Future of Reading Post Office Still Unclear

USPS sent a representative to a selectmen's meeting last month, possibly eliminating the chance for residents to voice their opinions on the subject.

Almost a year ago, the United States Postal Service let postal workers and officials in town know that they were considering selling the Haven Street post office. USPS coordinator for the project Michael Foley told the Chronicle that they would need to find a buyer first. Then last month, USPS started the official process for closing the office, savethepostoffice.com said. Some services may be relocated to the Woburn facility if the building is sold. To sell the post office, USPS has to go through two legal processes, according to savethepostoffice.com. One process for making the decision to move the retail services and another for selling a historic building. The regulations on re-locations allow for public input before any decisions are …

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Will Mail Be Delivered Today?

The Saturday suspension of mail delivery debate applies to today: but not because of USPS budget problems!

  You may be wondering if there'll be any new mail in your mailbox today (that is, if you can even make it to your mailbox, with all this snow.) The answer is that mail service in all of New England — not just Massachusetts — has been suspended, according to the Huffington Post. The ban extends throughout all six New England states. The unusual decision was made due to safety concerns, according to Postal Service spokeswoman Christine Dugas. The decision came after over two feet of snow falling throughout much of New England made many roads impassable, she said. Dugas reminded people to clear around their mailboxes or paths to their homes by Monday, when mail delivery will resume.

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U.S. Senate Candidates Oppose Ending Saturday Mail Deliveries

The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday proposed ending first-class mail delivery on Saturdays.

In the coming weeks, Congressmen Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch will likely try to distance themselves as they seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. But on Wednesday, both men spoke out about the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to cut first-class mail delivery on Saturday. The plan calls to end regular mail service, while maintaining Saturday delivery for packages and express mail. Lynch said he is “deeply concerned” that the postal service announced its proposal “without congressional consent. “The elimination of Saturday mail delivery will have a negative impact on thousands of businesses across the nation that are operating on a six-day schedule.  This could be a damaging policy change in a fragile economy.  "Clearly, the …

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Stamp Prices to Rise One Cent Next Week

U.S. Postal Service rates are set to change on Sunday, Jan. 27.

  The cost to mail a letter will rise slightly next week when postal-rate changes go into effect, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Stamp prices will increase one cent, from 45 cents to 46 cents, to mail one-ounce letters, effective Jan. 27. The cost for letters weighing more than one ounce will stay the same, at 20 cents for each additional ounce, an announcement from the postal service says. Postcard stamps will also see a one-cent increase, from 32 cents to 33 cents. Letters under one ounce mailed anywhere internationally will cost $1.10, the announcement says. Those looking to save a few cents could stock up on the postal service's Forever stamps (costing 45 cents until the one-cent increase on Jan. 27), which are usable even after…

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Main Street Processing Center Will Remain Open

The Greater Boston Area Mail Processing (AMP) Studies are completed and the Main Street Processing Center will not be closing.

Since September of last year, there has been speculation that the United States Postal Service (USPS) was going to close the Main Street processing center; however, it was confirmed Thursday that the center will remain open. After a five-month long study, the USPS will likely close Shrewsbury and Waltham and move some of their mail processing operations to the North Reading facility. The mail processing operations that were previously done in the Northwest-Boston Processing and Distribution Center in Waltham and the Central MA Processing and Distribution Center in Shrewsbury will be moved and split between the Main Street processing center and Boston Processing and Distribution Center. In turn, some of the mail processing operations that …

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Postmaster Returns to Town After 24 Years

Postmaster Bill Dunn started his career in North Reading as a letter carrier 29 years ago.

Bill Dunn started his career with the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 1983 in North Reading as a letter carrier and is now the town’s postmaster. In his 29th year of service, Dunn is happy to be back in North Reading. After working in town for five years, Dunn was promoted and transferred to Wilmington where he worked as the superintendent of postal operations for 17 years. Throughout that time, he was transferred to other offices such as Lynnfield, Rowley and Middleton for months at a time where he worked as their postmaster until USPS filled the open position. “You get a feel for other operations and how other towns operate. It’s a change of pace, it broadens your knowledge and gives you the opportunity to work for new people and …

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Stamp Prices To Increase One Cent

The price for a stamp will go up on Jan. 22.

The price you pay for a book of stamps will increase later this month. The United States Postal Service (USPS) will charge 45 cents for stamps starting on Jan. 22 - a one cent increase. By law, the USPS is unable to raise the price of stamps more than the rate of inflation, which is 2.1 percent as reported in the Christian Science Monitor. Stock up on "Forever" stamps now as you will still be able to use them after rates go up. Other price changes include postcards, which will cost 32 cents instead of 29, letters to Canada and Mexico will cost 85 cents as opposed to the previous 80 cents, letters to other foreign countries will cost $1.05 instead of 98 cents and prices for advertising mail, parcels and periodicals will rise 2.1 percent. …

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Meeting Explores Post Office Processing Center Changes

The status of the Middlesex-Essex Processing and Distribution Center on Main Street will be discussed at a meeting Jan. 18.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will hold a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18 regarding the future of the processing center on Main Street. The processing center is on a list along with seven others throughout the state being studied due to budget cuts. The meeting will take place on Jan. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Walter S. Parker Middle School, 45 Temple St., in Reading. At the meeting, USPS managers will provide an overview of a proposal to move mail processing operations from the Main Street processing center into the Boston Processing and Distribution facility. They will also listen to input from community members. According to Communications Program Specialist for the Greater Boston Postal District Dennis Tarmey, the study is not a …

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Five Things to Look For in 2012

Five things that may change North Reading this year.

2012 has officially begun. North Reading will see some changes this year. Here are five things to look for: 1. A new school. The school building project may be approved this year, which means a new middle/high school for North Reading students. 2. Stop & Shop. The old Stop & Shop building has been vacant for over a year. 2012 could bring a new tenant to the building. 3. New Police Chief. Chief Edward Nolan has retired and new Chief Mike Murphy will be sworn in January 3. 4. McDonald's. Have you noticed that the McDonald's on Main Street is being renovated? Residents can look forward to a new McDonald's this year. 5. Post Office. The United States Postal Service (USPS) processing center on Main Street may close this year. The center is …

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You Ask ... Patch Answers

Main Street Mail Processing Center Will Remain Open

Residents are wondering about the USPS processing center on Main Street.

Welcome to You Asked...Patch Answers where we answer readers questions. We recently received questions about the United States Postal Service (USPS) processing center on Main Street. Patch readers want to know if the facility is closing. Here's your answer. Patch readers heard that workers from the USPS processing center on Main Street received letters stating that the center will be closing. According to Communications Program Specialist for the Greater Boston Postal District Dennis Tarmey, that is not true. Workers in North Reading can count on keeping their jobs, for now.  "It's not being considered at this time. That could change months from now," Tarmey said. Plants in Massachusetts including those in Waltham, Shrewsbury, Wareham and …

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