Allendale Flower Shop News
Des Plaines florist remembered for his charitable works for children - Chicago Daily Herald
Thursday, January 14, 2016Recipients have included Little City Foundation and Kirk School, both in Palatine; Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge; Vista Health System and Kids Hope United in Waukegan; Allendale Association in Lake Villa; Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville; Nicasa in Round Lake; and food pantries at CEDA Northwest in Mount Prospect and at Wheeling Township in Arlington Heights.Harney got into the floral business during college. He worked his way through school by designing and delivering flowers for a Chicago florist.He opened his own shop in 1962; Harney named it Aberdeen's Wedding Flowers so it would be the first florist listed in the phone book.His love of flowers, especially international varieties, landed him jobs on high-profile weddings, including Michael Daley, son of Mayor Richard J. Daley, and Tricia Nixon's wedding in the White House.According to family members, Harney landed the wedding for Tiny Tim -- best known for his song "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" -- by ordering all the tulips available from the Holland Tulip Exchange before the wedding, which was set to air on NBC's "The Tonight Show."When NBC's florist couldn't get tulips, Harney's persistence convinced network officials to give him the job. He filled the studio with thousands of yellow and white tulips for the ceremony, and the ensuing publicity helped the business soar.But it was his final years of helping disadvantaged children that gave Harney the most pleasure.Harney talked about his annual mission to provide toys and joy to sick children in a 2012 Daily Herald interview."Their stories are unbelievable," Harney said. "I'll remember some of these children forever."Services have been held. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160106/news/160109507/
Maggie's Flowers: 10-year-old's bouquet business brings Christmas to the needy - HollandSentinel.com
Friday, December 04, 2015This Wednesday, Dec. 2, Maggie set up almost 80 presents at what has become an annual tradition for Maggie’s Flowers: A Christmas closet at Christian Fellowship Church in Allendale. Families served by the church’s food pantry came to pick out presents for their children — and then Maggie and her family wrapped the presents on the spot.She’s also planning on giving gifts to a whole wing of residents at an area nursing home, as well as to families from her school or people she finds through word-of-mouth.“The flowers are the vehicle to help her do what she loves — which is help others,” Jil Hartman said.Page 2 of 2 - The operation began five years ago, when Maggie was five years old. Seeking a way to raise money to hang glide while on a family vacation, Maggie started selling dollar bouquets of cosmos and zinnias from her garden. Much to everyone’s surprise, Maggie surpassed her $100 goal — she doubled it.In 2011 Maggie decided she wanted to keep selling flowers — but this time, she would use the money to help those in need.The thought of someone not having a Christmas present to open didn’t sit well with Maggie, Jil Hartman said.By 2013 Maggie had raised more than $1,000 for the second year in a row. In 2014 Maggie added a second flower cart, raising $2,500 and helping families, senior citizens at a nursing homes and young boys at a youth ranch in East Lansing.“You’re really, really happy that you have that much so you can help more people,” Maggie said.This year, Maggie had nearly raised her goal of $2,501 when the Zeeland Magical Christmas Parade committee made a major contribution to Maggie’s Flowers as their annual charity donation. The end result: Maggie raised $2,620.“It’s grown in incredible ways,” Maggie’s mom Jil Hartman said. “Five years of giving later … it’s surreal at points.”Maggie’s Flowers isn’t a registered nonprofit. Jil Hartman said she’s considered filing the paperwork for a 501(c)3, but the expense is too large at this point for the size of the operation. Every year, nearly all of the proceeds are spent on gifts for that Christmas, with the exception of $100 to $200 used by Maggie for summer camps.Maggie’s Flowers has become a part of who Maggie is and what the family does, Jil Hartman said.The Hartman family recently moved from their Hudsonville home and is in the process of renovating a farmhouse, also in the Zeeland school district. A large garden for Maggie was a must in their house search.Maggie has no plans of stopping the flower business.“I like seeing them open their presents, and to shop for them,” Maggie said.To other children out there inspired to help others, Maggie had the following advice:“If you have an idea, just do it.”Look for Maggie’s Flowers to return to 5519 36th St. in Hud... http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20151203/NEWS/151209791
Audrey Cleary Bailey, 76, advocated for military families - Port City Daily
Wednesday, December 02, 2020These last few years she had loving support from family, friends, companions and neighbors who made it possible for her to stay in her home.Mrs. Bailey was born Aug. 31, 1944, in Paterson, New Jersey, daughter of the late Edward Aubrey Cleary and Evelyn Grande Cleary.Mrs. Bailey was a proud U.S. Navy spouse, reporter for WDSU T.V. in New Orleans, worked for Admiral Rickover in his last days and she was an advocate on Capitol Hill, sometimes political, but always with the aim of improving the lives of military families. Mrs. Bailey had been active in support for military families as a young wife and mother, as only a Navy wife can be, while the ship was away at sea for six or more months at a time. As her husband rose in rank, her responsibilities to the military family grew until she was able to affect change at the national level.She was an early advocate for the Vietnam era Prisoners of War (POW) and those missing in action, wearing a bracelet with a POW’s name on it for years until his return to the United States. She was a working mother in the days when it was a rarity. She was active in the Rotary Club in Winston-Salem as well as a volunteer in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit.Her overriding passion in her life was her husband. He was her hero. After Capt. Bailey had finally retired, he was afflicted with Alzheimer... https://portcitydaily.com/obits/2020/11/30/audrey-cleary-bailey-76-advocated-for-military-families/
Sales aren't blooming: Florists adjust during pandemic - Delaware State News - Delaware State News
