Holiday closings

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004 | 8:57 a.m.

The first "thanksgiving" celebration was in the fall of 1621 following the Pilgrims' harvest at Plymouth, Mass. President George Washington proclaimed Nov. 26, 1789, as Thanksgiving Day. President Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, proclaimed the holiday for the last Thursday in November. In 1941, Congress made the federal holiday the fourth Thursday in November. The day after Thanksgiving Day is called Family Day. Though not an official holiday, a number of businesses and agencies will be closed on that day. 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: All other federal offices.

SCHOOLS: Closed, no classes both days: Clark County School District public schools, Community College of Southern Nevada, UNLV.

MATRIMONY: The Marriage License Bureau will open at 8 a.m. Wednesday, stay open round the clock through the weekend and close Sunday at midnight.

DELIVERIES: U.S. Postal Service: Closed Thursday, no deliveries; open Friday, deliveries as usual. United Parcel Service: Closed Thursday no deliveries except for Sonic Air pickups and deliveries; open Friday for delivery of domestic and international air packages and pickups of advance-notice air delivery parcels, but no regular ground pickups or deliveries.

NEWSPAPER: Thursday: Sun published jointly with the 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 Ride natural gas busses: Holiday schedule Thursday (one less vehicle 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: Many closed Thursday, but open Friday (check your local branch. Nevada law allows banks to open on holidays as long as all transactions are posted to the next regular banking day). Brokerage firms: Closed Thursday, open Friday.

PARKING: Las Vegas city parking metered spaces are free both days.