9/22/08

To Market, To Market..

Here - the most recent inspection reports for each of the 10 vendors in the Market Building.

Nick's Pig-N-Chicken - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:April 01, 2008
Number of critical violations:0
Number of non-critical violations:  0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
One proposed food supplier has not submitted documentation it is an "approved source." Person in Charge (PIC) has been instructed and has agreed not to purchase any potentially hazardous food from this particular company until or unless documentation has been provided to both the PIC and the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS). Issue foodservice permit. Contact the EHS with any questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.


Zorba Restaurant - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:Follow-up
Inspection date:August 18, 2008
Number of critical violations:10
Number of non-critical violations:  7

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code  Observation / Corrective Action
0080  Critical Owner, when asked about which employee illnesses must be reported to the owner and to the health department, stated flu and hepatitis C. Previously, on multiple occasions, the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) discussed employee health policy requirements with the owner and provided several hand-outs. Owner could not recall the required information and stated the hand-outs were not stored in the restaurant. Employees or applicants are not aware of the reporting procedures concerning information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food, including the date of onset of jaundice or of an illness due to Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Hepatitis A virus.
Have the license holder require employees or applicants report to the person in charge any information about their health and activities if they are diagnosed with or had a past illness from Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Hepatitis A virus. EHS provided the owner with additional hand-outs. Owner agreed to implement the employee health policy.
0160  Critical Repeat Observed the owner handling money while wearing single-use gloves. Owner did not wash hands or change gloves before resuming food handling / preparation. Observed owner change soiled single-use gloves during the inspection. Owner did not wash hands before donning a new pair of single-use gloves.
Instruct food employees to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and during food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing task.
0220  Critical In use open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils. Observed a styrafoam cup filled with a liquid (coffee) stored on top of one of the reach in refrigerator units. Observed the core of a piece of fruit (appeared to be a pear) with visible teeth marks stored directly on top of a food preparation counter (next to the prep unit).
Employees may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of (1) The employee's hands (2) The container and (3) Exposed food clean equipment, utensils, and linens and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. Employees shall not in the food preparation areas.
0450  Critical Repeat Observed an employee wearing one single-use glove while slicing pita bread. Employee held the knife in the gloved hand and held the pita bread in the ungloved hand. Later observed the employee prepare a pita sandwich with both the gloved and ungloved hand.
Provide suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing equipment to handle RTE food to prevent contamination from hands.
0470  Critical Repeat Observed an uncovered plastic container of raw chicken stored above a container of feta cheese in water in the reach in cooler next to the prep unit. The uncovered container of chicken was observed partially covered with a plastic grocery bag which was visibly soiled with raw chicken juices / liquids on the exterior of the bag.
Separate raw foods during storage, preparation, holding, and display from raw RTE food including other foods such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish, or other raw RTE food such as vegetables, and cooked RTE food.
0550  Dispensing utensils improperly stored between uses. Observed a metal dispensing spoon stored in room temperature water with grease / food matter.
Store in-use utensils or dispensing utensils in one of the following manners: 1) In the food with their handles above the top of the food and the container. 2) In food that is not potentially hazardous with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed. 3) On a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment only if the in-use utensil and the food-contact surface of the food preparation table or cooking equipment are cleaned and sanitized every 4 hours. 4) In running water of sufficient velocity to flush particulates to the drain. 5) In a clean, protected location if the utensils are used only with a food that is not potentially hazardous. 6) In a container of water if the water is maintained at a temperature of at least 135°F.
0570  Wiping cloths improperly used. Dry towels used to clear food spills / wipe food trays also observed used to clean the food preparation counters. Towels were observed extremely soiled with food matter.
Ensure cloths used for wiping food spills are not used for any other purpose.
0790  Improper methods used to thaw raw tuna steaks and raw hamburger. Observed two rolls of frozen raw hamburger stored at room temperature in a plastic bucket to thaw. Observed a plastic bucket full of raw tuna steaks thawing in room temperature water. Observed the tuna steaks at the following temperatures: 57.6 F, 52.2 F. Tuna steaks were later placed in a refrigeration unit (inside the container filled with water).
Thaw potentially hazardous foods by either of the following methods: 1. Under refrigeration that maintains food temperature at 41°F 2. Completely submerged under running water at a temperature of 70°F or below with sufficient water velocity to agitate and float off loose particles in an overflow. Ready-to-eat food shall not exceed 41°F and raw animal foods shall not exceed 41°F for more than four hours 3. As part of the cooking process
0800  Critical Diced Tomatoes and Prepared Salsa noted not being adequately cooled to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Observed the following food temperatures: Diced Tomatoes (57.0 F) (45.5 F); Prepared Salsa (45.2 F); (55.1 F). Food employee stated the tomatoes and salsa were prepared at approximately 10:30 AM -- 4.5 hours before the time of inspection.
Cool potentially hazardous foods prepared from ingredients at ambient temperature to 41°F or below within 4 hours. A longer time for cooling allows an ideal situation for bacterial growth. This has been shown to be the major contributing factor in many foodborne illnesses.
0820 A 2  Critical Repeat Potentially hazardous food items observed cold holding at improper temperatures in the metal reach in cooler by the prep unit. Observed the following food items cold holding improperly: Feta Cheese in Water (47.4 F); Raw Chicken (43.8 F).
Cold hold potentially hazardous food at 41°F or below to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
0830  Critical Repeat Observed no prepared ready-to-eat foods in any refrigeration unit not properly dated for disposition.
Mark the name and "consume by" date on the container of RTE foods at the time of preparation if the food is to be held for more than 24 hours. If the food is held at 41°F or below the food shall be served or sold within 7 calendar days. Some harmful bacteria continue to grow even at refrigeration temperatures so limiting the amount of time in storage limits the amount of growth allowed for these bacteria.
0850  Critical Repeat Gyros roll, sliced gyros (stored at room temperature), prepared tomato sauce (stored at room temperature), and prepared fava beans (stored at room temperature) for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not labeled or otherwise marked with a 4 hour cook, serve or discard by time.
Discard food that is not cooked and served or served if ready-to-eat within 4 hours from the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control. Clearly label or otherwise mark the food with a 4-hour cook-serve or serve by time. Owner was able to produce some sheets with times noted. However, the last time noted for the gyros was 8/2/2008.
1150  Repeat The nonfood contact surfaces of the rusted metal shelves used for dry storage and in the refrigeration unit are not designed or constructed to be easily cleanable.
Replace rusted shelves with other shelves that are smooth and easily cleanable.
1770 A  Critical Repeat The following utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: metal meat tenderizer, knives, tongs, etc. Additionally observed food storage containers (on shelves) soiled to sight and touch.
Clean and sanitize these surfaces for food contact.
1800  Repeat The nonfood contact surfaces of the floors, walls, ceilings, and inside of refrigeration / freezer units are in need of cleaning. Observed soil / dried food matter on the floors, walls, and inside of refrigeration / freezer units. Observed dripping grease from the ceiling tiles in the kitchen (above bread).
Clean the surface at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues that become encrusted or attract insects and rodents.
2790  Repeat The indoor wall material located at the left side of the three compartment sink does not meet the standard of: 1. smooth, durable and easily cleanable 2. nonabsorbent. Observed tiles missing and a section of exposed, unfinished wood along wall. Upstairs carpeted area with dry storage and refrigerator / freezer storage does not meet the standard of smooth, durable / easily cleanable, and nonabsorbent.
Refinish or replace the wall material at the area designated so it is: 1. smooth, durable and easily cleanable 2. nonabsorbent. Replace the upstairs carpeted area with a smooth and easily cleanable floor material or discontinue use of the area for storage.
2890  Repeat Fluorescent light bulbs in the food booth area area missing end caps for the plastic shielding device. Plastic shielding device does not cover the entire length of the light bulbs and does not have end caps.
Purchase end caps for the light shielding devices.

