Christmas is only 10 days away and with it are encroaching mailing deadlines to get a card or present to a loved one.

For expected delivery before December 25th among the lower 48 states, today is the recommended send-by date for the United States Postal Service ground service. Recommended send-by dates for first-class mail is Friday, priority mail Saturday, and priority mail express is December 23rd. Area children have a few days left to send their gift wishes to the man with the bag, as the North Pole’s elves have placed a red mailbox near the fountain in Washington’s Central Park to receive letters for Santa. Kids who drop off a letter labeled with a return address and name are promised a letter from Mr. Claus by Christmas Day. The mailbox will disappear this Sunday.