How to Recognize Suspicious Mail

While the chances of encountering suspicious mail are very low, employees who identify a suspicious item should follow procedures and remember the Three Ps:

Package — Don’t handle the package. Isolate it.

People — Clear the area of people. Notify your supervisor.

Plan — Contact Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 (option 2) and, if smoke or vapors are present, call 911. Follow your emergency plan.

Employees should use Poster 84 as a guide in recognizing the characteristics of suspicious mail, including its shape, look, addressing and packaging.

Shape — Is it lopsided or uneven? Is it rigid or bulky?

Look — Are there oily stains, discolorations, or crystals on the wrapper? Does it have a strange

odor?

Address — Is there a return address? Are there restrictive markings? Are there misspelled words? Is it addressed to a title rather than to an individual? Is it an incorrect title? Is it poorly typed or written?

Packaging — Is it sealed with tape? Is there excessive tape? Is there excessive postage?

Celebrating Career Milestones in June

40 YEARS: Charlie C. Anderson, Homestead Post Office; H.B. Hamilton, Jr., Boca Rio Branch

35 YEARS: James A. Campbell, Clewiston Post Office; Gary A. Herron, Stuart Post Office; John C. Merritt III, West Palm Beach P&DC; Gregory T. Murphy, Boca Raton Post Office; Clyde W. Pang, West Palm Beach P&DC; Joseph A. Ruggiero, Palms West Branch; Anita L. Sciolino, Hallandale Post Office; Thomas W. Siedel, Jr., Jensen Beach Post Office; Bernard P. Soja, West Palm Beach P&DC; Althea P. West, Little River Station

30 YEARS: Michael R. Brisebois, Miramar Branch; Nelson Carmona, Blue Lagoon Branch; Sharon M. Davis, West Palm Beach P&DC; Silvio R. Delsol , Hialeah Main Office; Stephen B. Johnson, South Florida L&DC; Robert L. Johnson, Jr., South Florida L&DC; Deborah W. Llamas, North Miami Beach Branch; Rosemary E. Mansfield, South Florida District – West Palm Beach; Yvonne D. McCormick, Hollywood Hills Station; James Newkirk, County Line Annex; David P. Penegor, Boynton Downtown Branch; Kevin R. Phillips, Miami P&DC; Sheryl H. Riley, Key Largo Post Office; Howard E. Stewart, West Palm Beach P&DC; Myron G. Thompson, Lake Worth Main Office Station; Donna J. Thurman, Tropical Reef Station; Francisco G. Vinas, Miami P&DC; John L. Zeigler, Jr., South Florida District – Miami

25 YEARS: Mary F. Ayers, West Palm Beach P&DC; Felix Baquerizo, Palms Central Carrier Annex; Alberto Beltran, South Miami Branch; Cintya M. Besu, Miami Post Office; Kelvin E. Brooks, Kendall Branch; Carlos H. Charria, Miami P&DC; Maureen V. Ciarnelli, Melrose Vista Branch; McVicker M. Coleman III, South Florida District – Miami; Richard D. Colgan, Miramar Branch; Conni C. Cully, North Ridge Annex; Sharon L. Daniel, North Miami Branch; Julio A. Diez, Hialeah Carrier Annex; Lisa S. Farlow, West Palm Beach Main Office; Norma T. Figueroa-Otero, Margate Branch; Evelio M. Gonzalez, Miami Beach Main Office; Irvin Gordon, Miami ISC; Glenn A. Green, Little River Station; Christopher J. Hartin, West Branch; Joseph B. Hawk, Wellington Carrier Annex; Barry D. Henry, Miami ISC; William J. Kelly, Orange Avenue Station; Jose Lages, Port St. Lucie Branch; Douglas E. Lai , Hollywood Main Office; Richard A. Lanuez, Miami VMF; Cynthia Legrant, Normandy Station; Francisco J. Lopez, City Place Station; Richard Mack, Jr., Hialeah Main Office; Cynthia L. Marschall, Wellington Carrier Annex; Luisa A. Mata, Norland Branch; Duen F. McClean, Quail Heights Branch; William L. McKnight, Norland Branch; David Mercado, Coral Gables Branch; Steven L. Miragliotta, Miami P&DC; Daphne M. Mulkey, Miami ISC; Marilyn M. Ray, Carol City Branch; Jorge L. Rivero, Miami VMF; Cynthia L. Roberts, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch; Raysa M. Rojas, Miami Post Office; Sharon V. Sam, Surfside Branch; Miguel A. Sanabria, Miami P&DC; Marc L. Seidman, West Boca Carrier Annex; Oscar Sosa, South Florida L&DC; Michael D. Steinberg, South Florida P&DC; Michelle A. Szollosi, Palmetto Carrier Annex; Jose R. Tineo, Central Carrier Annex; Pedro E. Torres, Miami ISC; Lisa A. Trotter, South Florida District - Fort Lauderdale

