Americans to mark holiday with family, festivities

NEW YORK (AP) - Airports, train stations and highways are expected to remain busy as people head home to reconnect with family and friends for Thanksgiving - although some reunions may be bittersweet because of the damage and displacement caused by Superstorm Sandy.

The once-sacrosanct harvest feast now starts the holiday shopping season and many stores are bracing for bargain hunters who'll be racing from their dinner tables to compete for the latest toys or electronic devices.

The holiday comes as portions of the Northeast still are reeling from Sandy's havoc, and volunteers are planning to serve thousands of turkey dinners to people it left homeless or struggling. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says his office is coordinating the distribution of 26,500 meals at 30 sites in neighborhoods affected by the storm.