web1_stabbing2.jpg

Wilkes-Barre firefighters want to return to old back-up ambulance plan

web1_casa02.jpg

Eight new CASA advocates hope to ‘bring hope’ to abused and neglected children

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; For Malcolm Barber, it was mission accomplished.</p><p>The Wilkes-Barre man left opening day of the 2016 Farmers Market on Thursday morning, jubilantly showing off a bag filled with 18 light green, slightly bulbous Lebanese zucchinis from Albert Broyan&#8217;s stand.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to hollow them out and stuff them with rice, lamb, cumin and different spices,&#8221; said Barber, who was pleased that the zucchinis, which the Broyan family calls &#8220;goudas,&#8221; were small and tender.</p><p>Hundreds of area residents seemed equally happy with fresh produce farmers brought to Public Square for the first time this year, whether it was rhubarb for a pie, eggs for tomorrow&#8217;s breakfast, or kohlrabi for a crunchy snack.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got leaf lettuce and red beets,&#8221; customer Mike Mulvey, of Mountain Top, said. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to make a big salad.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to get some fresh spinach,&#8221; said Bobbie Shurnacki, of Swoyersville, adding she was a bit disappointed because &#8220;the lady who usually sells me sour cherries said they were frozen out this year.&#8221;</p><p>Still, there were plenty of sweet cherries, plus strawberries and blueberries at various stands.</p><p>&#8220;My favorite fruit is peaches,&#8221; said retired teacher Joe Dombek, of Kingston, knowing he&#8217;ll likely have to wait a few more weeks for that local crop.</p><p>Farmers Market vendors sell tie-dye dresses, woven rugs, doggie treats, fancy hair barrettes and jewelry, as well as ice cream, baked goods, sandwiches and pizza.</p><p>But the farmers who got up early to pick cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, beans, squash and garlic scapes are the backbone of the weekly event, which will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays through Nov. 17.</p><p>Nineteen-year-old Shania Broyan said on market day she&#8217;d started harvesting at 6:30 a.m. at the family farm in Nescopeck with her 16-year-old brother, Logan, and their neighbor Tyler Smith, also 16.</p><p>Logan, incidentally, had picked the 18 Lebanese zucchinis that morning. After Barber departed the Broyan stand, Tyler said, sounding somewhat in awe: &#8220;That guy bought them all.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116Market1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brandon Bodin, 11, and Aiden Thomas, 9, relax on top of the sculpture on Public Square while their family runs vendor stands on the first day of the Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116Market1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brandon Bodin, 11, and Aiden Thomas, 9, relax on top of the sculpture on Public Square while their family runs vendor stands on the first day of the Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116market2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Derek Belsky arranges flowers at Golumb&#8217;s farm stand. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116market2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Derek Belsky arranges flowers at Golumb&#8217;s farm stand. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116market3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Owen Hostetler, of the Turbotville Bakery, assists a customer with fresh baked bread. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116market3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Owen Hostetler, of the Turbotville Bakery, assists a customer with fresh baked bread. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116Market4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cathy Prushinski feeds her granddaughter Grace Kopetz, 4, of Bear Creek, a pizza slice on the first Farmers Market of the year in Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Public Square on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116Market4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Cathy Prushinski feeds her granddaughter Grace Kopetz, 4, of Bear Creek, a pizza slice on the first Farmers Market of the year in Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Public Square on Thursday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116Market5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Linda Heim, right, sells apples and other fresh goods from Zimmerman Farms out of Pitman, Schuylkill County. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL070116Market5-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Linda Heim, right, sells apples and other fresh goods from Zimmerman Farms out of Pitman, Schuylkill County. </caption4><photoCredit4>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Weekly event will run through Nov. 17</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market opens for 2016 season