Special Postcard Marks 50th Anniversary at Flagler Museum in Palm Beach 33480

Palm Beach Postmaster Dianna Dobson is holding the newspaper article promoting the museum's anniversary and special event cachets. Photo: JoAnn Goodrich

Saturday was a family affair.

The Postal Service joined the family of Henry M. Flagler (and the Palm Beach community) in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Flagler Museum.

A history lesson ... Back in the late 19th Century, from St. Augustine to Miami, Flagler built a series of luxury hotels that quickly established tourism as a mainstay of Florida's economy. His Florida East Coast Railway not only connected his hotels, but opened the state to growth of all kinds. Through his Model Land Company, Flagler encouraged the agricultural development of millions of acres, thus establishing agriculture as another mainstay of the state's economy. He also accomplished the most ambitious engineering feat ever attempted by a private citizen, the building of the Over-Sea Railroad, covering more than 155 miles from Miami to Key West.

Now fast forward to Saturday, February 6 ...

Palm Beach Postmaster Dianna Dobson gave a presentation on the history of the museum and promoted a commemorative special event postcard with a stamp honoring Jean Flagler Matthews, the Museum's founder and Henry Flagler's granddaughter. Museum President George G. Matthews, the great-grandson of Henry Flagler, signed each postcard which included a Centennial Coin struck in 2002 to recognize the 100th anniversary of Whitehall.

When it was completed in 1902, Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was hailed by the New York Herald as "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring guided tours, changing exhibits, and special programs.

The Postal Service generated $1027.58 during the two-hour event: 1 book of Forever Stamps = $8.80; 9 sheets of Lunar Stamps $4.40 each = $39.60; Stamps purchased via stamps.com by The Flagler Museum for 50th Anniversary = $979.18.

Special thanks to Customer Relations Coordinator JoAnn Goodrich for assisting the museum in planning its anniversary celebration and to Sonya Owens, Sales & Service Associate at the West Palm Beach Main Office, for hand-canceling the postcards to commemorate this special occasion.

Customer Kudos for Surfside Postal Duo

TO: Lorraine Jimenez, Manager, Surfside Branch

Dear Ms. Jimenez,

I am writing this letter to commend two employees, Mr. Julio Ruiz and Mr. Wayne Baenen, for their excellent work.

I went to the Surfside Post Office, and Mr. Ruiz and Mr. Baenen assisted me very nicely. Their customer service skills and their willingness to assist customers impressed me a great deal. They went out of their way to help me with a package I wanted to send, wrap it and get it ready to be shipped. Not only that, I noticed how helpful Mr. Ruiz was to a customer who was before me in the line. I listened how he answered all the customer's questions very patiently and in a very friendly manner, showing respect and concern.

As a customer, I can assure you that Mr. Ruiz and Mr. Baenen are great assets to your branch. I think that whenever we see or receive such excellent service, it shouldn't go unnoticed.

I wish all of you the best for the New Year.

Regards,
Ana M. Barreto

"Super" Souvenirs Still Selling

The Super Bowl may have come and gone ... but souvenir envelopes commemorating the Saints and Colts are on sale in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Numbered, limited editions at $10 each are available while supplies last. Football fans throughout the district may contact the following individuals for additional information:

Zeida Alvarez, Miami Post Office, 305-470-0628
Tashia Romano-Kravitz, Fort Lauderdale Main Office, 954-527-3281
JoAnn Goodrich, West Palm Beach Main Office, 561-697-2145

Black Heritage Stamps Tell Many Stories

Harriet Tubman, an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War, was honored on the first stamp in the Black Heritage Stamp series which began in 1978. Tubman was born into slavery and after escaping, made thirteen missions to rescue over 70 slaves using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

Booker T. Washington was the first African American commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp in 1940. Since that time, the Postal Service has issued more than 100 stamps featuring African Americans and historical milestones in African-American culture. To learn more about African-American leaders, inventors, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and athletes on stamps, visit http://search.usps.com/ and type "Black Heritage" in the search box. There's also Publication 354, "African Americans on Stamps: A Celebration of African-American Heritage."

Flower Power: Orchids! A Cultural Odyssey

After the snow has cleared and the sun has returned to the mid-Atlantic states, consider a cultural journey with the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington DC. Its orchid exhibit — including a display of postcards and orchid stamps — explores the ways orchids have affected the lives of people around the world.

Discover orchids in arts, literature, exploration, jewelry, trade and business. Also, visitors can travel the world within the garden’s Conservatory and discover how influential and magnificent orchids have become.

The exhibit, a collaborative effort involving the collections of the U.S. Botanic Garden and the Smithsonian Institution Horticultural Services Division, is open through April 11.

"Egg-stra, Egg-stra ... Read All About These 'Super' Breakfast Offers

If you watched the Super Bowl, you already know about Denny's commercials taking a humorous look at the chickens who must lay all the eggs for free breakfasts. And the chickens will be "egg-stra" busy tomorrow!

From 6 am to 2 pm on Tuesday, February 9, customers can order a free Grand Slam breakfast at participating restaurants. And, starting Wednesday, the company will be refilling more than beverages ... Denny's is giving away endless fries and pancakes for a limited time.

Not to be outdone by the competition ...

Be sure to mark Tuesday, February 23, on your calendar. In observance of "National Pancake Day," participating International House of Pancake restaurants (a.k.a. IHOP) will be serving a free short stack of pancakes from 7 am to 10 pm on that date.