U.S. Postal Service

For Batavia native and longtime Elba resident Sal Oddo, his induction into the Rochester Softball Association Hall of Fame extends far beyond an individual award.

“First off, you don’t think you’re ever going to make it with so many good ballplayers out there. But now that I have been honored, if I could split my plaque a couple hundred different ways – with all the players I played with and those I played against – I would do it because they’re all hall of famers to me,” said Oddo, during an interview with The Batavian on Monday afternoon.

Oddo, in his 58^th year of slow-pitch softball (he started as a teenager on Kibbe Park and Woodward Field diamonds in the city), was enshrined into the RSA Hall of Fame as a Senior Manager on Friday night at a ceremony at the Italian American Community Center in Rochester.

Thirteen of his family members and friends were on hand to witness the induction, including his wife, Debbie; children, Tara and Jonathan, and their spouses, Adam Higgins and Ivy Durr Oddo; parents, Joe and Fran; sister and brother-in-law, Marianne and Rich Anderson, and cousin, Dan DiMartino.

His other son, Jason, lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Bobbi, and was unable to attend. Sal and Debbie have nine grandkids – three from each of their children.

Oddo made his mark as an elite pitcher while playing primarily in Batavia and Oakfield, leading teams to numerous league and tournament titles, while garnering most valuable player trophies along the way.

In 2003, he set his sights on the senior softball circuit in Rochester – looking to see how he stacked up against some of the elite players in the Lilac City area.

“I started with the John Warren Foundation team and really wanted to be on a travel team,” he said. “At the time, there was no room, so I was put on a B (level) team in the Rochester Senior Softball Traveling League. We went undefeated and I won the MVP of the league. That was a pretty big highlight for me. And after that, I started pitching a lot for the John Warren Foundation top team.”

Oddo, who said he has pitched several one-hitters (not an easy feat in slow-pitch softball), led his Warren Foundation squad to the International Senior Softball Association World Championship in 2005 in Manassas, Va., and three years later, went unbeaten as a pitcher as the team captured the World Championships in Las Vegas.

In 2015, Oddo was player-manager on the RocCity 55 team that won the Tournament of Champions in Winter Haven, Fla., and in 2017, he managed the Building Innovation Group club to national and TOC crowns.

All told, between 2014-2017, Oddo’s teams won six national titles along with the two Senior Softball USA Tournament of Champion national championships in Winter Haven.

He said he considers it a privilege to compete with the “younger seniors.”

“Even as I got older, I always played in the 50 or 55 age division leagues,” said Oddo, noting that Rochester is a hotbed of softball activity for players right into their 70’s and 80’s. “When I think of all the players I’ve seen across the nation, I consider Rochester softball by far the strongest group because we have so many outstanding players and teams.”

Oddo said he is “blessed” to have been able to play so long – overcoming serious illness in 2002 and a back injury in 2014 – and to be able to travel throughout the U.S. to compete in tournaments.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have a chance to travel because I was the main provider for the family,” he said, mentioning a 45-year career with the U.S. Postal Service (these days, you can find him at the Stafford Post Office) and 15 years as a paddock judge at Batavia Downs. “When I lost my racetrack job, I said I wanted to see if I could play with the big boys and, it has turned out very well.”

He said he gives thanks to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the support of his wife and family for all that he’s accomplished in softball.

“I’ve played in so many places and I’ve made so many friends, and they’re like family,” he said. “I’ve been blessed for some reason where my teams have won a lot. Even as a manager, it seemed that I had a knack to pick the right guys – not always the best players but the players who best fit the team and were nice people. Strong individuals that could play softball.”

Oddo continues to shine on the local scene, as well, pitching and coaching a new generation of softball players to titles this past season in the Batavia-Oakfield summer league and the Cobbs Hill (Rochester) A Division fall league.

A mail carrier whose route includes South Main Street in Batavia is "the hero of our office right now," said a local manager of the Post Office in Batavia.

The name of the carrier has not yet been released by the U.S. Postal Service, but the manager said this isn't the first time the carrier has stepped up in an emergency. This winter, she called 9-1-1 after a man on her route stuck his hand in a running snowblower.

At about 2:45 p.m., the carrier was outside 152 South  Main St., Batavia, when she heard a woman inside screaming, according to a witness. The carrier entered the house where a pitbull mix was attacking a home health care aide and its owner.  The carrier deployed her pepper spray and stopped the attack.

A female occupant of the house was not injured.

The dog was secured in a bedroom of the residence, and 9-1-1 was called.

Both the health care worker and the male occupant of the home were seriously injured, but Sgt. Mitch Cowen, Batavia PD, said the injuries are not considered life-threatening. One patient was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment, and the other to Erie County Medical Center.

The dog, Steve, was removed from the home by animal control officers while being restrained by poles and taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

Cowen said the fate of the dog depends on the outcome of a police investigation. They will check records to determine if there have been prior reports of the dog acting in a vicious manner. Officers will also conduct interviews to determine if the dog has exhibited vicious behavior previously. 

An area resident who passes the house frequently said he's often heard a dog inside barking.

Nearby neighbors said they've seen the dog outside but have never seen it act in a vicious manner.  They said they've seen other visitors to the house, including health aide workers, and they weren't aware of any issue with the dog on prior visits.

Press release:

A day before he heads back to Washington, D.C., to lead negotiations on the next coronavirus recovery bill, COVID-4, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer revealed that U.S. Post offices, including those across Upstate New York, could be forced to shut their doors unless they get an immediate infusion of funds and the personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies needed to keep workers and the mail-receiving public safe.

