Had the opportunity to visit the new BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery (British North America Tobacco Co.) at 1250 Ellis St. Owned and operated by Kyle and Carolyn Nixon, the entire 6,000 sq-ft building with outside patio is unique and upscale from the outside brick walls to the inside brick, wood floors, iron and large timbers. It’s a huge place, with two levels along with a separate tasting room. The bar, furniture, fixtures and accents are a well put together mixture of comfortable, funky, modern and old. It all fits to make a “wow” impression when entering the establishment. The huge chandeliers are very impressive as is the rope in the gap of all the wood floors. There is even an indoor Bocci Ball lane upstairs. BNA brews four of their own beers with one seasonal brew that rotates. They also have a huge selection of other draught and bottled beer. The menu has many out-of-the ordinary want-to-try items. We sampled the roasted chicken pizza, sausage pizza, zucchini fries and spicy shrimp. All were excellent. The executive chef is Justin Best (formerly of the Eldorado). Open seven days a week. Call 236-420-0025. www.bnabrewing.com.
After 11 years with Tourism Kelowna, communications manager Catherine Frechett has accepted a position as the new director of destination development at Tourism Ottawa. Catherine handled corporate communications and generating travel editorial.
Congratulations to Gena Sherwood who won the grand prize of a $6,000 WaterWise Yard Upgrade from the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), a residential outdoor water conservation initiative of the OBWB Okanagan WaterWise program with local government and utility partners throughout the valley. Sherwood signed up for all six pledges: water plants, not pavement; water between dusk and dawn; don’t mow, let it grow, leave lawn 5-8 cm tall; leave grass clippings as mulch; top dress with compost and change out some lawn for drought-tolerant turf and/or native and low water variety plants. The City of Armstrong won the title of the Make Water Work Champion. Corinne Jackson is the communications director of OBWB. www.okwaterwise.ca
Gary Johnston, formerly with QHR Technologies for 12 years has now ventured out on his own. Gary is now the founder/owner of Strong Voice Media. The focus of the business is his work as a voice actor, with agency and direct requests from clients around the world for narration of a wide range of projects from commercials and films to museum walk-throughs, e-learning and corporate promotional videos. Anything that needs a strong voice to ensure the message is clear is what Strong Voice Media provide. For the local market, Gary has a new offering that can capture a family’s oral history in an innovative Memory Package. Anyone in the Central Okanagan can now have their treasured family stories and history professionally recorded and packaged to ensure the stories live on for future generations. Call 250-801-3089 or gary@strvm.com. Visit www.strongvoicemedia.com/memories.
AutoCanada Inc. has obtained approval from General Motors of Canada to purchase an 80 per cent non-voting equity interest in the assets of Don Folk Chevrolet, subject to customary closing conditions. Don Folk Chevrolet was founded more than 60 years ago and after joining the dealership in 1971 Don Folk has led the growth from 22 employees to over 70 full time staff. They operate from a facility which includes a 15 car showroom, 14 service bays and six detail bays. The acquisition also includes all of the assets of Don Folk Autobody located next to the dealership.
Blue Sky Clothing Co. has opened at 101-1447 Ellis St. (next to La Bussola). Owned and operated by Karen McLennan, the shop is very inviting, chock-full of the latest styles and colours of women’s clothing. The clothing is locally designed with all natural fiber, bamboo and is ethical eco-clothing in unique styles, with sizes ranging from X-S to 4X. Blue Sky has a great selection of casual and every-day (office) wear, including dresses, tops, slacks, jackets, skorts, purses, hats 100 per cent silk scarves and jewelry. They even offer men’s bamboo underwear. Clients of Blue Sky tell them that once they purchase the bamboo slacks, it’s hard to go back to wearing other fabrics. I purchased the cutest ‘little black dress’ that can take me anywhere. Karen’s prices are also very reasonable for the quality of her clothing. Call 778-484-2759 www.blueskyclothing.com.
Travel Time Inc., a full service travel agency specializing in tailor made luxury and adventure travel has opened a branch office at #501- 1630 Pandosy St. The owner and president of the company is Terri Jo Lennox who manages the Calgary office. Brenda Sbrozzi manages the Kelowna office, along with Colleen Kellar and Denise Cesselli as the senior travel consultants. On Friday, Sept. 18, they are hosting a consumer travel trade show entitled Talk with the Experts and Discover Your Next Vacation Experience, at the Ramada Hotel, 2170 Harvey Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be 15 to 20 minute presentations on a Kenya Safari, Antarctica & Polar Expedition, European Canal Boat ‘self-drive’, Polynesian Culture, Food & Wine Aficionado and Grand European River between Amsterdam and Budapest. Refreshments served. Call 236-420-0021. The agency is open Monday to Friday. www.traveltime.ca.