Tokyo Express - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Carry Out Food Service Only
Inspection type:Critical Procedures
Inspection date:June 02, 2008
Number of critical violations:1
Number of non-critical violations:  0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code  Observation / Corrective Action
0450  Critical Employees observed handling ready-to-eat (RTE) food with their bare hands. Observed the sushi chef handling and slicing raw fish at the sushi bar (and placing raw fish in the sushi display case) with bare hands.
Provide suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing equipment to handle RTE food to prevent contamination from hands.

Comments:
The above violation was noted during an observation period of the sushi chef / owner from the general seating area. A full, routine inspection was not conducted during this time. A follow-up inspection will be conducted to monitor the correction of any critical violations.


Gee - you don't think a sushi chef should KNOW HOW TO SAFELY HANDLE RAW ITEMS DO YOU??


Hong Kong Restaurant - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:April 16, 2008
Number of critical violations:0
Number of non-critical violations:  0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Three Compartment Sink set up correctly. Observed 100 ppm chlorine in the sanitize basin. New freezer purchased. Freezer will be used for cooling rice and chicken. Chicken broth is now made daily. Half of the broth is kept hot on the stove (above 135 F). The other half of the broth is stored at room temperature with a Time noted in the kitchen. All containers of cooked broth, chicken, etc. stored at room temperature are now marked with a time and are kept at room temperature no longer than 4 hours. New containers for food items have been purchased to replace the old, noncleanable containers. Sanitation has improved. Kitchen and coolers have been cleaned. Follow-up inspection will be conducted to monitor cooling processes at a later date.


