Firefighters Host Second Annual Breakfast With Santa
Several community members enjoyed fluffy pancakes, warm coffee and a visit with Santa at the Maumee Association of Professional Firefighters and Paramedics breakfast with Santa Claus.
“I enjoy coming to the fire station and supporting the guys,” said Brad Haydu, who serves as the building engineer at Fairfield Elementary School.
It was the second year for the event, which raised $1,500 for Honor Flight Northwest Ohio, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a third charity that has yet to be determined.
“It seemed like we had a better turnout than last year,” said Connie Durham, the vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4536.
“It’s great to get the community in the station so the kids can visit Santa,” she said.
The event, which took place the morning of December 3 at Maumee Fire Station No. 1, also included raffle prizes and a 50/50 drawing.

Postal Service Provides Guide To Mailing Season’s Greetings
WASHINGTON – With 16.5 billion cards, letters and packages to be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the U.S. Postal Service has shipping tips to help make sure gifts are delivered promptly and safely during the holiday season.
“The Postal Service is making it easier to ship packages to family and friends for the holidays – be it online at usps.com, or by visiting your local Post Office,” said Gary Reblin, vice president, domestic products. “And remember, proper addressing and packaging will ensure every gift receives the service it deserves.”
Shipping can be even easier using Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, he said.
“With Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, you get a combination of value and convenience – one low rate to any state, with no calculating of postage or weighing necessary. If it fits, it ships,” Reblin said.
Customers who mail online with usps.com/clicknship qualify for a discount on Priority Mail and Express Mail.
“The more you ship, the more you save,” Reblin said. “When a package is ready to be shipped, log on to usps.com/pickup to schedule free package pickup right from your home or office. Skip the trip and do all of your shipping online.”
At select locations, Automated Postal Centers provide customers with 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to mailing packages and envelopes. To find an APC near you, log on to usps.com and search for alternate locations to buy stamps.
For customers needing sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, mailing tubes, tape, envelopes and greeting cards, Post Offices nationwide offer ReadyPost, the Postal Service’s exclusive line of pre-packaged shipping products.
Following are other helpful tips from the U.S. Postal Service:
Free Supplies and Services
The Postal Service offers free Priority Mail and Express Mail boxes delivered right to a customer’s home or office, available by ordering at usps.com/holiday.
Free variety packs of Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes also are available, containing one small, two medium and one large Flat Rate Box.
Busy holiday shippers can skip a trip to the Post Office altogether, by scheduling package pickups online. The Postal Service will pick up packages at a time and place convenient for the customer, with schedule and pickup options available on usps.com.
Shipping Basics
Remove batteries from toys and other electronic devices. Wrap and place them next to the item in the mailing box. Customers should include the new batteries in the manufacturer’s packaging.
Place a card inside the package that contains both the delivery and return addresses. This ensures the safe return of an item that could not be delivered should the mailing label become damaged or fall off.
Include both “to” and “from” information on packages – and only on one side.
Always use a return address, which tells the Postal Service where to return mail if it cannot be delivered.
Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents.
Do not reuse mailing boxes as they can weaken in the shipping process.
Leave space for cushioning inside.
Stuff glass and fragile, hollow items, such as vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage.
When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
For Parcel Post packages using a customer-supplied box, the weight cannot exceed 70 pounds and the combined length and width measurement must be 130 inches or less. Make sure the width is measured around the largest point of the package.
Envelope and Package
Addressing Guidelines
Print the complete address clearly.
A complete address includes: the recipient’s name; Post Office box or street number; street name, including suffix (Ave., St., etc.), directional (N, S, E, W) and apartment or suite number if necessary; city, state and five-digit ZIP Code.
Never guess a ZIP Code. No ZIP is better than a wrong ZIP, according to the USPS. Find the correct ZIP Code at usps.com under “Look Up a ZIP Code” or by calling (800) ASK-USPS.
Delivery Dates
The Postal Service recommends the following mail-by dates to ensure gifts arrive on time:
• December 10: Military mail for other overseas bases.
• December 15: Parcel Post, the most economical shipping service.
• December 20: First-Class Mail.
• December 21: Priority Mail.
• December 22: Express Mail.
Due to security requirements, packages bearing postage stamps and weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented to an employee at the retail counter of a Post Office and cannot be dropped in blue collection boxes.
Find more holiday tips and information at usps.com/2011holidaynews.