Codfathers Seafood Market at 2355 Gordon Dr. (Guisachan Centre), owned by Jon and Ann-Marie Crofts and managed by Ross Derrick, has partnered with Edible Canada from Granville Island to offer B.C. and Canadian artisan products that pair perfectly with their seafood. Some of the products they now offer are Amola Gourmet Infused Finishing Salts, Denzel’s Gourmet Mustard (Enderby), Vij’s Spices (Vancouver), Olive & Ciboulette Lobster Oil and Nextjen Gluten-free Baking Blend Flour, which is used in Codfathers fish and chips. There are many more products on their large wall when entering the store. Call 778-760-4141
The new website for Goldfinger Custom Design Fingernails which was in last week’s column is www.goldfingernails.com.
Happy 50th anniversary Sharon and Eugene Leveque (Sept. 4).
Gloria-Jean Seymour a retired local hair stylist is now an author, publisher and illustrator. She has published two inspirational 36-page, activity colouring books entitled Let’s Celebrate in Different Colours. She mentions that the books may not be your traditional colouring books, as her thoughts and ideas were guided with spirit-felt direction, her books of love started to take form. Gloria-Jean’s dream has now become a reality. The books are reasonably priced at $6.99 and can be enjoyed by children ages 4 to 10 years, and by churches and schools. They are available at Bell Tower Books, Pharmasave on Lakeshore Road and West Kelowna, on the website or call 250-763-6495. Wholesale prices are also offered. bookoflove2015@gmail.com; www.glowjeancreations.com.
Happy 52nd anniversary Rick and Diane Essler (Sept. 2).
How does your garden grow? Just ask Alma Ingbritson, a resident of Meadowbrook Garden (on Enterprise Way) and Coleen McClain (her friend) as they tend the King’s Garden located behind Meadowbrook and between Spall and Dilworth roads, along the Rails with Trails corridor. The garden is at its prime and a must see. Not a day goes by that there is not someone taking videos and pictures of the garden and expressing their awe. It’s very impressive and what is more impressive is that all the annual flowers have been harvested by the gals from previous year’s growth and their seeds planted again in the spring. Certainly, a labour of love of beauty and bringing pleasure to others is the motto these two fine ladies strive for.
Happy 50th Sharon and Eugene Leveque (sept. 4).
Dilworth Safeway is hosting a fundraiser for Prostate Cancer Research Sept. 3 through 6 with a BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Enjoy a hot dog/smokie and beverage for a donation. If you donate $2 in the store during the four day event, you will receive $10 in Compliments coupons.
A new event is coming to our city. Paint Nite, licensed by Marty Gunderson, is a social event that allows anyone (over the drinking age) to participate in a two-hour event that consists of painting a spectacular piece of art from scratch, consume some beverages and have fun with friends. The best part is that there is no experience required as local artists will be teaching you. The first event will be hosted at The Grateful Fed, 509 Bernard Ave. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Limited space is available so register soon. There is also a coupon code (GRATEFUL20) that you can use to receive $20 off each ticket. For more info call Nancy Beselt at 250-212-1909.
Happy belated 50th anniversary Mike and Dodie Krevesky (June 5).
If you love to sing, ignite that spark within you with vocal training in the company of a fun, harmonious group of women. White Sails A Cappella Chorus, an award winning, auditioned show chorus group is hosting an open-house, guest recruitment evening on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Ridgeview Church at 1097 Hollywood Road S. For more information or to RSVP call Joan at 778-755-0562 www.whitesailschorus.com.
The paper shredding charity event held this past Saturday at the RCMP Detachment in West Kelowna in support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs raised a whopping $1,404. Paul Meredith of Okanagan Paper Shredding donated his services and shredded 151 banker boxes of paper (3,615 pounds).
Kelowna Women is Business is hosting Out with Smooze—Networking with Authenticity on Sept. 16 at the Hotel Eldorado from 5:30 to 9 p.m. with guest speaker, coach Rhonda Victoor. Register by Sept. 14 at www.kwib.org. $39 members and $49 non-members.
E.M.A (Exceptional Music Adventure) offers a unique music program, teaching people who are disabled from ages 5 to 105. Programs include guitar, piano, vocal, bass, drums/percussion, dance, wheelchair dance and song writing, just to mention a few. Registration on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at 150D Gray Road. Private home lessons for those who qualify. Call Heather McCullough at 250-808-0131 or emaprogram@gmail.com.
Birthdays of the week—Valaura Vedan, KelownaNow.com (Sept. 2); Anne Marie Hamilton (Sept. 2); Walter Gray, former Mayor (Sept. 4); Paul Johnson (Sept. 4); Jo Wright (Sept. 4); John Marritt (Sept. 4); Victoria DeHart, our niece (Sept. 6); Betty Russell (Sept. 6); Gail Magrath (Sept. 6); Robin Smith (Sept. 7); John Moxness (Sept. 7); Iris Moffatt (Sept. 7).
