Maxine Dehart

Straight from DeHart

Date: September 19/2007

Don’t forget everyone, tomorrow morning, Thursday, September 20^th from 6am-9am is the Maxine DeHart, United Way –

Ramada Hotel Drive-Thru Breakfast. Watch for SILK-FM’s Andy and TJ live on Highway 97 in front of the Ramada and 99.9 Sun FM’s Tarzan Dan and Susan Knight live on Enterprise Way. You will also hear about us on Kelowna’s newest radio Station 1150 AM Talk Radio. It’s our 10^th Anniversary so we ask you to open wallets to put us over the top. Remember every cent raised stays right here in our community. All the sponsors, celebrities and dignitaries, including our very own RCMP will be on hand to greet and entertain you. The local lawyers, spearheaded by Ron Labossiere will again be out in full force to squeegee your windows. The RCMP will also be present to direct the local traffic. So, drive into the Ramada at 2170 Harvey Avenue from Highway 97 or Enterprise Way and have a wonderful breakfast and a chance to win one of many fabulous grand prizes. The main thing is that we all have fun that morning and raise lots of money for the United Way. Rain or shine we will be there. I appreciate all your support!

Steven Dvorak has joined the firm of Pushor Mitchell Lawyers LLP. He has been practicing law for 17 years, with a focus on insolvency and bankruptcy law, mortgage foreclosures, debt collection, security realization, commercial litigation, shareholder disputes and municipal litigation. Call 869-1145 or dvorak@pushormitchell.com

With the labour shortage in the Okanagan, employers are experiencing increasing difficulty finding employees. There is a program funded by the Government of Canada, which assists both job seekers and employees. The Okanagan Valley Wage Subsidy Program can help offset the costs of training by providing a wage subsidy, while a new employee gains skills on the job. The duration and percent of the subsidy is based on the skills the new employee needs to learn. The Okanagan Valley Wage Subsidy Program is available at no cost to job seekers and employers. Call 861-3149

One door closes and another opens. Teresa and Brett Johnston have closed their Hockey Performance Centre and have embarked on a new venture. They have purchased a stone manufacturing company in Surrey called “Pugrock” which makes the cultured stone that you see on most new constructions. The stone is beautiful and comes in vibrant colours and bold shapes and styles. They can be used inside or outside to enhance any new residential or commercial buildings or for renovations. The Johnston’s are not moving out of Kelowna and have a showroom at their property at 2584 Gale Road as well as a showroom display at Ace Plumbing’s new location at 427 Banks Road. The stone is available throughout the Okanagan. Justin Hanley is their new sales representative. Incidentally, Justin is an ex NHL hockey player and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1981. Call him at 860-9988 or Brett at 469-1928 www.pugrock.com

Brianne Kirschner has started a new business called “All For You Personal Shopping.” They take care of all your shopping needs from gift buying for personal gifts or corporations, gift baskets, buying for seniors to taking men out jewellery shopping. With Christmas only a few months away (oh my gosh) she might be in demand for gift buying. Call 212-4123 or check out www.shopokanagan.net

After 20 years, Sharon Brew, who was born and raised in Kelowna (nee Blaskovits) has retired from Sears. She spent most of her time in bedding and bath and also worked in fashions. She is not completely retiring as she is now working part-time at UPS in Westbank.

“Frakas” has opened today in Mission Park Mall (next to M&M Meats). Owned and operated by Colleen Becker, who has two shops in Saskatoon, Frakas is a women’s clothing store with much more, catering mainly to 20-45 year olds, but with a large selection of jewellery. The store carries the latest items that you would see in today’s fashion magazines and offers clothing, including separates, tunics with leggings, lots of dresses, jeans and fancy wear. They also carry a good selection of accessories and footwear. Its one stop shopping. Call 762-2234

Ileana Reyes, who relocated from Mexico City to Canada four years ago where she was a preschool teacher, has opened her dream business, a Spanish Immersion Preschool called “Mi Escuelita Preschool” which means “Little School.” The school is located at 2702 Boucherie Road, on the Westside, in her home which is a fully licensed facility offering Spanish immersion only. Ileana offers three different programs at various times of the day for ages 3-5 years; 5-6 years and 7 years and older. She previously started a successful Spanish Immersion program within an existing preschool last year in the Rose Valley area and has obtained her Early Childhood Education Certificate. For more info or to register your child call 769-3145 or 470-8910.

Kelowna’s RFind Systems Inc. has been recognized in the September, 2007 issue of Managing Automation Magazine as one of their “Top 10 Companies to Watch in 2008”. The US based magazine focuses on technology solutions for progressive manufactures. RFind Systems manufactures Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) using active Radio Frequency Identification Technology. Sharon Barnes is the CEO of the company. Call 862-3412 or sbarnes@rfind.com

Final registration is underway for private one-on-one acting classes with Randy Leslie, artistic director for the Kelowna Actors Studio. The classes are for the serious drama student and adults wishing to improve their public speaking skills and will provide tools and techniques for lasting advancements in artistic growth and development, personal effectiveness and powerful communication. Randy has over 25 years in professional and community theatre as well as TV and film offering a private and unique professional teaching format at the Actors Studio theatre space. I’m thinking of registering myself. Call Randy at 979-8083.

