Latest news with #MisterSoftee
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Don't You Dare Eliminate The Penny, Redux
Farewell. (Photo) Getty Images In 2013, I wrote a Forbes column that became one of my most-read and most-cited, 'Don't You Dare Eliminate the Penny.' In it I considered the views of elite opinionators who wanted the United States to scotch its lowest-denomination monetary unit, the penny. They said it would save money to get rid of the thing, because copper costs more than one cent now. Remember copper thieves? They would lurk around construction sites and pull wire out of the frame of a building and then resell the stuff on the black market for big bucks. Wonder why copper got so expensive. Wonder why gold did. In the 2000s, it has absolutely kicked the tush of stocks. Gold was selling at $266 in 2001. Now it's at $3300. That is about exactly how well Microsoft stock, Mister Softee itself of $3 trillion market cap fame, has done over that interval. The indexes? Forgetaboutit. Gold is up twelve-fold since 2001. The Dow industrials are up fourfold. Back when the United States had a great economy, in the nineteenth century, in the roaring 1920s, in postwar prosperity after World War II, the dollar itself was redeemable not merely in copper (100 pieces to a dollar) but in gold (1/35th of an ounce of it). Again, how did we do, as an economy, when like old-fashioned cranks we had currency redeemable in precious metal? We grew and prospered like crazy. How have we done with modern, serious, professionally managed fiat money? Slow-growth, inequality-wracked 2000s! But we are so sophisticated it makes me blush. Yes, we are now eliminating the penny. This appears to be the gist of news reports last week. The feds are going to strop striking the old bird. This will make pennies in circulation too scarce and valuable from a numismatic and copper perspective, and they will all flee from circulation. Vendors, in turn, will have to round prices to multiples of five cents. This is because we still strike half-dimes, which by the Coinage Act of 1792 Congress still must mint, in silver. Oops, we don't have half dimes anymore. In the civil war Congress nixed those for the nickel, because nickel was cheaper. The United States in that war started printing paper money not redeemable in gold, and everybody hoarded silver. Just like today! The decline of the penny is yet another further attenuation of the classical monetary systems of the past—read about it in Free Money—above all the gold standard that we had with us as recently as 1971. You can kid yourself—Washington and academia do—that the gold standard is crankery and so forth, or you can get real and note that classical monetary systems accompanied the industrial revolution. The canard that gold caused the Great Depression is a joke. We had the most comprehensive tax system ever suddenly by the early 1930s and people say something else—capitalism! gold! the rich!—caused the disaster. If we had serious economic growth, nobody would hoard the penny, and copper would fall in price. What did gold do when Reagan got serious about economic growth? It fell from $840 all the way down eventually to the $260s. Nobody wants precious metals—copper included—when the real investment environment is excellent. We are getting rid of the penny because we have not gotten fully serious about having a great economy again. If we did have a great economy, or expected to have one, there would be no reason to think people would hoard money. The penny costs too much to make? Then make it cost less by having people want to get rid of inert metal for real growth projects. The shame of getting rid of the penny is that the venerable copper, 'found a penny at my feet,' as Joni Mitchell warbled, is yet another hacking away of links to the hard-money systems that really delivered growth. Yes, we still have other pocket change, but you know the inflation in the wings is coming for the rest of it. Hoard your quarters, weird-looking as they have become with all the bizarre new 'artwork' that is making Augustus St. Gaudens (not to mention TR) roll in his grave. Quarters look bad now because they want to soften us up for getting rid of them altogether. Bing Crosby used to sing the old carol, redolent of times of prosperity when 'the goose is getting fat' about poor folk who had nothing. 'If you haven't got a haypenny'—remember half-pennies?—'then God bless you.' Well the United States has now neither a half-penny nor a penny. That means it's poor folk. Then God bless it, I guess.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Berks food safety inspections found potentially hazardous prepared items not date marked
