It’s the 25th anniversary in the bottled water industry for Ernie and Jeanette Pawluk, owners of Okanapure Water, located at 21–2484 Main St. in West Kelowna.
Okanapure provides bottled water service with purified demineralized, alkaline PH plus and mineralized water to homes and businesses in the Central and South Okanagan. Call 250-768-1685; online okanapure.com.
After 40 years in the building technology industry, well-known local and avid railroad buff, John Schlosser has finally packed his bags and is boarding the retirement express. With G.T.A Architecture for the past four years, Schlosser, a building technologist, originally started Canwest Design Group in 1975. He has lots to keep him busy in retirement starting with his gigantic miniature transportation system (model railroad) in his home, which he has enjoyed for many years. In speaking to his wife Gail, John is going to help her in the garden, although he has never helped her before. He is already giving advice about when she should water her plants.
Kirschner Catering is all about fresh and local. Owned and operated by Grant and Brianna Kirschner, their company offers complete catering services, building a custom menu for every client, while working hand-in-hand with local suppliers, farmers and wineries. Grant can be hired as a private chef in your home for an intimate dinner party or he and his wife can cater to events and weddings. Kirschner Catering offers multi-plated course meals, buffets or food and hor d’oeuvres for a cocktail party. What could be better than someone showing up with all the food, cooking equipment and dishes? Grant and Brianna also offer tiered cakes, cupcakes and bartending services. They are the whole meal deal. I attended a reception during the Christmas season that the Kirschners catered and the food was delicious. Call 250-212-0382; online kirschnercatering.com.
Hanna’s Waterfront Lounge & Grill Restaurant, 1352 Water St. in Kelowna, is now called Hanna’s On The Waterfront. The new name reflects their new business model and the facility is now only open for private functions. The upstairs venue overlooks the lake and has a large patio accommodating weddings and ceremonies, cocktail receptions or Christmas parties. Andrew Neville is the general manager and Sandy Spencer is the chef. Barb Douglas is the new event and catering manager. Call 250-860-1266 (210) or email hannaswaterfront@telus.net.
Happy 65th anniversary Nick and Rose Kardynal, my second mom and dad (May 28).
GolfTec, located at 107–1851 Kirschner Rd., celebrates its first year in business this month with changes and additions to their staff and services. Owned by Sattu Mahapatra and managed by certified personal coach Mike Soergel, Kyle Miller and Levi Arcega have been added to the staff team as certified personal coaches. Along with offering four different brands of golf clubs—Cobra, Mizuno, Ping and Taylor Made—GolfTec has added an equipment repair shop offering all golf club repairs plus re-griping and re-shafting. GolfTec also has added a playroom simulator with 15 US and British Open championship courses for you to practice or play. You can play with up to four golfers, playing nine holes or 18 holes with green fees of $29 and $39 respectively. Great for rainy days and in the off season. Congratulations to Tim Oldfield, who won the first anniversary grand prize draw of two tickets for two days to the US Open at Chambers Bay, Wash., which also included a three night hotel stay and a $100 gas voucher. Call 778-478-6866 for coaching or any of their services. Website isgolftec.com.
After 30 years, well-known fashion gal, Lorie Talarico has retired from The Bay. She worked for many different store departments in her 30 years, including lingerie, men’s wear, ladies wear and most recently in Dior and Estee Lauder cosmetics. Talarico was always one of The Bay’s best fashionistas and always on trend with what was new. She will continue at The Bay working as a fragrance demonstrator.
Jan Schulz has been appointed as the new executive director for Inn From The Cold. Schulz was previously the executive director of the Family Resource Centre Society for the North Okanagan in Vernon. She has been in business, human resources and the non-profit sector for over 20 years. Call 250-448-6403; online innfromthecoldkelowna.org.
For decades, Dr. Cliff Henderson, the first pediatrician in the valley, has helped countless children with special needs and their families. On June 3 at a reception celebrating his life of contribution, representatives of the BC Association for Child Development and Intervention will visit Kelowna to present Dr. Henderson, current director and founding member of the Starbright Children’s Development Centre, with a Life Time Achievement Award. Since helping found the centre in 1966 in Kelowna, then known as the Okanagan Neurological Association and later the Central Okanagan Child Development Association, Henderson has been actively engaged in its evolution and growth. Starbright is located at 1546 Bernard Ave. Call 250-763-5100.
Thought you might want to see this fun video (Link attached) produced by Susan Knight and John Stone of Q103.1. You might see some people you know if you view until the end—www.-q1031.ca/-thebigbreakfast/2015/05-/22/-they-got-skills-go-rockets-go.
