Salinas, CA — After 99 years of combined service, four Salinas letter carriers will sort their final letters, ring their final door bells and make their last appointed rounds.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, at 8:30 a.m., Steinbeck Station Letter Carrier Michael Semenuik will receive a presentation for his 30 years of dedicated service from Salinas Postmaster Irma Solis–Smith at the Steinbeck Post Office, 100 W. Alisal Street.

On Friday, Feb. 27, at 8:30, Solis–Smith will be make presentations to Bataan Letter Carriers Barbara Gonzales for her 28 years of service; Donna Barber for 27 years of service; and Byron Cauntay for 14 years of service; at the Bataan Post Office, 701 La Guardia Street.

Gonzales began her U.S. Postal Service career in 1981 in Mountain View. Three years later she transferred to Hayward; and two years later to Manteca. In 1991, Gonzales transferred to the Salinas Steinbeck Post Office and eventually to Bataan Post Office. She believes letter carriers do more than just deliver mail: “We help protect the public and provide a positive example to people.” Gonzales advises new employees to appreciate their jobs, and if they take care of themselves in preparing for the work day, they too can have a career as long as hers.

Barber, a Wall Street banker for 10 years, a greeting card shop owner for four years, and a Palo Alto Police Officer for one year, began her Postal Service career in 1981 in Los Gatos. In 1985, Barber transferred to the Santa Cruz Post Office. In 2001, Barber transferred to Belen, NM, and then to the Salinas Post Office in 2002. She enjoyed a temporary assignment as a Postal Service driver instructor and recently became licensed to be a traffic–violator school instructor outside the Postal Service. She plans to spend her retirement teaching at two traffic schools in San Francisco and Monterey on the weekends. She also plans to work part-time as a security officer at the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, and is thrilled with the opportunities retirement will offer her.

Barber enjoyed getting to know all her Postal customers. She tells new Postal Service employees that being a letter carrier is not as easy as it looks but the end result is worth it if they can stick it out. “You have to have a willingness to work hard,” said Barber.

Cauntay was drafted by the United States Navy in 1968 and served 20 years in the service before beginning his Postal Service career in 1994 in Salinas. He plans to spend his retirement taking care of his little girl and becoming more involved with his church and possibly ministry. He plans to travel to the Philippines and around the world to see relatives and old friends. Cauntay tells new employees to adhere to the rules and regulations. “Safety is always emphasized, make sure to wear your seatbelt, it saved my life once,” said Cauntay.

Media Alert: For photos, interview opportunities, contact Salinas Postmaster Irma Solis-Smith at 831-757-0218.

# # #

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.