Anita Siemens of Anita’s Diamonds by Design and GIA graduate gemologist, Michelle Urbanovitch have opened and are co-sharing a new shop downtown in the Towne Centre Mall. Anita has been in the jewelry business for over 25 years, coming from a long line of family jewelers. Her mother and father had a jewelry store in Flin-Flon, Manitoba. The shop offers custom design, re-designs of your jewelry, watch repairs, batteries, insurance claims and free jewelry inspection and cleaning. She provides certified diamonds and gemstones. Michelle provides an independent jewelry appraisal service and her designation as a GIA graduate gemologist is recognized for high standards. She is also a Graduate Pearls, Accredited Jewellery Professional, Canadian Graduate Jeweller and Graduate Gemstones. Michelle has been in the business for over 42 years and appraisals can be done while you wait or you can make an appointment. Under no circumstances are items left to be appraised or sent out to be appraised. Michelle is at the shop on Tuesdays or by appointment from Wednesday to Saturday. Call Michelle at 250-448-5986 and Diamonds by Design at 236-420-1988.
Kelowna Museums has opened The Laurel Shop located within the historic Laurel Packinghouse, 1304 Ellis St. The Laurel Shop is dedicated to supporting and promoting made-in-the-Okanagan goods and gifts. The shop offers unique items, artwork, artisan foods and lots more. Browse the selections and feel good about shopping local. All purchases support the Kelowna Museums Society and the preservation and presentation of Kelowna’s heritage.
Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate is celebrating the opening their new patio at 1865 Dilworth Drive (Orchard Place). With Kelowna’s own piece of France, you can sit on the open air café enjoying their signature Croque Monsieur croissant, house-made quiche, pastry or rich coffee from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sandrine also offers a selection of handmade cakes, pastries, macarons, artisan chocolates, jams and savouries.
The BC Interior Sportsman Show was a huge success at the Capital News Centre. Congratulations to the following winners of the huge door prizes. Deb Schram (Fishing trip at the Rugged Point Lodge, North West Coast of Vancouver Island); Dawson Janes (4Boys Fishing Boat Loader, provided and installed by Cap-it Kelowna); April Lewis (Waterway houseboat vacation in the Shuswap); Chantal Bonvie (Douglas Lake Ranch’s premiere, privately managed fly fishing lodge on Stoney & Minnie Lakes) and Stephanie Fullerton (Excalibur Crossbow by Western Woods and Waters).
Opening one year ago and now starting April 18 Basil & Mint Restaurant at 3799 Lakeshore Rd. will open its doors at 4 p.m. They offer a huge patio and new lounge menu with 50 per cent off the lounge menu from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Call 236-420-2100.
If you are looking for some commercial space, Al Stober Construction Ltd. has just launched their new website www.landmarkcentre.org that showcases their tenants, the amenities and leasing opportunities. Dallas Gray is the new marketing agent commercial properties for the company located at 1700-1631 Dickson Avenue. Call 250-763-2305 (ext. 341) or dgray@alstober.com.
Mary Bermudez, ‘chief excrement officer,’ has started a rather different business, Poo Crew. Along with three staff, Poo Crew fills the pet waste management niche in the area helping pet owners, landlords and property management companies. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) deemed pet waste “a non-point source of pollution” in 1991, which put dog poo in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals. Demands for personal services have increased as lifestyles have become increasingly busy. Demographics that already utilize this service include professional, executives, single-parents, pregnant women, seniors, and others who are not physically able to maintain their yards or do not have the time. This service helps to make pet ownership possible for anyone. What they collect is put into the clients waste cans. Keeping a waste-free yard or property not only enhances a healthy living environment, it also has environmental benefits ensuring pet waste does not contaminate city storm water systems that lead into streams and lakes. Poo Crew has recently extended their services to include goose poop removal for commercial areas, parks and waterfront properties. Mary’s employees are fully trained in disease types, sanitation practices, dog bite prevention and dog body language. April 25 is Scoop the Poop Day in the Chase’s Calendar of events, right before April 26 which is Sense of Smell Day (very fitting). Poo Crew is hosting and inviting volunteers to an event on April 25. Volunteers wear Poo Crew T-shirts and will be cleaning the area around Shady Rest Fish and Chips on Sutherland at 11 a.m. Afterwards, anyone wearing a Poo Crew T-shirt will be treated to fish and chips sponsored by Shady Rest. Call 778-400-5793 www.poocrew.ca.
The 21st annual On the Water Boat Show is April 23 and 24 with show times at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kelowna Yacht Club.
