On Feb. 25, the Central Okanagan Hospice Association will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Since its inception, the organization has served the needs of those facing the end of life. Beryl Baldeo, Shirley Jensen and others were the founders and today it has over 200 active volunteers who serve individuals and their families in homes, long-term care facilities, the hospital and at Hospice House.
Congratulations to my sister Tracy Nyboe of REMAX/Kelowna on receiving the prestigious 100 Per Cent Club Award. This makes 12 years in a row that she has received this award. Way to go sis.
You will absolutely love this gourmet popcorn. Queen B Kettle Korn is made and distributed right here in Kelowna by Bobby and John Mills. They started the business in 2002 originally distributing the product at the Farmers Market and with its success went commercial in 2005. Their flavours are kettle korn, caramel corn, cheezy and white cheezy as well as buttery bliss. Many schools in Kelowna offer two of their products that fit the healthy guidelines for schools for their stores and hot lunch programs. You can buy Kettle Korn at Lakeview Market, IGA Glenmore, Old Town Farm Market, Quality Greens, Oriental Supermarket, Sunshine Market, Coopers Rutland, Save On Foods and the KGH Gift Shop. Call 250-868-2770 or bjmills@shaw.ca; www.queenbpopcorn.ca.
Dan Werry has joined the food and beverage team at the Harvest Golf Club as its new executive chef. He previously worked at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona and The Fairmont San Francisco in California. Call 250-862-3103.
The Lake Tai Restaurant, formerly on Pandosy Street, has relocated to 1958 Kirschner Road and is now open. Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Lon Chang and Rose Lin, it is one of the Okanagan’s only complete vegetarian restaurants, specializing in full-course vegetarian meals. It is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. You can eat in or take out. Call 778-478-9931 or just drop in.
Csek Creative has acquired PromarkDesigns.com from Ric Lazare. The acquisition adds more than 300 clients to Csek’s portfolio. The acquisition of Promark made a great deal of sense to Csek Creative, as it has developed some powerful technology and this will provide it access to a larger client base in the Valley. Promark’s customers will enjoy the benefit of enhanced services and offerings with Csek, whichhas developed a very strong business process and will continue to grow its model though business development and acquisition. Niki King, who has been with Promark for 11 years, will be moving to the Csek Creative team. Csek Creative is a leading internet and digital company that operates DotComMediaInc.com and Welcometokelowna.com. The combined group offers web hosting, website design, web programming, search engine positioning and optimization, web market and digital strategy services. Call Jim or Nikki Csek at 250-862-8010 or visit CsekCreative.com
Former Mayor Sharon Shepherd will recieve the Gert Beadle Award at the International Women’s Day Celebrations on March 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Laurel Packing House. Organized by the Okanagan College Women’s Resource Center, the event will coincide with International Women’s Day. This year’s theme will be Women in Politics and is meant to highlight the ambivalence many women feel toward political involvement and politics in general. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment to women’s equality and social justice. Call Ann McKinnon at 250-762-5445.
Photographer and long-time Feng Shui expert, Vicky Stefopoulou, has opened a rather unique shop—a photo studio and home décor store all in one. LaPoza Photo Studio and Ambience Home Décor has opened in the north end of town, at 1175 Gordon Drive (corner of Gordon and Clement). To start with, Vicky is a photographer who does portraits, boudoir, pets, location and architecture photography right in her studio on Gordon. Along with that, the shop if full of props that she uses in her photography. What’s unique is that the props are also for sale as part of her home décor store. The small shop and back warehouse has hand-carved rock Buddha’s, North American, European and Asian accessories, antiques, Edwardian pieces, art, console tables, benches, wooden baskets, curios, area rugs, iron pieces and iron garden gates. Call 250-717-3735 or better yet, just drop in and browse.
