Straight From DeHart - Mar. 22, 2017

If you are a shoe lover, Strut Footwear & Apparel has just opened in Mission Park Mall at #29 – 3155 Lakeshore Road. Owned and operated by Shandi Schwartz, the store is bright and well-appointed with fashion and comfort being what they are all about. Strut offers an extensive range of name brands such as Ateliers, Hispanitas, France Mode, Karston Air, Miz Mooz, Sacha London, Flexx and Camper, which is new to the Okanagan. They offer a variety of accessories including beautiful brightly coloured hats that fold into your suitcase or bag. New also to the Okanagan from Vancouver is Benatra jewellery and DSA silver contemporary jewellery. The leather handbags and wallets are from The Trend Bags in Italy. Strut also has a good variety of brightly coloured leggings and socks. Call 236-420-3999 www.strutfootwear.com

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce presented three awards to directors at their AGM. Congratulations to Martine Hickman of the BDC on receiving the Director of the Year Award; retiring director Brian Bonsma, owner of SpeedPro Signs Plus for Volunteer of the Year and to two Chamber Ambassadors, Shawna and Kailey McCrea for Ambassador of the Year.

Uptown Rutland Business Association has a new board of directors of 2017. Executive are Mike Koutsantonis, Olympia Greek Taverna (President); Dawn Thiessen, Aphrodite In Me Spa (1st Vice President); Jamie Needham, Interior Savings Credit Union (2nd Vice President) and Shawndra Bodkin, Interior Saving Credit Union (Treasurer). Directors are Mark Beaulieu (Flashpoint Tattoo), Garry Benson (Benson Law LLP), Chandan (Ruby) Dulay (Benson Law LLP), Curtis Fieseler (Revolution Pharmacy), June Forman (MCC Thrift), Shelley Kvamme Macdonald (CPA), Kamal Shoranick (MKS Resources), Frank Pohland, appointed (CTQ Consultants), Kevin MacDougall, appointed (RCMP), Brad Sieben, Ex-Officio (City of Kelowna) and Tracy Gray, Ex-Officio-Alternate (City of Kelowna). Laurel D’Andrea is the executive director and Amy Wentworth the administrative assistant.

Spring is finally here and World Beat Family Golf at 625 Old Vernon Road is open for the 2017 season. Spring hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Call 250-765-7010. www.worldbeatgolf.com

Red Seal Chef Todd Hollett of Wedgewood Community has now started his catering company Hollett Catering. Todd is an experienced well-known local chef, who has worked at the Kelowna Yacht Club from 2001 to 2004, was at Summerhill Pyramid Winery for four seasons, spent three winters at Big White and was the Chef for the Cops for Kids fundraiser for three years. His catering company can service anywhere from 20 to 200 guests, with preparation either in his own kitchen at Wedgewood or off-premise in other commercial kitchens depending on the event and number of guests. For all catering needs, from trays of sandwiches and desserts for corporate events or luncheons to anniversaries, birthdays or full course evening meals, Todd is available for any type of catering event and offers reasonable pricing. Call 250-826-3988 or hollettcatering@gmail.com

Maple Reinders Group Ltd. at 225 Lougheed Road been honoured with Canada’s Best Managed Company’s designation, which recognizes the best-in-class of Canadian managed companies with revenue over $15 million demonstrating strategy, capability and commitment to achieve sustainable growth. Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums. Bodo Papke is the division manager in Kelowna. www.maple.ca

After 16 years, artist Julia Trops is leaving the Okanagan to relocate to Victoria, BC.

The Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust’s (SIDIT) Business Advisory Services Program is making a big impact on growing businesses in the Southern Interior and is designed to assist growing companies needing assistance in navigating growth successfully. The program features eight highly skilled executive business advisors, each with a diverse set of skills that provide a vast array of knowledge in order to successfully operate all types of businesses. Their clients are partnered with the right business advisor or combination of advisors necessary to achieving their goals and accelerating their growth. They help in the areas of finance, business development, sales and marketing, scalability, human resources, strategy, operational efficiency, lean manufacturing and succession planning. Visit www.siditbas.ca or call Ginny Becker, program manager at 240-212-1604 (cell) or 236-420-3680 (206).

The winner of the 2017 Kelowna Hospitality Industry Blood Drive in January and February was Four Points Sheraton. Runner up’s were Fairfield Inns and Suites and Lake City Casino. Past Winners were the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre in both 2015 and 2016.

Congratulations to Fred Wehnert and Susan Stuart, both of Mickie’s Pub in the Ramada Hotel on their marriage on Saturday, March 18th.

