Hey, did you get my present (Christmas card, cookies)? That time-honored excuse, “It must have gotten lost in the mail!” has taken on new credibility this holiday season, as the United States Postal Service, Fed-Ex and United Parcel Service all founder in a sea of undelivered envelopes and packages. When I brought my giant cardboard box of gifts to the Keene Post Office and heaved it up onto the counter, somehow maneuvering it under the virus-proof plastic shield separating me from the employee behind the counter, it was still 10 days before Christmas. Maybe 9. Anyway, I was a lot earlier than usual, and, according to my receipt, my grandchildren in California could expect delivery Dec. 18. When I mentioned this to a friend who works for the Post Office, she said “They’ll be lucky if they get it by Christmas.”
acerbone@adirondackdailyenterprise.com
On Sunday, Dec. 20 two postal workers from the Watertown area handle holiday packages on the Saranac Lake Post Office loading dock. The packages were driven over from the Ray Brook Post Office, which suspended package pick-up due to a COVID-19-related staff shortage on Monday, Dec. 21. (News photo Aaron Cerbone)
Post offices in Ray Brook, Bloomingdale, Rainbow Lake and Paul Smiths suspended window, retail and package pick-up services Monday, Dec. 21 due to limited staffing brought on by recent positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines; but the postal service is marshalling resources and employees to fulfill holiday mailing needs at alternate locations.
acerbone@adirondackdailyenterprise.com On Sunday two postal workers from the Watertown area handle holiday packages on the Saranac Lake Post Office loading dock. The packages were driven over from the Ray Brook Post Office, which suspended package pick-up due to a COVID-19-related staff shortage today.
(Enterprise photo â Aaron Cerbone) The Bloomingdale Post Office is one of four suspending package, window and retail services through the end of the year, due to COVID-19-related staffing shortages.
(Enterprise photo â Aaron Cerbone)
On Sunday two postal workers from the Watertown area handle holiday packages on the Saranac Lake Post Office loading dock. The packages were driven over from the Ray Brook Post Office, which suspended package pick-up due to a COVID-19-related staff shortage today.