Cancer patient told to halt garage sales

SALEM – Salem will not exempt a woman holding multiple garage sales to raise money for medical bills from a city ordinance that limits the number of such sales each year.

Jan Cline, who is suffering from terminal bone-marrow cancer, lost her job after her diagnosis and held backyard garage sales each weekend until a neighbor complained and the city sent a shutdown order. Officials said rules intended to prevent permanent flea-market-type sales on residential properties limit residents to three yard sales a year.

Neighbors said Cline has held four to six consecutive weekend sales.

But Mayor Anna Peterson on Friday pledged to help Cline, saying, “The city understands this is a very heart-wrenching situation, and we would be glad to work with her.”

“I think it’s amazing that even though they have to stick to the law, they’re spending their energies coming up with solutions,” Cline said. “I’m blown away and feel completely blessed.”

Her story has garnered national attention, prompting tens of thousands of dollars in donations. She said she wasn’t sure she needed to have more sales.

The local chamber of commerce also has offered to let her hold a sale on its parking lot, the Salem Statesman Journal reported.

“Jan has been a long-standing supporter of the chamber and member of the chamber through businesses,” Salem Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Jason Brandt said. “We definitely want to do what we can to help her out.”

Cline said she might have another sale at a South Salem business’s parking lot in September.

Peterson said she’s grateful for the national attention to Cline’s plight.