November 20, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 17 Finders Keepers already under way in region Devon Fine Jewelry has brought the popular Finders Keepers jewelry giveaway back to the region. The event, which began Monday, Nov. 18, will continue through Saturday, Nov. 23. This year, Devon’s “elves” will be giving away 26 bags – each one filled with a spe- cial piece of jewelry from DFJ. The elves then wait nearby to see that each bag is found. Nancy Schuring, owner of Devon, began this annual treasure hunt as a way to thank area residents for their loyalty and support. DFJ is now celebrating 34 years in busi- ness. The bags are being hidden in plain sight in 12 communities, including Mahwah, Oakland, Ramsey, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, Allendale, Waldwick, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, and Hawthorne. Images of all of the gifts are available on Facebook. Once again, DFJ is providing clues to the hiding places. Clues are available on Facebook, Twitter, and via a special e-mail list. E-mail sara@devonfinejewelry.com to be added to the list. A few years ago, Finders Keepers caught the attention of the New York media and suddenly TV channels ABC, NBC, CBS, NJ News 12, and FOX Business network were carrying the story. Radio stations such as 1010 WINS and CBS News Radio also followed the progress. Because of the dra- matic amount of media coverage Finders Keepers got, the store was inundated with phone calls and lots of people stopped in to ask for clues. By the end of the week, the bags were being discovered in an average of just three minutes. Here are a few stories from a prior Find- ers Keepers event: • After one elf put a bag in front of the Waldwick Walgreens, Peggy slammed on her brakes and leapt from her car to pick up a 14kt yellow gold, diamond and sapphire bracelet worth $1,300. • Ellen, a waitress at Kinchley’s in Ramsey, got what must have been the best tip of her career when she found a bag con- taining a $600 emerald ring. • A young couple from Midland Park finished their visit to Ramsey Route 17 Shop Rite with a bang. They walked out the store, she spotted the white and gold Devon bag, and found herself the new owner of a diamond ring worth $600. • Sharp-eyed Mike spotted a gold and Nancy Schuring and Julie white bag on the fancy bench outside the Franklin Lakes Market Basket. He reached inside and found a $1,500 gold and diamond necklace. His wife was thrilled. • A bag containing a pair of $1,000 dia- mond earrings was put outside a Wyckoff Dunkin Donuts. The woman on her lunch break from her bank job who found them could hardly believe her luck at the discov- ery. • James works across the street from Home Hardware in Waldwick. He'd just picked up a small item when he spotted the white bag on a storage chest just outside the store. He couldn't stop smiling when he realized he was the new owner of an18k yellow gold three stone blue topaz ring worth $600. • In Oakland, a young man stopped by at a Starbucks, spotted the white and gold Devon bag, and was almost too shy to pick it up. The elf persuaded him that he was the proud owner of a 14kt white gold diamond pendant. With all the elves having so much fun, Schuring decided she had to put one last piece out herself. She chose the most valu- able item; a $3,000 sapphire and diamond ring to place at Zabriskie Pond because it is the iconic symbol of Wyckoff. Sneak- ing through the woods around the pond, she put the white bag on a fence post near the covered bridge—where it was quickly menaced by a large black crow. A young man riding by noticed the bag and crow and pulled over—but he also saw Schuring in the woods. He asked if the bag was hers. She said, “No, it’s yours.” He told Schuring that he had a feeling that she would put a bag there, he just didn’t know when.