Will Labor Day festivities cause spike in COVID-19 cases in Pittsburgh? – WPXI

The Labor Day parade may be canceled again this year amid rising coronavirus cases. But that’s not stopping people from enjoying other activities around the city like the Soul Food Fest here at Market Square.

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Source: Will Labor Day festivities cause spike in COVID-19 cases in Pittsburgh? – WPXI

The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival 2021 – CBS Pittsburgh

Return to the Magic and Mystique of the Renaissance!

The Festival is back and better than ever! The celebration begins on Saturday, September 4, and runs six consecutive weekends, and Labor day, ending on Sunday, October 10.  The Festival is celebrating its return to the past with new entertainment, beautiful new displays from local artisans, as well as some classic shows and craftspeople that bring thousands of guests joy year after year.

The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival is an entire day of immersive experiences for people of all ages.  Guests can enjoy three armored Jousts a day, Knighting ceremonies, and nine stages of non-stop entertainment including music, dancing, comedy, sword fighting, and more!  With so much unique entertainment, guests can revel in a different experience with every visit.

Returning Favorites like the CRAIC show and The Washing Well Wenches are back along with a variety of new performances.

The 2021 Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays only, September 4 through October 10, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  The Festival is open rain or shine in the Gateway to the Laurel Highlands, just thirty miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

Admission for the 2021 season is $24 for adults and $12 for children ages 5-12. Children aged four and under are always free.  Tickets can be purchased on their website at a discounted rate, or through the on-site box office on festival days.

Coupons can be found at Wendy’s and Eat N’ Park and must be redeemed at the Box Office.

For more information please visit the Festival website at www.pittsburghrenfest.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Source: The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival 2021 – CBS Pittsburgh

200 vendors set for Labor Day arts, crafts show at Westmoreland Fairgrounds | TribLIVE.com

Labor Day often marks the time to change home decor from summer to fall. Shoppers will find a large array of seasonal and holiday decorating items this weekend at the 28th annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Labor Day Festival at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. About 200 vendors will fill five buildings

Shoppers will find a large array of seasonal and holiday decorating items this weekend at the 28th annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Labor Day Festival at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds.

About 200 vendors will fill five buildings and line walkways during the four-day event. Hours will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Monday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

“This is a nice opportunity to get out and do some shopping,” said Trisha Cusick, assistant to promoter Dave Stoner, owner of Family Festivals Association Inc. “You can go online and get anything from all over the world delivered to you in 48 hours, but here you can pick something up and turn it around and see what it really looks like.

Source: 200 vendors set for Labor Day arts, crafts show at Westmoreland Fairgrounds | TribLIVE.com

Dog Food Recall 2021: Simply Nourish Dog Food Recalled From PetSmart – Thrillist

Wet Noses Natural Dog Treat Company announced a recall of 51,000 packages of Simply Nourish frozen dog food sold at select PetSmart locations nationwide. The issue is elevated levels of vitamin D. The notice, shared by the FDA, says that “dogs ingesting elevated levels of vitamin D may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss.” Needless to say, you don’t want to take the risk and feed this to your pup.

Additionally, the recall states, consuming elevated levels of vitamin D “over a long period of time can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction.” If your dog has eaten the recalled food and exhibits these symptoms, you should contact your vet.

Here’s a look at the specific products that are part of the recall. All were sold in two-pound and four-and-a-half-pound packages. You can find more details about the products on the FDA website.

  • Simply Nourish Frozen Chicken & Veggies
  • Simply Nourish Beef & Barley
  • Simply Nourish Turkey & Sweet Potato
  • Simply Nourish Pork & Veggies

You can return the packages to the place of purchase for a refund.

Source: Dog Food Recall 2021: Simply Nourish Dog Food Recalled From PetSmart – Thrillist

Nearly 60,000 pounds of frozen raw chicken products sold at Aldi and other stores recalled – CNN

Serenade Foods is recalling nearly 60,000 pounds of frozen, raw, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken products that could be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Monday.

Source: Nearly 60,000 pounds of frozen raw chicken products sold at Aldi and other stores recalled – CNN

Pittsburgh-Area Restaurants Still Struggling To Find Employees – CBS Pittsburgh

It’s not just food establishments that are having a tough time finding employees. Help wanted signs are posted outside of all kinds of businesses in the Pittsburgh region.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Many businesses in the Pittsburgh region are still struggling to keep their doors open because of a lack of employees.