Matt Gomez is a new business developer for Acro Media. The company helps clients who are suffering from a lack of leads, concerned they are not being found online or simply embarrassed with their current website. Matt arrived in Kelowna from the UK via five continents, having travelled to 30 countries over three years. Previously, in the UK, he was airport manager at London’s Luton Airport, a facility with annual passenger figures of more than nine million. Call 250-763-8884 or mgomez@acromediainc.com; www.acromediainc.com.
Charity Solutions is a new business with local representative Craig Sanford, who also owns Blossoms Fresh Fruit Arrangements. The company assists in making fundraising events a success by using its own silent auction items. At no cost to you, it provides a variety of attractive auction items for any event. The items are based on the organizers needs and are available at that time with a large variety to choose from. Items include autographed sports memorabilia, wall art, home décor, ladies jewellery and purses, collectibles, travel and event packages. You place the items in your auction, amongst your items, with a reserve minimum bid on each item. Any amounts received above the reserve bid you keep. You collect
the full amount from your bidders and then pay Charity Solutions the reserve amount after the event is over. If any item does not reach the reserve bid amount, Charity Solutions takes the item back at no cost. For more info call Craig at 250-862-1997 or craig@charitysolutions.ca www.charitysolutions.ca
Local author Clinton D. Williams has published a book, Love Me With All Of Your Heart Or Leave Me With All Of Mine. It is about parent alienation and the effects of emotional abuse. It states that when a child is taught to hate a person to win the hate war, the effects are devastating. If this goes unseen, the child may turn into a parent who continues the cycle. The book is about stopping this cycle in a positive and motivating way. Clinton will be at a book-signing and launch at Mosaic Books on Bernard Avenue from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 26. The book may also be ordered on-line at www.lovemeorleaveme.ca. His e-mail is info@lovemeorleaveme.ca.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery has joined Canada in celebrating 70 years of diplomacy with Russia, with specially labeled organic wines to mark the anniversary of diplomatic relations. The wines were commissioned by the Canadian Embassy in Moscow to use for commemorative events and will feature renowned Canadian artist Robert Bateman’s sketch of the Canadian Embassy in Moscow on the labels. The winery already enjoys an existing relationship with Bateman’s Get to Know Society, which offers a line of organic wines marketed in Canada and the U.S. that sports Bateman’s artwork.
The CMA BC is holding its first Interior conference in Kelowna March 10. The conference was conceived based on continuous requests from their members in the Interior to hold a CPLD/conference event within their chapter. It is a great opportunity if you are looking for additional PD, there are topics that might interest you or just to meet other CMAs, sign up today. Carson Chan, the chair man of the Okanagan chapter.
Jessica Jones tragically lost her 42-year old-mother Suzette Jones to a brain tumor. Her friends are hosting a charity event for Jessica on March 3 from 1 p.m. to 3p.m. at Royal LePage Place in Wet Kelonwa to support her trust fund. There will be a ringette game between the Kelowna Chiefs and the Kelowna AA Ringette team, which will be competing in the national championships in April. During the intermission, Jessica’s novice team will play an exhibition game. There will be a silent auction and a TELUS critter toss with several prizes. Tickets are only $5 each and can be purchased at the door or by calling 250-768-9923. All proceeds will be going to the Jessica Jones Trust fund at BMO Westside.
The 13th annual Kelowna Home Show is this weekend, Feb. 24 to 26 at Prospera Place with TV personalities Jillian Harris and Andrew Downward. www.showswork.com.
Birthdays of the week—Happy 75th Dave Laing (Feb. 6); Happy 50th Tom Dyas, TD Benefit Solutions (Feb. 20); Anita Kinasewich (Feb. 23); Ben Bodnar (Feb. 23); Gerry Deshayes (Feb. 23); Carol Lesiak (Feb. 24); Sherri Miller, Mickie’s Pub (Feb. 25) Kit Carson, Peachland (Feb. 25); Lizann Allan (Feb. 26); Vern Nielsen, Dancing with the Stars (Feb.28); Ken Laloge, MacKay LLP (Feb.28).
