Sylvia Smith has been with the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years. Starting in October 1987, she was a part-time carrier in St. Louis, Missouri. Smith delivered mail to residents and businesses all over the city for six years before being promoted to a supervisor position.
Sixteen years ago, she moved to California because of her two sons. One was going to a private school and the other was in the U.S. Navy. During that time, she worked throughout the San Diego district, learning her way all over the county and working in multiple offices.
On Oct. 16, Smith started at the Mountain Center post office, learning every aspect and the duties of being a postmaster. Having been a carrier and supervisor, Smith never learned how to run the front window since she was always in the back office with employees or out delivering mail. The Mountain Center post office has helped her learn, in a pint-sized office with a little over 300 customers, as opposed to the large numbers that make their way through the postal system in larger communities.
“I’ve always wanted to be a postmaster. This is a good office to learn everything,” Smith said.
While Smith has only been up here for about a month, she’s already fallen in love with the community.
“I love it up here. I’m learning names and everyone is so friendly and nice,” Smith said.
Living in Temecula, the commute is only an hour with the scenic views and wildlife our mountain has to offer instead of the hour-and-a-half, bumper-to-bumper commute to San Diego that Smith did for many years.
“I have this wonderful drive from Temecula to work,” Smith said. “It’s quiet and so scenic. It’s really a beautiful drive.”
When asked what her future holds, Smith told the newspaper: “While I could retire after this year, I’m not ready to go. I wouldn’t know what to do. I like to keep busy and go, go, go.”
If you haven’t made your way into the Mountain Center post office yet, head in to meet the new postmaster and make her feel welcomed.
Deceased World War II veteran Vallie Lee Engelauf’s family accepted his high school diploma on Nov. 12 as part of the Operation Recognition program. U.S. Navy Coxswain Engelauf was born in Riverside in 1926 and lived in the Rubidoux and Jurupa areas his entire life.
During his military service, he was at Iwo Jima and witnessed the raising of the American Flag on Mount Suribachi. Engelauf comes from a family of veterans as he, his older brother George, and father William were inducted into the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Rubidoux in 2013. The awarding of his high school diploma posthumously is Engelauf’s final honor of distinguished service.
The Operation Recognition program awards diplomas as a joint effort of the Riverside County Board of Education, the Riverside County Office of Education and the Riverside County Department of Veterans’ Services. Since its inception in 2007, approximately 360 diplomas have been presented to residents of Riverside County who missed completing high school due to military service in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or internment in World War II Japanese-American relocation camps.