Restaurants in the Pittsburgh region are bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic closures, but many aren’t getting enough applications for their job openings.

Source: Pittsburgh-Area Restaurants Still Struggling To Find Employees – CBS Pittsburgh

65% of African-Americans Banned from Dining in NYC After de Blasio Implements Vaccine Passport

New York City’s COVID-19 vaccination passports disproportionately disadvantage black communities and it isn’t even close.

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city’s plan to implement COVID-19 vaccination requirements for gyms, restaurants and other businesses.

“It’s time for people to see vaccination as necessary to living a good and full and healthy life,” de Blasio said during a news conference.

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Beginning on Sept. 13, New York City citizens will be forced to show either their “Key to NYC Pass” or the state’s “Excelsior Pass” if they wish to enter the aforementioned businesses.

“It will require vaccination for workers and customers in indoor dining, in indoor fitness facilities, indoor entertainment facilities,” the mayor said.

Source: 65% of African-Americans Banned from Dining in NYC After de Blasio Implements Vaccine Passport

Giant Eagle to reinstate mask wearing for customers, employees

Giant Eagle announced Monday that they would reinstate the wearing of face masks, cloth face coverings or face shields for all customers and staff, inclusive of all vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

The company said all Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo staff will be required to wear a face mask, cloth face covering or face shield starting August 4.

The company is strongly requesting that customers comply with the same mask requirement starting August 6. Complimentary masks for any guest who does not have one will be provided.

Giant Eagle curbside pickup and delivery service continues to be available.

The company said the introduction of the Delta variant created a renewed sense of urgency.

Giant Eagle said it is actively reviewing paths forward regarding a potential vaccination requirement for all employees.

DoorDash Drivers Go On Strike : NPR

Across the country, many DoorDash drivers have stopped dashing to your door.

They’ve logged off the app for the day as part of a strike organized on social media against the food delivery service, demanding tip transparency and higher pay.

Here’s why.

It all started, presumably, on Reddit

While the strike is nationwide and not affiliated with any particular organization, it appears to have originated on Reddit, where a post from July 15 circulated, titled, “DOORDASH BOYCOTT ON JULY 31ST ALL DAY !!”

The post urged Dashers — the company name for drivers — to stop using the app for the day and to instead use UberEats. At the bottom the post lists demands, including a minimum “base pay,” the amount a driver earns on each order before a tip, of $4.50.

According to information provided to NPR by DoorDash, Dasher base pay is calculated based on the estimated time, distance and desirability of an order, Right now, Dashers can expect to earn a base pay between $2 to $10+, according to DoorDash’s website. Drivers say the lower end of that range had previously been $3.

Source: DoorDash Drivers Go On Strike : NPR

Omaha meat processor recalls 295,000 pounds of raw beef over possible E. coli contamination | Fox Business

More than 295,000 lbs. of raw beef have been recalled by an Omaha-based meat processor over the product’s possible E. coli contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Greater Omaha Packing’s announced the recall on Thursday.

The beef products, which were intended to be used in packages of ground beef, were produced on July 13 and bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The packages were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska.

The contamination was discovered when FSIS collected a routine product sample that confirmed positive for the presence of E. coli, officials said.

Source: Omaha meat processor recalls 295,000 pounds of raw beef over possible E. coli contamination | Fox Business

Several brands of dog food recalled due to potentially high levels of mold

ORLANDO, Fla. – Several brands of dog food sold nationwide are being recalled over fears they could contain high levels of mold.

Pet food maker Sunshine Mills issued the recall voluntarily. The products in question were sold nationwide under a variety of names, including Evolve, Nuture Farms, Wild Harvest and Triumph.

Company officials say all of the recalled dog food contains de-boned chicken and rice with a best-by date of Feb. 11, 2022.

Sunshine Mills says no illnesses have been linked to the recalled food.

Customers who have any of the recalled items can return the food for a full refund.

Source: Several brands of dog food recalled due to potentially high levels of mold

McCormick recall 2021: Seasonings pulled for salmonella contamination

McCormick is recalling seasonings due to possible salmonella contamination, including Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Ranch seasoning and Italian seasoning.

  • McCormick & Company has recalled three seasonings in 32 states for possible salmonella contamination.
  • Walmart, Target and Kroger stores are among the retailers that sold affected products.
  • July has been a busy month for recalls with sunscreen, chicken and carrots among the biggest recalls.

