Local News

Holiday mailing deadlines approaching

Photos

Marc Valero | Highlands Today
Published: December 8, 2012

SEBRING - After the shopping rush it's now a rush at the post office to mail those holiday gifts and cards and the peak days are fast approaching.

The downtown Sebring Post Office on Ridgewood Drive appeared to be Santa's little secret for a time midday Thursday, with no line and no one mailing gifts or cards.

"It's quiet in there today," Laure Breau said after she mailed some business-related material.

By contrast, folks were lined up at the Lake Jackson Branch Post Office behind Lakeshore Mall.

Sebring Acting Postmaster Doug Shirer said they were busy Monday through Wednesday.

A woman in line late Tuesday afternoon at the Lake Jackson Branch Post Office said at lunchtime 17 people were lined up so she decided to return later. The line was about 10 deep when she returned, she noted.

Shirer expects the next two Monday's will likely be the busiest days as people write out Christmas cards and prepare packages over the weekend. He advises to mail early and use Priority Mail at the very least to get it to the destination on time.

The U.S. Postal Service estimates that it will deliver a total of 17.9 billion cards, letters and packages Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Debbie Fetterly said Monday is expected to be the busiest processing day and could be the busiest customer service day in the post offices.

"Although as we get closer and closer to Christmas, every day is busy," she said.

The U.S. Postal Service holiday fact sheet states Monday, Dec. 17 will be the busiest mailing day for holiday cards and packages. The busiest delivery day for holiday cards and holiday packages will be Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, respectively.

Some mailing deadlines have passed, such as the Dec. 3 deadline for Priority Mail International.

The upcoming deadlines include: Dec. 11 Express Mail International, Dec. 14 Parcel Post, Dec. 20 First-Class Mail, Dec. 21 Priority Mail and Dec. 22 Express Mail.

The First-Class Mail deadline for most military mail is Dec. 10.

Post Offices nationwide will be open Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Most Post Offices will shorten retail lobby hours and close at noon on these dates. The revised hours will be posted at each Post Office.

Regular mail delivery will be unaffected by the change.

For more information go to the U.S. Postal Service's website at www.usps.com.

mvalero@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5826