Your Style Winter 2011/2012

YYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURURUR

winter 2011/2012

The best

holiday

yet!

Plus

Big boy toysTobogganing hills

Ice fishing

Go for the glam

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theFUNin the snow

Flour PowerNot your ordinary fruitcake 22

Glamour at a GlanceLots of luxury this season24-25

Five Great Reads for the Night BeforeClassic holiday reading meant for sharing26-27

Slip, Sliding AwayLocal hills for great sledding28

Keep Track of Santa theHigh Tech WaySanta’s on radar!29

The Other Sideof the MountainThere’s more to Big Whitethan you think30

Top 10 Ways to Keep Kids Busy This WinterGreat ways to avoid hearing “I’m bored“16

Great GiftsUnique gift ideas for that person who has everything17

The Lure of Ice FishingFriends, family and fishing18

Distinctive DesignsLocally made, one-of-a-kind jewellery to benefit charity19

Have Fun at Your Party Too!A tasty recipe for Curry Bites 20-21

PublisherKaren Hill

Managing EditorBarry Gerding

WritersBarry Gerding

Jan JohnsonKevin ParnellJudie Steeves

Production DirectorTessa Ringness

Production DesignersKiana Haner-Wilk

Teresa Huscroft-Brown

PhotographerDoug Farrow

Advertising ManagerKaren Hill

Account ExecutivesAmber CoyleCindy DraperMarvin FarkasColleen GroatRon Harding

Antony HuttonTerry Matthews

Alan MonkSheri Jackson

Valerie PelechatyTanya Terrace

Wayne Woollett

Your Style is published by Black Press2495 Enterprise Way,

Kelowna BC V1X 7K2Ph. 250-763-3212Fax. 250-862-5275

[email protected]

Distributed free to select households in the Okanagan Valley

of British Columbia. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts

or photographs.

YOUR

winter 2011/2012

Making Memories One Tree at a TimeA local Christmas tree farmer shares his holiday stories4-5

Twenty Years of Community BuildingWillow Park Church presents the living nativity8

Gifts with a PurposeFeel-good options10-11

Shaw TV Keeps the Home Fires BurningThe story behind the Shaw Firelog Channel12

Pretty Up the MantelUnique ways to decorate your focal point14

Dashing Through the Snow

Snowmobiling in the Okanagan - endless fun! 6-7

4 YOUR STYLE » Winter Edition 2011/2012

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By Kevin Parnell

When Kelowna orthodontist Ted Corbett purchased an acreage high on the Rutland bench in the 1970s he was bound and determined to work the land.

It was an apple orchard when he bought it but after a half dozen years of working without profi t, he uprooted all the apple trees and went to work farming the land as a hay pasture.

That brought along with it several of its own problems, including the high price of maintaining haying equipment. After a few futile years Corbett leased out the farm and allowed others to work it.

“Farming is a great way to live, but it’s a lot of work with very little return,” says Corbett. “You have to love what you are doing.”

Nowadays Corbett is working the land like he always wanted and he’s touching people’s lives at the best time of the year.

Corbett has turned his acreage into Woodhaven Farms, a Christmas tree farm.

“I’m retired and this started out to be a hobby but it’s turned out that I’m no longer retired if you know what I mean,” he says with a chuckle. “The trees are a lot of work but they are just beautiful. I have wildlife all over the place. It’s very, very nice and I’m so thankful and appreciative that I can do this.”

While most of us think only of Christmas trees during the holidays, Corbett is busy year round, making sure the seedlings that he has planted are getting enough water during the hot summer months as he keeps his farm replenished with new trees coming up.

Each Christmas season Corbett will sell 300 to 400 trees of the 6,000 trees that he has going at one time. A grandfather to 10 kids, the family aspect of buying a Christmas tree is what keeps Corbett going.

Ted Corbett, Woodhaven FarmsTed Corbett, Woodhaven Farms

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“I love it when the families come and Mom and Dad and the kids and often Grandma and Grandpa all come out to the farm,” he says. “They walk out in the fi eld and choose whatever tree they want. They can cut it down or I will cut it for them. I take them for a hay ride. For me it’s a family thing.”

Each year Corbett also holds his annual Sam Trescho Day, a day in October for people who are in wheelchairs or whose handicap may keep them from being able to properly hunt for a tree. It’s a day in honour of a young fellow Corbett met who came out with his family and spent time with Corbett around the fi re. He couldn’t travel on the farm in his wheelchair and has since passed on.

But Corbett remembers Sam and his spirit lives on every October. “It’s just an outlet for those families that have a handicapped person that they can include in an outing like this,” he says. “It’s all about seeing those families together.”

Another time Corbett helped a young single mother who had just $10 to her name pick out the most beautiful tree he could fi nd and gave it to her for free. “She had no budget and she had picked out an old Charlie Brown tree,” he recalls. “I picked out one of the nicest trees I had and gave it to her. She actually wept. She said no one had done anything like that for her. I did it because sometimes life can be hard.”

That’s true. The life of a farmer can be hard too. But Ted Corbett seems to have found his calling and a way to bring something special into people’s lives every Christmas.

“I think it’s great,” he says. “It’s making memories for kids. It’s something they will remember.”

The family aspect of buying a Christmas tree is what keeps Corbett going.

her name pick out the most beautiful tree he could fi nd and gave it to her for free. tree,” he recalls. “I picked out one of the nicest trees I had and gave it to her. She actually wept. She said no one had done anything like that for her. I did it because sometimes life can be hard.”

to have found his calling and a way to bring something special into people’s lives every Christmas.

they will remember.”


By Kevin Parnell

From rolling hills and scenic cross country rides to adrenalin-fueled hill climbs, the Okanagan Valley is a snowmobiler’s dream.

Whether you are heading into the popular Greystokes area out Highway 33 for trails and meadows, cruising into the Enderby Mountains for some elevation, or riding into Revelstoke for the huge vertical challenges, snowmobilers have the pick of some unreal riding seemingly in every direction leadingout of Kelowna.

