Waynesfield garage sale offers slice of Americana

WAYNESFIELD - She sold pies at the Wapakoneta Farmer's Market during the morning and wore an American flag T-shirt that afternoon.

Just when it seemed Kathy Brown couldn't embody Americana any more, the Waynesfield resident went bargain hunting at the village's annual Community Garage Sales on Saturday, where area residents hawked their treasures from lawns, sidewalks, garages and porches.

As she examined candles on a table in front of Lois Bennett's home, Brown blamed her browsing habit on her vehicle.

"My car has a problem," she said. "It won't let me pass any of those houses without stopping."

Brown made quick work of her afternoon outing, snatching up a juice pitcher for $1.50 before visiting the Bennett house. Brown shared the blue-skied day with local neighbors and out-of-town garage sale fans, who scoped out potential sales from their cars as they drove down village streets.

Others spent money even as they made it. Cheryl Jerew, who set up shop on her shaded lawn with a friend, took a break from selling to purchase an entertainment center for $30, she said, which the former owners delivered in a pickup truck.

"Every so often, something will catch your eye," said Jerew, who said she loves to haggle over prices. "You have to be in the mood, too. You have to have an open mind. You see everything from a different point of view."

Half the fun of community garage sales, said participants, is visiting with neighbors while offering them deals. After years of selling items at her aunt Lois Bennett's home, Amy Bennett-Brinkman said she looks forward to seeing old friends.

"People pop in and out and reminisce about when they lived down the street," she said. "Sometimes I see people I went to high school with who come into town for the holiday. It's a chance to catch up. With our families, everyone is always so busy."

Settled into a patio chair on his front lawn, resident Rodney Luma and his wife, Cindy, hold a garage sale only once a year, during the community sales. Luma manned the sale, replete with clothing items, while his wife went to others' sales, he said, because he enjoys chatting up potential customers.

"I like to meet people and talk to people," he said. "My wife says I don't know a stranger."

Luma, who recently went from full-time employment to part-time self-employment as an accountant, said he hopes the sale will put a little spare money in his pocket.

"It's nice to have extra spending money," he said. "This year, things are harder. And gas and groceries (prices) are so high."