Berks County is divided into three jurisdictions: Reading, Muhlenberg Township and the rest of the county. Reading and Muhlenberg Township have their own food safety inspectors and the rest of the county is inspected by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspectors. The results will be posted every other week. All food vendors are inspected at least once a year. Other inspections can be triggered by a change of owner, a follow up if a facility had been out of compliance or by a complaint filed with the PDA. View any vendor's last inspection report online. Click on the PDF version of the inspection report for all details. If a food provider is labeled out of compliance, that means it has one or more violations that require a return visit by an inspector. The establishment is given time to fix the problem(s) and remains open for business. Complaints can be filed online with the PDA. Below are the results of inspections conducted between May 7 and May 20, 2025, that were filed in the state database as of May 22 at1:30 p.m. Berks Mister Softee #1 (Zly-2888), 1518 Elizabeth Ave., Laureldale , May 20: one violation. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Mister Softee #2 (Zcw-0444), 1518 Elizabeth Ave., Laureldale , May 20: one violation. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Mister Softee #3 (Ytw-2595), 1518 Elizabeth St., Laureldale , May 20: one violation. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Mister Softee #4 (Yve-5542), 1518 Elizabeth St., Laureldale , May 20: one violation. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Plantedhub Catering Kitchen, 75 Church Lane Road, Reading , May 20: no violations. Ihop #5502, 2701 Meridian Blvd., Wyomissing , May 19: four violations. There is a gap along the front and right side of the ice machine between the upper portion and the bottom bin. Floor surface material is deteriorating in some areas of the kitchen, such as the dishwasher area and cookline area. Also, floor tiles in the mop sink are missing. Working container (spray bottle) in the dishwashing area, used for storing chemicals, cleaners taken from bulk supplies, was not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected. Observed dirt/debris/grease/ old food debris in the following areas: (1) under the front server counters, (2) along the wall under equipment at the cooking line, (3) on surfaces of the grill at the far left of the cooking line, (4) in the corner near the large mixer, (5) along the wall near the ice machine. There is dried food residue on some surfaces of the milkshake mixer. Corrected. Turkey Hill Minit Market #242, 2901 Papermill Road, Wyomissing , May 19: one violation. Observed two half gallons of fat free milk offered for sale beyond the sell by date of 5/12/25. Corrected immediately. Grateful Coffee And Thrift Bar @ Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Sinking Spring , May 18: one violation. The handwash sink located in the serving area does not have water at a temperature of at least 85°F. Las Cazuelas Mexican Food @ Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Sinking Spring , May 18: no violations. Manuel Class At Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Reading , May 18: two violations. The handwash sink located in the stick stand area does not have water at a temperature of at least 85°F. The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. Maria Cortes/Mondragon At Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Reading , May 18: one violation. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Please provide a current license. Maricely Class @ Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Reading , May 18: two violations. The handwash sink located in the stick stand area does not have water at a temperature of at least 85°F. Food facility has an employee that has taken food safety training program; however, the food safety program was not an ANSI/CFP accredited Certified Food Manager program. Miriam Aviles @ Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Reading , May 18: two violations. The handwash sink located in the stick stand area does not have water at a temperature of at least 85°F. The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. Olucuilta At Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Reading , May 18: no violations. Sigfrido Tapia @ Willow Glenn, 94 Park Ave., Reading , May 18: no violations. Ferrara's Trattoria LLC Mff4/Xpt1614, 5704 Allentown Pike, Reading , May 16: no violations. Kathryn's Katering, 8380 Allentown Pike Blandon, Pa 19510 , May 16: two violations. Shelf below the grill on the cookline was observed with excessive food debris build up. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Laxmi's Indian Grille, 1806 State Hill Road, Wyomissing , May 16: three violations. