Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: May 19/2004

A great new bistro has opened in town. “Bouchons,” a Classic French Bistro has opened at #105-1180 Sunset Drive with all the charm of a typical bistro in France . Owned and operated by managing partners Richard Toussaint and Martine Lefèbvre (who opened and ran the Burrowing Owl restaurant last year and owned Café de Paris in Vancouver for nine years) and Chef André Bernier, the bistro has an inviting atmosphere with 50 seats inside and a delightful patio outside. The menu is extensive, from entrees served with their famous “pommes frites” (Belgian style fries) to a personally picked three course menu, all with reasonable prices. I tried the lamb and it was exceptional. Hours are seven days a week for dinner only. Call 763-6595.

From under-garments to over-garments, former Canadelle sales rep Dennis MacLeod has started a new venture. Canadelle is a distributor of women’s under-garments and we called Dennis “the bra man”. Under the company name “Turnin’ Heads” he’s the new Canadian distributor of men’s and ladies bright Brazilian clothing, importing jeans (bell bottoms are back), short tops, (some partly shoulder-less) zippered skirts, dresses, shirts, Capri pants and something that’s really hot right now, sleeveless stretch denim one piece “cat suits”. The fashions are only available at Christy and Ryan Marshall’s Trendz Clothing in Orchard Park .

Well-known jeweller Diane Lazauskas has started her own business. Former long-time Mappins Jewellers manager and award winning designer, she has started her company under “Diane’s Jewellery Designs.” She is extremely talented and has won numerous designing awards including Best Canadian Designer and Best Overall Designer. I’ve seen her pieces and they are fabulous. In her new business she incorporates jewellery repairs and design ideas and creations for any occasions. Call 861-4335, 864-1715 or e-mail gold22kt@telus.net.

Sharon Hughes-Geekie, formerly of the Women’s Enterprise Centre is the new executive director of the Okanagan Symphony Society.

Things are really rolling for Ed Hall, David Kornell and Tim Kornell. Their 163 suite retirement residence “Sandalwood” on Glenmore and Yates is almost fully rented and construction of their new 175 suite residence “Missionwood” at Gordon and Barnes is underway. There’s more news. Jeannie Bird, general manager of Sandalwood will be relocating to the new Missionwood complex as director of marketing and former Coast Capri Hotel general manager Paul van Drunen is replacing Jeannie as the new general manager of Sandalwood. Both Jeannie and Paul have extensive backgrounds in their fields. The 137 suite residence “Westwood” in Westbank is slated for construction in about two years.

Vern Nielsen’s Federal Liberal Campaign Office has opened at #103–1990 Cooper Road . Drop in if you’d like to volunteer or just for a coffee and chat. Call 868-2181.

After 29 years RCMP Superintendent Sam MacLeod District Officer of the S. E. District has retired and is moving on to work for the Provincial Government Police Service in Victoria as an associate director, Police Services Division.

On May 25^th Helen Yu will join the firm of Petraroia Langford Edwards & Rush. Helen is relocating from Vancouver and will specialize exclusively in registered patent trademark copyright with Tony Edwards. The firm is located at 800-1708 Dolphin Avenue .

Before you buy or sell any furnishings, there’s at option. Glo McKinnon’s, “Furniture Heaven Consignment Shoppe” has relocated their 1,000 sq. ft. store from West Avenue to new 4,200 sq.ft. premises at 435 Banks Road . If you’re moving, renovating, redecorating, building or storing, they can help you. They specialize in the consignment of top quality, upscale, gently-used home décor, furniture and accessories. Call 762-2231. www.furnitureheaven.net

Mekong Restaurant at 1030 Harvey Avenue is celebrating 17 years in business and still going strong. Owned and operated by Wanda and Dan Truong they are showing their appreciation to their customers by offering a trip for two to Victoria , including flights and two night’s accommodation. Everyone that comes in during the anniversary month of May can enter the draw. Mekong serves traditional Chinese Szechwan cuisine.

Wood Communications Ltd. have moved, but just a couple of doors down from 1750 Springfield Road to 1744 Springfield Road . Now double in retail and service area size, Marj and Don Wood have owned the business for more than 25 years. With a staff of seven and a TELUS Mobility dealer, they offer a wide range of products and services including cell phones, two way direct mike phones, a full line up of car immobilizers, alarm systems and much more in wireless communications. Call 860-9875.

Don Tansem and Lee Potestio of the well-established company Falcon Welding Products in Kamloops have opened a second location in Kelowna at 103-190 Mills Road . It’s a neat story as Don had a welding shop in Kelowna 10 years ago located at the other end of the building he is in now. Both local manager Shawn Barker and outside sales rep of the new Kelowna shop, Gary Leach also worked for Don ten yeas ago (déjá vu). Falcon retails all types of welding products, supplies helium, oxygen and acetylene, sells cylinders and even fills customer owned cylinders. They supply such brand name products as Lincoln, Miller and ESAB.

