they could pack up their house and start their big adventure. In December they will be sailing around the world, first down to Mexico and then out to the South Seas.

"This is more for fun and to make a little money. Probably a lot of stuff we're going to have to dump," said Rheenen. When asked whether or not he and is wife will be needing the life vests and fishing poles laid out on his table, Raheem said, "We have enough of them on the boat."

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