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration at the 3-compartment sink and being used in the kitchen has an accumulation of dust/ located in the kitchen area of the food facility has gaps at the bottom and does not protect against the entry of pests. Starbucks Coffee #79963, 60 Cherry St., Leesport , May 16: no violations. The Bowers Hotel, 298 Bowers Road, Bowers , May 16: two violations. Cup containers without handles were observed being stored in bulk bins of flour and breadcrumbs in the baking prep area. Corrected Salmon was observed thawing at room temperature on the 4 wheeled cart in dry storage, which is not an approved thawing method. Corrected, Salmon was put into the walk-in cooler. Dunkin Donuts, 830 Rt. 100, Bechtelsville , May 15: two violations. The handwash sink in the dish area was blocked by a shelving unit and not accessible at all times for employee use. Corrected. Coving is observed missing tiles in the backroom. This needs to be repaired/replaced. Union House, 1803 S Main St., Bechtelsville , May 15: two violations. Women's restroom does not have a self-closing door. This is a repeat violation and needs to be repaired. Food facility is using an approved non-public water system, but does not have current laboratory testing results for water potability. Out of compliance. Burger King #30004, 8603 Lancaster Ave., Bethel , May 14: no violations. Kitt's Cafe & Gandalf's Garden, 8520 Allentown Pike Suite 13&14, Blandon , May 14: no violations. New Douglassville Cafe, 1554 Ben Franklin Highway Unit D, Douglassville , May 14: two violations. Multiple foods were held at 46°F, in the Bain Marie by the grill, rather than 41°F or below as required. Mops are not being hung to air dry. New Happy Wok, 1139 W Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville , May 14: four violations. Refrigerated ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the walk-in cooler, is not being date marked. Corrected. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Multiple foods were held at 44°F, in the Bain Marie by the cook line, rather than 41°F or below as required. Uncooked rice observed stored in an non-food grade container in the dry storage area. Perry Restaurant, 11 Bellevue Ave., Shoemakersville , May 14: seven violations. Several containers of food in the refrigerator, reach in freezer, and walk in cooler area are stored open with no covering. Corrected. Food contact surface of table with a wooden top is not smooth, easily cleanable and/or resistant to pitting, warping, cracking or scratching. Please cover with a smooth and easily cleanable surface. Corrected .Shelves on the cookline were observed lined with cardboard. This is not smooth and easily cleanable. Corrected. Floor in the walk-in cooler was observed lined with cardboard. Corrected. Observed several cases of food stored directly on the floor in the outside walk-in cooler and freezer area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Corrected. Wall in the hallway from the kitchen to the office was observed with 2 holes and the ceiling in the walk-in cooler outside is observed with peeling paint. These areas need to be repaired as they are not smooth and easily cleanable, and the paint can contaminate foods. Refrigerated ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the refrigerator and walk-in coolers, are not being date marked. Corrected. Wall behind cookline area of the food facility was observed with excessive grease and debris build up, and in need of cleaning. Floor / wall / ceiling, in the mixer area, is made of wood, and is not durable, smooth, non-porous, non-absorbent. Shires Mobile Kitchen Company Mff, 164 Evansville Road, Fleetwood , May 14: no violations. Bethany Children's Home Main Kitchen, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: two violations. 2 knives hanging on the knife rack were observed to have encrusted food residue and were not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 10 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required. Brobst Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. CD's Place Restaurant, 237 N Reading Ave., Boyertown , May 13: no violations. Eck Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. Henning Center, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: one violation. Hand sink was observed without running water. Staff was using dump sink-ware washing sink to wash hands. Hand wash sink needs to be repaired. Hess Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. Knorr Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. Leinbach Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. Moyer Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. Paparone's Pizza Restaurant, 3803 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring , May 13: no violations. Pine Forge Athletic Assoc, 1068 Douglas Drive , Boyertown , May 13: no violations. Reed Cottage, 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf , May 13: no violations. Terra Pacem Winery, 160 S. Grims Mill Road , Boyertown , May 