Local residents raked in the deals Saturday while also helping their neighbors.
Five local Rotary Clubs came together for the 11th annual Rotary Annual Garage Sale (RAGS) April 18 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion.
Many of the sale items were arranged on tables throughout the Pavilion including electronics, tools, dishes, furniture, books, clothes, Christmas decorations and even household appliances.
The sale, which started at 8 a.m., drew the biggest crowd it has had in its 11-year existence according to Cris Larsen, an entertainer and emcee of the RAGS event since its creation 12 years ago.
“The donations were down this year, but the purchases were way up,” Larsen said. “This is the biggest crowd I have ever seen here.”
Hundreds of garage-salers took advantage of the many bargains available including Rose Pratt, who bought a wooden desk for $195, a deal her friend, Linda Cruz, said was outstanding.
“You can’t get a nice desk like this for less than $200 anywhere,” Cruz said. “Everybody wins. We get a good deal and we are helping the Rotary too. The most important thing is that we are helping the Rotary.”
Not everything sold was what one would expect at a typical garage sale though, according to Larsen, who said a heavy oak chest revealed a strange surprise.
“It just seemed like a really heavy chest,” Larsen said. “But it was heavy because it contained several bottles of 30- and 40-year-old wine.”
The RAGS event also experienced a “royal touch” as $1 raffle tickets were sold by Silverdale’s Outstanding Teen Holly Wasson and Miss Kitsap 2009 Hannah Orando. Prizes for the raffle were provided by Ben Bridge Jewelers, Silverdale Cyclery, Miller Chiropractic, Sinclair Chiropractic, Reid Real Estate and Roger Aydt, a Silverdale Rotarian. The prizes for winning the raffle included 60 minutes of chiropractic service, jewelry, a $300 Mojave bicycle as well as Admiral Theatre and Bremerton Symphony tickets.
The main building of the Pavilion housed the majority of for-sale items, which were mostly priced at only $1 while the furniture and electronics were available in the nearby Van Zee building. People young and old were happily perusing, chatting and eating burgers, hot dogs, chicken and more served up by Crazy Eric’s.
Marine volunteers from Marine Corps Security Force Company Bangor were available for the sale too, offering to load heavier objects and furniture for people who made purchases supporting the Rotary.
