SHARON, PA. The green without the black and blue

Most participants were pleased with the calmer atmosphere at this week's Winner giveaway.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
SHARON, Pa. -- Seven days and a change in format can make all the difference.
Residents of Sharon and surrounding communities lined downtown streets Saturday for the second time in two weeks hoping to walk away with cash and coupons to be used at area businesses.
Last week, Sharon businessman James E. Winner Jr. dumped $2 bills and store coupons off the roof of the four-story Winner Department Store building on State Street to a crowd of anxious spectators.
The first event turned into a melee, with people pushing and shoving to grab the falling loot.
Several were injured, some requiring medical attention.
New strategy
Yesterday, instead of dumping the cash and coupons from atop the roof, Winner decided to hand them out in envelopes to the first 400 adults wearing red, white and blue or carrying an American flag.
The change resulted in a much calmer Saturday morning downtown.
As early as 7 a.m. hopeful residents lined State Street decked out in everything from American flag pants to umbrellas sporting the stars and stripes. The lyrics of "We're in the Money" could be heard playing repeatedly from a loudspeaker at the store.
Patty Iovino, Winner general manager, said Saturday's giveaway was a definite success compared to the event seven days before.
"We had quite a few customers come into the store to redeem coupons, and I saw several people receive $100 bills," she said. "I think everybody was more happy with the results. Everything was definitely calmer than last week."
The most raucous noise Saturday was the applause of those in line for big winners like Jim Davis of Sharon, who took home one of the envelopes containing $100.
Davis was part of the grabfest at the first event, but figures he came out better yesterday.
"I did a lot better this week -- got more money and didn't get knocked around trying to get it," he said.
Annise Gibson of Sharon said she heard about the problems with the first event but would have come out anyway because she is trying to pay for college and can use all the money she can get.
Format was encouraging
Most people, however, said the change in format is the only reason they bothered to come.
Josh Jones won a getaway package to the Radisson Hotel in Sharon, worth more than $200.
Jones, who said he has bad knees, was part of the crowd for the first event but backed away when the pushing and shoving started. The change was the only reason he came out a second time.
Rebecca Ekkert of Newton Falls was at the first giveaway and braced herself against a parked car to keep from being shoved or knocked down in the crowd. That day she walked away with $4 in cash and $4 worth of coupons.
Holding the $2 bill and $10 in coupons she received at the second giveaway, Ekkert, who was hoping for coupons that could be used toward a dress for her friend's daughter, said it was worth it just to have something to do on a Saturday morning.
The store will hold giveaways each Saturday for the remainder of the month.