Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: March 29/2006

Coming Soon...

What’s happening at the old Wal-Mart site in Orchard Park Shopping Centre? Here’s the scoop! It’s the news that everyone’s been waiting for and Norbert Gelowitz, general manager of Orchard Park is ecstatic to tell us all about it. The $22 million redevelopment with 30,000 more square feet, making 130,000 square feet of retail space will make Orchard Park the Interior’s largest shopping destination. There will be 20 new retailers taking over the space. And the biggest news! Already signed and sealed is Sports Chek (now by Sears Home ) taking over 43,000 square feet. The additional six retailers are Tommy Helfiger, Urban Behavior (clothing); Costa Blanca (clothing); RW & Co. (clothing); Rip Curl (clothing) and a full AVEDA Salon and Spa. All are high end and well known for their individual products. The remaining 13 retailers will be announced shortly. The building will have a new facade with a brand new entrance to the building on that side. It is expected to be completed by November, just in time for holiday shopping. All and all, lots more shopping variety for us.

Sharon Williams former sales manager of the Thompson Okanagan Tourist Association (TOTA) is the new sales manager of meetings and conventions of Tourism Kelowna effective April 3. Jennifer Horsnell, sales manager of meetings and conventions is on maternity leave with Tourism Kelowna.

Bounty Cellars, Kelowna ’s newest commercial winery is thinking “outside the barrel” and has released two exceptional wines. Their new 2004 Similkameen Chardonnay has generous aromas of warm baked apple framed with a hint of soft buttery oak. Partial barrel and tank fermentation guide this Chardonnay achieving balance between the fresh apple notes and soft butterscotch. The second release, 2003 Osoyoos Lake Merlot has aromas that leap from your glass with dark berry and cherry notes, woven with rich chocolate; all rolling together into a bold full finish. The wine was barrel aged in medium toasted American oak for two years, lending to the subtle spice and gorgeous silkiness. Bounty Cellars also specializes in designing and creating private labels for their clients, which has been very successful since the winery's inception. Each client orders from their available vintages and then their label is customized in consultation to create a unique and memorable label. The ones I’ve seen are beautiful. The wines are available at Waterfront Wines, Brandt’s Creek Liquor Store and Liquids Liquor Store on Gordon. Only a few hundred cases of each of the new wines are available. Ron Pennington is the president of the winery; Alan Marks the senior winemaker and Wendy Wright the director of sales and marketing. Call 765-9200, ext. 102 to order or for private labeling.

We now know spring is definitely here. The popular Kelowna Farmer’s Market on Springfield and Dilworth will open on April 1^st. The market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 8am -1pm. Bob Callioux is the market manager.

Lots of news from Mongo’s Grill at 366 Bernard Avenue . Primary owner Stan McLeod has acquired a new business partner and owner, Eric Brown who hails from Northern Ontario . Eric is overseeing the front of the house. Edan Fay is the well-known executive chef and has recently introduced lunch to Mongo’s from Tuesday to Friday, 11:30 –2pm. Along with their famous grill which is offered at lunch, Edan has a tempting new menu with items such as maple ham; poached pear Swiss cheese panini with frites (not fries) or mango greens; a cilantro lime crab cake salad or Edan’s special penne ricotta primavera. All sound superb. A new patio is in the works and a new spring and summer dinner menu will be launched at the beginning of April. Barb Fay, Edan’s wife is Mongo’s marketing consultant. Call 860-9004

The completion of the outside renovations of the new building on Bernard Avenue (old Royal Bank building) is beautiful. The new facade of the building is a Heritage/Tuscany style, completely bricked. Worman Homes was the general contractor. The new owners of the building, The Lodging Company, are an internet wholesale accommodation company which does business throughout North America . They have 30 people on staff now and in their high season employ 50-60 people. They will be moving into the new building on March 31^st and are taking the whole second floor of 8,000 square feet. The first floor is still up for lease. For more info

on leasing call Dick at 864-3765. For The Lodging Company call 979-3939.

It’s that time of year when all of a sudden we are starting walking, hiking, golfing and playing all kinds of sports, getting ready for the spring and summer fun. What we might have forgotten is that some of us have not exercised regularly over the winter and wow, do we ever feel it when we start using our muscles. One great idea is to get a little strength and conditioning into our body and I know just the person that can help. Chris Collins, M.Sc. CSCS of Okanagan Peak Performance has been a certified strength and conditioning specialist for many years. He can work with you to get your joints that were restricted and painful to become totally functional and pain-free. It’s all about flexibility and unrestricted range of motion and being able to do the things we love without muscle pain, whether we are athletic or not. I guess from the above you have gathered than I started my walking again and had a lot of muscle pain the next day. I could hardly get up the stairs (ha!). It’s all about getting into shape. By the way, if he can get Chris DeHart and Kelowna Rocket’s guy Gavin Hamilton into shape, he can help anyone. Call Chris for an appointment at 212-2972 or chris@okanaganpeakperformance.com or check-out www.okanaganpeakperformance.com. A little pain for a lot of gain!

