Mandy and Bruce Tamaki have opened shop at 2983 Pandosy St., next to The Wardrobe and Cranberry Junction. The Zen Den is a unique store featuring yoga and active wear, aromatherapy diffusers, essential oils, meditation tools, soaps, crystals, jewelry, sunglasses, cards and gifts. They have a little bit of everything. Their emphasis is on Canadian-made items and eco-conscious products to assist in enhancing your overall wellness and encourage active lifestyles and nurturing spirit. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Call 236-420-1994 www.zendengallery.ca.

Jim Coulter is a new advertising representative for the ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç. Since 1988, Jim was the publisher of the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows News, which is also a Black Press publication. Call 250-979-7935 or jim.coulter@kelownacapnews.com.

Access Mobile Physio, owned by Jason Gordon and Stride Mobile Physio, owned by Marley Chambers and Deanna MacArthur have amalgamated and will now be known as Stride Mobile Physio. The company has recently hired an associate in Vernon and is hoping to add one more staff member in the Southern Okanagan later this spring. Learn about their therapists at www.stridephysio.ca or book at 778-215-7780. Jason was my physio therapist after surgery on my shoulder. Having a mobile physio therapist to provide services in the comfort and convenience in your home is wonderful. It certainly takes a lot of the pressure and stress out of the appointment and I felt my healing was faster. It makes the entire process easier on the patient, as they also bring all the equipment that is needed for the appointment.

Roberto and Angela Norori and their partner for the past two years, Santino St. Clare of Mission Park Barber Shop, #12 – 605 KL0 Road (KLO and Richter) are celebrating their 20th anniversary in business on Thursday, April 14. The barber shop has been in the same location for the entire 20 years and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 250-762-5620.

Carrera Teal is the new coordinator, community giving and events for the CNIB, Southern Interior, Northern B.C. areas. Carrera is based out of the ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç office at 101 – 1456 St. Paul Street and was formerly with the Center for Arts and Technology and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Call 250-763-1191 (6178).

Accolades to Nettie Engbrecht who is celebrating 10 years volunteering with the ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç Hostesses. The ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç Hostesses are active citizens who volunteer many hours in our community. If you are interested in joining or would like more information about them, call coordinator Brenda Scruton at 250-452-6719 or davebren@telus.net.

Custom Sidecar Tours, owned and operated by Patrick and Dorothy Wilkins, is ready to ride. They provide personalized tours to attractions within the valley in a sidecar that is built for two people, letting couples, friends or family ride in the double-seated sidecar attached to a quiet Honda Gold Wing. The company highlights the tourist-based industries and services that work within their niche market of the valley, including wineries, local art galleries, farms, historical landmarks, artists’ studios or basically anywhere you want to visit. The Wilkins sees their customized tours as inviting guests to a party and they are the hosts on your special adventure. 10 per cent discount for seniors and 15 per cent discount for military or emergency personnel. Call 778-753-1237 or dorothy@customsidecartours.ca.

Look for the 26th issue of the Okanagan Sunshine Savings Coupon Book published by Judy Levine that will soon be delivered to each individual household by Canada Post. The book is chock-full of coupons for food, fun, beauty, indoor and outdoor improvements, health and fitness. If you did not receive one, you can obtain most of the coupon savings at www.okanagansunshine savings.com and click on-line coupons. Call Judy at 250-860-2031.

Congratulations to Ron Westlake, regional service director for the City of ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç who was honoured by the Canadian Urban transit Association (CUTA) for superior and outstanding service as a public transit professional. Ron has been with the city for 28 years and has overseen the growth of local transit to a modern regional service.

Global News Okanagan welcomes two new anchors. Geoff Hastings from Global News: BC 1, will be the 11 p.m. newscast anchor and accomplished journalist Jordan Armstrong will join the line-up as weekend anchor, airing weekends at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Chefs in the Classroom—Edible Education is a wonderful program that is an initiative of the Okanagan Chefs Association. It is a seven lesson program that culminates in a field trip and lunch at a working farm. Each of the classrooms, which is geared to kids in Grade 3 are planting window sill gardens and watching them grow over the program time. They will harvest the greens, make their own salad, try new fruits and veggies and learn about herbs. To spread the word of the program and have a little fun with it, the organizer wanted to challenge a community member for each of the six schools to grow their window sill garden at the same time as the classroom and post the gardens on social media. I was delighted to be asked to join in and am pleased to say that my school is Rutland Elementary. I was provided with a window sill container, watering can, gardening gloves and radish seeds that all came in a colourful wire basket. Just what I needed to get started. I have planted and watered my box diligently and have posted the first picture of its growth on my Maxine DeHart Facebook site. Other posts will be from April 18 to May 30. Please take a look, follow me and like it (comments graciously accepted). On Saturday, listen to Don Burnett’s morning garden show on 1150 AM to hear more about the program. Visit www.chefsintheclassroom.ca.

