Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: July 4/2007

This week‘s column is dedicated to Mel, Dina, Robert and Richelle Kotler and the entire Kotler family on the passing of Mel’s grandson and Robert’s son, eight year old Jacob Kotler. Our hearts are with all of you at this difficult time.

Oh my goodness! Because of global warming Kelowna Snowfest’s “Sno-Go” has melted and there will be no more Snowfest. After 34 years, it was unanimously voted by the Board of Directors that Snowfest will not continue. The annual winter festival filled a need in the community for many years, but with the changing times and the need for more volunteers, which are harder to find, the event was getting more difficult to arrange. The decision was not made lightly. Accolades to all the people involved in the event over the many years, especially Beryl Itani who was on the board for 32 years (the longest member) and to Wayne Bridges who was involved for 31 years. Also to Cheryl Stone who was the main catalyst over the past few years, keeping the event going and who is now moving out of our city. It’s folks like all of them that make our city special.

After seven years with KPMG, as manager of Okanagan Thompson, Louis Blom, BBA, CA has moved on to become the new CFO of Trigon Uranium Corp. on Spall Road, which is a uranium exploration company. Louis starts his new position tomorrow, July 5. Call him at 763-5533. Sidney Himmel is the CEO of Trigon.

Deb Palsson is the new manager, skills development for the Women’s Enterprise Centre at 201-1726 Dolphin Avenue. Deb was formerly the faculty recruitment manager for UBC Okanagan. Call 868-3454.

Hica Greenhouses on K.L.O. Road has closed their flower shop. Hica has grown from a tomato farm to five green houses and a flower shop over the last 29 years. Karl and Hildegard Sauter and the staff appreciate all the business over the years and Ed Sauter will be taking over and will only be growing geraniums on a pre-order basis for the spring of 2008. If you would like to order their wonderful geraniums, make sure you order by August, 2007. Call 860-3603.

Marlene Dunn formerly of the “Y” is the new office manager at the Harvest Golf Club. Marlene is the mother of Matt Dunn of the Kelowna Golf and Country Club who is playing on the Canadian Tour this year.

Dan and Mary Cresswell have opened “Jimmy Ho’s” Takeout Express at 1166 High Road (at Gordon). The restaurant specializes in fine, fast Asian cuisine and offers both eat-in with counter seats and take-out. Cooked to order with no MSG you can taste their selection of appetizers, salads, soups, individual stir fries with homemade sauces and homemade desserts. Their most popular signature dish is ginger beef, and they also offer items such as Lulu’s butter chicken and house chow mein. You might want to try a Utopia salad with rice, beans and pasta sweetened with pineapple, cranberries, almonds and a hint of curry. Top it all off with “The G Spot” dessert which is a homemade ginger cake with warm toffee sauce and ice cream – wow. They are open Tuesday to Saturday. Call 868-0096 www.jimmyhos.com

Perry Rasmusans is the new manager of The Source by Circuit City in Orchard Park.

After over 25 years with BMO-Bank of Montreal, Santhy Yeager is retiring at the end of July. She started her career with the bank in Prince George and moved to Kelowna in 1987. She is presently a training resource manager for the Bank for the district.

West-Wind Nurseries are only closing their “retail” garden centre operation on Benvoulin Road as of July 15, offering many two for one specials. President and general manger Scott Unser related that the company will still be operating their wholesale nursery operation on Saucier Road and will also continue contracting for landscaping and irrigation work. Originally started by Ted Mayers, West-Wind has been operating on Benvoulin Road since 1987 and has been in business for 34 years. Call 860-0025

Kudos to Tom Light of On Track Marketing on his second hole-in-one at the Harvest Golf Club on #16-140 yards.

Nick-n-Willy’s Take-n-Bake Pizza have changed their business to now include “cooked” pizza which is baked in their large Mount Adams Wood Stone Oven. Owner Nick Cosentino has re-invented the business due to demand to include all sizes of cooked pizza at both locations on Banks Road and in Mission Station on Gordon Drive. So, now you can take home your pizza’s and bake them yourself or pick them up already baked…either way Nick-n-Willy’s have great product to offer. Call 868-3148 (Banks) and 868-2888 (Gordon).

Congratulations to Bob Lacroix and Michelle Thompson (Seven 11) on their upcoming marriage on July 13. They met on Friday, the 13^th.

Local micro-brewery, Tree Beer is celebrating their 11^th year in business and are throwing a party. Well-known for breaking their own goals, Tree has set its goal at a 45% increase in revenue for 2007 and are solidly on track to do so. President, Wayne Clements invites you to bring your friends and join them at the brewery at 1083 Richter Street on July 7 from noon -4:30pm. Call 707-1091.

