Lee Valley, 38-year Canadian owned family business has opened in Orchard Plaza at 1876 Cooper Rd.. Lee Valley is a global leader in high quality solution-based woodworking tools, plans, and supplies; gardening tools and supplies; woodworking and cabinet making hardware and kitchen and general purpose tools. It’s the coolest store with hundreds of interesting products to choose from. You will definitely need a lot of time to browse. Kelowna is a new format store with an emphasis on the entire in-store experience. The company’s Veritas brand is designed, manufactured and packaged in Ottawa. Lee Valley is also Canada’s largest Festool retailer, which is one of the most highly regarded tool companies in the world. They offer a large selection of gift ideas of toys, games, novelties, clothing, hobbies, crafts and books, many under $10. The large seminar room provides program training on everything from woodworking workshops and how to make a hanging flower basket to making a toolbox with dad. All seminars and events are listed on www.leevalley.com. Connie Vetter-Johnson is the manager and Austin Walper is the assistant manager. Open seven days a week. Call 250-448-1199.
Bacaro Kitchen and Drink Restaurant at 231 Bernard Ave. has a new menu and has opened their patio for the season. Owned and operated by Ben Kilgour, the restaurant is open for dinner from 4 p.m. until late and will be opening for lunch in early May. The restaurant has a modern, cozy and inviting atmosphere serving fresh seasonal and is Mediterranean inspired. Chef Mike Wilkins has put together a wonderful menu of appetizers/tapas, entrees and desserts. We all shared way too many items including the spiced lamb meatballs, crispy fingerlings with house-made ketchup, beef carpaccio and Salt Spring Island mussels. We also shared an entrée of coffee crusted duck breast (Joel Sherlock’s favorite). All were delicious and beautifully presented. Chef Wilkins also offers a house-made burger, pan roasted venison chops, curried cauliflower and catch and pasta of the day. They have an extensive wine and bubbles menu. Check out their Mother’s Day Brunch on Facebook or www.bacaro.ca.
Sherry’s Grand Apparel in the Delta Grand Hotel, owned and operated by well-known business women Sherry Shiskin has now re-opened and is back in business after the completion of the renovations of the lobby at the Delta Grand. The store looks wonderful and Sherry is receiving brand new stock daily and has the same great staff. Some of the brands carried are Picadilly, Berni Mev shoes, Tribal and Joseph Ribkoff. Call 250-717-0280 or www.sherrysgrandapparel.com.
Omega Communications at 100-1751 Harvey Ave. is celebrating 40 years in business. Opened by two former Motorola technicians, Gary Campbell, who still sits as president, and Cal Coghill (deceased), Omega started as a small two-way radio sales and service shop that served the valley with a focus on the forestry, construction and fire/rescue. In 1974 Jerry Sedmak joined the company helping to grow the business into the cellular and business telephone system/voicemail markets. Both those divisions were sold. Warren Saari joined the company in 1992 and purchased the shares from Jerry in 2000. After Cal Coghill’s death in 2001, sole partners Gary and Warren purchased the basic Cable TV network from Big White Ski Resort and upgraded it to offer HDTV and high speed Internet to condo owners at the resort. It now runs as Omega Cable Inc. In 2008 Daren Lowe and Russ Coughlan, long term employees purchased shares and in 2012 another long term employee Jesse Lloyd purchased shares and joined the partnership mix. Omega installs and services many complex solutions that they provide, which are two-way radio, supervisory control and data acquisition and wireless nurse call and patient wandering. In 2011 the team purchased West Crystal that manufactures and markets radio and antenna installation accessories to other two-way radio dealers all over North America. Call 250-860-8016 www.omegacom.ca.
After 12 years in business of creating Okanagan weddings, décor and floral expert Ria Hayden is hanging up her design hat and has sold her business, Stage Right etc. to local designer Lindsay Favell. Recently relocating from Vancouver, Lindsay has over 10 years of wedding design and floral experience. Ria will stay on at Stage Right etc. on a part-time basis to ensure a seamless transition for clients getting married in 2016. She would also like to keep her hand in her passion of floral design. Stage Right etc. specializes in destination Okanagan weddings providing full service, pre-design or custom-design packages for wedding styling, décor and florals as well as draping packages. Call 250-765-1473 or visit www.stagerightetc.com.
91 is the newest casual fine dining restaurant to open in Peachland right across from the beach at 5818 Beach Ave. on April 30 at 6 p.m. Owned and operated by chef Praneil Rai, the building has been totally renovated and the fare is steak and seafood. Rai has been in the restaurant industry on both sides of the Canada/US border and learned the art of cooking while working under Chris Mills, executive chef and v-p of Joey Restaurant Group. Praneil has been head chef at Cucina Cucina in Redmond, Washington and chef de cuisine at Terrafina Resto at Hester Creek Winery in Oliver. He was previously at 19 Okanagan Grill and Bar at Two Eagles Golf Course in West Kelowna.
