The Mediterranean Bakery and Restaurant has opened at 235 Rutland Road North, the first Middle Eastern bakery in our town.
This new bakery/restaurant has an incredible selection of savory and sweet foods and dessert, not found anywhere else. Owned and operated by the mother and daughter team of Siham and Suzette Mattar, it’s an opportunity for you to indulge in a new flavour experience. Their food and sauces are fresh home-made on their premises using traditional recipes. Seating is limited in the restaurant (six tables), but they also offer take-out and catering. My favourites were the flat breads of Zatar (Manoushi) made with Zatar or bacon and cheese with feta and mozza both baked over their homemade dough. The Mattars also offer meat pies, feta pies, mozzarella stuffed garlic sticks, kubbi, dolmades, shawarma, falafel wraps and desserts of Namora, cookies and baklava. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 778-753-6076.
Jacquie Fuhrmann has opened a new clothing alteration and repair business, Fit Right Alternations, in Glenmore at Glen Park Village, 116-1940 Kane Rd. Fuhrmann has done clothing alteration and custom sewing since 1982. She has worked for various alteration shops and also owned her own business in the mid-1980s. She has experience in most types of sewing and has worked in various factory settings. Along with selling sewing machines and fabric, Fuhrmann has also taught sewing lessons. She was formerly working for an alteration shop in Orchard Park Mall and has now decided to venture out on her own. Contact her at 778-484-3399; info@fitrightalternations.com.
Chef Gerard Martin is the new general manager of the Kelowna Elks. Martin has vast industry experience and is a former chef from the South Okanagan Events Centre. Previous manager Mike Yorke-Hardy has moved on to a new business opportunity. Chef Martin is now planning the Elks New Year’s Gala. Call 250-860-5841; info@elks-kelowna.org.
Lots of news from Scotiabank. After 31 years with Scotiabank, 20 of those at Kelowna main branch, Terry Patrick, manager of customer service is retiring. Dyan Trevis is replacing Patrick, having relocated here from the Lower Mainland. Meanwhile, the manager of Kelowna main branch, Gladys Fraser, will celebrate her 25th anniversary with the bank this year. She started her banking career at 49th and Fraser in Vancouver and then went to Smithers. She has been in the Okanagan Valley since 1990, having worked in Vernon, the Rutland branch, Orchard Plaza branch and now at the Kelowna main branch.
Tim Walts, (Tim the Toolman) has rebranded his company and has launched a new website for TTT Renovations. Go to www.tttrenovations.ca or call 250-469-4492.
Dusting Divas is a new home-based cleaning service started by Anna Jamkowy that specializes in residential, commercial and post-construction services. Jamkowy started out with herself and now employs 10 people and would like to change the image of cleaning. She feels that a Dusting Diva is really a custodial engineer, with back bending hours spent scrubbing and twisting to get everything sparkling clean; a task that is taken lightly but affects everyone. Check her company out www.dustingdivas.net or call 250-878-4381.
The New “LacQit” One Step Gel Polish Kits and Colours have now been launched in kits for use in your own home. This is no ordinary gel polish. Nanci Spencer, owner and founder of the product, states that LacQit is formulated with the base and top coats infused right into the colour. This makes it one easy step, in one bottle with salon quality perfection. LacQit paints on just like nail polish, only cures in a safe LED light for 30 to 60 seconds and is immediately dry without wiping, promising two weeks or more wear, with no chipping and pure shine. Only taking about 10 minutes, the kits have everything you need to do 30 gel polish manicures, complimented with classy, timeless and fun colours. Change your mind—change your colour. LacQit is easily removed by soaking and moisturizing in an acetone solution for eight to 10 minutes. LacQit Kits and One Step Colours are available at www.lacqit.com with an introductory price of $99. Colours are $5 each per 10 ml bottle. The kit comes with the colour Cosmo to Go, a fun pink/mauve great for fingers or toes. Christmas colours are Sleigh Ride Red and Pop The Cork. Fellas, this is a great gift for your gal.
Formerly with Interior Health, Georgina
Parton is now the communications manager of Interior Savings, replacing Corinne Johnson while she is on maternity leave until the end of 2013. With $25,000 to give away to the United Way and local charities, Interior Savings is hosting a Twitter/Facebook campaign Called “Love” Your Community—“Like” Interior Savings. For every new fan who “likes” their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/InteriorSavings, the credit union will donate $10 to the local United Way with a goal to donate a total of $20,000 to the charity before Dec. 14. Interior Savings also invites you to send a tweet naming your favourite charity, but the tweet must also include the phrase #bccharity in the message. Each week one name will be drawn from the entries received and the winning charity will receive a $700 donation.
Ruth Hanbury, relocating from Manchester, England, has joined the team at Summerhill Pyramid Winery as consumer direct sales manager. Now that Bill C-311 has become law in Canada, the winery is able to ship wine across provincial borders, the need was there to create this position. The Cipes 2010 Vintage has been awarded the only silver medal in North American at the 2012 Effervescent du Monde competition held in Dijon, France. Ezra Cipes is the CEO of Summerhill.