Well-known realtor Gerry Fraser of Gerry Fraser & Co., MacDonald Realty has landed an exclusive contract to market B.C. properties to a world-wide client base through the U.K.’s #1 property website, Rightmove.co.uk. With a significant interest from Britain and Europe buyers in Okanagan and Big White properties, Gerry will be a very busy realtor. Rightmove.co.uk ranked among the top 10 websites in the UK. Call 712-3100 or gerry@gerryfraser.com

Local Council CF200 of the International Reading Association (CINCIRA) has elected a new executive for a one year term. Congrat’s to Sandra Sellick (president); Terry Dobson (past president); Liz Seitz (vice-president); Donna Bliss (treasurer); Rhonda Davidson (secretary); Sinead Hurley (membership); Judith Amos (publicity); and Monique Jamison and Heather Baptie, members at large. CINCIRA organizes professional learning opportunities for educators engaged in literacy instruction and operates a library of professional journals for members supporting community and international outreach projects in literacy. For more info call Sandra Sellick at 717-6064 or Sinead Hurley for membership at 765-3004.

Happy 44^th anniversary Tom and Donna Ketter, June 28/2007

Norris Holland has sold the Kelowna Airport Shuttle. The new owner is Taylor Assaly, who also owns and operates All Canadian Escapes.com which is a ski, golf and wine tour operation in the Okanagan. All the same great team and service will still be offered by the shuttle service. Call 765-0182.

Big thanks to Erin Sine of Chapter’s on her exceptional service. Also to Cathy Fuller of Buckerfield’s. These two gals made my shopping easier.

L.P. Kurach & Associates at 1751 Westlake Road has expanded and opened a new branch office in the Kelowna area after 13 successful years in Edmonton and Sherwood Park, Alberta. The company is an employment recruiting firm matching companies and qualified employees, specializing in the recruiting industries of manufacturing, forestry, power, engineering and technical. Their professional search consultants are Daneen Segec and Christine Madu. Call 769-4415 or daneen@lpkurach.com www.lpkurach.com

Accolades to Jim Grant of Grant Thornton LLP on his first hole-in-one at Kelowna Springs on #8-138 yards. Jim was playing in the C.A./Lawyers Golf Tournament and so you know that cost him a lot of dough.

Sleep Country Canada’s Annual Adopt a Sheep Campaign is running until August 5. You can drop into Sleep Country at 2031 Harvey Avenue to make your minimum donation of $10 and “adopt” your own cute 7” Serta Counting Sheep. The $10 donation will be donated to Children’s hospitals in our communities through Children’s Miracle Network. Last year a total of $106,000 was raised and this year, Sleep Country has over 20,000 sheep that desperately need a new home and they can’t find one without your help. I love my sheep that is sitting on my computer at work!

Dr. Mike Bobyn got his first hole-in-one at the Harvest Golf Club on #16 on their longest day of the year tour.

Whether it’s the psychedelic ‘60’s or the fascist ‘30’s or Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Shakespeare Kelowna has garnered a reputation for presenting unique and exciting interpretations of the Bard’s most popular works. This season one of Shakespeare’s best comedies will be presented. “Much Ado About Nothing” is full of sparkling merriment and this sexy, sunny, comedy sizzles as one set of lover’s battle against a dirty trick and another simply battles each other. Directed by Stephen Jefferys and produced by Shaw TV’s Tamie Williams the show stars Shaw TV’s Doug Brown as Benedick and Elamir Froese as Beatrice. Join them at their new venue at Summerhill Pyramid Winery on July 18, 19, 22, 25, 26 and 29. Also August 1, 2 and 3. Tickets available at Guitar Works on Ellis and Mosaic Books on Bernard. Hillside seating available at the door.

Had a nice visit with MLA Al Horning last week. The night I saw him he was fairly cheerful, looked really good and was able to move some of his right side. He said he was able to eat and drink fluids and said that the food in rehab was really good. We had a few laughs when I told him his friends said that I was not to bring him any chocolate chip cookies, golf balls or golf magazines. Oh well, a visit was all he got!

Devi Fashions at 592 is closing their doors after 25 years in business, with over 6 years in their present location. Owner Indra Shivnarain is going out in style offering from up to 50%-80% off their inventory of Louben, Kasper, Spanner, Muse, Albert Nipon, Mikane and Simon Chang fashions. Call 868-9798,

TaylorMade Golf Tip of the week – By Jason Laczkovics - A lot of times golfer's hit some pretty errant shots, and sometimes these can land on the wrong green. The proper procedure when this happens is as follows. Rule 25-3 states that "If a player’s ball lies on a wrong putting green he must not play the ball as it lies. He must take relief, without penalty." So if this happens to you, you must lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The course superintendent will thank you. (Jason is the golf operations manager at The Okanagan Golf Club and Greg Murtland is the territory manager for TaylorMade).

Birthdays of the week –– Happy 50^th Chris Ward, RE/MAX Kelowna (July 7); Happy 60^th Shirley Hutt, (July 10); Happy 60^th Lynda Bell, Bell’s Travel (July 9); Happy 60^th Trudy Kam, True Balance Accounting (July 7); Happy 60^th Graham Allcock, Capri Insurance (July 2); Happy 65^th Garry Ford, Formashape (July 6); Happy 54^th Finbar O’Sullivan (July 4); Happy 70^th Don McArthur, Scotiabank retiree and my boss 27 years ago (July 4); Happy 40^th to my niece Sherry Huva on July 10.

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)