New York Subs - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Carry Out Food Service Only
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:April 01, 2008
Number of critical violations:0
Number of non-critical violations:  0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Person in Charge (PIC) advised Time as a Public Health Control is used for the meat stored at room temperature during the lunch rush. PIC advised the time is noted once the meat is removed from the refrigerator and that the meat is not held at room temperature more than 4 hours. The last box of meat stored at room temperature during lunch is used (within 4 hours) and then after lunch, the meat is stored in the Prep Unit -- with employees removing meat from cooler to the grill-top for each order during the slower periods. Discussed employee health policy requirements with the PIC. Previously provided hand-outs to the PIC about employee health policy. Policy must be implemented effective today, April 1, 2008. Re-printed information. PIC has agreed to post the health policy information in the kitchen for employees to read. Each foodservice employee should be able to: 1. Be able to discuss the policy from memory OR 2. Be able to point to, or locate, a written employee health policy. PIC advised bleach is used as a sanitizer and that dishes are washed, rinsed, and sanitized in the three compartment sink. Advised PIC not to store food containers on top of one another (where the bottom of the food container is touching the top of the food in the bottom container). Discussed the new proposed inspection form with the PIC and discussed the "approved sources" and "supervision" sections. Contact the EHS with any additional questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.


Burger In The Square - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:May 28, 2008
Number of critical violations:1
Number of non-critical violations:  0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code  Observation / Corrective Action
1770 A  Critical The following equipment food-contact surfaces were observed soiled to sight and touch: Inside of cooler used for ice storage (ice is used in drinks).
Clean and sanitize these surfaces for food contact. Cooler must be cleaned and sanitized daily.

Comments:
All foods must be reheated to 165 F or above within 2 hours. After reheating, food may be held hot at 135 F or above. Monitor the reheat / hot holding temperatures for the chili and nacho cheese. These food items are very thick and can be difficult to reheat / hot hold properly. Observed a heavily scored plastic cutting board in the upstairs food preparation area. Person in Charge (PIC) has a brand new cutting board and has agreed to throw away the old cutting board as it can not be effectively cleaned and sanitized. Invert all plastic silverware so the handle side is up -- preventing contamination with the food contact surface. Thermometers were observed missing in several refrigeration / freezer units in the restaurant. PIC advised he has additional thermometers and will replace any missing thermometers. Consumer Advisory for raw hamburger has been added to the menu board. Please note that having the Consumer Advisory for the raw beef now means that raw ground beef is a ready-to-eat food and there is to be no barehand contact with either the raw meat or the cooked product. Employee health policy information has been posted in the food preparation area.


Chico's Big Lick Pizza - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:December 17, 2007
Number of critical violations:2
Number of non-critical violations:  1

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code  Observation / Corrective Action
0830  Critical The prepared ready-to-eat (RTE) containers of spaghetti sauce, opened container of ricotta cheese, container of garlic/oil mixture, etc. in the refrigeration units are not properly dated for disposition.
Mark the name and "consume by" date on the container of RTE foods at the time of preparation if the food is to be held for more than 24 hours. If the food is held at 41°F or below the food shall be served or sold within 7 calendar days. Some harmful bacteria continue to grow even at refrigeration temperatures so limiting the amount of time in storage limits the amount of growth allowed for these bacteria.
1510  The person in charge could not provide a food temperature measuring device. 
Obtain at least one food temperature measuring device so employees can properly monitor the temperature of food items in the establishment.
3360  Critical Pesticides are not being applied by a certified applicator. Observed an open container of D-Con and Boric Acid Roach Powder stored on a shelf with cleaned food containers, utensils, and clean linenes.
Restricted used pesticides are to be applied by an applicator certified as defined in 7 USC 136(e) Certified Applicator, of the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide Act, or a person under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. Remove all pest control chemicals from the restaurant.

Comments:
Previously provided the Person in Charge (PIC) with a summary of food code changes. Provided an additional copy of this document to the PIC on this date during inspection. An employee health policy must be in place by April 1, 2008. An example of a written employee health policy was previously provided to the PIC. Provided an additional copy on this date. Policy may be oral or written. Example is from the 2005 FDA Food Code. Contact EHS with any additional questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.


Nuts and Sweet Things - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Carry Out Food Service Only
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:March 28, 2008
Number of critical violations:0
Number of non-critical violations:  0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Discussed employee health policy and provided hand-outs to the owners. Policy must be in place by April 1, 2008. Provided owners with a four page summary of food code changes.


Paradiso Cuban Restaurant - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Full Service Restaurant
Inspection type:Routine
Inspection date:May 27, 2008
Number of critical violations:3
Number of non-critical violations:  1

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code  Observation / Corrective Action
0610  Observed uncovered food containers in the refrigerator. Food items were uncovered and stored directly on top of each other (bottom of bowl in contact with food). 
Cover all containers of food in the refrigerator.
0760  Critical The white rice, yellow rice, and rice with black beans were not reheated to 165F within 2 hours to eliminate pathogenic bacteria. PIC advised rice was reheated in the microwave. However, temperatures taken were below 165 F.
Rapidly reheat food for hot holding to 165°F or above within 2 hours.
0820 A 2  Corrected During Inspection Critical Prepared sandwiches cold holding at improper temperatures (stored at room temperature during lunch). Observed a large container of chopped fresh garlic and oil stored at room temperature. Corrected during inspection.
Cold hold potentially hazardous food at 41°F or below to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Person in Charge (PIC) implemented Time as a Public Health Control for sandwiches stored at room temperature. PIC moved the garlic and oil mixture to the refrigerator. PIC advised this item is infrequently used and will be kept in the refrigerator at all times.
0830  Critical Repeat The prepared ready-to-eat (RTE) food items (cooked rice, cooked chicken, cooked pork, etc.) in the refrigeration unit are not properly dated for disposition.
Mark the name and "consume by" date on the container of RTE foods at the time of preparation if the food is to be held for more than 24 hours. If the food is held at 41°F or below the food shall be served or sold within 7 calendar days. Some harmful bacteria continue to grow even at refrigeration temperatures so limiting the amount of time in storage limits the amount of growth allowed for these bacteria.