“The entire Okanagan Valley from Penticton to Revelstoke has good riding, it just kind of depends on what riding you are doing,” said Jeremy Wipp, co-owner of Valley Moto Sport in Kelowna. “The Greystokes is phenomenal. The Kelowna Snowmobile Club has done a great job with the trails. The riding is more trails with meadows and you get to about 6,000 feet in elevation. For a little more aggressive riding there is Mount Nelson towards Lumby and to get into the alpine there is the Enderby mountain range. The riding is kind of endless, it just depends on where you want to go and the skill level you are at.”

With a heavy snowfall forecast for the winter of 2011-12, snowmobile enthusiasts will again be in their glory as they look for fresh powder to carve up with their machines.

And this year those machines continue to get more powerful and easier to handle.

“The machines have certainly evolved over the last couple years,” said Wipp. “Snowmobiles have become light-weight, very nimble, very maneuverable and a ton of fun to play with. Your ability to go places where the terrain is untouched is endless.”

This year’s newest machines are bringing more power to the table with new turbo machines allowing for more horsepower (up to 240 horsepower) out of the box. Four stroke engines also allow the machine to maintain power at elevation.

While hardcore enthusiasts will be excited about the option to fi nd more power, snowmobiling maintains a broad base of users, from the hill climb expert who can get himself into trouble (see safety sidebar) to families who want to experience a more casual day on the sled.

It seems more and more folks are looking to a sled to get away from the hustle and bustle in the city.

“The sport is growing,” said Wipp. “More and more people are getting into it. We’ve gone from selling eight sleds a year to 20 the next year and 40 the year after. So it is growing in popularity but at the same time it’s growing we as users have to be more and more responsible and aware because there are more people out

there. We want people to use the recreational areas responsibly.”

That means hauling in and out any garbage that sledders take, riding in a respectful manner while watching out for other users and avoiding things like drinking and sledding andover-aggressiveness.

With the quality of the snow available and the vastness of the area, following those simple steps will keep everyone happy.

It’s hard not to be happy when you are talking about an area with world-famous snow.

“Up and down the valley the snow is amazing,” said Wipp.

“I had a customer who rode on July 28 at King Fisher in Enderby and there was still three or four feet of snow. Sometimes you will jump off your sled and disappear up to your neck. It really is a snowmobiler’s dream.”

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What would you need in order to survive a night in the backcountry?Food, water, shelter, protection from the cold, just to name a few.

Assembling an emergency kit can help you be prepared with these items:

When you talk about snowmobiling you have to talk safety. The year has only just begun and already B.C. has suffered a snowmobile fatality with the death earlier this year of aPrince George man in an avalanche. That followed the death of six snowmobilers last year and 19 the year before in B.C., prompting widespread calls for snowmobiling safety.

Here’s a few things to remember when you head out onyour sled.

making it mandatory for sledders to wear an avalanche beacon. The beacon transmits a signal that allows searchers the chance to fi nd you if buried in an avalanche. Other equipment that should be standard on a sled is a shovel as well as a probe, used to try and fi nd a sledder buried in the snow.

due to the actual slide, instead succumbing to suffocation when

bag releases compressed air that can bring someone in danger to the top of the snow in an avalanche.

yourself. With rolling landscapes and so much snow, it’s very easy

who knows the area,” said Jeremy Wipp of Kelowna’s Valley

it’s easy to get lost.”

you are going, whom you are going with and when

specifi c route with a family member or friend.For more safety tips and snowmobiling

Federation web site at www.bcsf.org.

ON THE SAFE SIDE

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Well stocked fi rst aid kitEmergency blanketExtra food and water (for 1 or 2 days)Energy or candy bars

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By Kevin Parnell

When the Willow Park Church began presenting its living nativity scene some 20 years ago, it was a much smaller production that what it has grown into.

A quaint Christmastime production held outside of the Willow Park Church, the first living nativity told the story of baby Jesus to a small crowd gathered outside of the church on wooden bleachers.

Now, 20 years later, Willow Park is getting set to host up to 8,000 folks over three days in their 20th annual presentation of the living nativity scene, complete with nine actors, hundreds of volunteers and three different sets.

“When it first started it was a small thing we did outside,” said Eva Wiebe, this year’s writer, producer and director of the living nativity scene at Willow Park. “Over the years we have added shows to it and moved it inside the church. It’s definitely grown a lot. This year, being our 20th anniversary, it’s a special year.”

This year’s presentation of the birth of Christ is called A Light Event. It will feature the tale of God returning to earth in the form of baby Jesus and will also include two other parts.

Once the nativity scene is finished, patrons can walk through a living mannequin display in a ballroom setting before proceeding onto the City of Bethlehem from 2,000 years ago, complete with shopkeepers, priests and soldiers.

From year to year, Willow Park will change the theme of the living nativity but of course the story is always the same. For the church, it’s a way to pass on the story of Christ and to celebrate the spirit of the holiday.

We want to give a gift to our community and this is just an amazing way to do that,” said Wiebe. “I think the real story of Christmas is important to tell. There is a side benefit to the church in that this is a community-building event. People get involved and get to know other people.”

Putting together a production as large as what the living nativity scene has become takes a groundswell of

support from the church’s volunteers. But that has never been a problem, according to Wiebe, who says up to 500 people will have a hand in the production, helping people in and out and serving hot drinks after the event.

“People want to be involved in this every year,” she said. “The people that are new to the church love the idea of doing it so our volunteers are there every year.”

Willow Park will present 12 different showings of its living nativity scene, from Dec. 9 to 11. Over the weekend thousands of people will stream to the Rutland-based church to re-live the birth of Christ and walk through the streets of Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. This year there will be a children’s

choir performing outside as people wait in line. Seniors and those with a disability are able to get inside the church to wait as opposed to waiting outside in lines that can get long for the popular event.

And as long as the community

continues to respond so well to the church production, it will likely continue.

