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Labor Day Weekend
Katie Couric got engaged to her financier boyfriend of nearly two years, John Molner, on Labor Day weekend.
John Molner popped the question on a beach in East Hampton, New York, as the sun went down, with a “spectacular diamond ring”.
A widow since her husband, Jay Monahan died from colon cancer in 1998, mother-of-two Katie Couric, 56, has had several suitors over the years, but never seemed to find the right match.
Katie Couric told People magazine in 2011 that she always imagined herself as a “modern-day” version of the twice married TV character, Carol Brady.
Finally, though, she decided to stop worrying about finding a suitor.
“I used to worry a lot about the future. [But] who knows what it will bring?” Katie Couric said.
“Hopefully it will bring good things.”
Katie Couric has had several suitors over the years, but never seemed to find the right match
However, Katie Couric met 50-year-old John Molner, a partner at the investment firm Brown Brothers Harriman, in early 2012 and soon hit it off.
Katie Couric and John Molner first went public with their relationship in April 2012 and she said later that year: “He’s great. He’s from Chicago. I love Midwesterners!”
She also made it clear that she was looking to take things to the next level, telling Parade that she liked the “idea of having a life partner”.
Before John Molner, Katie Couric was dating entrepreneur, Brooks Perlin, who is 17 years her junior.
Katie Couric and Brooks Perlin met at a charity event held to raise money for cancer research in 2006 and remained together for five years.
There was speculation at the time that her new relationship with John Molner came too soon after the split.
However, mutual friends of the couple reportedly said that they had been trying to set them up for years.
John Molner is said to have been a fan of Katie Couric’s for some time.
Speaking to People magazine about dating, Katie Couric once said: “I thought, it’s important for me to go out. I’m always excited to meet new people and have a social life.
“I think dating is fun actually. I enjoy that part of my life.”
John Molner will become a step-father to Katie Couric’s two daughters with Jay Monahan, Ellie, 21, and Carrie, 17.
Making her engagement public today, Katie Couric tweeted: “Yes it’s true! So touched by all the kind Tweets & warm wishes-thank you! A great end to the summer & looking fwd to seeing you all Monday!!”
Her talk show, Katie returns for a second season on September 9.
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The MDA announced a total of $58,706,015 on September 30, 2012, the year when the annual Labor Day Telethon became MDA Show of Strength.
The newly-branded MDA Show of Strength, which aired on September 2, 2012, on 150 stations nationwide, featured the commitment, dedication and support of viewers from across the nation who joined forces with volunteers, celebrities and entertainers, and national and local sponsors to show their strength for one common goal – to win the fight against muscle diseases.
The MDA announced a total of $58,706,015 on September 30, 2012, the year when the annual Labor Day Telethon became MDA Show of Strength
“The incredible support of our national partners and their loyal customers, plus the generosity of the American public who called, texted or went online to donate, will help MDA provide care through our network of 200 clinics in the U.S., as well as help to send kids to MDA summer camps at no cost to their families,” said MDA Interim President and Medical Director Valerie Cwik, M.D.
“Their support will make a lifesaving difference in MDA’s worldwide research program, which this year will invest almost $36 million in vital projects.”
The signature Labor Day weekend show continued as the centerpiece of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s yearlong fundraising efforts. In addition to superstar performers such as will.i.am, Carrie Underwood, Pitbull and Carole King, the three-hour telecast featured uplifting stories of strength offering a window into the lives of individuals and families affected by muscle diseases; inspiring messages from many corporate sponsors, organizations and national brands; and heartfelt appeals from MDA ambassadors and celebrities.
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The annual MDA Labor Day Telethon will air on ABC in prime-time, on Sunday, September 1.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s nationally broadcast telethon, one of America’s longest-standing and beloved fundraising and entertainment events, will return this Labor Day weekend with a new broadcast home: the ABC Television Network.
ABC has signed on to air the two-hour MDA Show of Strength Telethon on its stations across the country on Sunday, September 1, 9/8c. As in the past, the entertainment event will raise funds and awareness to support MDA’s mission to help children and adults affected by progressive and often fatal muscle diseases.
“This is a remarkably hopeful time for MDA and our mission to find new treatments and cures as we set our sights on pursuing muscle health,” said MDA President and CEO Steven M. Derks.
“We’re delighted to partner with ABC. Broadcasting our show nationwide and on prime-time TV provides a critically important way to tell our story of progress in fighting muscle disease, while recognizing and engaging new supporters.”
This is the first time in MDA’s 48-year history of doing annual telethons that it will broadcast on a single television network. Previously, MDA partnered with an ad-hoc lineup of network affiliates in markets across the U.S. In recent years the majority of the stations have been ABC affiliates, which makes the new exclusive agreement with ABC a natural fit.
MDA is in the process of securing artists for this year’s telethon and all performers generously donate their time and talent to help make the event a success. The MDA telethon also will feature compelling stories of survival and hope profiling children and adults affected by muscle disease.
The annual MDA Labor Day Telethon will air on ABC in prime-time, on Sunday, September 1
R.A. (RAC) Clark, longtime executive producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards, served as the MDA telethon’s executive producer in 2012 and will return this year. Clark has extensive producing credits on all major networks, including ABC.
In addition to funds contributed by the public, substantial support also comes from MDA’s family of national sponsors, whose work throughout the year on behalf of MDA will be recognized on the telethon. Among the sponsors: International Association of Fire Fighters, CITGO Petroleum Corp., Safeway, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, Jiffy Lube International, National Association of Letter Carriers, 7-Eleven, Dr Pepper Snapple Group/7UP, Acosta and Burger King.
