It's Howdy Doody Time at the Coral Ridge Country Club

Coral Ridge Country Club members, many former friends of Buffalo Bob Smith of Howdy Doody Days, welcomed Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato to their August meeting. Fortunato presented a stamp enlargement of the infamous puppet in the Early TV Memories stamp set and framed artwork to Jack Drury, Fort Lauderdale publicist and Buffalo Bob’s business manager for 25 years. Pictured L to R: Howdy Doody, Jack Drury, and Mike Fortunato. Photo: Tashia Romano-Kravitz

Sawgrass SSA Thanks Co-Worker for Workplace Improvements

I am writing to express thanks to Ft. Lauderdale Window Clerk, Christel M. Boltz, for improving our work environment at the Sawgrass Postal Store. She has only been with us for a couple of weeks, but she has reconfigured and decorated our lunch room at her own expense. We now have a designated lunch table that is decorated with place mats, a candy jar, a container for our books both secular and inspirational. We previously only has one table that was cluttered and shared with our ACE computer, microwave, and miscellaneous books, Now that table is neat and now sports the ACE, microwave, and now a coffee maker with a silver tray that holds coffee mugs for our employees or guests to get coffee and there is still enough room to additional people to dine. She moved our water fountain to an area that is easier to have access, and the environment of our small swing room is such a pleasure to behold. Christel has in the past decorated and organized a supervisor's office space at the Tamarac Post Office, and decorated and organized the bathroom at Galt Ocean. She never asks for anything from us even though we were willing to donate and everybody is so much more cheerful and we are grateful to her.

Sincerely,

Bridget Weiner
SSA - Sawgrass

My Heroes!

You'll want to grab a copy of the August 14th issue of People magazine to read about these postal heroes: (L to R) Oakland CA Letter Carriers Gilbert Rangel, Alan Girard, Karen Hill, and Tanya Joseph with Paywood Apartments Property Manager Kathy Walsh. A feature article highlights the actions of these employees who rescued 100 residents from an apartment fire, and many others who have come to the aid of customers in emergency situations. Each day postal employees across the nation touch the lives of millions of people, and sometimes those same employees and their heroic efforts make the difference between loss of life and property. Congratulations and thank you to all!

"Say, Kids, What Time Is It? It's Time for Howdy Doody Stamp Day!"

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato (R) presents framed artwork of the Early TV Memories commemorative stamp set featuring Howdy Doody to Jack Drury (L), former business manager of Buffalo Bob Smith, creator of the infamous puppet. The Howdy Doody Stamp Day presentation brought back many fond memories to the "peanut gallery" of baby boomers at the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale luncheon. As you'll recall, the show was set in the imaginary town of Doodyville and blended live-action characters such as host "Buffalo Bob" Smith and Clarabell, the mischievous clown who never said a word until the last episode. What was his parting comment? "Goodbye, kids."

Ben Franklin in Wax

Letter Carriers Mac McDermott (L) and Doug George (R) welcome the newest Retail Associate --- Benjamin Franklin (center) --- to the Palm Beach Gardens Post Office. Franklin is a wax figure who promotes Priority Mail as a terrific product for the price. Mac, a 15-year career employee, has worked with wax figures as a hobby for more than 20 years. "Wax figures are a lost art and a dying business," he said. "There are only a few wax makers left in the world." About a year ago, Mac enlisted the assistance of Doug, an 11-year postal veteran. Doug and his wife now store 54 wax figures in their home! "We donate figures to historical sites and to individuals who will give them a good home," said Mac.

Story and photo submitted by JoAnn Goodrich

Now That's the (Discount) Ticket!

Postal employees can get a 20% discount at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island Tampa Bay, SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando (SeaWorld's new water park). This offer does not include Discovery Cove Orlando.

Valid Dates: 8/15/09 through 10/31/09 Employees need only show their USPS badge at the Guest Services Window to purchase up to 6 tickets at the 20% discount.

Remember, all one-day tickets are valid for a free upgrade to a next-day ticket. This means just take the ticket to the ticket upgrade window prior to leaving for the day of your park visit to upgrade your one-day ticket to a FREE next-day ticket.

Guests can also upgrade their one-day ticket towards a Fun Card or Passport by stopping by the upgrade window prior to leaving the park for the day. A credit of what they paid for the one-day admission will be applied to their Passport of choice.

"How Sweet It Is"

Honeymooners fan Angela Randle (L) and Mrs. Marilyn Taylor Gleason (R) were pleased to meet each other. Photo: Tashia Romano-Kravitz














Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato (R) shared his favorite Honeymooner episode with (L to R) Mrs. Marilyn Taylor Gleason, Marketing Manager Alain Iglesias, and District Manager Tammy J. Autenrieth. Photo: Tashia Romano-Kravitz













Mrs. Marilyn Taylor Gleason (Center) reflects on her days as the choreographer for The June Taylor Dancers featured on The Jackie Gleason Show. Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato (L) and Gleason's stepson, Craig Horwich (R) enjoyed her stories about the famous dancers led by her sister, June. Photo: Tashia Romano-Kravitz

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato welcomes Mrs. Marilyn Taylor Gleason to a tribute to The Honeymooners stamp, one of 20 in the Early TV Memories commemorative stamp set. The sheet of 44-cent First-Class stamps celebrate television's Golden Age and includes The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet; Alfred Hitchcock Presents; The Dinah Shore Show; Dragnet; The Ed Sullivan Show; The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; Hopalong Cassidy; The Honeymooners; Howdy Doody; I Love Lucy; Kukla, Fran and Ollie; Lassie; The Lone Ranger; Perry Mason; The Phil Silvers Show; The Red Skelton Show; Texaco Star Theater; The Tonight Show; The Twilight Zone; and You Bet Your Life.

Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato (L) and Mrs. Gleason (Center) intently listen to Craig Horwich's (R) childhood stories about his stepfather, Jackie Gleason, who also was known as The Great One.

Mrs. Gleason and son, Craig Horwich, cheerfully greet employees and sign autographs for Honeymooners fans.

Mrs. Marilyn Taylor Gleason autographs the Official Program.

"Baby, You're the Greatest"

Jackie Gleason's wife, Marilyn Taylor Gleason, and his stepson, Craig Horwich, will participate in the South Florida District's salute to The Honeymooners, one of 20 shows featured in the Early TV Memories commemorative stamp set available on Tuesday, August 11. At 10 am on this date, Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Mike Fortunato will welcome the Gleason Family to a First-Day-Of-Sale ceremony in the lobby of the Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 1900 W Oakland Park Blvd. (This is an off-the-clock activity for employees.)

The Honeymooners grew out of a six-minute sketch first broadcast in 1951 on Cavalcade of Stars. Gleason starred as bus driver Ralph Kramden, who lived in a cramped Brooklyn Apartment with his wife, Alice. Ralph was a schemer whose dreams of hitting the jackpot were constantly frustrated. Alice was more pragmatic, standing firm in the face of her husband's rage. Art Carney, who appeared as a policeman in the initial sketch, was cast as Ed Norton, Ralph's neighbor, friend, and co-conspirator, who usually managed to leave him holding the bag. During the half-hour series, Ralph often threatened to send Alice to the moon, only to reconcile by the end of the episode. He would tell his wife, "Baby, you're the greatest."