Key Largo Rural Carriers Deliver

Bonnie Luikhart takes a break from unloading the LLV to strike a pose for the camera.

Letter Carrier Cindy Smith unloads canned goods collected on her route.

Lori Johnson collects hampers full of canned goods in back of the Key Largo Post Office.

Kim Sikora (left) and Susan Anderson (right) count the flat tubs full of canned goods donated from Key Largo residents.

Mary Mendez is pleased with the generosity of customers who donated to the "Stamp Out Hunger" effort.Susan Anderson unloads one of many flat tubs filled with non-perishable items. Cindy Smith (left) and Pastor Kerry Foote (right) unload bags of canned goods to a pair of helping hands.

Pastor Kerry Foote (left) and Burton Memorial Methodist Church food bank helpers Cindy Smith, Kim Hamilton, Susan Anderson, Lori Johnson, Maureen Dodge, Genaro Urtchero, Lisa Weber, Bonnie Luikhart, and "grandchildren helpers" Lori, Jordan, and Kayla.

Editor's Note: Great job, Key Largo! Special thanks to Photographer Cindy Smith for sharing these pictures of a very successful "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive.

EDDM Opens Door to Sales Opportunities

Take a trip down "Simplified Way." The South Florida District is offering free seminars to help small businesses save money on their mailings. It’s part of a “Grow Your Business Days” initiative promoting Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) in South Florida and across the nation.

EDDM lets a business market to every address in the neighborhoods near the business without the need for names or street addresses. The business saves the cost of renting a mailing list and does not require a postage permit to mail. That means no annual fee! Just bring mail bundles to the Post Office that services the area you want to reach, and letter carriers will deliver these mailpieces during regular delivery. And the postage is only 14.2 cents per piece!

Nearly any business can take advantage of EDDM’s marketing power, according to Grow Your Business Days Coordinator Lillian Castro. Retailers include auto dealers, restaurants and pizzerias, pharmacies, clothing stores, furniture dealers, flower shops, coffee shops, and bakeries would benefit. Not to mention service-based businesses such as attorneys, health care professionals, dry cleaners, home improvement companies, and real estate firms.

EDDM Requirements: Mail must be dropped at the Post Office that services the carrier routes being targeted, 5,000 maximum mailpieces per mailer per day, per-piece weight up to 3.3 ounces, Standard Mail flats only.

If you know a business that would be interested, registration for a free “Every Door Direct Mail” seminar (below) is at usps.com/growyourbusinessdays. Are you a small business owner? Employees are invited to attend, but their participation must be off the clock. An employee also must register to reserve a seat. If you have any questions, please contact Lillian Castro at 954-436-4417.

"Stamping Out Hunger" in Miramar

Live from the Miramar Post Office! NALC Branch 1071 Vice President/Food Drive Coordinator Laurie Miale promotes the "Stamp Out Hunger" effort for WPLG's Saturday morning news broadcast.

NALC Branch 1071 Shop Steward/Letter Carrier Michael Brisebois tells WPLG staffers that his customers are very generous with canned food donations. He also says that the food drive is a very rewarding experience.

WPLG videographer records NALC Branch 1071 Shop Steward/Letter Carrier Paul Lehoux arranging canned goods on the dock of the Miramar Post Office.

If you'd like your digital photos of the 19th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive posted on this blog, please send them to debbie.j.fetterly@usps.gov.

