Binghamton Flower Shops

Binghamton NY News

Sep 22, 2017

Blooming Passion Brings Arnold's Back to Main

Brandt, who owns the Flower Tents in Binghamton and Elmira.Smith came from a vastly different background, though she has operated the Elmira Flower Tent for a few years and has always loved flowers, dating farther back than the rose she put on her class ring. In a move that Brandt said “blew her away,” Smith quit her four-year job in the tax accessor’s office in the Town of Horseheads to go into business at Arnold’sShe and Stevie make the one-hour, 20-minute commute one-way.“But you don’t mind it, because you love what you’re doing,” she said.The two cast floral design as their passion, and though they’ll do anything for anyone they’re seeking a new outlook in the old space. +1 Arnold’s Flower Shop owners Marcy Brandt and Rebecca Smith have a passion for floral design and want to bring more modernity to it.(Photo by Cassandra Negley)“We want something a little bit more unique and fresh to the area than your traditional flower shop,” Brandt said.That might include flower crowns or a muted color scheme with the possibility of a vintage feel. Though Brandt said traditional baby’s breath and carnations “aren’t really our style,” customer service is always very in.Sometimes customers aren’t adamant about what they want, instead giving kind of vague ideas. Which is OK, Brandt said, that’s why she and Smith ask a lot of questions and insist on hearing input when they pick it up.“(It’s about) not being afraid to tell us they want something different or changed, because we want people to have exactly what they want,” Brandt said. “We want to give them something they’re in love with.”That of course applies to brides, a special spot for Brandt who said she loves weddings and has long immersed herself in bridal magazines. The duo will be at a few bridal expos coming up, including the CNY Bridal Hope Lake Lodge Bridal Expo Nov. 5. (And yes, they CAN recreate those incredible Pinterest bouquets, ladies.)“We’re just excited to create incredible things for brides and make sure they get exactly what they want,” she said.The two said the first few weeks up and running have been “phenomenal.” The store, located at 19 W. Main St., is open Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30... (ithaca.com)

Jul 14, 2017

Barbara White Lord, 86, lent her flower-arranging skills to make worship centers a place of beauty

She is also survived by two sisters-in law, Frances Murray White of Williamsburg and Eleanor Lord Stethers of Binghamton, N.Y.; brother-in-law, David Lord of New Brighton, Minn., and his wife, Cindi Weston Lord; and numerous nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her brother, Albert Linwood White III; three brothers-in-law, Frank Rose, Richard Stethers and John Lord; and sister-in-law, Beverly Lord Rose.She devoted her adult life to raising her three children, but found time to contribute as a volunteer wherever she lived. She was in the Hampton Junior Women’s Club, the Hampton Roads Junior League, several Garden Clubs, and was a volunteer “pink lady” at the Fairfax Hospital.Her major efforts were visible in the various Methodist churches in which she was a member, whether as a Sunday school teacher, member or officer in the United Methodist Women, or member or chair of committees and as a church lay leader. She also served on the Board of the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center and the Virginia Council of Churches. She was a charter member of Messiah United Methodist Church in Springfield, Va., and was thrilled when the youth center there was named in honor of her and her husband for their dedicated service. Her favorite church job, however, was serving on altar guilds, where she used her flower-arranging skills to make the worship centers a place of beauty.She was also a wonderful cook and a skilled seamstress and later discovered a talent for painting with her beautiful seascapes finding a cherished place in the homes of each of her family members. As her children reached maturity, she found a place to take her talents to a new level as administrative assistant at the Annandale United Methodist Church, where she directed a staff of this large and growing congregation.When she moved to Williamsburg, she joined Chapter BA of the PEO Sisterhood and enjoyed the many activities with these wonderful friends. Her final years were spent in the Williamsburg Landing, a retirement community where she made many more acquaintances and enriched the lives of those she met with her joyful spirit and friendly greetings. The family is most appreciative of the loving care provided to her by the staff of the Woodhaven nursing facility.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at Williamsburg United Methodist Church, wi... (Williamsburg Yorktown Daily)