“At times we’ve asked the question ‘should we do this again?”’ said Wiebe. “It’s a lot of work but the answer is always absolutely. Sometimes when you are doing something over and over again it eventually loses steam or momentum. But I have not sensed that at all. People are still excited about doing it. As long as the community still responds I think we will continue to do it.”

The living nativity scene at Willow Park Church in Kelowna runs Dec. 9 to 11.

For times and more information you can go to www.willowparkchurch.com or call 250-765-6622.

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By Kevin Parnell

What do you get the person who has it all this holiday season?It’s a question that is often asked these days, with kids and adults

alike awash in material items that are often more extravagant than necessary.

For an answer to the question, enter Ten Thousand Villages, a Kelowna store where you can buy a living gift that will go a long way toward helping people in third world countries.

For example, you can buy a family in Kenya a goat or purchase a sand dam that helps people in these countries access clean drinking water. The person you buy the gift in name of receives a card and information package while a family in need receives the actual gift.

“I think these gifts are getting more and more popular,” said Cindy Henderson, the manager of the Ten Thousand Villages store in Kelowna.

“There are people who buy them for their grandkids who have everything. They want to give them values or something that benefits a person in a third world country.”

Like any gift there are living gifts of many different price ranges. Twenty-five dollars will purchase training in soap making for sex trade workers in Bangladesh,

while $350 will purchase a farmyard of animals for a family in Kenya.“People come back year after year for them,” said Henderson. “It’s like

giving without buying a product. This year we also have some education programs for women who are coming out of terrible situations.”

The living gift program, like the artisans that Ten Thousand Villages have for sale, is administered by the Mennonite Church. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the movement that now includes 47 stores across Canada. The Mennonite central committee runs the head office out of Ontario, building relationships with artisans in third world countries,

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giving them a steady outlet for the products they make.“We are committed to continue to work with these artisans,” said

Henderson. “If we have something that doesn’t sell we don’t say we aren’t going to order anything from that artisan. Our people will work with

them to see what else they have.”Ten Thousand Villages also pays

the artisans 50 per cent upfront, allowing them to purchase supplies needed to continue working in a positive environment.

Another pillar of the Ten Thousand Villages approach is the use of volunteers. In Kelowna, up to 28 volunteers are in and out of the store on a regular basis, giving a hand to Henderson and the two paid employees.

“Our volunteers have put in 34,000 hours since we have been here in 2002,” said Henderson. “That’s something to be pretty proud of. These are people that come in and work hard and do anything that we ask them to do.”

Along with the living gifts the store features many different kinds of arts and crafts, made by hand from around the world. It also carries coffee and chocolate.

In Kelowna the store is located at the corner of Harvey and Burtch along Highway 97 and online you can find more information at www.tenthousandvillages.com

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Cindy Henderson, Ten Thousand Villages


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A creative way to get some time off at Christmas by a Shaw TV production crew 25 years ago has turned into a long-running Christmas tradition forShaw customers.

The Shaw Firelog Channel debuted in 1986 in Edmonton when the staff at the community channel was looking to put something on the air something that would fi ll some time overthe holidays.

“Our staff in Edmonton was looking to take time off over the holidays and they came up with the idea to air this channel continually,” said Ron McKenzie, vice president of operations for Shaw TV. “It took off from there and it’s actually become a family tradition. We hear stories of people opening presents around it and spending time around the log, even building a mantel around it.”

After 25 years in operation the Shaw Firelog Channel is getting the high defi nition treatment this year. When it began airing for another year on Nov. 23, it was

available in standard defi nition and in crystal clear high def.

A closely held secret remains intact with the Shaw Firelog Channel. The TV station has never released the identity of the person who regularly stokesthe fi re.

“It’s a long-guarded secret about the man who stokes the fi re,” chuckled McKenzie. “That secrecy has been held for years. We’ve had many folks trying to guess who that is. We get a lot of guesses but we’ve never released it.”

A few years ago the Firelog Channel was joined by the Christmas Tree Channel on Shaw, allowing folks to bring a touch of the holiday into their homes using their television.

It’s a nice addition to what has become a popular part of Christmas for many TV viewers.

“It fi lls the space when a family is gathering and has really become a tradition,” said McKenzie.

The Shaw Firelog Channel airs 24 hours per day for free on Shaw TV from Nov. 23 until Jan. 6.

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When decorating Christmas mantels remember to keep the regular rules of mantel decorating in mind. Just switch out your everyday items for festive ones.

If you have a mirror hanging over your mantel give it a holiday boost by layering a wreath over it. The easiest way is to use a ribbon, to hang the wreath and attach it to the back of the mirror.

Drape an evergreen garland across the mantel and then tuck in different sizes of candles and candleholders. The items needn’t all match, but the look makes a greater impact if they’re all the same material. For instance, try using mercury glass candlesticks of different shapes and sizes with ivory candles.

Fill some clear glass vases with

festive items like ornaments, pinecones or cranberries. Display larger vases at the ends of the mantel and then use smaller containers as you work your way towards the centre. Vary the sizes and shapes of the vases to keep it interesting. If you want to make this look even more festive add some greenery around the bases of the vases.

Try decorating a Christmas mantel in one colour. For example, use silver ornaments and accessories to create an impact. Use silver ornaments, topiaries, candlesticks and whatever else you desire. The various shapes and textures will keep it looking interesting even though there’s no colour variation.

Flowers and small potted trees (or topiaries) always look great. Try

putting matching items on each end of the mantel and then put a lovely arrangement in the middle.

Create a natural scene by bringing the outdoors inside. Gather sturdy sticks, pinecones, magnolia cones, and large leaves from your yard. Tack the leaves together to create a garland that is twice as long as your mantel. Drape the leaf garland over and

around so it falls naturally off the mantel in places. For colour, place candles in an assortment of sizes and shapes on pedestals throughout the arrangement and tuck pieces of thick-skin fruit such as lemons, limes, and oranges into the foliage.

Decorated mantels are a natural focal point which take centre stage, and should reflect the style of the room.

