Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.
Thanksgiving in America dates to a celebration of the Pilgrims' bountiful 1621 harvest at Plymouth, Mass. The first government-proclaimed Thanksgiving was in June 1676 in Charlestown, Mass. George Washington proclaimed Nov. 26, 1789, as Thanksgiving Day. Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, proclaimed the holiday for the last Thursday in November. In 1941 Congress changed the holiday to the fourth Thursday in November. Here's what's open and closed on Thursday and Friday:
SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Administrative offices closed both days.
UTILITIES: Closed both days: Southwest Gas, Nevada Power, Las Vegas Valley Water District. Closed Thursday, open Friday: Cox Communications cable TV, Sprint.
GOVERNMENT: Closed both days: Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, North Las Vegas, Clark County, state, courts, federal courthouse. Closed Thursday, open Friday: Federal offices.
SCHOOLS: Closed, no classes both days: Clark County public schools, Community College of Southern Nevada, UNLV.
DELIVERIES: U.S. Postal Service: Closed Thursday, no deliveries; open Friday, deliveries as usual (eight Post Office Express counters in Albertson's closed Thursday, open Friday). United Parcel Service: Closed Thursday no deliveries; open Friday for delivery of UPS air and international packages and pickups of advance-notice air delivery parcels, but no regular ground deliveries.
NEWSPAPER: Thursday: Sun published jointly with Review-Journal and delivered in the morning, Sun offices closed. Friday: Sun published independently and delivered in the afternoon as usual, Sun offices open.
TRANSIT: Downtown Transportation Center: Open both days. City trolleys: Holiday schedule Thursday (one less trolley in operation), regular schedule Friday. Citizens Area Transit buses: Holiday/weekend schedule Thursday (fewer buses in operation on fixed routes), regular schedule Friday.
LIBRARIES: Closed both days: North Las Vegas District, Henderson District. Closed Thursday, open Friday: Las Vegas-Clark County District, Boulder City District.
GARBAGE: Republic Services of Southern Nevada pickups as usual.
FINANCIAL: Banks: Closed Thursday, optional Friday (check your local branch. Nevada law allows banks to open on holidays as long as all posting are to the next regular banking day). Brokerage firms: Closed Thursday, open Friday.
PARKING: City parking metered spaces are free both days.
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