With the holiday season comes closures for local government offices and businesses. The following days will be observed:

Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec.24; Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25; New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31; and New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003.

Suffolk City Schools regular sessions ended Friday and will not resume until Thursday, Jan. 2. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy is closed until Monday, Jan. 6. Suffolk city offices and the Clerk’s office will close on Dec. 24 and 25, and will reopen to the public on Dec. 26. They will close again on New Year’s Day, returning Thursday, Jan. 2.

Trash pickup will be delayed by one day during both the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s.

The Suffolk News Herald’s Business Office will close at noon Christmas Eve and reopen Jan. 2.

Most area banks, both lobby and drive-through, will close at 2 p.m. Christmas Eve and reopen Thursday, Dec. 26, closing again only on New Year’s Day.

Wal-Mart and Belk will be closed Christmas Day only; however, both will remain open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with regular hours resuming thereafter throughout the holidays.

Sentry Food Mart stores will only observe Christmas Day by closing; however, the 2865 Pruden Blvd. location will close at 9 p.m. Christmas Eve and reopen at 10 a.m. Christmas Day.

All Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers (CSCs) will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day only.

DMV encourages all motorists traveling during the holiday to prevent needless deaths and injuries by driving defensively and wearing safety belts.

&uot;Virginia roads are always busy during holiday weekends,&uot; said DMV Commissioner Ab Quillian. &uot;I urge drivers to buckle up, get plenty of rest, observe speed limits and keep their cool during Christmas and New Year’s as well as every time they get behind the wheel.

Please drive smart, safe and sober.&uot;

If customers need to renew vehicle registrations or driver’s licenses over the holidays, DMV offers a variety of convenient self-service options for routine transactions. The virtual customer service center at www.dmvnow.com and DMV extra tellers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition, customers can use DMV’s touch-tone telephone system to renew their driver’s license or vehicle registration at 1-888-337-4782. Routine transactions also can be conducted through the mail at P.O. Box 27412, Richmond, Va. 23269.