Pretty up the mantel

Extend the holiday moodRe-purpose the mantel and the tree to include New Year’s Eve decorating. Streamers, balloons, noisemakers, serpentine throws, tiaras and hats can all be used to add festive fun and extend the holiday mood. Bring out the vibrant colours by using candles and New Year’s banners to complete the look.

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Drop-Ins


HEAD TO THE ENERGYPLEX. The popular Rutland facility at Highway 97 and McCurdy Road offers several activities under one

roof, from a challenging obstacle course, to rock climbing and gymnastics.

GO SWIMMING.The Rutland Y facility on Hartman Road and the H2O Aquatic Centre in the Mission sports complex on Gordon Drive both offer great fun in the pool for the kids.

CHECK OUT HISTORY: Military history is not something normally associated with the Okanagan, but tucked away in Memorial Arena is a

place where Canada’s military and naval history can be found—The Okanagan Military Museum. The museum has a signifi cant collection of military artifacts such as military small arms, uniforms, insignia, badges and equipment. The collection includes relics and artifacts from the Boer War, First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Cold War and contemporary military operations. The museum’s winter hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.

MAKE A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY. The downtown Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, 1380 Ellis St., offers an array of programs for children and teenagers, a computer lab and most recently added a genealogy resource section for people wanting to investigate their family tree. For more information go to www.orl.bc.ca.

DOES YOUR CHILD LIKE TO HELP YOU IN THE KITCHEN?An upcoming program at

Watson Road Elementary School is a holiday baking workshop suitable for kids ages 6 to 10. Here is a chance to make Christmas cookies to eat or take home.

The registration fee is $20, all supplies are included and you don’t have to clean up the mess. Sessions are Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

GO BOWLING. Among the options are McCurdy Bowling

Centre, 948 McCurdy Rd., Lake City Bowl &

Billiards, 100-2789Highway 97 North and Capri Valley Lanes, 1835 Gordon Drive.

TAKE IN SCANDIA. Take a stab at indoor jungle golf or play one of the more than 130 arcade games at this popular recreation

mainstay on Highway 97 North.

CHECK OUT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. Hop in the car and see the house Christmas light decorations around town. Kettle Valley is a popular spot. Other notable viewing spots are Sunset Ranch (Sandhills Drive), Spencer Road, Rose Valley and Bridgeview Road in West Kelowna, Rosemary Court and of course the big Tree of Hope next to the Landmark Towers by the Highway 97 pedestrian overpass.

VISIT THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTREfor the Okanagan at Mission

Creek Regional Park. The EECO Storytime one-hour program with stories, craft making and other activities for pre-school aged children takes place Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m., until Feb. 29. Or check out the Meet Your Wild Neighbours exhibit about different animal species that call Okanagan home, which runs until January.

GO FOR A SKATE. Rutland Arena offers rentals, while the Capital News Centre has a small oval for parents to give their youngsters a fi rst go at gliding on ice skate

blades if they’re not yet ready for the big ice. And if you want the true outdoor skating experience, checkout the ice rink at Stuart Park.

TOPTOPTOPTEN

WAYS TOKEEP KIDSBUSY THISWINTER

During winter, it can be too cold to play outside, forcing your kids to stay indoors. But kids can get easily bored since they tend to prefer spending their endless energy running around.

A lot of parents have gone through the dilemma of trying to entertain their kids and keeping them preoccupied for a long time while staying indoors.

With the height of technological developments, watching a video or playing on the computer is one way to keep the kids entertained.

But they need to get out of the house as well, so what options do you have for things to do in Kelowna that still keep you inside from the cold? Here are some options to consider:

1

2

3

9

10

8

5

4

6

7

the

decorations around town.

popular spot. Other spots are

Sunset Ranch (Sandhills

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888


GREAT GIFTS

With the onset of December upon us, the clock is ticking on that annual passage of consumerism called Christmas shopping.

Dashing around trying to fi nd the appropriate gift for the people on your Christmas gift list can be a frustrating exercise at times, but here are some ideas that might otherwise be overlooked for Central Okanagan shoppers:

FOR THE WINE CONNOISSEUR, there are a couple of new toys that can enhance the wine drinking experience. One is called The Vino Drill, a battery-powered automatic corkscrew, terrifi c for anyone who likes wine but has health issues with their hands, such as arthritis. Just hit the button and the Vino Drill does all the work.

A SECOND IDEA for a lover of wines, is the wine aerator. It comes in different forms, but it adds oxygen to the wine as it pours from bottle to glass, enhancing the taste and the aroma.

CRESCENDO is a new store that opened in Mission Park Shopping Centre in November, offering a unique blend of cask-aged vinegars, award winning fruit vinegars, and exquisite oils from the cask, all which enhance your favourite recipe or salad. And you can bring back the bottle for refi lls at your convenience.

THE FIRST 3D WATER CUBE AQUARIUM, the 23-litre Fluval Edge can be fi lled to the very brim thanks to the glass top, providing high defi nition viewing from every angle. The partially sealed top reduces evaporation for less maintenance and a large, hidden aperture allows oxygen exchange to keep fi sh healthy. A fl oating base design gives the set a very small footprint for easy placement and lends the aquarium a clean, contemporary look.

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION can be appropriate for anyone wanting to expand their horizons personally or professionally, and the continuing education curriculum at Okanagan College is a great place to start. Everything from learning how to start a business, to learning how to make wine, to learning how to fi nd your writing voice, how to stop procrastinating and much more is offered through the college. Just check out the course guide online at www.okanagan.bc.ca.

THE RIGHT TOOL: Do you know someone who can never fi nd the right tool when they need it because they are stored all over the house or throughout the garage? A tool kit would be an appreciated gift, and many also come with a complete set of ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers and sockets as well.

WARMTH IN WINTER - Many Central Okanagan homes are built with expansive balconies that are not as accessible during the winter months because of the cold weather. But there is a solution to that, an outdoor gas or electric heater can keep the patio or balcony in use during the generally mild Okanagan winters.

