After 24 years, Joe and Sandy Minnella have sold their business, Minnella Dry Cleaners, located at 559 Bernard Ave.
New owner James Leong, who also has a location in Vernon, has renamed the business Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner. The Minnellas plan to stay on working in the shop. Along with a new name, the dry cleaning service also has new state-of-the-art green equipment, a system called EM Natura, the first of its kind in the valley. It cleans gently to extend the mileage of your clothes. Colours, whites and fabrics stay fresh longer and are protected, getting a constant rejuvenated lift while remaining odor free. Coupled with a non-toxic biodegradable solvent and a patented pure soap, the final results offer distinctive high levels of satisfaction. Sensitive and allergy prone customers also benefit. Miss Tulips cleans leathers and suedes in-house. If you return your used hangers, they will give you a voucher for $1 redeemable for cleaning services on your next visit. You may accumulate your vouchers for larger cleaning orders.
For the grand opening, Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner is offering a 30 per cent discount on all dry-cleaning for the next few months, with some restrictions. Miss Tulips is looking for any retail outlets that might be interested in considering being a drop-off agent for them. Call 250-762-5323; online misstulipsgreen-drycleaner@gmail.com.
Al Hildebrandt is heading into partial retirement after his 15-year stint as founder and chief executive officer of QHR Technologies. While he’s still contracted with QHR for transition duties over the next 12 months, Hildebrandt plans to get more involved in other local community associations and charities. He was recently elected to the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce board. All QHR operations are now under the leadership of Mike Checkley, the new president. He was one of the original founders of the Accuro EMR product. Call 250-878-9100; online QHRtechnologies.com.
Wendy and Gabriele Giammartino, owners of Via Veneto Hair Design and Esthetics, 102-3001 Tutt St., will celebrate their 40th anniversary in the hairdressing business, having owned hair salons overseas, then Vancouver and finally in Kelowna. The couple have just signed another five year lease at their present location, a sign they still have fun helping out all their valued clients. Gabriele operates the hairdressing/barber end of the business and Wendy excels in esthetics with customized facials to suit every skin type, including anti-aging treatments. Their salon is open Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon. Call 250-861-6868.
Two articling students of Benson Law LLP have joined the firm. Brett Sanguin will be an associate lawyer, dealing primarily with civil litigation. Dawson McKay, who was born in Kelowna, is recognized for his academic achievement in alternative dispute resolutions. He will complete his articling requirements and write the bar exam in early 2016.
A new franchise, The Ten Spot Beauty Bar, has opened in West Kelowna at 170-525 Highway 97, in the shopping mall location between Sammy J’s and the Liquor Depot. Owned and operated by Lisa Kelley, who has relocated here from Alberta, The Ten Spot has a bright, open and cool atmosphere, decorated in white, orange and pink. Unique to The Ten Spot is a large inviting patio with colourful umbrellas and chairs. The shop offers a wide variety of waxing, manicures (gel or polish), nail art, Frenching, pedicures (gel or polish) and a kiddie pedi. They give a complimentary toe wax with every pedi. The skin bar offers facials, customized with Canadian product Dermalogica, brow and lash tints and a free walk-in skin analysis. There are six pedi stations and a very long table that offers multi manicures for groups or individuals. At The Ten Spot, they focus on a sanitary environment that is upbeat and fun, which I believe they have accomplished. Open Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 778-755-6610; online thetenspot.com.
Bhupinder and Karmjit Gill and Lakha and Param Brar have opened their fruit stand at 5225 Highway 97 near the Kelowna airport turnoff. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dan Burbridge has joined the team at Mercedes-Benz as a service advisor. He has relocated from Eastern Canada where he was formerly with Mercedes-Benz in Ottawa and Audi in Toronto. Call 250-712-5025.
Members of the Central Okanagan Emergency Support Services Organization, more often known by the acronym E-S-S, recognized the service milestones of 21 of their volunteers. The ESS program volunteers provide on-call response and temporary accommodation, food and other assistance for anyone who is displaced by an emergency. Congratulations to the following: Linda Keil (12 years); Sue MacDonald, Natasha Mark, and Gail Campbell (10 years); Doris Koyscha (nine years); Elena Wiens, Barb Liversidge, Bev Kenzie, Dave Harrison, Garth Saunders, Larry Carrier, Trish Gunning and Mary Anne Heise (six years); Dennis Campbell, Lorne Chestnut, Joy Chestnut, Paula Diskiw, Kim Greenhough, Tim Neilsen, Gerry Pettetta and Joe Petretta (five years).
