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Department of Agriculture

'Prepare With Care': Health Officials Urge Food Safety Ahead Of Thanksgiving 'Prepare With Care': Health Officials Urge Food Safety Ahead Of Thanksgiving
'Prepare With Care': Health Officials Urge Food Safety Ahead Of Thanksgiving As millions of New Yorkers prepare to cook their Thanksgiving feasts, health officials are urging people to remember the tenants of food safety. The New York State health and agriculture departments offered up several tips to help keep family and friends safe from foodborne illness this holiday season. “The Department works hard all year long to ensure the safety of our food supply at our stores and food manufacturing facilities, but food safety is also so important at home,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball. “We urge everyone who is cooking for their loved ones this Thanksgiv…
Charles County Sheriff Cracks 44-Year-Old Cold Case Of Vickie Belk's Murder Charles County Sheriff Cracks 44-Year-Old Cold Case Of Vickie Belk's Murder
Charles County Sheriff Cracks 44-Year-Old Cold Case Of Vickie Belk's Murder Justice has been served for a Maryland family more than four decades after Vickie Lynn Belk was abducted and murdered in Charles County. The Charles County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, July 13 that an arrest has been made in the death of Belk, who was found in Bryans Road on Metropolitan Church Road after she was killed 44 years ago.  Vickie Lynn BelkCharles County Sheriff Washington, DC resident Andre Taylor, now 62, is facing charges that include rape and murder for his alleged role in Belk's disappearance and death decades ago. In August 1979, Belk was reported missing to…
Fire Closes Mexican Restaurant In Lehigh County, Officials Say Fire Closes Mexican Restaurant In Lehigh County, Officials Say
Fire Closes Mexican Restaurant In Lehigh County, Officials Say A fire broke out at a Mexican restaurant in Lehigh County in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Nov. 30, according to officials.  First responders were called to La Cabanita Restaurant at 2720 South Pike Avenue in Salisbury Township for an automatic fire alarm just before 4 a.m., police said in a statement. On arrival, emergency personnel saw smoke coming from the building and called nearby departments for assistance, authorities said.  Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and ventilate the building within an hour, according to police. Further investigation revea…
Former Hempstead School Official Admits To Kickback Scheme, Ordered To Pay $120K Former Hempstead School Official Admits To Kickback Scheme, Ordered To Pay $120K
Former Hempstead School Official Admits To Kickback Scheme, Ordered To Pay $120K A former school district official on Long Island traveled the world after raking in six figures as part of an illegal kickback scheme, prosecutors said. Sharon Gardner, age 56, of Lindenhurst, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in federal court in Central Islip Tuesday, Nov. 29. Garnder admitted that she helped secure lucrative contracts for Smart Starts, a company owned by co-defendant Maria Caliendo, while working as the director of food services for the Hempstead Union Free School District, according to prosecutors. The company provides prepackaged breakfa…
Butchered Ram Found Near River In Easton Butchered Ram Found Near River In Easton
Butchered Ram Found Near River In Easton A butchered sheep was found near a river near a candle and white powder in Fairfield County. The incident took place in Easton on Sunday, Aug. 21 when a hiker found the dead sheep near the Mill River at South Park Avenue and Buck Hill Road. When officers arrived, they found a candle that was burned out and some sort of white powder poured on the ground in a rectangular pattern approximately 15 feet away, said Easton Police Chief Richard Doyle. "The investigation determined that the animal was an adult Ram male which had been professionally butchered elsewhere and dumped at the site," Doyle…
36 More Defiant Pennsylvania Restaurants Closed 36 More Defiant Pennsylvania Restaurants Closed
36 More Defiant Pennsylvania Restaurants Closed Pennsylvania officials announced three dozen more restaurants that have closed following defiance of the state’s COVID-19 mitigation measures. The Department of Agriculture earlier this week said the 36 restaurants violated an indoor dining ban -- which was lifted Jan. 4 -- following unannounced inspections from Dec. 28 through Jan. 3. Gov. Wolf's temporary COVID-19 mitigation order mandated the closure of indoor dining, gyms and limiting indoor gatherings to a maximum capacity of 10 people. The following establishments were ordered temporarily closed according to a spokeswoman for th…
