Kelly Leach and Craig Misfeldt have opened a new Dairy Queen restaurant in Lake Country at 10074 Highway 97.
The Dairy Queen has 38 seats, a 16-seat patio and 45 staff. The grand opening will be Jan. 16, 2016. To celebrate, the first 100 people to buy a Dairy Queen cake will receive a free blizzard every week for a full year. The onion rings at Dairy Queen are my favourite item on the menu. Open Monday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Hair stylists Sandy Harrington and Elsa Parsa, formerly of Dewey, Cuttem and Howe, have relocated to Cedars Hairport, 1131 Sutherland Ave., across from the Capri Mall. Mona Dib is the new owner of the salon, which has been completely renovated. Call 250-861-8626.
Congratulations to four new local BDO Chartered Professional Accountants—Lacy Manz, Vanessa Roberts, Ross Rufiange and Michelle Underwood. The four have passed their Common Final Examination, the final step in becoming a CPA in Canada.
Stuart Gray, founder, president and CEO, is ready to launch Laguna Blends in early 2016. Laguna is a direct sales company that focuses on the nutritional health benefits that are derived from hemp. Laguna recently announced a Kickstarter crowd funding campaign for caffe, Laguna’s delicious protein coffee beverage. Laguna has independent affiliates that generate retail sales and have the ability to recruit other affiliates. Affiliates utilize the latest tools and technology to enable them to build an International business from the comfort of their own home or while on the road. In addition to having exciting revolutionary products, Laguna is the first network marketing company to use exciting virtual 3D technology to enable affiliates to train, recruit and drive sales by utilizing a simple interactive platform. Laguna believes this technology is a game changer in the direct selling/network marketing industry.
Kudos to Impark and B.C. Interior regional manager Brent Lobson for collecting 1,061 new toys for the Salvation Army on Dec. 10. The company invited all members of the Kelowna public to bring their unpaid Impark parking tickets to be waived by donating a toy to the Salvation Army toy drive. One person came in with 22 tickets and 22 toys. Impark’s similar toys drive in Kamloops collected 1,024 toys, and in Prince George 101 toys.
There are a lot of changes at the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club. The clubhouse hall, located at 770 Lawrence Ave., was purchased by the club in 1998. Throughout the years, several improvements have been made, but not like the ones that were just recently completed. About four years ago, the members got together to discuss a major renovation of the clubhouse. It was decided that their monthly Italian dinners put on by the club’s volunteers would cover the cost to accomplish their goal. The dinners were all sell-outs, which enabled the work to start this year. In addition to hiring a local contractor, a number of club members volunteered their time to help with the renovation which is now completed. The association also has a new board of directors for 2015-16: Joe Iafrancesco (president); Don Gagnon (vice-president); Patricia Rantucci (treasurer); Janet Gagnon (secretary) and Eimilio Nanci (past president). Board directors are John Pomponio, Guido Difabrizio, Rosann Nanci-Carl, Susann Difabrizio, Romi Marcanio, Allan Hoce and Mary Bazzana. Association trustees are Paola Torresan, Penny Baker and Annamaria Jovanovski. The club is hosting a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and Dance at Parkinson Recreation Centre on Thursday, Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m. Music is by The Regals and dinner will be prepared by chef Kim Wallace, of Lakeshore Place, along with a midnight snack, party favours and champagne. To reserve a table or for tickets call Joe at 250-878-3619 or kcic@shaw.ca.
Local company, StarDyne Technologies Inc. has acquired Yfactor Inc., Canada’s specialist in marketing for communities with a focus on strategy, technology and design. Yfactor was founded in1997 and is headquartered in Toronto and a leader in both marketing and technology solutions for the economic development and tourism sectors. Brad Imrich is the president of StarDyne Technologies.
