The Wood Street Journal: In the Heart of Middle Alameda

Nextdoor calls our neighborhood "Middle Alameda," and there is indeed something cozy, central, and typical about our little slice of the Island City. On Saturday August 24, just past mid-summer, the Wood St neighbors had their annual 3-block mega yard sale, flaunting their Alamedaness for all to see. Some sketches from the big day.

Joyce, director emeritus of the yard sale

Joyce and I met decades ago when we both worked for Bank of America. She was in charge of contingency planning (keeping the money flowing in the event of an earthquake or other disaster); I wrote computer programs for what is called Wholesale Banking, moving vast sums of money around under normal conditions.

Getting rid of stuff stage II

She directed the big yard sale until about a decade ago, but now just enjoys being a participant. "What is the cosmic significance of a mega yard sale? To get rid of stuff! For me that's a 3 stage process. Stage II is giving it away — what doesn't sell I leave on the curb for a couple of days, with a "FREE" sign. Stage III is taking it to Goodwill.""

""I'm retired now. My last job was working for the Downtown Alameda Business Association, organizing two big street fairs every year. For each fair, the last two days meant working 12-13 hour days, on my feet the whole time. Scheduling a masage afterwards was essential. Now I volunteer for the Food Bank. That's where I got that sign." She is referring to the one in a street-facing window, white on black, "Alameda Stands United Against Hate."

Herbot's Bargain Guitars after several sales

Herbot's remaining
bikes and horses

Herbot is a yard sale wheeler-dealer, refurbishing and reselling stuff he picks up at bargain prices. I finally caught up with him late in the afternoon. He declined to be photographed, but was generous in sharing his opinions. "How was business? Fair. We did sell some of the guitars." Many of the wagons and bikes present earlier in the day were gone were gone too. Herbot attributed the tepid business climate to a sub-optimal date for the yard sale. Before we parted he told me a joke. "Did you hear about the Parisian who jumped in the river? He was judged in Seine."

Marnie, her older son Finn, her younger son Sam, their dog Chilli, and their neighbor Kate

Marnie is the current director of the big Wood Street Yard Sale, and her house displays the Alameda United sign too. Her sons Finn and Sam had a lemonade stand, collecting money for worthy causes. Finn said it took about an hour and a half to make the brownies and rice krispy treats they were selling for a dollar apiece. Marnie said "Last year was the first time we tried to raise money, because the boys were really upset when they heard about migrant children being separated from their families at the border. Then just this August we were in Alaska and saw the shrinking glaciers, and the boys wanted to do something about climate change."

There's actually an organization called #Standforkids to help kids raise money as Finn and Sam did. They collected $32.31 for the Equal Justice Initiative ("I care about mass incarceration"), $82.74 for the Immigrant Family Defense Fund ("I care about migrant kids separated from their families"), $45.20 for 350.org ("I care about the planet").

Marnie and her husband Steve hosted a backyard BBQ starting at 4:30. We Middle Alamedans gladly switched modes from commerce and clutter abatement, and devoted ourselves to the pursuit of happiness. Marnie and Steve were whirlwinds of hospitality, grilling burgers and dogs, setting out food and drink, and making sure conversations did not flag. Toward the end, Marnie made a few minutes to chat with me about yard sales past and future, and that evening made helpful suggestions when I sent her a first draft of this story.

At the BBQ

Last year the neighbors danced to live jug band music at the BBQ, played by a band led by Scott Peterson and his Chickens on Wood Stringband. But not this year, because the band had another gig. Moral: next year, bring the band into the date selection process.

Marni

But even without dancing, Marnie calls the day a success. 6 families participated between Buena Vista and Sweeney Park (possibly a record), 5 between Pacific and Buena Vista, and 3 between Lincoln and Pacific. An anonymous donor matched the money Finn and Sam raised in their bake sale, bringing the total haul for things thoughtful kids care about to $325.50. The lads have set their sights on surpassing this total next year.

Marnie wants Middle Alameda to know that she welcomes input and assistance with the sale, and can be contacted at marniecurry@comcast.net. My input was to encourage participation from the Parrot Village Housing Project, at the Sweeney Park end of Wood Street. They have stuff to get rid of too and can certainly appreciate bargains; plus involving project residents would be a little something to keep Alameda united. Marnie agreed, but hadn't been sure how to distribute yard sale announcements within the complex — so I volunteered to handle the Parrot Village portfolio next year. Wish me luck.