Maynard G. Krebs, the beatnik character on the 1950s television show "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," said he had no objection to hard work.

"If someone wants to do it, that's fine with me," was his trademark saying.

Of course, the rest of us usually do have to work. Even when we retire, we still find ourselves busy, and doctors urge us to stay active.

Labor Day honors the American work force past, present and future, and is an occasion for many happy family get-togethers. People in the Mon Valley celebrate their working-class roots by pausing to mark Labor Day in a variety of ways.

"I'll be participating in a bridge tournament at Monroeville ExpoMart over the weekend. I'll also be preparing the early drafts of the budget. It sounds like a full weekend."

-- Dennis Pittman, 58, McKeesport, McKeesport city administrator

"I'll spend the day walking the Youghiogheny Trail with my dog, Elvis."

-- Nancy Slater,

51, Elizabeth Township,

clerk at Payless Shoes

"I have relatives coming in. We'll watch the Labor Day parade Downtown and then go to Station Square for the Italian Festival."

-- Angelo Schinosi, 75, Glassport, retired wire tester for Copperweld and former borough councilman

"I'll just stay home with my family."

--John "Jay" Warabak, 46, South Versailles,

owner, Warabak Market Research

"I'll hang out quietly at home."

-- Lavina Kerklo, 69, Liberty, hostess at Willig Funeral Home and a borough councilwoman

"My children all live around me. I have five children, their spouses and 11 grandchildren coming. We love being together."

-- Marlyne Lotz, 66, Liberty, retired owner of Marlone Manor,

a personal care home

"I don't have anything planned."

-- Randy Makele, 41, Liberty,

Liberty Borough secretary

"Normally, we go camping. But my son has a midget football game this weekend."

-- Amy Huwalt, 43, Liberty, secretary at South Allegheny High

"If we don't go to my boy's home in Liberty, we'll stay home, have a cook-out and relax."

-- Ed Slater, 76, Liberty,

Liberty Borough mayor

and retired sheetmetal worker

"I'm going to a wedding reception that will be a picnic. You get to wear casual clothes and play horseshoes."

-- Jane Wiegand,

48, Liberty, a counselor at Mon Yough

Community Services

"I'll spend the time with the family. We'll enjoy each other and the freedom we have."

-- Mark Tortorice, 47, Port Vue,

owner of Tortorice Auto Sales

and a borough councilman

"I tell my wife, we're going to retire from retirement. We're always doing things. We work with our church and also visit veterans. On Labor Day weekend, we'll probably go to a family picnic at one of our niece's or nephew's homes."

-- Russ Emery, 79, West Mifflin,

retired employee of Bettis plant