Two Kelowna business partners have come up with a hit in the form of a website that lists vacation destinations, hotels, flights and tourist attractions all over the world.

Chiropractor Paul Bickert and his partner Mike Haines have started up two websites services— www.anydestination.com and www.anydestination.ca. After only a few weeks, AboutUs.org, an Internet site rating business, rated the company as being in the top 10 of over 79,000 travel sites in three separate categories. It was rated #1 in the flight, cruise and hotel booking categories. The sites work on the bid system where the user types in the designation they want to travel to with their budget and the website finds available deals.

In recognition of exemplary customer satisfaction, dealership professionalism and dedication to the Yamaha brand, Kelowna Yamaha, at 2331A Enterprise Way, has received the prestigious Five Star Award. In business for nine years, dealer principal Terry Poirier opened their second location in March 2008. He is one of only 61 dealers across Canada to receive this award, with a perfect score of 500 points. An exclusive Yamaha dealer, they sell ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles and generators. Call 250-763-1010; terry@kelownayamaha.ca 

Neil Clegg is a new financial security advisor for Freedom 55 Financial, 1708 Dolphin Avenue in Landmark Tower II. Clegg has worked in the sales and marketing industry for large international companies over the past 25 years in the Lower Mainland, and has now moved his business to Kelowna. Call 250-763-1114 ext. 269; neil.clegg@f55f.com

If you are in a panic for some bannock, stop in and check out the new Kekuli Café at 505-3041 Louie Dr. in West Kelowna. Owned and operated by Sharon and Darren Bond, the quaint, 30-seat café, specializes in First Nations foods. Featuring espresso and cappuccino, coloured walls and an ambience of a pithouse, it will make you feel like you are in the comfort of a stranger’s home. The bannock is made from an old family recipe. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday and they also offer outside catering services.

Olsen Europe has opened in Orchard Park Mall (next to Jersey City). Managed by Dyan Black, who relocated from an Olsen Europe store in Langley, the shop offers a great variety of women’s “elegantly casual clothing.” Manufactured in European countries, the autumn/winter collection showcases traditional looks with extraordinary details and effortless style. The store offers luxurious satin blouses, trousers, blazers, lacquer quilted jackets and new tweed suiting, setting the tone for new country chic. Traditional Glen check patterns, brilliant purple hues and bold berry pink shades define the season’s palette, along with teal and turquoise to add another splash of colour. Knitwear is strong this season, highlighting the new longer length cardigan, knitted waistcoats, cape styles, and large faux fur collars. Olsen Europe also offers accessories including purses, belts, scarves and jewellery. On Saturday, there will be a customer appreciation event with 15 per cent off all merchandise. You can also receive another $25 coupon valid until Dec. 31 on your next purchase. Olsen Europe has 54 stores in Canada. Call 250-762-2839;www.olseneurope.com.

Shelley Smith, formerly of Investors Group and CEO of Above and Beyond Cleaning Company, has joined Sweet Water Spring Ltd. as director of sales and marketing. Sweet Water Spring, through their home and school water fundraising program called Water Dollars for School, will provide a vehicle for parents, students and companies to contribute to the ongoing efforts by schools to enhance their budgets for students. For more info on the campaign or the company call Shelley at 250-801-0020 or sasmith08@shaw.ca; www.sweetwatersprings.ca 

Chef Bernard Casavant, a member of the B.C. Restaurants Hall of Fame, has joined the team at the Manteo Resort as executive chef, which includes the Wild Apple Restaurant and Lounge. Most recently, he was the executive chef at the Sonora Room Restaurant at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery. In creating and developing the new menu at the Wild Apple, Chef Casavant will bring some of his signature dishes developed over the years when he was executive chef at the Chateau Whistler Resort.

Cosmo Tailoring and Alterations, 1488 St. Paul St., owned and operated for 30 years by Cosmo Scinicarello, has been sold as Cosmo has retired. Olga Proiaeva is the new owner of the shop, a well trained dress making designer with four years European schooling and apprenticeship, starting at a young age. Proiaeva formerly owned and operated an alteration business in Calgary for many years and specializes in the alterations of both men’s and women’s clothing, new formal women’s wear, wedding gowns and suede and leather clothing. Call 250-762-9137.

