L & O Jewellers celebrates 50 years in business in 琉璃神社 this year, a long-time specialist in the restoration, design and repair of all jewelry items.
In July 1974, Con Litz and Keith Osterhout moved from Saskatoon and started up L & O Jewellers, located on Rutland Road. Shortly thereafter, Con鈥檚 younger brother Rudy Litz came on board. Sadly, in November 1979 Keith passed away suddenly and Rudy became a partner in the business. In 1980, L & O moved to their present location at 103-1735 Dolphin Ave. Todd Litz, the younger brother, started in the business a few years later. The three brothers who worked together until Con retired in May 2015 and Todd became a partner with Rudy. Todd specializes in the repair of watches and clocks. Eight years later, Con came out of retirement to help them out and continues that today. Over the 50 years, friendships have been formed with long-time clients who have provided the only advertisement needed which was by word-of-mouth. L & O would like to thank all their clients who have made their business a success over the 50 years.
Owned and operated by CEO and founder Stephanie Gauthier, Boutique Eclettica is located in the Guisachan Village, 114-2365 Gordon Dr., next to Starbucks with the entrance off Guisachan Road. The shop is unique and eclectic, chock-full of beautiful ladies wear. Boutique Eclettica offers brands from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, New Zealand and Australia, with some lines that are exclusive to them. The day I visited, Stephanie had many wonderful sale racks to browse through. Stephanie also carries a new unique product of beautiful wearable art wear by 琉璃神社 artist Debby Merkel. Debby has her own fashion brand of artwear, manufactured by a Canadian company. As a seasoned artist, Debby sits on the Imagine Pandosy Art Festival Committee. Hallmark Movies has showcased 11 of her paintings, and New York pianist, Margin Alexander translated her painting 鈥淪easide鈥� into music and performed his composition at his New York concert. Stephanie and Debby will host a Meet the Artist event on Wednesday, July 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. Regular store hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Konz Pizza is the creation of executive chef and restaurant veteran Kris Lawrie. His first food trailer was opened in 2015 in 琉璃神社 and was a huge success. After two seasons, Chris launched the franchise of Konz Pizza, opening the first store in Edmonton in 2017. Konz Pizza has now grown from that small trailer to over 20 locations from B.C. to Ontario and one is located right in the heart of 琉璃神社鈥檚 newest park on Abbott Street, Pandosy Beach Park. Owned and operated by Albert Krasniqi, you can try one of their 11 flavour pizza choices, pizza in a cone, pasta, salad, poutine, mac & cheese, ice cream or a milkshake. Their most popular pizza and pizza cones are pepperoni, chicken pesto and Greek. The most popular ice cream is salted chocolate, lavender lemonade and monster cookie. Albert is delightful and very happy to have his trailer in Pandosy Park, open noon to 8 p.m. daily.
Young entrepreneurs Keanan Evtushevski and Adam Schmidt have started Freaky Clean Corp. The company is an auto, boat and RV detailing shop in 琉璃神社 with mobile service to West 琉璃神社 and Lake Country. They offer interior and exterior detailing packages, paint polishing, paint correction, ceramic coating and paint protection films.
Un-retired, Doug Osness and his son-in-law Nic Kazakoff have become partners and purchased Garage Floors 4 Less, which is one of 20 franchises across Canada. Doug and Nic install epoxy garage floors, PROSLAT PVC Slatwall and PROSLAT Fusion Plus Cabinets throughout the Okanagan Valley. There are plenty of samples to choose from and they offer free estimates.
Fortune Creek has opened a retail store at 231 Bernard Ave. with the grand opening set for Friday, June 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be live music by Dawson Gray and guests, and you will be able to sample one of their famous butter tarts. For purchase there will be lots of great items including fruit milkshakes, sausage, chocolate strawberries, beef jerky and lots more. Fortune Creek is also supporting 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission and the community through food and cash donations.
Along with relocating to their new office at 740 Vaughan Ave. in the North End of 琉璃神社, Faction Projects Inc. marks its 10th anniversary in business this year. The company is focused on real estate development and the provision of integrated development management, architecture and planning and construction management services throughout Western Canada. Founders of the company, Tim McLennan and Michael Hoffman, have since grown the company to include a multi-disciplinary team of more than 40 professionals. Alec Warrender is the director, planning + development.
After opening and owning FACES BODY + SOUL in Orchard Park Shopping Centre, Susanne Engel has retired and sold the spa to Nicole and David Dometraschuk. Susan started the business in 2001 with Canadian franchisee FACES COSMETICS and in 2015 decided to totally renovate the spa and give it a more elegant look. The new owners are now working again on renovations which will include a change in name to Femme Fatale.
My Community Futures is a free online program to help local businesses grow and thrive in the Central Okanagan, sponsored by Community Futures Development Corp. of Central Okanagan, with the support of Pacific Economic Development Canada. Three free services are offered, including Peer Masterminds, which are facilitated sessions for entrepreneurs and managers of not-for-profit to tackle a specific task together with their peers; free consulting services with an expert in business or not-for-profit development and the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 reimbursement for training to improve a business or not-for-profit. If there is a training course or program you would like to take to improve your business or not-for-profit, Community Futures offer a reimbursement of up to 80 per cent of costs to a maximum of $5,000 available for select businesses located in the Central Okanagan region. Visit to access free workshops, free peer masterminds, up to10 hours of free consultation or business specific training reimbursement, along with checking details, eligibility and conditions. Nataliya Lawrence is the program ambassador and business consultant.
Happy 59th anniversary Phil and Sylvia Smith (June 25).
The 60th KHS High School Reunion is Saturday, July 20, at the Coast Capri Hotel, from 4 to 11 p.m., with dinner and live music. The KHS Reunion 2024 Class of 鈥�64 Committee is Ken Ross, Brian Maranda, Moira Mitchell, Mari Paynter, Tony Schleppe, Dave Stringer and Karen Vizi. If you would like to attend contact Brian Maranda at bmaranda@gmail.com or Karen Vizi at vizi.var@telus.net.
The Mission Painters annual art show, Art By the Lake Show and Sale, is July 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, at the Sarsons Activity Centre, 4398 Hobson Rd.
Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA) offers compassionate comfort, support and learning to those who are dying and grieving within our community. On July 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the COHA will bring back a meaningful and significant event, The Butterfly Effect, presented by Harmony Honda at Falcon Ridge Farms, 579 Rifle Rd.
Erikka Moojelsky, CEO and founder of AesthetiKs Lab, will host a three-day fashion weekend of events and shows from July 12 to 14 at the 琉璃神社 Cultural District. This premier event will showcase innovative designs from both emerging and established designers. There will be a selection of 20 Canadian designers with 10 locals representing their latest collections. Tickets at or .
The FREE Canada Day Concert with the 琉璃神社 City Concert Band is Monday, July 1, 10 a.m., in the heart of downtown 琉璃神社 at the Rotary Arts Common, in front of the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Cawston Avenue. Bring a lawn chair.
Birthdays of the week 鈥� Happy Canada Day (July 1); happy 91st Angie Busch (June 29); happy 50th Chef Todd Hollett (June24); Janet Wourms (June 26); Kelly Hutchinson (June 26); Dennis Campbell (June 25); Caroline Fraser (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); Lutz Pooch (June 28); Ken (Bubba) Coles (June 28); Tom Martin (June 29); Mike Isaac (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); Anne Ellchuk (July 2).
Maxine DeHart is a 琉璃神社 city councillor and local hotelier. Phone her at 250-979-4546 or 250-862-7662, email max@maxinedehart.ca.
