Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: February 7/2007

If you’re looking for a pizza place that is not your ordinary “run of the mill” pizza, you must try the new “OK Pizza” at #104-3699 Highway 97N. Tucked away behind Kia at Reid’s Corner (University Drive) you will be pleasantly greeted by owners Priti and Rajnikant (R.K.) Agrawal. The pizza was fabulous. The homemade crust is not too thick and not too thin. They also make their own homemade pizza sauce. Their prices are extremely reasonable, and for pick-up only you can get a large 15” pizza with unlimited toppings for only $12. They also serve pizza by the slice for lunch and every day they feature a “special flavour.”

Although they are mainly a takeout service, they have a lunch counter with about 10 chairs. Susan Steen and Lorina and Peter Dick, friends that I went with said it was one of the best pizza crusts they had ever tasted. That’s what homemade gets you! Their cheese and garlic pizza (like a cheese bread) was incredible. They even offer some homemade desserts. Although OK Pizza is located in the north end of the City, it is worth a trip to try it. They deliver anywhere in Kelowna for a nominal fee and are open seven days a week. Call 765-5551.

Former Director of Human Resources and well-known guy around town, Rick Baker is moving upstairs - that is upstairs in City Hall. After 20 years, he is now going to be the new Director of Corporate Development for the City. Charlene Covington is the "acting" Director of Human Resources at this time.

Congratulations to Ben Willis of Outdoor Living Rooms Design Co. who was recently awarded the Natures Gold Trophy for the “Best Garden of 2006”. It was given by an independent panel of Master Gardeners who judged residential gardens during an open gardens competition held by the Kelowna Garden Club. Call 862-7483 www.outdoorlivingrooms.com

Todd Robinson, sales rep for Sleeman Breweries has been promoted to District Sales Manager for the company. Todd will be responsible for everything outside the lower mainland and the Island for all licensee and retail businesses. Call 212-2599.

Secure Rite Mobile Storage Inc. with President Lucas Griffin at the helm has now been in business for almost two years and is enjoying rapid growth. They have hired Ken Mair as their new business development manager. Ken hails from Scotland where his family owned a transportation business and he recently graduated from Okanagan College in marketing. Secure Rite Mobile Storage offers a range of secure and weatherproof mobile storage units for purchase or rental. Call 861-3955 or ken@Secure-Rite.com

Lisa Houghton, development and marketing coordinator for Investors Group has decided to pursue new employment while finishing her financial planning courses in order to gain bookkeeping and tax preparation experience. She is now working with her father at Houghton & Company. She hopes to be back working in the financial planning services industry in the next 6-8 months. Call 763-5665.

Horizon Air is flying high again these days. They have been named Regional Airline of the Year by the editors of Air Transport World Magazine. Horizon was chosen from among all regional airlines worldwide. The February issue of the magazine noted that "Reflecting its founders' philosophy, Horizon remains committed to its local communities and to delivering a safe, reliable and friendly product. Eschewing the no-frills model, it offers complimentary regional wines and microbrews to the more than 6.5 million passengers carried last year and provides free Starbucks coffee and copies of the Wall street Journal in its boarding areas”. ATW also recognized Horizon's technical leadership in developing and implementing state-of-the-art onboard navigational equipment to help increase reliability in poor weather as well as its introduction of the Q400 and CRJ-700 aircraft to US markets.

Tax season is just about upon us and if you need some accounting support, what better a person to help you than someone who has had twenty years experience at Revenue Canada in both client services and audit divisions. Ken Jaschke, B.A. has established a new accounting firm called “Financial Data Bookkeeping & Accounting Services”. He provides bookkeeping, accounting, personal and corporate income tax and GST advice and filing for the public. He is now available for personal and corporate tax return preparation. Call 764-1278 or 869-6842

If you haven’t been into the new “The Shoe Company” at #345 - 2339 Highway 97 North (Dilworth Centre) you will be blown away with the amount of product in the store. Store manager Allison Wolf gave me a tour and my goodness, they have absolutely everything in footwear along with some sweaters, dresses, jeans, pants, ladies blouses and T-shirts. When it comes to footwear I didn’t know where to start. Along with boots and winter-wear for the whole family, they have just received some of their spring and summer stock. They feature of all kinds of ladies shoes, including dress pumps in leather and wonderful colours of patent leather, sling-backs, sandals, and lots of flats for dress or casual wear. Their selection of children’s, men’s and teen shoes is also incredible. They also carry a huge line of purses and even have the brightly coloured “crocs”. Along with this you can even pick up socks or a wallet. They have everything and I’m sure I’ve missed something. I walked out with a fabulous pair of patent leather black pumps and a gorgeous black leather purse. Call 717-1260.

Diane's Fine Jewellery and Gifts in the Ramada Hotel is celebrating Valentine's Day in a big way. They are having a draw on Feb. 14 for a Valentine's package worth over $1,000 with many gifts to pamper you and your valentine. With every purchase from the shop from now on, your name goes in for the special draw which includes gift certificates, roses, wine, a romantic evening in one of the Ramada's theme rooms and much more. It won't get better than that. Call 762-2210

Claudette Gaudette, formerly of Cabella’s Hair Salon in Westbank has started a new home based business with a natural botanical skin care line from Switzerland. Arbonne International is a natural botanical/herbal skin care line from Switzerland, which has grown to include both inner and outer health and beauty products that provide pure, safe and beneficial results. Claudette, along with being an independent consultant is also the district manager for the product. Call 768-7699.

