MARIANNE PATON Postal services are now available once again in Matlacha. The temporary location of the post office is directly across Pine Island Road from the original location which was destroyed by arson last month.

Postal services have returned to Matlacha as of last week. As a result of the July 17, fire forcing the closure of the Matlacha Post Office, many Matlacha residents were inconvenienced by having to travel into Cape Coral to retrieve their mail. Among them was Matlacha resident and book author, Robert Macomber.

“While the people in the Cape were very nice, they were very slow,” said Macomber. “We had to pick up our mail at a place that is normally used as a distribution warehouse and not a real post office so the people there were not familiar with some of the procedures and were having to do their regular job at the same time. I am very pleased to have the temporary post office back in Matlacha. The folks there always go the extra mile and you are not just treated like a number because they are our neighbors.”

Macomber also said he appreciated the fact that he can walk to the post office which he does frequently as his profession requires sending and receiving mail from all over the world.

Housed in the Pine Island Dance studio, the temporary Post Office can now handle most of the needs of area customers.

“Our services are still somewhat limited, but we continue to get more supplies every day,” said Post Master Diane Stoelker. “We can now sell stamps and mail packages, however, our customers need to pay by cash or check because we don’t have the ability to run a credit or debit card just yet.”

According to Stoelker, she and her husband Bill looked a several locations in Matlacha before getting approval from postal authorities to rent the dance studio.

“It has been very stressful since the fire and we are happy to be back even if it is short term in this location,” said Stoelker. “We are only able to use this space for the month of August while the dance studio is closed, but it is our hope that by the time we have to vacate on Sept. 1, the old post office will have been restored. We are very grateful to our community for all of their patients and support.”

According to Stoelker, the fire damaged location served as the Matlacha Post Office for more than 30 years.

The temporary post office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 4548 Pine Island Road, next to Perfect Cup in Matlacha.

The cause of the post office fire had been determined to be arson and is still under investigation by the Fire Marshall’s Office. Those with any information about the July 17, blaze are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-662-7764.