Pack well and mail early

    Holidays just keep getting closer, and the U.S. Postal Service has announced several deadlines to help cards and gifts arrive on time. Holyoke Postmaster Steve Starkebaum gave a quick summary to avoid holiday headaches: pack things well and mail early. After all, no one wants their carefully selected gifts to get damaged due to shoddy packaging or to arrive late due to procrastination.
    Though delivery by Dec. 25 isn’t a guarantee, USPS recommends the following shipping deadlines:
    — Nov. 6, APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP codes) USPS retail ground.
    — Dec. 4, APO/FPO/DPO (ZIP code 093 only) priority mail and first-class mail.
    — Dec. 11, APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP codes) priority mail and first-class mail.
    — Dec. 14, USPS retail ground.
    — Dec. 18, APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP code 093) USPS priority mail express.
    — Dec. 20, first-class mail (including greeting cards).
    — Dec. 20, first-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces).
    — Dec. 20, Hawaii to mainland priority mail and first-class mail.
    — Dec. 20, priority mail.
    — Dec. 20, Alaska to mainland priority mail and first-class mail.
    — Dec. 22, Alaska to mainland priority mail express.
    — Dec. 22, Hawaii to mainland priority mail express.
    — Dec. 22, priority mail express.
    
Special postmarks commemorate holidays
    From Dec. 1 through Jan. 4, first-class letters and packages will have stamps postmarked with a special holiday-themed postmark.
    For something extra special, there’s also an option to have letters from Santa postmarked from the North Pole itself. For complete details, visit http://about.usps.com/holidaynews/letters-from-santa.htm, but be sure to get it done before Dec. 8.