Schumer, citing the worry, made a vow, today, to fight for a critically needed $25 billion for the USPS so they can keep the doors open and the mail moving for all Americans.  

“All across Upstate New York, from Western and Central New York, to the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Capital District, Hudson Valley, or beyond, the USPS performs a lifeline service for countless Americans and the people of New York that must continue amid and beyond this pandemic,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

“The fact is, the coronavirus has severely crippled USPS operations and their funds. Despite that, they have kept the doors open, the mail -- and really the economy -- moving, and now they need the help to sustain their pace. The fight to keep our post offices open by injecting the dollars needed to do the job and purchase the personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies required to keep everyone safe will begin tomorrow, and I am here to say: I vow to lead it."

Schumer explained the fight to keep post offices across the country open will begin this upcoming week. He said the services provided by USPS amount to lifelines for millions of Americans that cannot be replaced or easily replicated, especially in certain parts of the country.

Schumer detailed how the coronavirus pandemic has crippled our post offices and their operations as he stressed their relevance and importance to our larger economic recovery.

According to the Associated Press, mail volume is down by more than 30 percent from last year because of the coronavirus, and the Postal Service says losses will increase by more than $22 billion over the next 18 months.

Schumer added that the monumental costs of personal protective equipment (PPE) are also driving huge costs for the USPS. Those supplies are needed to keep workers and the mail-receiving public safe. Schumer said the USPS will need dollars to purchase the PPE it needs, in addition to funding to offset the aforementioned operational shortfalls delivered by the coronavirus.

“We are unable to predict the duration of COVID-19 business closures and the duration of the recession we are currently experiencing: however, this situation will materially damage our financial condition,” said USPS Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett.

“While we continue to conserve capital and reduce expenses in areas where volumes are declining, our ability to continue to serve the nation will require substantial finding from the federal government or other sources.”

“The bottom line here," added Schumer, "is that without the U.S. Postal Service in operation, we might as well stamp ‘Return to Sender’ on any economic recovery plan that is presented.”   

The U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation: 160 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations, according to the Service.

Press release:

U.S. Postal Service is looking to hire temporary clerk assistants in Post Offices around Western NY (Buffalo, Rochester, Jamestown, Elmira and surrounding areas).

The deadline to apply is April 11.

Pay is $17.95 per hour. THE ONLY WAY TO APPLY IS TO GO TO www.usps.com/careers.

From the website, click on “Search Jobs” select “New York,” click “Start,” and then click on the link for the appropriate job.

A general overview of USPS employment requirements, specific job requirements, and hourly pay is available at the website.

Applicants must be 18 years of age, or 16 years of age with a high school diploma. All applicants must be able to pass drug screening and a criminal background investigation. Some positions require an exam.

Any position that has a driving requirement will also require a valid driver’s license and a clean DMV two-year driving history. Citizenship or permanent resident status is required.

Additionally, if an applicant has been outside of the U.S. for more than six months out of the last five years, the Postal Service is not able to process a clearance for them. This applies to both U.S. Citizens and non-U.S. Citizens.

Job openings will be regularly updated; additional positions are available. Interested applicants should log on to http://usps.com/careers frequently to check for new postings.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

A letter in Friday's mail at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office took the term "snail mail" to a whole nother level -- the batch contained an envelope postmarked 12 p.m. Aug. 30, 1929, from Youngstown, Ohio to a man living at 14 Main St., the address of the local jail.

That's exactly one week shy of 90 years: Aug. 30, 1929, to Aug. 23, 2019.

"We thought it was pretty interesting," said Sheriff William Sheron this afternoon.

Even more notable is the black stamp on the left side of the "via air mail" envelope, distinctly bordered in red, white and blue, declaring it was being delivered by the "first official airmail pick-up in the United States."

Like the sender, the courier was also out of Youngstown, Ohio, a newfangled service named "Adams Non-Stop Method."

But the missive for Carl L. Wenzel was obviously dead in its tracks someplace.

The back of the envelope shows a stamp indicating it arrived promptly in Batavia, NY, at 9 a.m. on Aug. 31, 1929.

So Adams Non-Stop Method was fast; its claim valid. Trusty pilot Harry Seivers did his job.

The Batavia Postmaster at the time was Henry R. Ware (tenure 1927 to 1933). To think that this piece of mail has been next door to the jail at the Post Office on Main Street perhaps all this time...

But the U.S. Postal Service is dedicated and, by God, if a piece of mail turns up, they'll get it to you regardless. Remember their motto: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

The passage of time is irrelevant, even though the intended recipient is long dead. It's the principle that counts.

The envelope intended for Wenzel only contained seven small blank rectangles of paper, sent to him by someone apparently wanting to correspond or at least supply him with the means to correspond with somebody.

The sender in 1929 paid for two five-cent stamps with bespectacled Teddy Roosevelt on them -- a value of $1.50 in today's dollars. That's when gas was a quarter a gallon and a pound of steak cost 52 cents -- before the stock market crashed two months later and changed everyone's math for the worse for a long time.

(Here's a link where ephemera buffs can bid on similar pieces of mail.)

Below, the seven blank pages of writing paper that were inside the envelope.

Bottom, the back of the envelope, showing it was received in Batavia, NY, at 9 a.m. Aug. 31, 1929.