This week’s column is dedicated to long-time friend Jim Milne who passed away on April 5 at the age of 58 after a long and brave battle with cancer. Jim passed away in Vancouver but was well-known when he worked and lived in Kelowna. He was a huge supporter of my Drive-Thru Breakfast and collected the money for many years. His huge smile and fun demeanor will be missed by all. Personal condolences to his wife Pam, Mort and Sue Downey (Jim’s sister), his entire family and many friends. A celebration of life will be held in the future.
Cakes, cakes and more cakes! PJ’s Party Cakes is celebrating their 40th year in business. Owned and operated by Daren Williams, PJ’s is a popular custom cake shop that creates beautifully hand-crafted cakes of just about anything that you can imagine, including cartoon, photo, sculptured or classic. All cakes are made to order for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or any event or occasion. He offers many whipped buttercream fillings and is famous for his custard fillings of Bavarian cream custard, black forest cherries or lemon. Daren has operated the business from several locations over the years and is now located at 651 Grandview Road where he has been baking and decorating for the past five years. Call 250-763-1144. www.pjscakes.com.
After 10 years, Meryle Corbett has elected to move towards semi-retirement with a role change at KF Aerospace. Last year, Meryle had the opportunity to step back to a four day work week. At the same time, the volume of work in KF Capital was increasing. As a result, Meryle has decided to step out of the director of finance role and transition to a CFO role with KF Capital, focusing on business ventures outside the KF Aerospace Group. Meryle’s role as director of finance has now been filled by Shane Grant, controller for KF Aerospace’s defense programs. Shane has 15 years of history at KF Aerospace and is a CPA.
Luke Turri of Mission Group Homes Ltd. has moved into the new role of vice president, development. Luke will be overseeing all of Mission Group’s active residential development projects. lturri@missiongroup.ca
Francisco Merinero is the new owner of the well-known Mexican restaurant, Hector’s Casa at 2911 Pandosy Street. The restaurant is now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with both Mexican and North American breakfasts available. All the same great staff, chef and menu remain, so customers will feel right at home as usual. Francisco also owns and operates Blenz Coffee in the Mission area of the city. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available Monday to Saturday and Sunday they offer a brunch and lunch with no dinner service. Call 250-860-3868.
Ashbury’s Attic has opened at 534 Bernard Avenue, which is an expansion store from the original Ashbury Bridal consignment store, which is located at 1619 Ellis Street. Owned and operated by Shilo Ashbury, the new attic offers consignment and the sale of all formal wear, including grad gowns, formal dresses, mother of the bride or groom dresses, along with bridesmaid dresses and the cutest shoes ever. The original Ashbury Bridal is now focused on consignment and sale of bridal gowns and bridal accessories only. Call 250-469-2371 www.ashburybridal.ca.
The Kelowna-Kasugai Sister City Association has a new board for 2017. Executive are Cathy Jennens (President), Ken Fix (Vice-president) and Nagisa Wood (Treasurer). Directors are Heidi Mitchell, Bernice Sebastian, Harold Wood, Alice Hargreaves, Juno Charpentier, Marya Raty, Pat Horrobin, Chris Jennens, Arlene Henderson, Kathleen Rowe and Brian Rowe. Heidi Mitchell, Bernice Sebastian, Harold Wood and Alice Hargreaves.
Kelowna Home Instead Senior Care is celebrating 15 years in business assisting seniors in the Okanagan. Don and Anita Henke opened their doors on April13th, 2002 in West Kelowna and the office relocated to Kelowna in 2007. They have helped 1,378 seniors since opening and the most important part of their business is building one-on-one relationships between their care givers and the clients. Their first caregiver hired is still working for the company. Home Instead won a franchise award for client and employee satisfaction out of more than 700 franchise locations in North America. The company is expanding and growing and as a result they are now looking for two individuals. They have an opening in their human resources department and an opening for a home care consultant, with training for the employees. For more information on either position contact Kim at kfuoco@homeinstead.com or call 250-860-4113.
Meaghan Racine, marketing development specialist at the Thompson Okanagan Tourist Association (TOTA) has accepted a positon at Valley First Credit Union.
Happy 40th Anniversary Glen and Connie Penner (April 16).
