Straight From DeHart – May 9, 2018

If you have never visited Infusions Restaurant at the Okanagan College campus on KLO Road you are really missing out on a wonderful experience with the Culinary Arts students. Starting on June 12th Infusions will be open all year round and will also open a lovely patio for appetizers and dinner. From now until June 12th Infusions is open Tuesday to Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Starting June 12th the restaurant will be open Tuesday to Friday for appetizers and beverages from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and then from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for dinner. They will offer a two and three course student inspired amuse bouche menu with many choices. Lunch will restart in September. The culinary arts program at the college, including pastry arts has about 120 students in total and six full time instructors/chefs. Every six weeks, Infusions serves a huge buffet to show off the skills of the students. Red Seal Chef Mike Barillaro is the Culinary Chair and has been with the Culinary Arts program since 2000. Reservations recommended at 250-862-5455 or [email protected].

<who>Photo Credit: Contributed</who>Chef/Instructor Reinhard Foerderer and Culinary Arts Students at Infusions Restaurant - Okanagan College

Mary Clark, CEO of Kelowna tech startup Agents of Discovery has been recognized with the prestigious Fifty Canada Award. Mary was selected as one of 50 female role models in science, tech, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the only person awarded this honour in Kelowna. Agents of Discovery is a platform that allows educators the opportunity to easily create their own augmented reality games that can be published in Google Play and the App Store. It is used by the US Forest Service, National Parks Service, City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Alberta Parks and other organizations across North America, the UK and India. Inspiring Fifty is a Dutch-based organization which has successfully engaged in multiple initiatives to highlight inspirational female role models in the tech and innovation sectors.

The newly rebranded Salt & Brick restaurant at 243 Bernard Avenue has reopened for business after closing for nearly a month of renovations. Formerly known as the Salted Brick, the local eatery specializes in fresh, seasonal, farm to table, local food and wine. Now owned and operated by Casey Greabeiel and Brandi Dea and with Chef James Holmes, the Salt & Brick runs two menu’s daily with a lunch menu (brunch on weekends) featuring a combination of sandwiches and sharing dishes as well as a fresh sheet dinner menu which is filled with well thought out and prepared share/small plates created daily. The dinner menu is composed of a blend of vegetarian, seafood and meat based dishes. As popularity demands and history repeats, the charcuterie boards and blue cheese stuffed dates are always available to stay or for takeout. The Salk & Brick will partner with a local winery each month, have weekly tastings in their tasting room and on the last Wednesday of each month will host a winemaker’s dinner.

<who>Photo Credit: Contributed</who>Salt & Brick Restaurant (L to R) Chef James Holmes, Brandi Dea and Casey Greabeiel

Wentworth Music at 1634 Harvey Avenue has been named one of the Top 100 Music Stores and Schools in the World by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the global association of music products and music retailers. The award honours retail music dealer who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their stores, neighbourhoods and customers, and share in a vision to create a more musical world through their local communities. The award will be presented on June 30th in Nashville. www.wentworthmusic.ca

Kudos to Patrick Moros, front desk assistant manager at the Best Western Hotel on winning the Kelowna Hotel Motel Association’s inaugural Heart of Hospitality Award for saving a client’s life in an attempted suicide. Patrick won $1,000 cash and prizes worth $1,800. Runner-up was Lee Drennan of the Comfort Suites Kelowna who won $500 cash and $600 worth of prizes.

BlueStar Coachlines is an executive-class motorcoach company founded by owners Jason Neale and Mark Krehel. To accommodate a growing business, the company has moved into their brand new facility by the Kelowna airport at 1482 Velocity Street. BlueStar has a fleet of 25 full size, Prevost coaches, one 27 seat Turtle-Top with full washroom and an 11 seat Mercedes Sprinter. The new facility has five mechanical bays and a wash bay. The fully licensed facility, with qualified mechanics, provides third party inspections and servicing for motorhomes, light trucks, vans and motorcoaches. For group transportation needs, call Barb Douglas at 778-478-3895 or for vehicle service call 250-765-9020 www.bluestarcoachlines.com

<who>Photo Credit: Contributed</who>(L to R) Mark Krehel (owner), Luke Ferguson (shop foreman), Joe Willick, Sean Murray, Eric Hanson, Alyssa Goulet and Bryan Mangold

