Today’s column is dedicated to Alex Hunt, who passed away Jan. 6 at age 94. Alex was a member of Mickie’s golf league and played regularly until his 92nd birthday. He gave everyone in the league a run for their money and enjoyed the game and the camaraderie. I will miss our great conversations. My personal condolences to Frances, his family and many friends.
Tom Harris Cellular has acquired long-time Western Canada business TAC Mobility, sold by Mort and Sue Downey.
With this new acquisition, Tom Harris Cellular will become the largest authorized Telus dealer in Canada, with more than 50 years of combined experience in wireless communications. The expanded company will have more than 300 employees and operate 48 stores across B.C. and Alberta. More store openings and training facilities are planned for 2012. As part of the growth strategy, Tom Harris Cellular will place added emphasis on servicing the small and medium business market, which has grown consistently for the company over the past 20 years. Tom Harris Cellular is a privately held company which began offering wireless service in 1987 in Nanaimo and Victoria, offering a wide product line of smart phones, cell phones, tablets, Telus HD Optik TV and high speed Internet services. Thomas W. Harris is the president and CEO of the company. Locally, Tom Harris Cellular locations are 2447 Highway 97 (Banks Centre), call 250-861-8448; Mission Park Shopping Centre, call 250-717-8848; and #36-2475 Dobbin Rd. in West Kelowna, call 250-768-8843.
The purchase was only for the cellular assets.
The two-way radio portion is still active with TAC Mobility, now to be called TAC Solutions, based out of Calgary with branch facilities in Kelowna and Lethbridge.
After 20 years with the Ironworkers as a journeyman ironworker and welder, Wayne Donecz has decided to branch out on his own. Donecz has started a new business and gallery called Iron Dragonfly Ltd. During his spare time, Donecz began creating pieces of metal art for family and friends, which prompted the idea of having his own gallery where he could transform his ideas into steel sculptures. He says working with steel offers him the flexibility to create unique pieces for the home, garden or office. Whether your taste is classic wrought iron, railings, custom gates, furniture, ornamental sculptures or hammered metal art sculptures, Donecz does it all, including commissioned pieces in any size. He is a new age journeyman ironworker, forging ideas into steel. Some of his artwork is displayed at Bones and Stones Décor, owned by Sandy McKay, at 427 Lawrence Ave. Call Wayne Donecz at 250-307-3360; irondragonflyltd@gmail.com or www.irondragonflyltd.com.
Zia’s Italian Fine Foods has opened at 1913 Kent Rd. The deli/market, owned and operated by Paola Turner, specializes in a good selection of high quality authentic Italian foods of deli meats, dry pastas and sauces. The shop also carries a complete line of organic foods and gluten free pasta’s. Lunch services include homemade sandwiches and soup. You can even get lasagna to go. Eat in at one of their tables or eating bar or take out Monday to Saturday. Call 250-763-0140.
The Crispy Coyote Grill (formerly Kettle Valley Grill) at 100-5305 Main St., has been resurrected in Kettle Valley. New owner/chef Dennis Lowen has updated and renovated the restaurant, transforming it into a casual, family friendly, hearty, home cooking place to gather and meet with friends. Some of the menu items include pear and brie stuffed chicken breast, filet and prawns, buttermilk marinated calamari and Dungeness crab cakes and his cooking is sensitive to gluten allergies. The new restaurant also offers a three course wine and dine menu from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10 and is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch seven days a week. Also watch for date night, partnered with Little Owl Academy for safe and fun child care for the evening of Jan. 14 and Feb. 11. To reserve for date night call 778-477-5665.
Chartered accountant Robert (Bob) Hussey and his team at R.A. Hussey & Associates Inc. Chartered Accounts has joined the MacKay LLP office at 500-1620 Dickson Rd. With this addition, the MacKay Kelowna office will consist of 62 team members including specialists for income tax, audit and accounting, HST, estate planning, U.S. taxation, succession planning, business purchases and sales and serving those in the medical profession. Murray Bye is the CEO of MacKay LLP. Call 250-763-5021.
