Teresa Navarette, San Diego
Buffalo, NY, Business Mail Technician Jack Harzynski demonstrated amazing bravery when he safely intervened to help save a police officer’s life. […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.69 percent during the week ending Feb. 22, up from one week earlier. The top three areas were Eastern (97.97 percent), Pacific (97.84 percent) and Great Lakes (97.78 percent). The top three districts were Dakotas (99.16 percent), Central Plains (98.52 percent) and Western Pennsylvania (98.48 percent). […]
Travel reminder
The Postal Service is reminding employees that they will soon see an additional fee of $1.60 on their travel itineraries for City Pair Program flights booked and purchased through Omega World Travel. This change takes effect Friday, March 1. Employees should use eTravel to claim the agency fee charged by Omega, just as employees have […]
Proud heritage
Postal Service employees across the nation helped mark African-American History Month throughout February. Eastern Area Vice President Joshua Colin addressed high school students in Roanoke, VA, where he discussed how postal careers became sources of economic opportunity for African-Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries. “Working for the Postal Service was a good job to […]
Chief appointed
Gary Barksdale has been named the Postal Inspection Service’s chief inspector, effective March 2. Barksdale, a 19-year Inspection Service employee, has served as acting chief inspector since the beginning of the year. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan announced Barksdale’s appointment in a memo this week, praising his work as acting chief inspector. “He has demonstrated […]
Safety pins
Rural Carrier Allyssa Tones had just finished her day recently at the Perry, NY, Post Office when she spotted smoke billowing from the second floor of a building that houses a bowling alley downstairs and apartments upstairs. Tones — who also works part time at the bowling alley — pulled over and rushed to the […]
Mary Betts, Washington, DC
Tacoma, WA, Letter Carrier Ronald Murphy Jr. put himself in place of his customer when he went the extra mile to deliver a package with care. […]
Rich history
The Postal Service helped mark Alabama’s bicentennial last week when the organization dedicated a stamp honoring the state. The ceremony, held in Huntsville, featured stirring tributes from state leaders and USPS executives, including Acting Chief Human Resources Officer Isaac Cronkhite. “Alabama has built a rich history grounded in the diversity, tradition and hard work of […]
Keep the conversation going
Dillon Brotzman understands that cybersecurity is a team sport. Brotzman, an information systems specialist in Denver, is a member of CyberSafe Guardians — a team of more than 50 USPS employees who volunteer to be cybersecurity ambassadors at the facilities where they work. “IT security requires everyone’s help to keep the Postal Service’s infrastructure cybersafe,” […]
‘Green’ gold
‘Green Book’ wins. “Green Book,” the film inspired by a postal-connected travel guide for African-Americans, won three Oscars at this week’s Academy Awards ceremony. The film received awards for best picture, best original screenplay and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali. “Green Book” tells the story of a road trip that African-American pianist Don Shirley […]
Matters of the heart
Tammy Knight’s blood pressure was slightly elevated during a recent doctor’s visit, so the USPS maintenance support clerk stopped by a health fair at her workplace this month to see if there had been a change. “I just wanted to get my pressure checked again and today it is fine,” said Knight, who works at […]
David Spivey, Fredericksburg, VA
Thank you for the story about Sterling Harris, the Ogden, UT, distribution clerk who ensured a military widow received her condolence mail. […]
On the nose
Rural Carrier Sandra Olson was recently delivering a package to a customer in Wakefield, MI, when she detected a strong odor of gas. Olson didn’t get an answer when she knocked on the customer’s door, so she alerted a neighbor and contacted the local fire department. Firefighters soon arrived, found the customer napping and measured […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.52 percent during the week ending Feb. 15, down from one week earlier. The top three areas were Eastern (97.93 percent), Pacific (97.83 percent) and Southern (97.79 percent). The top three districts were Dakotas (99.15 percent), Central Plains (98.49 percent) and Western Pennsylvania (98.46 percent). Scanning […]
Need extras?