Raymond Koehler, previous chair of the 2012 Okanagan Pride Festival, is now coordinator and spokesperson for the Senior Gay Men in Kelowna (SGMIK). Call 778-484-5296 or Raymond@raymondkoehler.ca
This Saturday, the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market will celebrate its 20th anniversary, still at the same site where it all began, the corner of Springfield and Dilworth across from Orchard Park Shopping Centre. The market started with 10 vendors and the encouraging support of both the shopping centre and recently retired market manager Bob Callioux. Today, the market now averages about 165 vendors, several who have been around for all 20 years. The market’s motto is “make it, bake it, grow it” promoting goods that are produced by local vendors providing a unique shopping experience with a vibrant marketplace filled with fresh local products, quality artisan crafts and prepared foods. To celebrate the anniversary, watch for live entertainment, including free face painting, pony rides, bouncy castles, balloon art, prizes, clowns and vendor promotions, and a huge birthday cake. Gisele Glover is the new manager for the farmers and crafters market.
Congratulations to Monika Walker, owner and head baker of Okanagan Grocery, Artisan Breads, who has been inducted into the BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. The association, with 61 members, is a leadership culinary and hospitality organization composed of women who have not only achieved success in their professions, but who contribute significantly to their communities.
Jennifer Park is the new community investment manager for Telus for the Thompson Okanagan region, working with the Telus Thompson Okanagan community board.
Community Futures Central Okanagan, 210-1726 Dolphin Ave., celebrates 25 years of serving local entrepreneurs. Office staff have been going back through the archives and getting in touch with clients throughout the years. They would like to showcase your business and how Community Futures contributed to your start. Contact them at info@cfdcco.bc.ca to update how your business is doing and to promote your business as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations. Community Futures will also host a golf tournament on Sept.17 at Shadow Ridge Golf Club.
The June DKA Downtown Kelowna After 5 meeting is Wednesday, June 24, at The Factory, 1302 St. Paul St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
It’s charity night and on Wednesday, July 8, at 6:35 p.m., as the Kelowna Falcons vs. Klamath Falls Gems will play for United Way at Elks Stadium. Tickets $10. Call 250-860-2356; online www.falconsplayforunitedway.com.
Big thanks to Craig McJannett, with Solar Centre on Enterprise Way in Kelowna, for his exceptional customer service and going out of his way to find a discontinued product. Call 250-762-5587.
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery,267 Bernard Ave., has opened a new patio and cocktail lounge offering a selection of cocktails and sipping whiskies from their own spirits portfolio. If you love local, visit them and sample of one of their specialty created cocktails or take a tour. Call 778-484-5174; online okanaganspirits.com.
Milestones is celebrating their 25th anniversary by bringing back their Tasty Back Menu with 25 per cent off until June 28. Milestones will also offer Stella Artois Draught Beer and Milestones Original Bellini’s for $5. Also $5 off all bottles of wine. There are four appies, eight entrees and to desserts to choose from ranging in price from $5.40 to $17.25. Try the Classic Meatloaf Sliders, Thai Red Curry Chicken Bowl or Ganache Torte. Call 778-436-2308.
Two KPMG employees, Judith Charbonneau Kaplan and Jamie Schram, are partaking in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, a two day bike journey from Vancouver to Seattle at the end of August. To achieve their fundraising goals, they have organized a golf tournament with a super heroes theme on Friday, July 3, 4 p.m., at the Pinnacle. Registration is $65, which includes nine holes, barbecue and prizes. Register by contacting Jamie at mschram@kpmg.ca or Judith at jcharbonneaukaplan@kpmg.ca.
Club Wine Tours is hosting The Great Single Mingle Charity Event on July 18 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The dress code is Cowboys and Cowgirls. Cost is $100. Call 250-762-9951; info@clubwinetours.com.
Jason Scott and his Neil Diamond Tribute Show will perform Saturday, July 25, at the Royal Canadian Legion, 380 Bertram St. Includes dinner, dancing and the performance. Tickets $27 at the Legion office.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 70th Dennis Campbell, president, Rotary Club of Kelowna (June 25); Dr. Fred Froese (June 24); Al (Feener) Feenstra (June 24); Ken Kilcullen, Bell Media (June 25); Evans Premachuk (June 25); Bonita Kay Summers (June 25); Shelley Buchanan Gilmore, United Way (June 25); Daryl Hauer, Ramada Hotel (June 26); Greg Carter (June 26); Barb Vassilopoulos (June 26); David Prystay, Penticton Lakeside (June 27); Ed Makarenko (June 28); Sattu Mahapatra, GolfTec (June 30); Rick Maddison (June 30); in memory of Mel Kotler (June 24).
