Braymer, MO, Postmaster Janet Brock
“We truly are the eyes and ears of our communities and oftentimes are able to assist others in a time of need.” […]
Katie Howard
Posts by Katie Howard
Donna Fowler, East Meadow, NY
Letter Carrier Donna Fowler was delivering mail recently in East Meadow, NY, when she spotted a fire between two homes. Fowler asked a resident to call 911, then located a bucket and water source and safely battled the blaze until firefighters arrived. A couple whose property was at risk later contacted the local Post Office […]
Results are in
Postal Service employees collected 75 million pounds of food through Stamp Out Hunger this year, the third-highest total in the drive’s history. Combined with last year’s record haul of 80.1 million pounds, this makes the two-year total approximately 155.1 million pounds — Stamp Out Hunger’s highest-ever back-to-back collection. The drive has collected almost 1.6 billion […]
Safety in numbers
Postal Service employees who feel engaged are more likely to be safer on the job, new research suggests. Engaged employees are almost one-third less likely to be involved in a safety incident at work, while disengaged employees account for 19 percent of all USPS workplace safety incidents, according to the data from Gallup. Here’s what […]
Dangerous downloads
Hackers are increasingly using malicious software to gain unauthorized access to computers, networks and systems. Cybercriminals recently launched a global ransomware attack to extort funds from companies in more than 60 countries. To prevent attacks, the Postal Service reminds employees to follow these guidelines: • Keep anti-virus software updated. Employees with USPS equipment should connect […]
Season’s eatings
Summertime brings colorful fruits and vegetables, grilled meats — and sickness, if you’re not careful. Knowing how to prepare, store and cook summer foods can help keep you and your family safe. In addition to washing your fruits and veggies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends you store food properly. For example, according […]
Martha Carson, Guysville, OH
The story about Doris Jenkins at the Topsail Beach, NC, Post Office was so enjoyable. I was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from 1980-83. I never made it to the roller rink, but it certainly would have been fun. […]
Greensboro District Manager Russell Gardner
“The safety of all employees is always our top priority.” […]
Carlene Miller, Novato, CA
Novato, CA, Letter Carrier Carlene Miller had brought mail to a disabled customer’s home for more than a decade. But the most important delivery she made was the help she provided recently after the woman fell out of her motorized wheelchair and became trapped in her bathroom. When Miller heard the customer crying out for […]
American dream
Adrian Scott’s supervisor was surprised when he asked for a day off recently. Scott, a rural carrier associate at Fairfield Station on Hilton Head Island, SC, usually accepts all available work assignments. He initially didn’t explain why he was unable to work — but as the day approached, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. After months […]
All American
To celebrate Independence Day, “The list” looks at the first appearances made by five patriotic symbols on stamps. 1. Bald eagle. A symbol of both USPS and the nation it serves, the bald eagle first appeared on 10-cent and 30-cent stamps in 1869. These were among the first stamps to feature an animal as a […]
Grill seekers
Warmer weather heralds the start of barbecue season. Eating healthy at summer cookouts isn’t easy, but if you focus on small changes, you can manage your weight while still having fun. The USPS Wellness team is offering these tips: • Eat more veggies. If you attend a barbecue, think about adding vegetables to your plate. […]
Mary Betts, Washington, DC
Bravo to Lexington, KY, Carrier Technician Gerald Patrick. His quick actions saved a woman from a burning house. Good deeds like this make me proud to work for the Postal Service. […]
Dolton, IL, Letter Carrier Gregory Lee
“Rest at night, stay alert and look out for other drivers.” […]
Kimberly Jones, Billings, MT
Letter Carrier Kimberly Jones was delivering mail recently in Billings, MT, when she saw an older customer sitting in a driveway, leaning against a snowbank. Jones stopped to check on the woman, who explained that she’d slipped after being dropped off following an appointment. She’d been stranded for nearly half an hour. After the customer […]
Railroad ties
A photo featured in Link last month is stirring fond postal memories among three New Jersey employees. The 1977 image, which accompanied an article about Railway Post Offices (RPOs), showed a group of clerks aboard a train that served a New York City-to-Washington, DC, route. Donna Reel was happy to see her grandfather, Frank Harper, […]
