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Jennifer Liptak leaves Allegheny County to rejoin Rich Fitzgerald at Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission – Pittsburgh Union Progress

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Jennifer Liptak leaves Allegheny County to rejoin Rich Fitzgerald at Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission – Pittsburgh Union Progress


Jennifer Liptak — who spent 26 years in Allegheny County government, including 12 as the top assistant to former County Executive Rich Fitzgerald — is following her old boss to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

The county announced Friday that Liptak resigned as county manager for new County Executive Sara Innamorato to join the commission in the newly created position of deputy executive director/chief operating officer. Liptak was Fitzgerald’s chief of staff for 12 years and finished as county manager in the final few months of his term after previously working for the district attorney’s office and serving as County Council’s budget director.

“I’ve been thinking for a long time about work-life balance,” Liptak said in an interview Friday after conducting the monthly meeting of the Pittsburgh Regional Transit board, where she is the vice chair.

“I had the opportunity to stay [with the county]. I felt it was the right time to move on to new opportunities.”

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In a news release, Innamorato said it was “bittersweet” for Liptak to move on.

“I want to personally thank her for shepherding my administration with an exceptionally professional and smooth transition for the last six months,” Innamorato said. “We have learned so much from her and enjoyed working with her immensely, but after 12 demanding years as a chief of staff to the county executive and county manager we respect her decision to start a new chapter in her professional journey.”

Fitzgerald said in a news release from SPC that Liptak had a lot to do with improvements in many aspects of the county and he’s pleased she is joining him at SPC. In January, Fitzgerald went to the 10-county planning agency, which sets priorities for spending federal transportation funds, when term limits prevented him from another term as county executive.

“From the success of the airport, investing in infrastructure, rehabilitating bridges, the vibrancy of the trails and parks, and making the county government’s operations more efficient, Jennifer has been instrumental in bringing these initiatives to fruition,” he said. “Now, Jennifer will be able to use her outstanding qualities and experiences to support the 10-county region with its transportation, infrastructure, economic, workforce and quality of life priorities.” 

At SPC, Liptak will oversee a 50-member staff and report directly to Fitzgerald.

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Deputy County Manager Steve Pilarski will serve as acting manager until a new one is selected by Innamorato and confirmed by County Council.



Ed Blazina

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Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he’s currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.

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Pennsylvania

Man working on vehicle crushed to death, Pennsylvania officials say

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Man working on vehicle crushed to death, Pennsylvania officials say


A man died after the vehicle he was working on fell off jack stands in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, officials said. 

Gage Alexander Rowe died on Monday afternoon following the fatal accident in a garage in Warsaw Township, CBS affiliate WTAJ reported. 

Citing Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong, the news outlet reported that first responders were called to the garage on Milliron Road around 2 p.m. on Monday. Investigators reportedly said the 25-year-old man was working underneath a vehicle when the jacks holding up the vehicle gave out, killing him. 

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First responders were called to the home after family members became concerned when Rowe didn’t arrive at a gathering and was unreachable by phone, WTAJ reported. 

The 25-year-old man’s cause of death was blunt force trauma, and it was ruled accidental. Authorities did not release any additional information. 



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Body found inside burning van in Berks County on Tuesday, officials say

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Body found inside burning van in Berks County on Tuesday, officials say


An investigation is underway after a person’s body was found in a burned out vehicle on Tuesday, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.

Authorities were called to the 400 block of Friedensburg Road in Oley, Pennsylvania, around 9:43 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26 for reports of a van on fire, officials said.

Once the fire was put out, officials reported finding a person’s body in the back of the van so the Berks County Coroner was called to the scene.

The person has not yet been identified but an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 to help authorities uncover more information.

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The investigation into this case is ongoing.



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Restaurant inspections from Pike County, May 4-17

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Restaurant inspections from Pike County, May 4-17


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These establishments in Pike County were inspected between May 4 and 17, according to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture records. 

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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provides this disclosure: “Please remember that any inspection is a ‘snapshot’ of the day and time of the inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment. Also, at the time of the inspection, violations are recorded but are often corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.”

Out of compliance

Dutch’s Market: 1564 Route 507, Greentown    

Inspected May 4. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3 

Inspector determined the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety. 

Inspector observed papers and debris on the ground in front of the dumpster and odor was noted. 

