Catskill community salutes retiring mail carrier

CATSKILL―After 27 years of faithful service in snow, rain, heat and gloom of night, one of Catskill’s unsung heroes got a tip of the hat from a grateful community.

When Mail Carrier Sharon Alger delivered her last letter on Saturday she was greeted with decorated mailboxes, balloons and handmade banners. Even the one-lane bridge on High Falls Road was adorned in a celebratory route of gratitude.

Wendy Carl Casalino, one of Alger’s longtime route residents, learned of her February 28 retirement and rallied neighbors to show their appreciation in creative, heartfelt ways.

“We really loved having Sharon as our mail person,” said Casalino. “She always knew all the animals—sometimes she brings them treats—and she always took the time for a friendly chat.”

Alger began her United States Postal Service career across the river in Hudson, learning the rhythms of early mornings, sorted bundles, and handwritten envelopes. Eventually, she made her way over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and settled into Catskill where she has faithfully delivered mail for the past 10 years—becoming far more than “just the mail carrier.”

Alger became a steady presence woven into the fabric of the community. One little girl along her route adores her so much she considers Alger a pen pal—tucking handwritten notes into the mailbox waiting to be discovered.

“It’s been pretty awesome,” Alger says. “I’ve been doing this for so long, I can remember bringing mail to new families with small babies in their arms and watching them grow old enough to take the school bus by themselves.”

When asked what comes next, Alger says she plans to visit her older sister in Tennessee for a while from some well-earned rest and family time. But true to form, she isn’t slowing down for long. She plans to return home and pursue community work.