The Central Okanagan has received two awards at the BC Parks and Recreation Association (BCPRA) annual conference. Murray Kopp, the Director of RDCO Parks Services and a former president of the BC Parks and Recreation Association was presented with an Award of Merit from the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA). This award recognized his national leadership efforts to champion and expand the recent CPRA Canadian Parks Council, Park for All – An Action Plan for Canada’s Parks Community initiative. The Association’s 2018 Award of Merit has been presented to the Regional Parks Service and the Community Recreational Initiatives Society, known as CRIS. The award recognizes achievement in the local government or special interest level involving a significant distinct contribution to the enhancement of local recreation and parks.

Congratulations to Daniel Massey, a grade 7 and 8 math and maker teacher at Constable Neil Bruce Middle School in West Kelowna on winning the prestigious Prime Ministers Award for teaching excellence in the STEM category (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics). He was one of only two teachers in B.C.to be honoured. Daniel is retiring at the end of this term after teaching for 31 years.

Pushor Mitchell LLP has been recognized for a second year in a row as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2018. This year’s winners are featured in a special magazine published in the Globe and Mail. A full list of recipients, including the reason why Pushor Mitchell and other companies were chosen can be found at Canada’s Top 100 Small & Medium Employers.

Non-profit charitable organization Disabled Sailing Kelowna is hosting an open house on May 12th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to celebrate 25 years in the Okanagan at the Kelowna Yacht Club (gate of the marina). They are offering 20 minute sails in the Martin 16 sailboat for anyone and everyone to try out. Able bodied persons or people living with a disability are welcome with $10 getting you a hot dog and a sail. For more information call SherriLee Parsons at 778-214-6750 or [email protected]

Congratulations to Kevin Bennett of ZipZone Peachland and Gracelyn Bellingan of the Philippines on their marriage May 3rd.  They plan to live in the Philippines.

United Way Bus Pull returns on Saturday, May 26th with another chance for teams of eight to transform our community through fundraising and true grit. Only two team spots are remaining for the 12 team round-robin style event that pairs two teams side by side in time trials. Along with bragging rights, the top team receives the United Way Community Cup. It is a great team building event for any business, organization or just a group of friends. For more information or to register call Jeremy Lugowy at 250-860-2356 or [email protected]www.pullingformycommunity.com.

Fat Cat Festival on June 8 and 9 is looking for businesses and organizations to gather a team of employees, co-workers, friends or family to volunteer for their fun event and to be a part of a great team building opportunity while helping the event entertain thousands of happy kids. More information visit www.fatcatfestival.ca or email Kristin at [email protected].

If you are looking to attend a great event on the May long weekend, why not mosey on down to the 100th Anniversary of the Falkland Stampede, May 19-21. It all starts on Friday, May 18th with the steer wrestling jackpot. Saturday is the bucking horse drive, kick-off of the 100th Anniversary, One Arm Bandit half-time show and at 8:00 p.m. is the rodeo dance. The parade is 1:00 p.m. on Sunday and the Highway will be closed. Check-out www.falklandstampede.ca for all the details.

“Is Alzheimer’s in Your Genes” is a free information session at Okanagan College Theater, 1000 KLO Road at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23. Presenters are Kim Christie, PhD and Josh Dueck, Alpine Skier, Paralympian. Seats are limited. Call 250-862-8141 to reserve. www.okanganclinicaltrials.com.

Birthdays of the week –Happy 80th Ono (OnofrioCuratolo (May 13); Susan Johal (May 9); Rochelle Noren (May 9); Melanie HallSzyszkiewicz (May 9); Claire Jantzen (May 10); Andrew Bruce (May 10); Bruce Henderson (May 10); Michael J. Ballingall (May 10); Anne Zazuliak (May 10); Felicia Mauro (May 10); Percy Ritchey (May 11); John James (May 11); Joan Woods(May 12);  Olivia Presinger (May 12); Rod Dewhurst (May 12); Angela Kuefler (May 12); Arnie Schneider (May 13); Kent Harris (May 13); Melissa Bishop (May 13); Roberta  Cronquist (May 14); John Schlosser (May 14); John Davina (May 15); Carmelo Mauro (May 15).

Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662; fax 250-860-3173, E-mail [email protected].