13: no violations. Boyertown Area Schools Boyertown Elem., 641 E Second St., Boyertown , May 12: no violations. Boyertown Middle School West, 200 S Madison St., Boyertown , May 12: no violations. Crow Wagon Mff4 (Xjb-2466), 142 Cacoosing Lane, Birdsboro , May 12: no violations. Inn At Bally Spring, 90 Airport Road, Barto , May 12: one violation. Observed a large build-up of grease near the fryer, and on the floors, walls and vent hood of the cooking area. Jamdung Jerk Hut Mmf-Xpj2765, 228 W. Walnut Tree Drive, Blandon , May 12: no violations. Juice Pod West Reading, 519 Penn Ave., West Reading , May 12: two violations. Knives are being stored in a holder that cannot be disassembled for cleaning. Working containers in kitchen area, used for storing chemicals, cleaners taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected. Maidencreek Twp Community Park, 753 Park Road, Blandon , May 12: no violations. Russo Foods And Market, 1150 Bern Road, Wyomissing , May 12: no violations. Scott's Gyro Box-Mmf3 Xjx9161, 151 Home Road, Mertztown , May 12: no violations. Spanish Soul Mff3 (Stick Stand), 40 Middletown Road, Fleetwood , May 12: no violations. Winnie Mochi, 400 Penn Ave., West Reading , May 12: two violations. Raw eggs were stored above ready to eat foods in the refrigerator. Corrected. Scoops being stored in the ice machine with handle touching the ice. Corrected. Winnie's Tea Bar, 725 Penn Ave., West Reading , May 12: no violations. Airport Diner, 15110 Kutztown Road, Kutztown , May 9: two violations. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in two refrigerators. Corrected. Ice machine was observed to have mold build-up on interior kick plate and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Berks Encore @ Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 30 Liberty St., Reading , May 9: one violation. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Bonehead's Grille, 1380 Rt. 100 @ Jake's Flea Market, Barto , May 9: no violations. Casa W Distillery, 1339 Penn Ave., Wyomissing , May 9: five violations. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the bar area. Corrected. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. There is an unsealed gap between the flooring in the hallway and the flooring in the restroom. The handwash sink in the bar area does not have single-use towels. Corrected. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the bar area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Corrected. Ciccio's Olives, 500 Penn 12 B , West Reading , May 9: one violation. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Firehouse Coffee Mff3-Xmv4333, 15877 Kutztown Rd. Road, Maxatawny , May 9: no violations. Hartranft Poultry & Seafood, 10 S. Summit Ave., Shillington , May 9: one violation. Pest activity observed by the cash register. Firm has pest control service in place. Hereford Vol Fire Co, 1153 Gravel Pk Hereford, Pa 18056 , May 9: no violations. Hungarian Sports Club, 1495 Huff Church Road, Barto , May 9: no violations. Leland's Bites & Meemaw's Delights At Kutztown Pool, 171 Industrial Ave., Kutztown , May 9: no violations. Leone's Pizza LLC, 4225 Main St. Suite 109, Elverson , May 9: one violation. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Little Oley Tavern, 2068 Farmington Ave., Boyertown , May 9: one violation. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Mama Cho's, 10 S. Summit Ave., Reading , May 9: two violations. Observed a buildup of grease and old food residue on the nonfood contact surfaces of the Bain Marie. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Mr Food, 342 W. Main St., Kutztown , May 9: no violations. Peter Pipers Pickle Palace Mobile Trailer Mff2@ (Xjk-8513), 740 Noble St., Kutztown , May 9: no violations. Pretzel Revolution, 740 Noble St., Kutztown , May 9: no violations. Salino's Stand, 10 S Summit Ave., Reading , May 9: no violations. Vanno Catering, 5043 Weber Road, Mohnton , May 9: no violations. Andre Farms, 2638 W Philadelphia Ave., Oley , May 8: two violations. Food facility is offering for sale foods prepared in an unapproved private home (pepper hash). Product was removed from the sales shelf. One of the light bulbs in the deli display case is not shielded or shatter proof. Boyertown Area Schools Earl Elementary, 22 School House Road, Boyertown , May 8: no violations. Brooks Cafe LLC, 1139 W. Ben Franklin Highway Unit 2, Douglassville , May 8: four violations. Observed multiple foods in the walk-in cooler held more than 24 hours not being date marked. Corrected. Observed multiple foods stored directly on the floor in the walk-in cooler, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Corrected. Mops are not being hung to air dry. Toilet room for employees does not have a self-closing door. Colebrookdale Elementary School, 1001 Montgomery Ave., Boyertown , May 8: no