MLK Holiday 2019: What's Open And Closed In Anne Arundel

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Residents will pause on Monday, Jan. 21, to honor the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The federal holiday means most public facilities will be closed, but not necessarily all of them. Here's a quick breakdown of what's open and what's closed in Anne Arundel County, along with ceremonies planned in Annapolis that are open to the public. And state officials have links to help you find a community service project to take part in to honor King.

One big change in the holiday plans: The annual MLK parade in Annapolis has been canceled because of poor weather. City officials announced the decision Jan. 17, saying, "For the safety of the participants and attendees, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade has been postponed from this Monday, January 21 until the tentative date of April 13, 2019."

Anne Arundel County Schools: All Anne Arundel County Public Schools building and central officers are closed for the holiday on Monday.

Westfield Annapolis Mall: Open normal hours, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Arundel Mills Mall: Open normal hours, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Anne Arundel County: All county government offices will be closed on Jan 15.

County Libraries: All libraries will be closed Sunday, Jan. 20, and Monday, Jan. 21, in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Country Trash, Recycling: Normal curbside collections of recycling, yard waste and trash will occur Monday, but all Waste Management facilities are closed. For more information on recycling and trash services, visit the Department’s web page at www.aacounty.org/departments/public-works/waste-management.

City of Annapolis

Annapolis City Offices Closed: City offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No citizen fingerprinting will be offered that day. Recycling and refuse will not be affected and the Pip Moyer Recreation Center will operate on its regular schedule.

However, Annapolis Transit will operate on a Sunday Service Schedule. For more information on the schedule, go to https://www.annapolis.gov/185/Bus-Routes-Schedules.

Maryland Day of Service

The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism has called on Marylanders to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in a volunteer project in their community.

“We are fortunate to live in a state with citizens committed to honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and following in his footsteps to improve communities through service,” said Van Brooks, director of the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, in a news release. “Dr. King believed that everyone can be great, because everyone can serve, and we ask Marylanders to explore the many volunteer opportunities available this Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.”

Volunteer opportunities are available across the state, including the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism (www.gosv.maryland.gov) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (www.mlkday.gov) websites, to identify the most appropriate volunteer event.

All events will take place on Monday, January 21, 2019, unless otherwise noted.

ASTAR! in Western Maryland, in collaboration with local nonprofits, will be volunteering with Glories Happy Hats to make hats for children who are terminally ill, and blankets for patients receiving chemotherapy and wounded warriors. This open event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Arc of Frederick County, 555 South Market Street in Frederick. View the event flyer.

Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) invites community members to celebrate the life of Dr. King at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Conference at Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will see presentations from LAYC’s after-school programs and will also take part in community service workshops. Volunteers and community members must contact Al’Asia Davis at alasia@layc-dc.org to attend. View the event flyer.

Maryland Conservation Corps will host a family-friendly clean up of one of Deep Creek State Park’s newest trails in Swanton. The goal of the project is to remove as much trash as possible, so the trail will be ready for park visitors when it officially opens in Spring 2019. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes, warm clothes, and bring lunch and water. Gloves and tools will be provided. The cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To learn more, visit the event page and contact Katie Haines at katiel.haines@maryland.gov to sign up.

The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County, in partnership with the Howard County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, is hosting its annual county-wide Day of Service. Opening ceremonies and several volunteer opportunities for individuals and families will take place at the Community Resources Campus, 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia beginning at 8 a.m. Volunteer opportunities will also be available off-site. Learn more and register for an event: www.volunteerhoward.org/MLK-Celebrations.

Join Montgomery County Volunteer Center and partner agencies for a variety of family-friendly service projects and a volunteer fair at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center from 1 – 3 p.m. where participants will have the chance to help with everything from packaging food for those in need to making blankets for hospice clients. Additional service events will take place in Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville, Olney, and Germantown. Volunteers must register to participate at http://bit.ly/MoCoMLK.

Visit MLKDay.gov for even more volunteer opportunities in your community.

PHOTO: A bust of Dr. Martin Luther King is displayed in front of the Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)