Celebrating Career Milestones in May

45 YEARS: Joseph E. Director, Boca Rio Branch

40 YEARS: Isaac Ford, Jr., Little River Station; Charles Harris, Opa-locka Post Office; Richard E. Kalchuk, Pembroke Pines Branch; Michael R. Ranta, Lake Worth Main Office Station

35 YEARS: Hugh A. Chance, Fort Lauderdale P&DC; Manuel V. Ferrer, Opa-locka Post Office; Marcel Jeanty, South Florida L&DC; Alan Kwoczka, Olympia Heights Branch; Herbert R. Owens, Palm City Carrier Annex; Rafael Rosado, South Florida P&DC

30 YEARS: Andrew Acebal, Country Lakes Branch; Juan A. Aviles, South Miami Branch; Arthur B. Barber, Westside Branch; Richard A. Beaudoin, Delray Beach Post Office; Dorothy R. Berman, North Miami Beach Branch; Alvin L. Breedlove, Norland Branch; Larry A. Brewer, West Palm Beach P&DC; Efrain O. Camacho, South Florida P&DC; Roger A. Chiaravalle, Jr., Boca Downtown Station; Connie D. Davis, Fort Lauderdale Main Office; Diane L. Genneken, Delray Beach Post Office; Daniel F. Granger, Boca Rio Branch; Larry W. Jackson, Quail Heights Branch; Russell S. Johnson, Quail Heights Branch; Billie A. Lymas Johnson, Pompano Beach Main Office; Michael J. McFadden, Olympia Heights Branch; Adela E. Mesa, Miami Gardens Branch; Willie M. Mike, North Miami Beach Branch; Marian M. Moore, West Palm Beach P&DC; Linda S. Nesbitt, West Palm Beach P&DC; Ubaldo Perez, West Palm Beach P&DC; Donald J. Pescitelli, Milam Dairy Branch; Elsya Y. Ravelo, South Florida L&DC; Charles E. Sullivan, North Miami Branch; Coleman E. Taylor, Jr., Norland Branch; Anthony D. Thomas, Lauderhill Crossroads Annex; Joseph Vanghelof , Miami VMF; Marguerite L. Way, Lake Worth Main Office Station

25 YEARS: Vernell M. Arinah, Buena Vista Station; Carolyn M. Ball, Alridge Station; Deborah T. Bonito, Plantation Branch; Charles D. Buchanan, Port St. Lucie Branch; William J. Burns III, Miami Gardens Branch; Keith E. Carr, Melrose Vista Branch; Anthony M. Catania, Plantation Branch; Emma K. Cusack, Alridge Station; Robert Feliciano, Alridge Station; Raymond M. German, Fort Lauderdale Main Office Carrier Annex; Briggett R. Glinton, Miami GMF Finance Station; Revertha W. Grace, Fort Lauderdale P&DC; Larry G. Haynes, Margate Branch; Mary B. Hudson-Fuller, Fort Lauderdale P&DC; Thomas J. Kristian, West Palm Beach P&DC; William P. Lloyd, Miami P&DC; Clara L. Lopez, Miami ISC; Carla Y. Mann, Norland Branch; Lashawn R. Manuel, Weston Branch; Thurackal U. Mathew, Pembroke Pines Branch; Glenn R. McCormick, Weston Branch; Mary A. McMillan, Fort Lauderdale Main Office Carrier Annex; Wilfredo Morales, Sr., St. Lucie West Branch; Elveta V. Newton-Sheppard, Miami P&DC; David A. Parrott, Fort Lauderdale P&DC; Candido Perez, South Florida P&DC; Fidel Pino, South Florida District; Kimberly A. Pishko, Woodlands Station; Marilynn Y. Purdy, South Florida L&DC; Juan Rivera, Gratigny Branch; William J. Roach, Jr., West Palm Beach P&DC; John Roddin, Stuart Post Office; Isabel C. Rodriguez-Rosado, Everglades Branch; Agnes T. Roland, Fort Lauderdale Main Office Carrier Annex; Kimberly Y. Santos, Tropical Reef Station; Linda L. Simmons, Southside Station; Janet F. Spells, Fort Pierce Main Office Station; Michael W. Strenges, Boca Rio Branch; Denise W. Thompson, Miami P&DC; Barrington A. Walters, West Palm Beach P&DC; Lesly A. Warmbrandt, South Florida P&DC; Angela D. Williamson, Palm Beach Gardens Mall; Susan M. Wransky, West Palm Beach P&DC