NOT TO BE MISSED. Christmas is one of Hollywood’s economic boom periods during the year, so a gift of theatre passes will offer the opportunity to see some potential Oscar-worthy fi lms. Coming up this year is the latest installment of Mission Impossible starring Tom Cruise, two fi lms from director Steven Spielberg, The Adventure of Rin Tin Tin and The War Horse. Also, Meryl Streep takes on the role of Margaret Thatcher in the biopic about the former British prime minister called The Iron Lady.

LOCAL TALENT - Speaking of entertainment, the Kelowna Community Theatre is one of the busier venues in town these days, providing an array of upcoming performers to satisfy them music and dance tastes of gift recipients. Coming up for the start of 2012 are singer Jim Cuddy (Jam. 10); comedian Bob Saget (Jan. 18); The Rankin Family (Jan. 28); Colin James (Feb. 9); Stars of the Ballet-Nacionel de Cuba (Feb. 11);Liona Boyd (March 6); and Sylvia Browne (March 26).


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By Kevin Parnell

Gone are the hours spent alone in the solitary confines of a canoe, belly boat or aluminum fishing vessel to be replaced by the camaraderie of standing around a six inch hole in the ice with friends, family and hopefully, fish.

“I think one of the reasons ice fishing is popular is the social aspect of it,” says Nick Pace, co-owner of Trout Water Fishing and Gear in Kelowna. “It’s a gathering out in the middle of the lake. It can be a family event where parents have the kids in close proximity with their sled or toboggans.”

In many ways, ice fishing

and fishing in open water are at opposite ends of the angling spectrum. There is the obvious difference of ice versus water but there are many more differences as well. While more and more anglers are practicing catch and release tactics, in the winter many anglers target trout or kokanee as a food source, keeping fish on the menu year round.

“A lot of people tend to keep fish, within the legal catch limit, when they ice fish,” says Pace. “It’s hard to practice catch and release when you bring the fish out of the water and it’s freezing outside.”

Popular lakes for ice fishing in the Kelowna area include Wood Lake, Shannon Lake, Swan Lake

and Beaver Lake. Take a drive along Highway 97 heading to Vernon and you will see just how popular ice fishing is in the Central Okanagan as dozens upon dozens of anglers try their luck for Wood Lake kokanee.

While live bait like worms or maggots are the bait of choice for many ice anglers, the staff at Trout Waters maintains that the fish will still target its main food sources of shrimp, leeches and chironomids.

“Those are the staple diet of trout all year long,” says Pace. “You will always find them in the lake, just to varying degrees. We’re convincing people to give flies a try rather than going with the worm.”

Of course it’s harder to read the

water and look for insect hatches when a lake is frozen over but Pace says there are some tell-tale signs to look for when putting your hole in at your favourite ice fishing lake.

“You should only be fishing in five to 15 feet of water, you don’t want to be out in the middle of the lake,” he says. “Most guys will drill five to six holes in an area and move around. Knowing the lake helps. If you do the research in the summer that will really help you out in the winter.”

And if all else fails, bring out the warm clothes and some friends and enjoy being out in the great outdoors. Who knows, you may just catch something.

The lure ofice fishing

Fishing is often an individual past-time, with at most two or three anglers at a time, sitting in a boat trying their luck.

But come the winter, when many anglers decide to put away the gear until spring, the social aspect of fishing is fired up a notch with the arrival of ice fishing season.


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By Kevin Parnell

When 18-year-old Chelsea Williamson graduates from Mount Boucherie Secondary School this year she will be able to credit Boojangles for some of her past and future success.

Boojangles is a student-run business that operates out of the school, making jewelry, selling it to the community and passing on the profi t to charity.

Williamson spent two years working at Boojangles, the store that is run by MBSS resource program, for kids with varying learning disabilities.

As she gets set to move on after high school, Williamson says her time in the jewelry store atMt. Boucherie, helped her in a number of ways.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It was a good experience and I just loved it.”

Boojangles came into operation four years ago as a way to compliment MBSS’ resource program. Students purchase the product to

make their own jewelry, contact other schools to go and sell the product and raise money for different charities around the globe. Working the business makes up 20 per cent of their school curriculum.

By making the jewelry they learn fi ne motor skills, task completion and creativity while using social skills to set up appointments to sell their product. Academic skills are also learned by dealing with cash from sales, according to resource teacher Jennifer McLeod.

“It’s basically a way to teach functional types of skills within a more exciting context rather than sitting around doing work on sheets,” said McLeod.

“This is bridging the gap. It’s actually putting the work into practice. I would say it gives them a sense of pride. It teaches them new skills and gives them confi dence. It’s a way of practicing social and vocational skills for them to use in real life.”

Up to 10 students at any given time will

work on projects for Boojangles

with one of the end goals being giving back to charity. In the past the store has sent between $2,000 and $3,000 to Africa for school projects as well as supporting different families that are in need locally, especially around Christmas.

In the end the store is awin-win, from the charity aspect to the benefi ts that the students are receiving by making a solid product.

“I think the kids really feel good about the fact they are making something and they go out and see how the public reacts to it,” said

McLeod. “It’s a real confi dence booster because the product is high quality and a lot of the times the kids haven’t had a lot of experience with that. Now they are getting validated for the work they are doing and it’s true validation because it’s coming from the community.”

For Chelsea Williamson, her time with Boojangles is almost over. But the jewelry business will always be a part of her development as a student, a person and a future employee. The lessons she learned there were many.

“It helped me to be more outgoing, it helped me to get more involved,” she said. “Before I didn’t usually get involved in many things like that so that really helped me get out there. It helped my creativity and coordination and a lot of stuff. It was one of my favourite parts of school.”

You can fi nd out more about Boojangles by calling Mount Boucherie at 250-712-7040.

gap. It’s actually putting the work into practice. I would say it gives them a

It’s a way of practicing social and vocational skills for them to use in real life.

Mount Boucherie Students Making Jewelery to be sold at Boojangles


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too!

