Holiday Shipping-Shape in the 80461

Paper Packages and the Pandemic

While it’s hard to believe there’s more online shopping to do in the shadows of a pandemic year of stay-at-home orders driving eCommerce and shipping numbers to historic levels, welcome to The Holidaze in Leadville Today.

“We are telling customers to mail much earlier then the suggested dates given by the Post Office,” stated Leadville Postmaster Greg Sandoval. While Team 80461 is running full steam ahead, “due to the Pandemic combined with the holiday rush, everything is running so much slower,” he added.

Everything, it seems but holiday shopping. Online spending rose 22% on Black Friday, the busy shopping day after Thanksgiving, compared to 2019. That’s well ahead of pre-pandemic annual growth of 14%. And with Colorado Public Health officials dial bumping up on the dial due to rising positive COVID test results aross the state, its the brick-and-mortar of downtown Leadville who could suffer the most as the keyboard warriors get the job done online and wait for the USPS, Fed-Ex, UPS or Amazon to deliver those bright paper packages tied up with string.

And while delivery companies are going to great lengths to prevent delays, there are already signs that they’ll be unable to handle the extra load. UPS is limiting deliveries from some commercial clients, and both FedEx and UPS have suspended their money-back guarantees for on-time shipping, citing the pandemic. That means their shipping timelines are guaranteed by good faith—but not by cash.

For all those reasons, experts advise people to be suspect of shipping deadlines this year—especially two-day or overnight options closer to Christmas. Here are the deadlines for getting packages or online orders delivered by Dec. 24. They generally apply to mainland U.S. orders and deliveries.

Owner Deann Skala and her sister Michelle Deck The Halls at Leadville Liquors in Leadville Today – just add snow!

U.S. Postal Service

• Dec. 15: USPS Retail Ground
• Dec. 18: First-Class Mail
• Dec. 19: Priority Mail
• Dec. 23: Priority Mail Express
  

  USPS Letter Carrier Jim Evans walks his route in downtown Leadville Today.

UPS

• Dec. 15 – UPS Ground
• Dec. 21 – UPS 3 Day Select
• Dec. 22 – UPS 2nd Day Air
• Dec. 23 – UPS Next Day Air

Fed-Ex

• Dec. 15: FedEx Ground and Home Delivery
• Dec. 21: FedEx Express Saver
• Dec. 22: FedEx 2Day
• Dec. 23: FedEx Standard and Priority Overnight
• A full list of FedEx’s service options can be found here. FedEx also shares updates about regional shipping delays, which could increase as we get closer to the holidays.

Amazon

• Amazon has not yet released its holiday shipping cutoffs, but according to a spokesperson, “we will deliver to customers right up to Christmas Eve.” Amazon may release more information through this holiday shipping info sheet. We will also update this page if more information becomes available.

Seasonal Jobs At Your Doorstep

As many resort workers continue to wait out the jobs for the 2020-21 ski season, there could be a light at the end of the pay-the-bills tunnel as the United Parcel Service (UPS) expects to hire over 100,000 seasonal employees. The hiring rush is in place to support the anticipated annual increase in package volume that will continue through January 2021 in the Rocky Mountain region.

“We’re preparing for a record peak holiday season. The COVID-19 pandemic has made our services more important than ever,” said Charlene Thomas, Chief Human Resources Officer for the international package delivery service.

Even the USPS Box-Deer is masked up and ready to greet customers at the Leadville 80461 Post Office.

“We plan to hire over 100,000 people for UPS’s seasonal jobs, and anticipate a large number will move into permanent roles after the holidays.”

And yes, according to company representatives, that includes Leadville and the surrounding areas. Interested applicants should apply at www.upsjobs.com. The company is filling full- and part-time seasonal positions – primarily package handlers, drivers, driver-helpers, and personal vehicle drivers – by offering competitive wages across multiple shifts in thousands of locations across the country.

Over the last three years, about 35% of people hired by UPS for seasonal package handler jobs were later hired in a permanent position when the holidays were over, and about 123,000 UPS employees – nearly a third of the company’s U.S. workforce – started in seasonal positions.

Through the company’s Earn and Learn program, eligible seasonal employees who are students can earn up to $1,300 towards college expenses, in addition to their hourly pay, for three months of continuous employment. UPS has invested nearly $670 million in tuition assistance – nearly $30 million a year since the program was established in 1997 – helping over 300,000 employees pay for their college education.

Holiday Fun for Kids and Families at 10,200’

Now that the snow has returned, thoughts turn to the festivities of the holiday season. While 2020 has been a year of challenges and changes, there still are some fun activities planned in the days ahead.

Santa Zoom Is Coming to Town

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for Zoom visits with your child. Schedule your time to see your favorite and familiar Leadville holiday couple who have listened to local children’s wishes for generations. Treat your kids to a virtual visit from the comfort and safety of home. Your kids will love it! No malls, no lines, no stress, just Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Details can be found in the flyer listed below. This holiday event is made possible by Centennial Real Estate.

Family Celebration Needs Volunteers

Sheriff Amy Reyes and the Lake County Sheriff Department is hosting a special holiday event for families on Sunday, Dec. 20. From 1 – 4 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse. Sheriff Amy Reyes expressed that they wanted to put something together “because we know so many kids are going to be going without this year,” for the holidays. If you are available to volunteer by setting up, decorating, donating, or handing things out. Please contact Christine Chaisson at 719-293-5189 cchaisson@lakecountyso.org or Whitney Ortiz at 719-427-7117 wortiz@lakecountyso.org.

Through A Child’s Eyes

The preschool kids had the opportunity to hold their winter celebration albeit in a slightly different manner on December 10. According to Mary Jelf with Early Childhood Programs at The Center, the fun was during school hours and just for the kids, instead of the traditional evening celebration which included families.

The good news is that these young children will be to receive their special presents this year at the annual Leadville Legacy Christmas Party. “we are not permitted to have guests in the building this year,” state Jelf with the promise to send along photos of the kids opening presents, and the hope that “next year can be ‘in person’ again.”  A hopeful wish this Christmas season. Until then LT will share those photos when they come along.

2016 Leadville Legacy Christmas Party

Christmas Mass Schedule

while one of Leadville’s favorite traditions – the Procession of the Our Lady of Guadalupe dancers – has been COVID-cancelled for 2020, Holy Family Parish does have Manaitas and a Mass planned to celebrate the Feast Day on December 12. Readers can also find the Christmas schedule below. Please note that the church is enforced strait public safety guidelines. Everyone must wear masks inside the church, socially distance, and be willing to wipe down their pew at the end of service with a sanitation wipe provided by the church ushers. Thank You!

If you are having a holiday event or a photo of something you did to celebrate the season in America’s highest city, send it along to info@leadvilletoday.com.