To the editor: Many of us have heard complaints from West Milford business owners who experienced financial disasters because of the decision to close Union Valley between Marshall Hill and Bearfort Roads for the Autumn Lights Festival. That road closure also had financial costs for many residents, as the detour around that quarter mile was five miles. The 10 mile round trip cost about $2 extra in gasoline, and, with the slowed down and confused motorists, took an extra half-hour. For many businesses, Saturday is their day for maximum income. That day, businesses south of Bearfort Rd. lost customers living north of Bearfort, and businesses north of Marshall Hill Rd. lost customers living south of Marshall Hill Rd. The financial problems hit not just the quarter of a mile that was closed. As West Milford residents often want or need businesses in town, we must support them financially, so that they can afford to stay here. They have a difficult time competing with the big-box stores. But also, residents often don’t think about the extra gasoline cost, the extra time, and the extra environmental pollution incurred when not shopping locally. So, take your family and friends to eat in some of our local food establishments, and shop in town for some of this year’s Christmas and Channukah gifts. An advantage of shopping at many of our local “Mom and Pop” businesses is that they provide extra services. For example, if local stores don’t have an item you need in stock, they will gladly order it for you, to arrive within a few days or so. Particularly hard hit by the Autumn Lights road-closure were businesses that sell pumpkins, such as Eden Farms and Evergreen Farms. To help out our local pumpkin-growers and sellers, consider some of the post-Halloween attributes and uses of pumpkins listed below, and note that fresh pumpkin is more tasty than canned pumpkin. Pumpkins are highly nutritious. One cup of cooked pumpkin, with only 50 calories, is loaded with beta-carotene which the body converts to 2650 IU of Vitamin A which may reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease. It is also high in fiber (3 grams) and potassium (564 mg). Pumpkins have smaller amounts of the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and the vitamins C, E, niacin and folate. Consider how healthy you would become if you ate the largest pumpkin on record: 1,140 pounds! If you enter “pumpkin” into Google on your computer, you will find many tasty recipes. On the University of Illinois Extension web site, I found some interesting and some unusual ideas. The following recipes were given: traditional pumpkin pie, chiffon pumpkin pie with hazelnut crunch topping, spicy pumpkin pound cake, pumpkin nut bread, pumpkin-amaretto cheesecake, and pumpkin nut bars (a nice change from granola bars for hikers). Other deserts included a traditional American pumpkin pudding and also “pumpkin cremes brulees” (a rich French cream and vanilla custard). However, one can use pumpkin to start a meal or for a main dish. I found recipes for two rather different soups: pumpkin apple soup (to be served with a green salad and crusty bread) and “quick and easy creamy pumpkin soup,” with onions, celery, and chili peppers as ingredients. For Italian dishes consider the following: pumpkin-cheese risotto, or instead of a rice dish, pumpkin can be added to many pasta dishes. I have substituted pumpkin for potatoes in some dishes, or just steamed the pumpkin with some salt and butter for a delicious vegetable. For breakfast ideas, I found recipes for pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin omelets. For a great between-meals snack, there is the all-time favorite, roasted and salted pumpkin seeds. The seeds are also great in sandwiches and salads, and contain omega-3 fatty acid, a “good” fat. So, plan a fun day with friends and family by getting party supplies at the West Milford Party Store, some new clothes at the Depot, some new jewelry at That Special Gift, a gift for your guests from Fitzula’s or the West Milford Pharmacy, and some flowers for your dinner table from the West Milford Florist before you cook that tasty pumpkin dish for everyone to enjoy. When you’re tired of your own cooking, check out some of West Milford’s restaurants and other local businesses that lost out during the street closing for the Autumn Lights Festival. West Milford businesses support many local projects and activities, so we should support them. Doris Aaronson West Milford