Source: McCormick recall 2021: Seasonings pulled for salmonella contamination

Muffins sold at Walmart, 7-Eleven recalled over listeria concerns | Fox Business

Give and Go Prepared Foods is voluntarily recalling some of its muffin products “due to the potential for the products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” according to the company’s recall notice.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

The more than two dozen recalled products were sold under seven brand names and distributed to retailers including 7-Eleven, Walmart and Stop & Shop.

Walmart and Stop & Shop also issued separate warnings on their websites in order to better warn their shoppers.

More than two dozen affected products were distributed across the nation.

Source: Muffins sold at Walmart, 7-Eleven recalled over listeria concerns | Fox Business

30+ Food Trucks Will Be at The Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival This Weekend

The Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival is back!

Source: 30+ Food Trucks Will Be at The Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival This Weekend

Tuna ‘100%’ found in new Subway tuna DNA testing: report – New York Daily News

“Inside Edition” tested the much-discussed tuna used in Subway sandwiches, salads and wraps and found, for the second time in five months, that the fast food chain does in fact use real tuna in its offerings.

This follows a June 19 New York Times report that it had purchased more than 5-feet of Subway tuna sandwiches to be tested at an undisclosed lab in California that failed to find “amplifiable tuna DNA” in the samples it examined, citing a couple possible reasons — either it’s so heavily processed no tuna could be detected or “there’s just nothing there that’s tuna.”

Subway didn’t initially comment on that testing, but has since pushed back arguing that by the time tuna reaches Subway customers, it’s been so heavily processed and “denatured” that its DNA wouldn’t be recognizable.

This follows a New York Times report that didn’t detect DNA, which Subway said is to be expected when fish is ‘denatured’

Source: Tuna ‘100%’ found in new Subway tuna DNA testing: report – New York Daily News

Pittsburgh is a ‘craft beer destination’ says American Craft Beer

 

A national website names Pittsburgh a craft beer destination.

Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene is booming and it’s not just locals who are taking notice.

Thirsty folks from American Craft Beer, a website dedicated to national brew news, recently paid a visit to our fair city to soak up the hoppy culture and its liquid assets. Not, surprisingly, they were impressed.

The Washington, D.C.-based bloggers had this to say:

“Pittsburgh turned out to be more interesting, more vibrant and more fun than we ever expected, and its beer scene, which is pretty amazing, was only part of the ride. Any great beer destination starts with a combination of things, the city, its people, character and vibe … and, of course, its beer. And as it turns out, Pittsburgh has all of those things in spades.”

Source: Pittsburgh is a ‘craft beer destination’ says American Craft Beer

Nearly 8.5 million pounds of Tyson chicken recalled due to Listeria concerns

 

Tyson Food Inc. is recalling nearly 8.5 million pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to a press release on Saturday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified in June of two people who were sick with listeriosis, an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, according to the release. An investigation, which identified three cases of the illness between April and June, revealed one person had died from listeriosis.

Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The chicken products include frozen, fully-cooked chicken such as Tyson Pulled Chicken Breast, Tyson Fully Cooked Diced Grilled Chicken Breast with Rib Meat, Tyson Fully Cooked, Char-Broiled Boneless Chicken Meat for Fajitas and more.

Source: Nearly 8.5 million pounds of Tyson chicken recalled due to Listeria concerns

Pittsburgh is one step closer to banning plastic bags – WPXI

PITTSBURGH — Nearly every time you go to the grocery store, you walk out with several plastic bags. A little-known part left out of the Pennsylvania state budget could now open the door for cities like Pittsburgh to ban them.

In the past, state lawmakers included a provision in the budget preventing local governments from banning single-use plastics. That was not included in the latest budget, meaning this could be the opportunity people like Ashleigh Deemer with PennEnvironment are looking for.

“We think this is a really critical policy to protect the health of our environment and the health of our people. We also know there’s a profound amount of support for it,” said Deemer.

“It’s weird to me. If I don’t give them a straw, people ask for them all of the time. I’m not sure where this is coming from or why they’re doing it,” said Matthew Voelker, owner of Nadine’s Diner. “I just want to see their game plan behind it and what the reasons are. Who is considering this? Why don’t they ask the people what they want?”

The Pittsburgh City Council is going to examine eliminating single-use plastics sometime this summer. Any ordinance likely wouldn’t go into effect until December per state law.

Source: Pittsburgh is one step closer to banning plastic bags – WPXI

Black Music Festival Underway For The Weekend In Pittsburgh – CBS Pittsburgh

Juneteenth celebrations continue through the weekend, and we’re on the back half of a 10-day stretch of celebrations, meaning people only have a few more days to enjoy the Black Music Festival.