Comments:
Contact the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) with any questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.

Tavern on the Market - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:Full Service Restaurant
Inspection type:Follow-up
Inspection date:July 18, 2008
Number of critical violations:2
Number of non-critical violations:  7

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code  Observation / Corrective Action
0220  Critical In use open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils. Observed an uncovered drink cup with liquid on the food prep table in the dishwashing area (and above a box of uncovered single-service items). Observed an empty candy bar wrapper on top of a speed rack (with food items) in the Walk In Refrigerator.
Employees may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of (1) The employee's hands (2) The container and (3) Exposed food clean equipment, utensils, and linens and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. Employees should not eat in areas where contamination of food, equipment, single-use and single-service items may result.
0610  Food stored on the floor or food stored less than 6" above the floor. Observed multiple boxes and containers of food items stored on the floor in the Walk In Refrigerator.
Elevate food storage onto approved shelving with minimum 6" legs or casters.
0620  Food stored under other sources of contamination. Food Establishment uses a basement area for the storage of food, drinks, and other items. Basement area has areas where paint is peeling and chipping, which can cause contamination. Basement area also has an open sump pump which could cause contamation if it were to overflow. Area around the sump pump is wet, appearing as though it recently overflowed.
Relocate food storage to an approved area until the source of contamination is eliminated or removed.
1800  Repeat The nonfood contact surface of the floors and walls have accumulations of grime and debris. There is visible dried meat matter in the dishwashing room (behind the meat slicer) attached to the walls. Floors are not clean behind pieces of equipment and in corners.
Clean the surface at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues that become encrusted or attract insects and rodents. Remove items from the floor (like the multiple bottles of cleaners behind the three compartment sink) so employees may clean the area. Remove the dried meat matter from the walls.
2810  Repeat Wall Tiles in the Dish Washing Area need to be painted with a washable paint so the area is smooth and easily cleanable. Wall tiles were previously painted over. However, paint is in the process of peeling and is no longer easily cleanable.
Repair or replace wall or wall covering to make it smooth and easily cleanable. Replace missing and /or broken tiles along the wall surface. Floor must be replaced or repaired in areas where it is no longer a smooth and easily cleanable surface. Repair cove molding.
2930  Outer opening of the food establishment is not protected against entry of insects and rodents. Door to the outside was observed open. 
Keep doors to the outside closed to prevent flies from entering food preparation areas.
3030  Automatic paper towel dispensor is not working properly. No paper towels were dispensed.
Hand drying devices such as individual disposable paper towels, a continuous towel system that supplies the user with a clean towel or heated air hand drying device must be provided at all hand washing lavatories to encourage proper hand washing and avoid employees to drying their hands on their clothing or other unclean materials
3270  Harborage conditions exist. Floors and walls must be clean. Multiple harborage conditions exist in the basement area. Employees are leaving the doors open to the outside, and as a result flies are entering the food preparation areas.
Eliminate harborage conditions. Insects and other pests are capable of transmitting disease to man by contaminating food and food-contact surfaces.
3340  Critical Containers of cleaning chemicals are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items. Observed several bottles of cleaning chemicals stored next to uncovered coffee filters and uncovered to-go containers.
Containers of cleaning chemicals must be located in an area that is not above food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items.

Comments:
None

The following hazard(s) have been corrected since the last inspection.

0820 A 2Observed the following food items cold holding improperly in the Walk In Refrigerator and the Under Counter Reach-In Cooler (Under Grill). Observed the following food items cold holding improperly in the Walk In Refrigerator: Cooked Noodles (46.1 F); Sliced Tomatoes (46.1 F); Sliced Roast Beef (45.4 F); Raw Hamburger (50.1 F); Cooked Rice (45.9 F); Prepared Salsa (44.7 F); Prepared Alfredo Sauce (44.7 F); Sliced Turkey (45.2 F). Observed the following food items cold holding improperly in the Under Counter Refrigeration Unit: Cooked Chicken (44.5 F); Cooked Sausages (46.5 F); Raw Steak Meat for Sandwiches (47.9 F).
1450Walk In Refrigerator and the Under Counter Refrigeration Unit are not cold holding properly. Majority of potentially hazardous food items are stored in the above units.
2350 iiKitchen / food preparation hand sink is in poor repair. The handle for the cold water at the hand sink is missing. The water, when allowed to run for an extended period of time, becomes very hot, which may become a hindrance to proper hand washing.



