VALLEY ENDURES BUSIEST MAILING DAY.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - Some customers balked at the lines. Others waited until after lunch. But most endured the busiest day at the post office Monday with holiday aplomb.

``It's going OK; the line's moving fast,'' said Peggy Kaufman, 31, of Brentwood, plucking a shortbread cookie from a tin, courtesy of the Van Nuys Main Post Office.

``It would be nice if we had some champagne.''

Southern California postal officials on Monday expected to process 61 million cards, letters and packages - nearly one-third more than the normal glut.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the United States Postal Service expects to handle 20 billion items nationwide - 1.4 billion in Southern California.

To handle the onslaught, the USPS has beefed up its trucks, increased air capacity 40 percent and thrown every available clerk on the mail counters.

Even private mailbox stores are feeling the holiday heat.

``Trying to break the record here,'' said Dave Wells, manager of Federal Mailbox Center in Sherman Oaks, where customers lined up to the sound of ripping tape. ``I think today has been the busiest so far.''

At post offices throughout the San Fernando Valley, drivers circled parking lots hunting for rare spots. Inside, customers lined up dozens deep with boxes bound for faraway lands.

Joe Martinez, 49, of Van Nuys stood in line to get stamps - in a Santa hat he donned Thanksgiving and doesn't plan to remove until after Christmas. ``It's my favorite time of the year. I believe in Santa Claus.''

At the post office in Mission Hills, Carla Grage and Barbara Arnold saw the lines - and left for a bite.

``We came a while ago and counted 12 people, said to heck with it and went to lunch,'' said Grage, 56, of Simi Valley, standing third in line on her second try.

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

HOLIDAY MAIL

For holiday packages to arrive by Christmas, postal officials recommend Priority Mail. If mailing out of state, send by Saturday. If mailing in California, send by Monday. Express Mail might work for later dates.

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HOLIDAY MAIL (see text)