Friday, April 24, 2026
These stamps take you to the beach
The four designs show images of life along the coast
The Postal Service will release its A Day at the Beach stamps on Friday, April 24.
The stamps celebrate the simple joys of coastal life in four designs.
The artwork highlights a sandcastle taking shape, a seagull perched on a wooden piling, a bicycle parked near the shoreline and a reader resting beneath a colorful umbrella.
Artist Gregory Manchess created the images in oil on board. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.
Noyes said the designs were inspired by her annual summertime trips to beaches in New England.
“These little snapshots are reminiscent of those experiences, a break from busy lives and demands throughout the year,” she said.
USPS will dedicate the A Day at the Beach stamps in Burlingame, CA, at the Westpex 2026 stamp show.
The Forever stamps will be available in booklets of 20 at Post Offices and at usps.com.
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Chief performance officer to retire
Joshua Colin has been with the Postal Service for 40 years
Joshua Colin is retiring as the Postal Service’s chief performance officer, a position he has held since January 2025.
He will remain with the organization in an advisory capacity until the end of this year.
Prior to becoming chief performance officer, he was the chief retail and delivery officer.
Colin has been with USPS for 40 years. He has served as delivery operations vice president, processing and maintenance vice president and area operations vice president for the former Eastern Area.
Most recently, he established the integrated operations and planning team tasked with improving services across the nation.
“Throughout Josh’s long tenure, he has made many significant contributions including optimizing delivery operations in several challenging geographies, investing in his employees, and driving performance at all levels of the organization,” Doug Tulino, deputy postmaster general, wrote in a memo announcing Colin’s retirement.
People
They’re on two different paths
One employee talks success with career conferences, and another gets a neighborhood send-off
As the schedule of 51 USPS career conferences begins this month and runs through August, Sadaqah Amal-Jones shares how she has benefited from these events.
The Robbinsdale, MN, customer services manager has attended several career conferences, taking advantage of the networking and detail opportunities gained from attending.
Amal-Jones began her career as a mail processing clerk working at stations in Minneapolis.
She developed a five-year plan to achieve her career goals and began her rise by observing, learning and volunteering for new opportunities. Amal-Jones was promoted to supervisor after one year and to manager within four.
Through USPS career conferences, “I’ve been able to advance my career in a short period of time, gaining hands-on experience in management, maintenance and workforce development that has strengthened my ability to lead effectively,” she said.
“USPS has benefited me by giving me the platform to grow as a leader, build strong working relationships, and make a meaningful impact through improving operations, supporting employees, and delivering service excellence.”
A bar bash for a beloved carrier
For residents of the Mount Washington neighborhood in Los Angeles, John Ayala was more than a letter carrier. He was a vital social thread that knit the community together.
About 200 people turned out at a local bar to honor Ayala, who retired after 42 years with USPS. The event was arranged by residents of his former route and chronicled in an article in the Los Angeles Times.
The former employee was described as a unifying figure in the community.
“He talked with everyone. He was a really unifying presence,” one customer said.
Another customer noted Ayala’s willingness to check on residents.
Even now, Ayala is knitting the community together. At the bar, neighbors who lived on the same street were meeting each other for the first time.
“Ayala may have stopped delivering the mail, but he’s not done delivering connection,” the article reads.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Make a wish
How much do you know about the new Happy Birthday stamp?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. When did the Postal Service issue its first birthday-themed stamp?
a) 1962
b) 1973
c) 1987
d) 1999
2. What aspect of the lowrider scene most appealed to USPS employee Greg Valenzuela?
a) Cooking meals to bring to car shows
b) Gaining notoriety for his artistry
c) Spending time with his family
d) Working on his car every weekend
3. Who is the guest on the newest “Mailin’ It!” podcast?
a) Applied Engineering Vice President Linda Malone
b) Corporate Communications Vice President Jeff Adams
c) Delivery Operations Vice President John Morgan
d) Marketing Vice President Sheila Holman
4. How much restitution did a federal court require a West Columbia, SC, mail handler to pay for stealing checks in the mail?
a) $125,000
b) $150,000
c) $175,000
d) $200,000
5. How does Lincolnville, KS, Mail Processing Clerk Jessica Moenning go above and beyond in her duties?
a) She creates how-to guides to teach employees how to do complicated tasks.
b) She lends a hand to surrounding Post Offices when they need help.
c) She works the window in her Post Office and prepares mail to go out.
d) All of the above.
Answers: 1) c. 2) c. 3) a. 4) d. 5) d.
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These stamps take you to the beach
The four designs show images of life along the coast
-
Chief performance officer to retire
Joshua Colin has been with the Postal Service for 40 years
-
People
They’re on two different paths
One employee talks success with career conferences, and another gets a neighborhood send-off
-
News Quiz
Make a wish
How much do you know about the new Happy Birthday stamp?