At the Maverick, Sandhu will continue the fine tradition of steaks and seafood, as well as introduce a variety of new menu items from around the world.

"Over the next few weeks, I will introduce the Maverick’s new menu with such delicacies as skate, bison, and osso bucco, as well as some new French cuisine, rich sauces, butters, and crèmes …" said Sandhu. "I’m very excited about joining Mr. Thomas [Maverick co-owner Dave Thomas who purchased the establishment in 1999] in his new restaurant and about the opportunity to introduce Harrisburg to an upscale Maverick with new décor, jazz nights, live entertainment, and entrees prepared from hand-selected local
produce."

The Maverick is located on the Route 22 bypass, three blocks from the Farm Show Complex.

In related news, Secretary of Environmental Protection Jim Seif last week joined officials from Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D. C., and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to launch "Chesapeake 2000". The agreement calls for a $15 million investment in the Bay’s watershed.

Meanwhile, state environmental officials have been vindicated in court over their recent claims that air pollution is blowing into Pennsylvania from western and southern states. The full U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a three-judge panel’s determination that states and utilities must better enforce EPA clean air rules with tougher emission standards. Governor Tom Ridge and State Secretary of Environmental Protection Jim Seif have been tough in their stand that Midwest and Southern states maintain better clean air compliance, citing it is impossible for Pennsylvania to meet its clean air goals. Seif says the state has cut air pollution from utilities and other industrial sources by 61 percent from 1990 levels.

Although Pennsylvania must also observe EPA rules, improved enforcement in other states makes it easier for the Keystone State to comply. The best part is the anticipated huge win for Pennsylvania job production and continued economic growth. Already, Allentown-based PPL Corp. says it will install new emissions control equipment at its Unit 1 Montour County coal-fired power plant during regular spring maintenance next year, an upgrade that is expected to cut emissions from the Montour facility by 90 percent over the next 10 years. The plant is located just north of MODE’s Central PA readership region.

They adore them because they are wildly imaginative and spellbinding (pardon the pun). Parents are thrilled with them, too — partly because they, like so few children’s books, are entertaining for the adult reader, and partly because they take their children away from the Nintendo and into a quite space with a book.

The Harry Potter bestsellers are so popular that the first press run for Goblet of Fire is the largest in publishing history in both the U.K. and the United States.

As always, and right this very moment, fanatics are working to ban the book from schools and libraries. Harry and his buddies at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry just aren’t mainstream enough for white breaders. Even more frightening to the censorship happy among us, in Harry Potter the marginalized group is heroic, and the "muggle" (non-witch) is the bad guy. Well, it’s not flattering for those of us who can’t ride a broomstick, but, then, it’s children’s fiction.

The anti-Harry crowd claims that promoting difference like Harry’s is just as dangerous as exposing teenagers to Wicca or other nontraditional religions. Their solution? Ban the suckers!

Charles Suhor, of the National Council of Teachers of English, is not surprised by the uproar. He has received many calls from parents about literature which promotes "a Communist plot to take over the schools." Now it’s all about "Satan himself and New Age Satanism."

Haven’t we seen this in history before?

Burn the witches.

On April 5, free speech hit the fan. Luanne Ferguson, a regular protestor, claimed that on that day escort Ira Hochman "stepped on her toe". Crying out "Owww! You idiot!" Ferguson later filed harassment charges against Hochman. In the ensuing legal tap dance, York District Justice Ronald Haskell dismissed the charges. He declared, "I’m not a parent in a day care…" Haskell also set ground rules calling for the local police to file any future charges that may stem from the regular Wednesday morning performance in front of the clinic.

Two issues ago, MODE covered Lancaster Planned Parenthood’s struggle to offer an abortion as one alternative among many to unintended or unwanted pregnancies. Each year in Pennsylvania, an estimated 110,000 women experience an unintended pregnancy.

A final decision on whether or not the Lancaster facility will be allowed, under a zoning-use rule, is not expected until September. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, often described as the weakest and least effective of all state departments by Capitol Hill lobbyists and special interest groups, is hedging on its regulatory responsibility to rule on the issue, according to Planned Parenthood officials.

Earlier this month, 100 citizens packed city council’s chambers to protest that body’s plan to "select and assign" trash haulers for defined sections of the city. Officials have etched out 40 "cells" they would assign to about two-dozen haulers. Currently, residents pick their own garbage men.

The elected officials’ proposed plan is really raising a stink. One irate taxpayer said he thought citizens had "freedom of religion, electric company, and trash haulers". Defending council’s plan, Environmental Health and Protection Unit director Dr. Molly Henderson claims that about 7,500 city residents have "no hauling service."

Picking a trash hauler has a colorful history in Lancaster County. In 1995, Manheim Township Supervisors proposed similar changes in the way garbage was collected. At one point, 400 protestors showed up to express dislike for the proposal. "Monica Lewinsky, it’s like that…" claimed one angry protestor. How we’re not sure, but it’s got something to do with … trash.

Send the check to American Diabetes Association, 3544 North Progress Avenue, Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Votes are $1 a piece (i.e., $25 buy 25 votes). For further information, call 1-800-732-0999.

For what it’s worth, the Internet’s Matt Drudge reported earlier this week that Keating is George W. Bush’s selection as Vice Presidential running mate. Drudge notes that Ridge’s physical size (he’s bigger than Bush) is the x-factor that has eliminated Ridge. Like most of the sleuth’s clues - many of which turn out wrong and then go unreported he says it’s not a "done deal".