Aug 31, 2008 11:26 pm US/Eastern
Flea Market Expected To End Without New Location
COCKEYSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ―
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A flea market that raises money for youth sports could be coming to an end in Baltimore County.
One Baltimore County group sent letters, emails and phone calls to county leaders. So far, nothing has worked to save their 21-year-old tradition of a flea market that raises money for youth sports.
Gigi Barnett reports time is running out.
It's Sunday morning bliss for some people in northern Baltimore County. It's a flea market where they can buy music cassette tapes, Care Bears and plants.
It's also their contribution to the community because much of the money made at the flea market goes to the Lutherville-Timonium Recreation Council.
"That's used for providing services for kids in the neighborhood. Whether it's lining the fields of the soccer and lacrosse fields or providing equipment for smaller start-up programs," said Larry Shackleford, LTRC president.
Shackleford says in a matter of weeks, the sales will stop.
"Every once in a while, you just come up with a little brick wall and somehow you figure a way to get around it. But I'm not sure this brick wall is avoidable," said Shackleford.
This is the problem. Right now the Sunday morning flea market uses the grounds near the Cockeysville Library. But when the library re-opens in October, the flea market has to go.
Vendors asked school leaders to use Lutherville Elementary instead this week, but the county said no because no one group or individual is allowed to make a profit on school grounds.
"I want them to take it all back and let us have our flea market program again," said flea market founder Judy Murray.
Murray started the flea market two decades ago. She's not buying the county's reason for the denial.
"They don't care. They don't care about the money they're getting 'cause they're not getting it," said Murray.
"I go to many basket bingos. I go to all kinds of fundraisers for the school that's selling for the school," said Linda, county resident.
An average of 75 vendors and hundreds of buyers show up every week. If the county doesn't change its mind, buyers will have to give up their Sunday morning deals and see many little league football games come to an end.
"We have a lot of children out there on drugs. This money keeps those children from getting involved in all of that mess. They really need it," said Thelma Pletzer, vendor.
The next step is for the flea market to pass out letters to the community. It's a campaign letting people know that the flea market may not be around much longer.
The flea market has until Oct. 1 to find a new home or shut down for good. School leaders say they are aware of the denial, but have not issued further comments.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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