Published to the Deerfield Valley News in October 2022 and printed in their October 13th edition.

HALIFAX – After an 18-month-long struggle, the time to save the Halifax post office has nearly run out.
“To say that it’s been frustrating would be an understatement,” says Halifax Selectboard Vice Chair Pete Silverberg. He has been trying to contact anyone who would listen since the post office’s original notice of closure in April 2021. Few have gotten back to him, and no concrete action has been taken.
“I’ve talked to people in real estate, people in communications, and people in government,” he says, but hasn’t received any clear answers or follow-up. “They keep saying they’re going to do something, and never do it.”
A year and a half ago, USPS provided the building’s owner with new lease terms and conditions that were unreasonable, Silverberg says, such as requiring the building owner to assume liability for any terrorist actions. After the owner refused to accept the new terms, USPS notified him that they would close the office. An 18-month lease extension was secured, which is up at the end of October, and USPS must begin restoring the building to its original condition starting October 1. 
In February 2022, the town managed to contact USPS, who promised to conduct a survey, talk to the selectboard, and get feedback on the situation within 90 days. Since then, any effort to get in touch with USPS has resulted only in crickets. 
“They never did any of it, not even the first step,” said Silverberg. A USPS regional spokesperson was not available for comment as of press time.
At this point, Silverberg believes the only possible explanation could be that there are larger political motives at play. “My impression is that USPS wants to kill it, and just doesn’t want to talk about it,” he said. 
If the post office were to close, Halifax residents would have to get their mail from Brattleboro or Jacksonville. Silverberg worries for older residents, who are not as mobile and may be unhappy to drive long distances. Plus, the post office has long been a symbol of community and communication. “We’re American citizens!” says Silverberg. “Part of what it means to be an American is to have a post office.”
Silverberg is urging residents of Halifax and surrounding towns to call whoever they can: federal and state senators and representatives, and the USPS. With only a few days left before the lease extension ends, he says it is more important than ever to make as much noise as possible.
“I feel whenever they get an opportunity, they string us along, hoping we’re just going to go away. We’re not going to go away,” says Silverberg. “I would like to think the postal service is going to come through and maintain this little post office for us. With other people’s help, maybe we can get something done.”