Straight From DeHart – March 4, 2020

This week’s column is dedicated to long-time friend Terry Moldenhauer who passed away January 18 in Mexico where he was receiving treatment for a relentless disease that tragically took his life after a hard-fought battle. Terry and the companies he worked for were huge supporters of the Maxine DeHart – United Way, Ramada Hotel Drive-Thru Breakfast for the entire 20 years. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8th at Manhattan Point in Prospera Place.

Marcus Ó Broin Jewellery, Bespoke Handmade Design and Repair has opened at #101 – 4639 Lakeshore Road across from the new Barn Owl Brewing on the former Surtees property. Owned and operated by 20-year jewellery designer and goldsmith Marcus Ó Broin, he specializing in custom handmade jewellery in gold, silver or platinum.  The new quaint, rustic, contemporary shop houses both Marcus’ jewellery displays and the shop from which he works. Marcus was formerly from Pitt Meadows where he also owned and operated a similar shop. Along with his custom jewellery creations, Marcus offers ring sizing, chain soldering/catch replacement,  plating and claw re-tipping/replacement, stone re-setting and tightening, pearl stringing/gluing, cleaning. polishing and same day repairs. Although his shop is mainly custom oriented, he has some lovely ready to wear jewellery on display. Open Tuesday to Saturday. www.marcusobroinjewellery.ca

Congratulations to Brian and Christina Skinner, chefs and owners of Frankie We Salute You, Taylor Whelan, Winemaker at CedarCreek, Neil Taylor, Chef at Home Block and Trent and Ria Kitsch, owners of Kitsch Wines as finalists in the Western Living Magazine Foodies of the Year 2020 Awards. The top 10 winners will be announced on March 7th.

Kelowna’s Jared Schmidt was awarded the silver medal at the 2020 Patron Perfectionist Global Final, where 24 bartenders from around the world competed. The Road to the Global Finals, which took place in Mexico, saw Jared a first win at the Vancouver Regional Final and then the Canadian Finals with his “It Takes a Valley” tequila cocktail.

Brett & Buddies Moving & Junk Removal Service is a six-year business owned and operated by young entrepreneur Brett Waldherr. Brent, along with his buddies, Aaron Stapleton and Ethan Charlesworth, who are all delightful, are a full service moving company from packing everything you own to hanging pictures on the walls. They assemble and dissemble from one place to another with little effort. Working all year round, they refer to themselves as the home transition specialists. Brett and Buddies move both commercial and residential.  As an added future, Brett and Buddies also do junk removal and believe they are the only movers that also specialize in junk removal. When you need a mover, it makes sense to have junk removal to go along with the move. They also re-purpose anything reusable and work closely with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CHMA) and S.H.A.R.E.  Last year alone, Brett refurbished hundreds of items and gave them to over 100 clients of the CMHA. Brent, Aaron and Ethan are three young entrepreneurial men. www.brettandbuddies.com

Darren Witt of Bercum Builders has been appointed the new Vice President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Okanagan. (CHBACO).The board of the CHBACO is Cassidy deVeer, President (3rd Generation Homes); Tyler Krenz, Treasurer (Grant Thornton LLP); Russ Foster, Secretary (Wilden Construction);  Chuck Cullen, Team Construction; Ranvir Nahal, Sunterra Custom Homes; Krista Paine, Ian Paine Construction; Justin O’Connor, Sotheby’s Realty; Jade Davidson, Hybrid Elevator; Don Pineau, Quality Air Care; Sherri Paiement, TELUS; Mark Danielson, Pushor Mitchell Lawyers LLP. Daniel Winer is the new executive director of the association. www.chbaco.com

Long-time hair stylist Dennis Hubbard has moved to Kelowna Hair Design at 1525 Gordon Drive. Same prices, just new location. Call 778-821-2224.

Congratulations to Taylor Menzel of Kelowna Chrysler at 2440 Enterprise Way who received the prestigious award of Sales Person of the Year. General Manager Michael Melenchuk is very proud of the entire team and their authenticity has earned Kelowna Chrysler the Award of Best New Car Dealership in 2019 voted on by Kelowna citizens.