Ok - the point of all that? Did you see any mention of Rodents, except in passing? I certainly saw nothing.. and the VDH has a responsibility to publish each and every item they find. Were the mice in the Market Building? I do not doubt it - there are mice all over this city, you can see them crossing the streets if your up early enough in the morning. Were these mice "Just discovered?"


You tell me...

9/21/08

This is the end..

Read this

And realize that now the city has full rights to toss out each one of the 10 vendors who lost their liscenses. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the game. Stay tuned for more updates.

9/18/08

Holding my tongue

I've been good. So good. I've been trying so hard to keep my mouth shut and give Bowers a chance, the entire council a chance. It's not been easy.

But now it ends.

First off, I want to thank Mayor Bowers, and the entire Council - including the newly minted Mr. Rosen, for making it impossibly easy to do this. 

A city council who makes headlines for the confusing and dangerous machinations it attempts, and fails at does the people it represents no service.

Bowers, for all his "open office" speeches, his "looking forward - not back" promises, and obvious platitudes to the electorate - has assumed office as if he never left. Including the way council operated - which is at odds with the way it operates now. 

And Mr. Rosen, rather than hang out and observe the workings of the Council, or asking questions  - instantly feels left out and slighted. Have you always been denied the cool table Court?

With one meeting (and I'm not even going into the one before it in which Mr. Rosen asked for a copy of DRI's submission to the RFP - which was a debacle in and of itself) the Council has set the public face of the city back 20 years. After reading this article, I would not blame any business for refusing to relocate here, or expand. 

Do I believe there are backroom deals going on? Yes, but with one caveat: I really don't think they are savvy enough to pull them off properly. 

Remember when Mr. Dowe misspoke about "a boutique hotel property in downtown" a year ago or so? He then felt the full weight of the "backroom" fall upon him as he was booted for "suddenly discovered" double dipping. That hotel was/is to be the former Billy's Ritz building. And now, today's headline: "Patrick Henry site in a tax pinch"

It seems the city could be taking over the PH Hotel downtown at the end of the year, and putting it up for tax sale. Is this the council that should be doing such things, given the extreme dischord shown on simple issues such as a municpal golf course?

Fair enough, the city SHOULD own the PH - but to what end? Renovations and bringing it up to code would run in the millions, just like the Hotel Roanoke. By now most of us know the story on what a disgrace that was, not to mention the ongoing problems with the buildings. But the PH could do some real good; with the right leadership, and the right blend of public/private partnership. Personally, I can't trust the council do the right thing. 

In one version of the Downtown master plan, the Municipal Library was moved to the Heironymous building, the library in the park became a Rec Center (same structure, different purpose), and the PH was a magnet for people coming to downtown for business and pleasure. 

As I have posted before - I've been inside the PH - deep inside. I can tell you what kind of condition that building is in, firsthand. It is more magnificent and dramatic than the Hotel Roanoke, and also holds a deeper meaning for Roanoke. 

Sure, N&W built the Hotel Roanoke - but they met at the PH. And just like the city council once consisted of actual leaders in Roanoke - the PH once held all the leading business functions. The Hotel Roanoke was more personal functions, short of the massive meetings that can now be held there. 

Once again, I ask - is this the right council for the job? I had reservations back during the elections - and carefully chose my votes, knowing that I was voting for the best at that moment, but not the best overall. Where are the leaders?

Well, one of them is right here. And even though I have been holding my tongue lately, and keeping quiet when I could be shouting from the rafters - I have not abandoned my hopes. For a city that shines, a Council that works for the best of the City, and a public image that outstrips the rest. 

I'm still working over here in my small section of town, and change is happening. Slowly, but steadily - it's happening.

It can happen all over the city too, if only we had the leadership to do it. 

9/11/08

7 years on...

And we are still finding new videos, new audio; things we had not seen, and things we had forgotten. 

You know how I am with 9/11. it is THE day to honor our FD and PD, the NYPD PAPD FDNY and countless others who responded, and all those who lost someone. 

As far as I know, I did not lose anyone in the WTC - but thats only as far as I know. There is still a big chunk of people I no longer communicate with from high school - many of whom went into exactly the kind of work that would have them at the WTC. Extended family that no one really has much communication with anymore. Countless others I worked with. 

A relative of mine lost a co-worker after the first WTC bombing, back in 93. The one that cancelled my prom for me (it was supposed to be at Windows on the World, someplace I had not been - they moved it to Tavern on the Green - pedestrian). She stopped working at the Twin Towers shortly after that - choosing to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground. She always said - 'they tried it once, they will try again."

I had family that built the WTC-  everything from laying the concrete 'bathtub' to working the steel into shape. I myself worked in the shadows of it in the winter before, when I noticed all downtown Manhattan seemed off - sadder, but with no reason. 

I never went to the top, preferring the older Empire State for that. And I will never go to the top of the "Freedom Tower," should it ever be built. But my child, and eventual children and grandchildren, will understand the family story, and how 9/11 fit into it. 