Always include some eats that can be prepared ahead of time.

So, either add a couple of cold appetizers or dishes to your menu, like salads or dips; or include some dishes which can be made up ahead of time and either frozen or kept in the fridge for days or weeks.

That way, it’s fun hosting a group of friends and family instead of a chore.

For instance, these Curry Bites can be completely made up ahead of time, frozen on a sheet, then popped into a freezer bag, ready to just bake at the last minute.

They’re ideal for entertaining.Decorating should also be done the week or days

before your event, complete with plans for which dishes you’re going to use and making sure the silver doesn’t need polishing. You don’t want to discover that as guests ring the doorbell!

There are lots of other festive recipes in my new book, Jude’s Kitchen, many of which lend themselves well to entertaining, and which can be made ahead of time. Think Cheddar Pennies and Potted Cheese; Pot Stickers and Holiday Rum Balls.

It’s available locally at Mosaic Books and Chapters, the B.C. Wine Museum, Discover Wines, Quails’ Gate and Calona Vineyards, and it would make a welcome gift as well.

By Judie Steeves

There’s not much point to throwing a party, or inviting a few people over, if you can’t enjoy yourself while your guests do.

In fact, they probably won’t have much fun if they’re watching you run from kitchen to dining room to living room, instead of visiting with them.

So, prepare ahead, just like all the top chefs do. Even if you cook some of your dishes at the last minute, have all the ingredients ready to go and don’t leave everything to the last minute.


CURRY bitesThese spicy tidbits have become a winter tradition in our family. They’re delicious warm little bites on a blustery winter day.

You could use any pastry, pie crust, puff or even crescent roll pastry in a tube.

MAKES 3 OR 4 DOZEN

Finely chop green onions and water chestnuts. Brown lean ground beef in a hot pan such as a wok.

Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Cool.Pre-heat oven to 3750 F. Roll out pastry and cut into small rectangles,

about one inch by two inches; or two by three inches.Place one portion of filling on one side of each strip, then fold over and

pinch the dough together, enclosing the little pockets of filling.You may also use squares of pastry and draw each up over the dab of

filling into a Santa sack. Secure with a bit of red string or a thin strip of red pepper after baking, just for looks.

Bake for 20 minutes until golden.OR: Freeze the little turnovers individually on cookie sheets, then toss

the frozen bites into a big freezer bag until you want to use some.Place frozen turnovers on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20-25

minutes in a 3750 F oven until they’re golden brown.

FILLING:2 green onions12 water chestnuts1/2 lb. (227 g) lean gr. beef

3 tbsp. (45 ml) ketchup2 tbsp. (30 ml) curry2 tsp. (10 ml) sugar1/2 tsp. (2 ml) salt

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By Kevin Parnell

For the past eight years, Kelowna entrepreneur Moni Schiller has been fighting public opinion along the road to building a successful home-based business.

The opinion she’s been battling is the overwhelming sense that the holiday snack of fruitcake is as about appealing as eating dirt.

But if you bristle at the thought of fruitcake, you haven’t had Schiller’s Totally Decadent Fruitcake, a product that has people from across

Canada yearning for more.“I’m telling you the word fruitcake is my biggest battle,” says

Schiller from her Kelowna home, where in her basement she produces some 2,000 fruitcakes each year. “It’s the product’s name because when people eat mine, with chunks of chocolate, they go ‘oh my god, this is actually good.’ It’s very disheartening when I see fruitcakes sitting on store shelves. I wouldn’t eat those either.”

But people are eating Schiller’s fruitcakes. And they are loving it. Much of her business is repeat orders from all across Canada.

It seems once people get a taste of her cake they want more.“The cakes arrived promptly and in good condition,”

writes one satisfied customer, who ordered his from Nova Scotia. “In my 88 years I’ve had many different fruitcakes

but I must say I have not had a better one than yours.”

FLOUR POWER

That’s a message that Schiller has continued to hear in the eight years she has been in business. Simply put, her fruitcake tastes so good, people keep coming back for more. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that she wants to keep making quality products as opposed to increasing quantity, Schiller probably could have gone big.

But that’s not what it’s all about for the 57-year-old Kelowna mother. She has kept her growth steady and slow enough to maintain a one-person operation.

“I like it the way it is,” she says. “I’d like it to say like this: I feel really good about it because I can control everything. Once the fruitcakes are sold they are sold.”

Schiller began the business relying on word of mouth to increase sales. She called the first four years in operation difficult but says if small businesses can survive those first few years, the chances for success increase.

While Schiller has remained true to the small business ideal, she has started to branch out into the world of social media, writing a monthly newsletter as well as maintaining a blog on her website. She also posts thoughts to Twitter and Facebook.

“Even though I don’t totally understand it, somehow it does work,” she says of her beginnings in the social media world. “When you think of it, it’s free. It’s gets to so many more people. It does have its appeal.”

You can find Schiller online at www.fruitcake.ca

Once people get a taste, they want more.

Moni Schiller, of Nuttier than a Fruitcake


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Is it just me or did we blink and now the festive season is almost upon us? Seems like we’ve just packed away the sandals and it’s already time to dress up and shine for the holiday parties!

That should be easy this year, as there are lots of touches of old Hollywood glamour in this season’s

styles. Those Hollywood stars really knew how to dress to show off their best features, and most of the styles they

wore are very fl attering to a woman’s fi gure.The waist is back, as evidenced by cropped

peplum jackets, wide belts and wrapped dresses. Fortunately, most of these styles also create the illusion of a small waist, as long as they’re not too extreme; just remember to

at a glance

The look: Multi-chain necklaces with a rufffl e-edged cardigan


keep the fit body-skimming rather than tight, and keep in mind that prints hide a lot more sins than solid fabrics.

Luckily for those of us who don’t want to focus on our waistlines, a tunic top over a slim pant or legging is still a very trendy look. A pretty tunic with some touches of glitz, dressed up with the right jewellery, can take you from office to Christmas party effortlessly.

