Tag Sale Treasures a Chowder & Marching Tradition

The old adage "one man's trash is another man's treasure" rings true in Bedford, where someone's unwanted items could include just the thing you need to decorate your home.

"We are fortunate to live in a community blessed with resources," said Jamie Dittrich, a member of the Chowder & Marching Club, recalling one year when an old Mercedes was donated and sold to the highest bidder at Crusher Yard, where the service club's annual tag sale is held. The car needed work—but it worked.

Aside from old luxury automobiles, shoppers might find quality furniture, lamps, strollers and toys, antique and vintage home accessories and clothes. "One year, a well-known designer who lives in Bedford actually donated a rack of suits," said Dittrich.

Dittrich is a past president of the service club which was founded in 1956 as a way to provide enriching activities in the community. The current president, Rob Cavenagh, said 20 couples from Bedford Village belong to the service organization, which supports programs in sports, the arts, and academics.

C&M has accomplished capital projects around town including building an entrance to the pool at a scoreboard, gazebo and dugout at the little league field and the press box at the Fox Lane campus, among other projects. Other beneficiaries of C&M's work include the Bedford-Pound Ridge Little League, and the Bedford Village Swim Team.

The funds to support this wide array of community activities come from the club's annual fall dinner dance and the spring cleanup weekend, which this year takes place Sat. - Sun. May 4-5, at Bedford's Crusher Yard at Routes 22/172. Donations are collected from tag sale proceeds and from trash pickups.

"I'm always amazed at how many community members want to run around and pickup garbage," said Dittrich, who said about 75 volunteers manage 15 trucks. "But the energy level is amazing—it's great fun, there's great joy, and it's really a unique community event. We couldn't do it without the volunteers."

The club doesn't just clean up next weekend.

Cavenagh said the club also takes responsibility for cleaning up village roads each spring—and they started weeks ago. "You may have seen us out with orange bags," he said. Club members take sections of town and pick up litter that has built up throughout the winter.

For more about Chowder & Marching, you can visit their website.

Want to know more about the weekend's activities? Read on.

What to know before you go

• Call now to schedule your preferred time for trash pickup. Linda de Menocal is taking reservations at 914-234-0084.
• Paint cans and tires are unacceptable items. For the full list of what's OK to get picked up, read the flyer posted with this story.
• Fees for pickups can average $100 - $150 and up, depending on the items being picked up. Describe your pickup at the time of your reservation and you could get an estimate.
• Want to volunteer your time on a truck, at the sale or cooking at the concession stand? Call Jamie Dittrich at 914-483-9920.
• Tag sale hours are Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m.  - 4 p.m. Get there early and watch for truck deliveries to the yard for the best finds.

If you like this story, you'll like the one we post on Monday about the town's clean up plans, and cleanup day activities taking place in Katonah and Bedford Hills.