Garage Sales vs. Estate Sales: The Differences In

By Stephanie Faughnan SOUTHERN OCEAN

COUN-

TY – Inclement weather led to the postponement of Barnegat’s original townwide garage sale, but it turned out to be a boon for bargain hunters. The rescheduled date coincided with Stafford’s yard sale weekend, creating a double opportunity for shoppers to uncover deals. Both communities transformed their lists of participating homes

Treasure Hunting

The Island Singers Bring Harmony To Local Venues

into virtual treasure maps, making it easier for shoppers to plan their routes. Social media lit up with posts offering sales previews to attract buyers searching for hidden gems. Garage sales offer a fantastic opportunity for individuals to declutter their homes and make some cash on unwanted items. Unfortunately, while there may be some truth to the old adage that one person’s trash is another’s treasure, that’s not always the case. Although both garage sales and estate sales share similarities, they differ in several ways. For one, haggling may be more prevalent at garage sales than estate sales. While most homeowners run the show when it comes to garage sales, professionals generally oversee estate sales and take in a share of the profit. Estate sales typically take place

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Students Honored As Unsung Heroes

By Stephanie Faughnan

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County’s top law enforcement office honored 28 elementary and high school students as unsung heroes during a special ceremony earlier this month. While some students were recognized for their resilience in the face of adversity and challenges, others were distinguished for going the extra mile to assist other people.

At the onset of introducing the honorees, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer expressed his fondness for the Unsung Hero Student Recognition Awards. Billhimer said he

By Stephanie Faughnan

LACEY – A local choral group is proving that you don’t need to audition to make great music.

The Island Singers, featuring 42 singers of all ages and abilities, has performed in the area for over half a century.

Village Lutheran Church in Lanoka Harbor

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Forked River Open Space Given To County

By Chris Lundy

LACEY – More than 3,100 acres of pine forest was donated to Ocean County by the Nature Conservancy to expand the protected Forked River Mountain Wilderness Area. Although county leaders agreed to accept the

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Sales:

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From Page 1 when a person has passed away or when they are moving out of their home and wish to sell off the entire contents of the house. In the case of estate sales, the value of a family’s treasures may not be what they expected. Take, for example, Grandma’s china or her showcased collection of expensive figurines. It’s not uncommon for these types of items to either be bypassed or sold for a fraction of their original cost.

Sales of furniture at both garage and estate sales can be unpredictable. Oak, once a highly sought-after wood, has fallen out of favor in recent years. Dining room sets and pianos can be particularly challenging to sell because of lifestyle differences and the cost of moving them.

Donna Pregler and her sister Christine opted to organize their own estate sale instead of enlisting a professional service. The decision was made after their parents had to leave their Barnegat home due to health concerns and move into a nearby nursing home. The process of going through and selling their parents’ possessions was an emotional one for the sisters. Although Donna and Christine set aside items with sentimental value, it was still difficult to see strangers sorting through their belongings. Donna admitted she was somewhat puzzled at things that sold quickly and others that were left behind.

People showed up earlier than scheduled to race to the garage for tools. Others sifted through costume jewelry, pocketbooks, and linens. Very few appeared interested in check- ing out the family’s book collection. Boxes and boxes of VHS tapes remained untouched. As far as furniture, buyers ignored the chance to own a once expensive bedroom set. The only things sold were a bench, a rocking chair, and patio furniture.

“My parents had this great hutch in the dining room,” shared Donna. “Not one person expressed an interest in the set at all.”

Donna said she intends to donate what’s left of her parents’ furniture to a woman who helps needy families. She’s hopeful she can do the same with some of the other household items. Many of the people who stop into estate sales carry specific lists and are looking for vintage items or antiques. Art pieces sold at estate sales typically have a higher value than those found at garage sales, which tend to feature prints or starving artist reproductions.

While dishes and glassware aren’t generally top sellers, there are exceptions. Buyers are constantly on the lookout for depression glass, milk glass, carnival glass, and cut crystal. Collectible glassware, such as Fenton or Murano glass, may also bring in sales, as do serving bowls and containers.

Not everyone who frequents estate sales or garage sales plans to repurpose their finds for their own use. Professional collectors and amateur resellers are also on the hunt for whatever will bring them the most return for their money.

