Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Public Sheds and Shreds Bad Memories From 2009 on Good Riddance Day in Times Square

By DNAinfo Staff on December 28, 2009 5:11pm  | Updated on December 29, 2009 7:22am

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

TIMES SQUARE — New Yorkers and tourists alike lined up in Times Square on Monday afternoon to rid themselves of their bad memories from 2009 by shredding them.

"Good Riddance Day," sponsored by the Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, is an opportunity for participants to literally throw away any negative experiences from the last year, whether it's an ex-significant other, a tough economic situation, or an unbearable neighbor.

People write their bad memories on a piece of paper that they throw into a shredder as they say "good riddance" to 2009 and hope for a more positive year to come.

"I'm saying good riddance to being single," said Melissa Wygand of Long Island who hopes to meet the man of her dreams in 2010.

LXTV correspondent Ben Aaron shreds a long list of all the women who have rejected him over the last year.
LXTV correspondent Ben Aaron shreds a long list of all the women who have rejected him over the last year.
View Full Caption
Jennifer Glickel/DNAinfo

"I heard about [Good Riddance Day] and thought it would be interesting to put it down on paper and get rid of it for good."

Susan Watters of Pittsburgh said good riddance to bad economic times.

"My brother lost his job this year, so we're hoping that he'll find some work," Watters said.

"You just see it all around you. People aren't doing as well as they used to, so we're hoping that 2010 will be better for everybody."

Ben Aaron, a correspondent for LXTV on New York's WNBC, said good riddance to a slew of people whose names and photos he gladly pushed down the shredder. The group included Glenn Beck, Jon Gosselin, and a six-foot long list of the women who have rejected him this year.

A $250-prize for most creative item shredded went to 12-year-old Alissa Yankelevits of Los Angeles. She threw away the memory of a camp leader who was very rude to her and who she recently discovered was featured on "America's Most Wanted" for raping a six-year-old and shooting his wife.

Highlights of the many things to which people said 'good riddance' in Times Square on Monday afternoon.
Highlights of the many things to which people said 'good riddance' in Times Square on Monday afternoon.
View Full Caption
Jennifer Glickel/DNAinfo