Eco Shine windows, owned and operated by Tim Butt, have a new service to offer clients. Eco Shine now owns a SkyVac Gutter (eaves trough) cleaning system that was imported from the UK. This is a high access camera survey gutter cleaning system for domestic and commercial buildings that can reach up to 50 feet high. Cleaning gutters is a dirty, time-consuming, extremely dangerous task, often with heights that can’t be reached with an ordinary ladder. Neglecting to keep gutters clean and free of debris can result in damage to siding, windows and buildings. The elements that make up the SkyVac system are a powerful 3kWh (3,000 watt) industrial twin motor vacuum cleaner powered by a generator. There are modular carbon fibre poles with a selection of tools and attachments to reach any gutter and a remote full colour camera which sits at the top of the pole that sends a live video feed to a colour monitor on the ground with the operator. The apparatus can reach buildings up to four storeys high. It’s a no mess system that works by literally sucking debris from the entire gutter system. With the SkyVac system all debris is removed, not simply washed down the down spouts.
Call Eco Shine at 250-215-7871; online ecoshinewindows.ca.
Congratulations to Leah Delisle on acing her first hole-in-one at Shadow Ridge—18th hole, 140 yards.
The Rotary Club of Kelowna honoured Ross Gorman at a recent luncheon for his community service and inspiring leadership. Rotary club president Dennis Campbell stated that this honour was bestowed upon Gorman because he was a man who embraced the core value of Rotary—service above self. Campbell also stated that Gorman represented a pillar in the community through his leadership, community engagement and generosity, along with being a leader in corporate social responsibility who fostered a culture of giving back from its employees at Gorman Bros. lumber mill.
Okanagan College professor and novelist Alix Hawley is the recipient of the prestigious national Amazon.ca First Novel Award for her debut novel: All True Not a Lie in It. The novel is an attestation of Hawley’s talents as a writer and of the reading community’s appetite for the stories she imagine. The literacy recognition is leading Hawley into her second novel, a sequel to All True Not a Lie in It, which continues to recount the adventures of American pioneer Daniel Boone who attempted to settle Kentucky and was captured by the Shawnee.
The Melanie Lyne Summer Fashion Show with business, casual and special occasion attire is Wednesday, June 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Kelowna Yacht Club. See all the new summer collection and let them help you refresh your wardrobe. There will be door prizes, $25 off $125 voucher from Melanie Lyne, glass of wine, light appies, a cash bar and presentations on trends of the season, fashion, hair and make-up. Tickets $25 at Melanie Lyne Spall Plaza. Call 250-860-3138.
Tim Hortons Camp Day is Wednesday, June 3. It costs $1,000 to send a child to camp each year for one week. With the proceeds of Camp Day, hundreds of children will be able to be themselves, learn self-esteem, as well as have a great time at something they might not normally enjoy. Join all the Tim Hortons staff and many volunteers all day on June 3. I will be volunteering at the drive-thru window in the early morning at the Tim Hortons on Spall and Harvey. See you there.
Who inspired you this year? The 28th Annual Business Excellence Awards call for nominations is now underway until June 12. The award ceremony will take place Oct. 21 at the Delta Grand. There are 12 award categories, ranging from Rising Star Business of the Year to Marketer of the Year Award. Visit kelownachamber.org for more information.
The EK’s Grill Heart & Stroke 5K (3.1 Mile) Race in memory of Brad Thatcher is May 31, starting at EK’s Grill, 401 Glenmore Rd. There will be refreshments, awards, draw prizes and a pancake breakfast following the race. It’s easy to register. Sign up at eksgrill.com.
Just a reminder of the upcoming Simply Art show at Bottega on May 30 and 31. I am honoured to be drawing the winning raffle ticket at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. Visit kelownapaletteclub.com for info about tickets. It’s not too late to attend.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend and would like to hear some great music, the third annual Angel Award Music Competition and Gala Showcase is May 30 at The Rotary Centre for the Arts, benefiting Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Top 10 finalists compete for prizes, including the Angel Award created by well-known artist Alex Fong. Visit angelaward.ca for more details.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 101st to Viola (Lola) Davies (June 3); happy 40th Renee Wasylyk, Troika Development (May 26); Carmen Sparg (May 28); Ria York (May 28); Nan Pellatt (May 29); Ron Manoin (May 30); Bruce Telford (June 2); Dick Prowse (May 28); Roma Niessen (May 31); James Chopko (June 3); Bill Winters, our neighbour (June 4); Jan McArthur (June 9).
I will not be writing a column next week. Back again June 10.