At the community level, MDA is planning telethon viewing parties with hundreds of local groups to rally support for the more than 1 million Americans it helps with lifesaving support and services. MDA also is planning a comprehensive digital and social media campaign to drive online fundraising and engage supporters in new ways.
Over the decades, funds raised by MDA telethons also have contributed to the organization’s worldwide research program. Today, through current clinical trials, there is growing excitement that new lifesaving treatments and discoveries are on the horizon for many of the disorders MDA is dedicated to defeating, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“Individuals with neuromuscular diseases are living longer, stronger lives thanks to the advances we’ve made over the years – particularly in the last decade – thanks in large part to past MDA supporters,” said MDA Chairman of the Board R. Rodney Howell, M.D.
“We’re redoubling our efforts to find and fund new discoveries that will save lives.”
MDA’s first Labor Day weekend telethon was broadcast in 1966 on a single New York station and has become the most successful fundraising event in the history of television. The show, with help from Jerry Lewis and a legion of top celebrities and entertainers, has raised millions each year to provide life-enhancing support and services for the families MDA serves.
The telethon has consistently enjoyed robust support from thousands of the biggest stars in show business. However, the real stars on the broadcast have always been the MDA families who have graciously agreed to open their homes and hearts to America and tell their stories of strength.
About MDA:
MDA is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding breakthrough research, by providing lifesaving support, services and advocacy, and by rallying communities to fight back, all made possible by its generous supporters. For more information, visit mda.org and follow us on facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews.
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Labor Day, which falls on Monday, September 2, is the best time to score bargains with the countless sales offered by retailers.
Labor Day weekend is an even better time to score sales than the most infamous discount holiday, Black Friday, in November.
“Labor Day is full of bargains, Black Friday is full of cheap things,” Ellwood said. “It’s not the same thing.”
It is recommended to start early when shopping the Labor Day weekend sales, but also get out there Monday, when stores will offer even more discounts.
Retailers have slashed their prices for a wide variety of items this year, ranging from electronics to apparel to home goods to outdoor items. During the three-day weekend, many stores will offer the same discounts both in stores and online.
However, if you choose to shop the Labor Day weekend sales online, remember to look for additional savings coupons or special offer codes; many large retailers offer additional savings like free shipping to entice shoppers off their couches.
Department Stores
Kmart: 40% off fall clothing for all, all TVs on sale, 50-60% off mattresses plus free box springs, 10% off furniture, 10% off bed & bad, 10% off items for the home, 10% off patio furniture, 5% off grills, 5% off outdoor play
Kohl’s: $10 Kohl’s cash for every $50 spent through September 2; 3-day sale on small appliances, 40-50% off dinnerware, 40-60% off bath towels and rugs, 20-40% off furniture
JCPenney: 4-day sale with 25-50% off items until Monday, including home, apparel, shoes and accessories, jewelry and more. Plus, online only, get an extra 20% off if you use your JCPenney credit card or 10% off using any other method of payment with code 30BUY until September 2. Free shipping on orders over $75.
Macy’s: 20% off and free shipping on orders of $99 or more using promo code DEALS; 15% off home and select home items; Additional 25% off clearance items; sales on clothing, home, shoes, accessories, kitchen, jewelry, kids and furniture
Sears: Free shipping on orders of $59 or more until September 7; 50-60% off mattresses plus free box spring and free delivery; 30% off Kenmore appliances; 15% off other major appliances; 30% off tool storage; 20% off lawn and garden; 50% off other items; 15% off purchases of $75 or more in apparel
Target: 20% off select furniture purchases of $150 or more; sale on backpacks and school uniforms; 30% off Emerson fridges and microwaves; 50% off patio furniture; 20% off kids’ Halloween costumes
Walmart: Labor Day sales and specials on electronics, home, outdoor and apparel
Labor Day is the best time to score bargains with the countless sales offered by retailers
Clothing
American Eagle: 40% off everything using code 74693461
Ann Taylor: Buy one full-priced item, get a second 50% off
ASOS: 20% off non-sale items until Monday
Club Monaco: 50% off sale styles using code FINAL50
Express: 40% off everything until Monday in stores and online
Forever21: 50% extra off select sale items using code LABORDAY
H&M: 10% off entire purchase
J.Crew: 25% off denim styles
LOFT: 50% off non-sale items using code SHOP50
Mango: 20% off accessories using code 6USATOUCH
Neiman Marcus: 50% off shoes, apparel and more
Nine West: Up to 60% off select styles
Victoria’s Secret: $15 off $100, $30 off $150, $75 off $250, $150 off $500 using code FALL13
Electronics
Apple: Buy a Mac for college by Sept. 6 and get a $100 App Store Gift Card or buy an iPad or iPhone and get a $50 card
Best Buy: Friday through Monday, 30% off major appliances and free delivery on purchases of $429 or more; $200 off MacBook Pro with Retina Display, Insignia 65” LES HDTV for $999.99 with free delivery; LG 55” LED HDTV for $749.99 with free delivery; and more discounts on laptops, cameras, televisions, cell phones, GPS devices and home theaters
New Egg: 330+ deals for Labor Day, including an LG 42” LED HDTV for $399.00 and more
Home
Home Depot: $40 gift card with purchase of select 5-gallon paint buckets; $10 gift card on purchases of select 1-gallon paint cans; 10% off appliances of $397 or more with free delivery and haul away; free shipping on grills of $399 or more
Lowe’s: 10% off major appliances of $399 or more until Sept. 3; 20% off Char-Broil Commercial Series Gas Grills; $5 mail-in rebate on purchases of gallon-size Paint and Primer in One or Stain and Sealant in One
Overstock: 10% off furniture, area rugs, mattresses, memory foam, kitchen, dining, bedding, window treatments, lighting
Pottery Barn: 60% off items until Monday; 20% off throws and free shipping
Restaurants, stores, and companies will be celebrating Labor Day 2013 by offering freebies, or something at a heavily discounted price.
