Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: March 22/2006

Coming Soon...

This week’s column is dedicated to Laurie Andrews in conjunction with the opening of The Kelowna Golf and Country Club. Laurie passed away in December, but I thought it fitting to honour him at the beginning of golf season. Laurie was a member of the club for 28 years and had a special love for the game of golf. Through the years he played in several prestigious tournaments, including the Ogopogo, Kelowna Open and most recently senior events. I personally will miss Laurie’s smile and good nature. Certainly none of us will look as “polished” without Laurie’s special golf shoe care.

This new product is just beautiful. “Timeless Beauties” is a new home based business owned by Kelly Sweet who creates exquisite handcrafted jewelry from lampwork glass beads complimented by the finest of crystal and findings. She is an energetic young gal that knows fine products and uses her abilities to create beautiful bracelets, pendants, necklaces, earrings, lariats, key chains and even watches. Lampworking (hand blown beads) involves melting glass on a steel mandrel using a torch’s hot flame. The artist winds the molten glass around a mandrel until she achieves the desired size and style. Each lampworks art piece is one-of-a-kind with no two beads being identical. Kelly even uses some Swarovski crystals and Swarovski imitation pearls in her pieces. Custom orders will be taken. Call her at 769-6434 or email at info@timelessbeauties.ca. Her web-site is www.timelessbeauties.ca, but believe me, the pieces are even more beautiful seeing them in person than on the web.

Mahdinas Restaurant at Tutt Street Square has new owners. Derek Thompson of Divine Proportions Catering is the new chef/owner. The popular restaurant will now have a little more international flair with Derek adding some Asian and South-western finesse along with their already fashionable Mediterranean cuisine. They are open Wednesday to Friday for lunch; Tuesday to Saturday evenings and when weather permits, possibly in May, they will open their patio for lunches on Wednesday to Friday. Derek is open to exclusive private functions in the restaurant and will also still run his catering operation. Call 868-3389 or 212-7447 for reservations or check-out divineproportions.ca

Long-time Kelowna guy Terry Henderson is back at home from a short stint in Victoria and is working as a contractor sales representative for Ace Building Centre. Call him at 769-5737.

Wendy Falkowski will be the chair of the Special Olympics of British Columbia taking place in Kelowna in February 2007. Mel and Dina Kotler are the fund-raising chairs for this major event. The Kiwanis Clubs of Kelowna will be in charge of special events, awards and ceremonies and Rod Belinski has taken on the task of operations chair.

Another Blenz Coffee Shop has opened at 538 Yates Road in the new Sandalwood Plaza . The local franchise owner/operators are Larry and Verlie Martin. The Martins are not new to the valley as they have lived in Summerland and formerly Penticton for the past 15 years. The first Blenz opened on Pandosy Street and Okanagan Master Franchisee, David McDougall states that this is the first of another three anticipated new stores opening in the Okanagan in 2006. Founded in Vancouver , Blenz Coffee is a premier retailer of specialty coffees, teas and espresso and tea based beverages with 39 franchised locations in B.C. Call 717-3533 or just drop in and enjoy. They are open seven days a week.

Long-time local teacher Jack May received the B.C. High School Boys Basketball Association’s “Honorary Life Member Award” after 40 years of service to boys basketball both locally and provincially. Jack was one of the founding members of the Western Canada Boys Basketball Tournament held annually in Kelowna . He has been on countless committees locally and provincially and was president of B.C. Boys Basketball in 1976. He still remains an active Governor on the board to date.

Texas Holdem Poker is really “in vogue” and everyone seems to be playing. This is a neat story. Brian Kessler has been a player for some years and even enters International tournaments. He and his buddies played on anything, usually a table with a felt cover. Brian decided to build a proper poker table and it was a big hit. He then built one for all his buddies, who incidentally sold them on E-Bay and made nothing but money. Knowing success was in the works Brian decided to build the tables as a business. They are great. “Big slicK” Custom Made Texas Holdem Poker Tables are 4’x8’ with fold-out legs and of the highest quality. The look and feel is of a proper casino table and can be fully customized. You can choose your own colour and options, being ultrasuede (which is standard) in many colours, or choose Hold ‘Em Suited Poker Cloth which is the product that top of the line casinos in Vegas use. There are many vinyl options, which are used for the railing and optional features include rope lighting and cup holders. Brian can manufacture a table in two days if the materials are in stock or only up to one week if special products are ordered. All come with warranty. He’s even offered to give me lessons, which I am definitely going to take him up on. I’ve already started as I even found out what “have the nuts” means in poker. Call 863-4543.

Local band Stillwater has changed its name to “SteeleWater”. It was discovered that another band in the US is called Stillwater as well as one in Rocky Mountain House. They will be playing at The Minstrel Café on March 24 with a cover charge of $7. Call 764-2301 for reservations.

