19 October, 2025
bolinas-celebrates-reopening-of-post-office-after-948-days

The community of Bolinas in Marin County, California, celebrated a significant milestone on February 5, 2024, as the town’s post office reopened after being closed for nearly 1,000 days. This reopening was the result of persistent efforts by local residents, particularly one individual who spearheaded a campaign to bring attention to the issue.

The Bolinas post office, which had operated on Brighton Avenue for over 60 years, closed on February 4, 2023, due to a lease dispute with the property owner. Following the closure, residents faced the inconvenience of making a 40-minute round-trip journey to retrieve their mail from a neighboring town. Local resident John Borg took it upon himself to address the situation.

Community Engagement and Persistent Advocacy

Determined not to accept the loss of their post office, Borg initiated a letter-writing campaign and displayed a sign at the entrance of Bolinas that read “DAYS WITHOUT A BOLINAS POST OFFICE,” updating the count daily. On the day before the reopening, the sign indicated 948 days without mail service.

“I think the sign was something to kind of keep the community engaged, and let them know, ‘Hey, we haven’t given up on this,'” Borg stated. “We’re still holding them accountable, we’re still watching it, and we’re still working on this.”

On the day of the reopening, residents flocked back to the familiar location to collect the keys to their brand-new post office boxes. The atmosphere was one of joy and relief. “Oh my gosh, I’ve got mail!” exclaimed resident Linda Samuels as she received her keys. “I can’t even tell you how excited I am!”

Another resident, Nina Bellak, expressed the community’s sense of accomplishment, saying, “We were beginning to lose hope, but we are very, very happy! It definitely feels like a win. We have few enough wins these days, so we’ve got to savor every one.”

A Community Triumph

Borg’s efforts not only brought back the post office but also made him a local hero. Resident Ken Masterton praised Borg for his determination, saying, “John has the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon.” Borg credited Congressman Jared Huffman for advocating on their behalf in Washington D.C. and acknowledged the collective effort of the community.

“It felt like after a year and a half, two years, there’s no way it’s going to come back,” Borg reflected, holding up the sign that once read 948. “Fortunately, we didn’t need to get another digit. We were moving pretty close to a thousand.”

The reopening of the Bolinas post office not only restores essential mail services but also symbolizes the resilience and unity of a small community. The sign outside the town now reflects this triumphant moment with a simple yet powerful message: “WELCOME BACK, BOLINAS POST OFFICE!!!”