Elegant, luxe fabrics are very much the focal point for this year’s party dressing; you’ll see lots of lined lace, lace prints, brocades, pretty georgette prints and cashmere or soft-knit shrugs...very rich-looking, with a comforting feel on the

body. Try mixing your

textures for a really edgy look – shiny faux leather pants with a delicate georgette blouse, a brocade dress with a cashmere bolero, a sparkly

sequinned top under a tweed jacket.

The dress is still strong, with lengths hovering either just above or just below

the knee - or full length for all-out glamour. Look for lace and

soutache trims, ruffles, artfully placed tucks and wraps. For the more daring, you’ll also see some beautiful and feminine one-shoulder dresses...very striking.

Black and white combos are making a real comeback. Try dots, a lace print or a tiny plaid in black and white. If you’ve just gotta have colour, look for rich purples, deep teals, striking emeralds. These tones are great for adding colour to winter-pale skin, so don’t be afraid to wear them. And you can never go wrong with a dramatic shade of red... it’s always in style!

For accessories, keep it to one or two really great, dramatic pieces. Try a big floral cocktail ring, a wide gold cuff bracelet, a long multi-chain necklace.

Grab a trendy clutch purse (or one with a chain strap) and some sexy heels, and you’re out the door, girl, ready for an evening of socializing. Enjoy!

A wrapped and tucked top with a big cuff bracelet is popular.

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A CHRISTMAS CAROLThis attractive new edition

of the classic Christmas tale A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, would make an excellent gift for a family with children nine years old and older.

The story of the miserly Scrooge and the visits of the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future that redeem him was fi rst published on December 17, 1843 and has remained popularever since.

The book itself is well designed, with dramatic watercolor illustrations by P.J. Lynch, a handsome cover and dust jacket, and high quality paper.

The story of Scrooge has been told and retold in many different formats and styles. For example, our family loves The Muppets’ Christmas Carol. However, while many of these versions may capture some of the spirit of the original, none can come close to capturing the author’s use of language and the ability of Charles Dickens to tell a story.

GREATREADSFOR THE

NIGHT BEFORE

5‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

This gift edition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas or Account of A Visit From St. Nicholas is unlike most of the editions of the classic Christmas story in poem. It is not particularly big, just the right size for a child’s hands. It does not have fl ashy colour illustrations. While it’s a hardbound book, it costs less than $10. It is also not attributed to Clement C. Moore, the man usually cited as the author.

The book’s illustrations, beautifully rendered in black pencil by artist Matt Tavares, capture the atmosphere of a quiet Christmas Eve, suddenly interrupted by a strange noise and the arrival of St. Nick.

In a note from the illustrator at the beginning of the book, Matt

Tavares explains the uncertainty about the actual author of the Christmas poem and the reasons for the decision to list the author as “Anonymous.”

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!

In honour of the50th-anniversary of the publication of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss, Random House has published two special editions of the classic children’s Christmas picture book.

The fi rst (not pictured) is the Party Edition, which features a bright foil cover. The second, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: A

Historical Retrospective, is for the dedicated Dr. Seuss fan. It not only features the complete original text and illustrations, it also features a 32-page commentary by Seuss scholar and collector Charles D. Cohen.

Find out how Dr. Seuss’ view of Christmas changed over time, how the Grinch evolved, and about the Grinch’s dog, Max, and the inhabitants of Whoville.

Children 4-8, as well as their families, will enjoy the story.


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Despite the best efforts of the Grinch, who hates Christmas and steals all the gifts and material trappings of Christmas in the whole town, the spirit of Christmas continues to shine brightly in the townspeople. This results in a wonderful change in the Grinch. Older children, teens, and adults will also be interested in the additional information, illustrations, and insight to be found in retrospective.

THE GIFT OF THE MAGIThe Gift of the Magi by

O. Henry is a classic Christmas story that makes a wonderful Christmas read-aloud for children 10 and older and their families to enjoy together.

The latest children’s Christmas picture book edition of The Gift of the Magi, published by Candlewick Press, is illustrated with memorable artwork by P.J. Lynch. His poignant and expressive watercolors strengthen

the impact of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. This moving tale of love and sacrifi ce can help to put the purpose of gift giving into perspective for tweens and teens with “wish” lists a mile long.

The story is set in New York City in the early 1900s. A young couple, Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young – Della and Jim – live in a shabby apartment. They have very little money, but a

great love for one another. Della and Jim have two

treasures of which they are both very proud – Della’s beautiful

long hair and Jim’s gold watch, which belonged to his father and grandfather before him.

The story that unfolds reveals the true meaning of gift giving as both Della and Jim sacrifi ce their own treasure to buy a Christmas gift to enhance the other’s treasure. When Della and Jim exchange gifts, the depth of their love for one another is revealed by their sacrifi ces.

The Gift of the Magi is a good book to read together as a family and, then, discuss what O. Henry meant when he said, “…of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest...They are the magi.”

THE VELVETEEN RABBITThis is a children’s novel

written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson. First published in 1922, the book chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real

through the love of his owner.A boy receives a Velveteen

Rabbit for Christmas. The Velveteen Rabbit is snubbed by other more expensive or mechanical toys, the latter of which fancy themselves real.

One day while talking with the Skin Horse, the Rabbit learns that a toy becomes real if its owner really and truly loves it.

The Skin Horse makes the Velveteen Rabbit aware that “..once you are real you can’t become unreal again. It lastsfor always.”

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When the snow starts to fl y in the Central Okanagan many people’s thoughts turn to sliding with activities like snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding front and centre.

But for kids everywhere, there is just one thing on their mind: Sledding.

Whether it be on a toboggan, GT racer, a classic Crazy Carpet or a Glad garbage bag, kids love to slide down a snow-covered hill.

In Kelowna every neighbourhood has some great sliding hills for kids and families to take advantage of.

“Generally the kids go wherever they want to so any of

our parks that have a little bit of a hill to them will work,” said Ted Sophonow, City of Kelowna parks, beaches andsports-fi elds supervisor.

