NY Reps Letter to the Postmaster General for Westbrookville

Back in June, some surprising and even shocking news struck the hamlet of Westbrookville, New York. The news came out of nowhere with zero warning whatsoever and forced residents to have to adjust an important aspect of their day-to-day lives. That shocking news was that the Westbrookville Post Office would be abruptly closing its doors.

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This leads us to the present day where one New York Representative is attempting to and calling for the reopening of the very same Westbrookville Post Office that had its doors shut.

Photo by Tareq Ismail on Unsplash

Congressman Ryan Going to Bat for Westbrookville

On Monday, August 28, New York Congressman Pat Ryan sent out a letter to the United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The letter itself has one goal, the immediate reopening of the post office located in Westbrookville.

In his letter, Congressman Ryan highlighted a number of reasons why the Westbrookville post office must be reopened. At the same time, Congressman Ryan also addressed how the initial closing of the office was not only wrong but broke a number of USPS rules and regulations.

Ralf Geithe

One issue Congressman Ryan pointed out was how a number of senior residents in the Westbrookville community relied on the post office in order to "access medications" that they needed. The closing of the post office also forced residents to venture to other towns to receive the same postal services that all residents need.

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Congressman Ryan also addressed issues with how the post office closed in the first place. The main issue was that according to USPS regulations, post offices are required to give their constituents a 60 day warning in regard to the announcement of a closure. In Westbrookville, residents had only received a 24 hour notice. That notification came to Westbrookville residents only on June 28, 2023 with the office closing on the 29th.

Reopening the Post Office

As you can imagine, opening or reopening a post office is not as simple as unlocking the doors. Congressman Ryan also addressed how this could be done in the letter. The letter stated that for the Westbrookville location is referred to as a CPU or a Contract Postal Unit.

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Being a CPU in regards to the post office means that multiple interested parties would send in their own competitive contract offers and applications to be decided upon. Congressman Ryan urged that Postmaster General DeJoy review every possible application in order to have the post office open again as soon as possible for the people of Westbrookville. Congressman Ryan concluded his letter by saying...

Original Story Here: Westbrookville Post Office Surprise Closing Stuns Local Residents

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to working together to reopen a Post Office in this community as soon as possible.

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The Borscht Belt Museum will open in Ulster County,NY. This allows for the history of the Borscht Belt to carry on in the Hudson Valley.

While celebrities in the past visited the Borscht Belt region, there will be more involved in the community when this museum opens in 2025.

Fran Drescher And Fellow Celebrities Will Sit On A Hudson Valley Museum Board

Fran Drescher is a celebrity that almost everyone likes. Known for her role as Fran Fine in The Nanny, the world couldn't help but laugh at her jokes, statements, and relatable interactions with other members of the show.

According to Yahoo News,

Fran Drescher isn't the only celebrity who will be in the Catskills.

"The museum’s list of advisory board members includes Fran Drescher, Harvey Fierstein, Judd Hirsch, Robert Klein and Richard Lewis — a fitting cast for a place where some of the nation’s top comedians got their start."

Have You Ever Heard Of The Borscht Belt?

According to Borscht Belt Museum.org,

"For generations of Jews in the New York metropolitan area, there was no doubt about the location of those “mountains.” Less than 100 miles from the cramped, sweltering tenements of Manhattan’s Lower East Side was a lush patchwork of forests, farms and bustling rural towns that hosted a summertime population of nearly a million urban strivers hungry for the clean air, fresh food and familiar camaraderie that even a garment worker or cab driver could afford."

Spending the summer in the Catskills sounds ideal.

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Some may know this area or region to be called Solomon County, Jewish Alps or The Mountains. The Borscht Belt was also another term that most people remember the most.

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I took a day trip to the Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, NY. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a humorous sign stating "Come in and schmooze, free admission".

When I entered the museum, I was greeted by a volunteer. I was able to walk around and see memorabilia from the different resorts of the Borscht Belt region and community.

I was also told that this museum is a pop up for now, they will continue to change the set up as well. 2025 marks the year that the Borscht Belt Museum will officially open.