- A.C. Moore: On Saturday, August 31 from 1 PM to 3 PM, all 140 A.C. Moore stores along the East Coast will hold a free “Make and Take” class on how you can make a rubber band bracelet.
- Bass Pro Shops: On Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1, from 12 noon until 5 PM, Bass Pro Shops locations nationwide are offering free activities for kids and classes for grownups, including instruction on the best ways to smoke meat. Sounds about right for a Labor Day barbecue.
Restaurants, stores, and companies will be celebrating Labor Day 2013 by offering freebies, or something at a heavily discounted price
- BJ’s Wholesale Club: BJ’s has a free 60-day trial membership offer that begins on Friday, August 30. The risk-free trial includes full member benefits and no surcharge.
- Blue Star Museums: Active duty military personnel and their families get free museum admission at participating cultural institutions through Monday, September 2, as part of the Blue Star Museums program.
- Boston Market: On Monday, September 2, take 50% off Boston Market family meals. You’ll need to use this coupon to get the savings.
- Firehouse Subs: Get a free medium sub sandwich at participating locations on Monday, September 2, when you purchase any sub combo. To redeem the offer, visit the Firehouse Subs’ Facebook page to print out a coupon or to show it via smartphone. Note: the coupon goes live over Labor Day Weekend.
- IKEA: If you are in the store on Saturday, August 31, Sunday, September 1, or Monday, September 2, you may want to stop in for a meal as well. Shoppers who spend $150 or more in store those three days can deduct the cost of their meal when they check out. Visit the IKEA website to find out if your local IKEA store is participating.
- Yankee Candle: From Thursday, August 29 to Monday, September 2, Yankee Candle has a dollar deal in its 550-plus nationwide retail locations and at yankeecandle.com. All Tarts wax melts, Samplers votive candles, and Car Jar air fresheners are only $1.00 – normally they’re $1.99 and $2.99.
Millions of New Yorkers will line up along Eastern Parkway for the Brooklyn Labor Day parade on Monday, September 2, 2013.
This year, the West Indian American Day Parade & Carnival continues to enjoy the distinction of being New York City’s biggest cultural festivals by far.
As in the past, count on crowds to be waving flags from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, and other Caribbean nations in a joyful expression of ethnic heritage and cultural pride.
Brooklyn Labor Day Parade is a joyful expression of ethnic heritage and cultural pride of Caribbean nations
Everyone’s invited to take part in the spectacle of thousands of marchers in colorful costumes jumping down the parade route to the sounds of reggae and calypso.
A special added-attraction: the aromas of native foods like Jamaican jerk chicken, Bajan fried flying fish, and other soul-satisfying treats at the city’s biggest street festival.
In fact, the entire Labor Day weekend is devoted to special events – with a special Kiddie Carnival on Saturday, a Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday) celebration, and an early Monday morning (starting around 3 AM) J’Ouvert parade, a celebration of steel pan drums that kicks off the main parade beginning at 11 AM.
This Caribbean celebration, known for having lively music and lots of skin, is never short on costumed stilt dancers, floats blaring soca and calypso music, and plenty of flags from countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Look for vendors stationed along Eastern Parkway selling island eats like jerk chicken, curry goat and oxtail. Early risers can preparty at J’ouvert (pronounced “joo-VAY”), a predawn festival in which revelers throw powdered paint at each other. Head to Grand Army Plaza around 4 AM when the high jinks really get going.
Eastern Pkwy from Schenectady Ave to Flatbush Ave, Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Subway: 3, 4, 5 to Crown Hts-Utica Ave.
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Bryson Foster of Concord, North Carolina, is set to open the 48th annual MDA Show of Strength Telethon this Labor Day weekend, Sunday, September 1, 9/8c, on ABC television stations across the country.
Bryson Foster, 13, will make his second consecutive network television appearance as the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Goodwill Ambassador during the two-hour broadcast of the telethon that will air on WSOC, ABC Channel 9, for residents in the Charlotte area.
He will introduce some of the show’s biggest acts, including Grammy Award-winning pop sensation Backstreet Boys and teen pop star Austin Mahone. Bryson Foster makes several additional appearances throughout the show alongside co-announcer Shawn Parr doing segment introductions and national partner recognitions.
“Bryson’s positive attitude and quick-witted personality immediately capture the attention of everyone he meets, and we are honored that he will be a part of the broadcast again this year,” said MDA President and CEO Steven M. Derks. “Bryson’s enthusiasm is contagious, and he understands the importance of his role as National Goodwill Ambassador in spreading MDA’s mission of help and hope to the American public. We’re very lucky to have a shining star like him to represent the individuals and families we serve.”
Bryson Foster is MDA’s 2013 National Goodwill Ambassador, and as part of his role, he travels throughout the country (along with parents, Claire and Phil) speaking to groups about MDA’s research and lifesaving mission. Bryson is affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a disease characterized by muscle weakness in the hips, legs and shoulders. It involves progressive degeneration of voluntary and cardiac muscles; weakened cardiac and respiratory muscles severely limit life span.
Bryson Foster is set to open the 48th annual MDA Show of Strength Telethon this Labor Day weekend
Since becoming MDA’s Goodwill Ambassador in 2012, Bryson Foster has traveled all over the country as the face and voice of MDA. When he’s not busy on MDA’s behalf, Bryson is enthusiastic about his seventh-grade classes, and enjoys playing with his friends and singing karaoke. Bryson Foster is a self-proclaimed sports fanatic, and his ultimate dream is to become a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, a head coach or sports announcer – in that order.