Garage sales are typically more affordable than estate sales and appeal more to families of all ages. While clothing doesn’t traditionally sell well at estate sales, it seems to move quickly at garage sales. For boys and girls alone, outfitting kids with barely used clothes gives hand-me-downs a whole new meaning.

Presentation matters when it comes to any type of sales, including those of the home variety. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out that no one really wants to sort through black bags of clothes. Prom dresses and suit jackets get better prices when displayed on racks.

Toys are another popular item at garage sales. Parents are always looking to save money to keep their children entertained. While it’s usually easy to check if all game pieces are intact before making a purchase, puzzles are a different story. If the price is right, it may well be worth the risk.

Cesar Alves and his wife, Stefanie took a chance and blocked off a section of their garage on the rainy day of the originally planned Barnegat townwide sale. However, they were shocked when someone rang their doorbell an entire hour before the time listed on the sign in front of their house.

Within just a few hours, the Aviles couple had some cash to play with and a nearly empty garage.

“We sold vintage concert shirts and a table saw,” Stefanie said. “People also bought all sorts of new age books, video games, and kitchen stuff.”

Books turn out to have more appeal in garage sales than estate sales. People are always looking for good deals, especially for children. Tools and electronics are top sellers at many garage sales, provided they’re in working order. Home décor items such as lamps, frames, and decorative pieces can also do well, as can sporting equipment and outdoor gear like fishing equipment and bicycles.

Both garage sales and estate sales offer the opportunity to discover hidden gems and use them. The idea that one person’s unwanted items can be another’s treasure generates extra cash and contributes to reducing waste in landfills. Recycling and reusing goods can lead to an extension of their lifespan and a reduction in environmental impact.

Singers:

Continued From Page 1 comes alive with the sounds of music on Monday evenings as the Island Singers rehearse for their upcoming concerts. New singers are always welcome to join the group at practice, regardless of their experience or ability.

The rehearsal opens with choral members sitting in seats assigned by vocal parts and pulling out their sheet music. Singers begin to warm up their voices, ultimately filling the air with beautiful and uplifting sounds.

Ned Perwo, the group’s director, stands in the front of the room where all of the vocalists can see him. He moves his hands as a guide to the rhythm and tempo and gives visual cues in the direction of each of the vocal parts.

Although new to The Island Singers, Perwo has roots in the community and a wealth of experience and education in music. He is the Director of Music Ministry and Youth and Family Ministry at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manasquan. Perwo also teaches music and shares his own voice as a part of the New Jersey Chamber Singers.

It was a stroke of serendipity that led Perwo to the Island Singers. He stumbled upon the opening to direct the choral group while perusing postings on the Ocean County Guild of Organists. The choral group was in the midst of an interim period after their long-term director retired.

“When I saw the posting, I realized it was for the town I grew up in,” said Perwo. “I grew up in Forked River and graduated from Lacey High School in 1997.”

The Island Singers formed as a non-profit community chorus in 1972 and typically performs a Spring Concert and a Winter Concert. Nine of the members are men, and one of the female singers began performing with the group more than four decades ago.

“Our members come from all age groups, from the 20s and up,” Perwo shared. “They all love to sing, and some have music degrees.”

Andrew Van Buskirk joined the Island Singers as an accompanist in 2016. He appears to be a valuable asset to the group, complementing the cohesive sound that has become the hallmark of the Island Singers. Depending on the musical selection, the Island Singers occasionally enlist the accompaniment of other instrumentalists.

The Winter Concerts generally have a touch of holiday with Christmas and Hanukkah music. The group is currently gearing up for its fi rst spring performance on June 17 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Beachwood.

“We’re doing a real big mix with a theme we call American Tapestry,” said Perwo. “It’s American composers, American folk songs, and American spirituals.”

The passion and dedication in just the group’s two-hour rehearsal appear to be a teaser to their upcoming concerts. Some of the singers started as complete strangers and now create a synchronicity of powerful music.

In addition to their performance at St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Island Singers will also perform at Community Reformed Church in Whiting on June 24 at 2 p.m. Their fi nal Spring Concert is on June 25 at Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Beach Haven on June 25 at 4 p.m.

Rehearsals end in June and preparation for the Winter Concert starts in September. This year, the Island Singers received support from a grant administered by the Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of the Department of State.

FUN & GAMES

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