ISSUE #26, AUGUST 30, 2023

Dear Neighbors, Most of us associate Labor Day with family barbecues, deep discounts and the unofficial end of summer. It’s a time to reconnect with friends and family and is a last hurrah before the start of fall. But Monday’s holiday holds a much deeper meaning, rooted in the 19th-century fight for fair working conditions. Labor Day was first celebrated unofficially by labor activists and individual states in the late 1800s, according to the US Department of Labor. New York was the first state to introduce a bill recognizing Labor Day, but Oregon was the first to actually codify it into law in 1887. It wasn’t until June 28, 1894 that Congress passed an act naming ta legal holiday called Labor Day. It is celebrated the first Monday of September. The fight for workers’ rights, equal pay and fair treatment continues to this day. So while you’re firing up the grill, remember that not everybody gets the day off and many people don’t earn a living wage. Continue paying attention to issues like these, as we are certainly doing in the Maryland Legislature. I hope you enjoy this holiday and every day! Mary

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTIES

All Prince George's County offices are closed on Monday, Sept. 4. For other holiday closings in Prince George's County, click here. All Anne Arundel County offices are closed on Monday, Sept. 4. For holiday trash pick-up schedule in Anne Arundel County, click here.

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GREENBELT'S LABOR DAY WEEKEND: SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY

The Greenbelt Labor Day Festival was started in 1955 as a way of raising funds to build a Youth Center. It has been held every year since by the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival (GLDF) Committee, one of Maryland’s largest all-volunteer organized events. 2023 will mark the 69th year of the Festival. It will take place Friday, September 1, through Monday, September 4, at the Roosevelt Center at 101 Centerway in Greenbelt, MD. You’ll find the GLDF program in the Greenbelt News Review this Thursday, or download the PDF here. Festivities include a parade, carnival midway with rides, food vendors of all types, exhibits, bingo, music and more! Parking around the Festival can be difficult, so don’t park in courts or in reserved spaces. Park your car and take the shuttle bus. (Details about the shuttle are on page eight of the program.)  Event times vary, but the Festival is open: Friday, September 1, 6-11pm Saturday, September 2, 11am-11pm Sunday, September 2, 12-11pm Monday, September 4, 11am-6pm Discount coupons/vouchers for all-you-can-ride wristbands are now on sale until 12 p.m. Thursday, August 31, at Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket & Pharmacy. Cost is $20. You present the voucher to the ticket booth on your choice – Saturday or Sunday – opening to 5pm for the wristband. No refunds.

FREE MOVIES IN GREENBELT!

Over Labor Day Weekend, the Old Greenbelt Theater has free movies! Toy Story 4  is being shown on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 4:30 pm and Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2 pm. Casablanca is free at 1 pm and 8 pm on Monday, Sept. 4--a good way to escape the heat!

FURTHER AFIELD, IT'S THE MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is being held on Crownsville Road in Annapolis, including for all of Labor Day weekend. Click here for the full schedule. The festival runs until October 22nd.

BE ALERT! SCHOOL'S BACK! School is back in session, so please be alert, especially around school buses! It's a $250 fine if you pass a school bus with its stop sign extended, so for that reason as well as the safety of the kids, don't do it!

FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY The Anne Arundel County Food Bank provides food, nutritional supplements, medical equipment, and more to those in need – free of charge. Click here to learn more.

NEED FOOD? For a list of food pantries in Prince George's County, click here.

HELP FEED LAUREL CATS Laurel Cats is holding a cat food donation drive this summer. Help us support cats around Laurel, MD. Every little bit helps. A dollar donation is a whole meal for a cat in need. Laurel Cats accepts donations via PayPal and Venmo, as well as through its wishlist on Chewy and Walmart. You can find all of their methods of donation by clicking here.

MARY A. LEHMAN Democrat, District 21, Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties House Office Building, Room 209 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3114, (301) 858-3114 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3114 (toll free) e-mail: mary.lehman@house.state.md.us Feel free to be in touch.