Last pickup for our Mailmen

February 3rd, 2013 · 17 Comments

By reporter Steven Smalley

A couple of familiar faces in the village hung up their cleats last week after decades of dedicated service on our behalf. Mario Samorano and Ed Anscheol, those two friendly guys at the post office, took government offers of early retirement called it quits following full careers in their chosen field.

“It was perfect timing for me to take the incentive and move on,” explains Samorano. “One of the main reasons I came up to the Magnolia post office was because of the great community I had heard about. They’ve been really good to me. It’s been a good place to work, and I’m certainly going to miss everyone.”

Mario has 34 years of service, 10 of those years were here in the Magnolia post office.

Ed has equally nice things to say about us. He has 33 of service, with 20 of them on the bluff.

“People in Magnolia are great. They really are nice, and I’ll miss them,” he says. Anscheol plans to help out with his mother’s immediate needs, but has some big baseball dreams. “I am going to try and become a Mariners usher,” he explains, while also noting his most unforgettable Mariners memory. “…In 1995, the Miracle Season that saved the team from moving to Florida.”

When prompted, Samorano reminisced about his years in the Postal Service and the things he has experienced. “I’ve seen it all. I’ve done it all – earthquakes, storms, power outages, robberies, and a couple of fires,” he reveals. “One thing that stood out was the Anthrax scare from 2001. We were required to come back to work…We basically put our lives on the line for our customers.” The times in Magnolia were mostly good though. Anscheol reminisced about one particularly notable customer. “There is one guy… He takes us out to lunch every Christmas. He’s a super nice guy.”

Samorano has his plans too. “I think it’s time for me to move on and enjoy a new chapter in my life. I may go into property management because that’s something I’ve had my hands in,” he says. “It’s been a good ride and an interesting ride.”

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billybibbet

Congrats to Ed and Mario, I will miss them both!
http://www.facebook.com/kellidiane Kelli Rodriguez Currie

My kids and I will really miss Mario; such an incredible part of the Magnolia family.
PScott Cummins

Thank you gentlemen!
Priscilla

So sorry this story could not have been posted earlier. Everyone from my family went down on Thursday with cards to bid them a fond farewell.

I think others would have appreciated a chance to bid them a fond farewell.

Oh well, it’s all about timing. I hope they will see this posting, thanks Steve for another nice article. You rock!

Steve

Thank you Priscilla. Others on this board have described our stories as, “vapid.” It’s nice to hear from those who appreciate our little news snippets. Although not erudite enough for some, I hope most like to know what’s going on around here, even if it’s not worthy of World News Tonight or researchers from Harvard University. Our deepest gratitude for your kind words.

ericsmith

Ouch. The postings about news like this is just that, Steve, information on our neighborhood we all like to know about. Its when stories are put in as horror stories….like the dangers presented by door to door salesmen , or little cars in town, that it feels like you are stretching. I appreciate your news, but sometimes wonder if the stories are meant to bring out the worst in us. How about an in depth story on how we can improve our local schools, given their low standing, IN ADDITION to reporting a PTA meeting or such at the school. Real problems needing real answers in Magnolia. Others are the accidents that happen predictably at certain intersections without lights or traffic barriers…things that could bring a neighborhood together rather than just play to its fears.

BicycleJoe

I actually had to Google the word “vapid” because it is a word I hear so infrequently in common discourse. To say- “its just a word that any reader knows” is REALLY a stretch.

ericsmith

OK, Joe. I admitted I’m well read and address groups and teach. Just once, could we discuss the core issues instead of my education level? Why is it my vocabulary trumps problems that we, you and I, could be working on in Magnolia together? Do you relate more to someone who believes the government is plotting to get them? Wishing me back to California or Bellevue or anywhere where knowledge CAME from and IMPROVED upon what is in Seattle..solves what exactly? That Magnolia is superior? It is a nice quiet little corner to hide out, and we like that about it. Great minds live here, little minds do too, but again, we are less important than trying to make a better life for our kids and the weakest ones among us in this community.