So with the snow already having hit Kelowna, it’s time to grab your kid and her sled and get out for some good old family fun.

Here are a few of the more well-known spots amongst City of Kelowna Parks.

KETTLE VALLEY, with its proximity to the south slopes, not surprisingly, has a couple of excellent options with Curlew Park and Quilchena Park providing the necessary slope to

get a good ride in. Close by, in the Mission, is Quarry Park.

“Obviously our hillside parks are the most popular so that means the Mission area is a pretty good spot,” said Sophonow.

BLACK MOUNTAIN, another area built on slopes and sidehills, features plenty of options for local kids. Lund Park, created with the arrival of the Black Mountain Golf Course, has become a go-to location, although a big dump of snow is needed due to the high weeds. Also in the area, the Black Mountain Elementary School has an excellent hill.

In DILWORTH the best City of Kelowna park to get your ride on is Lilloet Park while the Glenmore Highlands provides plenty of

steep action with a short walk into the hills.

DOWNTOWN features Knox Mountain which has a gentle slope near the tennis courts. However city staff would prefer sledders to avoid the main mountain which has delicate underbrush and plenty of trees that could be dangerous.

“We certainly wouldn’t want to encourage (sledding on Knox),” said Sophonow. “There are too many trees.”

These are just a few options for areas around the City of Kelowna to take advantage of the hills. Of course every neighbourhood has many options for the age old recreation. You just need to head out the door, take a look andget sliding.

“Kids can be pretty imaginative about what they consider a place to go tobogganing,” said Sophonow. “It’s use at your own risk. Unless we think there is a safety hazard we’re not going to monitor it too much.”

Slip, slidingaway!


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As another Christmas season approaches the age old tradition of tracking Santa Claus’ fl ight from the North Pole will again be underway on Christmas Eve. Kids everywhere will know just when they needto go to bed.

And like the day and age we live in, the way that the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) has tracked Santa has gonehigh-tech.

The NORAD Tracks Santa Twitter feed (@noradsanta) has 50,000 followers while the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page(http://www.facebook.com/noradsanta) has over 700,000 likes.

Everything is based off the NORAD Tracks Santa website(www.noradsanta.org).

From mid-January until Nov. 30, the NORAD Tracks Santa web site, one is greeted with a message to come back on December 1 to track Santa with NORAD. During December the NORAD Tracks Santa web site is open for business with all the features available.

On Christmas Eve, the NORAD Tracks Santa website videos page is generally updated each hour, when it is midnight in a different time zone.

The Santa Cam videos show CGI images of Santa Claus fl ying over famous landmarks. Each video is accompanied by a voice-over, typically done by NORAD personnel, giving a few facts about the city or country depicted. Celebrity voice-overs have also been used over the years.

That’s a huge change for the program that began on Dec. 24, 1955 when, according to Wikepedia, a Sears department store placed an

advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper which told children that they could telephone Santa Claus and included a number for them to call. However, the telephone number printed was incorrect and calls instead came through to Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center.

Colonel Shoup, who was on duty that night, told his staff to give all children that called in a “current location” for Santa Claus. A tradition began which continued when NORAD replaced CONAD in 1958.

NORAD relies on volunteers to make the program possible each Christmas Eve. Each volunteer handles about 40 telephone calls per hour and the team typically handles more than 12,000 e-mails and more than 70,000 telephone calls from more than 200 countriesand territories.

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By Kevin Parnell

It’s hard to imagine but even with a world class ski resort less than an hour from Kelowna, eight out of 10 people in the city have never been to Big White.

Yes, the mountain with 2,500 acres of terrain, tubing, ice skating, hiking, shopping, cafes and pubs, hasn’t been seen by a majority of locals. “Eighty per cent of the locals

have never been to the mountain,” says Michael J. Ballingall, Big White’s senior vice president. “Once people get up here I call it the ‘wow factor.’ It’s supernatural British Columbia. People just don’t understand what’s up here. Until you see it and touch and play with it, you can’t imagine.”

Aside from the excellent skiing and snowboarding the mountain is known for, Ballingall says locals are missing out on spending time in the mountain village, taking advantage of the shops and other activities.

“It’s a small village at 5,200 feet above sea level,” says Ballingall.

“We’ve got the highest outdoor skating rink in Canada, the only ice climbing tower in North America and the largest resort tubing and tobogganing park in Canada. There’s cappuccino, shops, cheese fondue, a wine bar and a pub. We’ve got a lot of classy restaurants and establishments. We’re saying make this your winter destination. Try it out. It’s really cool.”

For those budget conscious and just in need of the great outdoors, the gondola from the Happy Valley parking area up to the village is free, allowing easy access to the amenities and the outdoors.

And while there are plenty of

attractions other than the actual ski hill, there is one main reason that the people that ski or board Big White love it. And that’s the snow.

“Our branding statement is ‘It’s the Snow,’” says Ballingall. “It’s the one thing that every ski resort has to have. Any people that have traveled realize the snow at Big White is unique. It’s dry and it’s fl uffy. We call it champagne powder. It’s because we’re on the other side of the mountains from the rain forest on the Pacifi c Coast. It’s dry. It still rains a lot here but the snow comes down in big, dry, fl uffy fl akes of snow.”

To fi nd out more, go online:www.bigwhite.com

The SIDE OF THEmountain

other

PHOTO: Gavin Crawford

“BIG WHITE SKI RESORT”

“BIGWHITESKIRESORT”

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A gift that will be

remembered throughout the year!

Give the gift of…

Dean McAuley, Dealer Principal, and all the staff at

Okanagan Dodge would like to wish all

Okanagan residents a safe and happy holiday season.

www.okanagandodge.comDL #30539

Dean McAuley, Dealer Principal of Okanagan Chrysler Jeep Dodge, would like to thank the

Central Okanagan for making us the Interior’s number one volume Chrysler Jeep Dodge

dealership fi ve years in a row.

Your Style Winter 2011/2012

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Transcript of Your Style Winter 2011/2012