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Inspector also observed numerous rodent droppings on the warehouse shelves and on boxes, a gnawed bag of cat food on a shelf, gnawed bags of bird seed and rabbit food on retail shelves, product spills covering shelves, rodent droppings on shelves and odor noted, two mouse carcasses on glue boards at the back of the shelves, and gnawed food packages of food (owner discarding packaged food items that have been gnawed and on shelves with rodent droppings, and called the pest control service, which arrived during inspection). 

The location was in compliance with one violation at a follow-up inspection on May 13. Inspector observed several rodent droppings on a retail shelf (cleaned). 

Bubba Jay’s Smashburgers: 1831 Route Route 739, Dingmans Ferry 

Inspected May 12. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 7 

Inspector determined the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety. 

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Inspector observed refrigerated time/temperature control for safety food held for more than 24 hours was not being marked with the date it was opened; ice buildup on the wall and floor below the condenser in the walk-in freezer and ice blocking the walk-in freezer door, preventing the door from sealing closed; eggs are served raw or undercooked to the customer’s request, but a written consumer advisory was not provided to the consumer; no available QAC sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration; two drain stoppers were missing for the equipment sinks; and owner had removed the low-temperature dishwasher from the facility. 

Turkey Hill Minit Market: 912 Pennsylvania Ave., Matamoras 

Inspected May 13. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 2 

Inspector determined the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety. 

Inspector observed numerous burrows in the ground behind the facility and openings chewed in the concrete of the building along the perimeter, large rodent droppings in the dumpster area and several bait boxes placed outside the facility along the fence. 

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In compliance

Village Diner: 268 Route 6/209, Milford   

Inspected May 5. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 1 

Inspector observed facility had an employee who has taken a food safety training program, but the program was not an ANSI/CFP accredited certified food manager program. 

Peking Garden: 111 Hulst Drive, Suite 711, Matamoras 

Inspected May 5. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 1 

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Inspector observed signs in the restroom stating not to place used toilet paper in the toilet but to place it in the waste receptacle, even though the toilet was operational (owner removed the signs). 

Jersey Mike’s: 102 Milford Landing Drive, Suite 7, Milford   

Inspected May 5. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 2 

Inspector observed old food residue and liquid on the runners of the deli case at the counter and old food residue on the shelf below the rack in the deli case (runners and deli case were cleaned); and no reminder posted at the handwash sink in the side restroom for food employees to wash their hands (sign was posted). 

Panda Garden: 123 Village Center Drive, Suite 4, Lords Valley 

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Inspected May 6. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3 

Inspector observed old food residue on the doors and door handles on the freezers and handles were sticky (cleaned) and old food residue on the interior surface of the lid on the rice cooker and handle was sticky (cleaned); trays on rack and chopper in the back prep area had food residue (cleaned and sanitized); and old food residue on the floor in the walk-in cooler under and between the mats and under the shelves. 

Maskenozha Rod and Gun Club: 5345 RR5 Minks Pond Road, Bushkill 

Inspected May 8. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 1 

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Inspector observed facility had an employee who has taken a food safety training program, but the program was not an ANSI/CFP accredited certified food manager program. 

ShopRite: 111 Hulst Drive, Suite 724, Matamoras 

Inspected May 11. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3 

Inspector observed rotisserie chicken held at 127 degrees, rather than 135 or above as required (discarded); thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment was not available in a refrigerator behind the deli counter (corrected); and old food residue accumulating in the front vent on a case in the produce area.  

Silver Lake Tavern: 228 Silver Lake Road, Dingmans Ferry 

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Inspected May 12. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 2 

Inspector observed raw eggs stored on top of cheese, deli meat, sauce, etc. in a plastic container in the walk-in cooler (eggs were moved to bottom shelf); and drain stopper missing for equipment sink bay. 

Pickerel Inn: 1524 Route 402, Dingmans Ferry   

Inspected May 12. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3 

Inspector observed toilet room did not have a self-closing door; the handwash sink at the self-service counter did not have single-use towels, continuous towels, or an air-drying device (paper towels were placed at the sink); and no reminder posted at the handwash sink at the self-service counter for food employees to wash their hands (sign was provided). 

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Zero violations

Ringside Bar & Grill: 344 Route 507, Tafton; May 5; Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up inspection after being out of compliance with seven violations on April 27. 

Brother Bruno’s Pizza: 123 Village Center Drive, Hawley; May 5; Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up inspection after being out of compliance with five violations on April 27. 

Tony’s Restaurant & Pizzeria: 1549 Route 507, Greentown; May 6; Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up inspection after being out of compliance with 11 violations on April 24. 



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