Tuesday, February 4, 2025
A celebration of the sound of New Orleans
Elvis Costello helps dedicate a stamp honoring Allen Toussaint
The Postal Service dedicated its stamp honoring musician Allen Toussaint in a New Orleans ceremony on Jan. 30.
Toussaint was a virtuoso pianist, singer, songwriter and producer. He helped shape the unique sound of New Orleans music and played a pivotal role in sharing it with the world.
“The United States Postal Service is deeply honored to dedicate a stamp to the incomparable Allen Toussaint,” said Gary Barksdale, chief of the Postal Inspection Service, who spoke at the ceremony. “His profound musical contributions have enriched the world with their soulful melodies and vibrant rhythms.”
Toussaint (1938-2015) is the 48th honoree in the Postal Service’s Black Heritage stamp series.
Joining Barksdale for the ceremony were Quint Davis, Festival Productions chief executive officer; Elvis Costello, singer-songwriter; Irma Thomas, vocalist; and Clarence Toussaint and Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux, Toussaint’s children.
Norman Robinson, a former journalist, was master of ceremonies.
“His music has touched the hearts and homes of so many, and now, through the release of a commemorative U.S. Postal Service stamp, his image will continue to inspire and connect with those same people in a deeply meaningful way,” said Toussaint-LeBeaux.
The stamp features a photograph of Toussaint at the piano, dressed in black, with a black background set off by purplish lighting and his name in red lettering at the lower edge.
Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a 2007 photograph by Bill Tompkins.
The Allen Toussaint Forever stamp is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
Phishing is a threat to the USPS network
Here are some tips to guard against fraudulent emails
The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to guard against phishing emails to protect the network from cyberattacks.
A phishing email is an attempt by a scammer posing as a legitimate institution or person to lure the recipient into providing sensitive data such as credit card details, personally identifiable information and passwords.
USPS employees and contractors should follow these tips to keep their inboxes safe:
• Slow down and evaluate messages before acting. Be wary of urgent requests.
• If an email is from a non-USPS address, proceed with extra caution and verify the sender.
• Before clicking on a hyperlink in an email, hover your mouse over the link to ensure its description matches its destination.
• Don’t open or click on any attachments in a suspicious email.
• Look for spelling and grammar mistakes, which can indicate a phishing attempt.
Employees and contractors should report suspected phishing emails by clicking on the “Report to CyberSafe” button in the Outlook toolbar. This button can be installed if it is missing.
The CyberSafe at USPS Blue and LiteBlue pages have more information.
February 11, 2025
Datebook
‘Blood Pressure Basics’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will explore how simple lifestyle changes can help you control your blood pressure.
The session, “Blood Pressure Basics,” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
FSA debit cards to arrive soon
USPS employees who are enrolled in the new flexible spending account program administered through Inspira Financial will receive their FSA debit card soon.
To activate the debit card, employees must use the last digits of their employee identification number, not the last four digits of their Social Security number.