The 2013 telethon will feature a star-studded celebrity lineup, including: Ryan Seacrest; Backstreet Boys; country stars Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and Lee Ann Womack; Glee star Matthew Morrison; Enrique Iglesias; Paula Abdul; teenage pop sensation Austin Mahone; hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez; American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez; Kenny Loggins with the Blue Sky Riders; American blues rock band Vintage Trouble; and Universal recording artist and star from The Voice Chris Mann.
Additional presenters for the 2013 show include: ABC’s Dr. Richard Besser; Dancing with the Stars contestant and Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson; Emmy award-winning journalist Jann Carl; Olympic gold medal gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner; and No Doubt drummer Adrian Young and his son Mason Young.
As in the past, the entertainment event will raise funds and awareness to support MDA’s mission to help children and adults affected by progressive and often fatal muscle diseases.
While the telethon has consistently enjoyed robust support from some of the biggest celebrities in show business, the real stars on the telethon are the individuals and families served by MDA, including six families who will share their stories of survival and hope during the 2013 broadcast.
The MDA telethon is one of America’s longest-standing and beloved fundraising and entertainment events. For 48 years, funds raised by MDA telethons also have contributed to the organization’s worldwide research program. Today, through current clinical trials, there is growing excitement that new lifesaving treatments and discoveries are on the horizon for many of the disorders MDA is dedicated to defeating, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
MDA’s first Labor Day weekend telethon was broadcast in 1966 on a single New York station and has become the most successful fundraising event in the history of television. The show, with Jerry Lewis as its iconic host through 2010, and with help from a legion of top celebrities and entertainers, has raised millions each year to provide life-enhancing support and services for the families MDA serves.
Visit mda.org/muscle to learn more about the 2013 MDA telethon.
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The MDA Telethon is must-see TV watching during the Labor Day weekend, an end-of-summer tradition in the U.S. since it first began in New York City in 1954.
For many years, a Labor Day weekend tradition featured the much-loved actor and comedian Jerry Lewis rallying public support in the battle to combat muscular dystrophy, a crippling disease which currently has no known cure.
Then, in a major announcement in 2011 it was revealed that after more than four decades the 85-year-old Jerry Lewis would be stepping down as the major host for the show. The epic 20-hour “all night” money raiser was also cut back to 6 hours, and then in 2012 to only a 2-hour broadcast featuring both taped and live performances.
As Jerry Lewis himself would say, “the show must go on” with 2013 marking the 48th annual Labor Day telethon.
In 2013, a bevy of star appearances and celebrity presenters will be lending their time and talents to the MDA Labor Day Telethon
This year, another MDA tradition comes to an end as the telethon moves from its usual “Love Network” of local stations to a major network in primetime.
The historic contract with the ABC television network means that the MDA telethon will for the first time air on a single network in its entirety nationwide.
In 2013, watch for the MDA Telethon to air on ABC from 9 – 11 PM on Sunday, September 1, 2013.
In 2013, a bevy of star appearances and celebrity presenters will be lending their time and talents to the MDA Labor Day Telethon.
They include Ryan Seacrest, Backstreet Boys, country stars Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and Lee Ann Womack, Glee star Matthew Morrison, Enrique Iglesias, Paula Abdul, and teenage pop sensation Austin Mahone.
Nationwide, the telethon usually creates an outpouring of support from a big-hearted American public who in 2012 helped raise more than $58 million in pledges & contributions for both service and research programs of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have decided to delay their wedding for a few months – because they can’t agree on the size of the bash.
Jennifer Aniston, 44, wants a bigger do – while Justin Theroux, 41, wants a smaller, intimate affair and they are now set to tie the knot at the end of the summer, rather than at a spring-time ceremony.
The couple were reportedly getting ready to say “I do” next month, but Jennifer Aniston has been busy producing her upcoming movie Call Me Crazy: A Five Film and had been forced to put all planning for her nuptials on hold.
When asked if she had picked her gown at the premiere of her Lifetime movie at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood last week, Jennifer Aniston said: “No, no, no.”
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have decided to delay their wedding for a few months
“I don’t have a dress. I like to be very spontaneous.”
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux were engaged last summer, and since then, fans have been waiting with bated breath to see her walk down the aisle.
Sources close to Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux said they are expecting the wedding to be at the end of the summer, just before Labor Day Weekend.
Although it has been taking up so much of her time, Jennifer Aniston is proud to have worked on Call Me Crazy – a compilation of five short films focusing on mental illness. The actress insists the project tackles a subject that suffers from a negative perception and stigma that needs to be addressed.
Jennifer Aniston said: “Mental illness seemed to be [a topic] that a lot of us felt was an important one and touched a lot of our lives, a lot of our families lives. That seemed like one that needed attention because all of the stigma around it and the sort of shame around it.”
The annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon that for years featured Jerry Lewis was not broadcasted this year in Joplin, Missouri.
The program was a staple of local television coverage for decades over the Labor Day weekend.
Local programming, shown on KODE-TV, the ABC affiliate in Joplin, has been broadcast from Cycle Connection in Joplin for the past 12 years.
Nancy Hutson, owner of Cycle Connection and a longtime supporter of the MDA benefit, said local organizers of the telethon were notified in May by the national association that a telethon would not be held in Joplin this year.
“They are going to hold one in Springfield, but we were told the Joplin market is just too small,” she said.
The annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon that for years featured Jerry Lewis was not broadcasted this year in Joplin, Missouri
Nancy Hutson stressed that local MDA supporters may contribute at firefighter boot blocks this weekend in Carthage, Webb City and Neosho, among other places. Carl Junction is not planning on holding a boot block. The annual MDA Ride for Life, one of the major local fundraisers for the organization, was held in July.
“This is the money that funds our clinic with Mercy Health System and helps us provide the services the local families need,” Nancy Hutson said.
“These boot blocks also were a big part of the telethon.”
Before it was held at Cycle Connection, the telethon had been held at the former John Q. Hammons Trade Center. Before that, it was held at the KODE studios.
“What’s happening now is that there are so many other things to watch on television on so many more channels over the Labor Day weekend that we are finding it incredibly difficult to get people to call in,” Nancy Hutson said.
“It’s much different now than in the 1950s when this thing started and there were only three options for watching television. The times change, but the needs don’t change.”
The amount of money that has been raised locally during the telethon is well into the millions of dollars, Nancy Hutson said. In 1987, the tote board had a goal of $135,000. Last year, that goal was $600,000.
The telethon dates to the 1950s, when the Jerry Lewis Thanksgiving Party for MDA raised funds for the association’s New York City area operations. The Labor Day weekend show has originated from Las Vegas for 28 of the 46 years it has aired.
The annual Muscular Dystrophy Association television fundraiser goes a new way Sunday, with a different title and featuring three hours of taped appearances by entertainers including country music star Carrie Underwood, pop singer Gavin DeGraw, alternative pop group OneRepublic, Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am and songstress Carole King.
The renamed MDA Show of Strength was pre-produced and taped in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, Tennessee, said association spokeswoman Roxan Olivas in Tucson, Ariz.
It was set to show on various TV and cable channels in 150 markets around the country from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central and Mountain time and 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time.
The renamed MDA Show of Strength was pre-produced and taped in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville
There won’t be a traditional tote board, and Roxan Olivas said some cities will have local hosts. But the overall event will urge national phone, text and online pledges toward funding efforts to find treatments and cures for neuromuscular diseases.
The annual MDA Labor Day weekend telethon ended a 45-year run last year with comedian and longtime host Jerry Lewis, who turned 86 in March and lives in Las Vegas.
Jerry Lewis was part of a comedy duo with Dean Martin and became a film icon with antics and characters including the The Nutty Professor.
He went on to become synonymous with the Labor Day MDA telethon after starting it in 1966 with a marathon 22-hour show at a single TV station in New York.
Jerry Lewis was MDA national chairman from the early 1950s to 2011, and is credited with raising more than $1.6 billion over the years. He was nominated in 1977 for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the telethon and muscular dystrophy relief.
The event moved to Las Vegas in 1973, and had stints in Los Angeles before moving back to Las Vegas.
Despite Jerry Lewis’ absence, telethon officials last year reported raising $61.5 million in a six-hour show with several hosts. A silent montage of Jerry Lewis film clips was shown, but he didn’t take part in person or tape his signature song, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
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The Muscular Dystrophy Telethon is must-see TV watching during the Labor Day weekend, an end-of-summer tradition in the U.S. since it first began in New York City in 1954.
Now an entertainment extravaganza airing live from Los Angeles, the show for many years featured the much-loved actor and comedian Jerry Lewis rallying public support in the battle to combat muscular dystrophy, a crippling disease which currently has no known cure.
In a major announcement last year, it was revealed that after more than four decades the 85-year-old Jerry Lewis would be stepping down as the major host for the show.
As Jerry Lewis himself would say, “the show must go on” as 2012 marks the 47th Annual Labor Day Telethon.
With last year’s shakeup continuing to reverberate, the MDA announced in February that the 2012 telethon would be cut short from last year’s already curtailed 6 hours to 3 hours this year – beginning at 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, September 2.
As usual, the 2012 MDA telethon will be broadcast on some 160 “Love Network” television stations across the country and viewed on the Internet via streaming video at www.mda.org.
In a major announcement last year, it was revealed that after more than four decades Jerry Lewis would be stepping down as the major host for MDA Labor Day Telethon show
MDA Labor Day Telethon Stars
In 2012, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan are lending their time and talents to the MDA Labor Day Telethon, redubbed this year as “MDA Show of Strength.”
Other artists participating in the three-hour telecast include Gavin DeGraw, Alanis Morissette, Paula Abdul, Hot Chelle Rae, Carole King, OneRepublic and Jesse McCartney, among others. The show will include performances from Nashville, Hollywood and New York, as well as celebrity appearances by Khloe Kardashian Odom, Nancy O’Dell and Alison Sweeney.
Nationwide, the telethon usually creates an outpouring of support from a big-hearted American public who in 2011 helped raise more than $61 million in pledges & contributions for both service and research programs of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Will 2012 prove to be another record-breaking year for muscular dystrophy research and support? Stay tuned…
Muscular Dystrophy Telethon TV Stations in Major Cities:
Boston, WCVB
Atlanta, WUPA
Dallas, KXAS
New York, WOR
Chicago, WGN
Las Vegas, KTNV
Washington DC, WDCW
Cincinnati, WSTR
Los Angeles, KCAL
Miami, WBFS
St. Louis, KSDK
San Francisco, KTVU
Since 1884, the first Monday in September has been a holiday in the US, as a tribute to workers.
Canada has the same, while many other countries have International Workers Day – May Day – instead, commemorating struggles for workers’ rights.
This year’s Labor Day falls on Monday, September 3rd.
To most people in North America, however, Labor Day is above all the last-blast of summer fun, and -for many kids – the last day of freedom before Back to School.
For a weekend getaway, head to a city that has big celebrations, or to one of the many family resorts that offer special packages – scroll down for sample packages.
