by Zoryanna Dopko

Broad Street Produce and Gaia’s Garden
A recent addition to The Broad Street Market, Broad Street Produce and Gaia’s Garden provides excellent customer service with an air of professionalism. The Garden boasts a variety of alternatives to appeal to all prospective customers and, accordingly, has introduced the Market’s first self-serve salad bar. Catering to a plethora of tastes, the Garden features many varieties of fresh vegetables, cheeses, meats, and more. Presently, the salad bar contains 21 items, but the owners, Sue and Drew Kowal, hope to expand to 30 items to offer a larger selection for the customer. Because the self-serve salad bar may not appeal to all customers, homemade salads, including coleslaw, pasta, and tortellini, remain options; the chef’s salad is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays while the chicken/ shrimp caesar salad is offered on Thursdays and Fridays.

Whether you have a penchant for a small salad or a medley of meats, cheeses, and vegetables, the Garden accommodates for all preferences. The Kowals even welcome special orders. Drew Kowal said, “Whatever [customers] want, they’ll get it. I’m trying to serve the community’s needs.” The Kowals’ willingness to oblige the desires of the customer reflects a genuine concern for the individual; they both wish “for every customer to enjoy their experience here and to enjoy what they take with them.”

The Broad Street Market is located at 1233 North Third Street, three blocks north of the Capitol Complex. The Stone Building is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Downtown “Loop” Trolley
From its inception on April 19, the “Loop” Trolley has been astounding Harrisburg residents. The Trolley, the newest addition to downtown Harrisburg, creates a welcoming atmosphere for visitors to the city as well as an enjoyable diversion for Harrisburg’s inhabitants. Sponsored by the Yellow Cab Company, in a partnership with the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District Authority and Wilsbach Distributors, Inc., the Trolley serves as part of the community’s interest in the enrichment of Harrisburg’s downtown attractions. Admission for the Trolley is $1, which includes the entire evening; each patron will receive a hand stamp to indicate that she or he has previously paid the fee. The Trolley will run every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; the ride will consist of several stops starting at the corner of 2nd and Chestnut Streets, continuing to the corner of 2nd and Herr Streets. The Trolley will turn onto Herr Street, stop at the corner of 3rd and Herr Streets and conclude its journey to the corner of 3rd and Chestnut Streets; the route will later expand to accommodate more locations. For information regarding locations, sponsorships, and more inquiries relating to the Trolley, call the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District Authority at 236-9762.

Reed Announces Finalists 
for School System CEO
On June 4, Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced that three finalists have been selected from 32 qualified applicants for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Harrisburg School District. Chosen at the conclusion of a nationwide search, the finalists include Dr. Gerald W. Kohn of Vineland, NJ, Dr. Edward M. Warnick of Montrose, PA, and Dr. Laval S. Wilson of Newburgh, NY. Each candidate has been previously interviewed by the city School District Board of Control and will shortly visit the city for an extensive series of public and private interviews and tours.

Dr. Kohn has been involved in education since 1968 and has served as the Director of Desegregation for the Cambridge, MA school district and as superintendent of four school districts. Also in education since 1968, Dr. Warnick was a curriculum supervisor with the Wilmington, DE school system and a superintendent in four school districts. A veteran in education since 1958, Dr. Wilson was an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Hempstead, NY school district and has since served as superintendent for five districts; he was superintendent of the Newburgh, NY, school district until January of this year, and is now an educational consultant with school district administrators.

With its inception this past February, the search for a new leader of Harrisburg’s public education system has involved members of the committee, headed by C. Russell Mayo, the city’s executive search consultant for the CEO position, as well as the city’s community. From the thirty-two initial national applicants drawn, the list of candidates diminished to eight semi-finalists who were later interviewed by the Board of Control. Following this rigorous interview process, the three remaining candidates will be recommended to the community for final consideration. Each finalist will meet with a mayoral-appointed committee of city community and business leaders for interviews and tour city school facilities. At the conclusion of the their visit to Harrisburg, the finalists will meet with the Mayor. Dr. Warnick, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Kohn will address the community through public interviews held on June 12, 13, and 15, respectively. 

The Big 33 Football Classic
Since 1957, the Big 33 Football classic has delighted audiences through the featuring of outstanding athletes from Pennsylvania and Ohio high schools. The Big 33 Football Classic, sponsored by Chi-Chi’s, Inc., will be held at Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey, PA on July 21. In conjunction with the game sponsorship, Chi-Chi’s restaurant guests in PA will have the opportunity to enter a drawing at any of the participating restaurants in the Philadelphia, Central PA, and Pittsburgh regional markets for up to $33,000 in college scholarships.

Of the entries at Chi-Chi’s restaurants from June 1st to June 30th, three regional semi-finalists will be drawn by officials of the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation; the semi-finalists will be awarded tickets to the game, one night’s hotel accommodations in Hershey, PA, Hershey Park amusements passes, and admission to the Chi-Chi’s alcohol-free tailgate party. On July 21st, preceding the game, each semi-finalist will compete in a football toss from the 10 yard line to a target on the goal line; the semi-finalist who hits the target the most times in 30 seconds becomes the finalist who will later participate with Michigan State starting quarterback Jeff Smoker in a celebrity football toss. The finalist will partake in a football toss with the possibility of winning up to $33,000 in scholarships.

A full description of the sweepstakes rules and procedures is available at participating Chi-Chi’s restaurants. To contact Chi-Chi’s, a subsidiary of Prandium, Inc., call (949) 757-7900, the toll-free information line at (888) 288-PRAN, or check on-line at prandium.com and chi-chis.com.