United Way has partnered with KelownaNow to empower charitable giving in the Valley. Through KelownaNow’s online auctioning platform AuctionNow, United Way will bidding off local brands and experiences. During the campaign, which runs from April 1st until May 15th, those interested will be able to place their bid at any time, from any device. This new form of fund raising is accessible, time efficient and cost effective. It ensures more funds go towards what counts. Here’s how to contribute. 1. Provide United Way with products, services and experiences you wish to auction off. 2. Your items are promoted on the charity auction platform and through KelownaNow’s social media channels. 3. When your product closes, proceeds will go towards the United Way. To help raise money, I have donated a Waterways Houseboat Vacation for a four-day, mid-week stay on a 70-foot Genesis houseboat on Shuswap Lake. Comfortably sleeps 12 to a maximum of 16 guests. Retail Value $2,357.14. I won this trip and Waterways were gracious enough to extend the date to this year to raising money for the United Way. Please give generously. Contact Jeremy Lugowy at Jeremy@unitedwaycso.com or 250-860-2356 (106).

Community Futures Central Okanagan has announced that a Business Development Bursary has been launched in the Central Okanagan as a result of a generous donation receive from the Kelowna Jaycees on behalf of Rene Bourgault, a young entrepreneur who passed away suddenly in 2015. Recipient of the bursary will receive business assessment, counseling, training and funding support for their new business. For information contact Larry Widmer at 250-868-2132 (223) orlwidmer@cfdcco.bc.ca

The AGM of Branch 26, Royal Canadian Legion is Tuesday, March 28th at 7:00 p.m. at 1380 Bertram Street.

Corporate wellness technology company, CoreHealth Technologies at 202 – 3275 Lakeshore Road made the Rocket Builders 2017 Ready to Rocket Digital Health List, a list that recognizes top private BC companies positioned to capitalize on growth. Founded in 2004 by Anne Marie Kirby and Jeff Van Dyk, CoreHealth’s platform is used by corporate wellness companies, insurers, benefits brokers, employee assistance providers and human resources consulting firms around the world to power their wellness programs. CoreHealth has received several recent media mentions, including being named the 2016 Corporate Wellness Platform of the Year by Business Worldwide, was selected by the Silicon Review as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Tech Companies for 2016 and won the 2016 EmTech Award for Most Outstanding Corporate Wellness Platform by Corporate LiveWire. www.corehealth.global

The Canadian Red Cross is hosting an information session for volunteer opportunities from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 4that 124 Adams Road. If you are interested in being a part of the largest humanitarian organization in the world, you will want to attend. Unable attend, visit www.redcross.ca/volunteer or call Jennifer at 250-491-8443 (210).

Parkinson Senior Society is hosting a free Zumba class on Friday, March 31st at 7:50 a.m. at Parkinson Activity Centre. Move to great Latin rhythms, meet new people and feel great. Contact Carole Bridges at cw_bridges@hotmail.com.

The French Book Fair is April 5th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 702 Bernard Avenue. Organized by the Centre Culturel Francophone de l’Okanagan, there will be hundreds of brand new resources in French. Evelyne Neijens of ChouetteBooks and Susane Duchesne of Monet Book Store, both experts in French resources who will be on hand. Call 250-860-4074.

The 10th Annual TRUE Tourney for the Ronald MacDonald House in May 26 and 27. With over $252,000 donated to RMH to date and room for 24 hockey teams and 24 indoor soccer teams this year, local company TRUE Consulting has hosted this event which has grown significantly. Starting with hockey, they now have soccer in the mix. Teams are generally sponsored by local industry and the hockey slots are all taken but they are looking for soccer teams. If you would like to be a part of this fun weekend call Bodo Papke at 250-212-3397 or bodo@maple.ca.

Birthdays of the week –Happy 70th Joe Iafrancesco (Mar. 19); Tracy Gilbert (Mar. 22); Ivy Cutting (Mar. 23); Jim Ross (Mar. 23); Martin Mills (Mar. 23); Natasha Frappier (Mar. 23); Jack Peters (Mar. 24); Jock Tyre (Mar. 24); Bruce Falkins (Mar. 24); Chris Gorman (Mar. 24); Ryan Donn (Mar. 24); Sorcha Feeney (Mar. 24); Normie Wylie (Mar. 25); Kerry Solinski (Mar. 26); Pat Moxness (Mar. 26); Lark Willms (Mar. 26); David Prouse (Mar. 27); Wendy Giammartino (Mar. 28); Hugh Cairns (Mar. 28); Dick Dummond (Mar. 28); Cam Forgues (Mar. 28).

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 maxdehart@telus.net.