violations. Daniel Boone Middle School, 1845 Weavertown Road, Douglassville , May 8: one violation. Observed three deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. Domino's Pizza, 1139 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville , May 8: one violation. Observed the spray nozzle at the 3-bay sink to have a buildup of old food debris. Corrected. Happy Bear Coffee Company Tff3, 316 W. Main St., Birdsboro , May 8: no violations. Hillbilly Bbq Xgb-0928, 904 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville , May 8: no violations. JD's Steaks, 3998 A Penn Ave., Reading , May 8: no violations. JD's Steaks Mff4(Xpx-3082), 3998 Penn Ave., Reading , May 8: no violations. JD's Steaks Mff4(Xpx-3082), 3998 Penn Ave., Reading , May 8: no violations. Local Leaf Market, 3071 W. Philadelphia Ave., Oley , May 8: no violations. P & J Pizza, 133 W High St., Womelsdorf , May 8: no violations. Starbucks #77917, 4620 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring , May 8: one violation. Observed cases of coconut milk stored directly on the floor in the dry storage area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Corrected. Washington Elementary School, 1406 Route 100, Barto , May 8: no violations. Edible Arrangements #1269, 3564 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring , May 7: one violation. Spray bottle in dish area, used for storing all-purpose cleaner and was taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected. Kula Kamala Foundation, 17 Basket Road, Reading , May 7: no violations. Morning Fuel, 3024 Penn Ave., West Lawn , May 7: seven violations. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in two cold hold units on the cookline equipment. Corrected. Non-food contact surfaces of shelving and fan guards in the walk-in cooler are not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. Food facility is observed reusing single serve souffle cups to portion out spices and leaving inside the spice containers for multiple uses. Corrected. Frozen chicken that was observed thawing in the walk-in cooler was not date marked with a date it was taken from the freezer to thaw. Corrected. Old food residue was observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing in the bar area. Corrected. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in clean dish area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Prepared food, a refrigerated, ready to eat time temperature control for safety food in the walk-in cooler area, was date-marked by the facility, but was beyond the 7 day use or sell by date and requires discarding. Corrected. Rollie's Place, 755 Hiesters Lane, Reading , May 7: no violations. Taco's Rene Mffzgw-5945, 1161 Park Road, Blandon , May 7: no violations. Third And Spruce Drafthaus, 238 S. Third Ave., West Reading , May 7: one violation. Door to the outside located in the kitchen area of the food facility is being propped open without any screening. Corrected. Topton Fire Station #21, 600 State St., Mertztown , May 7: no violations. Wilson School District Whitfield Elementary, 2700 Van Reed Road, West Lawn , May 7: no violations. Muhlenberg Township Burger King # 303, 3421 N. Fifth St., May 17: no violations. Sunoco Mini Mart, 4601 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 17: three violations. Self-service pastelitos were held at 125°F, rather than 135°F or above as required. Corrected on inspection with thermostat adjustment to '5'. Milk/creamers for hot beverages were held at 43.6°F, in the self-service area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Corrected on inspection with thermostat adjustment to '2'. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the self-service handwash station area. Taco Bell # 5752, 402 Madison Ave., May 17: no violations. Vietnamese Delights, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 17: no violations. Foltz's, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 16: three violations. Personal beverages and food observed in food prep areas. Corrected on inspection. Food dispensing utensils in bulk food bins observed stored in the food and not with handle above the top of the food. Corrected on inspection. Mop was not hung to air dry. Krystyna's Kitchen Roman's Polish Foods, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 16: no violations. Matt's Coney Island, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 16: no violations. Stoltzfus Soft Pretzels, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 16: three violations. Observed pretzels stored under peeling light/heating fixtures. Fan guards dusty (x 2) with potential of contaminating food during preparation. Conduit dusty above pretzel heating area. Personal beverages observed stored on worktables and not in designated area away from food prep. Observed wet wiping cloths in food prep areas, and in handwashing sink not being stored in sanitizer solution. Bittersweet Confections, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 10: no violations. Reading D R Deli Grocery 346710, 201 N. 9th St., May 16: six violations. