By Charlene Dean

“Everyone should be able to enjoy flowers.” At least that’s the way new floral shop owner Kim Whitaker feels about the subject.

Whitaker opened Bella Floral at 1231 E. Basin Ave., Suite 5, approximately a month ago with the idea of affordable flowers in mind.

“We offer the best customer service and the best product we can,” Whitaker said. “And we’re less expensive than ordering online.”

The shop is affiliated with the very popular 1-800-Flowers among other network wire services.

Whitaker said she’s been arranging flowers as a hobby for 10 years. “I took what I used to do for family and friends and made a business from it.”

Two other floral designers help Whitaker through holiday rushes, weddings and other special occasions. “We provide a quality product. Flowers are perishable and we complete the job in a timely fashion.”

The shop handles ready-made arrangements and centerpieces for those emergency events and Whitaker said they make boutonnieres and corsages as well.

Other gift items such as live plants, balloon bouquets, cookie bouquets and other items are available. Tropical flowers should be ordered in advance.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.

Bella Floral offers valley-wide delivery. Call 727-7275 for additional information.

Back to work

Randy Icard has been in the car sales business for 18 of his 56 years, most of it spent here. After a two-year hiatus, he’s back and working for Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza.

Icard said he was a banker in El Paso, Texas before he began selling automobiles. “I spent most of my time processing car loans and decided I wanted to change careers.”

He went to work as a salesman in 1993 for a dealership in El Paso. It wasn’t long before he became the sales manager.

Icard said being in the car business, he knew Rick Peet, former owner of the Saitta-Trudeau dealership on Oxbow Avenue.

“I came to Pahrump at Rick’s request,” Icard said. “Less than a year later, he sold the dealership to Tom Saitta and Don Trudeau .”

Icard worked as the sales manager for Saitta-Trudeau for 11 years, beginning in 2000.

His favorite pastime is working on “old cars.” “I’m a mechanic, too,” Icard said. “I’ve spent the last two years working on everything from 1957s to late 1960s and early 1970s.”

He said Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza manager Sheldon Feddy wanted Icard to come to work for the dealership earlier than he did. “I had a few project cars to finish first,” he said laughing.

Icard is married with two boys and said both he and his wife are happy he’s returned to the workforce.

“I enjoy helping people and do everything I can to make purchasing a vehicle a pleasant experience.”