James Shelak of Cape Coral has been named as the winner in the U.S. Postal Service’s “Extreme Mailbox Makeover” contest, which was held during May. Shelak, a retired Signal-Construction foreman for Norfolk Southern Railroad, said he “wanted a mailbox different from everybody else but something that reflected back to me”. Shelak hand built his contest winning battery operated train mailbox. When the mailbox door is opened the lights flash, bells ring and a train whistle blows.
Postal customers had the opportunity to “spiff up” their mailboxes and enter the competition. The winner was selected by the Postal Service’s Consumer Advisory Council based on creativity and compliance with postal regulations.
Shelak will receive two sheets of First-Class mail customized photo postage stamps. In addition, photos of his mailbox will be on display during July at the Page Field Post Office at 2655 N. Airport Rd and the Cape Central Post Office at 1030 SE 9th Ave.