A new Swiss Chalet Restaurant will open in West Kelowna on Monday, July 30.
Franchise owners Maurice Baker and his son-in-law Dallas James, with help from their wives Lois Baker and Deena James, have located the restaurant in the Westbank Hub North Centre at 2115 Louie Dr. (across from Walmart in the CIBC Bank parking lot). The restaurant will be about the same size as the former Swiss Chalet location on Harvey Avenue in Kelowna, with the same great food but with a brand new concept and a fresh new look. There will be seating for 135 diners inside and 20 on their outdoor patio along with a takeout/pickup and delivery service. To order see www.swisschalet.com. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
Just a note to let everyone know that I will not be writing my column for the next few weeks. I took a tumble some time ago and am having major right shoulder surgery today (July 26). I will be in a sling for about six weeks. Although I am pretty upset about the surgery, you have to do what you have to do! As soon as I get settled I will be able to dictate the column as the Capital News has generously given me help with the typing. I might just get used to that (ha!). Hopefully, my column will return sometime in mid-August, depending how things go with the surgery. Keep sending your information to me and make sure there is a phone number attached as I’ll still be able to talk. Contact me at maxdehart@telus.net; 250-862-7662 (cell) or 250-764-4486 (home) during my post-surgery recovery. As always, thanks for your continued support.
Ronic and Annie Kwong’s Wok Inn, at 183 Highway 33 East, is now licensed for beer and wine. You can enjoy the popular Tsingtao Chinese beer with your meal if you wish. The Wok Inn food is fantastic, serving Cantonese, Peking and Szechuan Cuisine with zero trans-fat and no hydrogenated oil. Delivery is free with a minimum $30 order within five km and 10 per cent discount is given on cash pick-up orders over $30. Call 250-765-8829.
Well-known Okanagan based financial company Wealthlink Financial Services has relocated its offices down the hall from their present location in the Towne Centre Mall, to 110-565 Bernard Ave. The completely renovated space is larger and brighter, offering a new reception area, larger work stations for the staff, a boardroom and management offices. The management team of Terry Wardrop, Gary Wardrop and Mike Mervyn along with their marketing assistant staff offer expanded financial services, including all national insurance carriers. Through their network of financial advisors, the firm provides a vast array of financial products and services such as estate planning, asset management and preservation, corporate financial planning, segregated funds, life, disability, critical illness insurance, RRSPs and employee benefit plans. Call 250-762-2421; www.wealthlinkfinancial.ca.
In Style Home Décor, at 33 Banks Rd., owned by Mona Mueller, has changed its name to Santa Fe Furniture and Home Décor, specializing in rustic Mexican South-West furniture and accessories. Open seven days a week. Call 778-478-0676.
From Vancouver, Chris Wiebe, partner at Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, located at 800-1708 Dolphin Ave., has relocated to the Kelowna office. His practice focuses on areas of labour and employment law and general litigation. Call 250-869-3879; cwiebe@farris.com.
Mavazi Apparel has opened at 12-565 Bernard Ave. (front of Towne Centre Mall). Owned and operated by Amanda Zais with Sara Boake as manager, this unique trendy affordable women’s fashion store has a little bit of everything. The store was recommended to me, as the hospital nurse told me that after my shoulder surgery, I would not be able to wear anything in my closet. That was a shock. So, with a suggestion from a friend and short of wearing my husband’s largest T-shirt over my sling, I went searching for some summer dresses with no straps that I could easily slip on, not disturbing my arm in the sling. Try doing that in a day! Mavazi had a nice selection of summer attire and I found just what I was looking for; one long and one short summer dress and also another top that would go over capris if it got chilly. Both Amanda and Sara were extremely willing to help me out when they realized what I was looking for and why. The best part, they are very reasonably priced and get new arrivals weekly. Open seven days a week.
What do you do with 16,000 (yes, 16,000) garlic bulbs? Last year, Okanagan Garlic Farm grew 4,500 garlic bulbs and over a six week span at the Kelowna Farmer’s Market, starting in late August, they sold out of all their varieties of garlic, including Porcelain Hardneck (six to eight large cloves per bulk); Purple Stripe (six to 10 medium cloves) and Italian Softneck (12 to18 medium and small cloves). This year, they grew 16,000 garlic bulbs and the first to be dried and available at the market, four weeks ahead of last year is Music and Persian Star followed by Russian Red. Bill Campbell is the owner/operator of the Okanagan Garlic Farm. Call 250-808-7034.
Formerly with the Okanagan Film Commission, Ashley Ramsay is the new community manager of Accelerate Okanagan.
