By Mike Calahan

 

Whether you were looking to complete your set of Richard Nixon inkwells or to fulfill your quota of obligatory work-related Christmas presents at a discounted price--don’t worry, we won’t tell--then the Santa Clara Garage Sale was the place to be.

 

Once a year, this publicized event helps folks empty out their garages and storage sheds in order to make space and a few dollars while they’re at it. The flip side of this, of course, are the buyers who go away with these same items to take up space in their garages and storage sheds and may be the ones advertising a garage sale next year. The cycle of the garage sale items continues; the same items may be out for sale for years to come and at an ever-depreciating price. That commemorative Alamo cookie jar, for example, that was out of your buying power due to its high price can be yours for mere pennies if you have the patience to wait.

 

Among those that made the garage sale day work for them were the folks gathered at Santa Clara High School.

 

Karen Hovey and Jamie Matthews worked on behalf of the Santa Clara Booster Club as a way to raise much-needed money for the upcoming band season. The money they raise will be going to things such as cleaning uniforms and travel costs to band competitions, but also it will go to assisting those students who might not be able to afford the $250 it costs to join. With the school board allocating a rumored $600--no, that is not a type-o--for both music and arts combined, it is no wonder that parents and students have to band together--I swear, that was not a pun--and do whatever needs to be done in order for their beloved programs to flourish.

 

While the parents were selling knick-knacks and clothing, the students that made up the Band Council were doing a little business of their own. The Band Council Car Wash appeared to be a relative success as no fewer than three cars at a time were being cleaned and no motorist drove away with any fewer side view mirrors than they pulled in with. When asked what the money would go toward, Student Council president Ryan Voreyer was unsure, “Well, it might go towards a party for the seniors, maybe a dance, maybe a gift for the parents.”

 

Someone might suspect that these folks couldn’t do more to add to their garage sale/car wash services. That someone would be wrong because there was the third element of E-Waste Recycling.

 

Electronics, appliances, computers, you name it, Earth Care Recycling will take it off your hands. Steve Ramona, owner of Earth Care Recycling, was at Santa Clara High doing what he does best: doing his part to save the planet and helping some non-profits raise some money. Industrial-sized boxes already filled to the brim with monitors, keyboards, printers, etc. were evidence that it had already been a busy and successful morning for Steve and his crew.

 

One woman dropped off a brand new 52” flat screen television inadvertently donated by her young son and his enjoyment of playing ball in the house. “She said she just wanted to break down and cry,” Steve added, shaking his head. “It costs more to repair those than it is to buy ‘em, so here it is.”

 

 Earth Care Recycling splits fifty percent of its earnings--which are by the pound--with whatever organization wishes to join up with him. In this particular case, a total of 500 lbs of computers and 1500 lbs of miscellaneous electronics were gathered at SCHS which, in turn, netted the Booster Club and band over $300.

 

Earth Care Recycling can be reached at 408-943-9943 or