Longtime Gazette Mail Carrier Retires

Mail Carrier Mike Tappy retired Friday, March 30 after a 37-year career with the United States Postal Service. The Gazette held a retirement party for him at the newspaper's offices; his wife, daughter and grandson attended. Tappy received credit for two more years toward his retirement for his service in the U.S. armed forces.

Tappy delivered mail along the stretch of 34th Avenue that includes the Gazette offices for 28 years, 16 of them before the paper moved into its current home at 42- 16 34th Ave. in 1991. The paper's owner and publisher, Tony Barsamian, bought the publication from John Toscano, now editor emeritus, the year before, in 1990.

Tappy holds the award presented to him by the Postal Service for his 39 years as a mail carrier in Long Island City. Mail Carrier Mike Tappy was joined by (l. to r.) his grandson, daughter and wife at a retirement party in the Gazette offices on Friday, March 30, his last day delivering and collecting mail for the Queens Gazette.