Thirty years ago, the internationally recognized community-based crime solving Crime Stoppers program was launched in Kelowna and a year later the program was expanded to all of the Central Okanagan. How tips are anonymously reported and information is shared from and with the public has evolved over the last three decades. Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers new website, www.crimestoppers.net provides more crime prevention, crime solving and community awareness options for the visitor. To-date, Crime Stoppers has received over 23,526 anonymous tips by phone, text or online. The new mobile friendly website offers quick access to report an anonymous tip; view or share those who are most wanted; read unsolved crimes; review missing persons or volunteer and donate to the Crime Stoppers Society. On the hot rec’s page, you can check the vehicle identify number (VIN) on a potential purchase to ensure it is legitimate. Gerry Guiltenane is the coordinator. Call 250-470-6215.
The Central Okanagan Bursary and Scholarships Society (COBSS) is celebrating its 45th anniversary of giving awards, bursaries and scholarships to deserving students from the Central Okanagan area. COBSS was created in 1971 when then-KSS principal Harry Dewar (deceased) issued a challenge to the community to support the graduates to assist in funding their post-secondary education. Local businessman Ken Harding met with Dewar and COBSS was born. Harding was joined by Lou Dedinski and Rosemary King (deceased) from the school board office. From seven bursaries the first year, COBSS has grown to awarding 550 awards this year to a value of $450,000. COBSS would like to thank Ken Harding by celebrating the 45th anniversary with an information and donor appreciation tea on Wednesday, April 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hollywood Road Education Center Gym. You are welcome to attend the tea by emailing cobss@shaw.ca or call 250-861-4980.
Hudson’s Bay is hosting Our Makeup Masterclass Gala on Saturday, April 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $10 plus tax, with $8 off your purchase during the event and $2 from every ticket sold benefiting Beauty Gives Back. Grand prize draws of a $600 patio swing lounger, $400 Coach purse and Fossil wallet and a $300 patio gift basket. There will be silent auction items, demonstrations, vendors, refreshments and music. Order now if you cannot make it for a chance to win one of the gift baskets. For more information call 250-860-2483 (ext. 360).
Kelowna International Choir presents A Taste of Broadway, concert, dinner and dance directed by Gwen Plitt on Friday, May 13 at the Rutland Centennial Hall, 180 Rutland Road. Concert is at 6 p.m. with dinner and dancing to follow. Tickets $35 by calling 250-765-0720.
Okanagan Special People Society at 1580 Stevens Rd. in West Kelowna was started by Lynn Johnson, Bernice Manley and Randy Villeneuve. Lynn, who was the founder, has since retired after 30 years and Angel Deakin is the new executive director. The society provides a day program for people with traumatic brain injuries and diverse abilities. Some of the programs include cognitive skills, exercise, day trips, shopping, day-to-day business transactions, producing and selling hand-crafted items that are mostly wood, coping skills and games. With each piece of woodwork they sell, a portion is given to the people who participated in the construction and the rest goes back into the society to pay for shop supplies, materials, outings, special functions and day trips. They fundraise to assist in purchasing new equipment and accept donations of all sorts. Most of their tools have been donated along with the wood for production. Volunteers give their time, so if there is any way you can help them out give Angel a call at 250-769-6069.
Papa John’s Pizza in partnership with The Sunshine Foundation of Canada is hosting the 2nd Annual Papa John‘s Pizza Dreams for Kids Day on Wednesday, April 27th at Papa John’s in Kelowna (1959 Harvey Avenue) and West Kelowna (2483 Main St.) donating 100 per cent of the proceeds made that day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The 2015 Papa John’s team netted over $42,000 from all their stores, including Kamloops and Prince George. Papa John’s has started the sale of their Dream Cookie available now and until April 27. $1 from the sale of each cookie will go towards Sunshine Dreams. Scott Patten is the director of operations for Papa John’s Interior.
McHappy Day is May 4. To get the event rolling, this Sunday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. they are having Grimace at the Harvey Avenue location and will be selling raffle tickets and a pop a balloon sale for coupons for food and coffee. Stay tuned for more info for the May 4th McHappy Day next week.
There are still tickets available for Divas & Diamonds Ladies Night Out on April 30 at the Westbank Lions Hall hosted by the Peachland Lions Club. Proceeds to the KGH Foundation. It’s going to be a fun night with a reverse draw (every 10th ticket wins) and a grand prize of a diamond ring valued at over $3,000. Tickets at www.peachlandlions.com/events or call Lynne Herrin at 250-767-6225 or Shelley Sweeney at 250-212-2025.
Birthdays of the week—Ron Maclaren (April 21); Dinah Batke (April 21); Shelly Vida (April 22); Chris Koutsantonis (April 22); former mayor Jim Stuart (April 23); Mary Krupa-Clark (April 23); Alana Francis (April 24); Myrna Telford (April 25); Alan Dolman (April 25); Lorna Gunn (April 26); in memory of Albert Baldeo (April 21).
Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, 250-862-7662, fax 250-860-3173 or email maxdehart@telus.net.