Stephanie Barnhill, Jacksonville, AR
“Home” is one of the Postal Service’s best Christmas commercials in years. […]
Shawn Selby
Posts by Shawn Selby
Saving money
Sonya Aguirre was looking for ways to save money last fall when she turned her attention to one of her family’s biggest expenses: health care. Aguirre, a maintenance support clerk at the Amarillo, TX, Processing and Distribution Facility, investigated her options and decided to switch from a BlueCross BlueShield standard option to the American Postal […]
New vice president
Krista Finazzo has been named retail and delivery operations vice president for Central Area, a role she has filled on an acting basis since August. Central spans a 450,000-square-mile region that includes 10 states. The area has 33.6 million delivery points, more than 8,100 facilities, approximately 109,000 employees and an annual operating budget that exceeds […]
Coming soon
The Postal Service has announced release dates for the first three stamps of 2021, along with the cities where the virtual dedication ceremonies will originate: Love: Thursday, Jan. 14, Loveland, CO Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox: Tuesday, Feb. 2, Chicago Chien-Shiung Wu: Thursday, Feb. 11, New York City Each virtual dedication ceremony can […]
Latest report
The USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) completed 1,180 investigations during the six-month period that ended Sept. 30. These investigations led to 301 arrests and more than $1.2 billion in fines, restitutions and recoveries. This amount includes more than $114 million that was returned to the Postal Service. The data is included in the OIG’s […]
Staying safe
The Postal Service is asking employees to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for social distancing and face coverings as coronavirus infections surge across the United States. The latest data show that the number of people with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, tops 1 million per week. USPS employees […]
Boswell done!
Rural Carrier Associate Troy Boswell was recently delivering mail in Ronceverte, WV, when he spotted a fire in a customer’s backyard. Boswell immediately called 911, honked his horn and rushed to knock on the front door of the residence. The customer — a recovering stroke victim who relies on a wheelchair — answered the door, […]
Veda Wilson, Washington, DC
I got three correct answers on last week’s “News Quiz.” I need to read Link more often! […]
‘Dear Santa’
“Dear Santa,” a documentary about USPS Operation Santa, will be released in select theaters and through video-on-demand on Friday, Dec. 4. The film shines a light on the annual program that allows Postal Service employees, customers and organizations to “adopt” letters to Santa Claus and fulfill holiday wish lists from children and others who are […]
By the book
The South Dakota girl whose appreciation for the Postal Service captured headlines at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic has written a children’s book about the experience. “Sincerely, Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter and the Helpers All Around Us” will be published Dec. 8 by HarperCollins. “It’s kind of crazy,” said the author, Emerson Weber. […]
Be flexible
Do you wear eyeglasses, contact lenses or visit the dentist more than twice a year? If so, experts say a flexible spending account (FSA) is likely a good option for you. FSAs can help your health care dollars go further — but only if you plan accordingly. FSAs allow you to set aside money on […]
Homing in
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. What is the title of this year’s USPS holiday commercial? a) “Home” b) “Home for the Holidays” c) “Home Is Where the Heart Is” d) “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” 2. […]
Joseph Primicias, Memphis, TN
I love the Postal Service’s “Home” TV commercial. I’ve watched it six times. It touched me on so many levels. […]
Political expression
Now that Election Day has passed, the Postal Service is providing employees an update on the rules surrounding political activities under the Hatch Act. Under the law, political activities are defined as those directed toward the success or failure of a political party, partisan political group or candidate for partisan political office. Since the election […]
Acting vice president
Elvin Mercado has been named Atlantic Area’s acting retail and delivery operations vice president. He replaces Sal Vacca, who is on extended leave. Atlantic Area has 19 districts, more than 121,000 employees, and 29.8 million delivery points that are serviced from more than 8,600 Post Offices. Mercado had been manager of Westchester District in New […]
Higher learning
Do you have questions about high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), one type of health insurance coverage available during this year’s open season? Here’s what you should know: • HDHPs generally offer lower premiums than other plans. This means you’ll have less money taken out of your paycheck. • HDHPs give you greater flexibility. While HDHPs have […]
Holiday how-to
A new video shows how customers can participate in USPS Operation Santa. The program allows Postal Service employees, customers and organizations to “adopt” letters to Santa Claus and fulfill holiday wish lists from children and others who are less fortunate. The one-minute animated video is hosted by Holly, the program’s “spokeself.” She offers instructions for […]
More holiday savings
USPS is offering savings on Mastercard gift card purchases at select Post Office locations this month. From Nov. 28-Dec. 11, customers and employees will receive $2 off the purchase fee of Mastercard gift cards valued at $50 and $100. Variable load gift cards are excluded. No coupon is needed. […]
Tova Upshur, Norfolk, VA
I enjoyed reading the article about how the Postal Service is recycling undeliverable Marketing Mail. It’s great to see the organization thinking outside of the box with sustainability initiatives that generate revenue. […]
Hospitality shift
The Postal Service’s training and conference properties in Maryland and Oklahoma are working to recoup lost revenue as result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Bolger Center in Potomac, MD, and the National Center for Employee Development (NCED) in Norman, OK, both have hotels and restaurants, in addition to conference rooms. Before the pandemic, both properties […]
VP transition
Timothy Costello has been named Southern Area’s retail and delivery operations vice president, succeeding Shaun Mossman, who plans to retire from the Postal Service on Dec. 31. The area has 18 postal districts spread across 11 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as […]
Healthy savings
Postal Service employees who want to save money for future medical expenses have several options to choose from during this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 9-Dec. 14. If you enroll in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows you to […]
Staying grounded
The Postal Service’s policy limiting business travel during the coronavirus pandemic has been extended until at least Jan. 19, 2021. The policy affects all business trips, including in-person training. Only travel that is deemed critical to the organization’s mission and trips that cannot be postponed will be approved. However, certain travel will be necessary in […]
New look
The USPS Ethics Office has redesigned its Blue page to give employees easier access to ethics-related information. The page is laid out with several blue boxes, each covering a topic, such as “Gifts from Outside Sources,” “Misuse of Time” and “Political Activity.” Clicking on a box will take the visitor to a secondary page that […]
Tina Kuhr, Otoe, NE
I’m so proud of the efforts of the Postal Service employees who are working to recycle undeliverable Marketing Mail for home insulation. I hope this will be a requirement across the organization. […]
Hear ye for Erie
A safety meeting held one morning earlier this year at the Erie, PA, Processing and Distribution Center turned into a scene of crisis when an employee experienced a medical emergency. Maintenance Operations Support Supervisor Lee Huhta immediately called 911 when Electronic Technician Paul Kircher complained of physical discomfort. As Kircher’s symptoms worsened, Huhta was joined […]
‘Home’ for Christmas
The Postal Service’s new holiday television commercial began airing Nov. 13. The commercial, titled “Home,” shows holiday mail and packages working their way through a mail processing center and being loaded onto trucks while mail carriers get ready to start their delivery rounds. Carriers are then shown making deliveries in rain and snow. The commercial […]
Health care ABCs
Do you know the difference between a deductible and a copayment? If you don’t know, you’re not alone. Many people are confused by health insurance terminology. To help you navigate your way through this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are some important definitions: • Deductible: This is the amount you pay for covered […]
Touch points
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. The Postal Service is working with the Sandboxx app to help customers use Informed Delivery to connect with whom? a) College freshmen b) Kindergarteners c) Military recruits d) None of the […]
Teresa Navarette, San Diego
The Postal Service’s collaboration with Sandboxx, an app that helps families and friends send physical letters to military recruits in basic training, is excellent. […]