Do you need a duplicate copy of your W-2 or 1095-C federal forms? If so, you have two options: •Go to PostalEASE, which you can access from Blue, LiteBlue and self-service kiosks at many Postal Service facilities. You’ll need your employee identification number and password to log in. Once you have access, follow the prompts […]
In full bloom
The unexpected beauty of cacti was celebrated at a dedication ceremony last week for the Cactus Flowers stamps. The stamps feature images of 10 cacti, flowering perennial succulents that are abundant in the Southwest and other parts of the world. “Cacti in bloom have been described as Mother Nature’s fireworks. Their various hues of red, […]
Final countdown
Reminder: The 2018 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season ends Friday, Feb. 22, at midnight EST. You can submit a paper pledge form to a CFC keyworker or use the CFC online giving portal to pledge your money or volunteer hours to more than 8,000 member charities. Federal contractors may also make a one-time or recurring […]
Janet Saddler, Hartford, CT
I put a copy of the photo of Finn Blumenthal — the 4-year-old USPS fan who was featured in “Repeat customer” — at my workstation. I smile whenever I look at the expression on his little face. […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.78 percent during the week ending Feb. 8, up from one week earlier. Western (97.91 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.15 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Presidents Day
Presidents Day will be observed Monday, Feb. 18, this year. The annual observance traces its roots to celebrations commemorating George Washington during the early 19th century. After Washington’s death in 1799, his birthday was celebrated informally across the young nation. In 1879, Congress declared Feb. 22 — Washington’s birthday — a federal holiday. A 1968 […]
Information privacy
To conduct its business, USPS must collect various types of personally identifiable information about customers, employees and other individuals. If you access or handle this kind of information as part of your postal job, you have a legal and ethical obligation to hold it in confidence and protect it from unauthorized disclosure and misuse. Under […]
Love and money
Fewer people are expected to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year but those who do will spend a record amount, new research shows. Total spending will reach almost $21 billion, up 6 percent from last year, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insight and Analytics. Those surveyed said they’ll spend an […]
Deborah Spaulding, Tioga, PA
I hope we all get to watch Finn Blumenthal, the 4-year-old with congenital heart disease was profiled in “Repeat customer,” grow up. His smile says it all! […]
The way they were
One of this year’s Oscar nominees is making news after Barbra Streisand responded to a fan letter he mailed her in 1972. Richard E. Grant, a best supporting actor nominee for his role in the Melissa McCarthy vehicle “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”, was 14 when he penned the note to Streisand to invite her […]
Spreading the word
David Wilbur is a man on a mission. The Kula, HI, Postmaster wants every customer he meets to know about Informed Delivery, the free mail notification service from USPS. “Informed Delivery allows you to digitally preview your incoming mail and manage your packages wherever, whenever,” he says. Wilbur knows what he’s talking about: He has […]
On guard
Not all heroes wear capes. The Postal Service has formed CyberSafe Guardians, a team of employees across the United States who help the organization promote effective cybersecurity practices. The guardians meet once a month to receive cybersecurity materials that can be customized and distributed through each guardian’s “network,” such as the facility where he or […]
Travel update
Beginning Friday, March 1, USPS employees will see an additional fee of $1.60 on their travel itineraries for City Pair Program flights booked and purchased through Omega World Travel. Employees should use eTravel to claim the agency fee charged by Omega, just as employees have done with other fees in the past. The City Pair […]
Bryn Fleming, Mitchell, OR
Thank you for highlighting Patricia Dorr, the New York rural carrier who saved endangered animals by alerting authorities, in “Heroes’ Corner” last week. Postal Service employees can help vulnerable children and animals by reporting neglect and abuse. […]
Life savers
USPS is seeking nominees for the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program, which honors employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. The program, which will mark its 16th year in 2019, is based on a simple idea: Postal Service employees know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities, and are […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.76 percent during the week ending Feb. 1, up from one week earlier. Western (98.04 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.05 percent) topped the districts. To see the latest results, go to the Informed Visibility site and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan […]