Attendance down at community yard sale

            Results were mixed on this year’s Community Yard Sale held Saturday but the consensus in Apalachicola was that attendance was down.

            Once again the flea market stretched from Alligator Point to Mexico Beach. But Saturday’s yard sale competed with the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Bay Day Benefit in Gulf County and Panacea’s Mighty Mullet Festival in Wakulla. A birding walk also scheduled for last weekend was cancelled due to lack of interest.

            The plethora of recreational opportunities may have reduced the number of shoppers who browsed the contents of garages and attics in search of treasure.

            Yard sales on the east end of the county were pleased to report about 100 visitors.

            “It’s been great,” said Barbara Lashley, of Lanark Village, who helped with the sale at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on US 98. “We weren’t even open on Friday and we sold over $150 worth of stuff.

            Some entrepreneurs used clever tactics to snag shoppers. Chillas Hall in Lanark advertised their sale with a sign on US 98 that promised a sale and a “potty break.”

            Mike Rundel, organizer of the first ever Gumbo Cook off to benefit Lanark Village’s volunteer fire department said he believed the cook off benefited from the many shoppers traveling along the highway to shop for bargains.

            Some merchants in Apalachicola were less pleased. Jeanine Slagle, owner of That’s A Moray, has sold grilled hot dogs and sausage during the sale for the last three years.

            ‘The first year I sold $400 worth of food. That dropped to $200 last year and this year I cleared about $150,” she said.

            Another downtown Apalachicola merchant commented that, while participation was up, the number of customers was down.

            Kathy Robinson, of Robinson Real Estate and Robinson Brothers Charter Service, was more upbeat. She sold donated clothing and yarn to raise money to neuter downtown feral cats.

            “We made enough money to send a cat to college,” she quipped.

            One Apalachicola resident reported selling $1,200 worth of tools over Saturday and Sunday.

            “I sold $500 worth of stuff and I don’t miss any of it,” said Joel Reed, of St. Joe Beach.