Wednesday, December 02, 2020I just wanted to get open and salvage the flowers we do have.”Ms. Bobola said she had to shut down the florist because wholesalers where Bobola Farms receives flowers from in New Jersey and Pennsylvania were closed. Bobola Farms will begin selling some produce in the upcoming weeks; first up are strawberries, which have started to bloom.Bobola Farms has been open since the late 1990s and Ms. Bobola said she never experienced anything like this. She hopes Mother’s Day can help bring back some normalcy but reminded that everything is limited.“It’s the longest we’ve ever been closed,” Ms. Bobola said. “You’ve got to get started somewhere, so we’re just going to do the best we can. I hope people will be patient. We’ll do everything we can to be as close to normal but there will be substitutions. I hope people understand this isn’t easy but we’ll work with them.”Florists are following all protocols recommend by the Centers for Disease Control to help limit the spread of COVID-19. This includes wiping down all vases, wearing gloves while handling flowers and disinfecting the store every night.It also includes contact-free delivery, where the driver will call the customer when the flowers are on the steps of their home.Mrs. Fries said Jen-Mor had to lay off part of its staff when the pandemic first began. She added it has been able to slowly bring back some of the staff.The loss of workers has made the busy weeks even more stressful.“It’s been exhausting,” Mrs. Fries said. “The few of us that are here are doing the work of more people. There’s only so much we can do with this staff so our inventory is smaller than usual.”... https://delawarestatenews.net/coronavirus/sales-arent-blooming-florists-adjust-during-pandemic/
New Hampshire florists see demand bloom despite event cancellations - New Hampshire Business Review
Wednesday, December 02, 2020Flowers are natural mood elevators, a fact that behavioral research from Rutgers University in New Jersey confirms. The study measured participants’ reactions to gifts of flowers against gifts of candles or fruit baskets, and only flowers elicited authentic smiles. This is all the more notable in time of coronavirus because these types of grins show up in the crow’s feet or laugh lines area of the face and are discernible behind a mask.More people are also seeking blossoms native to the area, said researcher Kaitlyn Orde at the University of New Hampshire’s Sideman Lab.The number of farms producing field-grown cut flowers in New Hampshire climbed from 64 to 101 farms, an increase of about 60%, in the decade from 2007 to 2017, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).“Cut flowers are an increasingly important specialty crop in the state,” said Orde, “and [the spike] illustrates that consumer demand is strong for regionally-grown flowers.”Despite the lack of special events, Bob Cote of wholesaler Baystate Farm Direct Flowers in Bedford says business has been brisk. However, the continued postponement of large gatherings for funerals and nuptials is not hardy news for florists powering through less than ideal conditions. “Weddings are our bread and butter for the summer,” Cote said.Floral shops, like other retailers, are adjusting their operations to address customers’ hesitancy to browse in their aisles. In addition to offering delivery and curbside pickup, Hewson encourages people to visit her open-air greenhouse where she transferred many of her ancillary gift items. She also posted that same inventory on a revamped website.“We’re still using that [the greenhouse and the website] for people who don’t feel comfortable coming into the store,” she said. “Being inventive is what got us through.”Catalysts for compassion‘We have been crazy, crazy, crazy’ busy, says Shirley Wrenn of Shirley’s Flowers and Sweets in Nashua, who recently added a third vehicle to keep up with demand for flowers. (Photo by Sheryl Rich-Kern)Community well-wishers also helped merchants withstand the pandemic’s aftermath. One customer started what Hewson calls a “flower chain.”In April, Maryanne Jackson of North Conway purchased 20 table-sized bouquets of friezes, roses and greenery from Hewson with a note wishing people “joy and color,” asking them to support small businesses and consider paying forward the gift. Many of the recipient... https://www.nhbr.com/new-hampshire-florists-see-demand-bloom-despite-event-cancelations/
Philly florists bring beauty back to voting with public installations across the region - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Wednesday, October 28, 2020So to highlight the beauty of voting and nip the negativity in the bud, they’ve teamed up with 15 other florists across the Philadelphia region, New York, and New Jersey for United by Blooms, a nonpartisan outdoor floral installation event from Oct. 14-16 aimed at promoting voting. “By incorporating it with flowers, we bring back a positive connotation to the actual process of voting,” Lam said. #right-rail .newsletter-card,.newsletter-card.hidden-desktop{display:none} Inquirer Morning Newsletter Get the news you need to start your day United by Blooms is the brainchild of farmer-florist Kate Carpenter, co-owner of EMA (East Mount Airy) Blooms. Participating florists and growers, who donated their time and flowers to the project, were asked to provide a positive public experience while raising awareness about voting. Designers were encouraged to put their installations near mailboxes or ballot drop boxes (but not on them), to highlight voting by mail and the necessity of the U.S. Postal Service, which has faced its share of heavy criticism this year, too. “It’s an opportunity to thank the postal workers, who are essential workers, and to get the community engaged about participating in our democracy,” said Carpenter, 35. “Plus, it gives growers and designers the chance to take their talents to the streets of Philadelphia and give people something to enjoy right now.” Carpenter’s design, which she created with her business partner, Courtney Jewell, was inspired, in part, by the rainbows that people placed in their windows for children’s scavenger hunts during the height of quarantine. Several rainbow-colored chalk paths lead to the installation at Green Street and Carpenter Lane in Mount Airy, where flowers crawl up a stop sign and flow out from underneath the mailbox nearby. A QR code at the site takes visitors to a map with the locations of the other installations. “Noth... https://www.inquirer.com/news/united-by-blooms-art-flowers-philadelphia-voting-20201015.html