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CHRISTMAS ANOTHER WORK DAY FOR SOME.


Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer

It's a small club, but hardly an enviable one.

While most Americans get Christmas day off, a select few for whom duty calls, who have Scrooge for a boss or simply a desire to rack up some serious overtime will work on Thursday.

Sound like a lot of bah humbug? Well, somebody has to wait tables at 24-hour restaurants or keep the bad guys off Los Angeles streets Los Angeles Street is a historic avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, California.

Traffic on the street travels northbound only, from the I-10 Freeway in the south of downtown, through the Fashion District, and on through Little Tokyo, where it ends after passing between LAPD
.

``I guess it would be nice if criminals observed the holiday and took the day off, but somebody has to be here to keep a watchful watch·ful  
adj.
1. Closely observant or alert; vigilant: kept a watchful eye on the clock. See Synonyms at aware, careful.

2. Archaic Not sleeping; awake.
 eye,'' said Lt. Joe Hiltner, who will be on duty in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850.  Police Department's Foothill Division.

Firefighters, flight attendants, restaurant employees, taxi drivers taxi driver ntaxista m/f

taxi driver taxi nchauffeur m de taxi

taxi driver taxi n
 and ticket sellers and ushers at movie theaters are just some of the people who will keep the wheels turning when much of the country grinds to a merry halt.

``My 13-year-old daughter is not happy with her dad right about now,'' said Capt. Dave Murray Dave Murray can refer to:
  • Dave Murray (musician), one of the guitarists in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden
  • Dave Murray (skier), a Canadian alpine skier who was one of the 1970s group of skiers known as the Crazy Canucks
 of the Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. , who has to work a 24-hour shift on Christmas Day.

But Murray says fair is fair. Firefighters usually take turns filling in on the holidays and after all, he does pick up a $5.50-per-hour bonus for working Christmas.

Many employees, like Cheryl Gapultos of the Mann 10 cinema in Glendale, actually sign up to work on Christmas.

``This is my choice,'' said Gapultos, 19. ``I don't mind. The big day for me anyway is Christmas Eve, which I have off.''

Across Maryland Street at the Fortune Inn, a Chinese restaurant See:
  • Chinese cuisine
  • American Chinese cuisine
  • Canadian Chinese cuisine
  • Chinese restaurant syndrome
  • Chinese restaurant process (a concept in probability theory)
  • Cantonese restaurant
  • The Chinese Restaurant, a second season episode of Seinfeld
, Ronny Hayashi has also volunteered to work on Christmas day - a move that seems particularly odd since it also happens to be his birthday.

But Hiyashi says his family is all in Taiwan, which will diminish this year's Christmas and birthday experiences. Besides, the 20-year-old is banking on some good tips.

``People will be coming here to celebrate,'' Hayashi said. ``They might feel more charitable on Christmas.''

``Do you want fries with that?'' might be the second-most common phrase, after ``Merry Christmas

'' that people will utter along Lake Hughes Road Hughes Road is an arterial road in South Mumbai linking Opera House with Kemps Corner. To the left is Malabar Hill.  at the Golden State (I-5) Freeway.

McDonald's in Castaic will be open for the holiday, although only for abbreviated hours.

``It's busy here. You would think they would be home, eating turkey, but they're here eating McDonald's,'' said manager Roseann Duke.

Back in the city, officer David Heilman, who will report to work Thursday in the LAPD's Foothill Division, views his fate as a necessary sacrifice, saying he was able to take off Thanksgiving Day to see his family.

``I don't mind working,'' said Heilman. ``It lets other officers spend the holiday with their families.''

Talk about Christmas spirit.
COPYRIGHT 1997 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1997, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Dec 24, 1997
Words:458
Previous Article:RUSHING TO MEET THE HOLIDAYS; MALLS, AIRPORTS FEEL THE CRUNCH.
Next Article:CITY SEEKS TO CRACK DOWN ON PARKING FINE AVOIDANCE.



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