Post Office

The postman sometimes paints twice

By Jennifer Henderson

Restoration of the Point Reyes Station Postoffice's interior to a traditional appearance is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 27, Postmaster Barbara Oquendo announced Wednesday.

The remodeling has been discussed for more than three years -- ever since the Postal Service unexpectedly replaced the oak-and-brass counter area with Formica.

Even after Postal officials agreed to restore the lobby and counter area, flooding and earthquakes elsewhere in Northern California diverted work crews from the project.

The latest delay -- which added another three months to the project -- resulted from a paint manufacturer supplying the wrong colors.

The postal service, working with townspeople, had selected a color scheme appropriate for a railroad depot, which the postoffice once was.

The wrong colors The San Francisco-based contractor, Baydoor, ordered the paint with specifics provided by the Postal Service. But early last month when the paints arrived, the colors turned out to be a brilliant apricot and a burnished orange -- not quite what the Postal Service had in mind.

Not realizing the problem, the contractor's crew began painting, only to have John O'Keefe, manager of administrative services for the Postal Service, stop the work.

"The colors were very unattractive, as anybody who entered the lobby could see," said Postmaster Oquendo. "But this past Friday, we finally got the colors straightened out."

The paint was re-ordered and has been received. On Wednesday, the contractor started painting over the walls with Vellum, a pale white with a slightly peach hue. The trim is called Cherokee, a warm brown color.

Inconvenience near end Now that the problem with the paint has been resolved, "things should start moving along quickly," said O'Keefe.

Meanwhile, Point Reyes Station and Inverness Park residents are becoming weary of the inconvenience, which has included a locked lobby nights and weekends, as well as reduced counter service.

"I've lived out here all my life, and I've never had a problem with the post office until now," said Inverness Park resident Dylan Horodko.

"I get off work at 8:30 or 9 [p.m.], and I can't get my mail because the postoffice is always closed."

Along with remodeling the counter area, the Postal Service is making the Point Reyes Station Postoffice more accessible to customers in wheelchairs.

And it has already added 160 more postal boxes. Townspeople do not have home delivery, and all available boxes had been taken.

Waiting for the door As part of the remodeling, a rolldown door to close off the counter area at night is scheduled to be installed. Until the door arrives from the manufacturer, the lobby will remain closed at night; however, Postmaster Oquendo on Wednesday said the door may be installed soon and the lobby opened at night before the rest of the remodeling is done.

Oquendo has already extended lobby hours until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, to make it easier for people to pick up their mail.

The postmaster is well aware of the public's frustration and this week said, "I am so grateful to the community for being so patient. Everybody has just been wonderful. As soon as I get the chance, I intend to sit down and write a long letter to the public apologizing for the delay."

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