This week’s bouquets go to:

From the Powell family of Gladstone:

I left the Bonifas Arts Center last night full of pride for our community and thankful that the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) would provide such a collection to our town.

The paintings are beautiful and I have not been filled with this much wonder since I saw Monet’s Woman with a Parasol in Chicago many years ago.

But to see paintings from the Manoogian Collection up here in Delta County (I made my third visit to the gallery last night) brought tears to my eyes and I have been to galleries all over the world.

I love the DIA’s mission to bring this beauty to rural areas of Michigan and appreciate the amount of trust it takes to leave such a valuable collection to our humble Arts Center. Their trust and dedication leaves me almost without words, and has instilled a sense of pride beyond measure.

From the bottom of my heart thank you for wonderful efforts of the Bonifas staff for obtaining this collection and sharing with our small community. The paintings will be sadly missed when they leave for another town.

Thank you for making Escanaba and Delta County a cultural mecca, if even for a brief time. We will endeavor to build upon your generosity.

——

Each Saturday the Daily Press salutes individuals and groups from our area who have had a very positive impact on the way we live.

We identify our bouquet recipients in one of two ways: from Daily Press news pages and from nominations sent in by our readers.

Mail us a postcard or letter identifying your nomination and putting into detail what they’ve done. Include your name, address, and phone number. Send nominations to Saturday Bouquets, The Daily Press, 600 Ludington Street, Escanaba, MI 49829.

They may also be sent to us by going to our Web site, www.dailypress.net, and clicking on the submit news button. Once there, click on “Bouquets” and follow the simple instructions.