Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: June 20/2007

This week’s column is dedicated to Barbara Browne who passed away June 9. The Browne family has been good friends of the DeHart’s for over 70 years and Barbara and my mother-in-law Mary DeHart were best friends right up until Mary passed away. Barbara always dressed beautifully and I was very touched to have received a pair of her lovely leather gloves in her memory. She will be missed by her family and many long time mission residents.

Quails’ Gate Estate Winery is opening their new Hospitality Centre. It will include a new wine shop as well as a private dining room; The Stewart Family Dining Room. The wine shop has spectacular views of the vineyard and lake and features a state-of-the-art tasting bar complete with self clean spittoons. In keeping with their present style, they have used reclaimed wood for flooring. The new facility is 4,000 sq. ft. and for those of you who are fans of the Allison House, rest assured it will remain an integral part of Quail’s Gate. This summer it will house historic memorabilia about the Allison family as well as the Stewart family and will become the tour meeting area. Once the season is over, the building will be renovated to make it more suitable for an intimate reserve tasting room. With its expansive windows and a balcony that surrounds the building, the new Stewart Family Dining Room will house groups of up to 40 for private events, corporate retreats or family gatherings. The balcony also has additional seating and could be used as a reception area for the dining room. Call 769-4451

Jan Bowden formerly with Red Cross in Calgary has relocated and is now the new Director, Marketing and Development for the Canadian Red Cross – BC South Interior Region. Call 763-1859

It’s the perfect time of year to use Steve Garcia’s services. “Solar Centre” Natural Lighting and Ventilation located at #16 - 1771 Cooper Road (behind Park Boulevard Fashions) specializes in “Mirage” retractable screen doors and “Solatube” skylights. The company has been in business for the past four years and their products are exceptional. The screen doors are so “like a mirage” that you actually could walk through them (some people have I am told) and they actually make you feel like you have another room outside from the house to the patio. The Solatube skylights let in natural light in any place that’s a bit dark or shaded. Bob Kilgour is the company’s excellent installer and from personal first-hand experience the company is top-notch in all respects. Their service is excellent and they offer competing prices in the marketplace. “Mirage” is definitely the way to go. Call 762-5587 or solarcentre@uniseve.com www.solarcentre.ca

Sarah Foss, former assistant manager of Perkins Restaurant in the Ramada Hotel is the new general manager of the restaurant. Sarah has been with Perkins for six years.

Local company, Enquiro Search Solutions, Inc. has been included in the 19^th annual ranking of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies, published by PROFIT Magazine placing #164. Over the past five years, Enquiro has grown by 290%, thus earning it a spot in PROFIT’s prestigious list of the country’s most successful companies. Enquiro made the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 in 2004 and has been listed amongst PROFIT 100 Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies for 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Congratulations to Okanagan College carpenter Jace Albrecht on winning the Skills Canada Competition, held in Saskatoon. Jace works for his father’s company Gux Construction. Jace was accompanied by his wife, his instructor Don Campbell and Trans Canada Lumber, a Westside supplier who paid for some of the expenses to attend and outfitted him with all of the tools he needed for the competition.

Aquassure Bath Products Inc. is having its grand opening celebration on June 25^th from 9am-8pm at their new show room and head office at 549A Lawrence Avenue (behind Towne Centre Mall). Owned by Matthew Longman and his wife Shari McDowell, Aquassure is a local manufacturing company that makes accessible bathtubs for seniors and disabled people. The bathtubs are designed to be used by people with mobility challenges ranging from poor balance to those requiring wheelchairs and lefts. The tubs are full–sized and can be retrofitted into an individual’s home, hotels or assisted living facilities. The unique bathtub and fixture designs allow greater ease of use and installation than walk-in style tubs. Unlike a regular bathtub, Aquassure is raised up on a pedestal base, with a sliding door like a van door. Entry and exit is similar to getting in and out of bed and designed to fit into an existing full-size five foot tub space, using the existing plumbing. They also use up to 40% less water. Dr. Alan Jenks has joined the company as their commercial sales manager. Call 862-8686

Suthai Traditional Thai Massage is a new business located at 956 Cawston Avenue, owned and operated by certified Wat Po Masseuse Suphaphon (Su) Phuangchan. Su was trained in Bangkok at the world famous “Wat Po School of Thai Traditional Massage” and has 17 years experience. She specializes in the traditional massage, Thai foot reflexology and instruction, which she does from her location which is open seven days a week. The foundation of the Thai massage is based on the interconnectedness of our whole body; all parts influence all other parts with the pain and tension in our systems arising due to a lack of and/or blocked circulation of blood and energy somewhere in our bodies. Stimulating the right pressure points softens and muscles and release toxins and blocked energy. This leads to better blood flow and thus causes you to feel better. I was fortunate enough to have tried one of Su’s massages and it was incredible and I wished I could have stayed longer. Her prices are reasonable and services run from 20 minutes to 1-1/2 hours. Call 762-8036 or 215-0831.

