Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2021)
10A | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS The history of Presidents’ Day in the United States A n official list of federal hol- idays in the United States won’t fea- ture “Presidents’ Day” among the observed holidays. Some may say that’s preposterous, as they’re certain that post offices and other federal entities are closed on such a day each February. While the third Mon- day of February is commonly re- ferred to as “Pres- idents’ Day” throughout the United States, the day is legally referred to as “Washington’s Birthday.” According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Man- agement, this holiday is designated as “Washing- ton’s Birthday” in sec- tion 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that spec- ifies holidays for federal employees. Though other institutions, such as state and local governments and private businesses ticularly in his home state of Illinois. In the 1960s, when Congress pro- posed a measure known as the Uniform Mon- day Holiday Act that designated Monday as the day to celebrate various feder- al holidays, the proposal also in- cluded a provi- sion to combine the celebration Presidents’ Day is also known as “Washington’s Birthday.” of Washington’s may use other names, it cording to History.com. and Lincoln’s birthdays is OPM policy to always Its observance as an of- to provide more equal refer to holidays by the ficial holiday was signed recognition of these two names designated in the into law in 1879 by Presi- influential leaders. The law. dent Rutherford B. Hayes. name Presidents’ Day was Originally, the holiday proposed at that time. History of Washing- only applied to the Dis- However, when the bill ton’s Birthday trict of Columbia, but in moving the celebration The idea to give presi- 1885 it was expanded to of Washington’s birthday dents a little extra fanfare the entire country. to the third Monday in originally was established Abraham Lincoln, an- February went into effect in 1885 in recognition other revered American in 1971, Congress reject- of George Washington. president whose birthday ed the name change, so After his death in 1799, was February 12, also was it remained Washing- Washington’s birthday largely celebrated during ton’s Birthday. That name on February 22 became a the month of February stands to this day. day of remembrance, ac- as a state holiday, par- Lane County remains at ‘extreme’ level SALEM — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday that 12 counties improved in risk level, with 10 improving from extreme risk for the first time since November, ef- fective Feb. 12. Lane County remains in extreme risk. County risk levels un- der the state’s public health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The frame- work uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread — extreme risk, high risk, moderate risk and lower Risk — and assigns health and safety measures for each level. Effective Feb. 12 through Feb. 25, there will be 14 counties in the ex- treme risk level, 11 at high risk, two at moderate risk, and nine at lower risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available at coro- navirus.oregon.gov. “Thanks to Oregonians who have stepped up and made smart choices, we have made incredible progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives in Oregon,” said Brown. “This week we will see 10 counties move out of extreme risk, including the Portland tri-county area, for the first time since Novem- ber. This is welcome news, as we’ll start to see more businesses open up and Oregonians being able to get out a bit more.” The Oregon Health Au- thority will examine and publish county data week- ly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warn- ing week” to prepare counties for potential risk level changes. The next as- signment of risk levels will be announced Feb. 23 and take effect Feb. 26. “It’s also incredibly im- portant that we continue to remain vigilant and protect our neighbors and loved ones as we face virulent new strains of COVID-19,” Brown said. “This means continu- ing to wear masks, keep our physical distance and avoid indoor gather- ings. If we want to keep businesses open, reopen schools for in-person in- struction and stay safe, we counts could go back up must keep up our guard. if we don’t keep following Until vaccines are more safety measures.” widely available, case Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus.oregon. gov. Why Presidents’ Day? Even though federal cal- endars will list February 15 this year as Washington’s Birthday, it will largely be referred to as Presidents’ Day. This unofficial moni- ker developed in the 1970s due largely in part to re- tailer’s use of that name to promote sales and the proximity of the holiday to both the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln. Indeed, a Washington’s Birthday furniture sale doesn’t have the same ring to it as a Presidents’ Day sale. No matter what the holiday is called, Presi- dents’ Day offers citizens a chance to learn more about the history behind Washington and Lincoln — two pivotal statesmen in American history. 777 Maple St, STE B Florence, OR 97439 (541) 997-7173 www.buckwaldaccoun ng.com offi ce@buckwaldaccoun ng.com Mike Buckwald, CPA Bri any Hornung, CPA We expanded and are now accep ng new clients! Our fi rm off ers years of experience along with youthful energy. A unique combina on that provides quality work with a quick turnaround. Income Tax • Business Tax & Consul ng Bookkeeping & Payroll • Trusts & Estates Financial services for the elderly Call us to set up a free consulta on February SPECIALS F E B R UA RY S P E C I A L S 4PM to 9PM APPETIZER Santa Fe Beef Tips - $12 ENTREE Pepper Crusted Ribeye - $38 DESSERT Chocolate Pot de Crème - $7 FEBRUARY SPECIALS NEW ORLEANS SHRIMP OMELET - $13 SERVED DAILY 7AM-11AM PRIME RIB - $25 SERVED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 4PM-9PM GIANT PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH - $13 SERVED DAILY 11AM-9PM RESERVATIONS STRONGLY SUGGESTED 541.902.6619 SWEET POTATO PIE - $6 Valentine’s Day Specials FEBRUARY SPECIALS C L A S S I C S H R I M P M E LT - $ 1 2 Friday, February 12 – Sunday, February 14 4pm to 9pm Entree NEW YORK STEAK AU GRATIN Mamma Mia! $25 A TASTE OF ITALY IN FLORENCE T H E B A R N YA R D P I Z Z A - $ 1 1 ROASTERS A M A R E T TO L AT T E - $ 5 SHRIMP PASTA ITALIANO $19 Dessert DEATH BY CHOCOLATE CAKE $8 FLORENCE 8 7 7 - 3 7 4 - 8 3 7 7 | T H R E E R I V E R SC A S I N O . CO M
