Photo contributed Kate Tooke, Tamara Tilley, Lucie Zillinger, Danielle Hirkala, Michelle Lowton learned to create delicious Indian dishes with Meena Cleland at one of her recent cooking classes.

If you love home cooking and love Indian food, Meena Cleland is the
person to talk to. Cleland offers Indian cooking classes in her home for four
to six people at a time or at your home for up to 10 people. She also caters for home dinners up to 20 people.
I took one of her classes at a friend's house last year and it was great. I'm still making the dishes we created together.
A typical class usually consists of an appetizer, chutney, an entree, vegetable dish, rice and flat bread.
Cleland will consult with you on the
type of menu you want, bring the groceries, and teach you how to make your favourite dishes. She'll also advise on wine pairings. Menus can be vegetarian, or meat/poultry based. It's a fun way to spend an evening with friends and eat great food too, so grab some friends and get cooking.
More info can be found on her website, meenasindiankitchen.com. You can contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call her at 250-768-3918.

Love to help
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than by going to the Valentine's Day Masquerade at the Mission Hall on Feb. 16.
The dance is a fundraiser for the Wish Come True Society, a group formed in 2001 when Brad Krauza's family and friends decided to raise money for families of children with terminal illness. Their
vision is to build a respite centre/hospice house for children in Kelowna.
The society is made up of local business people including Krauza, Angie Huber, Trish Eddy-Wright, Wendy Weller, Shaun Bos and Calum Hughes. Wish Come True supporter Les Bellamy of Bellamy Homes will be sponsoring the
pizza for the event and Power 104.7 and
Q Radio are on board as sponsors, along with The View winery.
Music by the Krauza and Young'uns. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the dance goes
until 1 a.m.
Tickets are $25 and available at wishcometruesociety.com and Westland Insurance on Lakeshore and gives you a chance to win a prize from James Haworth and Sons Jewelers as well as a 50/50 draw.
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Opening the doors
There's a new college in West Kelowna. First College is now open after two and a half years of planning.
The idea came from instructor Gary Zvanovec, who has more than 20 years in business management and marketing.
"I went back to school and found there was much room for improvement and passion. I wanted to help the community and help students realize their personal goals," said Zvanovec. "First College's task is to make a difference with emphasis on needs and solutions."
The new state-of-the-art facility offers unique career diploma programs in business management, human resources and accounting. They also have certificate
programs in Windows, Excel, Quick Books, Simply Accounting, tax preparation,
graphics and design, retail sales, customer
dynamics and writing. Day, evening and weekend classes are available.
Drop in for a visit at 209-3011 Louie Dr., call them at 778-754-2888 or visit them
online at firstcollege.ca.

Making the connection
Connect Lease Corporation, an independently owned Canadian finance and leasing company, has moved into its new offices at 1433 St. Paul St. in Kelowna.
Managing broker, Larry Gray, also
announced some staff changes.
"Darryl Otteson is no longer with the firm and we've hired Teri Krupa, who joins us from Calgary and has a background in finance with Brandt Tractor."
Connect Lease arranges financing for Canadian businesses and consumers
acquiring equipment.
"We're not a bank," Gray explained. "We have helped thousands of businesses of all sizes get the financing that they need.
Our offices service British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Our goal is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary."
For more info check them out online at connectlease.com, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 250-860-4141. 


Okanagan Staffing is celebrating 18 years in business. "2012 business volumes were up 19 per cent, due in large part to an increase in client permanent recruitment activity," said owner/manager Kevin Renwick.
"We're pleased to report that recruitment activity has carried over into 2013, and that upward trend appears steady. We have immediate full-time opportunities for accountants, at all levels, from experienced, designated controllers, public accountants to payroll and bookkeeping personnel.
"We also seek experienced business development/sales personnel, construction project management/estimating staff, office management, administrative employees, and IT personnel, particularly those with Windows programming experience."
Renwick this spring expects a need for experienced civil engineering staff, mostly involved in commercial construction.
For more info give them a call at 250-717-0506 or visit their website, okanaganstaffing.com.