Straight From DeHart – March 11, 2020

If you have not heard, the new Smitty’s Family Restaurant in the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre has now been open for six weeks. Owned and operated by franchisee and general manger Pavel Prygounov, the Smitty’s franchise is celebrating its 60th year in business. The restaurant is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Along with their regular large menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner, Smitty’s is also offering a breakfast buffet from Friday to Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Some of the items on the buffet are eggs benedict, Smitty’s famous pancakes, scramble eggs, yogurt parfait station, fresh fruit, French toast, sausage, bacon, mini perogies and much more.  For breakfast lovers, Smitty’s serves breakfast all day, along with their famous made for Smitty’s blend coffee  The lunch and dinner menu has everything from appetizers, garden fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, gourmet burgers to full dinner entrees and desserts. Don’t forget to have a Smitty’s milkshake or old fashioned apple pie. Smitty’s also offers a Kid’s menu for ages 10 and under. Gift cards available. www.Smittys.ca

After 27 years, well-known journalist and columnist Alistair Waters has left the Kelowna Capital News. Alistair started with the newspaper as a reporter and was also Assistant Editor for over 20 years. For many years he covered Kelowna City Council meetings and anything and everything in our city. One year ago, Alistair moved from reporting to become a Regional Editor with Black Press based in Kelowna and part of a team that produced all the Black Press Southern Interior papers. Alistair is not leaving Kelowna and I’m sure we will see him pop-up in a new venture soon. [email protected]

Well-known Naturopathic Physician, Dr. David Wikenheiser has relocated to new premises at 110 – 1628 Dickson Avenue in Landmark 4. He is seeing patients as usual and his telephone number remains the same at 250-762-8900. www.drwik.com

Congratulations to Taylor Menzel of Kelowna Chrysler at 2440 Enterprise Way who received the prestigious award of Sales Person of the Year.

Kudos to Larry Tuovila, an employee at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre who has given his 150th donation of blood this past week.  Larry is very passionate about donating blood and encourages everyone he meets to do so. The Kelowna Donation Centre is located at 1865 Dilworth Drive. www.blood.ca

Hub Office Furniture located at #115 – 1631 Dickson Avenue on the main level of Landmark 6 has been in business for 1-1/2 years. Owned and operated by partners Joanne King and Jules Galloway, who are both designers and skilled entrepreneurs, the company deals in upscale commercial office furnishings and workplace inspirations. When you walk into their bright showroom/design shop, you automatically have a positive feeling of the furnishings they can offer for your business. Although Hub deals with 55 different company lines of furniture, they are one of only a handful of Knoll dealers in Canada and the only female owned dealership. From modern tables, desks, chairs, lamps, workspaces to sofas, cabinets and patricians, they have it all. Hub also offers free educational accredited events for designers and have fund raising events for the causes that are meaningful to them including scholarships for students of KATO (Centre of Arts and Technology) and align themselves with women’s charities and female entrepreneurs. Open Monday to Friday or by appointment. www.hubofficefurniture.com

Wilson’s Landing Fire Department is on a recruitment drive and would like to hear from anyone who lives in the Westside Road neighborhoods from Traders Cove to Shelter Cove. The Recruitment Open House and BBQ on Monday, March 16th between 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Station 42 Fire Hall, 2396 Westside Road North. Visit www.rdco.com/firerecruit.

Keith Inman of Pushor Mitchell LLP has been appointed to the TSX Venture Exchange’s Local Advisory Committee (LAC).  LAC has been established by the Exchange to provide advice and recommendations to the Exchange on all policy, operational and strategic issues that are likely to have a significant impact on the public venture capital market and the role of the Exchange.

Mark Dickie, Crowe McKay’s Senior Associate, Professional Standards has been recognized as a Fellow (FCPA) of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. The FCPA designation formally recognizes those members who have rendered exceptional services to the profession, whose achievements in their careers and/or whose contributions in the community have earned them distinction and brought honour to the profession. Mark formerly was a partner in the Calgary office and currently resides in Victoria after leaving Kelowna.

