Sticks + Stones Design Group located in 麻豆精选's Landmark District, 50B-615 Dickson Ave., is celebrating 30 years in business.
This Canadian company opened their doors in 1995 in Canmore, Alta., and branched out to 麻豆精选 in 2004. Owned and operated by founder and creative director Carla Bond-Fisher, the company offers commercial interior design for offices, retail, restaurants, hotels, wellness and education. Its custom home design includes multi-family, single-family, duplexes and fourplexes. Sticks + Stones offer residential interior design for single family, duplexes, fourplexes, show-home furniture packages, and styling for both commercial and residential. One fun fact about the company is that they were the interior designers for Jillian Harris鈥� Love It or List It in Season 5 in 20 episodes which were filmed in 麻豆精选.
In July of this year, L&O Jewellers will commemorate 51 years in business. The company was started by Con Litz and Keith Osterhout in 1974. It was a wholesale jewelry shop that did work for most of the jewelry stores in 麻豆精选. The business branched out to Penticton, Vernon and central B.C. with clients on Vancouver Island and in Alberta. Con and Keith were partners for six years. In 1979, Con and brother Rudy Litz bought it outright and then operated it together for the next 24 years. In 1980, L&O moved from Rutland Road to its current location at 1735 Dolphin Ave. Con retired in 2015 and sold his share to his youngest brother, Todd Litz. Now after another 10 years of operation, Rudy is retiring, as Todd will become the sole operator of L&O. The shop will be closed June 30 until July 14.
In 2017, two international students, Anmolpreet Manchanda and Shivam Chhabra, arrived in Canada with hopes of building a better future. After overcoming numerous challenges, they founded A One Security in 2021, which is now a trusted provider of professional security services across the Okanagan region. Operating in 麻豆精选, Vernon, Penticton, Kamloops and other surrounding areas, A One Security offers mobile patrols and on-site guards backed by a trained team of full-time and part-time officers. Their experience spans public service sites, health-care facilities, hotels, (including the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre), shelters and government properties. With a focus on safety reliability and professionalism, A One Security can be contacted at 1-778-363-2842 or visit .
After more than 15 years as a downtown 麻豆精选 business cornerstone, the original first floor of Lakehouse Home Store at Bernard and Ellis will be shifting entirely to the second floor, where it will operate alongside the popular Lakehouse Kitchen Cooking School. This is a personal milestone for founders Ben and Sue Boschman, who will be easing into retirement. The ground floor space will be turned over to an exciting new brand that will complement Lakehouse and contribute to the vibrancy of downtown. Lakehouse will continue to focus on strengthening its in-store experiences on the second floor and expanding its online presence, making it easier than ever for customers to access products both in-person and from home. \
At the AGM of the YMCA of Southern Interior BC, a new board was elected for 2025. Re-elected board member and current CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, Brea Lake will continue as board chair. Other board members renewing their terms include Kyla Magee (treasurer) and directors Julia Buck, Manik Dhir, and Kwame Boateng. Long-time directors Steven Morrison, Michelle Cook and Erin Strong were re-elected for two-year terms. Allan Neilson, Lisa Lock, Sinead Scanlon and Patrick Ng were newly appointed. Past board chair Dave Bond stepped down after eight years of service as did Rod Gibbings after eight years and Craig Folvick after four years. Maria Teresa Jimenez was awarded the Shining Star Award, presented by Jill Seibert, for being a volunteer for the YMCA for more than 40 years. Sargam Yadav received the Bright Light Award as the young upcoming volunteer while Nora Ward was recognized for her significant contribution of Gift of Time receiving the Sparkle Award.
The Okanagan College Board of Governors has renewed Neil Fassina鈥榮 contract as president of Okanagan College (OC). In the four years that Fassina has been president, he has led the college teams through external challenges and complexity, while also helping co-create a vision and strategic direction for OC that is centred on expanding access to post-secondary education for learners across the region. Dale Safinuk is the chair of the Okanagan of the College Board of Governors.
