Discounts to Honor Service Men & Women

Eat Free at Applebee's
Military veterans and active-duty service members will be able to eat free at any Applebee's across the U.S. on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. There will be six entrées available from the menu. Guests will be asked to show one or more of the following as proof of service: a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, a photograph in uniform, or wearing a uniform in person. For more information about Veterans Day at Applebee's, visit the Applebee's website http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx.

Military Eat Free at Golden Corral
Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, Nov. 15, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, or in the National Guard/Reserves, you are invited to dine at Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization. For more info: http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.

McCormick & Schmick's Complimentary Lunch or Dinner
Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée on Sunday, Nov. 7. Some of the mouth-watering selections include Cashew-Crusted Tilapia, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Seafood Fettuccini Alfredo and Cedar-Planked Salmon. For more info: http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx .

Salute from Outback Steakhouse
As an expression of Outback Steakhouse's appreciation to our country's veterans and active duty military*, a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage of choice (one non-alcoholic drink or one draft Anheuser Busch beer except where prohibited by law) will be available to them at every Outback in the country on Veterans Day. For more info: http://www.outback.com/pressroom/pr_101018.aspx.

Home Depot and Lowe’s Military Discount
Home Depot and Lowe’s have long been known to offer a 10% holiday discount to military members and their families, and in many cases, veterans and retirees. These promotions were usually limited to the main military holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day. Well, no longer – both companies have announced these offers are available every day of the week. For more info: http://themilitarywallet.com/home-depot-lowes-10-military-discount/.

Fee Free Day at National Parks
To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that areas managed by the department would not charge entrance fees on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Colonial Williamsburg Free Admission
Colonial Williamsburg honors America's veterans with a procession down Duke of Gloucester Street, 4:30 pm, beginning at the Capitol. The parade culminates in a public ceremony, with militia and cannon crew firing volleys in recognition of those who serve. Hear Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums, and speakers from past and present. Active duty military, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents enjoy free admission passes Friday through Wednesday, Nov. 6-11. For more info:
http://www.history.org/visit/eventsAndExhibits/calendar/index.cfm?id=421009&startAt=1&&searchAll=0&categorySelect=&&keyWords=veteran&itemsPerPage=25&types=&start_date=11/11/2010&end_date=11/11/2010#show_undefined

(Editor's Note: Special thanks to John Zeigler for sharing this information with us.)

PCC Offers "Mailing Tune Up" to Businesses

South Florida businesses interested in saving money will want to register for a free workshop that includes a “mailing tune up” sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Postal Customer Council.

The workshop is set for Friday, November 5, from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, in the Postmaster’s Conference Room at the Miami General Mail Facility, 2200 NW 72 Avenue, Miami. In addition to the tune up, businesses will learn about Direct Mail and online holiday shipping and package options, and get an overview of the Postal Service. A free continental breakfast will be included.

Postal Customer Councils establish an effective dialogue and improve communication between the U.S. Postal Service and its customers. PCCs help keep customers apprised of changes in service, make suggestions or improvements to their local Postmaster, and give customers a role in the postal decision-making process. Nationwide, there are more than 200 PCCs, including the Miami-Dade County PCC, that regularly meet and conduct mailer clinics, educational workshops, and business expos.

To register for this event, please visit: http://www.miamipcc.com/machform/view.php?id=16

Key West to Pay Tribute to All Veterans

Key West Postmaster Jane Evans invites all Florida Keys employees to join her in paying tribute to veterans, past and present, on Thursday, November 11.

The Postmaster is coordinating postal participation on a float in the annual Key West Veterans Day Parade. Beginning at 4 pm, the parade will travel along Duval Street, with a reviewing stand near Fleming and Duval. In addition to the postal float, military units, veterans' groups, and other patriotic units will march through the streets of Old Town Key West.

Key West always has been an important military post, since it sits at the northern edge of the deepwater channel connecting the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico via the Florida Straits. Fort Taylor was initially built on the island. The Navy added a small base from which the USS Maine sailed to its demise in Havana, Cuba at the beginning of the Spanish-American War. In the beginning of World War II, the Navy increased its presence from 50 acres to 3,000 acres, including all of Boca Chica Key's 1,700 acres, and the construction of Fleming Key. The Naval Air Station Key West is the main facility on Boca Chica, where the Navy trains its pilots.

USPS Rated Top Business for Hispanics

The Postal Service’s commitment to diversity has placed it among the best of the best employers to work for, according to HispanicBusiness magazine’s Diversity Elite 60, a list of the nation’s top organizations that promote and model diversity in the workplace.

Ranking among the top 15 for leadership and personnel, the Postal Service, with 52,000 Hispanic employees, met 33 variables that measure a company’s commitment to Hispanic hiring, promotion, marketing, philanthropy and supplier diversity. HispanicBusiness magazine compiled the list after contacting the top Fortune 1000 companies, American subsidiaries of Global 500 companies and large U.S. public and private companies.

“The Postal Service recognizes the value and diversity of all of our employees and is proud to be recognized for it,” said Anthony Vegliante, chief human resources officer and executive vice president. “As one of the nation’s largest employers, we embrace diversity as a vital component to enriching our workplace while better serving our customers — now and into the future.”

“We view diversity as a winning business strategy and use it as a tool to deliver results in developing our workforce and promoting postal products and services,” said Susan LaChance, vice president, Employee Development and Diversity. “Quite simply, it makes good business sense.”

Halloween Counsel from the Pumpkin Patch

Young Jacob Rousseau and his Mom pick out a pumpkin to celebrate Halloween. Jacob and Mom (Millie Acebal Rousseau) are the grandson and daughter of Hispanic Program Specialist Jacinto Acebal. They encourage fun on Halloween, but remind all of us to keep it a safe holiday. Here are some Halloween guidelines for kids, teens, and young adults:

-- Never, ever go into a strangers house or even ring their door for treats unless your parents are with you and say that it's okay. There are some people in life that aren't very nice to kids and you have to be careful. Always make sure that your Mom or Dad is within sight when you go out trick-or-treating.

-- Be careful when you cross a street. Make sure to look in both directions and make sure that there are no cars coming. If you have a little brother or sister with you, take their hand and help them get across the street, too. If the street has a stop light, wait until the cross walk light tells you that it's okay to cross now, but still check before you cross, look both ways.

-- If you are an older kid or young teen, and going out with friends, make sure that your parents know where you are going and who you are going with. This may seem like a pain but they are your parents and they love you. They just want you to be safe.

-- If you can drive and are taking a bunch of friends to a party, make sure that you have enough gas to get there. You don't want to run out on a dark street, all alone, like a bad horror movie!
If you parents give you a curfew, be home when they say. It builds trust between you and them and they are doing it for your own safety. If you are going to be late, call them and let them know.

-- Vandalism is never cool! Throwing eggs at cars and houses is not cool. Someone has to clean it up and it could be you, if you get caught. You can also be arrested and punished as a juvenile. So, don't think that it's fun only if you can get away with it. It's never the right thing to do!

-- Hurting animals is never acceptable behavior! Some people use Halloween as an excuse to hurt cats and that is just wrong! Not only is it illegal in most places to hurt or torture animals and punishable by law, you should never hurt a helpless living thing.