Atlantic City Flower Shop News
A Family Tradition: Berkeley Floral Shop Celebrates 45 Years - Berkeley, NJ Patch
Saturday, January 18, 2020Patch. "Everyone's pretty much down to earth in this area. A lot of our customers, they're just fabulous. They come in, they're like family." Cofka worked in marketing for 12 years with Atlantic City casinos. Sixteen years ago, her parents — Paul and Cathy Mulhern — retired. They had sold their other shops in Sea Girt and Howell. Their daughter took the opportunity to buy the Bayville shop from her parents. "It just got overwhelming with the politics," she said of working for casinos. "I just said, 'Why am I doing this for everybody else when I can do it myself and apply a lot of the marketing that I learned through the casinos into my own business?'" Since then, A Blossom Shop Florist has earned several accolades from floral organizations and the Asbury Park Press. They will celebrate their 45th anniversary in several ways. A Blossom Shop Florist kicked off the celebration with a contest: guess the cost of the banner in their Jan. 10 post. The closest guesser by Jan. 24 will win one dozen roses arranged in a vase. The florist will also hold a summer event offering 45-cent roses, as they have on past anniversaries. A Blossom Shop Florist will also once again run the "Pedal it Forward" program. Anyone who donates a nonperishable food item during that time will receive a free flower bouquet. A local food bank will receive the donation. Forty-five years in, Cofka still values the relationships the shop has built with customers. "We recognize a lot of our customers," she said. "We have some customers that come in every week for flowers. But it's really about the relationships that have been built year after year... https://patch.com/new-jersey/berkeley-nj/family-tradition-berkeley-floral-shop-celebrates-45-years
Archive: The 2006 NJ government shutdown - from casinos to courts, all were quiet - NorthJersey.com
Wednesday, July 05, 2017Wednesday. The machines that spit out tickets for state lottery drawings were idle, as were the slot machines and gambling tables at all 12 of Atlantic City's casinos, which shut down at 8 a.m. Rangers turned away visitors to the state's 42 parks. And Trenton, where most of the state's 45,000 furloughed employees work, was virtually empty during what should have been a busy lunch hour. "We've had no one. No one," said Jung Koh, owner of Jung's Place luncheonette on West State Street. "First the floods, now the budget. I'm closing early." Atlantic City, which normally bustles around-the-clock with the jingle-jangle of slot machines and the din of alcohol-fueled revelry, was silenced at 8 a.m., when state monitors were sent home. Some casinos closed shop earlier, taking time to store chips and cash. Several visitors said they planned to leave town and spend their money elsewhere. "We'll go right ... to West Virginia," said Maryland resident Patti Meyer. "They have a budget there." The Atlantic City casinos generate a total of $1.3 million in state taxes each day. With gambling idled, many of the city's 50,000 casino employees found themselves suddenly out of work until the budget impasse is resolved. "We're going to be on hold," said John Tracy, a card dealer at Caesars. "I don't think it'll last long. We'll see what happens." NJ Transit reported that passenger traffic on its bus routes to Atlantic City from Newark and New York fell by more than 70 percent Wednesday. Academy Bus suspended service to Atlantic City from New York and various locations in New Jersey for the duration of the government shutdown. Academy spokeswoman Deidre Rienzo, said the company instead will offer additional departures from the New York area to the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos in Connecticut. "For us, it's a real opportunity," said Mohegan Sun President Mitchell Etess. "It's unfortunate for the operators in Atlantic City, but we think it may be of some help to us." Gambling was also idled at The Meadowlands Racetrack. The horses were fed and stables cleaned early Wednesday, but within hours it was all but deserted. Eleven scheduled races were canceled because state racing regulators had been furloughed. Monmouth Park and even the privately owned Freehold Raceway also went dark Wednesday. "We're all sitting around earning nothing," said John Campbell, harness racing's all-time leading driver who h... http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2017/06/29/archive-2006-n-j-government-shutdown-casinos-courts-all-were-quiet/441472001/
2017 Valentine's Day gift and travel guide - Queens Chronicle
Tuesday, February 07, 2017The southern part of the United States has always been known for great desserts. Brennan’s of Houston makes these soft praline pieces that remind you of the delicious fudge that you find in Atlantic City. Whoopie pies are a southern treat, but the sweetest that I have ever tasted are those frmo Wicked Whoopies (wickedwhoopies.com), surprisingly made in Freeport, Maine, a Portland suburb famous for its outlet shopping. Former investment banker Liz Fife recently started a New York-based company, Batter & Cream (batterandcream.com), that specializes in whoopie pies.Cheryl’s (cheryls.com) has a Valentine’s Day gift box of its popular cookies while Harry & David’s has gift baskets of its popular Moose Munch popcorn as well as its many other confections.Couples who are coffee drinkers and who don’t mind a touch of saccharine kitsch should purchase Care Bears his and hers mugs.For the spirits industry, Valentine’s Day ranks just behind New Year’s Eve in terms of sales numbers. Liqueurs such as Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur, Baileys Old Irish Creme, Kahlua and Baileys Salted Caramel and Bailey’s recent creation, Espresso Café Creme, are safe bets. France is renowned for red wine but Calvados Boulard is a fine brandy from its Normandy region. Ireland now has competition in the cream liqueur industry as evidenced by South Africa’s Amarula Cream.Sparkling wines such as France’s Lillet Rose and Italy’s Banfi Rosa Regale are also synonymous with romance. If you want a slight sweet touch to somewhat harder alcohol, try Smirnoff Wild Honey Vodka or Balvenie Caribbean Cork.If you prefer smooth over sweet, Glenfiddich 12, Macallan, Usquaebach and Johnnie Walker Black Label (the Blue Label will cost you over $200) are great options in the scotch whisky mark... http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/valentine-s-day-gift-and-travel-guide/article_4aa66bda-ed48-11e6-bf6c-63e4ccbee247.html
Area florists get some benefits from online flower services - Press of Atlantic City
Wednesday, May 11, 2016You have now viewed your allowance of free articles.Login SubscribeYou must login to view the full content on this page.Reporter/ Business Writer© 2016 Press of Atlantic City. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Thank you for reading and relying on pressofAtlanticCity.com for your news and information. You have now viewed your allowance of free articles.Login Subscribe... http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/business/area-florists-get-some-benefits-from-online-flower-services/article_1f2aef36-14b2-11e6-91d8-f7428a15cb33.html
2016 Valentine's Day gift and travel guide - Queens Chronicle
Thursday, February 18, 2016The southern part of the United States has always been known for great desserts. Brennan’s of Houston makes these soft praline pieces that remind you of the delicious fudge that you find in Atlantic City. Whoopie pies are a southern treat, but the sweetest that I have ever tasted are those made by Wicked Whoopies... http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/valentine-s-day-gift-and-travel-guide/article_171884cc-ce83-11e5-8063-7f30cf3636d7.html
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/
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/
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/
Creating beauty through the art of flowers – Shore News Network - Shore News Magazine
Wednesday, October 28, 2020We think we are getting there.”About Narcissus FloralsA second-generation florist, Narcissus Florals in Toms River is proud to have served the New Jersey Shore with daily delivery of beautiful hand designed arrangements for every occasion since 1989. Recently acquiring Mueller’s Historic Florals in Spring Lake Heights, Narcissus Florals has a team of dedicated designers ready to inspire through the art of flowers. To learn more, visit narcissusflorals.com or call 732-281-0333.###Suggested Photo Caption:Kenneth Malagiere#wpdevar_comment_1 span,#wpdevar_comment_1 iframe{width:100% !important;}... https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2020/10/19/creating-beauty-through-the-art-of-flowers/