Newtown Welcomes

Its New Postmaster

By Kendra Bobowick

“This is the best day the post office has had in a long time,” said Jane Hellman, a Newtown resident who was among a crowd of supporters, friends, family and postal employees welcoming Newtown’s new Postmaster Cathy Zieff during a formal ceremony on Friday, August 3. The event was held inside the United States Postal Service building on Commerce Road that serves as the postal headquarters for Newtown and Sandy Hook.

Sworn in and welcomed to town during an official ceremony that afternoon, Ms Zieff first let slip a hint of what brought her to town.

“I had visited and I knew I wanted to come back,” she said.

Postal employee Lori Rich, formerly of the Newtown branch who has worked with Ms Zieff in the past, is glad to welcome her as the permanent postmaster.

“We have endured a lot of changes and seen a lot of personalities and styles, and Cathy has a great personality,” said Mrs Rich. “She keeps us hopping … I’ve seen things happen — things that I didn’t think could happen.”

Jodi Heslin, a USPS Post Office Operations Manager and Ms Zieff’s supervisor, next spoke about Ms Zieff’s 16-year career with the postal service since she began as a carrier in Ridgefield. Highlighting her changes, promotions and accomplishments, she said, “Cathy likes a challenge … I know she’s up for this challenge.”

Helping her mother Vivian Zieff to her feet, Ms Zieff said, “Mom, can you hold the bible for me?” Soon she and her mother turned to face Ms Heslin, who swore her in as Newtown’s postmaster.

“You wanted me back, and I am back,” Ms Zieff said.

Without a consistent postmaster in the recent past, Ms Zieff had overheard others called Newtown’s Post Office “The Island of Misfit Toys.”

“Well, I am your Santa and I am looking forward to working with you,” she said. Glancing at various postal carriers and employees gathered Friday afternoon, she said, “I see a tremendous amount of capability and I feel you’ve been stifled. That’s going to change. I see potential for this office to be number one.”

She is “extremely happy” to be the new postmaster, Ms Zieff said. “Of all the offices I have worked at, this one feels right. It’s a fit.”

Ms Zieff will ask the staff members to work hard, give their best effort, take pride in their work, have a good time, and get the job done, she said.