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A plethora of deals reported by the AP:

By The Associated Press

Just in case massive markdowns aren’t enough to convince shoppers to fork over cash for presents on Black Friday, some retailers are hoping to woo shoppers with freebies and coupons. Friday is the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, and it historically was when the surge of shoppers helped stores break into profitability for the full year.

Here’s a sample of what’s out there for the dedicated retail junkie.

• Best Buy is giving away free blue and yellow scarves to the first 50 shoppers waiting in line at 25 designated stores. The scarves include a commemorative tag recognizing the sometimes grueling hours-long wait.

• Pier 1 Imports will hold a weekend-long sweepstakes for shoppers that begins Friday. The winner can take home a new car and a gift certificate while runners up get $500 store gift certificates.

• Bed, Bath & Beyond is offering early bird shoppers an extra 20 percent discount on their entire purchase between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Friday.

• Macy’s will offer shoppers a $10 discount on any $25 purchase until 1 p.m. Friday.

• TGI Friday’s is offering members of its frequent diners club a free dessert with the purchase of any entree all weekend long.

• Williams-Sonoma stores are offering shoppers a $10 coupon for every $50 they spend during the weekend. The coupon can be used after Dec. 26.

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Bling alert!

Whitehall Jewelers at Valley Plaza mall is going out of business after the holiday shopping season. The Chicago-based jewelry store chain is in the process of closing all 373 of its stores in 39 states. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in June.

The store's entire inventory is on sale, some items as much as 60 percent off.

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Don't hoard those bargains. Share with the masses! We want to know where great Christmas and Hanukkah presents can be had for next to nothing. Fess up.

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... so it's a good thing reporter John Cox found some places selling it for that and close to it.

Find other cheap gas on our map.

Good gas finds, anyone?

Help your neighbors here ...

The Mervyns liquidation sales are now up to 50 percnt off original prices, according to sign holders (and wearers) along California Avenue.

Just passing it along.

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The folks at Ben & Jerry’s say that “democracy never tasted so sweet!”

So they’re offering a free scoop of ice cream from 5 to 8 p.m. on Election Day, after you’ve voted.

Just go by the only Kern County location, at 3000 Mall View Road at the food court inside East Hills Mall, show your “I voted” sticker and get a free scoop, said Larry Roland, the local franchise owner.

“It’s a good deed,” Roland said, and another way to get out the vote.

You can read more on Facebook, where, Roland said, thousands of people say they plan to participate.

— Christine Peterson

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Here's a "raw report" from forest folks:

National Forests Honor Veterans Day with a “Free Day”
Adventure Pass will not be required on National Forests in Southern California
on Tuesday, November 11

GOLETA, Calif. — In honor of America’s veterans and armed services personnel, Tuesday, November 11, will be a “Fee Free Day” on the national forests in Southern California.  The National Forest Adventure Pass will not be required for visitors recreating in the Los Padres, San Bernardino, Angeles and Cleveland National Forests.

The Adventure Pass normally is required for day use activities in Los Padres National Forest’s seven most popular and heavily visited areas including Rose Valley, Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area, Figueroa Mountain, Pozo-La Panza, Goldhill, Ballinger and Mt. Pinos (snow season only).  The Adventure Pass also is required at 35 campgrounds in the forest, most of which are within the above recreation areas.  The Adventure Pass is not currently required on the Monterey Ranger District.

There is one exception to the November 11 Free Day in Los Padres National Forest:  the Adventure Pass will be required in the concessionaire-operated Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area on the Santa Barbara Ranger District.  

Visitors who inadvertently use a Daily Adventure Pass on a Free Day may have it replaced free-of-charge at any Forest Service office in southern California.  Though the Adventure Pass fee is waived, other fees still apply, such as those in campgrounds, reservation and group sites.

In addition to Veterans Day, the Southern California national forests also waive fees on National Trails Day in June and National Public Lands Day in September.  For additional information about free days and the Recreation Fee program on Southern California national forests, check the Adventure Pass website.

Information also is available from the following Forest Service offices:
Los Padres National Forest headquarters (Goleta) – (805) 968-6640
Santa Lucia Ranger District (Santa Maria) – (805) 925-9538
Santa Barbara Ranger District (Santa Barbara) – (805) 967-3481
Ojai Ranger District (Ojai) – (805) 646-4348
Mt. Pinos Ranger District (Frazier Park) – (661) 245-3731

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No? Then you're behind!

Starbucks will give a free tall cup of brewed coffee on Tuesday to anyone who votes. One cup per customer; it's on the honor system, a company spokeswoman tells us.

Read about the deal here.

Watch the "If you vote, Starbucks buys you coffee" commercial.

I've noticed a definite upswing in the number of stores handing out coupons.

Friday night at Dress Barn, after spending $10, the clerk gave me a coupon for 20 percent off a regularly priced item now through Nov. 15.

At Michael's craft store, after just spending $3, I got a coupon for 40 percent off any regularly priced item, good until Nov. 8.

In just a few weeks' span, I received two coupons in the mail from JC Penney offering me $10 off a purchase (some restrictions) of $10.

What other stores are handing out better coupons than you've seen in the past?

Do they all need our business even more in these tough times?

— Christine Peterson

A little liquidation sale update:

On Thursday folks at Linens-N-Things sent a press release saying they had sales of up to 30 percent off original prices.

I was at the Rosedale Highway location this weekend and some items were 40 percent off.

Also, they're not taking checks — cash and credit cards OK.

Just bringing you the latest!