THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 13, 2024 Page 3 Town Hall welcomes a retired postal worker who can’t place her “Letters to Santa” mailbox in the Saugus Post Office anymore By Mark E. Vogler R etired postal worker Karen Coburn said she walked out of the Saugus Post Office “heart-broken” last Friday after a former coworker told her she couldn’t set up her “Letters to Santa” mailbox anymore. For more than two decades, she’s always had a special mailbox set up in the lobby of the Cliftondale branch office, to collect letters from local kids who were hoping to get responses back from the North Pole. “I will no longer be allowed to do so. I do not understand or agree with this,” Coburn wrote in a sad, farewell message on social media. “I have been writing personalized letters back from Santa on my own time and dime, not just filling in the child’s name on a form letter but individualizing each and every one,” she said. “The response I have gotten from the parents over the years of their children’s reactions is what inspired me to continue this tradition. I enjoyed all of their little notes to Santa, the ‘love You’s’ and their drawings … Last year, I did over 100 letters [but] this year, I will do none, how sad is that! I am truly sorry for the children that will be disappointed, my heart is broken and thanks for letting me vent. Merry Christmas.” In just a few days, Coburn said, her “vent” on social media had received an inspiring response – more than 400 comments from people who rallied around her, offering support. “I was really starting to give up and throw in the towel,” she said. “But when I saw the response from the people, that really put the fight back in me,” she said. “The reaction from the town’s people was truly amazing. I got teary-eyed over a lot of the comments. It made me realize how tight-knit and caring our community really is,” she said. One of the town residents THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Retired postal worker Karen Coburn said she’s thrilled she can continue answering “Santa Claus” letters from kids after finding a new location for her special mailbox. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) she apparently moved was Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, a father of three children. “After contacting our town manager and explaining my dilemma, he graciously offered to allow me to put Santa’s mailbox at Town Hall,” Coburn said. “Thank you, Scott for keeping the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus alive for our children.” Karen (Perullo) Coburn is a lifelong Saugus resident with an ambitious holiday season hobby: being a pen pal to dozens of kids in town and a few others in surrounding commuGerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 nities who want to write letters to Santa Claus. With the support of the Saugus Post Office, she had gathered “Letters To Santa” for years – until a policy change in the Post Office that goes way beyond Saugus forced her to give up something she grew to love. Coburn retired from the U.S. Postal Service several years ago after three decades – most of it in Saugus – she continued to receive Santa letters because she couldn’t find somebody to take over the project. MAIL | SEE PAGE 8 You can’t stop Santa’s Saugus Mail RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $11.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com
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