HomeMy WebLinkAbout102-Commendation.pdfCOMMENDATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
HONORING
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
SARATOGA NEWS
WHEREAS, the Saratoga News was founded in 1955 by Sherman Miller; who
operated the paper for 18 years; and
WHEREAS, the newspaper was sold in 1973 to the Cupertino-based Suburban
Newspaper Publishers Association group; and
WHEREAS, the chain was acquired in 1978 by the Meredith Corporation, along with
its sister publication – the Los Gatos Times Observer; and
WHEREAS, the Metro Newspapers bought the Saratoga News in 1990 and David
Cohen, co-founder of Metro, purchased the Saratoga News in 2001 along with a number of
other weekly newspapers to form Silicon Valley Community Newspapers; and
WHEREAS, in the summer of 2006, the Saratoga News, along with SVCN, became
a part of MediaNews, its current ownership company; and
WHEREAS, following the original sale of the Saratoga News in 1973, editors
through the years have included Sue Lick, the late Carolyn Leal, Dale Bryant and Dick
Sparrer; and
WHEREAS, Dale Bryant, who grew up in Saratoga, took over the editorship in
1997; and in 1999 the newspaper won a state award for all-around excellence; and
WHEREAS, in 2002 Dick Sparrer assumed the role as editor of the Saratoga News.
Mr. Sparrer first wrote for the Saratoga News back in the late 1960’s when he submitted sports
stories to Mr. Miller. Later, after the Saratoga News was purchased by the Suburban group in
1973, he became the newspaper’s sports editor and remained in that role until 1986. He
returned as the sports editor in 1990 and took over the dual role of editor/sports editor. Along
with Mr. Sparrer, the current staff of the Saratoga News includes reporter Brian Babcock,
features editor Shannon Burkey, and photographer George Sakkestad; and
WHEREAS, throughout all the staffing and editor changes over the years, the Saratoga
News has continued to provide outstanding news coverage regarding the residents of Saratoga,
the community, and community events.
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Saratoga News won a state award for its sports coverage and
a Bay Area award for general excellence.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Saratoga does
hereby proclaim and recognize each and every one of the staff members of the Saratoga
News as an outstanding group of professionals serving the residents of the Saratoga
community on a daily basis.
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA on this 2nd
day of September 2009.
_________________________
Chuck Page, Mayor
City of Saratoga