Petal it Forward day shows flower power

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Although diamonds are a girl’s best friend, flowers – no matter what the occasion – have always held special meaning for women of the world.

That theory was reinforced some 60 times last Wednesday by John Dick, who owns and operates Atwood Florists Inc. at 1041 Atwood Avenue in Johnston. He was among florists in all 50 states who participated in Petal it Forward Day that was presented by the Society of American Florists.

“On this day florists nationwide randomly surprise people on the streets or in office buildings or schools with flowers,” Dick said, “And each lucky recipient received two bouquets – one to keep, and one to pass on to a best friend, family members, co-worker or even a complete stranger.”

As Dick pointed out after his program was complete: “There were lots of smiles going around all over the place as countless ladies in our great country experienced flower power.”

In Johnston, some 30 different women received two bouquets that were personally delivered by Dick’s staffers and goodwill ambassadors Louie DelPonte and his driver Carlos Cosme.

Sometime around 11:30 last Wednesday morning, DelPonte and Cosme entered Johnston Town Hall to make two of 30 deliveries – one to Deborah DelFino, a long-time customer at Atwood Florists and one to a much-surprised Valerie Laurito, who was subbing for Mayor Joseph Polisena’s administrative assistant Janet Whiteley.

Whiteley, who is recovering from a broken ankle, wasn’t at her desk so DelPonte had to do some quick thinking, as he wanted to make DelFino, whose family has been a loyal customer at Atwood Florists, and a second woman equally as happy.

After he surprised DelFino with her bouquets, Laurito came into the Johnston Town Hall lobby and immediately DelPonte said: “Young lady, please accept these bouquets. It’s Petal it Forward Day; please enjoy this and pass the other one on to a friend or whomever.”

DelFino and Laurito thanked DelPonte and Cosme, who wished the women well saying, “we’ve got more stops to make.”

Armed with smiles and happiness, DelPonte and Cosme drove to the Johnston Municipal Courthouse and presented Deputy Clerks Karen Russo and Julie Zira with two bouquets each.

Once the surprising oohs and aahs subsided, Russo asked, “Who sent these flowers; what are they for?”

“It’s Petal it Forward Day,” DelPonte said. “These flowers are from John Dick at Atwood Florists who is participating in a program of the Society of American Florists … he’s giving two bouquets to women across town, one to keep and another to pass on as an example of goodwill in hopes of making your day brighter.”

In all, Dick provided five dozen women with bouquets during last Wednesday’s program in Johnston, which was one of 410 towns and cities across the country where local Florists did indeed Petal it Forward and make a lot of people happy. 

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