Pauline Terbasket, executive Director of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and member of the Okanagan Nation and Lower Similkameen Indian Band has been appointed to serve on the Okanagan College Board of Governors by the province of B.C.

Wayne Dorman’s “Dogzies” Canine School of Excellence at 101-1836 Underhill Street (behind Petro Canada) has now expanded his services for dogs and has introduced a new “private overnight care” which is like their home away from home. What is different about Dogzies over night service? Your dogs are not put in kennels; they are actually in a home over night in their own crate, not in a usual dog run. From what I’m hearing from pet owners, this service is going to be a big hit. Owners can only book by appointment, but be assured; your pets will be in good hands. He also offers day school, and then takes the pet’s home at night, a training center, dog food, accessories, essential obedience classes, personalized canine training, in-home consultation. Call 862-3649 or 859-3649.

Marilyn Danchuk, formerly of On Your Mark Employment Services is the new coordinator of the Okanagan Volunteer Opportunities Fair being held on September 20^th hosted by Kelowna Community Resources. Call 763-8008.

This is Fred Gass’s 13^th year offering the “Sizzling Sounds of Jazz” camp, which has let over 1,400 kids play a little hotter in their schools over the years. Fred plays trumpet with the Michael Garding Big Band and his camp is July 30^th to August 3. It has the usual line-up of extraordinary teachers/players being Hugh Parsons, Sheila French, Lonnie Burma, Neil Wong, Sergei Ryga, Mary and Eddy Atherton, Colin Moorman, Debbie Armstrong, Craig Thomson, Brian McMahon and of course, Fred. They are at Mission Alliance Church from 9:30-3pm every day and also have "Beginning band for starters" July 23-27. All 763-7845 or gass1@telus.net for info or to register.

Chris Collins of Okanagan Peak Performance has started his next round of group fitness coaching with the techniques necessary to safely navigate the fun and challenging exercises designed for you. The coaching is six days a week (Mon.-Sat.), 5:30am, 6:3 0am, 7:30am on weekdays and 7:30am and on Saturday for 60 minutes each. The next course starts on Tuesday, July 3 (after the long weekend) and runs for four weeks. The program is very reasonable and they also offer a flex pass. The location is at Mission Sports Fields, beside the playground equipment, next to where the pool is going in. For more info or to join call Chris at 212-2972 or chris@okanaganpeakperformance.com.

Jay Ess Music School is inviting you to see their talented students at “That’s Entertainment” Student Concerts on Sunday, June 24 at the Mary Irwin Theatre at 2pm. Tickets are available in advance only at Jay Ess Music at 2496B Enterprise Way (opposite Capital News). Call 762-5757.

Sherry’s Tanning (formerly Island Tan) at #520-1950 Harvey Avenue (Spall Plaza) owned by Sherry Crandell is having a customer appreciation day for her customers, the public and to also help the food bank on Tuesday, June 26. If you drop into the shop and bring a food bank donation, you can enter a draw for a month of free tanning and a gift package. You might as well have a tan while you’re there, considering the weather we’d had lately. Call 763-5300.

This is spectacular. Pacific Coast Blind Golf Association is holding their 9^th annual two-day Provincial Blind Golf Tournament on June 23 and 24. The tournament being held at Shannon Lake Golf Club is for the blind and visually impaired with participants coming from all over Canada. Call Ethel Rupp at 250-766-9262

The Kelowna Water Colour Guild are hosting a garden setting show and sale of paintings at the Minstrel Café on June 24 from 11:30am-4pm. Call Joan at 764-4483 for more info.

Hold on to your hats Kelowna! The Miskanaw Golfers are back in town for their 22^nd year. You’ll find them hanging around Gallagher's, The Okanagan Golf Club, Harvest, Ramada Hotel, Mickie’s (their main past-time other than golf) the OK Corral, The Blue Gator Bar and Grill and this year's we're going to try out the new Sal's Prime Steakhouse on Bernard. The town is never the same for a few days after all my best friends have left, but we love them!

TaylorMade Golf Tip of the Week – By Jason Laczkovics - Grip pressure! A lot of golfer's think distance comes from raw power and gripping the club to death, but it actually comes from club head speed and hitting the center of the club. Relaxing your grip and swinging freely will allow your arms and wrists to work together correctly, producing solid contact and more speed. It may just help you to hit the ball straighter as well. Think "gentle grip pressure." (Jason is the golf operations manger at The Okanagan Golf Club and Greg Murtland is the territory manager for TaylorMade)

Birthday of the week – Happy 65^th to well-known (young) guy around town Mel Kotler (June 24); Linda Banks, Diane’s Fine Jewellery in the Ramada Hotel (June 15); Linda Entwistle, Walmart pet manager (June 14).

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)