Countywide : Last-Minute Madness

For those with last-minute holiday cards and gifts to mail, the U.S. Postal Service encourages taking these steps to help ensure timely delivery:

* Use black or blue ink when addressing packages and envelopes.

* Never guess at a ZIP Code; call the post office to get the correct number.

* When sending a package, make sure it is well padded and that nothing is loose inside.

* Use filament tape to seal all packages.

* When writing to Santa, be sure to use a return address if you want an answer.

These postal facilities will have extended hours this week for late holiday mailing: SPECIAL HOLIDAY LOCATIONS

* Brea Mall, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

* Huntington Beach Mall, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

* Laguna Hills Mall, noon to 9 p.m. through Saturday

* Mall of Orange, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday

* Mission Viejo Mall, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Westminster Mall, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday

EXTENDED HOURS AT REGULAR POST OFFICES

* Costa Mesa Main Office, 1590 Adams Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Dana Point Main Office, 24551 Del Prado, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* El Toro Main Office, 24552 Raymond Way, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

* Fountain Valley Branch Office, 17227 Newhope Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

* Fullerton Main Office, 1350 E. Chapman Ave., 9 a.m. to noon Saturday

* Garden Grove Main Office, 10441 Stanford Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

* Irvine Harvest Station, 17192 Murphy Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Laguna Beach Main Office, 29911 Niguel Road, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Midway City Main Office, 15041 Jackson St., Friday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday

* Newport Beach Main Office, 1133 Camelback St., 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Newport Beach Riverside Station, 191 Riverside Ave., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

* Placentia Main Office, 1400 N. Kraemer Blvd., 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

* San Clemente Main Office, 520 Avenida Pico, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* San Juan Capistrano Main Office, 28081 Marguerite Parkway, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

* Santa Ana Main Office, 2201 N. Grand Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Santa Ana Sunflower Office, 3101 Sunflower Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

* Trabuco Canyon Main Office, 30595 Trabuco Canyon Road, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

* Tustin Main Office, 340 E. 1st St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

* Westminster Main Office, 15030 Goldenwest Circle, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Source: U.S. Postal Service; Researched by JON GARCIA / For The Times