web1_TTL110915Behindthebiz1.jpg

Behind the Business: Meet Brian Sipe, general manager of Mohegan Sun Arena

Stephen Senick, Patricia Buzinkai win Wyoming Valley Striders 20K Run

The following are recent Luzerne County restaurant inspection reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. According the agency: &#8220;any inspection is a &#8216;snapshot&#8217; of the day and time of the inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment. Also, at the time of the inspection violations are recorded but are often corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.&#8221; The information is taken from the inspection database at www.eatsafepa.com. Postal addresses used here are as listed on the state&#8217;s website, and may not correspond to the municipalities in which facilities are physically located.Barron&#8217;s Sunoco Service, 1130 Route 93, Drums, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance.China Garden, 15 S. Main St., Plains Twp., Oct. 28. Follow-up inspection; in compliance.Hazleton Area High School, 1601 W. 23rd. St., Hazleton, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance.Hildebrandt Learning Center, 1150 E. Mountain Drive, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed a buildup of static dust on ceiling vents in the kitchen area.Lake Noxen Elementary School, RR 3, Box 270, Harveys Lake, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Receiving door observed to have approximately &#189;-inch gap at right corner door/floor junction with visible light. Potential for rodent/pest entry.Lety&#8217;s Kitchen, 1130 Route 93, Drums, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: three-basin sink has buildup of grime in basins. Floors have buildup of spoiled food residuals.Moe&#8217;s Southwest Grill, Bear Creek Commons, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 28. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed an accumulation of old syrup on surface above beverage dispensing nozzle on self-serve Coke machines. Person in charge called Coke to have serviced and professionally cleaned.Pilot Travel Center #298, 1114 Route 93, Drums, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance.Rodano&#8217;s Express, 918 Exeter Ave., Exeter, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employee observed in prep area wearing bracelet, watch on arms. Food employees observed in prep area not wearing proper hair restraints such as nets or hats. Observed multiple containers of food ingredients in the prep area not labeled with the common name. Person in charge labeled during inspection. Broken/loose rubber door gaskets observed on the chest freezer and refrigerator in back area. Interior surface of refrigerator door is cracked.Ross Elementary School, 5148 Main Road, Sweet Valley, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: The concentration of the sanitizing solution in the bucket of wiping cloths tested at 200 ppm and not 50 to 100 ppm as required. This was corrected during this inspection. Pre-packaged bread with peanut butter and jelly food is not labeled properly with an ingredient statement, sub-ingredients, net weight, and/or nutritional facts. Pre-packaged bread with peanut butter and jelly is not labeled to clearly indicate any &#8220;Big 8&#8221; allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Toilet rooms do not have a self-closing door.Tom&#8217;s Kitchen, 656 Route 93, Sugarloaf, Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: No thermometers visible in all in-use refrigeration units. Florescent light tubes in rear store room are not shielded.Turkey Hill Minit Market #289, 1140 N. Church St., Hazle Twp., Oct. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food handler certificate posted is a copy, not the original as required. Tongs at self-serve roller grills are not tethered.Petro Quick, 1399 Salem Blvd., Berwick, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Time in lieu of temperature being used in the food facility to control ready-to-eat potentially hazardous foods without written procedures or documentation to verify disposition of food. A policy was written and log initiated during this inspection. Static dust on fan guards in walk-in cooler and &#8220;true Vitamin water&#8221; cooler.Wyoming Valley West High School, 150 Wadham St., Plymouth, Oct.29. Regular inspection; in compliance.Auntie Anne&#8217;s #178, Laurel Mall Suite 30, Hazleton, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance.Crown Fried Chicken, 8 E. Broad St., Hazleton, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Ice cream scoops are stored with handles submerged in dipper well water. No thermometers visible in all in-use refrigeration units. Florescent light tube cover in two-door cooler in rear kitchen is out of end caps.CVS Pharmacy #1891, 64 S. Locust St., Hazleton, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance.Dino&#8217;s Italian Bistro, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: The person in charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Observed raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler. PIC moved eggs during inspection. Observed multiple containers of food ingredients not labeled with the common name. PIC labeled containers. Tuna, raw steak, and soup held at 45-49&#176;F, in the walk in cooler area, rather than 41&#176;F or below as required. PIC discarded foods. Observed an ambient temperature of 50&#176;F in the walk-in cooler. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Blade on post can opener, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. PIC cleaned during inspection. Observed a buildup of black, slimy residue on non-food contact surface behind ice chute on beverage machine. PIC cleaned during inspection. Observed a buildup of old soda syrup on areas above and behind beverage dispensing nozzles on soda machine. PIC cleaned areas.Giant Food Store #6081, 70 S. Locust St., Hazleton, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Previously frozen, cryo-pak tuna is being thawed in unopened package. Referred to safe handling instructions on package. Heavy buildup of frozen condensate observed suspended from ceiling in walk-in freezer.Hickory Farms, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed cases of food stored directly on the floor in counter and storage area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required.JCPenney Corp., Inc. #1968, 34 Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance.Just R&#8217;s Pierogies, 783 Metcalf, St., Wilkes-Barre, Oct 29. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in prep area not wearing proper hair restraints such as nets or hats. Food ingredient container in the prep area is not labeled with the common name of the food. PIC labeled during inspection. Interior of ice machine, a food contact surface, was observed to have a buildup of mold-like residue. PIC drained machine during inspection and will clean and sanitize before use. Employee&#8217;s toilet room is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkins.Knuckleheads, 244 Hughes St., Swoyersville, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: The facility has an employee who took a three-year Food Handler Certification course and not a five-year Food Manager Course as required. In a telephone interview with the owner, she stated that she has registered to take a five-year course but has not been able to complete the course yet. She is to send proof of her registration to the Region 3 office via fax or email or scan and email it to this inspector within 10 days. She will then complete the course within 90 days and do the same with a copy of the certificate. Observed a black hose approximately 4 feet long attached to the faucet with the end coiled up in the bottom of the hand-wash sink. In a telephone interview with the owner, she stated that the hose was attached to fill her mop bucket. The hose was removed during this inspection. No sign or poster posted at the hand-wash sink in the men&#8217;s restroom to remind food employees to wash their hands. A sign was posted during this inspection.Lee Park Primary, 99 Lee Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance.Nescopeck Elementary School, 315 Dewey St., Nescopeck, Oct. 29. Regular inspection; in compliance.Andy&#8217;s River Road Diner, 1335 N. River St., Plains Township, Oct 30. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: R-A food employee was observed touching toast - a ready to eat food - with bare hands. Toast was discarded. Observed a buildup of old syrup residue on surface above and behind nozzles on beverage machine. PIC cleaned during inspection. Employee restroom is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkinsPearl at Mohegan Sun, 1280 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 30. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Acidified rice pH measurements are not being taken on every batch, last pH taken on recorded was Oct. 25, 2015; pH of rice tested during inspection was 4.0. Observed food ingredient containers, in the sushi and kitchen area, not labeled with the common name of the food. Person in charge labeled containers. Food utensils in prep area observed stored in a container of water which is not maintained at 135&#176;F. PIC removed spoon from water. Interior of microwave, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. PIC cleaned during inspection. Three-compartment sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. PIC shortened hose during inspection.Bear Creek Charter School, 2000 Bear Creek Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 11. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Raw eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods in the refrigerator. Eggs were moved to bottom shelf. Observed plastic container with no handle being used as a scoop in food ingredient container. Observed a buildup of dust on exhaust fans above oven in kitchen area.Curry Donuts, 733 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, Nov. 2. Complaint inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in service area not wearing proper hair restraints such as nets, hats or beard covers. Observed a buildup of dried food residue on the floor stand mixer under mixer head and on framing. Observed dried food residue on handles and glass doors of refrigeration units in the food prep area. Observed cracked floor tiles or areas where the grouting is missing in the area in front of the bain marie in the service area and is not smooth or easily cleaned. The floor under the bain marie, stainless counter and refrigeration units located in the service area of the facility is extremely dirty and dusty and in need of cleaning.Dickey&#8217;s Barbecue Pit #921, 1189 Highway 315, Suite 1, Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 2. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility has an original certificate posted, but the location is not conspicuous for public viewing. Observed severely dented cans of beans on dry storage shelf. Person in charge removed cans from area to be returned to supplier. Observed ice scoop stored on top of ice machine, an area not easily cleanable. PIC moved ice scoop. Onion slicer, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. PIC cleaned during inspection. Observed a buildup of old syrup residue on surfaces above nozzles on self-serve beverage machine. PIC cleaned areas.Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, 174 Mundy St., Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 2. Regular inspection; in compliance.III Guys Restaurant &amp; Sports Bar, 51 S. Wyoming Ave., Edwardsville, Nov. 2. Follow-up inspection; in compliance.

Luzerne County restaurant inspections: Oct. 29 - Nov. 2