Lisa L. Laing, investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy will chair this year’s World of Choices event hosted by Junior Achievement of B.C. The World of Choices Day provides young women in Grades 11 and 12 with an incredible opportunity to meet, interact and learn from some of the most influential professional women in our community. The event is on November 4^th and will be held on campus at UBC-O. For more info call Beth Veenkamp at 765-2637 (beth.veenkamp@jabc.org) or Lisa at 717-2610 (lisa.laing@cibc.ca).

This is the neatest business and really unique. “Design Details” (Custom Wall Décor) is a wall writing business. It’s the brain child of Christine McIntyre and Lynda Mooney and is the culmination of many years in the art and business world. Christine is an artist who has spent many years designing and painting wall coverings and other home décor items, while Lynda comes from an entrepreneurial background. The Design Details concept is to assist people in personalizing their space further with a variety of professionally hand painted treatments including wall murals, words, standing screens, hanging canvases, children’s décor, Venetian plaster and glazing. Any wall or floor, inside or out, can be a canvas. This is a wonderful way to turn almost any space into a truly personal statement, whether residential or commercial. You can make up your own saying or they will help you out. It’s an up and coming design. Their latest endeavor was a Wine Country map on the wall of the new Berezan Liquor Store on Highway 33 (across from Plaza 33). Call Christine at 862-2644 or Lynda 861-1805 or check-out www.udecorate.com/products/wall-art

TD Canada Trust is the Title Sponsor for the “First Annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day” on Sunday, June 11 that will celebrate healthy living and is designed to help kids and families embrace healthy habits that can become a life-long practice. Call Suann Brown at 765-5916, ext. 224 for more info or sbrown@ymca-ywca.com

Big thanks to Craig Canning for helping me out with a ride when I was stranded last week.

Two well-known businesses in town are celebrating their one year anniversary. Valerie Klohn’s popular Beehive Bistro at 573 Lawrence Avenue serves breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. They have a large selection of breakfast items, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, quiche and wraps, along with homemade desserts. Anne England has been the Beehive’s chef since last September. Call 762-7454

Dinner Solutions at 3013 owned and operated by Jeanette and Terry La Londe (with sons Chris and Troy ) is also celebrating one year in business and their new concept is doing well. It’s just as it sounds – solutions for dinner. Each month they prepare 14 different menu selections to choose from. The customer selects six to 12 meals and either picks them up, has them delivered or books a session to prepare your own meals – its your choice. They do all the dicing and slicing if you prepare yourself – all you have to do is assemble into freezer bags which are labeled and take them home. Voila, you have dinner every night. It’s great for seniors, singles who do not want to cook or even packing the motor home. Call 860-3555.

Just a note to say how pleased I am to have been asked by director and house chair Shirley Fritsch to sit on the “house committee” of the Kelowna Golf and Country Club. It’s going to be a great committee and a real learning experience. Other committee members this year are Don Pettman (co-chair), David Walker, Keith Recsky, Barry Davidson and Linda Mitchell. All top notch members.

Pierre Duguay, Deputy Governor of he Bank of Canada will give a lecture on The Conduct of Monetary Policy and the Canadian Economy on Tuesday, April 4 at Okanagan College ’s Kelowna Campus. The lecture is sponsored by the Okanagan School of Business and is open to the public at 6:30pm in the Lecture Theatre. There is no charge. Call 862-5610 for more info.

The official opening of the new Justice Institute of B.C. Okanagan Campus was on March 3. The 8,000 square foot facility located on Walrod Road in the former L’Anse-au-sable elementary school allows the Justice Institute to consolidate delivery of its justice and public safety programs at a single location and provide Okanagan residents with convenient access to its renowned programs. The Justice Institute is a leading international post-secondary institution for those pursuing careers in criminal and social justice, public safety and human services.

Happy 50^th Anniversary Hubert and Angeline Alsano (March 31).

The Westbank Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Table Top Business Expo at the Westbank Holiday Inn on April 6 from 4-8pm. The event is open to the public and admission is by donation. Proceeds are going towards the purchase of Main Street Christmas Lights. The Okanagan Home Business Association is combining its regular meeting with the Business Expo and will feature a booth. Call 768-3378 for more info.

Happy 34^th Anniversary Phyllis and Con Litz (March 30).

John and Heather went up the hill,

To enjoy the day together.

The weather was good, the skiing was great,

And the snow was soft as a feather.

With his great skiing skill,

John was the boulder.

As a result, he broke Heather's shoulder.

Rumor has it John's very sorry,

But Heather says things are not "hunky-dory."

Get well soon Heather Nibblett

(The Ramada Coffee Clatche, including Max)

Quote of the week – People who don’t take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. (Peter R. Druker)

Birthday of the week:
- RCMP Inspector Cam Forgues (March 28)
- Milt Tyreman, retired RCMP (April 2)
- Ray Shoemaker, (April 2)

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)