Here I Am at Camp ...

Manchester, NH Supervisor, Customer Services Mary Murray (center) and kids at The Training Station's day camp hold books about stamps and the Post Office. From left to right are Shay, Reina, Valeen, Mary Murray, Cameron, CJ and Training Station Co-owner Christina Davidson.

Manchester, NH, Supervisor, Customer Services Mary Murray and Vehicle Maintenance Manager Tom Woods teamed up to provide a show-and-tell about the Post Office at The Training Station's week-long day camp. They demonstrated for young grade-schoolers how much fun it is to send and receive mail. 

Murray talked about the subjects used for stamp designs, and read them a book on writing and mailing letters. She also gave them a short history of Owney the Postal Dog. Woods provided the group with envelopes and some of the recently-released Owney the Postal Dog stamps.

The postal-themed visit was a hit with the kids, who wrote letters home telling their parents that it was the favorite thing they did at camp that week.   

New Sweden Hero



Rural Carrier Jeff Cummings



When New Sweden, ME, Rural Carrier Jeff Cummings noticed that one of his elderly customers hadn't picked up his mail for a couple of days, he stopped in to check on him. 



As he did, he heard a muffled sound, so he cracked open the unlocked front door and called to ask if anyone was home. This time, Cummings heard a moan, so he entered the house and found his customer on the bathroom floor, unable to stand on his own. The carrier helped him up and talked to him until he was able to get his bearings. Despite his weakened condition, the man refused to allow his carrier to call an ambulance.



The man has no family members, so Cummings persuaded him to provide a friend's phone number, then called the latter to explain what had happened. The customer seemed to be regaining strength and, as his friend promised to come right over and keep an eye on him, Cummings resumed his deliveries. He continued to call his customer throughout the day to make sure he was alright until the friend arrived.



The next day, the customer collapsed again and his friend had him transported to a local hospital where he was admitted for observation. Twice in two days, Jeff Cummings' actions may well have prevented a tragedy.

















Five Gardiner, ME, Drivers Achieve 2011 Safety Honors

Fourteen Northern New England District postal drivers have been selected for the National Safety Council's (NSC) 2011 Award of Honor: All Award of Honor recipients met the minimum criteria of 15 years or 100,000 miles without a preventable accident. Five of the honorees work at the Gardiner, ME, Post Office.

Seen left to right are Gardiner Rural Carrier Lorraine Boucher, Postmaster Audrey Johnson, Rural Carrier/Million Miler Ralph (Skip) Hunter, Letter Carrier Charles Webber and T-6 Letter Carrier John Fish . Not present is Rural Carrier Stephanie Hanley.

The 2011 Award of Honor was issued to the following seven Northern New England drivers:
Salem, NH - Joseph Russo
Salem, NH - Paula Ciras
Ferrisburgh, VT -Sally Torrey

East Calais, ME- Cassandra Molleur

Kingfield, ME - Charmayne Coffren 

Athens, ME - Richard Brown

Portland, ME - Dominic Paul Di Matteo  (past Million Mile winner)

Old Town, ME - Mark Russell

Old Town, ME - Durice Washburn

The top drivers in each Area are in the running for the 2011 USPS Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award to be announced in November.

Postmaster Parker Crosses the Pacific

Bradley, ME, Postmaster Chris Parker has been umpiring Little League baseball for 32 years. He has umpired four major tournaments in the United States, including the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. He is currently the Umpire-in-Chief of the Senior League World Series that is held in Bangor every year.

In 2005, an umpire from Guam, in Bangor for the tourney, told Parker and his assistant that he would seek an opportunity to repay them for their hospitality. This year, he invited the pair to umpire the Asia/Pacific 11-12 year-old regional tournament in Guam, which determines which team goes to Williamsport. Held during the second week of July, 11 countries participated: Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Saipan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, Indonisia and New Zealand.

Above left, Parker recites the Little League pledge with young ballplayers during opening ceremonies in Guam. Above right, Parker umpiring the plate at the tournament, wearing a pink shirt intended to raise breast cancer awareness.

Community Involvement and Revenue Opportunities

Four Vermont post offices hosted pictorial postmark events during June.  Irasburg, Orleans, Coventry and Newport participated in the Northeast Kingdom Relay for Life, offering the Relay for Hope, Courage, Faith and Celebrate Station pictorial postmarks. 

Altogether, 87 sheets of Breast Cancer Research stamps were sold, resulting in $957 in new postal revenue. More than 90 cachet envelopes were also sold by the Relay for Life teams.  



Above, Irasburg, VT, postal employees Yvette Sheltra and Priscilla Stebenne. Below are Newport, VT, Clerk/Troy OIC Diane Forbes and Irasburg Postmaster Sonya Kittredge.

VT Rural Carrier Honored by State, Council of the Blind

This year, the Vermont Department of Libraries, Special Services Unit (VDLSS) and the Vermont Council of the Blind (VCOB) teamed up to create an award highlighting the importance of the Postal Service in the “talking book” program and other services for visually impaired or physically handicapped Vermonters.

The inaugural award winner is longtime Chelsea, VT, Rural Carrier Peter Vermette. The judges’ decision was unanimous.

VDLSS provides audio recordings known as “talking books” by mail to those with visual or physical impairments. The nominating customer’s wife calls them “a Godsend.”  Both organizations hope to present the new postal employee award annually.

Camden, ME, PO Saluted

Postmaster Scott Boardman (at left) and TE Letter Carrier Zachary Herrick (center) accept the Department of Defense’s “Above and Beyond” Award on behalf of the Camden Post Office for its “outstanding support of our men and women who serve in the Guard or Reserve.”

Presenting the award at the group’s annual meeting was US Navy Commander Dustin Smiley (far right). The Postal Service has demonstrated consistent commitment to the goals of ESGR and to postal employees who serve in the armed forces.

“As a former sailor, I am very blessed to support our Guard and Reserves,” said Boardman. “I’m very proud of my employee, TE Carrier Zachary Herrick, who serves in the US Naval Reserve as a Builder Third Class." Herrick nominated the Camden Post Office for recognition.