Sandhill Wines is hosting a Sandhill Spring Winemaker Dinner on Saturday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Small Lots Barrel Room at the winery at 1125 Richter Street. Sandhill will partner with chef Chris Van Hooydonk, proprietor of Backyard Farm Chef’s Table. Well-known Sandhill master winemaker, Howard Soon will share new releases, carefully paired with chef Van Hooydonk’s creations that celebrate spring in the Okanagan. For tickets ($150 plus tax) call 250-979-4225 or buy online at www.sandhillwines.ca.
Congratulations to Fran Berg who was the lucky winner of the Kelowna Palette Club’s raffle draw at their event at the Harvest Golf Club. Fran chose Marilyn Bury’s Portofino painting worth $500. It was also Fran’s birthday on Sunday, April 9, the day she found out she was the winner. What a great birthday gift.
The Hotel Eldorado is hosting Heritage Tea Saturdays. Enjoy an old tradition from 2 to 4 p.m. every Saturday. Call 250-763-7500. www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com.
The Parkinson Senior Society has a new board for 2017. Executives are Karen Harper (President), John Bohn (1st Vice President), Ken Kitura (2nd Vice President), Jim Ripley (Treasurer) and Carole Bridges (Past President). Directors are Luanne Markland, Archie Archibald and Joan Marven. The Parkinson Senior Society welcomes anyone 50 years plus (yes 50) and their motto is fifty plus and active. Membership is only $15 per year and you can join in a multitude of activities at the centre. The centre has 1,800 members, up 200 from last year and is a vibrant and active place with great homemade food services for lunch or coffee, a poolroom and a vast array of services including computer training classes. If you are 50 plus and are still are in the work force, you can contact them and let them know what activities you would be interested in pursuing in the evenings and on weekends. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 250-762-4108 www.parkinsonseniors.com.
Congratulations to Corbin Carpenter of Studio9 School of the Arts who was one of a very few that has been chosen to participate in a youth forum on Canada’s future sponsored by Experience Canada. From 1,100 who applied, 150 were chosen for the forums by submitting through various art forms. Corbin chose visual art entitled Challenges in to Opportunities.
Impression Floors has opened at #1 – 1725 Baron Road is celebrating their 1st anniversary in business. Owned and operated by Garry and Patrice Raven, to celebrate, from now until the end of April they are drawing for a catered dinner for four cooked in the winner’s home by chef Adam Relvas of Relvas Catering. Impressions provide a wide spectrum of flooring options with many carpet styles, including green environmentally labeled products. They sell and install hardwood, laminate and vinyl plank for both residential and commercial. Enter on their website or drop into the store. www.impressionfloors.com.
Clean out those file cabinets and desks. The Community Shredding Event sponsored by West Kelowna Community Policing and RBC for the Boys in Girls Club Westside Youth Centre is Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Royal Bank, 3650 Gosset Road in West Kelowna. Shredding provided by Okanagan Paper Shredding for cash donations. Call 250-707-8022 or wkcp@shaw.ca.
April is Daffodil Month. Purchase a Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil and pin and wear it to show support for those living with cancer. The daffodil is more than a simple flower. It is a bright and hopeful symbol that shows people living with cancer that they do not have to fight cancer alone. Money raised during Daffodil Month helps cancer patients and their families in our community. Lori Stevenson is the manager, Annual Giving, Southern Interior Region for the society. Call 250-762-6381.
Birthdays of the week – Happy 95th Verna Fraser, Hawthorne Park (Apr. 14); happy 80th Maurice Malin-Rothschild (Apr. 10); happy 70th Donna Joel, Andy James mother-in-law (Apr. 14). Stuart Dickson (Today, Apr. 12); Gloria Moore (Apr. 13); Dave Langton (Apr. 13); Gerry Zimmermann (Apr. 14); Walley Lightbody (Apr. 14); Linda Kerry (Apr. 14); Ken Thompson (Apr. 14); Don Burnett (Apr. 14); Wendy Waller (Apr. 14); Jeff Harte (Apr. 14); Dave Rush (Apr. 15); Mike Guzzi (Apr. 17); Maria Johnson (Apr. 17); MJ Bennett (Apr. 17); Kendra Casey (Apr.18); Pearse Walsh (Apr. 18); Nick Pisio (Apr. 18); Peter Wilson (Apr. 18); Peter Burleigh (Apr. 18); In memory of our mom Helen Abram (Apr. 13);
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna city councilor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173, E-mail maxdehart@telus.net.
