Council discusses party value

Two tried to disrupt Saturday's event, merchants said.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- A group of West State Street business owners, organized as the Friendly Hometown Merchants, wants the city's blessing to continue a series of block parties designed to attract people downtown.
Representatives of the group went to Thursday's city council meeting seeking support and complaining that two merchants with businesses in or near their area tried to disrupt Saturday's block party, which brought in vendors from a wide area to set up their wares on West State Street between Water and Main avenues.
Those two insulted and embarrassed a lot of people by their actions, said Ziba Dilley, whose son, Brian, owns Mole Hole Antiques.
Both Council President Fred Hoffman and Mayor David O. Ryan advised the group that they should have called police to the scene if they felt people were being harassed.
Dilley said the group has spent a lot of hours working to get people into town for the four block parties that have been held, and they want to hold another in September and one in October as well.
Local support
"This is what we need in Sharon," said Fred Bobby, owner of the Book Rack on West State Street, as he referred to a poster he was holding that advertised the Friendly Hometown Merchants.
Ryan said he knows of three business owners in that area who don't want any more block parties held.
If the request comes to close the street again, the group needs to be more organized and try to get everyone behind the plan, he said.
Ryan said he was at Saturday's event and thought it was a good thing. There were no disruptions while he was there, he said.
Some council members praised the group's efforts.
Councilwoman Chris Outrakis said she attended two of the block parties.
"This is what we need," she said.
"I think it's a great thing," said Councilman Bob Lucas. "I don't think we want it to die."
Dilley said the group is conducting a membership drive to enlist more merchants in the effort.