Congratulations to Shannon Lloyd, of MacKay LLP, on successfully passing the 2011 Uniform Evaluation for Chartered Accountants.
Shawanda Rocks, Crystal & Gems—Holistic Wellness Centre has opened at 177 Rutland Rd. N with the grand opening taking place next week. The retail space offers rocks, crystals and gems and the wellness center will be cooperatively shared by holistic practitioners. Owner Terry Harper is a Reiki practitioner and partner, Holly Wanlin offers vibration therapy and quantum healing as well as being a meditation strategist. Both are PSYCH-K facilitators. Wanline also operates the retail store front, which has community space for seminars, meetings, adult and child workshops and book groups. Contact shawandawellness@hotmail.com.
Certified balancing touch reflexologist Kim Girard, who operates Sole Reflection Reflexology, has moved to new premises at 3654 Hoskins Rd. in West Kelowna. Girard is a member of the Reflexology Association of B.C. and is also a personal trainer. Call 250-215-2188; www.solereflection.com.
Vineyard Networks, a local leader in network intelligence and deep packet inspection solutions, has received the prestigious Red Herring Global 100 Award recognizing the year’s most promising private ventures around the world. Vineyard was the only Canadian company to be listed as one of this year’s winners and are now included in the esteemed list of past winners including Google, Skype and YouTube.
The Hildebrand Sculpture Gallery, located at 1302 St.Paul St. (second floor), is planning a number of shows and lectures for the coming year, starting with a “Little People” exhibit by Frist Nations artists Graham Pettman in April. Starting this week, the gallery is now open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artist Jock Hildebrand is in house on Wednesday afternoons. Mondays and Fridays the building is generally open during business hours and you can check with reception to view the gallery. Saturdays and Sundays are by appointment only. Call 250-470-9586
The Kelowna Hotel Motel Association is establishing an annual bursary called The Kelowna Hotel Motel Association Hospitality Award. It will provide a $1,000 bursary for Okanagan College students enrolled in the second year of the hospitality tourism management (diploma or degree) course at the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College. Selection of the award recipient will be based on a combination of academic achievement and financial need and will be made by the association’s bursary committee, which will review all applications submitted. The award will be presented to the successful recipient at the Okanagan College Awards event. For more information and criteria e-mail Stan Martindale (Ramada Hotel) at stan@rpbhotels.com
The 18th annual Wendy’s Dreamlift Day is Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 6 a.m. to closing. All proceeds from the day’s sales in the dining room and drive-thru, as well as staff, management and owner’s wages will be earmarked for the next B.C. Interior Dreamlift to Disneyland. Local celebrities and dignitaries will be on hand along with members of the RCMP, B.C. Ambulance Services personnel and others to help fill yours orders. As in past years, Wendy’s is also hosting five Orange County (California) Sheriff’s department members along with Marilyn MacDougall and Kim Magdaleno from the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council for the 2012 Wendy’s Dreamlift Day. I will be at the Harvey Avenue Wendy’s over lunch and at the Rutland location during the dinner hour. See you there.
Huge thanks to two employees with The Bay, Angela Edstrom in the jewelery department, and Dalton Stark in watch repair for their exceptional customer service.
If you are looking for a different children’s birthday party, check out Cupcasions birthdays for kids. They offer different venues that start at $99 for a party of eight children called “Bakecasion”. Call Janet McKenzie at 250-860-3690 to find out more.
Birthdays of the week: Lynda Gibbs, Phoenix, Ariz. (Jan. 9); Nick Kardynal, my second dad (Jan. 11); Mort Downey, TAC Solutions (Jan.12); John Estephan (Jan. 10); Mary Anne Livingston (Jan.13); Ron Pidskalny (Jan. 14); Gerry Ellchuck (Jan. 16); Dina Kotler (Jan. 17); Joyce Prowse (Jan. 17); Fred MacKinnon (Jan. 18).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, fax 250-860-3173, email maxdehart@telus.net.
