If you have not yet visited Hillcrest Farm Market, located on Highway 33 near the intersection with Springfield Road in the Black Mountain neighbourhood, you are missing out on a great experience.
Owned and operated by the Chanchal and Barbara Bal and their sons Sukhpaul and Mandeep and daughters Davinder and Dilraj, the farm retail store, which is essentially a farm market with coffee shop, is a great concept with a nice atmosphere for a light breakfast, lunch or dinner. What’s unique about this farm market is that everything they sell, including their café products are all harvested off the farm. Whether it is fresh vegetables, canned fruit and vegetables or their wonderful food items, it is all fresh and home-made. They use their farm vegetables, freezing or canning them for later use. A well, the market has a cherry hydro cooling and packaging plant. During the summer harvest, locals can enjoy delicious cherries that will be available at the fruit stand. I tried the butter chicken pizza and it was wonderful and everyone loved the borscht soup. Barbara treated us to a variety of home-made squares to try and let me tell you, they were delicious. Hillside Farm Market will host a yoga and brunch on Sunday, Feb. 17, for $25 per person, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., taught by Chelsea Ray. The market is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Happy Nails and Spa has opened at #5-2070 Harvey Ave. (beside Wendy’s). Owned and operated by Tony and Taya Wzntuyn, Happy Nails and Spa offers gel, acrylic and shellac nail applications, pedicures and complete foot care services. Hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Call 778-478-2527
The Canadian Award for Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Kelowna for its annual report by the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada. The Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Program was established to encourage municipal governments throughout Canada to publish high quality financial reports and to provide peer recognition and technical guidance for officials preparing these reports.
Curt Jensen has left the Capital News to accept a new job with Bannister GM in Vernon as sales manager.
Nearby Deals is one of the latest features added to WelcometoKelowna.com. Nearby Deals allows consumers to map and locate businesses and deals or offers based on their current location, taking online deals and coupons to a whole new level. Kelowna businesses with an enhanced listing can now add deals, offers or specials that they can edit anytime from any web browser. Mobile users can access deals from their mobile device and present to the business for redemption. Users have an opportunity to find great bargains and promotions from local businesses and explore new stores and services that they may not have experienced otherwise without packing around coupons (or worse, leaving them at home).
Congratulations to popular morning show hosts Andy and TJ, of 101.5 EZ Rock, who on Feb. 4 celebrated their 10th on-air anniversary. This duo has become the longest running morning show team in Kelowna and their accomplishments and awards over the last decade are numerous including a very special personal one—the couple got married in 2009. How time flies. It seems like yesterday that they started their morning show career. Good thing TJ had the foresight to pick up Andy when he got off the bus from Winnipeg.
Congratulations to Candace Surette and Rebecca Randall (2012 Uniform Evaluation Writers) of the MacKay LLP Chartered Accountants on completing the formal program of studies receiving their CA designations in 2013.
The new executive cabinet of the 2013 Telus -JDRF Walk to cure diabetes is David Wilkins (Telus Walk Chair); Karen Hill (Capital News); Jim Larsen, John Pereira and Courtney Eskritt (London Drugs); Ernie LaLonde (TD Waterhouse); Brent Lobson (Impark); Kevin Crookes (Grant Thornton LLP); Blair Forrest (Pushor Mitchell LLP); Chad Weninger (Lending Max) and Sonya Barker of Interior Savings. The Okanagan 2013 Telus Walk Goal is $160,000 and is being held on June 9, 2013. For more info or to join in call Pam Prentice at 250-765-7711 or kelowna@jdrf.ca, or register on line at www.kelownajdrf.ca
Bella Clothing Boutique owned by Sarah Williams, and Dandy Diva (jewelry, handbags and accessories), owned by Andrea Cosar, have merged their businesses into one storefront space at 3005 Pandosy St. in the Mission. The shop is called Bella Diva Ladies. Drop in and see what’s been happening behind their papered windows as they celebrated their store’s “Big Reveal and Grand Reopening.” Shop for spring with all the new fashions and accessories. Meanwhile, Williams has sold her first Bella Clothing Boutique franchise, which will open March 1 in Chilliwack.
