This week’s column is dedicated to Tracie Ward who passed away on March 31. Tracie was most recently the executive director of the Rotary Centre of the Arts. Her impact on the RCA and the entire cultural community will be felt for years to come.
Dave Schroeder of Urban Links, formerly located in West Kelowna, and Paul Wammer of Camber Golf, formerly located on Benvoulin Road in Kelowna, have merged their two companies to better serve their golf clientele.
The two are now based out of a new premises at 1046 Richter Street in Kelowna. They offer a one-stop golf facility that combines lessons, training, custom fitting and putting. Watch for their specials at their open house throughout this month. Call 250-448-8872.
Fernando’s Taqueria, at 279 Bernard Avenue, has changed its licensing and is now a pub and plans to feature live music. The business is now owned by Louis Drummond and Bernard Wilson, who also own Sturgeon Hall Restaurant and Bordello’s Italian Pizzeria. They are introducing a new menu which will include basic pub fare and also Mexican food. Its new hours are from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., five days a week, and opens at noon for lunch/brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Congrats to Winn Rentals Ltd., at 910 McCurdy Rd., on receiving the prestigious B.C. Rental Store of the Year, Canadian Rental Store of the Year and the President’s Image Award. These awards were received for store looks, condition of rental equipment, staff, customer service and relationships with suppliers. Owned and operated by Bert and Brad Gretzinger, the company rents all types of equipment, from small hand tools and garden equipment to excavators and other name brand large equipment. Konrad Schafer is the general manger.
Naturopathic physician Dr. David Wikenheiser has a new medical office assistant, Mitsi Schulte. She has an extensive background in retail management and customer service. Wikenheiser’s practice, located at 308-500 Hardy Street has new office hours—Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Wikenheiser has also arranged for a special gym membership rate for his patients with Gary Dutz, owner of World Gyms in Kelowna and West Kelowna. He is now offering a new treatment called magnetic bio stimulation that turns on healing, and according to some medical experts, even stem cells for true regeneration. If you would like to receive his info on special presentations, service promotion offers or products, e-mail drdavidwik@telus.net or call 250-762-8900.
Just had a new slick new decorative window film installed for privacy on the long window adjacent to our front door by Budget Blinds, owned and operated by Tyler Waterfield, at 1873 Spall Road. It’s really a great idea. While the light still comes into the entry way, if there is anyone standing at your door they can’t see into your home. The decorative film comes in a few different patterns, was easily installed and is a safety vehicle as well. Budget Blinds features Spring’s Signature series window treatments, including shutters, cellular, woods, roller shades and verticals. The store offers free installation, expert fit and a five-year, no-questions-asked warranty on most products. Call for your in-home consultation at 250-491-3686; www.budgetblinds.com
Creative Trophies has been in business for more than 25 years. Located at 108-1755 Springfield Road. (by The Tool Place), the company has new owners, Jessica Kessler and Julian Axe. To reintroduce the business, they now have brought the company, product offerings and technology into the 21st century along with expanding their product lines into giftware that can be personalized, hence their new name, Creative Trophies and Gifts. The company provides engraving services for sports awards and gift items, as well as personal memorial items. They now offer additional corporate awards, promotional items and custom products with creative ideas. Drop into the showroom to view everything on offer. Call 250-860-1153 or email Jessica@creativetrophies.ca or go to www.creativetrophies.ca
KE Performance Horses is located at the East Kelowna Riding Stable, 4030 Spiers Road. The services that KE offers include indoor, oudoor and self-board, lessons, clinics, training, horse transportation, breeding, sales, equine therapy and horse showing. It is also Home of Drivin to Hollywood and Oh Royal Chic. To do this, well-known AQHA professional horse trainer Gus Evagelopoulos with KE specializes in breeding, training and producing solid reining horses for both non-pros and open riders. He also has a strong background in roping, barrel racing and pleasure riding. With many wins in the NRHA open divisions, Evagelopoulos is very accomplished as not only a trainer, but also a showman and clinician. He puts a solid foundation on all his horses to maintain a happy horse with a good mind. He also specializes in starting youngsters, ground work, lessons, reining, barrel racing and is very experienced with all types of breeds and levels of riders. Call 250-307-3990 or Google KE Performance Horses.
Russ Latimer, with Gallagher’s, is the new golf operations manager at Black Mountain Golf Club. Tyrel Griffith also has come to Black Mountain. Golf anytime at Black Mountain in April and you will be entered to win a golf membership to the club for the remainder of the year. Kids 14 and under play for free. Eric Thorsteinson is the general manager. Call 250-765-6890
Did you know that we have Canada’s top LinkedIn expert right here in Kelowna? Melonie Dodaro, from Top Dog Social Media, says your LinkedIn profile is even more important that your website. Find out the three reasons why at http://GetLinkedInKelowna.com. On May 3, Dodaro will host a LinkedIn training seminar at the Ramada Hotel. It’s interactive training to optimize your LinkedIn profile and rank at the top of LinkedIn search results. You will also learn how to attract and engage your ideal client’s right within your LinkedIn profile. For more info email info@topdogsocialmedia.com.