If you want a traditional donair, you can find the real deal at Subcity Donair, 469 Bernard Ave. Owned and operated by franchisee Mike Haidar, his selection of donairs are beef, chicken, beef donair salad and chicken donair salad, with beef being the most popular. All are made fresh to order, with the chicken baked fresh every day on-site. Subcity also has a good selection of subs and veggie delights of falafel and vegetarian Pitas. All sauces of secret, garlic tzatziki, creamy dill, zesty parmesan, sweet, hot sweet, sesame and hot sesame are made on-site. There is a small area for inside seating and take-out is available. Subcity Donair is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, and until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Incidentally, I met Mike one afternoon when I realized I did not have change for parking and ran into his shop to ask if he would break a $5 bill for me. He was very accommodating and I was very grateful.
Having relocated from Calgary and in the business for 10 years, certified Pilates instructor, Travis Thibeault has opened Pure Pilates in West Kelowna at 2992 Lakeview Cove Rd. Pure Pilates is a full service, licensed, home-based studio business that promotes fun fitness to develop the mind/body, strength, flexibility and balance. Travis operates on a non-drop-in, by appointment only schedule. He takes group classes of three and also private and semi-private classes. Pilates increases abdominal strength, improves ease and economy of movement, coordination, body alignment, spinal support, posture, mobility, circulation, joint health. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. To check the class schedule,check out the website purepilates.ca.
Last July I wrote about a new local Canadian product, Haupy’s Beaver Rub (HBR), founded by Mark Hauptman. It’s a versatile 12-ingredient seasoning that can be used as a rub on a variety of meats and will also liven up most any recipe. HBR is a mildly spicy, burnt orange seasoning, with a cornucopia of flavours and is an addition to any recipe that you can use as a rub on beef, fowl, pork or fish. It’s also perfect in soups, sauces and marinades containing no salt or MSG. The product is now available at over 50 locations throughout B.C. and online at haupysbeaverrub.ca. In Kelowna. it is available at Save-on-Foods, Cooper’s, Urban Fare, O’Rourkes on St. Paul Street and The Jammery Gift Shop. Mark is happy to accommodate any other retail locations. Call 250-469-4774.
Jim Belshaw, founder of local Shoe Bank Canada, is desperately in need of help. His group must move from their warehouse within two months and need a new home to collect, store and sort the shoe donations, starting at a minimum of 2,500 sq-ft. Jim is also in need of a partner in the transportation/logistics field to help them get the right shoe to the right communities for the right people. Call Jim at 250-763-5696 or 250-870-1191.
One Night Stand Against Cancer is a new campaign by the Canadian Cancer Society. More and more people are being diagnosed with cancer. With this comes a financial burden which those in the greatest need are often unable to pay. Through subsidized stays at the Southern Interior Rotary Lodge, the Canadian Cancer Society helps alleviate the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis. It is only through support from generous people in the community that patients and their loved ones can access affordable accommodations and attend their treatment close by. For just $100 you can cover the cost of a night at the lodge for someone coming for treatment. This gives patients the comfort they need so they can focus on getting better. You can donate now at cancer.ca/takeastand or call 250-762-6381. Randene Wejr is the regional director.
Like the weather, the United Way campaign thermometer perched on the roof of the Global TV Okanagan offices at Leon and Water is warming up. The 2015 goal is $1.5 million and the campaign is at just over $609,000. Although this is typical for this time of year, as many significant workplace campaigns do not report in until mid-December through to mid-January, the need is still great and the campaign deadline is near. If you wish to give a donation, call 250-860-2356, drop it off at 202-1456 St. Paul St., text-to-give “giveitup4kids” (20222) or visitunitedwaycso.com. All donations over $20 will be doubled until the end of December.
Birthdays of the week: Sandra Sellick (Dec. 16); Lesley Pierce (Dec. 17); Dave Willms (Dec. 17); Katja Oldendorf (Dec. 18); Deb Doig (Dec. 18); Allison Conroy (Dec. 18); Margy Ringrose, Only Deals (Dec. 19); Gary Schnackenberg (Dec. 19); Rennie Wutke (Dec. 20); Joan McCormack (Dec. 20); Leah Thordarson (Dec. 20) Noel Wentworth (Dec. 20); Bill Redmond (Dec. 20); Nikki MacRaild (Dec. 22).
