Reports of Greater Sharon Associates' death were greatly exaggerated.

Faced with the extinction of downtown Sharon's Light-Up Night to kick off holiday shopping, a group of downtown Sharon merchants banded together to resurrect the organization, which had been defunct for six years.

"It was time for the merchants to step forward,'' said Glenn Siminick, owner of Golden Memories in Sharon. "For six years we've tried to get the organization back together again. This happened to come at the right time.''

Siminick, GSA's president, said merchants and the city pulled together to save Light-Up Night, which has become a downtown fixture. The city kicked in $2,500 for the event and along with other donations, it will go ahead as planned on Nov. 20.

To prepare for the festivities, volunteers and other helpers placed garlands and lights on downtown street poles over the weekend. Wreaths are being hung on storefronts. Inmates with the Department of Corrections' pre-release center in Sharon also donated their time to hang ornaments.

This isn't your father's old GSA. The organization has ditched the old concept of clubbing people to pay monthly membership dues. Instead, members will be asked to donate money and time when needed.

"I found it's easier to work with people when they're required not to pay a fee for an organization,'' Siminick said. "We want everyone to pitch in.''

GSA has been meeting for the last couple of months in the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce's founder's room. Meeting when needed, the organization has a simple mission: Revitalize downtown Sharon.

"We want to get people to see the town is alive and well,'' Siminick said.

In addition to Light-Up Night, GSA is taking on a car show in August, which also will feature arts and crafts, he added.

"We want to show there's a passion for serving the customer,'' said Freddie Farone, owner of Freddie Fesh's Cafe and GSA's vice president.

Attracting shoppers to the downtown is a national phenomenon. New Castle has been faced with losing shoppers to Union Township, where a Super Wal-Mart set up shop, just like downtown Sharon has seen customers drive over to Hermitage, Farone said.

Donations of all sorts have been coming in for Light-Up Night. Farone is letting the event use his sound system so the Sharon High School band and choir can be better heard.

Eventually, GSA's goal is to hold an event once a month, he said.

This year's budget is the same as in previous years -- about $10,000, said Mark Jubelirer, president of Reyers Shoe Store, who is the Light-Up Night coordinator.

In addition to the city, local businesses kicked in money to get people in the shopping mode. In addition to the entertainment, the evening will feature fireworks and Santa Claus lighting up a donated Christmas tree.

With festivities set to start at 6:30 p.m., other delights of the evening include hot chocolate and cider to keep shoppers' spirits merry and the Penn State Nittany Lion will be handing out candy to children.

"We want to make this a fun evening for the whole family,'' Jubelirer said. "It's a show of solidarity in our community.''