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the cooler, is not being date marked. Packaged meat not properly stored in the freezer cross contamination of meats. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the prepping area. Packaged food, in freezer area, is an unpackaged food stored or displayed in direct contact with ice. Cleanliness of meat slicer, also cleanliness of the inside of freezers food residue on the shelves. The handwash sink in the prepping area being used as a food preparation sink as evidenced by observed * food in the sink. El Unico Restaurant Inc, 923 Exeter St., May 14: six violations. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the bain marie, is not being date marked. Cooked food for the steam table was not heated to the proper temperature. Temperature was 141 degrees instead of 165 degrees. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in refrigeration equipment. Cooked Food in the refrigeration area stored open with no covering. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the serving area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the prep/serving area. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the prep/serving area. Replace soiled ceiling tiles Pizza Italia 4421350, 1528 N. 14th St., May 14: four violations. Frozen food in the freezer area stored open not closing the bags. Handwashing sinks in food prep area water was shut off. In the back kitchen replace soiled ceiling tiles, remove build of grease on storage area. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the refrigerator, is not being date marked. Sunset Mexican Ice Cream Shop, 835-9 Hiester Lane Unit 8, May 14: one violation. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the cooler, is not being date marked. McDonalds 44204000, 400 Lancaster Ave., May 13: no violations. Wawa, 413 Lancaster Ave., May 13: no violations. Wendys 44209300, 920 Lancaster Ave., May 13: two violations. Observed prepping & frying equipment, in prep area, with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, debris on non-food contact surfaces. Floors, walls and surrounding areas in need of degreasing and cleanliness. Dunkin Donuts, 645 Penn St., May 12: two violations. Male's toilet is loose, secure toilet properly. Men's toilet room is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkins. Paradise Island Smoothies, 733 Lancaster Ave., May 12: five violations. Outdated milk held in the cooler in the front and also in the rear cooler. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the cooler, is not being date marked. Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in front cooler equipment. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the front area. BK Fuel Inc., 928 N. 13th St., May 8: no violations. PB Fuel Inc., 1800 N. 5th St., May 8: two are not being hung to air dry. Paper towels not available in restroom/or hand dryer. Shri Gasoline LLC, 2101 Centre Ave., May 8: two violations. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the cooler, is not being date marked. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in refrigerated cooler equipment. Diaz Grocery & Restaurant, 924 Franklin St., May 7: six violations. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the cooler, is not being date marked. Prepped Food in the cooler area stored open with no covering. The handwash sink in the prep area being used as a food preparation sink as evidenced by observed residue of food in the sink. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in refrigerated cooler equipment. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the food prep area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Mops are not being hung to air dry. UPDATES The following reports for the period of April 23 to May 6, 2025, were added to the state's database after May 8 and did not appear in the previous Berks food safety report. Muhlenberg Township Holy Guardian Angels Regional School, 3125 Kutztown Road, May 5: no violations. Wegman's Restaurant, 4401 Pottsville Pike, May 2: three violations. Wooden handled utensils with cracks/splits observed; not able to be cleaned adequately. Corrected on inspection/discarded. Cutting boards (multi-colored) stained/soiled. Correcting on inspection (soaking in bleach). Fan guards in walk-in refrigerator soiled. Wire shelving in reach-in refrigerator soiled. Chipping paint on ceiling is not a smooth, cleanable surface., and potentially contaminates food. Multiple areas on the floor / wall / ceiling in the main kitchen area are cracked / roughened / and are not a smooth, easily cleanable surface.