The Black Music Festival is celebrating Gospel Day.

Religious singer Tye Tribbett along with DJ Mannie Fresh will be part of the performances starting today at 11 a.m. There will also be around 60 vendors in the area.

Source: Black Music Festival Underway For The Weekend In Pittsburgh – CBS Pittsburgh

White farmer wins temporary halt to program for Black counterparts

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Florida halted the Biden administration’s new debt-relief program for minority farmers on Wednesday.

Judge Marcia Morales Howard, an appointee of President George W. Bush, temporarily blocked the Agriculture Department from implementing a $4 billion program aimed at helping distressed minority farmers on the basis that it likely violates white farmers’ rights to equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. That argument was backed by several former aides in the Trump White House.

Howard ordered the Agriculture Department not to issue payments under the program for “socially disadvantaged” farmers until she can rule on the merits of the case. She wrote that the program, which is embedded in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan law, is “significantly likely” to violate the constitutional rights of the plaintiff, a white farmer named Scott Wynn.

Her order creates a nationwide injunction against the debt-relief program.

Earlier this month, in a similar case, a Wisconsin judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of the program, which covers up to 120 percent of the debts of farmers who are members of groups that have historically been discriminated against based on their race or ethnicity. Across the country, several white farmers have filed lawsuits, at least one of which is backed by America First Legal, a group founded by former Trump White House aides.

“The government must not be allowed to use its awesome authorities to punish, harm, exclude, prefer, reward or damage its citizens based upon their race or ethnicity,” Stephen Miller, a former White House aide and the head of America First Legal, said in a statement in conjunction with one of the other cases.

Civil rights advocates have expressed concern that other Agriculture Department programs aimed at redressing past discrimination — as well as federal programs outside the scope of farming — could be at risk if federal courts find that the American Rescue Plan’s program for socially disadvantaged farmers is unconstitutional.

Source: White farmer wins temporary halt to program for Black counterparts

Twitter mocks Kamala Harris for passing out cookies of her faceless head to reporters | Fox News

Users on Twitter roasted Vice President Harris for passing out cookies made in her likeness to reporters on a plane while traveling to meet with the president of Guatemala.

The vice president traveled to the Central American country on Sunday to meet with the Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei in her first trip after being appointed by President Biden to lead diplomatic efforts in the region amid the border crisis.

In the tail section of Air Force 2, though, Harris handed out cookies in her likeness, made in the style of her official White House portrait.

USA Today politics reporter Courtney Subramanian shared a picture of the cookies online, which sparked backlash from users on Twitter.

GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel took a chop at Harris, saying the cookies were the “modern-day equivalent” of French Queen Marie Antoinette’s famous quote.

“Handing out cookies with her face on them as the border crisis rages…,” McDaniel wrote. “The modern-day equivalent of ‘let them eat cake.’”

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., lambasted Harris for passing out the cookies, saying that while she was doing that the cartel was making millions.

Source: Twitter mocks Kamala Harris for passing out cookies of her faceless head to reporters | Fox News

Check the Fish in Your Fridge to See if it’s Part of a Recall

More than 80 fish products have been included.

What’s included in the recall

A total of 84 fish products are part of a voluntary recall issued by their manufacturer, Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, including smoked fish, pickled fish, fish in cream sauce, and fish salads. The items were sold online and in retailers located in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Nebraska, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Nevada, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Source: Check the Fish in Your Fridge to See if it’s Part of a Recall

Cyberattack on food supply followed years of warnings – POLITICO

Security analysts from the University of Minnesota warned the U.S. Agriculture Department in late May about a growing danger — a cyber crime known as ransomware that could wreak more havoc on Americans’ food sources than Covid-19 did.

A week and a half later, the prediction became reality as a ransomware attack forced the shutdown of meat plants that process more than a fifth of the nation’s beef supply in the latest demonstration of hackers’ ability to interrupt a critical piece of the U.S. economy.

The hack of the global meatpacking giant JBS last weekend is also the starkest example yet of the food system’s vulnerability to digital threats, especially as internet technology and automation gain an increasing role across farmlands and slaughterhouses. But federal oversight of the industry’s cybersecurity practices remains light, despite years of warnings that an attack could bring consequences ranging from higher grocery prices to contaminated food.

