This week’s column is dedicated to two long-time, well-known locals.
Sonjia Bauer passed away on Dec. 12. I remember how much we loved to go to Sonjia and John’s Mr. Mike’s Restaurant on Lawrence Avenue. It was a popular meeting place for locals. They had the best burgers, but the famous Mr. Mike’s burger buns made the entire meal. Later they changed it to J.B.’s and it was just as popular.
Don McIntosh passed on Dec. 15. He was a well-respected entrepreneur who was very community oriented. Don always gave you his opinion, but in a sincere way and respected others’ views. It was always good to chat with him.
Dentist Dr. Ian Leitch and Dr. Evan Wiens, have teamed up as Okanagan Dentistry, located at 302-1500 Hardy Street. It’s a Kelowna dental clinic offering all the latest cosmetic, restorative and preventive dentistry services. Leitch has been practicing in Kelowna since 1983 and Wiens is new to Kelowna. Weins focuses on oral surgery, root canal therapy, full mouth reconstruction and cosmetic dentistry, including Invisalign. At dental school he was always on the dean’s list and earned topmarks at UBC. He also received a Young Distinguished Alumni Award. Leitch is a well-known local dentist and helps administer, and volunteers at, the Gospel Mission Charity Dental Clinic. Call 250-762-3563 or info@okanagandentistry.comVisit www.okanagandentistry.com
JJ’s Diner has opened at 573 Lawrence Avenue (across from the Towne Centre Mall). JJ’s is owned and operated by Jim Walcott, who has relocated from the Lower Mainland. He has been in the food industry for more than 35 years. He is committed to offering his customers the best in fresh, local and seasonal food. He serves a good variety of breakfast all day, including benedicts, omelets and breakfast poutine (hash browns topped with melted cheese). He also offers sandwiches, burgers, main entrees (diner standbys of Salisbury steak, liver and onions and breaded veal cutlet) along with salads and soups. JJ’s is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and until 4 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Every second Friday there’s a dinner buffet (next one is Jan. 3) and every Sunday there is a buffet starting at 9:30 a.m. A two-for-one menu is offered Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sounds like Jim has all the bases covered. Like them on Facebook and be entered into a draw for a $10 gift certificate. Call 778-484-4988.
George and Linda Moore have delivered the Kelowna Capital News in the Mission area for the past four years. They retired but Linda said she was looking at it as perhaps a temporary move. I hope they will be back again delivering in my area soon.
Congratulations to Chris Gorman, who is the new regional organizer for the North and Interior for the B.C. Liberal Party.
BMO Bank of Montreal has announced several executive leadership appointments in its BC and Yukon division. Sean Armstrong becomes the regional vice-president of commercial banking for B.C. Interior, Vancouver Island and Yukon with six vice-presidents, commercial banking reporting to him. Sean has 20 years’ experience with BMO in various roles, including his previous position as vice-president of personal and commercial banking for the B.C. Interior, North and Yukon. Bruce Olsen is the vice-president of commercial banking for Kelowna and Vernon.
A new Extreme Pita has opened at 1443 Ellis Street (across from the Kelowna Centennial Museum). Owned and operated by franchisee Mark Pihl, the restaurant enjoys a bright modern atmosphere, a patio in summer, takeout and catering. It’s a fresh new food experience, either made to order freestyle, (your pita your way), or you can choose from one of many of their pitas, flat baked pitas, salads, soups, sides, or one of their chef inspired menu items. It offers
a kids’ menu and you can even create your own combo. The menu is extensive, offering everything from chicken, falafel, beef, lamb, tuna, turkey or ham to a Hawaiian luau extreme flat baked pita. It also offers a nutritional guide for healthier eating on all its items, which I found very helpful. Gift cards are available. Open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s a great addition for the downtown area. Call 778-478-25562 or view www.extremepita.com.
Lots happening at Pushor Mitchell Lawyers LLP these days. Partner Lisa Holmes Wyatt has been appointed as a judge of the provincial court. Lisa joined Pushor Mitchell LLP 18 years ago and has been chairwoman of its family law group for many years. Jeremy Burgess has joined the firm as an associate lawyer and is a member of its litigation group. He will be practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate litigation, wills and estates litigation and criminal law. Call the office at 250-762-2108.
The Okanagan Bridal Expo goes Jan 5 at Prospera Place starting at noon. Tickets are $10 in advance and visit www.okanaganbridalexpo.com for more info and ticket sale locations. A group of business people from across the Valley have teamed up to put this event together. They are Geoff Neufeld (Showtime Events); Suzanne Le Stage (Eyes of Le Stage Photography); Lucy Hazelwood (Luki Dance Productions); Linda Lylick (Femme Fatale Beauty Lounge); Alexandra Godkin (Online Manager); Bethany Armstrong (eventco-ordinator); Cassandra West (staff co-ordinator); Brian Mack (Emcee – 99.9 Sun FM) and fashion show co-ordinators Pricilla Mudaliar, Sylvia Bourassa, Tanya Boysen and Chrissy Ito of Shine Models.