• New York: Labor Day Parade
The first Labor Day Parade was held in New York City, on September 5 1882, and there’s still one in NYC today, with trade union members, high school bands, politicians, police and fire departments, and more. Location is usually in Manhattan, on 5th Ave. In 2012, NY Labor Day Parade will be held on Saturday, September 8th.
• West Indian American Day Carnival Parade (Brooklyn Carnival)
This extravaganza has Caribbean costumes, music, and food, spectators in the millions; it’s a multi-day event with a parade on Labor Day.
• Labor Day Weekend Events in Boston
It’s moving day for students (aka as the “Student Invasion”), so allow plenty of time to get to events such as a Schooner Festival or a free concert on Spectacle Island.
The first Labor Day Parade was held in New York City, on September 5 1882, and there's still one in NYC today, with trade union members, high school bands, politicians, police and fire departments, and more
• Washington DC
An annual concert by the National Symphony Orchestra is performed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building, and is free.
• Other Labor Day Events in DC
Kensington Labor Day Parade has a day of family entertainment, as does Greenbelt Labor Day Festival; Renaissance Festival, free Blues Festival, Kids Day at Nationals Park, and lots more.
• Detroit Labor Day Parade
Detroit, aka “Motor City” – where the automobile unions were born – has a major Labor Day Parade that’s one of the biggest in Michigan. The free three-day Detroit Jazz Fest is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, too.
• Chicago
The annual Chicago Jazz Festival is a big event. Also on the agenda for Labor Day Weekend: daytime events in Millennium Park including an interactive play that will please young kids; African Festival of the Arts in Washington Park, including an African village, entertainment, and family fun; and more. See Explore Chicago. Many events are free.
• St.Louis
Ten top ways to celebrate summer’s last weekend: a Japanese Festival at the Botanical Gardens, a Downtown Labor Day Parade, a Greek Festival, the Big Muddy Blues Festival, and more.
• Irvington, VA: Irvington Stomp
An event with a small-town feel, this “grape stomp” harvest festival celebrates wine-making in Irvington, VA, 1-½ hours east of Richmond; those close to Chesapeake Bay can arrive by boat. Grape Stomping Competitions, music, hayrides, corn maze, and more.
• Events in the Southeastern US
Many weekend events and festivals in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, NC, SC, and Virginia. Also: ten fun resort hotels for Labor Day Weekend.
• Orlando: Tom Joyner Family Reunion at Disney World
This big bash at Walt Disney World adds special entertainment to the usual theme park fun. To find out more, try this Orlando Local Guide, or Blackamericaweb.com, or search for “Joyner” at the Disney World website.
• Texas
About’s Guide for Texas highlights Westfest, Batfest, and other events.
• Events in Greater LA
Street Fairs, Long Beach Greek Festival, “Fiesta Hermosa” arts and crafts festival with kiddie carnival, and more.
• Copper Country Festival, CO
Copper Mountain (a popular ski resort during winter months) has a big bash on Labor Day Weekend, with big-name bands, street party, and “Copper Corral” for kids with free pony rides, face painting, etc.
• Myrtle Beach, SC
This major tourist destination – with a 60-mile stretch of beaches, and several amusement parks — has an annual family-friendly Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival at Grand Park at The Market Common. To sample all the barbecue from competing teams, guests only need to purchase a reasonably-priced wristband; kids under 10 can sample free. See Festival details.
Labor Day Weekend Packages at Family Resorts
Many family resorts in the U.S. have end-of-summer bashes, often with a BBQ. For instance, in southern Maine the Pointe Sebago family resort on Lake Sebago has 775 acres and a package that includes buffet meals (with lobster on the menu), a boat cruise, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, activities for all ages, and entertainment.
The AAA four-diamond Resort at Squaw Creek, Lake Tahoe in California typically includes lots of activities during its Labor Day Weekend package, such as bocce ball, croquet, tie-dying a t-shirt, s’mores at outdoor fire pits, live music, poolside BBQ, and a dive-in movie, plus the usual biking, guided hikes, golf, and fly-fishing.
In Texas, the Texas: Barton Creek Resort & Spahas 4000 acres in the Hill Country near Austin, a kids club for ages 6 months and up, and an annual Labor Day Weekend package.
In New York state, the Villa Roma Resort Hotel in the Catskills – two hours from NYC – has seasonal packages all year long, including Labor Day Weekend, and programs for all ages, from tots to teens; packages typically include meals, theme night dinner, kids programs, and nightly entertainment. Be sure to check recent visitors’ comments for any resort.
Check your favorite family resorts and no doubt many will have a special weekend package to end the summer with a blast.
Labor Day is one of the oldest holidays in the United States, and is a part of the “big six” federal holidays.
