This week’s column is dedicated to three friends who have passed away. Gary August has been a friend of the DeHart family for many years and I was happy to have seen him a few times last summer and fall. Dr. Eric Buckley and I enjoyed the many conversations whenever I was running into Eric and his wife Tonny throughout the years. Norreen Rae was a member of the Metro Community. I had known Noreen since back in the early 1980s. Personal condolences go out to all the families and many friends of these three wonderful people.
Laura-Laura Petites-Laura Plus-Laura Plus Petites Women’s Clothing in Orchard Park Shopping Centre has a new store manager and a new look.
Jamie Albrecht, retiree from RBC Dominion, has joined the Laura team. This season, your must-haves are front and centre at the store, where stylist Sarah Deederly can be found. Recently graduating from the Center of the Arts and Technology, Sarah shares your must-haves for this season, which come in a pop of orange and shades from peach to papaya. Prints are also an essential part of this season’s spring collection. Albrecht and her staff of professionals offer their clients a collection that is cohesive with their lifestyle and easily maintained. I was overjoyed when the Laura shops came to Orchard Park. I have been a fan for a very long time of their stores in other cities, but they now bring to Kelowna fashion for women with a reasonably priced variety of clothing for business, casual or formal dress, while keeping up with the most modern and up-to-date styles and colours, along with carrying “petites.” The store also has a great selection of accessories. Call 250-868-2036; website www.laura.ca.
Relocating from Regina, Lynette Keyowski is the new executive director of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board, a professional association serving some 1,100 realtors throughout the Okanagan and Shuswap regions. Former executive director Janice Myers has left the board to become CEO of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. Karen Singbeil is the president of the OMREB board of directors and was chair of the search committee. Keyowski starts her new job April 1.
Recently transferring from Prince George, Alex Valoroso is the new disaster management coordinator, community planning and response coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross. Her role focuses on supporting response and recovery capacity throughout the region, maintaining and building relationships with partner agencies and local authorities, developing local volunteer teams, and promoting disaster preparedness at the household level. Valoroso is not new to the area, having lived here a number of years ago. You might remember her family previously owned and operated the Primadonna Italian Restaurant on Harvey (at the Accent Inn). Her family moved back to Quesnel and continue in the restaurant business. Call 250-491-8443 (ext. 1206) or email alex.valoroso@redcross.ca.
The owner of Blue Ginger, Debbie Scott, has opened a sister store called Ginger Lily, located at 1-2925 Pandosy St. (just three doors down from Blue Ginger). Ginger Lily is a vibrant and eclectic boutique with a curated mix of clothing, accessories, gifts and home décor. Inspired by far-off places and bohemian treasures, Ginger Lily is heavily influenced by travel, colour and pattern. You will find an array of unique clothing trends from around the globe that has effortless, feminine, yet playful style blended with irresistible adornments and trinkets. Everything in the store has been carefully selected by Debbie and her daughter Lauren. Ginger Lily is celebrating with Blue Ginger for their grand opening on Saturday, March 8, where both stores will be offering a 15 per cent discount off everything, along with giveaways and a chance to win a $150 shopping spree. Call 778-484-4638
The Rotary Club of Kelowna honoured long-time recently deceased Rotarian Randy Quigley with a presentation to his wife Arlene Quigley of a Paul Harris Fellowship at the club’s Feb.28 meeting. Quigley was a Rotarian since 1988 and was president of the downtown club in 1995 and 1996. He is greatly missed. Ross Gilley is the president of the club.
D-LEE Health and Fitness is a 100 per cent mobile business, owned and operated by registered kinesiologist Denise Leeuwangh. Her expertise is in kinesiology and fitness services, excelling in injury rehabilitation, medical conditions, disabilities, personal training, athletic training, biomechanical assessments, sport and injury taping. Kinesiologists conduct orthopedic assessments and provide exercise therapy for soft tissue based motor vehicle, occupational, sport and athletic injuries. Leeuwangh helps those who may be limiting themselves physically or mentally to overcome those obstacles and achieve physical fitness, wellness and gives them a sense of self efficacy, with all age groups. Call 250-869-5826; email www.dee-leehealthfitness.webs.com.
