Friday, August 21, 2026
USPS to honor Sarah Orne Jewett with a stamp
She was a foundational figure in literary regionalism
The Postal Service will release its Sarah Orne Jewett stamp ― the 35th in the organization’s Literary Arts series ― on Friday, Aug. 21.
A foundational figure in American literary regionalism, Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909) explored the balance between individualism and communal values, often highlighting the positive spirit of her native Maine.
Drawing inspiration from people from her village, she created intimate portrayals of New England characters and of the landscape and culture that shaped them.
Jewett began publishing before age 20 and was firmly established as a writer by 1880. She published hundreds of short stories and 18 novels, as well as poetry and essays.
Her best-known work, the 1896 novel “The Country of the Pointed Firs,” is considered an American literary masterpiece.
After a 1902 accident ended her writing career, she continued to mentor younger writers, including Willa Cather.
The stamp features a three-quarter profile view of Jewett based on an 1894 photograph, with the rocky Maine coast framed by coniferous trees in the background.
Illustrator Mark Summers created the original artwork and Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.
The 3-ounce stamp is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
No national dedication ceremony is planned.
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People
They lent a helping hand
One employee served meals to flood victims and another saved a young life
A mail processing clerk in Austin, TX, answered the call to help people affected by the recent flooding in the state’s Hill Country region in July.
Nathanael Myers volunteered with a disaster response unit operated by Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B to serve meals to those affected by the flooding.
Myers also worked with volunteers from the Wichita Falls Fire Department and Texas Search and Rescue as these organizations came together to assist the community.
For Myers, the opportunity to volunteer was an extension of his commitment to service.
“I was motivated to serve the area which has had a lot of flooding. I saw that H-E-B was asking for people to volunteer, so I just decided to help them out on my day off. I really enjoy volunteering,” Myers said.
Heavy rains caused water to surge over the banks of the Guadalupe River, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses in Kerr County. A year ago, flooding during the July 4 weekend made national headlines and completely washed away the Hunt, TX, Post Office.
“Nate is a humble soul, and he does his best to do his postal job. I’m proud to see him out there helping,” said Bobby Rodriguez, Myers’ supervisor.
She’s a lifesaver
An Arizona mother and infant are fortunate to have needed to mail a package one day last July.
Kylie Vega walked into the Clifton, AZ, Post Office with her infant daughter, Nova, when the child suddenly became unresponsive. That’s when Retail Associate Mary Schwarz, who worked as a nurse for 13 years before joining USPS, rushed to help.
“There was no thinking. I just jumped into action,” Schwarz told a local news station.
Unable to feel a pulse, Schwarz began CPR and tried to clear the 8-month-old’s airway.
A police officer responding to a 911 call quickly arrived and took the employee and infant to a nearby medical clinic. Nova began to breathe on her own while on the way to the clinic where medical professionals took over her care.
For Schwarz, the experience is a reminder of why CPR training is so important.
“If you’re a homeowner and have a pool or there’s a choking incident with a child or a family member — It’s so important to have some kind of training to know what to do in that situation,” she said.
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There is no place for nepotism at USPS
Federal regulations prohibit favoritism in hiring, promotions
The Postal Service is marking USPS Ethics Awareness Week by reminding employees that nepotism is prohibited in the workplace.
Under federal law, USPS employees cannot hire, promote or advocate for a relative — including a spouse, parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, in-law, stepparent, stepsibling or half-sibling.
A reporting relationship can also raise ethics concerns. For example, an employee is not permitted to report directly to a spouse.
There is no such prohibition between other relatives, friends or unmarried romantic partners, but to avoid the perception of favoritism, higher-level employees in such reporting relationships should generally recuse themselves from taking actions affecting the private gain of the lower-level employees, such as promotions, overtime, discipline, leave requests, detail assignments or change-of-domicile requests.
Reporting relationships between relatives, friends or romantic partners can affect the workplace environment in ways that go beyond ethics regulations. Human Resources and Labor Relations should always be consulted regarding reporting relationships between people who are related or affiliated outside the workplace.
The Ethics Blue page has additional information.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Ethics Office or call 202-268-6346.
News Quiz
USPS service, at your fingertips
How much do you know about updates to the Informed Delivery Mobile app?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. Which of the following is not a new feature of the Informed Delivery Mobile app?
a) Choosing when monthly bills are delivered
b) Seeing USPS Smart Locker packages
c) Updating Informed Delivery settings and preferences
d) Using a dark-viewing mode
2. The 25.4 billion mailpieces processed by the Postal Service in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 represents what change from the same quarter one year ago?
a) Decline of 1.3 percent
b) Decline of 2.1 percent
c) Increase of 0.4 percent
d) No change
3. How did a customer obtain the counterfeit stamps that Avalon, NJ, Retail Associate Patrick Selfridge identified when he sorted the mail?
a) The customer’s spouse bought them at an estate sale.
b) The customer printed them in their basement.
c) The customer’s organization purchased them online.
d) The customer stole them from a neighbor.
4. What is the term for a cyberattack in which scammers use fake QR codes to steal sensitive information, money or personal identities?
a) Delishing
b) Knishing
c) Quishing
d) Vishing
5. Who is the guest on the latest episode of the Postal Service’s “Mailin’ It!” podcast, which focuses on the nation’s westward expansion?
a) Ken Altman, Amtrak vice president
b) Mike Earp, retired U.S. marshal
c) Stella Ghervas, UCLA history professor
d) Steve Kochersperger, USPS historian
Answers: 1) a. 2) c. 3) c. 4) c. 5) d.
Postal Bulletin covers USPS Vehicle Safety Week
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Aug. 20, looks at USPS Vehicle Safety week, which begins Saturday, Aug. 22.
Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included.
Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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USPS to honor Sarah Orne Jewett with a stamp
She was a foundational figure in literary regionalism
-
People
They lent a helping hand
One employee served meals to flood victims and another saved a young life
-
There is no place for nepotism at USPS
Federal regulations prohibit favoritism in hiring, promotions
-
News Quiz
USPS service, at your fingertips
How much do you know about updates to the Informed Delivery Mobile app?
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin covers USPS Vehicle Safety Week