The Fourth of July falls on a Monday this year, which means we’ve all got a three-day weekend to look forward to. We encourage our readers to get out there and take advantage of this extended holiday, but remember to keep a cool head while celebrating with family and friends.

Locally, events are being hosted out of Fountain Park and at We-Ko-Pa on July 4, the details of which can be found on Page A1 of this very issue of The Times. That’s where you’ll also find information about holiday closures, so plan accordingly if you need to visit local banks, businesses or the post office.

For those of you who will be hitting the road for the holiday weekend, remember to be safe on those Arizona highways and keep calm amidst heavy traffic.

The current forecast for the weekend is sunny and clear, so hopefully rain won’t dampen anyone’s holiday plans. It’s expected to reach 109 degrees on Independence Day, so those of you planning on doing a bit of fireworks gazing are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket to keep you off of the hot ground, as well as plenty of water.