Businessman John Adam is the winner of Small Business B.C.’s 3^rd Annual Business Plan Contest. John produced an outstanding plan for his business www.okwingman.ca which offers affordable business system consulting and custom software services to small and medium Okanagan manufacturing and service businesses. More than 90 business plans were submitted in B.C. His plan was the only submission from outside the Vancouver area to win an award. Call 763-5179

Owing to illness, Dr. Barry C. McBride, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBC Okanagan will not be resuming his duties at the university. Dr. McBride initially went on medical leave in January, six months before his schedule retirement date in June. Dr. McBride played a major role in the vision and creation of UBC Okanagan. The selection committee for the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor has been actively engaged in recruiting an individual to assume the position effective July 1.

The Pushor Mitchell expansion on Ellis is well underway. Over the course of the next few weeks the steel columns and trusses are going up for both the 4^th and 5^th floors. As they work their way around the building, they will start to add the metal deck in preparation for the big pour of concrete. The general contractor is Graham Construction Ltd. and the steel is being supplied and installed by Warnaar Steel-Tech Ltd. The project is scheduled for completion in the latter part of 2006 and will incorporate many unique design features, including the demolition and build-out of the 4th floor, the addition of a new 5th floor boardroom and deck with an increase of 45% in overall space for the firm. Over the past 30 years, Pushor Mitchell has grown to 100 professionals, including 28 lawyers. The addition will include 14 more lawyer offices for future growth.

Congratulations to Sandi and David Walker (Kelowna Golf and Country Club) on the birth of their daughter Summer Jade Walker on March 16. Jordan Walker is the proud brother.

Had a nice chat with Bill Irvine, local territory manager of Labatt in Kelowna . Labatt has brought a new product to Canada from Brazil . “Brahma” the authentic beer of Brazil is now available in B.C. Brahma was created by Joseph Villiger in 1888, yes 1888. Ever since it has flowed throughout Brazil , adding to the energy, passion and creative spirit called “Ginga”. It’s a medium bodied beer with no after taste. It’s now available at Mickie’s Pub and the Short Stop Beer, Wine and Liquor Store in the Ramada Hotel and the BDL.

Thanks to Marilyn Forgie, Crystal Polley and Debbie Morey, three great gals at London Drugs for their exceptional service

There have been some exciting changes with Shelley Gilmore and her company Gilmore HR Strategies & Solutions Inc. Shelley is now the sole owner of the company and along with coaching and training has introduced a new entity in the world of HR consulting. “HR Audit and Assessments” and “HR Systems” is the creation of HR systems for new businesses as well as HR project support. They are a unique firm concentrating on the people side of business and possess a strong understanding of the bigger picture of how HR fits into the overall vision of business success. Call 860-8454. Shelley is also a director on the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Call 864-1153.

The Regional Board has appointed four Westside residents to the Westside Fire Advisory Committee. Joe Strocen, Joe Bauer, George Young and David Cousins will each serve a three year term through the end of 2008. All were former trustees of the Westside Fire Protection District. The Committee will advise the Regional Board on how fire protection issues might impact the Westside Fire Service Area.

The Kelowna SPCA will be holding a Collectable & Antique Auction on Saturday, March 25^th at the shelter at 3785 Casorso Road . Doors open at 6pm and biding begins at 7pm. Many of the items are being showcased in the shelter lobby until auction day. Come on down and “bark out” your bid. Call Dianne McKeown at 861-7722 for more info.

Okanagan Branch, Canadian Authors Association is hosting a workshop and information session “What is On-Demand Printing and Publishing?” on Saturday, March 25 from 1-4pm at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Representatives from two on-demand printing and publishing firms will explain the world of self-publishing. Call 860-2022 or www.caaokanaganwriters.org for info and fees.

L.A. Weight Loss Update – Well, in maintenance I now get “two” dairy products. That means I can have some additional cheese or yogurt. I always used my one dairy for milk in my coffee. Tried it black, but it just didn’t cut it for me. I decided to buy a new scale for home. Not that I weighed at home during my weight loss – L.A. likes to see you several times per week, but I needed one anyway (mine was 25 years old). I picked up the neatest one at London Drugs. They have a wide selection and wow, have they changed. I got a Taylor Electronic Scale which weighs to the accuracy of .2 pounds, has a slim profile, only one inch thick, and has a non slip mat. It has a Lithium battery and “very large” digital numbers. No excuse not to keep those pounds off, although I go into L.A. two times per week anyway. That’s the good thing about this program. They are just as intent about seeing you in stabilization and maintenance as they are during your weight loss. All are important! I don’t want to be put on a “bigger” bus next year!

Quote of the week – It is the follow through that makes the great difference between ultimate success and failure, because it is so easy to stop.

Birthday of the week:
- Jim Ross, Byers Transport (Mar.23)
- Ron Evans, retired CHBC-TV president (March 22)
- Bob Trodden, owner Green Trailer Repair (March 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 Business)