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Volume 8 • Issue 46 • November 22 – November 28, 2013

I n d e p e n d e n t

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F r e e saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • (518) 581-2480

JFK: 50 Years - Like Yesterday by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Before 9/11 there was 11/22. And 50 years later, the passage of time dulls none of our memory of that day. We may forget what we had for breakfast this morning, but no one old enough who was asked where they were on that day replied “I don’t remember.” Despite the lack of mega-mass media, we learned of events rather rapidly. A neighbor, teacher, tolltaker told us to put on the radio, something had happened in Dallas and our President was slain. It didn’t matter where we were; it was a national, indeed worldwide

shared experience. We asked people at our farmers’ markets and the Wesley community, a cross-section of residents of our region, to share their stories about that signpost day. All live locally now, though most were in other places on November 22, 1963. I’ll bat leadoff. It is one of my oldest memories altogether. Second grade. P.S. 49, the pride of New York City public schools in Middle Village, Queens. Mrs. Broadhurst was our teacher, and she told us to be quiet because Principal Burson was going to make an announcement over the loudspeaker. This happened nearly every day, but in the morning – never See JFK pg. 12

The Birth of a Citizen’s Movement

Will It Pay To SAVE?

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An overflowing cross-section of the community gathered on Monday evening,

November 18 at City Hall to learn about and make pledges to participate in activities to resist a casino inside the city and county limits. The meeting, organized by the See SAVE pg. 5

The overflow listens to Sara Boivin. Photo by Lawrence White.

Adopt-A-Family Provides Thanksgiving Feasts by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — For the better part of the last 20 years, the Saratoga County Opportunity Council and the community action group “Adopta-Family” have been helping local families, who don’t have the funds, purchase food for their Thanksgiving meal at a low price. With one meal costing $25, 750 families have signed up for the baskets that include cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing mix, instant potatoes, apple sauce, corn, green beans, canned yams, a 5-pound bag of fresh

potatoes from a local farmer, a bag of fresh carrots, a bag of fresh apples and a $10 gift card to price chopper for a turkey, Tofurky or ham. Of that 750, Michele Riggi will