ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
This past week’s weather was not so nice, with gusty winds and wind chills more than just a little below actual temperatures.
Despite this, it is March, and spring is just around the corner. The season gives many an excuse to get some cleaning around the house and remove some items no longer in use from the home.
For many, this is done through garage sales and yard sales, and Saturday, March 15, at the Seward County Activity Center, those who frequent these sales will have a chance to peruse items from many individuals – all under one roof.
The Activity Center will be the place for a community garage sale that day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Director Linda Johnson said those hosting the garage sales will start setting up Friday morning at 9 and will do so until 7 p.m.
“They get one booth for $30, and it’s a 20 by 20,” she said. “They get four tables and two chairs. We try to do one at least once a year. “
Bookings have filled the schedule at the Activity Center recently, making garage sales not possible to happen, but Johnson said with a recent cancellation, a decision was made to have a sale next weekend.
“We’ve had a lot of people calling,” she said. “We’ll never have another date, so that’s what we decided to do. We have concessions. The VFW’s going to serve food.”
Those wanting to sell can call the Activity Center at 620-624-3743 or go by the center at 810 Stadium Ave. in Liberal.
“If they want to call us by phone, we take that, and we tell them where the booth is,” Johnson said. “We put their name and a question mark, and when they bring their $30 in, we take the question mark off.”
The Activity Center can handle many booths, but Johnson said if more are needed, she will open the Beef Barn across the street to set up booths there as well.
“I’ll put up a big sign that says ‘Garage Sale,’” she said. “I’ll probably have about 10 booths over there.”
With this being the first community garage sale in some time, Johnson said she is looking for a big turnout, and those who come will find a wide variety of items.
“We’ll have everything from tables to lawn mowers,” she said. “I have a lady who’s bringing a motorcycle, clothing. One guy brings yard blowers. He brings brand new stuff, but he sells at a garage sale price. Two years ago, this gentleman put a booth in, and he had a bunch of pictures. It’s just a good time.”
Johnson said buyers love being able to shop multiple sales all under one roof.
“They go from one booth to the next to the next, and they shop,” she said. “We’ve not ever had any problems. They all seem to like it really well.”
For more information about the community garage sale, call the Activity Center at 620-624-3743. Johnson said all who come should have fun no matter the weather outside.
“It’s one big garage sale under one big roof and building,” she said. “You have air, the heat and the cool depending on what it is outside.”
Even one of Johnson’s employees, executive assistant Anabel Clinesmith-Bencomo, will have a booth at the sale.
“She’s really excited,” Johnson said. “If you go to garage sales, this is a big thing.”
