Food residue buildup, missing ceiling tiles: Cumberland County restaurant inspections
Updated Jan 25, 2021;
The following Cumberland County restaurants were found to have violated Pennsylvania’s health and safety regulations during inspections between Dec. 27-Jan. 2.
Inspections are overseen by the Department of Agriculture. The department notes that in many cases violations are corrected by the restaurant before inspectors leave.
STROCKS ENTERPRISES DBA THE CATERING BARN
729 Williams Grove Road, Mechanicsburg
Date: Dec. 30, 2020
Violations: Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration
EAST PENNSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hand wash signage needed at hand sink
HOMEWOOD SUITES HOTEL
Kathy & Sam/Creative Commons Snowy owls are a relatively uncommon sight in Pennsylvania, but they do make appearances from time to time during the winter. The snowy owl seen above was photographed at Damon Point in Ocean Shores, Washington.
Birdwatchers and photographers were treated to an unusual sight when a snowy owl made a rare appearance in Central Pennsylvania this week.
The majestic white owl, native to the Arctic, often spends winters in Canada and the far northern reaches of the United States. During periods of irruptive population growth, they can venture farther south in the U.S., occasionally making appearances in Pennsylvania.
Rare snowy owl sighting draws visitors to Middlesex Twp. cornfield
Updated Jan 19, 2021;
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A steady stream of visitors parked along Trindle Road in Middlesex Twp. Monday afternoon and made their way into a cornfield to catch a glimpse of visitor from the North.
A rarely-seen snowy owl was sitting comfortably next to a downed tree as birders and other curious onlookers braved the windswept day snapping photos and gazing through binoculars.
According to Audubon.org, the snowy owl is normally found in Canada, parts of Michigan and the upper New England states. Its white feathers are used for camouflage in the snow of northern winters. They are native to the Arctic region and normally breed in the tundra, so central Pennsylvania is an unusual stop.
Hampden Twp. adopts 2021 budget; tax rate remains the same
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
Hampden Township commissioners Monday night formally adopted the 2021 municipal budget, which holds the line on the real estate tax.
This is the 44th consecutive year that the real estate tax has not been raised, according to a press release. Over that period, the tax has been reduced from 5 mills to the current .156 rate and a street light and a hydrant tax were both eliminated.
The tax on a $100,000 property is $15.60.
Among the other actions that took place Monday, the commissioners:
Reduced the sewer rate by 5 1/4 percent for 2021m matching the reduction that took place in 2016. The rates for trash collection and stormwater management were left unchanged.