GAMBIER — After only one year as Gambier postmaster, Danna Bosche has earned community service and public relations awards for her post office and employees.

Called the Benjamin Award, it is highest national U.S. Postal Service citation awarded on a cumulative points system, monitored by Headquarters Public Affairs and Communitions.

The list of activities in which Bosche has involved the Gambier Post Office is extensive. Staff members canceled stamps for the Great Ohio Bike Adventure; held a Passport Fair to help cititzens apply for pass- ports; and held a pack and shipping day by staying open on Saturday when people were able to come to the post office to mail Christmas packages.

They also participated in Remember the Troops Day, when employees paid for postage to ship packages to troops; a Remember the Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan campaign provided community support with food and mail; met with Gambier Village Council to explain improvements in the postal service; and worked through the ice storm power outage using flashlights and generators while carriers completed their rounds.

The award is given based on the size of the post office and covers parts of several eastern states. Bosche became Gambier postmaster March 15, 2008.