Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: September 12/2007

I’m not sure which one is the real institution here, Larry Stedman or the Willow Inn Pub. As of September 30^th the pub will be closed and as of September 29^th Larry will be hopefully (as he says it) retiring, after 29 years as a bartender at the pub. It was neat talking to him. He was hired as a waiter on the floor and only did that for about 8 months. He then started bartending and that’s where he’s been ever since. He said when he started there were no dancers and a country band would come in and perform once in a while. Actually he graduated as a CGA and could not find a job way back then. He said he opened his mouth at the wrong time and just landed into the pub job. That’s quite the story.

Speaking of institutions, Bill Irvine, well-known and long-time “beer guy” is retiring as Territory Manager (South) of Labatt after 23 years with the company on October 12. Actually, he’s retiring from Labatt but is not retiring from business. He will still be living in Kelowna, but is starting a couple of new ventures in partnership with a former workmate and buddy Dave Fulks and another friend Eddy Edwards who is also well known in the industry. Bill will now be a partner in the Keremeos Hotel, which has a restaurant, pub and liquor store and the Princeton Liquor Store, which was in the Princeton Hotel that burned down. Eddy is already the operating partner in the Princeton operations and they are also going to be building a new pub in Princeton called the “Brown Bridge Pub.” They are going to be three very busy fellows. Call Bill at 861-4171. Brian Kuhn is new territory manager, taking over Bill’s position.

Kelowna Yamaha at #1-1515 Westgate Road on the Westside is opening a second location in Kelowna. Owner/operator Terry Poirier was excited to tell me that their new location will be opening around March 1/08 and will be located between Kelowna Auto Mall Leasing Centre and the Deviate Board Shop on Highway 97N. The new facility will be much larger than they have now. Kelowna Yamaha has received the Yamaha “Five Star Award” which is one of only 35 in Canada and is a “Gold Level Dealer” which is the second highest ranking for Yamaha in Canada. Call 769-1013.

David Rush, Ken Ihas and Briana Hardwick have formed the new law firm of Rush Ihas LLP – Litigation Lawyers, located at 204-1180 Sunset Drive. Their law firm practice is exclusively dedicated to representing clients involved in commercial, employment, family and real estate disputes. All lawyers were previously with the firm of Petraroia Langford Rush and are well known in their fields. Call 868-2313 www.rushihas.com

After 28 years, the Wostrodowski family has sold Ace Hardware (most recently) at 1718 Byland Road and it is now the Westside Home Building Centre a division of Home Hardware. John Laurie is the new general manager of the store which caters to professional builders and renovators. Paul McCann is the owner/operator of stores in Kelowna, the new Westside Home Building Centre, Penticton and Osoyoos. John was general manager of the Osoyoos store for nine years before relocating to the Westside store. Call 769-5737.

This is a unique website. Lisa Armstrong and Karin Bauer have created and operate a new horse classified ads website, www.webhorse.ca. This site caters to all Okanagan based horse people, whether you are looking to sell or buy horses, tack, supplies, trailers, farms or horse boarding. You can also advertise for free, current events such as horse clinics, shows or coaching and the site enables the horse community to easily reach each other, network and share news. Call 860-1964 or e-mail info@webhorse.ca

The Kelowna Fire Department is celebrating their many retirements from about the last 18 months or so on September 29. Congrat’s to Marlee Campbell (receptionist); Ed Mitchell (Platoon Captain); Mike Beese (Captain); Terry Britton (Captain); Duncan Tough (Dispatcher); Russ Emond (Firefighter) and Brian Minchin (Captain).

Lynn Deschner has been dancing for a very long time. She is celebrating her 25th year teaching dance and is now teaching all the children of the children she taught way back then. Her dance company “Danceforce” has just moved to a gorgeous brand new studio at 1774 Baron Road. She still teaches jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop to all ages, from four to adults. He sister Sandi is teaching vocals at the studio. Call 712-2202

Only two Okanagan Restaurants made the list. Fresco on Water Street has been listed in Wine Access Magazine’s list of the top 100 in Canada. It was the only Kelowna restaurant to receive this prestigious listing in the 90-94 out of 100 category. The Toasted Oak in Oliver also made the grade in the 80-84 out of 100 category. I have been to the Toasted Oak in Oliver’s historic Firehall and it is a rare find if you are in that area. Rod Butters is the chef and co-owner at Fresco and Jeffrey Brandt the chef at the Toasted Oak with sommelier Jay Drysdale. Call 250-498-4867

iQuest Athletic Performance Centre at 1745 Spall Road has announced the marriage of two major medical models under one roof. Dr. Alana Berg, Naturopathic Physician will be joining forces with Dr. Kevin Kanerva, Medical Doctor and the staff of iQuest, offering a new dynamic in the pursuit of healthy living. Dr. Berg is joining an existing team of health care professionals at iQuest including medical doctors, sports medicine doctors, physiotherapists, personal trainers, dietitian, clinical exercise physiologist, mental coach, massage therapists and high performance team coaches and counselors. Lorne Friesen is the executive director. Call 860-3413.

