Mamma Rosa’s Authentic Italian Restaurant opened 30 years ago, on April 8, at 1961 Harvey Ave., by Giacomo Anfuso.
The restaurant’s first year and a half was strictly takeout, fresh pasta and sauce sales, along with homemade ice cream. Later, by popular customer demand, nine tables were added and a menu created from meals Rosa Anfuso cooked for the family. There was a lot of growing pains in the early years, as Giacomo was a welder by trade and had never worked in the restaurant business while Rosa was a hair dresser in Italy before moving to Canada. In 1993, the Anfusos moved the restaurant to its current location at 561 Lawrence Ave. in downtown Kelowna. Their son James purchased the restaurant from them in 1995, taking over the family business. With a lot of hard work and dedication, the family business has been successful for 30 years. From now until Sunday, April 13, Mamma Rosa’s will celebrate this milestone by offering focaccia samples and Annegrets Chocolates to their customers, while all tiramisu sales will be donated to the KGH Foundation in Giacomo’s name. Over the past 11 years they have raised almost $150,000 for KGH and CLF. Call 250-763-4114 for reservations.
Brad Sieben, general manager of the Hotel Eldorado and past chair of Kelowna Tourism, has accepted a new position with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada with the job of regional director—Western Canada. He will remain an owner and partner in the hotel and will continue to advise on business development activities for ongoing projects. TIAC is the voice for tourism in Canada, the only national organization representing the full cross-section of Canada’s $84.8 billion tourism industry. The association’s primary role is one of advocacy, so, as regional director Siben’s role will be to engage tourism businesses in Western Canada, make them aware of the advocacy work that TIAC is doing on their behalf and bring forward their perspectives to ensure that tourism interests in the west are served.
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce board of directors has elected Ken Carmichael executive vice-president (BDO). Tom Dyas (TD Benefits), Carmen Sparg (Total Office) and Gladys Fraser (Scotiabank) were elected as vice-presidents. Dave Bond, of KPMG LLP, remains on as past president and Curtis Darmohray of Pushor Mitchell LLP is the new president for 2013-14.
Macdonald Realty Kelowna celebrated its annual performance awards for 2013. Don Gerein, president, along with partner Wayne Judiesch and associate broker Ray Trudeau, will oversee renovations and an addition to their current premises of 14 years at 592 KLO Rd. These changes will take the office into the future and the business to a higher level. Congratulations to the realtors who obtained the top honour of the Chairman’s Round Table—Mark Gidden, David Jurome, Gary Athans, Manuella Farnsworth, Brenda Bachmann and Maureen Dixon—along with Scott Brown for commercial accomplishments in South Pandosy. Call 250-860-4300.
Marla O’Brien is leaving her job as CEO of the United Way after 18 months to take a mid-life sabbatical. She will be taking time to travel with her husband Andrew, whose job with one of the United Way’s partner agencies recently came to an end. Stay tuned for news on the new CEO.
Bill Meads has sold his long-time business, Pandosy Food Basket at 1953 Pandosy St. Bill, along with his wife Daphne and son Mike, operated the grocery/convenience store for more than 26 years. In an era of national chain and big box stores, being able to last over 26 years as a small corner store is remarkable, something for the Meads family to be proud of. Davinder Digpal is the store’s new owner.
Kelowna Women in Business will host a luncheon at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre on April 9, 11:30 a.m., with speaker Reen Rose on the topic of Taming the E-mail Monster. You will learn the three D’s of handling email, best practices of email management and what Outlook and other email programs have to offer. (I should definitely go!) Register by April 4 online at www.kwib.org as payment is not accepted at the door.
Coastal Trademark Services has opened a satellite office in Kelowna at 210-347 Leon Ave. The company is a boutique trademark agency with over 25 years experience in trademark registration and filing. Their agents can assist you with all of your trademark requirements, from the search process to registering a trademark in Canada and internationally, to complex requirements such as trademark cancellation and opposition. As owner of Coastal Trademark Services, Tanya Reitzel is a registered trademark agent who will be travelling between the two offices. Call 1-800-663-1444 for the Kelowna office or email Tanya@coastalalip.com.
Luscious Lashes, an eyelash extension business owned and operated by Cindy Staines at 106-1289 Ellis St., celebrates the store’s third anniversary in business this month. To mark the occasion during April, all clients who have a service performed will receive a gift and have the opportunity to reach into their draw bowl and choose a pair of eyes. When the pair of eyes is opened, they will find out what their gift is. The gift could be anything from a free cosmetic to a discount. Call 778-478-0740; www.lusciouslashes.ca.