Chiropractor Wayne Terai is operating the new Kelowna Laser Therapy Clinic, located in Burtch Chiropractic at #229-1634 Harvey Avenue. The clinic offers BioFlex Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) treatment. This type of therapy promotes healing and reduces pain and inflammation naturally and is an effective treatment for sports injuries, workplace injuries, automobile accident injuries as well as many chronic conditions including back pain, herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. Dr. Terai has taken specialized training in the use of LILT which has been used in Toronto and Vancouver for several years. Call 250-860-4518; www.burtchchiropractic.com  

Blair Sportswear, located at 1921 Dayton St., is a full-service sportswear and apparel imaging company that has been in business since 1963. They offer embroidery, screen printing and direct to garment printing, whether it’s for team uniforms, company clothing or corporate gifts and work with their clients to create the customized clothing and accessories that they may be looking for. Check out their new website www.blairsportswear.ca. 

Had a delicious meal at the new Cuisine of Thailand restaurant at 104-3466 Carrington Rd. in West Kelowna, across from the new Best Western Inn. Owned and operated by George and Pam Hakim, the restaurant has a good variety of menu items from starters and soups to Sukho Thai special orders, curry, Thai stir-fries and desserts. Pam, a native from Thailand, prepares the food and George helps in the front end. The Thai fried stir-fried egg noodle dishes were my favourite, although it was hard to choose which was more delicious. Open weekdays for lunch and dinner and weekends for dinner only. Call 250-768-7500. 

Beyond50 Magazine and Laurel D’Andrea will host the inaugural Anti Aging Wellness Fair on Saturday, Oct.31, at the Kelowna Community Theatre, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will feature exhibits and guest speakers. For more information, check the website at www.beyond50mag.com or call Laurel at 250-878-9194.  The cost is $2 per person and every person who attends has the chance to win a $500 travel voucher from Marlin Travel.

Prosper Media Group has launched a new publication, SAVOUR Magazine. This high-end food and wine magazine celebrates the extraordinary wine and culinary talent that is thriving in the Okanagan Valley. Published quarterly, the premiere fall issue has enticing and informative articles written by talented professionals who are passionate and knowledgeable about the region. Features include a restaurant review of the new Local Lounge & Grill in Summerland, the history of Holman Lang Vineyards and a collection of locally inspired recipes. Chytra and Craig Brown are the owners of Prosper Media Group that produces the Okanagan Business Examiner and the Grower’s Journal.  

The Indo-Canadian community will host the 9th annual Deepak Binning Foundation dinner and dance on Oct, 24 for the Cancer Centre and UBC Okanagan, raising a total of $250,000. The event includes traditional dances, drumming and a wide selection of fabulous Indian food prepared by community volunteers. I have been lucky to have attended many Indo-Canadian events and have been also been invited to their Temple’s, enjoying many traditional meals, which have all been fabulous. If you have never attended, you really should look at this event. Call Andy Virk at 250-317-1656 or Chanchal Bal at 250-878-8980. 

What does Harlequin Romance require from its authors? The topic will be explored at the first of two sessions about writing the Harlequin Romance, sponsored by the Okanagan branch, Canadian Authors Association in the study room at the Ellis Street Library, from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. Free parking will be available at the adjacent city parkade.  Members free; non-members $10. E-mail ldrdul@shaw.ca

The Evans Gallery, 571 Lawrence Ave., will host the Kelowna Watercolour Guild’s Watercolour Exhibition and Sale on Oct. 30 and 31, with the opening reception on Oct. 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. At this retrospective celebration, the Kelowna Watercolour Guild will honour its founding members. Their tree logo was designed by the late Helen Beatte.

Birthdays of the week —Dennis Perley, Café Soleil (Oct. 20); Dieter Oldendorf (Oct. 20); Roxy Paul, Arby’s (Oct. 21); Jim Milne, TAC Mobility (Oct. 25); Terry Wardrop, I. A Pacific Life (Oct. 27); Merrill Swaby, Sunset Ranch Golf Club (Oct. 27); Vicki (Lorraine) Campbell, Odysseys Hair Studio (Oct. 27); Gary Culbert, Kelowna Golf & CC (Oct. 27).  

Maxine DeHart is a Kelowna hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546, fax 250-860-3173, e-mail maxdehart@telus.net.