The new Mission Liquor Store, located at 3195 Lakeshore Rd. (former Rogers Video), is now open. The store, owned by Dennis Graham and the Heartland Group, has an extensive selection of local and international wines, beers and spirits, plus a special section of high-end wines and single bottle and single can craft beers. At the tasting bar, there is an Enomatic dispenser from Italy that will hold four wines and keep them open, but totally fresh for continued tasting using nitrogen-driven technology. Dora Vetsch, formerly of the Vernon Square liquor store, is the manager and Debbie Parker, formerly of Diageo Canada, is the assistant manager. Call 778-484-5144 Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Josie Tyabji, of Constellation Brands (Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Sumac Ridge), has been re-elected chair of the B.C. Wine Institute for 2012-13. Joining her on the board are Ingo Grady (Mission Hill); Shaun Everest (Tinhorn Creek); Bill Eggert (Fairview Cellars); Greg Berti (Andrew Peller); Chris Wyse (Burrowing Owl); Bob Johnson (Baillie-Grohman) and Manfred Freese, Sun Ridge Vineyards (B.C. Grape Growers Assoc.). The Institute represents 129 wineries that administer the VQA quality designation program.
Beach Ride Rental Co. is located at the intersection of 13th and Beach, across from Bliss Bakery in Peachland. Owned and Operated by Jan and Rainer Udala, the company rents Italian canopy pedal bikes, California cruisers, beach cruisers, pedal boats and a Pedilac. New to the Beach Ride Co. is the “Streetstepper” which is a first in Canada from Germany. The company rents them out and is the official distributor in Canada for Streetstepper. The benefits of streetstepping—exercises the body’s strongest muscles (legs and buttocks); the upright position used on the Streetstepper is particularly beneficial for the spinal column; easy on wrists as they do not have to support any body weight; gentle movement is low impact and makes no demands on your joints. Call 250-503-8286 or peachlandbeachrentals.com.
Happy 50th anniversary to Vern and Verna Burnell (July 28).
The site www.kelownavendors.com is designed to promote local vendors. There are over 125 vendors listed on the site and more being added daily with everything from mini donuts to magicians. The vendors are divided into six categories: Snacks and Treats, Meals and More, Artisans and Crafts, Farm and Garden and Equipment and Entertainment. The vendors are all based across the Okanagan Valley. The goal is to have one central location where event planners and the public can locate the vendors. Michael Burke is the site promoter.
Grant Fletcher introduced Bike Adventure III back in May, with his charity bicycle ride in aid of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It entails a solo ride around Okanagan Lake. He will be attempting to complete the riding distance of over 300 km in one day on Aug. 11. The route is outlined on the JDRF website. Fletcher’s one day of 300 km equates to the approximately 300 insulin injections and finger pricks to test blood sugar levels that a juvenile diabetic endures each month to stay alive. A few have suggested to Fletcher that a one day solo ride of this length is lunacy, but he is continuing on. You can help him by donating to Ogopogo Ride for the Cure online at jdrfca.donordrive.com—click on “OTHER” scroll down to Ogopogo Ride for the Cure (second last) and you have found him.
Local singing artist Gorden James was selected one of only 30 artists from across Canada to participate in CMT Canada’s Big in a Small Town—a talent competition that will see artists from six regions compete for the top prize: An exclusive artist agreement with Slight Music Inc.; production of two music videos funded by CMT Canada; an opening spot on the CMT Canada Tour and a chance to present the Video of the Year Award at the 2012 Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Saskatoon. This show will mean national exposure for James, airing Aug. 23 with a huge viewing party at The Okanagan Golf Club. For info gord@gordenjames.com. Call 250-215-3636.
A perfect way to show appreciation to a loved one, co-worker or friend is to support the Kelowna Lioness Rose Sale, with proceeds going to local charities. The roses are only $14 per dozen including delivery within the Kelowna city area. Delivery dates are Aug. 9, 16 and 23. Call Dinah Batke at 250-317-0667 or dinahlbatke@gmail.com or any of the Kelowna Lioness ladies you might know.
The Kelowna Community Theatre will feature Rann Berry and the One Hit Wonders on Friday, Aug. 10, with an eight-piece show band and special guest Diamond Jones. These show features the songs you forgot you love. Tickets at selectyourtickets.com or charge by phone at 250-762-5050.
The Okanagan Lake Shopping Centre, on Highway 97 and Westside Road in West Kelowna, will host its grand opening Aug. 11, from noon to 4 p.m., to celebrate the retailers there that are now open. There will be lots of giveaways, draws, makeovers and native dancers. Holly Summer, pharmacist/owner of the new Shoppers Drug Mart, invites all her past customers to come over and visit. The drug store will provide a free cholesterol screening clinic that day as well.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 80th Helen Kleyn, our neighbour (July 30); Gladys Fraser, Scotiabank (July 26); Don Turri (July 26); Tom Light (July 27); Al Horning, (July 27); Iris Bodner (July 28); Kim Calloway, Q103 (July 30); Ray Keen (Aug. 1); Dave Roseberry (Aug. 2); John Gilbert (Aug. 2); Steve Francis (Aug. 2); and it’s my birthday on Aug. 6 (my birthday present is the surgery, but I would rather have jewelry—Ha!).