Source: Cyberattack on food supply followed years of warnings – POLITICO

Pittsburgh restaurants are back to 100% capacity. Now what? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It was their commitment to food, cocktails and Pittsburgh jazz that got Shadyside’s Con Alma named to Esquire magazine’s 2021 Best Bars in America last week, and they’ll draw strongly from the philosophy of the latter as they navigate ever closer toward a post-pandemic existence.

“Jazz is a music of improvisation,” co-owner and music director John Shannon said. “One of the ways we’ve been able to survive is through this improvised hustle. Week to week, we are just improvising.”

As of midnight, restaurants are officially permitted to operate statewide at 100% capacity, the first time since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented in March 2020.

Source: Pittsburgh restaurants are back to 100% capacity. Now what? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Greensburg’s Oliver’s Pourhouse back in business after 14-month closure | TribLIVE.com

Oliver’s will operate with limited hours and a limited menu for now. Current hours are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Owners Roy and Natalie Bodnar are looking to hire about five more people.

“Right now, with our new staff and our limited staff, we’re trying to find the best way to get back into the swing by limiting the menu to our most popular items, until we get comfortable cooking them and then we can, hopefully, bring back our full menu and full hours of operation,” Roy Bodnar said.

Customer favorites like the Pittsburgh-style chicken salad, nachos and full burger lineup are available. They’ll have a limited number of draft beers available, focusing more on bottled beers until they feel customers are comfortable drinking from glasses again.

“Once we get back to our full hours, we’re happily going back to our old menu,” Natalie Bodnar said. “Maybe we’ll keep some old items and add some new. Since we have some new chefs with us, we’d like to give them some opportunity to be creative.”

Oliver’s closed on March 16, 2020. The Bodnars hoped to reopen on May 19, the anniversary of the restaurant opening in 2011, but needed a little more time to get ready.

They also own Robokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi in Greensburg and Wexford, which remained open for takeout throughout the pandemic.

It wasn’t financially feasible to operate Oliver’s under pandemic restrictions, Roy Bodnar said.

Source: Greensburg’s Oliver’s Pourhouse back in business after 14-month closure | TribLIVE.com

Ohio spaghetti recall

Michelina’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Bellisio Foods, Inc. recall

JACKSON, Ohio (WJW) – Bellisio Foods, Inc., a Jackson, Ohio company, is recalling approximately 3,927 pounds of not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) spaghetti with meat sauce product.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made the announcement due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen.

The product contains soy which is not declared on the product label.

The frozen, NRTE spaghetti with meat sauce items were produced April 22, 2021.

Here’s what is being recalled.

  • 8.5-oz paperboard tray with lid packages containing “Michelina’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce” with lot code J1112N8, “BEST BY 22APR2022”, and a UPC code of “7 17854 10503 9” on the bottom label.

Source: Ohio spaghetti recall

Pet Food Is Disappearing From Shelves | Best Life

Add another product to the list: pet food is the latest household staple has begun disappearing from shelves due to a sudden shortage.

There is currently a pet food shortage across the U.S. According to comments made during Global Pet Expo (GPE) Digital Access 2021 by Steve King, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the pandemic has led to pet food and pet product supply issues and transportation issues, Supermarket News reports.

King noted that a 9.7 percent increase in pet food sales between 2019 and 2020 had put a strain on supply chains that are already struggling with a shortage of raw materials needed to make the products. Worker safety protocols at production facilities and labor shortages are also playing a factor in the supply chain hiccup.

Canned wet food for pets may be especially hard to come by, one CEO says.

Source: Pet Food Is Disappearing From Shelves | Best Life

‘Ice ball man’ Gus Kalaris is back on the North Side | TribLIVE.com

The “ice ball man” is back on the North Side. Gus Kalaris has been manning the bright orange ice ball cart under the rainbow-colored umbrella near West Park on Pittsburgh’s North Side for seven decades. The stand opened for the season on Wednesday, just in time for the Pirates home Opener.

On the menu at Gus & Yiayia’s are three items: flavored ice balls, peanuts and popcorn.

“I love the mix of people that come here,” said Kalaris on Thursday, as he shaved the 50-pound block of ice for what seemed like a never-ending line of customers. “They come from all walks of life and from all over the city.”

Kalaris turned 89 in January. He took over the business in 1951 from his father George, who started it in 1934. “Yiayia,” the Greek word for grandmother, first referred to Gus’ mother, Pauline, and then his wife, Stella, who died in 2016.

Source: ‘Ice ball man’ Gus Kalaris is back on the North Side | TribLIVE.com

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