Busy Commuters Scolded for Trespassing

You know how you're sometimes in a hurry to get to the bus stop and you've got to be on time or the 7:40 bus will pull out without you? It's awfully tempting for folks who live along West Saddle River Road to try to run down the shortcut along a narrow lane opposite Kenwood Rd that brings them out practically to Park N Ride without having to go the long way round.

But a word to the wise: watch out; we've tried it and the woman who lives at the end of the lane is none too appreciative when you come out at the end of her driveway. More than once she's run out to scold the trespasser who's desperately trying to shave five minutes off their commute.

Do you have any creative ways of shaving time off your commute? How do you do it? Let us know in the comments!

Is he really the world's #1 Grandpa? We spotted Patch regular Dominick Nizza walking along East Ridgewood Avenue wearing a hat that said so. Dom was on his way to the Daily Treat to have coffee, read the paper and do some serious schmoozing. "This is how I meet all the old ladies," he said, pointing to his head.

Well, you blew it. Thrifty Tuesday is over. That's the day that Kurth Cottage (at Valley) offers up lunch for just $4.99. That's right, sandwiches and soda too. They've even got a Grab 'N Go where you can phone in your order (call the hospital, then extension 2111) "It's a big do, today; everyone comes in for it," said one of the volunteer lunch ladies who was busily getting lunch ready.

Oh boy, they're out in force, those political signs that are starting dot our landscape. Some might even say they pollute the environment. Off the record, one politician said that the reason they go up so early and there are so many of them is that they disappear overnight–perhaps due to some hijinks by the opposite party. Whatever it is, it sure isn't pretty, these signs preceding November's election, that is. Do they bug you, dear reader?

If it's late September, can Halloween be far behind? We've spotted a few pumpkins on porches, and now Dave Ward's Pumpkin Patch is moving into high gear with its sign along Route 17 North advertising the hundreds (maybe thousands) of pumpkins you'll be having your choice of buying. Since Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, we welcome all signs of the festivities to come. 

If you get started a little early and have the decorations out, we want to see them! Send your photos to james.kleimann@patch.com

Strange sign at the end of Glen Ave over by Old Paramus Church, which we just now noticed: Vietnam Vets Memorial Highway. Do any of you readers know what it's referring to? Glen Avenue isn't a highway, so that can't be it, right? It's not even a county road! Is it a new designation for the street or does it have something to do with the church or did someone just arbitrarily put it up? If you have an answer or even just a theory, let us know!

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce will have Mitch Saeflier, who has over 25 years of sales and management experience at high-powered corproations presenting innovative and practical sales approaches. The topic, "New Sales Strategies for a Radically Changing Business World," will give sales reps and business owners alike some proven sales techniques, or so the press release from the chamber says. In any event, if you're looking for a new sales edge in business, you may want to see Saeflier speak at Puzo's Pizzeria at 11:15 a.m.