Jul 5, 2016

She brings dreams to life at Sunflower Park

Buy Photo Marylou Rutkowski with a mural painted by local children that decorates the walls of Sunflower Park in Binghamton’s First Ward.(Photo: CONNIE McKINNEY / Correspondent photo)Buy Photo Marylou Rutkowski recalls taking her grandchildren to Murray Street Park in the city’s First Ward more than a decade ago and walking away disappointed. “There wasn’t even a bench to sit on,” she said of the park, which was overgrown by weeds and a gathering place for drug dealers and underage drinkers. “It was just a mess.” Not anymore. Today, the park, which has been renamed Sunflower Park, contains benches to sit on, plenty of playground equipment for children to play on and even a climbing wall. Volunteers such as Rutkowski and Le Roy Johnson, who cleans up the park daily, make sure that children are supervised, and no criminal activity takes place. “We try to keep it a safe place,” Rutkowski said. “This is definitely a labor of love.” Rutkowski visits the park almost every day to chat with the children, weed the flower beds or set up for a special event such as Fantastic Fun Tuesdays. The summer progr... (Press & Sun-Bulletin)

Mar 11, 2016

Flower Shops Face Busiest Time of the Year

Vince Briga explains why one area business says the added pressure is all worth it. BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Local flower shops are preparing for their busiest time of the year. Gennarelli's Flower Shop in Binghamton has been working 12 to 14 hour days in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day. Within the past few days, they've taken more than 600 orders from all across the Southern Tier all with the hopes of putting smiles on people's faces. "Preparation can be a little difficult. This year was a three-day holiday which is a little bit different than usual. Usually it's one day during the week and all of the orders have to go out that day," said Victoria Paoletti, Gennarelli's Flower Shop owner. Paoletti has owned the flower shop for 27 years. She says she takes pride in helping every customer she can, whether they've been coming in for years, or if it's their first time. "It's very convenient. I couldn't ask for a better experience. She knew exactly what I needed and it didn't take too long. She was very friendly," said Tim Schriber, Binghamton University student. Gennarelli employees say it's a joy preparing each order, knowing it will give h... (TWC News)

Feb 2, 2016

VANISHED: What really happened to Bambi Madden?

The year it happened," Jackie says during an interview on Jan. 12 — a decade and a day after Bambi Madden left her Binghamton home on an errand and never returned — "someone once stopped me on the street and says, 'You're Bambi! We're going to the police station.' “My big sister, my best friend. I've been expecting her to call me. I don't know if she ever will.” Jackie Fiske, Bambi Madden's sister "I had to explain to him that I'm not Bambi, I'm her sister. Being mistaken for her, that's happened." A framed photo of a petite, smiling blonde sits on a wooden table in the living room of Jackie's Oak Street home. A lonely candle casts soft light on the image of Bambi's face. "My big sister, my best friend," Jackie says. "I've been expecting her to call me. I don't know if she ever will." Jackie Fiske, Bambi Madden's sister, reflects after her family has spent 10 years waiting to learn what became of her. Video by Anthony Borrelli Help detectives close the case Anyone with information concerning the Bambi Madden disappearance or other known unsolved cases in Binghamton is encouraged to call detectives at (607) 772-7080. Who else is missing? Cold case Investigators say Bambi's path was a mystery from the start. Two fatal shootings and a stabbing. Two hit-and-runs that left pedestrians dead in the street. A missing woman whose remains were found in a Pennsylvania field, a man fatally struck on a sidewalk, a teenage boy killed in a house fire. And Bambi Madden. Of the nine unsolved cases under investigation by the Binghamton Police Department, hers stands apart. The others center on victims; Bambi is a missing person, a blank space at the heart of a decade-old mystery. (Press & Sun-Bulletin)

Feb 2, 2016

BU women can't overcome early deficit against Maine

Binghamton University sophomore guard Imani Watkins dribbles during a game against the University of Maine in the Events Center on Jan. 31, 2016,(Photo: Jonathan Cohen / Binghamton University) Halfway through America East Conference play the Bearcats — who were picked to finish last in the preseason poll — feel as though they can beat anyone left on their schedule. The Binghamton University women’s basketball team dropped its second game of the week with a 52-38 loss to the University of Maine in front of an announced 1,575 in the Events Center on Saturday as the Bearcats held their “Play 4Kay” Day to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. “Now that we’ve seen everybody in the conference, I know that we can compete with everybody,” Cimino said. “We can compete with Maine. We can compete with Albany. We can compete with Stony Brook.” The Bearcats (9-12, 4-4 AE) won two of the four quarters, but they allowed Maine, last season’s conference co-champions and the top seed in the confer... (Press & Sun-Bulletin)