Florist opens shop in Town Center

Vernon — If Vernonites wouldn’t drive up the mountain to Highland Lakes, Lori Struck decided she’d bring her flower shop closer to those customers. Highland Flowers, in business since 1992, debuted its new Vernon Town Center shop last week. It’s located at 306 Route 94, in the former Vernon Fire Department building. Struck, a Vernon native, has kept her Highland Lakes shop, but she wanted to make it easier for those unwilling to drive “up the mountain,” she said. The business is family run by Lori and her husband Jeff Struck, her daughter Amy Easton, 21, and sons Michael Easton, 14, and Scott Struck, 21. They keep a close tie with the community. “I was born and raised in Highland lakes,” said Struck, “graduated from Vernon High School, joined the military, went on to college then married. I chose Vernon as the best place to raise our family.” She offers discounts for military families and to senior citizens and participates in Good Neighbor Day in September, when she gives away thousands of roses to spread good will and friendship. Every Valentines Day, Highland Flowers donates dozens of roses to spouses of active duty military and delivers bouquets to mothers of military service people on Mother’s Day. In addition, Highland Flowers has, for years, donated hundreds of pre-wrapped roses to the Vernon High School theater department and to the Choir for them to sell at their concerts and shows, at no cost to them, helping to raise thousands of dollars in college scholarship money. As they inaugurate their newest shop, the Strucks recently closed their Oak Ridge shop, opened in 2005. And, for those who can’t make it to either shop, flowers and related gifts can be ordered 24/7 online: www.highlandflowers.com.