What's Open, What's Closed on Presidents Day

Government offices, courts, schools, libraries, banks and post offices will be closed Monday for the Presidents Day holiday. However, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley will mark the holiday with a free set of family-oriented activities.

Trash will be collected as usual in Los Angeles.

Metro buses and rail lines will run on a normal schedule. Specific schedules for bus lines can be found on the MTA's Web site at www.metro.net.

Metrolink trains will run on a normal schedule and have a promotion allowing two people to ride together for the price of one. Train schedules and directions to Metrolink stations are available online at www.metrolinktrains.com or by calling 800-371-LINK.

The Reagan Library will conduct its 20th annual Presidents Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with presidential and first lady lookalikes, music and storytelling. Admission is free, with food available for purchase.

The library exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with its regular admission rates -- $15 for adults, $9 for children ages 11 to 17 years old and $12 for ages 62 and older. Children under 10 years old are admitted free.

More information on the Reagan Library is available by calling 800-410-8354 or online at reaganlibrary.com or reaganfoundation.org.

Although commonly known as Presidents Day, the Monday holiday is still legally Washington's Birthday.

The holiday was shifted from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February 1971 under the terms of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968. Because the holiday falls between Feb. 15 and 21 it can never fall on the actual anniversary of Washington's birth in 1732.

The term Presidents Day began being popularized in the 1980s, when retailers combined sales formerly held in conjunction with Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays.

-- City News Service