Post Offices Will Open on 2 Sundays

Those lines at the post office are as much a holiday tradition as mistletoe and as unavoidable as your Aunt Edna’s fruitcake.

But no pouting, no stomping of feet, no screaming “This blouse isn’t going to make it to Cleveland on time!” will be permitted this year. Folks who don’t get their holiday packages off early won’t have anyone to blame but themselves and will definitely make Santa’s naughty list.

Or so says the U.S. Postal Service. The agency is taking the unusual step of opening some of its offices on the two Sundays before Christmas in an attempt to avoid the last-minute crush of people trying to get their gifts off on time.

The busiest mailing day of the season is traditionally the Monday before Christmas, falling this year on Dec. 20, said Terri Bouffiou, postal spokeswoman.

“If we can push a little of that business the week before, that will help us and move everybody’s mail faster,” she said.

The Postal Service is hoping that people will take advantage of the Sunday openings to mail their gifts as well as to pick up insured packages for which they must sign.

The extra days aren’t going to make those lines disappear, but they’ll make the holidays a little less hectic, officials are hoping.

“We always do have lines, but this will funnel some onto Sundays,” Bouffiou said.

The following offices will be open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19:

North Hollywood: Victory Center Station, 6535 Lankershim Blvd., and Studio City Station, 3950 Laurel Canyon Blvd.

Woodland Hills: Main Office, 22121 Clarendon St.

Van Nuys: Sherman Oaks Station, 14900 Magnolia Blvd., and Main Office, 15701 Sherman Way.

Northridge: Main Office, 9534 Reseda Blvd.

Canoga Park: Main Office, 8201 Canoga Ave.

Thousand Oaks: Main Office, 3435 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Glendale: Main Office, 313 E. Broadway.

Burbank: Main Office, 2140 N. Hollywood Way.

Santa Clarita: Main Office, 24355 Creekside Road, and the Postal Store, 23640 W. Lyons Ave.

Lancaster: Main Office, 1008 W. Avenue J2.