Here you can find some ideas on how to spend your Labor Day weekend in New York:
Concerts:
• Journey – 9/2 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs
• Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Anderson Center for the Arts – Binghamton
• Aloe Blacc – 9/2 – Highline Ballroom – New York
• Electric Zoo Festival – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Randalls Island – New York
• Incubus – 9/3 – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh
• Elton John – 9/3 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel
• Rock The Bells – 9/3 – South Island Field at Governors Island – New York
• Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – 9/3 – Belleayre Music Festival – Highmount
• Darius Rucker – 9/3 – NYCB Theatre at Westbury – Westbury
• Elton John – 9/4 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs
• Stevie Nicks – 9/4 – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh
• Toby Keith – 9/4 – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center – Darien
• Manu Chao – 9/4, 9/5 – Terminal 5 – New York
New York Labor Day Weekend 2012
Sports:
• 2011 U.S. Open – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4, 9/5 – Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – Flushing
• Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Yankee Stadium – Bronx
• Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees – 9/5 – Yankee Stadium – Bronx
Theater:
• The Book of Mormon – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Eugene O’Neill Theater – New York
• Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Foxwoods Theatre – New York
• Lion King – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Minskoff Theatre – New York
• Jersey Boys – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – August Wilson Theater – New York
• Wicked – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Gershwin Theatre – New York
• Billy Elliot – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Imperial Theatre – New York
• Anything Goes – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Stephen Sondheim Theatre – New York
• Blue Man Group – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Astor Place – New York
• Avenue Q – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4, 9/5 – New World Stages: Stage 3 – New York
Miscellaneous:
• Cirque Du Soleil Zarkana – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 – Radio City Music Hall – New York
• Saratoga Horse Racing – 9/2, 9/3, 9/4, 9/5 – Saratoga Race Course – Saratoga Springs
• Chris Tucker – 9/3 – Palace Theatre – Albany
• Chris Tucker – 9/4 – NYCB Theatre at Westbury – Westbury
Labor Day is one of the oldest holidays in the United States, and is a part of the “big six” federal holidays.
1. Take It To the Beach – While You Still Can!
While fall doesn’t officially begin for another month, for many families, Labor Day is the last true summer weekend, with school just about or already beginning to start. Take advantage of this last gasp of warm-weather freedom by hoofing it to the nearest beach with a cooler and the kids in tow (though, of course, one or both are optional).
Labor Day is the last true summer weekend, with school just about or already beginning to start
2. Throwback Family Weekend
Similarly, a long summer weekend provides the perfect opportunity for quality, outdoorsy bonding time. For those who prefer a single afternoon with relatives, a Labor Day picnic offers both togetherness and a manageable timeframe. The more ambitious can always embark on a 3-day camping trip, either at one site or road-tripping National Lampoon-style to different grounds. (If you’re from the South, has some great tips on where to rent a Labor Day Weekend cabin.)
3. Movie Weekend
For others who equate a holiday with relaxation, and “relaxing” with “not moving,” a movie weekend may be your best bet. There’s plenty showing in theaters: if you’re in a more alternative mood, indulge in a day of culture with some French fare (Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin – the guy from The Artist – are currently starring in Little White Lies), festival hits (Beasts of the Southern Wild will get to you – or should), indie rom-coms (Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg offer the anti-date flick, Celeste and Jesse Forever), and art-house selections (see Rob Pattinson do cerebral in Cosmopolis). Or – or in addition to – there’s always Netflix.
4. Channel Your Inner Chef
We recommend this cooking website, or standby Food Network’s site, for how to celebrate in culinary style. Both offer Labor Day-themed recipes, although our favorite dining idea is to host a Labor Day Lobster Bash – featuring, naturally, the most labor-intensive dish as the main course.
5. Absolutely Nothing
The cheapest option across the board and breadth of the country is to celebrate the hours you put in every week by sleeping a good chunk of them away. Turn off your alarm, make no plans, and don’t get dressed unless someone else has invited you to a picnic, barbecue, film, or his or her front porch for a drink. Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is one of the oldest holidays in the United States, and is a part of the “big six” federal holidays.
First celebrated in 1878, Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894. Over the years, Labor Day has come to represent a slew of different things to people. To the working crowd, it is a day to celebrate ones hard work and labor. Others treat it as a day of rest and relaxation, while others simply spend the day with family, friends, and perhaps some good food.
Labor Day is one of the oldest holidays in the United States, and is a part of the "big six" federal holidays
To students, Labor Day marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the fall term or semester.
No matter how you treat Labor Day, everyone can agree that it is the perfect day to go to a concert or sporting event with friends or family. Although some people will go to relax and unwind, and others will go to celebrate the end of the summer, a live concert, or perhaps a baseball game is the perfect activity for Labor Day weekend 2012.
Labor Day always takes place on the first Monday in September. This year, Labor Day falls on September 3, with the weekend ranging from Friday, August 31 until Monday, September 3.
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A number of popular Cape Cod beaches have been closed after multiple reports of sharks, including deadly great whites, swimming not far from the coast.
The closure is just the latest twist in an unusually shark-infested Cape Cod summer.
A string of beaches off the shore of Chatham, Massachusetts were shut down indefinitely on Wednesday, making it likely they will be closed throughout the Labor Day weekend.
Fishermen and tourists have reported an unexpectedly high number of sharks in the Atlantic off the Cape Cod coast, some less than 20 feet offshore.
Last week, a vacationing family filmed footage of a great white shark feeding on a seal just a few feet away from their boat.
And in July, a man was bitten in the leg by a shark while surfing off Ballston Beach.
A number of popular Cape Cod beaches have been closed after multiple reports of sharks
This weekend’s beach closure was partly prompted by shark spotter Greg Skomal, who said he had seen three sharks up to 18 feet long swimming near the coast, according to the Cape Cod Times.
At Nauset Beach, lifeguards were on hand to prevent people from going into the water other than to get their feet wet.
One woman was asked to return to shore when she was wading knee-deep in the Atlantic, according to the Cape Cod Times.
A sign at the beach blamed ‘the presence of marine life in the water’ for the ban.
The recent influx of sharks in the waters off Massachusetts is believed to be down to the increasing prevalence of seals in the area.
“The elbow of the cape has these large, dense concentrations of grey seals now, and these white sharks go to the area to feed,” said Greg Skomal.
“Because the seals are so abundant, now the white sharks are paying more attention.”
The shark encounters will doubtless draw comparisons to Jaws, the 1975 blockbuster which was filmed on nearby Martha’s Vineyard.
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This year, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 3, meaning a full weekend of sales and super end of summer savings.