The Women’s Enterprise Centre is hosting a seminar by CGA Gabrielle Loren to help understand how the transition to GST/PST replacing HST and how it will affect your business. Gabrielle will provide a brief overview of the transition followed by a question and answer period on Feb. 14, from 9 to 10 a.m. ($29). Call 250-868-3454; inquiry@womensenterprise.ca
Connect Lease Corporation, an independently owned Canadian finance and leasing company, has moved to new offices at 209-1433 St. Paul St. Managing broker, Larry Gray has announced some staff changes with Darryl Otteson no longer with the firm and Teri Krupa coming on board from Calgary with her background in finance with Brandt Tractor. Connect Lease arranges financing for Canadian businesses and consumers that are acquiring equipment to start or expand their business revenue. Connect Lease is not a bank, but help businesses of all sizes get financing that they might need, with other offices in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Call 250-860-4141; info@connectlease.com.
The founding board of directors of Destination BC has been announced by Tourism Minister Pat Bell. A local voice sitting on the board is Gordon Fitzpatrick, with CedarCreek Estate Winery.
After 25 years, the Tickle Trunk’s creative team still loves helping cupid. With their largest selection of Valentine balloons and ideas ever and with newly located in sister store TTM Events at 1660 Powick Rd., watch for the return of some favorite costume deliveries. The Love Police and Captain “Hocked-On-You” are sure to make an impression on your sweetheart. Red Roses and Tasteful Chocolate Body Parts are back alongside the usual unusual gifts like nostalgic or funky sock monkeys, chocolate hammers and some of the world’s largest gummy bears. Call 250-868-8254 www.tickletrunk.ca.
KGH Auxiliary is having penny drive. You will find a large barrel in the new Centennial tower lobby where you can drop in the coin. The drive will he held until Feb. 28 and all proceeds go to the care and comfort of patients at KGH.
As well, The Kelowna Elks branch 52 (and all Elks across Canada) are part of ongoing drive called Making Dollars Out Of Cents. The Elks are collecting any and all pennies (or change) toward their national charity, The Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children. They have a huge jar on the bar at the Kelowna Elks Club, located in the Invue complex (second floor) on Springfield Road in Kelowna.
The short-list of author finalists from Kelowna of the 15th annual Okanagan Short Story Contest are Shauna Mosbeck, Marissa White, (Lake Country) Joe Dermo, Carlo Da Ros, Cassandre Campeau-Bouthillier, Brandon Shalansky, Katherin Edwards and Shelley Wood.Three winners will be announced at a public reading with contest judge Erin Moure on Feb. 12, 7 p.m., at the downtown library on Ellis Street.
The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission has a new advisory board for 2013. On the executive are Heather Schneider, chair (Okanagan College); Paul Maarschalk, vice-chair (Solomon Resources Ltd.); Jim
Paterson (City of Kelowna); Larry Widmer (Community Futures); Domenic Vinci (Interior Savings Credit Union); Dustin Sargent (Davara Enterprises Ltd.); Tony Lewis (Vibrant Vines Vineyard) and
Renee Wasylyk, past chair. New to the board this year Ryan
Roycroft (District of Lake Country); Patty Hanson (RDCO);
Martine Hickman (BDC); Karen Hawes (Kelowna Chamber); Marek Buryska (Westbank Chamber); Roger Sugden (UBC-Okanagan); Ken Bessason (Royal LePage);
Andrew Gaucher (G Group of Companies); Raghwa Gopal (Sa Avaani Skin Care);
Derek Lownsbrough (Vineyard Networks); Cam McAlpine (PR Media); Paul Ouimet (InterVISTAS Consulting Inc.), Murray Ramsden and Soni Riediger (Team Fritz Clay Roof Tiles).
Birthdays of the week: Happy 70th Sharon Nichol (Feb. 10);
Darren McClelland, Shamrock Tire (Feb. 7); Sergio Cunial (Feb. 7); Jim Juba (Feb. 7);
Karen Erickson, Investors Group (Feb. 7);
Donnie Ungaro, EDC (Feb. 10); Bob Brown (Feb. 8); Marshall Jones (Feb. 11); Capt. Tim Light, Kelowna Fire Department (Feb. 11); Cathy Wahoski, Rona (Feb. 9); Laura Appleby, (Feb. 9); Kasha Lanyon (Feb. 11); Nikki Csek, Csek Creative (Feb. 12); Bruno Curatolo and his mother-in-law Rosemary Wilson, both on same day (Feb. 12); Buck LaRoche (Feb. 13.