Congratulation to Okanagan College students Zachary Andrews (electronics), Spencer Humphries (aerospace technology) and Aaron Schmidt (automotive service) who are on their way to Moncton, NB to compete in the Skills Canada National competition following their gold metal wins a the provincial competition. Silver medal winners are Dale Blumhagen (automotive service), Curtis Koepke (refrigeration), Sarah Maw (culinary arts) and Lukas Pfob (carpentry). Bronze medal winners are Hugo Beaumier-Martin (automotive service), Andrew Kennedy (aerospace technology), Rav Matharoo (heavy equipment service) and Rudi Verlinden (IT-network systems administration).
If you like beef jerky, Heigi’s Viking Steak Jerky is a new delicious jerky distributed by JHS Distributors. It comes in a 30g Grab’ n Go package available in seven flavours and is 98 per cent lean, naturally smoked and hand-cut in signature marinades. The Short Stop Drive-Thru Liquor Store in the Ramada Hotel on Harvey Avenue currently carries three flavours and is selling them faster than they can re-order. The jerky is juicy, flavorful and not dry. It is like snacking on a steak tenderloin. Heigi’s Viking Steak Jerky is vacuum sealed so it is kept fresh and the 30g packages are perfect for a one-time snack. It’s great for people on the go or who enjoy the outdoors as it is rich in protein.
URBA Uptown After Hours is Wednesday, May 4 at Connect Hearing at Plaza 33 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Residents of Meadowbrook Estates on Enterprise Way took to the roadway in support of Earth Day. This group of highly-motivated residents cleaned Enterprise Way from Spall to Dilworth filling bags, buckets and buggies.
London Drugs is hosting some super workshops called Photography and More on Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Join in on any or all of their amazing workshops and take advantage of learning from their very own London Drugs experts. Some of the workshops being offered are Tips for Macro; Ease of Wireless Transfer; Getting to Know Your DSLR camera; How to Benefit from flash photograph; Take Action with your Go Pro Camera and Data Back-Up made easy, plus many more. LDFotocon by London Drugs is bringing together expert photographers and representatives from the top manufacturers to share their expertise techniques and knowledge. All workshops are free, but you must register at LDfotocon.com to attend and guarantee your seat. There is also a barbecue for the local Autism Network. Call 250-860-2232.
Walk in honour of, or in memory of someone who has been affected by Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s on Sunday, May 1, at Mission Creek Regional Park on Springfield Rd. Former B.C. Premier Bill Bennett is this year’s honouree and I am delighted to emcee. This event formerly took place in January and now has a new date, location and name. You can register a team and walk in memory of a person living or has lived with Alzheimer’s or just come out and walk for the cause. For more information visit the website Walk for Alzheimer’s—Support Kelowna 2016 Walk for Alzheimer’s. Pearse Walsh is the volunteer chairperson for this year’s walk.
What’s Happening Around Town:
The 6th annual Vaisakhi Parade is Saturday, April 30 at the Okanagan Sikh Temple on Rutland Road at 11 a.m. Music, performers and food stalls along parade route. The entire community is welcome.
MS Wellness Session, Naturopathy and MS are a free education session about how the services of a naturopath can benefit those with MS. May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church.
Kelowna Paddle Centre, 3020 Abbott St. is hosting their spring open house on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Try an outrigger canoe or find out more about all the public programs they offer.
McHappy Day is Wednesday, May 4. For every happy meal, coffee, tea, McCafe hot beverage and Big Mac sold, $1 will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Kelowna and Ronald McDonald House.
Kelowna Closet Cleanout Spring Fashion Flea Market is at Parkinson Rec Centre on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gift bags for the first 100 ladies.
A Night of Music to benefit the patient comfort fund at the Rotary Lodge is May 1 at 6 p.m. at Benvoulin Heritage Church/Hall. Tickets $25 in advance only. Call musician Gorden James at 250-215-3636
Kelowna Chapter #62 Order of the Eastern Star is hosting Spring 2016 Fashion Show at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club on Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m. For ticket info call Eva 250-861-7118.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 80th Lois Serwa (Today, April 27); Happy 75th Chuck Dixon (Today, April 27); Happy 70th John McCormack (April 30); Happy 50th Marianne Dahl, United Way (April 30); Phyllis and Con Litz, both on same day and married (April 27); Carol Glen (April 27); Raghwa Gopal (April 27); Ron Labossiere (April 28); Cleo Curatolo (April 28); Patrick Oliveira (April 28); Lily Legatto (April 29); Dave McLean (April 29); Merle Bidner (April v(April 29); Rick Patterson (May 2); Susan Steen (May 3); Verna Burnell (May 3); Dale Adamoski (May 3).