Business Insider
21-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Business Insider
I just moved to NYC and I don't understand how anyone survives here without a Hulken bag
What is the Hulken bag? A TikTok deep dive revealed that the Hulken is the rolling, foldable grocery cart of choice among stylish city dwellers. It's been popular for a few years, but living in Kansas, I had clearly missed the memo. The Hulken has a few key differences from the classic granny cart: it's made from gapless polypropylene instead of mesh-like metal, has a zippered top, and folds down super flat for storage. It looks kind of like an Ikea bag on wheels — very industrial chic. But, unlike an Ikea bag (which will only set you back $0.99), the Hulken costs a cool $115 for the large size. I decided to try it for myself to see if it was truly life-changing enough to justify the cost. It's really spacious. My first task for the Hulken was to schlep a plethora of products I had to test from Business Insider's offices downtown back to my apartment on the Upper West Side. I managed to fit an entire microwave, a Le Creuset braiser, and a set of sheets into the Hulken with room to spare. I had put off lugging these items home for weeks, so I was delighted that they all fit so easily into one Hulken trip. The wheels are small but glide super smoothly and its handles are generous enough that I don't have to bend or dip to hold them. Unlike most grocery carts, the Hulken is pulled instead of pushed, which takes some getting used to. I find I have the most control when using the two side handles to roll it alongside me instead of pulling it behind me. At 5'11", I was also worried that I'd have to hunch to reach the handles comfortably. Fortunately, the fit is pretty much perfect for my reach; I can walk at full posture while pulling it, which is very good news for my back. It easily navigates the diverse (and sometimes treacherous) terrain of the city. On my initial journey with the Hulken, I took it down a cobblestone street, up and down subway stairs and escalators, onto the subway during rush hour, and over the litter-strewn streets of my neighborhood. Since then, I've taken it to Trader Joe's, the farmers market, Central Park, on the bus, and to the laundromat. The Hulken fits on a single escalator step, so I just roll it right on and off and never have to lift and balance it. I also love that it's the perfect height to glide under the subway turnstile — it skirts right under the bars behind me. The handles are reinforced and so sturdy. The most daunting part of traveling with a fully loaded Hulken is lifting it up and down stairs. While it's definitely a workout, the handles feel super sturdy. Hulken claims they're "unbreakable," and I can confirm they didn't show any signs of budging while supporting about 40 pounds of weight. The zipper top helps keep things dry and clean. Look, the city can be really gross, and the last thing I want is for a pigeon to crap directly into my bag of groceries or some kid to drop their Mister Softee cone onto my pile of freshly laundered clothing. The Hulken's zippered top is useful for keeping everything secure and protected from the elements. The bag isn't completely waterproof, but I've carried it a few times in the rain, and it's kept everything inside perfectly dry. The top also helps keep cold grocery items cool and sheltered from the sun, though it stops short of being a true cooler. It's way easier to store than a classic granny cart when not in use. The Hulken folds down to not much larger than a typical reusable bag. When I'm carrying it empty, I just tuck it under my arm. A metal-frame granny cart takes up way more space and isn't as convenient to carry when not filled. I feel really cool while using it. Every time I use the Hulken I get compliments on it. On my last trip home from Trader Joe's, two people stopped me to ask about it. It's just a big plastic bag, but it somehow feels very sleek and chic, which is — of course — the ultimate goal for my New York alter ego. Cons to consider I personally find pulling the Hulken behind me more tiring than pushing a cart in front of me with two hands. It also takes a little more work and attention to navigate obstacles (of which there are many in the city) while pulling the Hulken than it is when you're pushing a traditional rolling cart. This isn't a dealbreaker for me — an active 36-year-old — but a classic granny cart may be the better option for those who need to prioritize stability. If I were to request one change to the Hulken's design, it would be some sort of velcro strip to keep the bag from flopping open when it's folded up. Lastly, the most undeniable con is the price. It's a lot to pay for a bag on wheels. The Hulken is patented, but I've seen cheaper imitators pop up, including one from Target. I can't vouch for its quality compared to the Hulken, but if you can't fathom spending $100+ on a big plastic bag, it may be a viable option. What size Hulken should you get? The Hulken comes in three sizes, and I went with the large because I'm regularly "hulking" big boxes as part of my job as a product tester. That said, I think the medium is probably the ideal size for most people, especially if you primarily plan on using your Hulken as a grocery bag or laundry cart.