Some people ask me if I left NY because of 9/11 - and the answer is always no. 9/11 was a reason to stay.



9/10/08

Knock Knock

A: Knock, knock.

B: Who’s there?

A: 9/11.

B: 9/11 who?

A: You said you’d never forget!




8/27/08

Oh man, now I am REALLY scared.

Warning.....Warning:

This post is about national politics, and not related to anything local in any way. Read at your own discretion.

So, who are you going to vote for? Let me show you what I've found about Obama.

He is not who he says he is.


Yes, he looks like Obama. Not some alien or something. But that's not Obama.

And McCain? Not him either.


Apparently he is a POW again, without the war. So who is the dark mastermind behind all this? Who is Obama, and McCain?

Only one man is rich enough to pull off that much cosmetic surgery, and Hollywood-Style make-up. One Man we have all met before.

H. Ross Perot. Controlling your destiny weather you like it or not.

8/12/08

Well, that makes sense.

Take a look at what the new CEO of Advance Auto Parts had to say about why he is relocating and re-organizing so many jobs to the Twin Cities (although he does promise not to be abandoning the Roanoke area):

"Still, workers there -- as well as local politicians and newspapers -- aren't blind to the Minnesota expansion. Jackson said one main reason he wants to grow here is to tap into the area's 18 Fortune 500 companies. Advance, which employs about 1,600 people in Roanoke, is that area's only company to crack the Fortune 500.

Having a major airport here is also a plus, as Roanoke's airport recently was named one of the country's 100 most endangered.

"If you add up all the revenues of Target, Best Buy, Supervalu, General Mills and so on, it's about $200 billion," Jackson said. "In Roanoke, it's $2 billion.

"So it's 100-to-1 in terms of our opportunity to look across the Twin Cities to see if there's talent that will help us go even faster and more effectively." (via The Strib)

It doesn't feel right, and it hurts to admit - but the guy is right. Who would want to locate a major national business in a place where there are no other major nationals?

The Roanoke Region continuously attempts to frame itself as a great place for business. But what happens when you cannot get the employees you need?

I can tell you the story of a local employer, who in the 3 years since they opened here - have run through all the decent, hard working employees they could. Now they are left with whatever walks in off the street. Of course, this is due in large part to management issues (poor employee retention policies), but the key is - there are no more skilled workers to do the jobs this employer needs.

And we are not talking about Brain Surgery here folks.

New hires are not willing to do the work required of them without complaint, are instantly jealous of what other employees might have (regardless of how long they have been there), and have a severe distrust and dislike of anyone with any sort of management power. And they lack both the basic common sense which guides a person to do a good job, and the education to meet anything but the minimum requirements of the job. (Speeling optshunul)

This is probably why the new CEO of Advance wants to stay put.

I don't blame the City Schools, or the County ones; I blame the culture that allows people to walk about, shuffling feet and slack-jawed and ignorant of how to spell Saturday.

That's why we cannot and will not compete for any major operation to relocate.

Hard truth, but it has to break eventually.

8/4/08

Been a while

Let me tell you, I know I could be more communicative. More angry, visceral.

But gosh darn is it hard when you have a 7 month old.

There have been times I've been ready to sit down and hammer out some diatribe on something (perhaps the disappearance of Valley Forward; or the camouflaged Art Museum which is at once remarkably hideous, and unremarkable at the same time), only to be distracted by a winning smile and a hand close to the USB cord for my cell phone.

I guess I could just write draft after draft, hoping that I finish them and publish them - or jot notes throughout the day.

Maybe, as things settle down into a groove (amorphous, but groove none the less), I'll get back to the full time blogging thing. But for now, heck - I'm happy.

Although - and this is a heads up for all you out there, I hear tale of a certain Chef on the comeback trail to blogging. Yep, Chef K is on his way back folks.

And you thought I was cantankerous...

7/21/08

Now lookie here...

Seeing as how it's MY day to do what I want, I give you this.. one of the very few things that makes me consistently giggle.

And considering the topic - rather timely, if you look at special features in the Times and the Roanoker as of late.


7/14/08

How the world (according to CNN) sees us.

CNN/Money once again have published the "top 100 places to live" list, broken down by numerous factors. Small cities, large cities, medium-sized.. et. al.

And Roanoke is not on the list.

But it does not stop us from taking a look at the city's profile.

Shall we?

Median family income
(per year)
$49,283 $93,075
Family purchasing power
(annual, cost-of-living adjusted)
$38,490 $107,483
Sales tax 5.00% 6.57%
State income tax rate
(highest bracket)
5.75% 5.17%
State income tax rate
(lowest bracket)
2.00% 2.43%
Auto insurance premiums
(Average for the state)
$1,576 $1,791
Job growth %
(2000-2007)
-7.05% 18.72%


Ok - so some of those are things which we have no control over - the income tax and such.

Want to see something we do?