All In One Meal Solutions has expanded its line of products, purchased two additional blast freezers to accommodate the new lineup of $5 meals, which now include stir-frys, curries and liver and onions, and are currently working on expanding their $10 family meal lineup. Started by Jeanne and Torsten Kaminski and Christopher Cruz at the Vineyard Bakery and Deli, 861 Anders Rd. in West Kelowna, the trio have started offering a new product called Family Lentil Meal in a bag that feeds four to eight people. It’s easy to prepare. In a slow cooker, just add contents of the bag with 12 cups of water and stir. You can also add sausage or other meat if you wish. Cook on low for eight to 10 hours and voila—you are ready for supper. Just for preparing in the morning and coming home to dinner. Call 250-575-7423; www.amealsolution.com.
Be the Boss Canada goes to the dogs on April 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT when B.C.-based pet food company, The Bone & Biscuit with a store in Kelowna, is featured on the second season of the popular W Network show. Lauren Tuck and Blair Strate, franchisees of the Kelowna store in Orchard Plaza, are also both judges on the show. Lee Drescher, CEO and owner of the company, also runs the head office from Kelowna. Be the Boss Canada pits two employees from The Bone & Biscuit Co. against each other to win a huge promotion by completing a series of challenges. This show is produced from the team behind Undercover Boss Canada. The Bone & Biscuit Co. is known as the whole foods for pets focusing on high-end, holistic and organic human grade foods. Check out their website www.theboneandbiscuitcompany.com.
Watch for the Okanagan Sunshine Savings Coupon Book in your mailboxes next week. Call publisher Judy Levine for more information at 250-860-2031.
Banking sure is changing. Valley First Credit Union has altered business hours at some branches to give its members more convenient hours to bank. Vintage Hills, Downtown Kelowna, Orchard Plaza, Guisachan and Rutland branches will now be open Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Licensed optician Courtnay Poole is the new owner of Downtown Eyewear, at 547 Bernard Ave. (beside Mad Mango Café). Poole purchased the store from Randall Quinn. Her parents owned an optical store in Mission and she worked in their store from the age of 13. In later years, she went on to pass her dispensing optician course. The store is well appointed and bright, continuing to carry lines of Silhouette, Reflections and OGA. She has added some great new product lines such as Serengeti, Rayban, Kliik, Nat & Coco and Smith Optics. The first year anniversary is this week and up to and including April 5th Courtenay is offering up to 40 per cent off frame and lenses and up to 30 per cent off select sunglasses. You can also enter to win a free pair of sunglasses. Call 250-763-2020; www.downtowneyewear.com.
Speaking of changing hours Westland Insurance Group at 27-3155 Lakeshore Rd. (Mission Park) has new hours Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The insurance office is open most statutory holidays as well. Call 250-979-6420.
NovaRae Interiors and Valley Wide Contracting, owned and operated by Julie Rae Russell, have outgrown their little space and moved to a new location, 9618-Unit C, Bottom Wood Lake Road in Lake Country. Call 250-766-5088.
Small Shops Saturday is April 5 in downtown Kelowna. Watch for all sorts of awesome deals and goodies complete with a free fashion show at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 2 p.m. The City of Kelowna has chipped in to provide free parking on the street and in the two parkades.
A pro wrestling event, Kelowna Invasion 2—Straight Outta Rutland, will feature former WWE Intercontinental Tag Team and European Championship title holder Val Venis will be the main event on Friday, May 2, 7:30 p.m., at the Rutland Centennial Hall. Advance tickets are $15 or four for $50/$20 at the door available at World Gym (Highway7), Packinghouse Pub and Lorenzo’s Barber Shop. Benefiting the B.C. Children’s Hospital and KGH, the show will feature the local talent of Scotty Mac, Kyle Sabastian, Collin Cutler and Mike ShreddZ with the tag team of The Bollywood Lions from Surrey also on the bill. Last year, the event raised $16,000. Both Mike Chisholm and Mike Rizzo, general manager of Costco Kelowna, are the founders behind the fundraiser. Prior to his Costco days, Rizzo was a pro wrestler.
UBCO Live Case 2014 is happening April 2 to 4. Argus Properties (Ted Callahan) is sponsoring this competition/event for the next five years as an initiative for the third year students from the UBCO Faculty of Management. The students are in competition to see who can come up with the best pitch for a local company’s project launch. Argus is putting up $15,000 annually for the next five years of prize money for the winners. The first place winner receives $5,000, and the two runner-ups receive $1,500 each. Call Argus at 250-763-6789
Birthdays of the week: Happy 60th Rick Methot, Capital News (April 3); Jack Gourlie (April 1); Amber Firkins (April 3); Ron Doig, Baxter’s (April 3); Lyle Shoemaker (April 4); Jeff Kumagai (April 9); Rienhold (Tiny) Gerl (April 8); in memory of Alex Hunt (April 6); Garth Johnstone (April 6); Rose Klingspon (April 8); Susan Ogilvie (April9).