One of the former owners of Cupcasions, Joanne Funk has moved on and is no longer there. Joanne has joined ServiceMaster Janitorial as its business development manager in the commercial division. Barbara Smylie, owner of the ServiceMaster franchise for the Okanagan. Janet McKenzie is still in the Cupcake world at Cupcasions. Call 250-300-3386 or jfunk@servicemasterokanagan.com
There is a new board of directors for 2013/14 for the Kelowna Yacht Club. Congrat’s to commodore Mike Terris; Murray Ramsden (vice-commodore); Nancy Thompson (rear commodore); Ash Elton (immediate past commodore); Chantelle Kyshk (staff captain); Henry Harlos (fleet captain); and directors Doug Harpold, Randy Prost, Dot Schoneberg, John Sharples, Lisa McHaffie, KenSmith and Brett Wike.
East Side Mario’s has closed and the building has been sold to Canadian Brewhouse. The sports pub will renovate the existing Mario’s building. Emma Williams was the general manager of East Side Mario’s. The Canadian Brewhouse was founded in Edmonton in 2002 and has locations across Alberta. It positions itself as a midsize-Canadian themed sports bar near major traffic routes with seating typically for 200-270. They currently have many locations across Alberta. Stayed tuned for more info and its opening date.
A total of 3,036 households completed the recent regional Household Travel Survey, which took place over the past couple of months. With $1 donated to the United Way for each participating household survey received, a donation of $3,100 has been made. The United Way want not the only winner from the Travel Survey, as more than 100 individuals from across the Okanagan who participated also received prizes. Shirley Schmidt of Kelowna was the grand prize winner of $5,000. The information provided will show a picture of how people travel in the region, allowing planners and engineers to design a better transportation system for the Okanagan. The results will be made public by April. For a list of all the winners go to www.OKTravelSurvey.ca
Central Okanagan board of education Trustee Moyra Baxter has been re-elected chairwoman of the board for the upcoming year. Trustee Murli Pendharkar was elected vice-chairman for the first term of the 2014 school year and Trustee Joyce Brinkerhoff was elected as vice-chairwoman for the second term of the 2014 school year. The following trustees were elected board standing committee chairpersons. Deb Butler (education and student services); Rolli Cacchioni (finance and legal); Chris Gorman (human resources and staff services); Julia Fraser (planning and facilities) and Pendharkar (superintendent of schools evaluation). The election of board’s representatives on the provincial Representative Assemblies are Julia Fraser (regular representative) and Baxter (alternate). The B.C. Public School Employees’ Association—BCPSEA/BCSTA bargaining resentative is Pendharker (regular representative) with Brinkerhoff his alternate.
Rosanna McGregor and David Gillespie will be retiring from the board of directors of Interior Health when their appointments expire at the end of this month. New appointments to the Interior Health board are expected to be made in early 2014.
Cabana Bar and Grille and Tribe Entertainment are throwing an amazing New Year’s Eve party and each year they step it up. This year 2014 presents an Arabian Nights dinner and dance. There will be a sultan’s tent, hookah lounge, henna tattoo and live entertainment by Altarab. Personal styling appointments available at www.gypsysouldesigns.com Doors open at 7 p.m., dinner at 8 p.m. and dancing from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets $115 plus tax and the after party is $50 from 10 p.m. – 3 p.m. available at Cabana at 3799 Lakeshore Road. Call 250-763-1955.
The Kelowna Canadian Italian Club’s New Year’s Eve gala dinner and dance at Parkinson Recreation Centre is Dec. 31. Music by Vince’s Orchestra, dinner at 6:30 p.m. with executive chef Brad Linton and dance at 9 p.m. There will be a midnight snack, party favours and champagne. For Tickets call Joe at 250-878-3619 or to reserve a table kclc@shaw.ca.
The Sons of Italy Galileo Lodge dinner and dance on Dec. 31 is at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Hall, 1935 Barlee Road at 6:30 p.m. Adult tickets cost $50 each, tickets for children 6-14 are $20 each. Children under 6 get in free. There will be an Italian dinner, music, midnight snack, champagne and La Befana, the Italian fairy will appear with gifts for the children. Call Michelle at 250-860-0368 or Felicia at 250-864-1207 for tickets. Onofrio Curatolo is the vice-president of the Galileo Lodge.
German-Canadian Harmonie Club at 1696 Cary Road is hosting a New Year’s Eve dance with music by Vic’s Dance Band. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m., with dancing at 8 p.m. and a midnight buffet. Admission will be $50 for members and and $60 for guest. Tickets call Alice at 250-860-1425.
Nostalgia radio station PeachlandRadio.com has just launched online and is playing Christmas music and classic holiday favorites 24/7 in Peachland. Later, this free independent digital commercial-free station will play big band and R&B along with hits from the 1920s to the 1980s with vintage commercials and radio lays. Founded by Allan Holender, a retired business consultant and 62-year veteran of the radio broadcasting industry who also hosted an online radio show for the Edmonton Eskimos. The new station will host Louis Krupa, from Michigan, a former railway man who has amassed nostalgic radio content to create Koldpop Radio shows for the internet. .
Birthdays of the week – Happy 102 Emma Kirschner (Dec. 31); MLA Norm Letnick (Dec. 23); Murray Sherritt (Dec. 25); Chris Cleaver, K963FM (Dec. 26); Terry Balfour, ESJ Towers, San Juan Puerto Rico (Dec. 26); Alex Fong (Dec. 27); Uta Freitag (Dec. 29); Barry Carter (Dec. 27); David Burke (Dec. 27); Dino Padula (Dec. 27); Randy Topham (Dec. 30); Randy Topham (Dec.30); Donna Martin (Jan,. 1); Wayne Pierce (Jan. 1).
Merry Christmas to all.
