BARGAINS AND A BIZARRE BAZAAR SATURDAY

dscf3064The second annual townwide yard sale comes to Fair Haven Saturday. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Knock the dust off the old Thighmaster and replace the batteries in Teddy Ruxpin.

Fair Haven’s one-two punch of bargains, the second-annual town-wide yard and sidewalk sale, gets going Saturday.

fh-yard-map-2011Map indicates the locations of participating homes and businesses. (Click to enlarge)

Michel Berger, president of the borough’s business association, says the sale is like a local version of eBay and Facebook, “hanging out with neighbors and selling stuff.” But it’s also a lot like Sim City, keeping money flowing throughout the local economy.

“We found that a lot of people were taking the money they made from the yard sale and going to local businesses that day to shop,” Berger said. “I though that was pretty cool.”

Deals will be abundant, he said. Last year, more than 200 households participated, offering bargains on furniture, toys, books and we even spotted a guy selling a motorcycle. Downtown businesses are in, too, wheeling out merch onto the borough’s new sidewalks.

“It’s a good combination, with businesses having the sidewalk sale and people having the yard sale,” Berger said.

Don’t second guess putting out any attic oddity, either.

The business association will hold a contest for the most bizarre item sold. Last year’s winner was an African bush elephant toe nail.

“There was some very bizarre stuff,” Berger said, “but what no one could top was that elephant nail.”

The yard sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Participating homes will be marked with orange balloons, and maps will be available at the Sunoco and Valero gas stations on River Road.

The sidewalk sale is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but Berger said rain might wash out the Friday sale.

For more info, call Berger at 732.212.0800; Administrator Theresa Casagrande at 732.747.0241; Mayor Mike Halfacre at 732.530.5003; or Shutters owner Kathy DeVincens at 732.842.6611.