These 40 Pennsylvania Restaurants Were Ordered Closed Over COVID-19 Violations, DOA Says These 40 Pennsylvania Restaurants Were Ordered Closed Over COVID-19 Violations, DOA Says
These 40 Pennsylvania Restaurants Were Ordered Closed Over Covid-19 Violations, DOA Says Pennsylvania officials warned last week establishments defying COVID-19 orders could be shut down. For 40 of them, that's exactly what happened, the Department of Agriculture said, noting an additional 180 were warned, officials said. Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a temporary COVID-19 mitigation order closing indoor dining, gyms and limiting indoor gatherings to a maximum capacity of 10 people. That will remain in effect until Jan. 4.  Although state officials said most establishments in the commonwealth were following the orders, several others were not. And they were…
COVID-19: Pennsylvania Cracking Down On Noncompliant Businesses COVID-19: Pennsylvania Cracking Down On Noncompliant Businesses
Covid-19: Pennsylvania Cracking Down On Noncompliant Businesses More than 150 Pennsylvania businesses were warned this week that they will be facing more serious repercussions for defying COVID-19 restrictions. The restrictions close indoor dining, gyms and theaters until Jan. 4, but businesses already crippled by the pandemic say they can't afford to lose any more cash, and that they can safely stay open. The state's Department of Agriculture on Wednesday implemented a new set of enforcement actions for noncompliant restaurants, subjecting them to unannounced inspections, citations of up to $300 for each day they remain open and then -- …
2 West Nile Virus Cases Reported In NJ 2 West Nile Virus Cases Reported In NJ
2 West Nile Virus Cases Reported In NJ Two New Jersey residents were infected with West Nile Virus, state health officials said. The first was a man in his forties from Essex County, who tested positive earlier this month, and the other a man in his seventies from Monmouth County, the New Jersey Health Department said in a release. “While WNV activity in mosquitoes has been much lower than what we have seen in previous seasons, it is important that residents continue to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites especially since most WNV human cases occur in early September,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. Meanwhi…
DV Plus - Westchester
Greenburgh Supervisor Challenged In November For First Time Since 2007 Greenburgh Supervisor Challenged In November For First Time Since 2007
Greenburgh Supervisor Challenged In November For First Time Since 2007 One of Westchester County's longest-serving town supervisors is facing a rare challenge at the polls this fall. For the first time in a dozen years, longtime Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, a Democrat and former county legislator, will have an opponent on Nov. 5. Independent challenger Lucas Cioffi will be on the ballot this fall appearing on the Greenburgh Party line. Feiner has served the town as supervisor for the last 28 years. The last time he faced any opposition was in the 2013 Democratic primary election, which Feiner won. Cioffi, a 39-year-old software engineer and entrepreneur…
Recall Issued For Popular Brand Of Baby Spinach Due To Salmonella Scare Recall Issued For Popular Brand Of Baby Spinach Due To Salmonella Scare
Recall Issued For Popular Brand Of Baby Spinach Due To Salmonella Scare Dole announced that it is recalling baby spinach products that may be contaminated with salmonella. The company announced that it is voluntarily recalling six-ounce and 10-ounce baby spinach bags that have a “use-by” date of Aug. 5, 2019, due to a possible health risk. Dole is coordinating with regulatory officials as part of the recall, according to the FDA. The FDA noted that the recalled products are expired and should no longer be on retail shelves.  According to the FDA, the precautionary recall notification was issued after a sample of baby spinach tested positive for salmo…
Major Recall Of Spam, Other Hormel Brand After Complaints Of Metal Objects Major Recall Of Spam, Other Hormel Brand After Complaints Of Metal Objects
Major Recall Of Spam, Other Hormel Brand After Complaints Of Metal Objects A major recall of Spam and another canned meat food made by Hormel has been ordered after four consumers complained about metal objects found in the food with minor injuries reported, the Department of Agriculture said. A total of 228,000 pounds of Spam and Hormel's Black-Label Luncheon Loaf have been recalled. The USDA said "minor oral injuries" were reported but said they received "no additional reports of injury or illness" from consumption of the products. The recall covers 12-ounce metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with a "Best By" date of Fe…