Ivan Masse has been honoured with the title of 2013 Salesman of the Year for Kelowna Ford Lincoln at 2540 Enterprise Way. Masse has also received the Peak Performance Summit Award for 2013, placing him in the top 10 in B.C. Call 250-868-2330.
Pro Tan Plus Tanning Salon has opened at 1791 Harvey Ave. in downtown Kelowna. Owned and operated by Natasha Partington, Pro Tan is the first tanning salon in the area to offer high pressure beds along with a multitude of other services such as professional teeth whitening, Alchemy cosmetics and En Vogue gel nails. What is a high pressure bed? It’s all about the lamps. They are short quartz lamps that tan clients in a substantially reduced quantity of minutes and require less sessions to achieve the sun kissed look that some people might be looking for. The Pro Tan Plus tanning beds are state-of-the-art beds imported from Italy that give clients that sought after golden glow in three to five sessions (depending on skin type). Pro Tan also has three Canadian made low pressure beds, one stand up bed and two lay-down beds. The packages allow clients the flexibility of high or low pressure sessions whenever they visit. Open seven days a week. Call 778-484-4460.
Donna Miller and the Telus community ambassadors are looking for donations of all types and colours of wool. The Telus volunteers knit toques and mitts for children ages six to 12 for day-cares, kindergartens, seniors and some 20 other organizations. If you have any wool that you are not using, or perhaps if you are buying wool, you might want to buy an extra ball and donate to the ambassadors. The ambassadors are still going strong, having literally knit hundreds of these items for charity over the years. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. Call 250 860-8070.
Marie Peters is the new government agent for Service BC in Kelowna, located at 305-478 Bernard Ave. Call 250-861-7500; email marie.peters@gov.bc.ca.
The Uptown Rutland Business Association’s 2014 AGM is Tuesday, March 11, 6 p.m., at Valleyview Funeral Home, 165 Valleyview Rd. Call 250-351-9861; email www.uptownrutland.com.
Board directors Duane Ophus, West Kelowna councillor representing the Regional District of Central Okanagan, and Allan Patton, representing the South Okanagan Electoral Area C (Rural Oliver) have been elected as board chair and vice-chair respectively for the Sterile Insect Release Program.
Green Bay Bible Camp celebrates 60 years of family camping this year. The West Kelowna landmark has a family project planned for the upcoming camping season, asking Jim Belshaw, of Roy’s Shoes, to help them collect 400 shoe boxes. It’s time to clean out your closet and with the Soles4Souls shoe drive starting in just four weeks, the timing could not be more perfect to help out. Shoe boxes with or without shoes will be collected by Roy’s at 1627 Ellis St. in downtown Kelowna. If you can’t make it to the store, call Spencer he will come and pick them up at 250-763-5696.
The Okanagan Hockey School Sampler Camps for ages seven to 12 will be held in Kelowna on April 5 at the Capital News Centre on Gordon Drive. This will give parents and players a peek into what they can expect this summer. OHS is the longest running and largest hockey school in the world with over 50 years of hockey instruction. Spots are limited, so reserve early by signing up online at www.okanaganhockey.com or call 1-888-844-6611 (3354). Cost is $25. For more information go to www.hockeyschools.com.
Looking for something for your kids to do at spring break. The Kelowna & District Safety Council is offering babysitter training as well as new home alone and first aid courses. For more info call Tanya Meyer at 250-765-3163 or email tkmeyer@kdsc.bc.ca; www.kdsc.bc.ca.
Lynne Leydier, a Penticton resident and director of Soundstage Products, has won two of Penticton’s prestigious awards. The well-known music teacher walked away with the Penticton Arts and District Theatre Award and also the Life Time Achievement Award at the inaugural Penticton Arts Council Awards held at The Shatford Centre. Soundstage Productions recently presented Les Miserable, which played to sold-out audiences in January.
Birthdays of the week: Gary Embleton (March 6); Ian Graham (March 6); Donna Horning (March 6); Rob Willms (March 8); Dodie Costain, Kamloops (March 9); Karen Shoranick (March 9); Ryan Coome, Ramada Hotel (March 10); Karen Christiansen, MNP (March 10); Helen Hut (March 12); Tracy Larsen, Kelowna Golf & Country Club (March 12).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, fax 250-860-3173, email maxdehart@telus.net.
