An investigation that began last spring after several high-school students in a culinary education program at The Orchards accused the owner of inappropriate behavior has resulted in several citations against the Franklin County business.
The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement issued five citations against The Orchards in September:
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Manager of licensed premises was employed by or engaged in another business without board approval
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Furnished and/or gave or permitted such sale, furnishing or giving alcoholic beverages to two minors
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Employed or permitted a minor under 16 years of age to render service in or about the licensed premises
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Conducted an off-premise catered function without an off-premises catering permit
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Failed to clean malt or brewed beverage dispensing system faucets at least once every 14 days
The liquor control bureau’s investigation of The Orchards is the only of several to result in any reprimands stemming from allegations that owner Michael Kalathas acted inappropriately with teenage students attending Costa Academy, a culinary arts education program that operated at The Orchards.
What are the Costa Academy allegations?
A viral Facebook post of an email a parent of a Costa Academy student sent to the Chambersburg Area school board first revealed the allegations in mid-May. About a week later, another student shared similar allegations during a school board meeting.
The participating school districts, Chambersburg and Shippensburg, pulled out of the program and Greencastle-Antrim announced it would cancel its planned participation for the coming school year. Several local businesses that had financially supported Costa Academy issued statements ending support for the program.
In a letter issued by a public relations firm, the Kalathas family said all the allegations were false and were made in an attempt to “cancel” Michael Kalathas.
“Michael Kalathas and his family are decades-long restaurateurs, proud residents of the Chambersburg community, and employ over fifty people,” the statement began. “He has devoted his life to his employees, friends, community, and family. In the blink of an eye, false allegations from a person he never met are attempting to cancel him. Michael Kalathas’s decades of commitment and love for the Chambersburg community cannot and will not be cancelled.”
First story about Costa Academy scandal: Reference