Happy 68 anniversary Nora and Henry Gow (Lakeshore Place) today, September 19.

Congratulations to Mary Krupa, Mary Jo Schnepf, Garnet Clark and Steve Schnepf on returning from. their monumental summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about the far reaching effects of climate change. Kilimanjaro taught them many things about themselves, the world and how it is changing. What an enormous feat. Call Mary at 861-9474 and Mary Jo at 470-1420

Congrat’s to Jim Daley and Klara Zsigmond (Court Registry) on their marriage on September 15.

Excitement is building as the Spirit of Kelowna nears completion. Local well-respected sculptor Geert Maas has guided the creation of 102 bronze medallions which will be unveiled at City Hall in early 2008. His wife Elly helped every inch of the way. Since May, 102 Kelowna residents (in which I was honoured to be a part of) have spent three days at the Maas studio to design and fabricate a bronze medallion reflecting their personal interpretation of Kelowna’s community spirit. The medallions are all very different but all of them express the deep feelings people have for their community says Maas. “Our participants have been leaning about medallion-making from me, but I have also learned a lot from them about the many ways we see and cherish our city.” Let me tell you, personally I learned much more from Geert that he learned from me. He has patience that you would not believe and his artistic nature is something that is so unique, it is hard for me to even comprehend. He was the perfect person for this project which was made possible through the City of Kelowna City Public Art Reserve Fund, with a significant contribution from the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire Recovery Society. This weekend all the participants and their families and friends will be viewing our medallions and soon, they will be available for the entire world to see!

Living Positive Resource Centre is hosting “Cinq a Sept” – An Evening with Mark Tewksbury” on Saturday, September 22 from 5-7pm at the Metro Café. He is best known as a Canadian Olympic swimmer who first won an Olympic silver medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. A decade after being named Canadian AIDS Walk National Spokesman, Mark once again champions the cause by serving as the Honourary Chair of the 2007 Okanagan Family AIDS Walk. Tickets are only $30, which includes wine, appies and a signed copy of Mark’s latest book “Inside Out.” For tickets call 862-2437

The Okanagan Military Museum located at 1424 Ellis Street, inside the Memorial Arena is now operating under winter hours which are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am-4pm. Their newest exhibition entitled “Service Life Afloat” gives you a glimpse of what life was like for those in the naval service in this unique exhibition that takes you below the ship’s decks. Admission is by donation. Call 763-9292 or militarymuseum@kelownamuseums.ca

Dance the night away at the Osteoporosis fundraiser at the Chatsworth Retirement Suites and Bungalows at 1831 Parkview Crescent at Leckie on Thursday, September 20^th from 7-9pm. Dance with The Memory Lane Band with refreshment and appies being served. Admission is by donation at the door.

Synergy Breakfast for Women is Thursday, September 27 from 7:30am-8:30am at the Haven Restaurant at #2-605 KLO Road. The guest speaker is Sandra Bradshaw on the topic “Pain Explained.” Sandra is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. RSVP to Lisa Jaffary at 861-5166 or lisa@pointswest.ca

Cassandra Tompkins’ “The Women’s Place Fitness Group” is holding an open house on Saturday, September 29 from 12:30pm-4pm with sample classes running every 30 minutes. Drop-in is by donation for their Run for the Cure Team. Door prizes will be drawn very half hour. For more info call 762-7255

A total of 30 golfers braved the rain, sun and sore muscles at the Pihl & Associates Swing into action Golf Marathon for Injury Prevention at Ponderosa Golf Club where they golfed a collective total of 3,028 holes of golf in one day, raising $45,000 with all proceeds to the local not-for-profit organization BrainTrust Canada to support brain injury education and prevention programs in the Okanagan.

TaylorMade Golf Quote of the week – By Jon Kadin - It’s hard to believe that winter is just around the corner and that means an end to our golfing season. However, just because we can’t be on the links doesn’t mean we can’t be helping our game inside. Here are a few training methods you can use to ensure you are in good shape next spring.

(1)Work out. It can be a big commitment, but spending even three days a week running the treadmill or riding the stationary bike can maintain our flexibility and reduce the chance of gaining weight. (2) Swing weighted clubs inside. (3) Hold a club while watching TV to perfect your grip (everyone can do this).

This is just a basic guide. A professional fitness trainer can put you on a program for the next six months that would encompass fitness and nutrition. Remember, the more you put in, the more you get out and the more ready you will be to go in March. Have a great winter season and I look forward to providing you with more insight in 2008! (Jon is the head professional at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club and Greg Murtland is the territory manager of TaylorMade).

Birthdays of the week –Happy 40^th Robyn Renner, I-Hop (Sept.19); Laurel D’Andrea, Beyond 50 Magazine (Sept.21); Linda Born (Sept.21); Susan Downey, TAC Mobility (Sept. 24); Doug Mills, Ramada Hotel (Sept. 25); Happy Sweet 16^th Kimera Gardner, RSS School (Sept. 20).

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)