Running With Wood is a local business making beautiful, hand-crafted wood items including sport logos, cutting boards, toy boxes, kitchen tables, business logos, cabin signs & more. Gordon Sokolosky, owner of Running With Wood, tells bdnmb.ca that he has been doing woodworking for around 4 years. He's a stay at home dad who was just looking for something to fill empty time and a different challenge to his day. Sokolosky's grandpa was a woodworker and his dad currently is woodworking out of Portage. Everything he makes is made to order and he’ll make, or try to make, anything people want. According to Sokolosky, pieces can take anywhere from a few days to a week to a couple months. "Just depends on how hard it is or the time I have in the shop". He usually gets up most mornings at 4am with a run, then straight to the shop after until 7am when the kids get up. That’s how he came up with his business name "Running With Wood". He is an avid runner who we recently featured for placing 3rd in a 100-mile race in Arizona. The best way to view or get in contact with Sokolosky about his work is his Facebook page. The demand of keeping up with custom orders keeps him extremely busy and leaves little time to make enough extra stock for craft sales.

The Province of Manitoba announced earlier today that starting May 4th "a variety of non-essential health-care and retail businesses will have the option to reopen under strict guidelines".  Restaurants – patio/walk-up services were listed among phase one of restoring services within the province. However only 50% of seating capacity will be allowed on patios, as part of this initial phase. The Dock on Princess, as an example normally operates with 32 patio seats and now they will be only allowed to serve 16 seats. The actual floor plan of how tables and chairs will be worked out is still being talked about. We reached out to several restaurants in the city to discuss their thoughts on today's announcement. Rick and Ashley from Original Joe's told bdnmb.ca that their staff is excited to be back open on May 4th. Greg Clemmensen, owner of East Side Mario’s, said their staff (both young and old) are so bored and they want to come back to work. In the service industry, staff depends on tip money for additional revenue.  He added that they all want to be placed on the schedule as much as they can. Darren Burdeniuk, owner of The Dock on Princess. They have rehired three full time staff for now. The inside of the restaurant is in the middle of some renovations so patrons can expect a slightly newer look when dine-in seating resumes.  Please note The Dock won't be open until the middle of May.

"Brandon’s premiere event rental company, Limitless Events, has purchased VIP Portable Restroom Rentals. This is the newest addition to the group of companies following the purchase of Goodheart and Knights Tent Rentals and the creation of Pinnacle Event Rentals in 2019. This acquisition will allow Limitless to provide not only the entertainment, but the event infrastructure and septic services to events in the Westman area and beyond. VIP Portable Restroom Rentals will continue to specialize in washroom trailers, portable washroom units, hand sanitizing stations and septic services for not only events, but corporate and construction needs as well. VIP Portable Restroom Rentals will continue to operate under the same name, alongside Pinnacle Event Rentals, underneath the Limitless Events umbrella. Visit their website for a complete list of rentals and services available for your next family function, wedding, corporate event, community gathering or private party." (submitted)

Sisson Auto Finance and Sales recently opened in Brandon at 1625 Parker Blvd. The dealership was started by the father-son duo of Jason and Jaydan Sisson. The two have a combined 34 years in the automotive industry, including 26 for Jason and 8 for Jaydan. Jason tells bdnmb.ca that they decided to branch out on their own for a number of reasons. "While there were certainly lots of great personal opportunities available in a large auto group and we seriously considered offers to move to other cities and provinces, in the end Brandon is our home and we're committed to this city.  Starting a business from the ground up gives you an enormous amount of flexibility and creativity to really create a new buying experience for the people of Westman." "A big part of our decision to open was the location.  Parker Boulevard has really become a vehicle power centre.  We have Giant Car Wash on one side of us, Brandon Radiator and Auto Service directly across the street, Resurrection Paint Correction and Auto Detailing around the corner, a MPI broker at CAA two doors down and Husky and Co-op Gas bars at the end of the street." The location can fit about 8 vehicles indoors and roughly 30 outside if they park them just right. The dealership will mostly stock a mix of cars, trucks, vans and SUV's from about $10,000 to $30,000. "But we are also really good at finding that specific vehicle a customer might be looking for," added Jason. "Our Vehicle Locating Service has become a cornerstone of our business." On why you should shop at Sisson Auto Finance and Sales, Jason shared, "Our processes.  We designed the business from the ground up to be an easy, comfortable and fast experience.  Our website was built so you can purchase a vehicle completely on-line if you choose.  Even before all the current events, we were structured for a zero contact purchase.  We offer a 3 day full refund, 30 day exchange option and minimum warranty plans with roadside assistance with every purchase." The dealership will also offer pre-approvals and credit score consultations. Their consignment program is also unique to Brandon.  They can sell your car safely for you rather than trying to sell privately.  For a small fee they will include a CarFax report, professional photos, description and advertising on 6 Major automotive websites, display, storage on their lot, insurance, and regular cleanings.  They also have access to financing and can take a trade-in which is usually an issue for private sellers. Sisson Auto Finance and Sales are currently open by appointment for private vehicle viewings and credit consultations. Jason encourages people to check out their website and to feel free to reach out to them with questions or for advice without feeling any obligation to purchase.

While many Brandonites begin the arduous tasks of spring cleaning and yardwork, the crew at Livingstone Landscaping has been scurrying to get moved into their new location at 1610 Byng Avenue. “We have been looking for a larger property for a few years,” said Business Manager Michelle Berg. “We had outgrown our past property. We needed a larger facility and yard to offer our services to our customers.” The location features over six acres of space, plus bigger offices, and garages. The larger workspace has allowed the company to launch “Livingstone Outdoor,” a new sister company that will offer sales, service, products, and expertise for contractors and DIY installers in Westman. “The new space allows us to expand on the products and services we were already offering,” added Berg. “This allows us to be more organized and customer friendly.” Berg adds that a handful of new faces have joined the staff, and the company is working with the current health climate of the world, offering curbside pickup and deliveries. “We are excited about our central location in Brandon. We have put so much work into everything we have done, and many have commented on the visual improvements we have made… but there is more to come; we are landscapers after all!” Livingstone Landscaping is now officially open for the summer and Livingstone Outdoor is set for a soft launch in May.