Movie theaters
(within 15 miles)
13 51
Restaurants
(within 15 miles)
601 4,094
Bars
(within 15 miles)
19 408
Public golf courses
(within 30 miles)
41 316
Libraries
(within 15 miles)
22 89
Museums (accredited by AAM;
within 30 miles)
2 13
Ski resorts (within 100 miles) 5 33
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) 0.9 1.5


Suddenly, we no look-a so good.

I could go on, but I'm sure CNN would sue me for reposting all the data.

(This data courtesy CNN/Money, thanks for not being litigious.)

I guess we could over-analyze this and point fingers and everything else. Or we could just decide to do better.

But is that really an option?

7/13/08

One last one



I know it's still not a great shot, but when you realize the lights are on 220/581 - and the little red glow to the left there is the fire - that will give you an idea as to how high the flames were at that moment. Then imagine them 6 times higher, which is how high they were in the fireball shots below.

And those flames were originating roughly 30-60 feet below the roadway.

8600 gallons of fuel, and all that you see burning here are the pressure relief valves and the twin 125 gallon tanks the truck has.

See you in the morning, when the smoke will still be drifting off into the sky.
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7/12/08

BREAKING NEWS!!!

And if I had a direct uplink, I could have beat the news with this.
I was out in the back with the dogs, and my little shih tzu who has been skitzo since the 4th, started freaking over some echoing booms. I called the wife inside and had her turn on the scanner, and lo and behold - a tanker had fallen off of 581/220 right off the side by the new Carilion buildings - landing between the NS coal yard (where they also had two fuel trucks as of yesterday) and the highway.

We jumped in the batmobile and flew to a secret spot here in SE, with a great look across the valley to Carilion and the Old Mill.

Here are the photos. (sorry for the crappy quality - it was the little camera)
Just another fireball in Roanoke...?
Lines of blinky lights, and a little spark of fire.
To be honest, we did travel - and this shot was taken in a different location - a bit closer, but the view was not any better.
Here's hoping all goes well tonight as they fight it out, or let it burn out. Keep the FF's safe, and the PD on scene. Let's hope that the Medics aren't needed tonight.

More photos to come, as I can get them cleaned up.
Posted by Picasa

7/11/08

Re: The ongoing cry for rail service to Roanoke

Found this article, well written and reasoned - by someone who had the guts to take an 86 hour journey from New York City to Oakland, CA via Amtrak.

Train In Vain

7/9/08

Liveblogging the storm

This is one massive storm...

There are wires down in the Hershberger/Preston area - NE

Tree on fire somewhere...

Scanners are a wonderful thing..

I guess we got lucky with the last few storms passing us by, and now it's our turn in the barrel.

UPDATE

Mill Mountain has vanished from view, transformers burnt out up in NE - I guess someone took a direct hit.


UPDATE 2

Mill Mountain Cam is not working suddenly...

5400 block of Airport Rd. - Wires on Fire across from Verizon, down and across the road

The Severe Thunderstorm warning is on until 5pm - and if you happen to live near the lake - consider this your warning. This is one heck of a storm.

Update 3

Accidents abound once again, as the rain driving abilities kick in..

Don't get soft folks - there's another line of heavy rain coming after the commercial break.

Update 4

looks like it's over, and we are in the clear... but back in WV, there might be a little something just for us - have to see how it develops...

later.

7/8/08

MESSAGE!!


See you soon.

6/26/08

Thiings you won't see on this blog.

Aside from timely posts, of course. (I need to get paid to do this full time, be much easier.)

You will not see a post, or link about the roanokerailcam.com nonsense. First off, it's not exactly firefox-friendly, nor is it all that interesting. The aim of the camera is horrible - even though they installed one of those fun "user-targeting" cameras - they left that option out for the public. It's java based - which is good, but uses almost none of the fun java-capable features. It is very nice for viewing the downtown skyline, but shows little else but the butt-end of the TMA, the nearly vacant Market St., 4 tracks of NS lines (2 of which see intermittent use), and the City Market Building (which really needs Roanoke painted on it's roof again).

Unlike the Star Cam where you can watch people come and go from the "unused" mountain, watch storms roll across the valley, and who knows what else as the year progresses - this RailCam is a one trick pony. Until it snows, then it will be great to see downtown coated in snow. But then what?

Anyway - the merciless whoring of this railcam (no less than 3 e-mails, each with the same exact message) prompts me to dub it the RoanokeFailCam, as it fails to show anything beyond what you see in the first 10 seconds. Oh, and the zoom function sucks too.
/crank off

You will no longer see any posts about the TMA, unless they do something astoundingly stupid. Really, it's a moot point since they tore down the Lonesome Dove - and I think now, a majority of the people (meaning those who are not already connected to the museum, or read "Atlas Shrugged" daily) are beginning to realize exactly how ill-fitting it looks downtown. Wait till it opens and people realize that it's filled with what are considered in the "fine arts" community call "filler pieces."

I am still, however, lobbying for a Museum of the City of Roanoke - mostly due to the vast amount of history this town forgets it has.

You won't see gripes and complaints about places I do not live, unlike some other blogs. I live in the City - what happens in the county is their problem to deal with. I will stay within jurisdictional lines, with the exception of the Roanoke-Allegheny Regional stuff.