Need to know
Paycheck memories. A Rochester, NY, employee who recently marked his 50th year on the job brought a special memento to his anniversary party: His first paycheck. James Lyons has worked as a letter carrier since 1967. Back then, he was paid $2.59 per hour. At his party, Lyons offered some friendly advice to USPS newcomers. […]
Not helping
Technology support scams, which involve hackers impersonating tech specialists who trick people into thinking their device is infected, prey on users’ fears of losing important information or damaging their equipment. In 2015 alone, scammers posing as well-known software tech support companies conned consumers out of $1.5 billion, according to research by Microsoft Corp. To avoid tech support […]
Lisa Page, Piseco, NY
Lisa Page, a retail associate in tiny Piseco, NY, is a compassionate person who keeps track of her customers, according to local Postmaster Elizabeth Knapp. That’s why Page was worried recently when one of her regulars — a man in his 80s who lives alone — hadn’t stopped by in a couple of days as […]
Janet Brockhouse, Eagan, MN
“Handwritten hope” was another great article about beautiful humanity at work. There’s nothing like receiving the touch of another’s heart through their personal writing. […]
Midlothian, VA, Rural Carrier Adrienne Burns
“I know my customers. If my older customers don’t pick up their mail for a few days, I let someone know so they can check on them. It’s about customer service.” […]
Read More… from Midlothian, VA, Rural Carrier Adrienne Burns
Roll with it
For more than 50 years, Doris Jenkins has traded shifts between the Topsail Beach, NC, Post Office and the roller skating rink that she and her husband built upstairs. Jenkins, a contract Postmaster, operates the Post Office during the day and runs the rink every night. Both have been family affairs. “My grandmother was a […]
Plain and simple
The Postal Service has simplified the marking and documentation requirements for mailers who are authorized to ship ethanol-based flammable liquids and solids in air transportation. Here’s what you should know: • Mailers who use Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail and First-Class Package Service to ship limited quantities of ethanol-based flammable solids and liquids […]
Gone, but not forgotten
“The list” has spent the past few weeks looking at some of the unique ways USPS delivers mail. Here are six methods that are no longer used. 1. Pneumatic tubes. From the 1890s to the 1950s, mail zipped between some postal facilities through a series of underground tubes. The mail was carried inside canisters that […]
Northern Virginia District Information Systems Specialist Bill White
“Passwords are like chewing gum. They should never be used more than once, and they should never be shared.” […]
Read More… from Northern Virginia District Information Systems Specialist Bill White
Sharon Abegg, Merlin, OR
I’m so proud of Willow, AK, Retail Associate Michaela “Misha” Wiljes and her dogs for completing the Iditarod. She is a very brave woman. […]
Mary Burd, Pitman, PA; Judith Bates, Red Oak, OK; Reginald Sloan, Oklahoma City
Postal Service employees in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma recently responded quickly and effectively when they spotted fires. Retail Associate Mary Burd was driving to work in Pitman, PA, when she saw flames shooting out of a home’s garage. She called 911 and knocked on the front door, but no one was there. Firefighters couldn’t save the […]
Read More… from Mary Burd, Pitman, PA; Judith Bates, Red Oak, OK; Reginald Sloan, Oklahoma City
Still going strong
More than two dozen Post Offices are marking their 225th anniversaries this week. The 26 offices are located in Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. Several of these offices are celebrating by decorating their lobbies and passing out treats to customers. “We’re all amazed by our rich […]
Leader of the pack
Clarence Lyles has learned a thing or two after 45 years with USPS — including proper loading techniques. The Charlotte, NC, letter carrier says properly loading vehicles and carts while making deliveries helps protect employees, customers and the mail. “It’s very important to know how to load without accidents,” Lyles says. Employees like Lyles help […]
Need to know
Flag Day. June 14 is Flag Day, one of six days each year that Postal Service facilities are required to fly the POW-MIA flag. The flag honors the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action. The POW-MIA flag must fly below the U.S. flag. For […]