Picture Perfect, a landmark business in downtown Kelowna owned and operated by Linda
Winnick at 339 Bernard Ave., celebrates 30 years in business at the same location. Her newer business, Perpetual Blooms, was opened eight years ago in the same location (only an inside doorway separates them), which offers beautiful modern silk florals for all occasions. Picture Perfect sells all kinds of local artwork with in-house custom framing. Over the years I have used their framing services and everything has always been spectacular. Many of the pieces are in my office at the Ramada Hotel. Call 250-763-6966.
Next time you are in a hurry at the airport, try the new airport valet parking service run by Royal Star Enterprises. Drive to the valet kiosk at the south entrance of the terminal, drop off your vehicle and keys, provide flight info and that’s that. You won’t have to spend the extra time finding a parking spot. Upon your return your car will be waiting for you near the kiosk. The valet charge is above the regular parking rates in the daily or long term lots. $10 in December and going up to $15 in January.
A new business has been started by three guys from the Yellow Pages industry. Dale Wills, Bill Davis and Steven Chung have launched SocialStrut: Affordable Social Media Services with no contracts. They help businesses secure and manage their social presence online, offering multiple programs at entry-level prices ideal for small and medium business budgets. Having a thriving, effective social media presence is essential for improving your ranking on all of the search engines. Customers need to find you and existing clients need to hear from you. For info, visit bbmediateam.ca or call 250-718-9669.
The new Mission Liquor Store, located at 3195 Lakeshore Rd., (beside Save-On-Foods) has a unique feature. Above the cash register is a neat and funky chandelier. Formerly from Vernon, Dora Vetsch is the manager with liquor store pricing and lots of draws in December. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
It’s funny how you sometimes find out things about people you know that you never knew before. For instance, if you are ever in need of an M.C. for an event, Joe Creron, director of civic operations for the City of Kelowna, has it down pat. He keeps things rolling, is funny, quick-witted and does not even mind a joke or two about himself and he also likes to dress up—as Santa Claus I mean. I think he could have a new career in his retirement (whenever that might be).
If you have some time to spare, Designated Driver Dads are looking for some volunteer help this holiday season. They require drivers every Friday and Saturday from 1 to 3 a.m. for donations only to get your kids home safe. If you can help call Paul Nesbitt at 250-862-6096 or visit www.designateddriverdads.com.
The Delta Grand is having its second annual Holiday Party, the only one of its kind in town. They are excited to invite local businesses and the public on Thursday, Dec.13, with a special holiday lunch (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.), reception featuring live entertainment, turkey lunch, chef’s hat competition, Santa Claus and door prizes. Last year 140 people attended. This is a great unique alternative for businesses to host their smaller Christmas parties. Call 868-5608 to reserve.
Home Instead Senior Care, owned by Don Henke, has partnered with retailers, volunteers and community organizations to make sure isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship through the Be a Santa to a Senior program. Running until Dec. 13, Christmas trees are set up in London Drugs featuring ornaments with the first names of the seniors and their respective gift requests. Pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store along with the ornament. To celebrate Be A Santa to a Senior Day on Dec. 12, Missionwood Retirement Resort, on Gordon Drive, will host a special luncheon served by donation to all the community who desire to assist a senior in need with all proceeds going to the program. Call 250-860-4113 or www.beasantatoasenior.ca.
Distinctly Kelowna Tours will host a Christmas Charity Light Tour for the food bank. Visit some of Kelowna’s most spectacular Christmas light displays in the comfort of a 24-passenger bus with hot chocolate and cookies. Admission is $15 or a new unwrapped children’s toy. Call 250-979-1211 or info@distinctlykelownatours.ca to register or for more info.
Don’t forget to get your Hotties for the Hospital 2013 fundraising calendar for KGH ($10). Purchase at any of the Regency Retirements Resorts, KGH Centennial Mercantile or my office at The Ramada Hotel.
When the CEO of S4S-USA (Soles for Souls) was here to help kick off Roy’s Shoes S4S shoe-drive, they went to the Kelowna Rockets office to buy a couple of jerseys for him to take back to Nashville where the head office is. Shea Weber signed the jerseys. The Rockets donated a game quality jersey and a picture of Shea with the Team Canada Gold Medal, which he also signed. Welcome to Kelowna has graciously agreed to hold an online auction on their site for S4S, running Dec. 3 to 9 at 3 p.m. at http://auction.welcometokelowna.com.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 60th Barbara Regehr, FH&P Lawyers (Dec. 3); happy 80th Mel Cooper, of Victoria (Dec. 10) Dallas Gray, K963 (Dec. 6); Will Hoogewoonink (Dec. 8); Gabriele Giammartino, Via Veneto (Dec. 10); Gary Winchester (Dec. 8); Ann Gilbert (Dec. 11); Gerry Fraser, Macdonald Realty (Dec. 11); Bob Levin (Dec. 11); Anne Marie Kirby (Dec. 11); Trish (Peprmint Pate) Mather (Dec. 12).
