EARLY-BIRD SPECIALS FLY MANY WING IT FOR BARGAINS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Directing traffic was not limited to mall parking lots Friday morning as hundreds of shoppers arrived for the after-Thanksgiving sales, forming lines around retail stores before sunrise.

Well before Wal-Mart in Stevenson Ranch opened its doors at 5:30 a.m., bargain hunters bundled in coats and mittens took their place in the ever- growing line, as others snaked their way around neighboring Toys ``R'' Us in search of the best deals of the year.

Similar scenes played out a few miles away at the Town Center Mall in Valencia, where Sherry Shuster, her daughter and two grandchildren not only braved the crowds, but relished them.

``I love the crowds. Ever since I was a little girl I've loved coming out to shop at Christmas time,'' said Shuster of Woodland Hills. After more than four hours of shopping, however, her grandchildren showed signs of fatigue.

As 10-year-old Jonathan Gedalia and sister Rachel enjoyed an afternoon snack at the food court, the boy admitted he left his Castaic home that morning with few needs. But the J.C. Penneybags stuffed with new shirts and other clothes were proof of irresistible deals.

Others, such as Carlie Schmidt of Canyon Country, did not venture to the shops until after lunch. But armed with an eager friend and a detailed list, the packages went from store shelves to the trunk of her car in about 30 minutes.

``Oh, we were just at (Robinsons-May), and we got these little TVs that you plug into your (car's) cigarette lighter. We got four of them,'' she said. ``They're perfect for the man in your life that has everything.''

Schmidt and her friend, Melanie Pickrell of Stockton, said they had a few more gifts to buy. But unlike many who never miss the bargains during the after-Thanksgiving sales, Schmidt said it's less about money than time.

``I never miss these sales. But it's mostly because I have time right after Thanksgiving,'' she said. ``I still need to shop, though. My son wants tools, and I want to get some flannel PJs for my dad. But I plan on getting in and out. We've got dinner plans.''

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

e-mail: amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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(1 -- 2 -- color) Shoppers lined up before 6 a.m., above, around the Wal-Mart store in Stevenson Ranch to get early-bird specials, and, below, bargain hunters arrived at 5 a.m. to await the opening of the K B Toys store in the Valencia Town Center.

David Crane/Staff Photographer