User

An excerpt from The New York Times, Feb. 21, 2007 by Ian Urbina:

For Youths, a Grim Tour on Magazine Crews

“Over the next six months, he and about 20 other crew members crossed 10 states, peddling subscriptions door to door, 10 to 14 hours a day, six days a week. Sleeping three to a room in cheap motels, lowest seller on the floor, they survived some days on less than $10 in food money while their earnings were kept ‘on the books’ for later payment.

By then, Mr. Pope said, he had seen several friends severely beaten by managers, he and several other crew members were regularly smoking methamphetamine with prostitutes living down the motel hallway, and there were warrants out for his arrest in five states for selling subscriptions without a permit.

‘I knew I was either going to be dead, disappeared or I don’t know what,’ Mr. Pope said.”

A local story about these magazine crews hitting our neighborhood is not designed to bring out the worst in us, but rather as a public service.

ericsmith

I remember that article, and you are right. It is a tragedy for the kids. I don’t know what we can do for the kids, but most of the people who responded in Magnolia were terrified of their homes being robbed, as I recall. The postings were never about how to help the kids because the climate of the article was that they were a danger to homeowners.
User

This is the extent of the Magnolia Voice article.

“The magazine crews are back in the neighborhood this afternoon. Homeowners are asked to order publications which the sellers say will, “get people jobs in the Central area,” according to a Magnolia resident who spoke with the men. As of 1PM Saturday, there were two salesmen knocking on doors, delivering their pitch to residents.”

It seems a stretch to say that the article had a dangerous climate. On the other hand, the article in the New York Times went on to say how those customers who purchased the magazine subscriptions were more often than not, ripped-off.
ericsmith

Point taken. That was the article I remembered, as well as the development on the bluff, the schoolhouse problem, and parking near the bus stops. I guess the problem lies with us, the posters, since the original articles aren’t always provocative. But many of the posters, not just me, have criticized the articles as playing to our fears and criticized Magnolians as being self centered and whiners. I remain committed to the idea that the articles could go one step further…suggest ways we can improve our village rather than just put a problem out there and get the usual opposing and snipey viewpoints. Perhaps that goes beyond the aspirations of the writing staff. I personally only get arrogant when I come in contact with someone who is proud of laziness or ignorance and asks me to leave the state, viewpoints one usually hears from someone who cannot hold up their end of a discussion.

ericsmith

Regarding my post below, Steve, I am not the ogre of the blog here…I am just amazed at how insipid/rabid the responders are and how we are avoiding important issues. It is sad that using a word like “vapid” insinuates I had to have gone to Harvard….its just a word that any reader knows. It is not my place to suggest anything to you since I don’t do the work, but how about:
“Ten things we can do to make our neighborhoods safer for our kids walking home after school”
“Three strategies we could use to investigate why the city doesn’t develop the old schoolhouse”
This wouldn’t attract all the fringe people, of which I evidently am one, since my vocabulary is considered Harvard level. That is what is so sad to me.

scooter

Ed personified what the USPS means to all of us.
Keith S.

I’m with Priscilla, in that I really wish I had known sooner that Ed and Mario’s early retirement was accepted. I’ll definitely miss them at our local post office — I’ve been saying hi to them for almost ten years, even around town. It’s the first time I was able to put names to a position like that, so kind of a sad passing of the torch.
http://www.facebook.com/Alan2256 Alan Hollinger

Cheers to Ed & Mario we have all shared more than a few cups of Java together in the Village. The Magnolia Post will be missed. Was a key element of our Community for sure. But I guess the USPS has ruled and Magnolia is out. I guess we’re not profitable enough in this bottom line society. ?? It’s that human part I will surely miss. I often send items overseas and they were so helpful getiing through the red tape. More-so they were friends and will be sorely missed.
David

Thank you for the article.

I too will miss Ed and Mario. In all the years I have been to the Post Office they were always patient, cordial and helpful. Typically with a smile or a nice greeting, or both. I never saw them get frustrated or lose their cool, ever, even in the midst of the Holidays or Tax Season crush. They were professionals, a credit to our local PO, and I’ll miss them. I wish them both all the best in their respective new adventures.

Mario and Ed – thanks for all your help over the years! You guys were Great.

Dave