The Okanagan Jewish Community Centre located at 102 North Glenmore Road is celebrating Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah on September 12 at 7:30pm and September 13 at 10am. Yom Kippur is September 21 at 7:30pm and September 22 at 10am and 6:30pm. For info call 862-2305.

Gilmore HR Strategies & Solutions has announced that they are now a full service distributor of Prevue Assessments, a premier psychometric evaluation tool for companies wanting to make the best people decisions. Prevue provides management with reports that compare a job candidate or current employees to a customized job benchmark in a manner that is easy for a manager to understand. Call 864-1153

I have to tell you a really neat story. This year, to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Maxine DeHart-Ramada Hotel, United Way Drive-Thru Breakfast, we are having three Standard Radio Stations on site at the Ramada Hotel; 101-5 SILK-FM on Hwy 97, 99.9 SUN FM on Enterprise and the new 1150 Talk Radio, News and Sports in the middle. I was worrying about how I would get back and fourth from Highway 97 to Enterprise Way and all around the hotel in record time and thought that a golf cart would be great to get around. I went to see Erwin Egert (a fellow I had never met) of Auto Place & E-Z-GO Golf Cars on Springfield Road and told my story and asked if we could rent a cart and guess what? Erwin is going to deliver us a golf cart, let us use it that morning and will pick it up after the Drive-Thru – all for free. What a new sponsor windfall for us. Don’t forget the Drive-Thru is at the Ramada Hotel on Thursday, September 20^th from 6am-9am. Everything is going to be first rate and classy, from wearing the Interior Savings Credit Union Drive-Thru aprons to the bags filled with everything from treats from London Drugs and Nestle and topping off the bags with personal United Way napkins from Gord and Brenda Hunting’s Apple Valley Promotions, who have been with us since day one. And, if that isn’t enough Diane Lazauskas of Diane’s Jewellery Designs in the Ramada Hotel is donating “10” pieces of jewellery to be placed randomly in the bags, one for each year. All monies raised stay right here in our community and we would like to “go way over the top” this 10^th year.

The Westbank Rotary Club’s Annual Taste of Westbank is Saturday, September 22 at the Westbank Community Hall at 6pm. You can enjoy the wonderful food presented by many Westside food establishments, dance to music of the Flying Colours Band and enjoy entertainment of Robert Fine and Pam Ferens. There is a silent and live auction. Tickets are only $35 and available at Westbank UPS, Chamber of Commerce any Westbank Rotarian or call Adona Dunn at 768-1488.

The following were the winners of the 2007 Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon Volunteer Prize Winners. Congrat’s to 1^st place winner Carmelle Guidi (7 Day Carnival Pride Mexican Riviera Cruise for two); 2^nd place winner Maureen Carefoot (one year membership to World Gym with personal trainer and 3^rd place winner Vance Temple of Burnaby (one night at Lake Okanagan Resort in the executive suite with a $100 gift certificate.

Had a nice chat with Norah Clark of “The Button-Shop” at 3070 Collens Hill Road. She has thousands of buttons for sale and mentioned that she has the business up for sale and is moving to Vancouver. Call 769-4696 or norah@button-shop.com

Aquassure Bath Products is spreading awareness about National Assisted Living Week that is this week, from September 9-15. National Assisted Living Week, established in 1995 by the National Center for Assisted Living provides a unique opportunity to bring together residents, families, staff, volunteers and the community to celebrate our elders and the services provided within assisted living and residential care communities. For more info call Shari McDowell at 862-8686 or smcdowell@aquassure.com

Speaking about our elders, Darlene Bankert, a health care professional has started “Added Care” which provides added support, added independence and added confidence. Added Care is a respite and recreation adult day service which provides respite services to family caregivers by offering therapeutic, recreational and social programs. It’s an outing for lonely at home seniors and is located at Branch #17 Seniors Centre – 1353 Richter Street every Tuesday at 9:30am to 2:30pm. Cost is only $45 per day and includes a hot lunch. Space is limited and drop in's are welcome if space is available. To register or for more info call 762-5925 or Darlene@addedcare.ca

Kudos to Theresa Masterman who trekked for four days across mountain passes to reach the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, Peru in spite of the difficulty of the trail and having arthritis. She was a participant in the Joints in Motion Program and has raised $8,217.50 for arthritis research so that people living with this disease can be active without pain.

Quote of the week – People who say it can’t be done should not interrupt the people doing it! (Old Chinese Proverb) submitted by Laura Doncom of Ballet Kelowna.

Birthdays of the week – Happy 50^th Brad Field (Sept. 12); MLA Sindi Hawkins (Sept.15); Jim Lanyon (Sept.12); Marilyn Hedman, KGH Foundation (Sept.16).

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)