Would You Miss Saturday Mail Delivery?

A proposal would end Saturday first-class mail delivery.

  The U.S. Postal Service is reportedly planning to announce today that it will stop Saturday first-class mail delivery by Aug. 1. Mail personnel have delivered mail on Saturdays for 150 years, but the plan is to end regular mail service, while maintaining Saturday delivery for packages and express mail, CBS News reports. The move is the latest attempt by the cash-strapped federal department to save money. It has already cut employees and service, but still reportedly lost $16 billion last year. What do you think about this idea? Would you miss Saturday mail service?

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Stamp Prices to Rise One Cent This Month

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

When you head down to one of Newton's post offices later this month, don't be surprised if the stamp prices are higher than you remember. The cost to mail a letter will rise slightly later this month 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 …

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Get Your Holiday Packages Shipped on Time

The U.S. Postal Service provides information and deadlines to get packages delivered before the holidays are over.

The following information was submitted by the U.S. Postal Service.  As the “Official Shipper of the Holidays,” the United States Postal Service released the suggested mail-by dates to ensure packages, cards, and letters reach their intended destination before the 2011 celebrations begin. Dates are provided as a guide for dropping holiday wishes into the mail. Postmarking for domestic mail — mailed from and delivered within the U.S. — and international mail destined for overseas should occur by: ***GXG Notes: 1 Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance. 2 Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities. 3 Last day to ship to Afghanistan is Dec 19 and Iraq is Dec 16.   Military APO/FPO …

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Question of the Week

Question of the Week: Do you Still Use Your Local Post Office?

Answer our weekly question in the comments box below.

Welcome to the newest Newton Patch feature, Question of the Week. Each week, we'll ask you a question that relates to an issue affecting Newton and its residents. Weigh in with your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Yesterday, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced that it is conducting a review of 3,700 retail locations across the country as part of a study to see which locations it could potentially close. The review process looks to "optimize" the USPS operations.  Included in that study are five Newton post offices, including West Newton, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls, Nonantum and Chestnut Hill. To read more about the study and the process of reviewing the local post offices, check out our story here.  …

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Several Newton Post Offices Could Close After USPS Review

The Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls, West Newton, Nonantum and Boston College (Chestnut Hill) post offices are currently being studied by USPS as it works to optimize its service.

Updated 6:30 p.m. Five Newton post offices could soon close down as part of an effort by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to "optimize" its services. The post offices in Newton Upper Falls (02464), Newton Lower Falls (02462), West Newton (02465), Nonantum (02458) and Boston College (Chestnut Hill, 02467) are currently part of a USPS study that is assessing post offices around the country for potential closure.  According to information posted on the USPS website today, more customers are choosing to do their postal business online, at local shopping areas or on smartphones, leaving less of a need for USPS to maintain nearly 32,000 retail offices nation-wide. “In the next few days the district manager will gather up observations of customer …

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Bill

6:23 pm on Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Frankly, it's tough to summon up much sympathy for an affluent burb where most people drive anyhow -- my condolences for having to drive more than a mile to the nearest PO, folks. How inconvenient.   more ›