music: “That’s Amore”
If you’re strolling down a street aglow with colored lightbulbs, and the tempting aroma of sausage and peppers is in the air, well, you’re probably at an Italian-American street fair. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by DuPont. We’re at the Feast of St. Michael, on the west side of Saratoga Springs, New York. The festival is a testament to an enduring community spirit. Leona Casey Signor, is historian of Saratoga’s West Side Neighborhood Association. “Everybody knew each other, they were all cousins, relatives, they had come from the same province. This event was so big.” The centerpiece of the feast has always been a wooden boat which contained a statue of St. Michael, the neighborhood patron saint. John Barella, who’s chairman of the Feast, says that in the old days, the boat was paraded through the streets. “We used to stop at each and every Italian family’s homes. They would come out and talk to the firework man, and he would shoot off an aerial bomb in memory of a person that might have died within that year or previous.” In the 1970’s, the Feast of St. Michael died out, apparently due to lack of interest. But a few years ago, it sprang back to life. “I kept getting asked by some of the older women, please bring it back, please bring it back.” The Feast is different now — the neighborhood is more diverse and the event draws people from all over town. But there’s still wonderful Italian food… ambience: sizzle, cook talking There’s a dice game called “chuck-a-luck”… ambience: Gambling And of course, there’s music…(Lively Song) The Feast of St. Michael takes place this weekend in Saratoga Springs, New York. Pulse of the Planet is presented by DuPont, bringing you the miracles of science, with additional support provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. I’m Jim Metzner.