GolfBoard, the first and only substantive, surf-inspired, motorized golf vehicle built specifically for the sport is now available at Predator Ridge Golf Resort. The four-wheel drive board, conceived by Bally Total Fitness Founder Don Wildman and big wave surfer Laird Hamilton, allows users to turn by simply transferring their body weight in a carving motion akin to snowboarding or surfing. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, GolfBoards are ultra-durable and built with a safety-first and user-friendly mantra to provide golfers a more active and engaging alternative to riding in a cart. Predator Ridge has eight custom GolfBoards ready for rent. Mark Lindsay and Jon Kadin are the regional representatives for Golfboard and Mark Nielsen is the director of sales for Canada. To reserve call the pro shop at 1-888-578-6688 www.golfboard.com.

Speaking of golf, tickets for The GolfBC Championship (Mackenzie Tour—PGA Canada) at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club are now on sale online for a limited time offer of $25 for a four-day pass. The Championship Pass is valid all day for all four days of the tournament play June 9 through 12. This is an exceptional opportunity for golf fans to watch professional golf at a great family-affordable price for this inaugural tournament. To purchase Championship Passes go to www.golfbcchampionship.com/tournament-information/tickets.

The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) has a new 2017-2017 board. Congratulations to new elected board president Anthony Bastiaanssen of West ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç. Directors are Tanis Read, vice-president; Christopher Miller, past president, Marv Beer, Dave Favell, Kim Heizmann, Bill Hubbard, Derryanne Hubbard, Michael Loewen and Brent Pay. OMREB is a member governed not-for-profit association representing more than 1,000 realtors and 92 real estate offices in the B.C. Interior (Peachland to Revelstoke).

Bacaro Kitchen & Drink at 231 Bernard Ave. is hosting a Scotch night on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a four course dinner paired with a selection of specially selected vintages with Keith Trusler featuring The Glenlivet and Aberlour for $85. Seating is limited. Reserve at 778-484-6994 or events@bacaro.ca.

Nature’s Fare Market and Autopoetic Ideas are hosting Anita Moorjani on Sunday, April 24 at the ÁðÁ§ÉñÉç Community Theatre. Anita will speak about her own remarkable journey from end-stage cancer, through a near-death experience, to total healing. She wrote her story in the New York Times bestselling book Dying to be Me. Tickets at www.eventbrite.ca/e/an-evening-with-anita-moorjani-in-kelowna-tickets-20102622485.

At the Steve Nash Fitness opening, I had the opportunity to try the Grilled Mahi and Grilled Crab Tacos from Surf Side California Tacos truck. Ian and Heidi do a great job. The tacos were fresh and delicious. To have them at your event call 250-899-3045 or info@surfsidecalifornia.ca.

Mamas for Mamas is a non-profit organization that connects mothers of all socioeconomic backgrounds to encourage social justice by re-distributing items, services and support to one another through a private social media platform. They also advocate for and empower women to take control of their situation to improve their quality of life and are dedicated to reducing the prevalence of poverty in the community. Mamas for Mamas have partnered with Pacific Top Team Martial Arts to offer an exclusive women’s only self-defense course taught by owner Sarah Draht, a Brazilian Jujitsu champion who teaches women how to use technique and leverage over size and strength to protect themselves. Participation in this workshop also has the benefit of funding Mamas for Mamas emergency food hamper and mental wellness programs for only $10. To register for April 23 or April 24 visit www.selfdefensekelowna.com. Shannon Christensen is the executive director. mamasformamas@gmail.com.

The Central Okanagan Heritage Society has a spring work bee and garage sale planned for much needed maintenance and yard work at Benvoulin Heritage Park, 2279 Benvoulin Road on Saturday, April 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you can help by volunteering call 250-861-7188 or cohs@telus.net.

Club Wine Tours has only eight tickets left for their Scenic Sip Taste Lake Country tour which is a full day tour on April 23. $120 per person. Call Bill Jack at 250-762-9951.

Birthdays of the week: Happy 99th Phil Moubray (April 19); Happy 50th Maria Johnson, Lady Bug House Keeping (April 17); Gloria Moore (April 13); Dave Langton (April 13); Gerry Zimmermann (April 14); Ken Thompson (April 14); Don Burnett (April 14); Linda Kerry (April 14); Wendy Waller (April 14); Walley Lightbody (April 14); Jeff Harte (April 14); Mike Guzzi (April 17); MJ Bennett (April 17); Nick Pisio (April18); Pearse Walsh (April 18); Kendra Casey (April 18); Peter Wilson (April 18); Peter Burleigh (April 18); John Goncalves (April 19); Sue Martin (April 19); Loru Harris (April 19); Glen Rea (April 19); Anita Clegg (April 19); In memory of our mom, Helen Abram (April 13).