'Secret Valentines' Enjoy Their Good Luck

A local jewelry designer has been hearing from the winners of her Valentine's Day contest, with men across the area happy for their good luck in being able to give their sweethearts unique jewelry found at area stores.

Lorraine Baratta of Upper Saddle River held a Secret Jewelry Giveaway in 14 stores in 14 towns across northern New Jersey, including Wyckoff and Ridgewood. Hints on the locations of the Valentine's necklaces she designed were posted on her Web site, as well as in advertisements in area newspapers. Those who figured the direction the hint was pointing them toward needed only to mouth the words "I am the secret Valentine" at the establishment in question.

Baratta reports that all 14 pieces of jewelry were found, with several of the winners writing her in appreciation.

"I was esctatic that I got one of the pieces of jewelry," wrote Austin Johnson, a Ramapo High School student who figured out that a clue on Baratta's Web site was pointing him in the direction of the Allendale Bar and Grill. "I literally didn't stop smiling for the next 10 minutes," after being handed the jewelry, which he gave to his girlfriend.

Mary Ann Koluch was elated to get a heart pendant from her husband, who was the lucky winner at Town & Country Pharmacy in Ridgewood. Koluch said she and her husband had been looking for a similar pendant while on vacation in Venice two years ago. "We never did find one to my liking, but as they say.. what's meant to be will be.. and so it was when my 'Secret Valentine' presented me with a most lovely Valentine's gift," she wrote.

Larry Keary said he felt "like a secret agent" when he "whispered the coded message" at Maluka in Wyckoff. Keary said his sweetheart loved the heart pendant he won.

Other winners:

• Vita Restaurant, Basking Ridge: Gerald Fletcher
• Monterey Gourmet Shop, Bernardsville: Philip Stolt
• ReMax Pinnacle, Bedminster: Michael Dougherty
• Englewood Dental: Jeff Barr
• Market Basket, Franklin Lakes: Unknown
• Harvest Moon Caterers, Montvale: Tyler Tibbe
• 7th Street Surf Shop, Ocean City: Mike Contino
• Steven Corn Furs, Paramus: Mike Harvell
• Peppercorns, Park Ridge: Debra and Eugene Rybek
• Englishman's Hardware, Ramsey: Tom Gilleran
• Hans Kalchbrenner DC, Upper Saddle River: Jay Meisner