Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: May 2/2007

This is huge in the accounting business. Grant Thornton LLP and BDO Dunwoody LLP have announced that their respective boards have agreed to enter into merger discussions. Both are national accounting and advisory firms with offices in Kelowna and across Canada. Over the next several months, representatives from both organizations will engage in a due diligence process to further assess the merits of a combined organization. Both firms are highly successful operating as independent entities. All together Grant Thornton has 370 partners and 2,900 employees working in 99 offices across Canada. BDO Dunwoody has over 315 partners and 1,900 employees in 95 offices across Canada. The local office of Grant Thornton LLP is at 200-1633 Ellis Street and BDO Dunwoody LLP at 300- 1632 Dickson Road.

Shane Bennett, manager of London Drugs has been appointed on the board of the Kelowna Family YMCA-YWCA for a two year term.

Lots happening at Summerhill Pyramid Winery. Michele Seger, former manager of the Vintage Room and previous to that, floor manager at Coyote’s is the new food and beverage manager of the winery. Jesse Croy is their new executive chef. He was formerly the sous chef at the winery and recently won the judge’s choice award at the Taste of Kelowna. Accompanied with Jesse is talented sous chef Jesse Revard, hailing from the Hotel Eldorado. That won’t be hard to remember – two Jesse’s. Stephen Cipes is the proprietor of the winery. By the way, Summerhill did an extraordinary event for the National Tour Association Convention last week.

“Smart Start Meals” is a new business in town owned and operated by Ken and Susanne Scott. They provide home delivery of delicious ready-to-cook dinner packages for busy people and families. Their dinners are a convenient, time and effort saving way of providing nutritious meals at home. Their service frees up valuable time and removes the stress associated with last minute meal planning, shopping and preparation. They offer a variety of dinner options with a convenient online menu which changes monthly. All preparation is done in a proper commercial kitchen space. Since starting their business, 60-75% of their customers have been busy professionals with families in the age range of 30-50. Others are professional singles or couples (no kids) or boomers. They have also had some interest from seniors. They offer the meals in packages of 12, 6, or 3 dinners, each dinner serves 4-6 people. Check them out at www.smartstartmeals.ca for everything you need or call 869-7678.

Big things happening at the Kelowna Actors Studio on Ellis Street. Along with celebrating their 5^th Anniversary, owners Nathan Flavel and Randy Leslie have hired Patricia Burns as their new general manager of the company. Though audiences may be more familiar with Patricia on stage in many productions, her business background is in marketing, communications and sales. She will be responsible for all aspects of the theatre’s operations, including administration, human resources, public and media relations and working directly with the artistic director regarding programming and implementing the theatre’s strategic plan. Kelowna Actors Studio is the only licensed dinner theatre in the valley, with six shows per season and a season subscriber base of over 1,600. Man of La Mancha is May 10-27. Call 862-2867 for tickets or www.kelownaactorsstudio.com . We have attended many productions with dinner and have not been disappointed in one.

Jennifer Bryan, who recently relocated from Calgary, is the new Special Events Coordinator for the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs. As her first official event, “Night of the Three Veils” is Thursday, May 24 at Summerhill Pyramid Winery. The exclusive evening of exquisite food, wine art and music will feature the official unveiling of Alex Fong’s newest piece of art commissioned for the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs. They will also unveil the latest wine release with Stephen Cipes and enjoy the sweet sounds of Katie Fletcher and Half a Quorum, Katie is also unveiling an original song for the evening. Call 762-3989, ext. 107.

Da Candoor (Fusion Indian Cuisine) Restaurant is opening in the former Finer Choice Restaurant location at 237 Lawrence Avenue.

Alberto Boza and Ana Vallejos (husband and wife) are the new owners of “Wine Country Gift Baskets and Gourmet Village” (formerly Charlie Five). The company specializes in customized gift baskets for any occasion, with absolutely any theme or product in them, being gourmet food, house wares or high-end gifts, in any price range. They also carry the famous Roger’s Chocolates and let me tell you, the “no sugar added” chocolates are delicious. Ana dropped some off to me and the note said “These chocolates are no sugar added, because I would not like that you will gain weight again.” I was delighted. They are located at 136 – 1876 Cooper Road, in Orchard Plaza and deliver in town or ship throughout Canada and the US. You can place an order in person or by phoning 860-5078 or www.winecountrygiftbasket.ca

While on the verge of releasing his first full length CD entitled “Wide Open”, local artist Roger Gabriel has announced the debut single, “I’m In” has now been released to country music radio across Canada. “I’m In” was written by famed Nashville songwriter Radney Foster with Georgia Middleman. The single features vocal panache from Juno Nominee Rachel Matkin. Together Gabriel and Matkin breathe life into the track with passionate harmonies and a heartfelt enthusiasm. For more info call Teena Clipston at 807-2121.

