The Pandosy Food Basket has been in the same Kelowna location, 1953 Pandosy St. at Sutherland, for the last 25 years.
Owners Bill, Daphne and Mike Meads have operated the small corner store with the help of long-time staff members Susan Stewart (23 years) and Matthew Heal (six years). The Food Basket has served many generations of customers these past 25 years. Even in tough economic times, neighbours and customers have supported their little business, with purchases of ice, convenience items, groceries, lottery tickets, magazines and pop. In an era of national chain stores and big box stores, being able to last 25 years as a small corner store is remarkable and something to be very proud of. The Pandosy Food Basket is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Call 250-763-2388.
The popular restaurant Bon Appetite in The Bay is closing today. Donna Barnett is retiring after 30 years of service with The Bay and there are a further 10 associates, many of those with over 20 years of service. I’m sure that many of The Bay customers, me included, will miss Donna and her staff and the convenience of stopping for a meal or coffee while shopping. Darla Strutt is the general manager of The Bay.
Local company ReliaBrand Inc. which specializes in baby products, with its flagship bottle Adiri NxGen Nurser, has signed an exclusive partnership with Walmart Canada to market their product in 150 stores throughout the country starting in April. The bottle has won over 17 international awards with ReliaBrand Inc. being a public corporation. Brent Markus is the sales coordinator of the company. Call 778-478-9997; www.ReliaBrand.com
Winn Rentals, 910 McCurdy Rd., owned and operated by brothers Bert and Brad Gretzinger, has won B.C. Rental Store of the Year for a second year in a row, presented by the Canadian Rental Association. The award is given for a variety of reasons; from how a store looks, the variety and condition of rental equipment, staff, customer service and relationships with suppliers. The company rents equipment to both contractors and the public with everything ranging from small tools to large construction equipment. Last year, Winn also won the President’s Image Award.
Oranj Fitness, a community based health and fitness center at 529 Lawrence Ave., is celebrating five years in busineess this month and is going strong. Owner Sheila Chutskoff is giving back to the community for that support by offering complimentary smoothies and classes all day long on Feb. 1. In a few weeks Chutskoff, who previously was the regional manager for Lululemon Athletica, will move to Fort McMurray to expand and open a second studio.
Tantalus Winery, located at 1670 DeHart Rd., has won the Best Wine in Canada honour presented from Jancis Robinson, wine expert and author of The World Atlas of Wine for their 2008 Old Vines Riesling and their 2010 Riesling scored third. Jane Hatch is the winery’s general manager.
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. has moved from the Knowles House on Bernard Avenue to new premises at 307-1664 Richter St. Call 250-860-0305.
The Westbank Chamber of Commerce has a new board and now two co-chairs. Congrats to co-chairs business consultant Norm LeCavalier and Marek Buryska, of Prospera Credit Union. Directors are Rosalind Neis, vice-president (registered nurse); Gary Schlenker, treasurer (Grant Thornton); Chris Cruz, secretary (hospitality); Matthew Kraemer (Pushor Mitchell Lawyers); Bill Raine (Coldwell Banker Realty); Gene Stafford (Holiday Inn West Kelowna); Kris Smart (CIBC); Sherri Van Doren (Horizon Travel) and WFN band councillor Mickey Werstuik.
Received a note from an avid reader asking a couple of questions that I investigated below.
One was: What do you do with your soon to be extinct pennies? Called Scotiabank and they advised people bring the pennies into their branches until Feb. 2. Less than $25 must be rolled.
The other question involved extra knitting wool. If you have any lying around, call Donna Miller, a Telus community ambassador. The ambassador volunteers are in dire need of wool for their toque and mitt program, in which they knit toques and mitts for children in kindergarten and day cares in our community. Call 250-860-8070.
The next UR BA Uptown After Hours is Feb. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Penty & Company Lawyers at 101-300 Douglass Rd. North.
Congratulations to Kara (O.I.S. Financial) and Ashton Light (A.L. In One Contracting) on the birth of Mikayla Deborah Lynn, born Jan. 23 (13 pounds). Congrats to Grampa Tim Light and Great-Grampa Russ Light.
