Today is the official observance of the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States, though it is now more commonly referred to as Presidents Day.
Washington’s Birthday was first established as a legal holiday for federal employees in Washington, D.C., in 1879, and Congress extended it nationwide for federal workers in 1885. Under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the federal observance was moved from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February, a change that took effect in 1971. While “Presidents’ Day” has become the most common public-facing name — boosted by decades of proposals to broaden the holiday and by widespread retail advertising that helped popularize the term in the 1980s — federal law still lists the holiday as Washington’s Birthday.
Holiday closings and schedule changes
Federal, state and local government offices are closed today. Schools are closed. Courts are closed. The Riverhead library is closed.
The N.Y. Stock Exchange and banks are closed today.
The post office is closed and there are no mail deliveries. UPS and Federal Express are delivering and their offices are open.
Riverhead municipal trash collection follows its regular schedule today.
The LIRR is operating on a Sunday schedule today, with off-peak fares in effect all day. NYC subways and buses are operating on a Saturday schedule.
Suffolk County buses are operating today but some are following modified schedules. The S92 bus will operate on a Sunday schedule today. Access schedules here.
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