I will not be harping on about the presidential election, except to say that I am dreading having to vote for either one of these two numbnuts.

All that being said - I want to leave you with a comment from a friend of mine - in relation to "sustainable pratices" and "green living." It's brilliant.

"
In my area the farmers grow mostly seed corn. If they do grow anything else they charge far, far more than the local grocery stores or Sysco does and they don't deliver.
So am I going to go burn up even more gas and my time to go chase the stuff down, I think not. How about every restaurant in town running about the countryside to get their own produce. How about every little farm in the area putting their goods into the back of a truck and going to every restaurant in town to sell their goods. Yeah there is a brilliant waste of gas, resources and not to mention greenhouse gases.

At the local "farmers market" there are three or four farmers that actually grow their own produce and sell it in season. The rest buy from the same market Sysco buys its local stuiff from. One "farmer" has bananas for sale every weekend. Imagine that a banana farm here in Michigan. Another specializes in fresh mushrooms. Chantrelles in May anyone? I have seen tomatoes in May and Peaches in October presented as "homegrown."
I don't shop at the local farmers market anymore, it is a joke.

The organic produce at the grocery stores sits on the shelf and rots.
I ask the produce clerks about it and they tell me it's a complete loss and they throw or give most of it away. So, they carry it so people can feel good about shopping there, becuase they have organic produce available? What a joke and a waste of resources.

The three vegetarian places that have opened here in the last 10 yrs have failed to get past the 1 year mark. The only place that "claims" to practice "sustainable" is a complete facade.They put tomatoes on their salads in January too. Here in Michigan, is a green leaf salad in January an acceptable sustainable practice?

There may be places where folks really cares about these things. The Pacific Northwest, Northern Califonia, and some of the larger cities that have a higher population levels but here in mid town USA, I am catering to the avg joe(and the farmers, lots of them). A place where they ask how big is the portion, not how good is it or is that free range chicken and organic produce. I do have some who ask if the salmon is farm raised or wild caught, not because they actually know something about it, but because they heard somrthing about it from someone, somewhere once.

In my observation of the movement:
The same people who cry about trees getting cut down and the loss of valuable resources, have no problem preaching organic farming. A practice that is known to take up twice as much land to produce half as much. This means cutting down more trees and using more resources to put into pratice. For what, so you can feel good about not using a few pesticides? These are the same people that think our American farmers are greedy, corrupt, polluters who know nothing. There are many, many farms here that have been in the same family for over 100 years. The ones that are still operational, produce more per acre than ever before.You would be led to believe by the organic movement that with modern practices, these farms should be wastelands incapable of even growing ragweed after 100 years of farming with pesticides and other "unsustainable methods." These are the same people who freak out about wild salmon populations and protecting them but won't eat anything but wild caught. (The same with shrimp.) The same people who look to Goverment as the end all, be all, will not allow the Goverment to set uniform standards when it comes to what is and what isn't organic farming. The same type of standards that other farmers who are not "organic" have to follow like a religion.
And we don't want to talk about those who won't subsidize farmers in America and have allowed many, many, farms to disappear and wont put into place a set of standards or rules for organic farmining, want me to carry fair trade coffee (subsidized)and organic (complete total lack of standards and ignorance of the reality of "fair trade and organic" movement) from another country. These same people that want me to carry "fair trade organic coffee" from another country don't want me to get tomatoes in January from the same countries that grow coffee.
These people who will cry about killing a cow for beef and agonize over the safety of our food supply i.e. e coli, want us to eat vegetables that have been fertilized with cow ****.
These same people who let a few towns and many farmers die a slow death in Oregon over water for some damn fish and it turns out that it's not really endangered by the practices of the farmers. But they sure felt good about it.
The same people who think that the most efficient model of transportation and distribution of products known to man that can move hundreds of thousands of cases from California to New York or Brazil to New York is the biggest polluter and is grossly ineffiecient, offer no real alternative other than the one I discussed in the first paragraph.

There are a few individuals who truly practice and believe in it, but from where I sit the whole organic sustainable movement is nothing if but a farce of itself. Another big money making, government grant grabbing machine with an agenda that is far more than what it appears to be on the surface.

Your other question, you ask is it all about the money.
I ask have you ever had to pay the light and gas bills, payroll, vendors, taxes, mortgage or rent? Have you signed your name to a loan for big enough to buy a couple, three, four houses while pledging to the bank everything you own or will possbily own for the rest of your life? I am thinking not, otherwise you wouldn't ask such a foolish question.

If my customers expect green salads with tomatoes in January they are going to get them.
I don't care if they taste like cardboard or not. I have 35 employees, some with families, who expect to have a job next week and I going to do everything I can to make sure they do.

Enough ranting, I think I am going to walk down the street and pick some wild mushrooms, hopefully I can find a few more chanterelles as the season is almost over here. They are really awesome with the tomatoes from my garden. Too bad I cant serve them in my restaurant. But alas, all the food I serve has to come from approved sources."