Laurette Kropp, makeup artist/advisor of Natural Diva Beauty Essentials, offers products of high quality ingredients with every skin care and environment concern taken into consideration, plus a line of luxurious mineral-based makeup. They are all natural vegan, organic and gluten-free. She is consistently creating and developing new products not only for women, but for men, children and babies as well, all available online at www.naturaldivabeauty.com. She is also hosting Diva home parties.
The Canadian Association of Family Enterprises has a new board for 2012-13. Sitting on the new board will be Kevin Wostradowski (president); Cynthia Walker, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery (past-president); Tyson Russell, Russell Estate and Business Services (vice-president); Matthew Ross, Grant Thornton LLP (treasurer); Kelly Watson, KPMG, LLP (membership) and Carolyn Reimer (managing director). The association is hosting a luncheon Feb. 21 at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club with Brent Barker from Fraser Financial as the speaker. Their Okanagan Next Generation event is Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Elks Hall, 6:30 p.m. It will be an informative evening for those of the second or next generations of family businesses and to meet people of similar life circumstances. Contact Carolyn at Okanagan@cafecanada.ca to inquire or register.
UBC’s annual Career Fair is Thursday, Feb. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Richard S. Hallisey Atrium on the UBC Okanagan campus. If your company is looking to connect with hundreds of enthusiastic minds, the career fair has limited spots remaining for employers wishing to raise their company profile with motivated students and recruit for summer, part-time or full-time employment opportunities. Call 250-807-8828 or www.ubc.ca/okanagan/students/careers.
Rob Cividino, of Okanagan Liquidators, is keeping his store open for 2013 in West Kelowna beside Walmart. January clearance specials are up to 90 per cent off Demon snowboard gear, housewares, Forma Yoga and athletic wear, unique gifts, books for all ages, gadgets and seasonal items.
The Okanagan Regional Library has acquired Global Road Warrior, an online resource offering country-by-country information on 175 nations and territories. The database features over 6,500 colour photos and 1,575 maps. Topics include society and culture, travel essentials, business culture, communications and more. Created by an international team of researchers, cartographers and writers, the database is continually updated. The ORL offers this content as a free service to library members who are researching cultural information, preparing to travel abroad and to students doing country reports to find accurate world data and become a roving globetrotter without leaving your desk.
Nominations for the 2013-14 Kelowna Chamber of Commerce board of directors are currently being sought. Six director positions are available for the coming year. Nominations must be received at the Kelowna Chamber office by 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4. To be eligible for nomination members must be able to commit to a two-year term and must be a member in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the date of the close of nominations. Nominations require the written endorsement of two other chamber members. For info contact CEO Caroline Grover at 250-469-7356 or email caroline@kelownachamber.org.
Maria Mitchell, of Stephanie Jewels, will host a Valentine’s Day Open House jewelry show and sale at the Ramada Hotel & Conference, 2170 Harvey Ave., in the hotel lobby shop, Feb. 9 and 10, from noon to 9 p.m. Maria is a designer who also imports and exports precious metals and gems. For more info call 250-808-2899.
The Canadian Italian Club will host a St. Valentine’s Day Gala Dinner and Dance at Parkinson Recreation Centre on Feb. 9, with music by Melodia from Vancouver. Call 250-763-7078 or 250-317-2035 for tickets ($40).
The Valentine’s Day Masquerade fundraiser is on Feb.16 at The Okanagan Mission Hall at 8 p.m. with tickets $25 per person, available from Westland Insurance or www.wishcometruesociety.com. The event is a fundraiser for a children’s respite center.
The Sunshine Foundation will host a Downtown Kelowna’s Restaurant Tour on Wednesday, Feb. 6. It’s a unique idea where you will visit restaurants throughout the evening with appies and beverages at each restaurant. For tickets ($50) or more info call Ann Miller at 250-717-3373.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 65th Ron Wahowski (Jan. 24); Bill Sinclair (Jan. 26); Mike Huntley (Jan. 31); Linda DeCosta (Feb. 1); Rod Romanow (Feb. 2); Rob Belanger (Feb. 4);= and Ross Fitzpatrick (Feb. 4).
