Labor Day

WASHINGTON -- Today, Labor Day, the country will kick back, fire up the barbecue, and take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of America's working men and women. But will those workers themselves have anything to celebrate?Sadly, not much. Despite a seemingly rosy employment picture -- more than 11 million new jobs since 1991 and an unemployment rate down to 5.4 percent -- the real outlook for U.S. workers remains rather grim. Scratch below the surface of these numbers, and the much-discussed economic anxiety felt by America's workers becomes perfectly understandable.

THEIR average age was 31. They were skilled craftsmen. Many had wives and children. Many more had been employed at high wages in shipyards and war plants. And few were subject to the draft. And they're due a smart salute on Labor Day because many of them were laborers. Their story was first told by William Huie in "Can Do!: The story of the Seabees" in 1944. They were steam fitters and lumberjacks, surveyers, welders, demolition men, machinists, plumbers, electricians, longshoremen, carpenters and road graders.

The Slave Descendants Freedom Society Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the contributions that enslaved people made to the United States, will hold a breakfast fund-raiser tomorrow. Called Project Labor Day, the program will include speakers who will discuss the work their ancestors performed as discovered through genealogical research. Project Labor Day will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the Lakeview A room of the Sheraton Columbia Hotel, 10207 Wincopin Circle.

Howard County police say that they plan to crack down on drunken drivers and motorists who are not wearing seat belts over the Labor Day weekend.The fine for traveling beltless is $25. Motorists will also be fined $40 if children 3 years old or younger or who weigh 40 pounds or less are not in a car seat.

A Labor Day etiquette quiz: What color shoes should one wear while walking across the Mackinac Bridge?If you think Labor Day is the wrong time to contemplate such a question, think again."

It's that time of year when clumps of Maryland's state flower, black-eyed Susans, have only their black eyes left -- signaling the turning toward autumn.Labor Day felt like the last day of summer yesterday, even if officially there are two weeks of the season left on the calendar.Outside the region, weather was fierce in Queen Anne's County, where a storm unleashed winds up to 60 mph that damaged homes on Kent Island. Roads were clogged with beach-goers returning home, but Maryland Transportation Authority Police said traffic patterns were normal for the holiday.

Police are seeking information about an armed robbery Labor Day night near the city school headquarters building on North Avenue in connection with an unsolved homicide - the victim having been shot by chance while standing more than a block away. Kenneth Hopkins, 40, who lived nearby in the 200 block of E. 20th 1/2 St., had walked a female friend to the corner of North and Guilford avenues about 10:30 p.m. when he was shot in the back of the head, said Detective Frank Miller. Evidence shows a gunman was robbing someone in the 2100 block of Guilford Ave. near the rear of the school headquarters building and that one of three shots fired hit Hopkins, who died a short time later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, Miller said.

The Baltimore County school board gave in to community pressure last night, deciding to open the next school year after Labor Day rather than a week before the holiday.On another calendar issue, the board learned that the county teachers union is recommending that its members reject a proposal to take a small pay cut in exchange for a slightly shorter school year.Superintendent Stuart D. Berger said at the crowded meeting that if teachers vote next week to reject the pay cut deal, they would not be paid for the two "snow days" when schools were closed because of bad weather last month.

For those staying close to home this Labor Day weekend, there's a wide range of activities to keep the family busy -- everything from an AIDS benefit to a historic tour to traditional picnics.Tomorrow the Elkridge Heritage Society is sponsoring its 10th annual House and Garden Tour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.The tour covers sections of Howard and Baltimore counties.On the schedule are: an early 18th-century house and restored ** gardens on Old Columbia Pike in Ellicott City; a restored house and and its garden on Norris Lane, the Brumbaugh House on Main Street and a contemporary home on Bellanca Drive, all in Elkridge.

What the pre-Labor Day school openings took away, the dry, sunny weather gave back to the 114th Maryland State Fair."Attendance was a little lighter during the week because of the school openings, but we more than made up on the weekends," said security guard Bruce Robinson. "The weather has been so great. Not one day of rain."And no stifling heat and humidity, said Patrick R. Davalos, assistant general manager.The fair, which opened Aug. 25, drew about 530,000 spectators, about 20,000 fewer than last year.