By Barbara Morris
Usually this time of year we feel somewhat inundated, but somehow, things always seem to work out all right.
This time last year, we were being told that at the stroke of midnight Dec. 31, 1999, the lights, water, and almost everything else would stop functioning because of a “Y2K” computer glitch. Of course, that never happened. Some people spent a lot of unnecessary time, and money, worrying over nothing.
What we didn't foresee was the Presidential Election mess.
Some say this season has become much too commercialized. Possibly. To me, the twinkling lights, the holiday colors all around, all the special activities in the houses of worship, are healthy signs that buoy the spirits and make things better for everyone.
What I have found distressing is the disrespect some people have for merchants and the items they have available for sale. I have seen people knock over beautiful plants, and then run shopping carts right over them and the broken pots they were in. Fuzzy baby toys are dropped onto the floor and stepped on. Meat, frozen foods are selected and tossed aside onto some misplaced shelf to stay and spoil because some lazy, thoughtless shopper had a change of mind. To me, that is as bad as theft.
People who do that not only deprive the merchant of selling those items, they help raise the prices that the rest or us must pay. Let's hope things get much better next year! There's still time for some good reports about this year, too.
At a meeting in the Jamaica post office, I heard a lot of interesting news. Our postmaster for the Jamaica Post Office District, Gino Gentilini, was raised in South Jamaica, was a letter carrier by day, and by night, worked in his brother's store on Merrick Boulevard in Rosedale – Rosie's Superette.
He, Thomas Daniels (who is chairman of the Customer Advisory Council meetings), and area managers Mike Lowry and Frank Fazio, are trying very hard to improve the services available to us and to encourage community outreach by employees or the United States Postal Service. Mr. Gentilini is, in fact, being honored for his very successful efforts in community outreach.
Postal employees are generous indeed with their time and money. Many houses of worship benefited through their donations of turkeys at Thanksgiving.
Some were able to give them to families in need, while others had volunteers cook them to serve meals to those who might not have had any good to eat. Some 300 postal employees participated in the Breast Cancer Walkathon, and now the Service employees are helping supply Toys for Tots, toys for St. Mary's Hospital for Children in Bayside, Kings Inn Shelter in Elmhurst, and are helping Santa fill the letter requests sent to him by way of the post office in Jamaica. (These letters are also available in Jamaica to members of the public who want to add a smile or two to some child's face during the holiday season).
Postal employees will also visit a nursing home and will take Christmas cactus to all the residents.
The postal employees provided an opportunity for youngsters to have a “Photo With Santa” at the Flushing post office; scheduled Barnes & Noble book fairs, encouraged children to read, participated in the 13th Annual World AIDS Day display of an AIDS Memorial Quilt and are now taking part in “Warm Up America,” knitting or crocheting 7-inch squares to be made into patchwork Afghans.
As if all that weren't enough, they are giving us added facilities called Contract Postal Facilities. One is set for l38-03 Jamaica Ave., the other at 233-06A Merrick Blvd., in the Laurelton Realty Office. We're grateful for these folks who serve us so well. We hope you are too. Please remember to keep sidewalks and steps clear of ice, snow and clutter.
