BUSIEST DAY OF THE YEAR AT THE POST OFFICE:POSTAL SERVICE WON'T EXPAND STAFFING; CUSTOMERS SAY THE WAIT IS MANAGEABLE

Ready, set, mail ... and be prepared to be patient.

Monday was the busiest day for the U.S. Postal Service, which expected to

double the volume of mail and packages that it handles. And with Christmas

only 10 days away, expect the lines to remain constant.

For the Sonoma County area, the Petaluma mail processing facility expected

its volume to increase from an average of 200,000 to 400,000 Monday, with San

Francisco increasing from 450,000 to 900,000, said James Wigdel, a spokesman

in the San Francisco office.

''It is getting closer to Christmas, over the weekend people had time to

wrap their packages, get them ready for mailing and also write their Christmas

cards,'' Wigdel said. ''Monday they go to work. and before, during or after

work. they will head to the post office.''

The line around lunchtime at the main branch just about reached the door,

but the wait was only about 10 minutes, patrons said.

Karen Bertelsen, 45, of Santa Rosa said she first went to the post office

at Coddingtown Mall to mail Christmas cards and a package, but she said it was

too busy.

''The line was wrapped around inside and out the door,'' Bertelsen said.

''I went to that one because I thought it was out of the way so it would be

quieter.''

So Bertelsen got back in her car and got in a shorter line at the main

branch.

Farther down the line at the main branch, Marco Gillegos, 36, of Santa Rosa

balanced two large boxes filled with toys, clothes, a PlayStation and other

Christmas gifts for family members in Mexico City. Gillegos said he's a

frequent customer at the post office because he exchanges packages with family

often, so he said he knew to avoid the mid-morning rush.

''It's always the same: a line,'' Gillegos said.

Unlike previous years, Wigdel said the post office will handle the

increased volume with existing staff instead of hiring temporary workers.

''Our mail volume has decreased, we can handle our volume with existing

staff,'' Wigdel said. ''A few years back, we used to bring in 200 temporary

employees. Now we do it with existing staff. Sometimes we have to bring them

in early or keep them on overtime, but we are able to do it.''

Ram Tierath, a 10-year postal employee, asked a customer what priority he'd

like for a small package.

''The slowest and cheapest way,'' said Peter Brown, 37, who was returning a

gift.

Tierath said he normally works in San Anselmo, but he was transferred to

Santa Rosa's main post office to help with the holiday rush.

''It'll be another 10-hour day,'' Tierath said.

Nationwide, the Postal Service predicted it would handle 830 million pieces

of mail, compared to the average daily volume of 583 million pieces of mail.

Dec. 21 is the deadline for first-class mail and priority mail items, and

Dec. 23 as the last day to mail express mail packages.

You can reach Staff Writers Bob Norberg at 521-5206 or

bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.

com and Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com.