Community Watchdog: The sad case of missing stamp treasure

I inherited a large postage stamp collection from my grandfather and wanted to get it appraised. On June 11, I sent 10 albums to a company upstate from the Lindenhurst Post Office by parcel post. The box weighed 41 pounds and I insured it for $2,000. The box sat in a postal warehouse in New Jersey for more than a month and was delivered on July 20 only after I made an inquiry about it. The box was so badly damaged the stamp company wouldn't appraise it. They sent it back to me, but it weighed only 22 pounds, including various postal forms and debris that were stuffed in the box. Six of the albums, with many rare stamps, were missing. I put in a claim with the post office and was told I needed to prove what had been in the box. I provided that information and included pictures the company had e-mailed me, showing the condition of the box when they got it. I was told the claim would take 30 to 60 days. Now I've received a letter from Domestic Claims in St. Louis, asking me for the same information I already submitted. I am extremely upset that the albums are missing, and I have been getting nowhere with the post office.

- William Klein, Lindenhurst

You should have a check for $2,000 from the U.S. Postal Service within seven to 10 business days, Mr. Klein.

Spokesman Tom Gaynor looked into your problem after we called. A few days later, he told us postal officials were sending the check. You won't be reimbursed for the $41 you paid for the postage and insurance on the package. However, the search is still on for the missing albums and if they're recovered, you'll return the check.

Here's a tip from Gaynor to anyone using the Postal Service for anything valuable: Send it by registered mail. While it's much more expensive than parcel post, Gaynor says, "For valuable items, you have to take that extra precaution." The postal service prides its registered mail reputation. "The Hope Diamond was sent by registered mail," Gaynor says. That was in 1958.

His tip for you, Mr. Klein? Next time, have a reputable stamp dealer come to your house to appraise a collection, rather than mailing it.

We think it's also a good idea, if you're mailing something of value, to document what's inside in case you have to make a claim on an insured package. Take pictures of the item and keep your receipts.

Electrical boxes should be gone

I have been calling Verizon for a few months regarding two metal electrical boxes hanging from utility lines near my house that are a safety hazard. They swing in a heavy wind and rain, and I'm afraid they'll fall on someone. I've made multiple calls to Verizon supervisors who apologize that this has not been taken care of and say they'll send a technician immediately. Still, nothing has been done.

- Deanna Madrid, Roslyn Harbor

We don't know why this wasn't fixed after your calls, Mrs. Madrid, but we talked with Verizon spokesman John Bonomo. Workers took care of the problem the next day. Apparently, a new utility pole was installed about 3 feet from the old one, so the electrical boxes were on wires that didn't reach the pole. A manager told Bonomo that Verizon lines and wires from Cablevision (which owns Newsday) had been attached to the pole temporarily.

Problems with a Verizon wire? Call 800-VERIZON.

The drains will flow, again

We have battled major street flooding on Winthrop Drive in East Meadow for years. Our road floods even after a normal rainfall. We have sent pictures and a petition to the Town of Hempstead, which had an outside company perform maintenance on the storm drains in 2006. That remedied the situation for a while, but it's getting worse now.

- Donna Bullwinkel, East Meadow

Deja vu. The Town of Hempstead's Highway Department visited Winthrop Drive after our call and found that tree roots that have grown into the drainage system. That's what happened in 2006, according to Susie Pokalsky, a town spokeswoman. A contractor has been hired to fix the problem this month. "It's a larger job than our town equipment handles," she said.

Town of Hempstead residents with drainage problems on town roads should call 516-489-5000.

- Michael R. Ebert