Had my car detailed by Greg Ashauer of “Eurowerx Autospa at #7-731 Stremel Rod. You should see it. It looks brand new. It’s been said that “a car runs better if it’s clean” and if that’s the case, I won’t even have to take it in for servicing. Eurowerx specializes in complete vehicle detailing including wash and wax, power polishing and complete interior reconditioning in their brand new state-of-the-art facility, with three inside bays and three outside. They offer “dry cleaning” for interior carpets and mats with special polishes and glazes specifically designed for our valley water. Call 470-7312 or 470-7297.

Congratulations to Russell Currie (Acting Dean of Faculty of Management at UBCO) and Karen Vreugdenhil from Langley on their upcoming marriage on July 7th at Minter Gardens.

This is fun. “Ogopogo Kids” modeling and cheerleading for kids 12 and under runs programs in six week sessions; every Saturday morning with a celebration performance of both modeling and cheerleading at the end of each six weeks. Teacher Deana Van Fleet concentrates on fun and laughing and being free to be silly, all the while putting their learned skills together into a choreographed performance at the end of the six weeks. Kids make friends and their self esteem soars. They are also in the process of adding one and two day workshops to their programs for those parents who do not want to commit to a six week or ongoing club program for their children. Visit www.ogopogokids.com or call 469-7160 or email admin@ogopogokids.com

The BC Crime Stoppers Conference is being hosted in Kelowna this week. Crime Stoppers president Vern Nielsen was excited to tell me about their Friday luncheon speaker and well-known actor Jackson Davies. You might remember, for sixteen years, Jackson starred as Constable John Constable in Canada’s longest running TV series, “The Beachcombers” for which he won the TV Week Viewer’s Choice Award for best actor from 1986 to and including 1989. Jackson is one of only two Canadians who were made Honorary Sergeants in the RCMP. In 1995 he was inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame and Starwalk. He is on the Faculty of the screen and Stage programs at Capilano College in North Vancouver and still finds time to play right wing for the Vancouver Canuck Alumni. Incidentally, Jackson and Vern Nielsen grew up together in Wetaskiwin and have been friends and buddies for over 45 years.

Hey everyone! Have you lost control of your space – now is the time to get it back. May 1-7 is National Organizing Week and it is time to get organized. The members of Professional Organizers in Canada want to bring attention to how you can minimize the stress in your life, save money and have more time to spend on the things that you enjoy. Getting and being organized is not just a matter of clearing away the clutter, and a professional organizer can help you with the steps. So, if you want to change your habits, call Linda Anderson of “Organizing Help” at 870-1670 or info@organizinghelp.ca, to provide you with education, tools, motivation and support. During National Organizing Week, members of the Association work with a local charity to give back to the community and raise the profile of their profession. This year, they have provided a three hour certificate to be included in select gift packages being raffled off by the Kelowna SPCA in cities in the valley.

Had a good chat with the Tony Roma’s management in Kamloops last week. They mentioned that they definitely want to find a location for a Tony Roma’s in Kelowna and have already been looking in our city. They were shown a site that was “build to suit” but it was not suitable and they are still going to keep looking. They told me that Tony Roma’s in the West Edmonton Mall is the busiest Tony Roma’s in North America. Several year’s ago they opened in Kamloops, after turning down Kelowna and then the Kamloops operation was closed. The existing Kamloops location is the second Tony Roma’s to be opened there and is great.

The Kelowna Newcomers Club will hold its monthly meeting, Wednesday, May 16 at 7pm in the Senior’s Centre on Water Street. They invite all newcomers to Kelowna to attend, meet new friends and join in the activities that the club sponsors. This month’s speaker is Major Lee Burrows of the Salvation Army.

Ken Good sent me a neat little e-mail. “At three minutes and four seconds after 2am on the 6^th of May this year (Sunday), the time and date will be 02:03:04 05/06/07”. This will never happen again.”

The Evans Gallery is hosting a Spring Wine Festival Event “Wine Tasting is an Art” this Saturday, May 5^th, 11am-4pm at 571 Lawrence Avenue. Co-hosting is Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery with artists Robyn Lake and Elizabeth Evans. Call 861-4422 for more info.

When speaking with Wayne Evans of the Gallery, he mentioned that the new restaurant next door to the gallery, “Napalese” East Indian Cuisine (former Bee-Hive Bistro) is open for lunch and dinner and is very good.

The Art Ark Gallery is hosting Reinhard Skoracki. Skoracki’s art is admittedly caustic satire, but closer to Pantagruelism – the Rabelaisian philosophy of dealing with serious matters in a spirit of broad and somewhat cynical good humor. Exhibition dates are April 28 to May 10.

Quote of the week – The most flammable kind of wood is the chip on the shoulder. (E. Joseph Cossman)

Birthday of the week – Happy 70th to our good friend Lorina Dick (May 4).

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)