Senior airport operations specialist, Steve Bauer has retired from the airport after 28 years. Steve started out as an aircraft firefighter, then his duties were adjusted to airport operations specialist. He’s going to fish, hunt, and putt around the house and garden.

Congratulations to dentist, Dr. Tom Martin and Kate Whyte on their recent marriage.

If you’re craving a salad and haven’t been into Arby’s on Harvey to try their new Market Fresh Salads, you’re missing out. There are three new delicious salads, all served on spring mixed greens. The Sante Fe has Arby’s chopped chicken fingers, roasted corn and black bean mix, grape tomatoes, red onions, shredded pepper jack and cheddar cheeses with Santa Fe ranch dressing. Martha’s Vineyard features diced grilled chicken, fresh cut-apples, dried cranberries, grape tomatoes, shredded cheese and sliced almonds with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The Asian Sesame has diced grilled chicken, mandarin orange slices, red cabbage, shredded carrots and sliced almonds with Asian sesame dressing. I tried the Sante Fe and it was great. Along with their great prices the salads are large enough to fill you up and that’s important.

Sharon Whiting of “Accurate-Timesaving-Mobile ATM Bookkeeping Service” is leaving Kelowna and moving to Gibson’s B.C. It’s a great move as Sharon and her sweetheart Reg have been driving over the Coquihalla/Connector for the past 2-1/2 years. This will make their life a whole lot simpler. Joe Maciel Inc., a C.A. in Westbank has taken over Sharon ’s clients. Call 768-0644.

Lots happening at Interior Savings Credit Union. Not only did Elmer Epp get re-elected as chair of the board of directors, the company recently donated $65,000 from their $1 Million Development Fund to the Okanagan Scouts to help restore the organization’s scenic Camp Dunlop on Lakeshore Road , which suffered serious damage in the fires. The funds will be used to remove dangerous trees, replant the campsite and wilderness areas, rebuild destroyed bridges and outbuildings and create an education program for the community. By the way, if you happened to receive Interior Savings Annual Report 2003, there was a big surprise on the cover for me. There in all its glory was a picture of me and one of the Army’s Commander’s when I took chocolate chip cookies to them when they were based at the Apple Bowl during the fire. It’s the first time I’ve been on an annual report. That will certainly go into my scrap-book!

If you’re looking up “waaaay up” on Thursday morning and see the RE/MAX balloon and some blonde waiving at you, guess what – it will be me. I’ve been invited to go up in the famous RE/MAX balloon for Memorial Cup. I’m thrilled. Thanks RE/MAX Kelowna and Rick Baker.

Like them or dislike them, tattoo’s are in. The realm of tattooing and body art generally has a mystical sense. Striking tattoos or piercings evoke emotional reactions as they reflect personal identification and cultural beliefs. “Only Skin Deep” welcomes local tattoo artist Luke Lautard of Temptation Tattoos ( Leon Avenue ) on Saturday, May 22^nd from 11am-3pm at the Kelowna Museum at 470 Queensway Avenue . Luke will discuss the modern art of tattooing and piercing and perform tattooing LIVE! If you’d like to satisfy your curiosity or learn more about tattooing drop down. Admission by donation. Call 763-2417 for more info.

Congratulations to Sarah (Ramada Lodge Hotel) and Mark Warren (Kelowna Tune-Up) on the birth of their son Devin Ruhle on April 30.

The “Hire a Student” office is open for business at 471 Queensway Avenue . Hours are 9am-4:30pm Monday to Friday. The team hopes to better their 2003 job postings of over 1,300 jobs for students. The centre provides no charge service postings of full and part-time jobs and coordinates a casual labour program. It’s a great way for home owners and businesses to get extra help throughout the summer. Call 762-5627

Congratulations to Kelly Taylor of Taylor ’d Events Ltd. and hubby Stuart Taylor on the birth of their daughter Shae Victoria on May 8.

HSBC on Cooper Road ( Orchard Plaza ) is having a special event to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital on Friday, May 28 from 11am-2pm . The main feature will be a flush tank with six Kelowna Firefighters on site along with HSBC-VP Tim Lawler, branch manager Cheryl Macdonald and other HSBC personnel. They are ready and willing to get flushed to raise funds for the kids. Drop in, buy a hot dog and join in the fun! Call Cheryl Wutke at 712-6707 for more info.

It’s the time of year that everyone loves – golf season! Beginning next week, well-known golf professionals Dan Matheson of The Okanagan Golf Club and Peter Hopley of Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club will again this year alternately present their “Golf Tip of the Week”. They’ll explain rules of the game, what we should do, what we shouldn’t do, tell us about new equipment, and everything in-between to help keep us on track. Dan will start off next week, so stay tuned.

Quote of the week – The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong questions. (Peter Drucker)

Birthday of the week – Penny Shantz-Henderson, manager, Scotiabank (May 23)

Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 979-4546, fax 860-3173, E-mail maxdehart@telus.net and web-site www.welcometokelowna.com (click on morning coffee or media)