Welcome new members of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce: Alzheimer Society of B.C., Excel Personnel Inc., Focus College, Grand Irish Construction Inc., Grizzly Bear Bistro and Bar, Insul-West Building Materials Ltd., Mission Hill Winery & CedarCreek Estate Winery (Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits), Oakridge Share Services, Sage Transitions, Thick as Thieves Entertainment Inc., Twirling Umbrellas Ltd., Vacasa and WITS Metal Fab Inc.  I am pleased to be the appointee for the City of Kelowna on The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Board.

Speaking of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Pushor Mitchell LLP was presented with a 50 Year Membership Certificate from the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce as a KCC Random Act of Recognition. Pushor Mitchell LLP said they are proud to have been able to support the chamber throughout their long history and look forward to continuing to be involved with an organization that does so much for our community.

Colby Schneider has held the position of sales manager with the Mercedes-Benz dealership for the past eight years.  Effective April 1st, Colby will be promoted to the position of Senior Sales Manager at Kelowna Mercedes-Benz. In his new role, Colby will be responsible for managing and growing the Mercedes-Benz sales and finance teams. While taking on his new responsibilities Colby will continue to support and direct the sales team at the dealership.

There are still a few tickets available for the International Women’s Day event on March 8, the Peachland Community Arts Council. An Afternoon High Tea and an Evening of Wine and Cheese both featuring several local women speakers at the Peachland Community Centre, 4450-6th St. On the afternoon agenda are Cindy Fortin (Peachland mayor), Pam Rader (shift power yoga/shift coaching and leadership) and Nikki Csek (Kelowna Chamber of Commerce). For the evening wine and cheese are Judi Wallace (laughter yoga leader/power coach and cancer survivor), Dr. Tavi Nicholson (clinical psychologist) and Maxine DeHart.  Come join us for some social fun and comradery. Tickets are $10, available at Peachland Art Gallery or by calling 250-767-7422.

Winter is over and the 2020 GolfBC Championship is June 8 – 14, 2020. Interested in volunteering? Know someone who is? Register at https://forms.gle/rgf4mPJFV6xsCK1M6. If you are interested in being a Caddy, register at https://forms.gle/s3uw1vb72aCXCwy56. Questions? Email [email protected].

Parents who are looking for a way to keep their children busy over spring break may just find their answer at the Kelowna Art Gallery.  Art Break offers an exciting week of camps for children ages 5 to 12 that run each day from March 16 to 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Young artists will be inspired by short field trips to different places in the Cultural District, as well as the exhibitions on view in the various gallery spaces. They will take part in painting, sculpting, drawing, working with mixed media and printmaking.  Nataley Nagy is the executive director. To register visit www.kelownaartgallery.com

Engineering Professor Cigdem Eskicioglu has been named the Senior Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in advanced resource recovery from wastewater at UBC Okanagan.  The IRC role, awarded in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Metro Vancouver, will focus on developing and next generation wastewater sludge treatment technologies that recover energy and resources from what we pour down the drain.

Get moving for Easter Seals and make a difference in the lives of many. Walk, run, roll, bike or swim. Choose any exercise you like to raise funds to send kids to Easter Seals Camp from March 1st to the 31st. Here’s how it works. Sign-up to the Get Moving For Easter Seals Challenge. Get moving with any exercise activity. Ask friends, family or co-workers to sponsor a pledge of just $10.00 a kilometer. Send children, youth and adults with diversabilities to Easter Seals Summer Camps. www.getmovingforeasterseals.ca

Birthdays of the week – Isla Burge (Mar. 3); Nancy Wise (Mar. 4); Sandra Hofer (Mar. 5); Camille Saltman (Mar. 5); Kellie Amis (Mar. 5); Linda Frisby (Mar. 5); Randy Leslie (Mar. 5); Connie Penner (Mar. 6); Gary Embleton (Mar. 6); Glen Jackson (Mar. 6); Rick Galitzine (Mar. 7); Ron Hughes (Mar. 7); Lynne Pearson (Mar. 7); Kevin Parnell (Mar. 7); Joshua Cairns (Mar. 7); Rob Willms (Mar. 8); Ron Leroy (Mar. 8); Marguerite Berry (Mar. 9); Karen Christiansen (Mar. 10); Ryan Coome (Mar. 10).

Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662. Email max@maxinedehart.ca and web-site www.maxinedehart.ca