Interior Savings Credit Union has announced that Summerhill Pyramid Winery will be featured in a national credit union advertising campaign beginning next month. Credit unions across Canada have developed a national advertising campaign to increase awareness of credit unions as the preferred choice for business banking services in the minds of business owners. The campaign will include TV, print and will feature credit unions’ business members from across Canada. Summerhill is featured in a TV commercial that will air on CTV, Global and CBC between February and May.

TELUS is donating $25,000 in the form of a new scholarship bearing the name of valued employee Jordy Koenig to help support students enrolled in the College’s Network and Telecommunications Engineering Technology (NTEn) program. Koenig, a communications and networking technologist with 25 years of service at TELUS took a personal interest in students in the College’s NTEn program in early 2003 and has since contributed countless hours of his time working with students over the past three years.

Dianne Buckner, the host of CBC’s Dragons’ Den and the successful TV series “Venture” will bring her message about developing business leaders to the Okanagan in early March, as part of the 28^th annual Okanagan Business Students’ Association Business Banquet. The banquet will be held March 8^th at the Grand Hotel. Tickets are only $65 and available by calling 762-5445, ext. 4745. Buckner has hosted the nation’s most watched business show for the past decade and has interviewed a host of business leaders and personalities, including Warren Buffet and former Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Local well-known Okanagan arts and antique appraiser, Peter Blundell has published a new book, the second edition of “The Marketplace Guide to Oak Furniture.” The book is of high quality print with glossy pictures of beautiful oak furniture antiques. It is now easy to find the value of your special pieces from this publication. There’s everything from chairs, dressers and bookcases to tables, china closets and kitchen cabinets (hoosier cabinets). Peter is also a newly accredited member of the Canadian Professional Appraisers. There are only 38 with his qualifications in Canada. Several of the pictures of the pieces were taken locally at Taylor’s Antiques on Powick Road. The book is available at Mosaic Books and Furniture Heaven. Call Peter at 250-542-4540 (Vernon)

Not sure if I really want to promote this calendar, but because I know most of the “characters” in it, I couldn’t refuse. It’s called “Great Bare Reunion 2007” – KHS – Class of 1964 – Great Bear Lake/Artic Adventure and from the word “bare” I guess you know what I mean now. It’s hilarious and the fellows had to have a lot of guts to put this together. To make a long story short, last August, 12 grads from the class of 1964 (yes they are old) went on a tour of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, courtesy of two of their classmates Chuck Fipke and Russ Cmolik, in celebration of their 60^th birthdays. At that age, they went a little strange and “bared” themselves to do the calendar. There is a little light after the tunnel as all the proceeds from the calendar are going to the Okanagan Prostate Resource Centre (a fitting cause). The twelve “calendar boys” are Rick Mussellam, Ken Ross, Wayne Hensley, Ron Unser, Russ Cmolik, Colin Lee, Emil Banziger, Richard Scrafton, Gord Odegard, Bob McGregor, Dave Stringer and Doug Mildenberger.. To order the calendar and help the prostate centre, call Bren Witt at 712-2002 or Rick Mussellam at 470-9077. I already have mine!

Congratulations to Shawnie Stratton (Royal LePage) and Terry Brown (Valleyview Chiropractic Clinic) on their upcoming marriage on March 31.

Got some predictions for the year from local Physic Astrologer Heather Zais. The year of the Pig/Boar begins February 18/2007. Its element is fire with a love and money year. The keyword this year is “big”. It’s a #9 year due to the fact that 2007 added together comes to 9. The Pig/Boar year is the final sign in the Chinese Zodiac and represents all that is built up for the past 12 years – good or bad. It is a time for completion, endings or other finality, followed by new beginnings.

Here goes. Believe them or not! (1) #9 rules expansion, inflation, big waves and taking thing to the max – “when pigs fly.” (2) There will be quite a ride in the markets. Step up to the trough as there seems to be more money, love, bounty and abundance in pig years. (3) There will be a change of rules with credit cards and interest rates. (4) Pigs tend to wear their hearts on their sleeve. A strong love year. (5) Weight loss and getting rid of “fat” in all forms will be in focus. The saying can change to “where’s the pork.” (6) In fashion, curls are in as well as pink, red, pearls and ropes. Pigtails are also back in hair along with hoops and hula-hoops. Fur is in. (7) Red and what it associates will dominate. Some caught “red handed.” (8) Other things associated with red are infra red, red light district, Red Sea and seeing red. (9) Nature continues with disasters being quakes and volcanos, etc. Cool temperatures in unexpected places. Call Heather at 861-6774

Quote of the week – Words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think. (Lord Byron – submitted by Sharon Whiting of ATM Bookkeeping).

Birthdays of the weeks – Happy 100^th Margaret Toews, living at Fernbrae (Feb.12); Sergio Cunial, Ramada Hotel (Feb.7).

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)