Porto Peach Restaurant, at 5830 Beach Aven. in Peachland, owned and operated by Claire Reeder, has a new chef and an updated menu. Chef Chad Brigden is known for his comfort home-cooking style. With a career spanning over two decades, he has expanded his repertoire to include a variety of cuisines. In addition to his culinary skills, Chef Brigden鈥檚 experience as a general manager has equipped him with the skills to oversee successful events and restaurant operations. The new menu includes more Island flavours from around the world to put people into the Porto Peach Island staycation vibe 鈥� Santorini Chicken Souvlaki, Cuban Sliders, Caribbean Prawn PoBoy, Jamaican Patties, Mexican Bennys and Mediterranean Flatbread. Porto Peach has kept all their classics items and has a great breakfast menu. Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Well-known local artist Alex Fong will host an exhibit at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in the Atrium from June to the end of September. The exhibit is called 鈥n a good day鈥here colour breathes and butterflies whisper鈥�
The public is invited to the Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens and Gallery Exhibition and Sale at 250 Reynolds Rd. on Saturday, July 5, and Sunday July 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be harp music by Natalie Wood and 麻豆精选 Sketching Club members will be active on site. Considered the gem of the Okanagan and a favourite tourist attractive, the Maas family established the sculpture gardens and gallery over 45 years ago. There will be hundreds of paintings, prints, sculptures, medals, wall sculptures and artworks to view and purchase. Enjoy snacks and refreshments as you stroll through the gardens and three indoor gallery rooms. Free admission.
Thanks to a City of 麻豆精选 cultural grant, the 麻豆精选 & District Genealogical Society (KDGS) Central Okanagan Obituaries database is now available for you to search yourself. You can now download and search obituaries from their 24,000+ collection of people who have passed in the Central Okanagan, some dating back to 1913. KDGS only allow downloads of those with images of the obituary so if you encounter one without an image, a pop-up form will allow you to request they find and upload the image. The initial KDGS database was created by Geoff Dawson, a member of the society and volunteers who made tens of thousands of entries over the years. KDGS members can download obituaries for free. Non-Members can purchase downloads for $10 plus a handling fee. In 2023, a redesign of the database on more robust program was started with Javier Gongora of Vyoniq Technologies, who worked in collaboration with Xenia Stanford, KDGS Obituary Committee Chair. KDGS is always looking for volunteers. Contact Xenia Stanford at xenia.stanford@gmail.com or visit .
Join Uptown Rutland (URBA) for a night of free comedy at the Rutland Centennial Park stage. Enjoy an evening of laughter under the open sky with local comedians. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and share in the fun with free snacks on June 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Pradha Farm in Lake Country will host concerts this summer starting June 27, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Live music, food trucks, mini market, door prizes and Rose Hill Orchard serving delicious local made cider. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Birthdays of the week
Happy Birthday Canada (July 1); happy 60th Terri McDonald (June 25); Dennis Campbell (June 25); Evans Premachuk (June 25); Winnie Wen (June 25); Bill Ferguson (June 25); Renatta Mills (June 25); Janet Wourms (June 26); Kelly Hutchinson (June 26); Caroline Fraser (June 26); Chazz Llewellyn (June 26); Shannon Bews Croft (June 27); Cami Hill (June 28); Jim Lawrence (June 28); Lane Shupe (June 28); Sinead Scanlon (June 28); David Walker (June 28); Ken (Bubba) Coles (June 28); Maricarmen (Maria) Garcia-Kittle (June 27); Tom Martin (June 29); Mike Isaac (June 28); Angie Busch (June 29); Gordon Scarlett (June 29); Brenda Scruton (June 30); Eva Simon (June 30); Rick Maddison (June 30); Joy Wallace (June 30); Linda Brandon (July 1); Marlene Trelenberg (July 1); Jenz Madsen (July 1).
The Specialty Bakery Birthday Cake Winner of the Week is Linda Brandon and Marlene Trelenberg. Please pick up your birthday cake from any one of the four Specialty Bakery locations before July 2.
Maxine DeHart is a 麻豆精选 city councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662, email max@maxinedehart.ca.