Okanagan Mission Rotary will host a Trivia Night fundraiser on Friday, April 27, at the Mission Hall at DeHart and Lakeshore, starting at 6:45 p.m. It promises to be a great evening with seven rounds of trivia, prizes after each round, dessert and all for only $30 per person. Speaking of fun, Mike Roberts will be the MC, with Mohini Singh, Robyn Middleton and myself as the judges. For more info or tickets, call Lois Serwa at 250-862-9048 or Robyn Middleton at 250-764-3448.
Sherry Kowalchuk of Okanagan Valley Rentals, who managed multiple luxurious vacation suites at Barona Beach (Westside) Playa Del Sol and Discovery Bay, has now assumed responsibility for the vacation management and concierge service at The Strand Lakeside Resort in Vernon. On the shores of Okanagan Lake, The Strand is a year-round playground and destination resort. To reserve your getaway weekend, vacation and other events, call Sherry at 250-801-6651 or visit www.okvr.ca
Frank Stewart, general manger of the Ramada Hotel in Calgary (who has many Okanagan Valley friends), has received the Alan S. MacKellar Award in Calgary from the Calgary Grey Cup Committee. This award is given annually to the member of the committee that best exemplifies the quality of selfless dedication to community service, which characterized MacKellar’s committee participation throughout the years. You might have heard, or you might have even been in Vancouver during the last Grey Cup in November when Calgary supporters brought horses right into the hotel where they were staying, which was the Holiday Inn on Howe Street. They have a habit of doing this at every Grey Cup they attend. They will be attending the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto later this year. gm@ramadacalgary.com
You won’t want to miss this. Gourmet and Grapes Iron Chef at Cabana Bar and Grille takes place Sunday, May 6. Ned Bell, partner of Cabana and executive chef of the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, will take on Dale MacKay, chef/owner of Ensemble & Ensemble Tap. MacKay was the first winner of Top Chef Canada on Foodnetwork Canada, so it will be an exciting evening. There will be seven food stations and seven wine stations. Tickets $79 available at Cabana or call 250-763-1955. I have attended this event in the past and if you only attend one of the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival events, this would be my choice.
Happy 35th anniversary April 16 to Glen (retired RCMP) and Connie Penner.
Discover Your Personal Greatness is a day spent with Yvonne Evans at Sparkling Hill Resort on Saturday, April 29. Evans is the founder of personal corporate and global consciousness seminars and author of Creating and Changing Your Life and Corporate Consciousness —The New Performance Culture. She will present
a powerful day of dialogue and interaction and will also answer questions from the audience and offer personal insight for those with issues in their personal work or spiritual life. Registration is limited, so book your tickets by visiting www.yvonneevans.net. If you are interested in purchasing Yvonne’s books, look for them at either Mosaic or Chapters.
The second annual Kelowna Vaisakhi Parade 2012 goes April 14, hosted by the Okanagan Sikh Temple and Cultural Society, celebrating the birth of the Khalsa. The parade starts at the Okanagan Sikh Temple at 1111 Rutland Road and all members of the community are invited to join in. For more info call Parmjit Patara at 250-717-7844.
Make sure your credit cards are protected against identity theft. Just a reminder that the Kelowna Crime Prevention Association Smart Card Defender Sleeves can be purchased April 13, at the Mission Community Policing Station, 4065 Lakeshore Road.
Dr. Ross Halperin is the guest speaker at the Okanagan Jewish Community Philosopher’s Café on April 16 at the community centre, 102 Snowsell Street North in Glenmore. Open to the public at no charge, Dr. Halperin will be speaking on exciting initiatives at our local cancer centre.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 80th Bill Bennett, our former B.C. premier (Apr. 14); in memory of our mom Helen Abram (Apr. 13); Dave Langton, Competition Glass (Apr. 13); Bob Brummitt, (Apr. 14); Walley Lightbody (Apr. 14); Ken Thompson, Sleep Country (Apr. 14); Roy Adams, Fernbrae Manor (Apr. 15); happy 89th Hilda Nielsen, Chatsworth (Apr. 8); Chris Brown, Rutland Park Society (Apr. 15); Mike Guzzi, Vedanta Academy (Apr. 7); MJ Bennett, Victor Properties (Apr. 17).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, fax 250-860-3173, email maxdehart@telus.net.