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has a new board for 2020. Congratulations to President-Elect Jeffrey Robinson of Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP. Nikki Csek of Csek Creative is the Past President. Directors are Annika Betts, Sandhill Winery/Calona; Ellen Boelcke, KCR Community Resources; Ron Cannan, Interior Savings; Mike Daigle, NMP LLP; Aaron Dow, Farris LLP; Derek Gratz, UBC Okanagan; Maryse Harvey, MH2 Advisory Services; Justin O’Connor, Sotheby’s International; Pamela Pearson, Sentes Group; Dan Price, Emil Anderson/Dilworth Homes; Dominic Rampone, West Manufacturing; Robert Scott, 2M Performance; Laura Vigar, Watson’s Hound Lounge; Ray Wynsouw, Candel Custom Homes.

The 6th Annual Magical Night of Laughter 2020 is a Hands in Service fundraiser on Friday, March 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the downtown library. See the magical talents of Leif David and clean funny comedian James Uloth. Tickets online at www.tinyurl.com/MNOL2020.

After seven years with iSight Optometry, Dr. Stephanie Gautier is now a partner in the business along with Dr. Kettner and Dr. Westfall. iSight Optometry located at #3 – 2070 Harvey Avenue is dedicated to caring for their current patients and happily accepting new patients. www.isightinfo.com

The Rodney Hobson Karate Academy was a force to be reckoned with at the 2020 B.C. Winter Games in Fort St. John. Members of the Kelowna based dojo returned home with eight medals and individual awards. Gold medal winners were Davis SpencerJade Wynne and Storm Wynne (Kumite divisions). RHKA also won the Team Kumite competition as Davis SpencerJade WynneStorm Wynne and Indigo Berry pooled their skills and captured gold. Davis Spencer added a silver medal in Open Kumite and a bronze in Team Kata. Jade won silver in Advanced Kumite, while Indigo earned a silver in Advanced Kumite (boys). Lauren Reid won the Junior Coach Award and Indigo Berry was selected winner of the Male Sportsmanship Award. www.rhka.com

Dewey Cuttem & Howe Hair Co. at 140 – 1876 Cooper Road is has been sold. Previous owner Paul McIntyre has sold the salon to Suzanne SzakalBetty Storgaard and Melissa Yuen who previously worked at Tuscany Hair in the Mission. The new name of the shop is Blown Away Hair. Do not fret. Paul will continue to work in the shop as a stylist. You can contact Paul at 250-681-6084 or [email protected]. The number for the new shop has not changed at 250-861-8442.

The Spring Great Closet Cleanout is Saturday, March 14th at the Laurel Packing House, 1304 Ellis Street and I’ll be there selling my gently used and new clothing. You can shop for gently used ladies clothing, shoes and accessories, straight from their owner’s closets from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be door prizes, swag bags for the first 100 attendees and above all great deals. The event will have over 40 tables of excellent items to choose from. The event will support The Bridge Youth Recovery House. Admission is only $5.00 and kids are free.  It will be a fun afternoon. See you there. www.greatclosetcleanout.com

Congratulations to the 2019 Lake Country Business Excellence Award winners. Citizen of the Year went to Bob Rymarchuk of UBR Services Printing and Copies. This award going forward will now be known as the Bob Rymarchuk Citizen of the Year Award.  Other winners were Jennifer Madsen of Oyama Zipline Adventure Park (Business Leader of the Year); Wood Lake RV Park (Tourism Excellence); Invati Yoga & Wellness (Rising Star); UBR Services Printing and Copies (Business of the Year); Lake Country Food Bank (Community Service); Kayla Caruana (Young Entrepreneur); Interior Savings (Business of the Year +10); Connect Communities (Health Service Provider of the Year); Turtle Bay IT (Home Based Business of the Year); Nalu Wellness Registered Massage Therapy (People’s Choice); Gambell Farms (Family Farm); Rob Conelley (Volunteer of the Year); CapriCMW (Professional Service); L’Isola Bella Bistro (Hospitality Award of the Year); Holmes Electric (Trade Service Provider).

Birthdays of the week – Happy 70th Rudy Litz (Mar. 9); Darrell McIntyre (Mar. 11); Councillor Luke Stack (Mar. 12); Bill Justus (Mar. 12); Wayne Carson (Mar. 12); Helen Hut (Mar. 12); Christine Romanow (Mar. 14); Max Runge (Mar. 14); Shaida Langley (Mar. 15); David Urness (Mr. 16); Matt Cherrille (Mar. 17); Colin Pritchard (Mar. 17).

Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna City Councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662. E-mail [email protected] and website www.maxinedehart.ca