President’s Day 2021: What’s Open, What’s Closed

WARWICK, RI — It’s President’s Day, a federal holiday many assume celebrates the birthdays of Presidents Lincoln and Washington, but officially celebrates only the first president of the union, not the guy who preserved it.

That’s a long and complicated story, which you can learn about courtesy of Snopes.com.

Before you review the holiday’s history, you should know that it isn’t among the holidays RIPTA observes, so you can ride the bus just like normal. Treat the bus drivers extra nice, though – they’re working the holiday.

Warwick’s City offices aren’t working the holiday, and neither are our friends at the Warwick Public Library, nor are the teachers, principals and administrators at the Warwick School Department. They’re on February vacation this week anyway, but when they return students are expected to self-quarantine if they’ve traveled out of state. School Committee Chairwoman Judy Cobden encouraged Warwick families to get tested for COVID-19 during the break.

The Warwick Sanitation Department doesn’t observe the holiday, so trash pickup continues this week as normal.

The US Post Office, and banks, are closed.