South China Morning Post
12-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Mister Softee ice cream truck pioneer, Ho King-yuen, dies at 98
Ho King-yuen, a beloved figure in Hong Kong, has passed away at the age of 98. He brought the city its very first ice cream van, delighting countless residents and visitors with sweet treats over the years. Ho and two friends introduced the first Mister Softee ice cream truck to Hong Kong in 1970, and the vehicles have since become a beloved staple and popular tourist attraction. More than 20 people queued at one of the ice cream vans on Tuesday afternoon under the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. Most were tourists who had heard about the trucks on mainland Chinese social media platforms, while some residents described the vans as being part of their 'childhood memories'. 'With his experience at Dairy Farm, he imported the first soft ice cream van to Hong Kong from overseas with his friends and founded Mister Softee [here], which brought many precious sweet memories to many generations of Hongkongers and has become a renowned brand in the city,' an obituary published in a local newspaper on Tuesday said. 'He retired at an old age and transferred the business to another company. He then moved to Perth in Western Australia with his family.' Ice cream that doesn't melt? New discovery means scientists are one step closer How Mister Softee came to Hong Kong Mister Softee was founded by William and James Conway in 1956 in Philadelphia. It is one of the largest franchisers of soft ice cream in the United States. According to media reports, Ho and two other people bought the franchise rights after seeing a park filled with ice cream trucks during a visit to the United Kingdom. The first Mister Softee truck in Hong Kong opened in a football field in Tsuen Wan with a cup of ice cream costing 50 HK cents, with the business making HK$800 within an hour. In 2010, the American company reclaimed the franchise rights and the English name of the Hong Kong brand was changed to Mobile Softee. A family joyfully buying soft ice-cream cones from a Mister Softee ice cream van on a street in Sham Shui Po in May 1995. Photo: SCMP Memories for locals and tourists alike The ice cream vans are famous for playing 'The Blue Danube' on repeat and have become a well-known staple in Hong Kong. The white trucks with their red and blue pattern are also popular photo spots for mainland Chinese tourists. On a Chinese social media platform, there are more than 10,000 posts discussing where to find the mobile truck, why it is popular and how the ice cream tastes. Many tourists consider encountering the mobile truck a lucky experience, as it operates without a fixed schedule or location. 'I consider it a lucky day whenever I come across a Mobile Softee truck. It is a well-deserved reward after walking thousands of steps around the city,' one mainland social media user said. Ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins launches AI lab to develop 'innovative' varieties In tourist spots such as the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and Tsim Sha Tsui, where the truck frequently stops, its catchy music often acts as a cue for customers to form long queues. 'You can only find this ice cream in Hong Kong and it really showcases the authentic vibe of the city,' said Lili Li, an 18-year-old student who was queuing for ice cream in Central on Tuesday afternoon. She was visiting the city for the first time with two friends from Xiamen. Princess Chung, a 30-year-old resident who works in retail, joined the line with two friends before heading to a nearby event. 'When we were kids, we knew the ice cream van was coming when we heard its unique catchy music. I don't know why they stopped playing it,' said Chung, adding she learned about the Ho's passing from the media. Ho King-yuen's passing marks the end of an era for the city's beloved mobile ice cream treat. Photo: Eugene Lee Ho King-yuen's life According to the obituary, Ho died on January 23 in Perth, Australia, and was survived by his wife, children and grandchildren. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery on Saturday last week. Ho lost his father during World War II and dropped out of school at a young age. The oldest among his siblings, Ho had to take on the responsibility of being the carer for his younger brothers and sisters and worked several jobs to support them. He later took up a major position at Dairy Farm – later rebranded as DFI Retail Group – while working a part-time job at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He also became an auxiliary police officer and rose to the rank of inspector. His elder daughter is a practising lawyer and his second son is an engineer. According to the obituary, Ho had learned martial arts when he was young. He also loved Cantonese opera, Chinese literature and poetry, and could recite many famous works. 'Ho was always keen to help others and eager to help people to achieve their goals. He was a well-regarded man. He helped many of his colleagues and helped them to settle down in Australia,' the obituary read.
South China Morning Post
11-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Ho King-yuen, pioneer of ice cream van in Hong Kong, dies aged 98
Hongkonger Ho King-yuen, who brought the first ice cream van to the city, has died aged 98, leaving a sweet legacy for generations of residents and tourists. Ho and two friends introduced the first Mister Softee ice cream truck to Hong Kong in 1970 and the iconic vehicles have since become a beloved staple and popular tourist attraction in the city. 'With his experience at [ice cream company] Dairy Farm, he imported the first soft ice cream van to Hong Kong from overseas with his friends and founded Mister Softee [here], which brought many precious sweet memories to many generations of Hongkongers and has become a renowned brand in the city,' an obituary published in a local newspaper on Tuesday said. 'He retired at an old age and transferred the business to another company. He then moved to Perth in Western Australia with his family.' Mister Softee was founded by William Conway and James Conway in 1956 in Philadelphia. It is one of the largest franchisers of soft ice cream in the United States. According to local media, Ho and two other people bought the franchise rights after seeing a park filled with ice cream trucks during a visit to the United Kingdom.