Take advantage of anywhere from 10 – 90% off regular prices at department stores, which each year lure customers away from beaches and backyards to help clear out inventory before the big, end-of-year holiday shopping season.
Summer may be almost over, but there are still hot bargains in store for shoppers at Labor Day sales, with deep discounts on furniture, fall clothing, jewelry, school supplies and, of course, the last of the season’s beachwear and patio furniture at the larger department stores like Macy’s, Target and Walmart.
If you’ve been putting off major purchases on laptops, electronics, back to school gear — or want to get a head start on early Christmas shopping – Labor Day weekend is the time to pounce at Dell, Best Buy, or at the local mall.
This year, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 3, meaning a full weekend of sales and super end of summer savings
Online, also don’t forget to seek out the discount codes and coupons that make Labor Day sales savings even more valuable.
Got the travel itch while summer is still in full swing? Think about jumping on last minute travel bargains at this time of year when (unlike, say, Memorial Day) airlines and summer resorts usually go begging.
Labor Day Sales 2012 – Check out what’s on sale at all major department stores with published flyers, coupons, and other discount and clearance sales information.
Labor Day Sales & Coupons – Browse dozens of retailers and department store sales offering deep discount sales codes and coupons with details on sale days and hours.
dealnews.com – A roundup of major Labor Day weekend sales including the hottest store events and discounts on clothing, furniture, laptops and home electronics.
Dealio – A great place to watch for the latest and greatest discount coupons, coupon codes and sales now going on at Macy’s, Target, JC Penny and other major department stores.
Back to School Sales – Major browsing for top bargains on back to school clothes, shoes, laptops, schoolbags and backpacks.
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MDA Show of Strength is still on Labor Day weekend, still features top entertainment and inspiring stories, and still urges viewers to support MDA’s missions of help and hope.
But beyond that, MDA’s annual telecast is a whole new ballgame.
Muscular Dystrophy Association explains how MDA Labor Day Telethon becomes MDA Show of Strength starting with 2012 edition:
“What?
MDA SHOW of STRENGTH is a three-hour entertainment special featuring original performances by A-list entertainers, and special stories about individuals and MDA’s research and services missions.
Why the change?
With literally hundreds of entertainment options at their fingertips, TV viewers are looking for compact shows that tell a story. In addition, the new preproduced format is more attractive to top talent, who often had difficulty arranging to perform live on Labor Day weekend.
MDA Labor Day Telethon becomes MDA Show of Strength starting with 2012 edition
When and where?
Sunday, September 2, 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times, 7 p.m. Central and Mountain; on some 150 “Love Network” stations around the U.S. The show also will be streamed on mda.org. Online extras include exclusive backstage videos.
Who will be profiled on the national show?
See MDA Matters for a complete list of children and adults who will be the subjects of video vignettes.
Will there still be local cutaways from the national broadcast?
You bet. Local broadcasts will showcase individuals, families and MDA sponsors closer to home. In addition, members of the MDA community will make up the audience when the entertainers pretape their performances, bringing a “family feel” to the show.
Has the message changed too?
Never. MDA is still raising money to provide hope (research) and help (clinics, camp, information and support) to people with neuromuscular diseases. And it’s still true that the generosity of the American public is what makes this lifesaving mission possible.
How can you help? Show your strength!
Post about it on your Facebook page, Tweet about it, and tell all your friends to tune in on Sept. 2 and make a donation to MDA.”
Las Vegas: main destination on Labor Day Weekend 2011
Labor Day Weekend 2011 starts in Las Vegas on September 2 and apparently the visitors number will be bigger than last year.
Travel could be slightly down across the countries, but Las Vegas is still the number one destination for tourists who wants a getaway on Labor Day, said AAA.
Around 291,000 persons will gather to the Strip on Labor Day weekend (a 3 percent increase over last year), said experts.
“The visitors coming are going to spend $178 million, and that doesn’t include gaming. So we’re looking forward to a good weekend” said Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Las Vegas pools and clubs have organized parties and events hosted by renowned DJ’s for Labor Day Weekend 2011.
There are lots attractions that lure people to Las Vegas this weekend, music (electro, house and trance are the main genres) and fancy parties.
Derrick Rose and Amber Rose will host a pool party at Palms Pool on Sunday, while Pauly D and The Pharcyde will entertain the guests on Friday and Saturday.
Rain Nightclub, Marquee Dayclub and Nightclub, Encore Beachclub, Surrender Nightclub, XS, Tao Beach, Wet Republic, Haze, Tryst, Nikki Beach Las Vegas are some of the venues that have prepared exciting revelries.
The New Boyz, Fatboy Slim & Chuckie, Afrojack & Calvin Harris, Sebastian Ingrosso, DJ Vice, Will.i.am, Steve Angello, Kaskade & Pete Tong, DJ Reach, Robbie Rivera, Cedric Gervais, LMFAO, Erick Morillo, Boris & Oscar G, Tiesto, Avicii, Above & Beyond, Paul Van Dyk will perform during the Labor Day Weekend 2011.
On Monday, Identity Festival, held at Mandalay Bay Resort will feature: Kaskade, Pretty Lights, Afrojack, Rusko, Pete Tong, Burns (at Skullcandy) and Steve Aoki, The Crystal Method, Holly Ghost, Nero Doorly, The Eye (at Rockstar Energy Drink x Dim Mak).
Labor Day Weekend Las Vegas 2011 ends on September 5, but there are other events to come (pro football starts next week, big conventions are scheduled for the end of the year).
Labor Day Weekend is the weekend before Labor Day, United States federal holiday held every year on the first Monday in September. It started on September 5 1882.
