MyTown Marketplace — Local services in Town of Marbletown

I live very close by but almost never shop at Emmanuel's because they oppose, and have almost single-handedly been blocking, the passage in Marbletown (the town within which the hamlet of Stone Ridge lies) of a rational policy to ban single-use plastic checkout bags and charge a small (nickel or so) fee for paper bags or thicker plastic bags. This is the policy which has been shown, over and over, in towns, cities and whole countries, to actually work to quickly and easily change people's behavior (Bring. Re-use able. Bags. Not. That. Hard. If you forget... Pay. One. Nickel.). If we weren't so deep into the climate crisis already, with water pollution and air pollution caused by unnecessary manufacuring of single-use plastic and paper items; if we had more time to reduce our collective carbon impact; if we didn't know that scientists predict we will have more plastic than fish, by weight, in our oceans by the year 2050 -- yes, read that twice -- it would be different. But we are out of time. Two businessmen in town -- Sweeney, who owns the liquor store; and Emmanuel -- have been blocking this progressive policy behind the scenes for over a year. Everyone who shops at Emmanuel's or the Stone Ridge liquor wine and liquor store should push hard for them to support the Plastic Bag Ban with accompanying fee for paper / thicker plastic bags (experience shows that with a straight single-use plastic bag ban, shoppers just use 5 times as many paper bags, with a high carbon impact overall and water pollution impact from paper manufacture).

There is an easy answer. Please ask Emmanuel's to get with the program, be pro-environmental, cooperate for climate justice, and support the Marbletown Plastic Bag ban with a fee (we've talked about a penny fee, beginning months from now, going for 6 months and then being raised to a nickel many months from now so there would be plenty of time to prepare!) on paper bags. Help Marbletown be an environmental leader within Ulster Ciunty, which will help the whole county and state do the right thing. These seemingly "little things" really matter because they really add up.

To paraphrase a rabbi, "If now now, when? If not here, then where? If not me, then who?" -- Those who block positive pro-environmental policies at this time in history have a particular duty to examine themselves and reflect on their relationship with the earth. Is it take, take, take? Or do we at some point say that we will take just a tiny bit less from the earth, do a tiny bit less damage to the earth and our precious waters, all living creatures, and atmosphere -- in the name of our own profits and our own convenience?

Emmanuel may tell you that he is afraid of losing business if people have to pay even a one-penny fee, let alone a nickel fee, for paper bags when they forget their reusable bags. Fear is as fear does. I'm sure that if he would only talk to the grocers who've actually implemented this policy worldwide, he would learn that it's a win win win in reality. Better for the store, which gets more money and saves in bag costs! Better for the people, who learn how easy it is to do the right thing, to support everyone subjected to climate change impacts, plastics pollution and the fracking for gas and oil which is required in all that plastic bag and paper bag manufacture. And better for the planet, obviously.

Help Emmanuel support the Triple Bottom line -- People, Profit, Planet -- by speaking up about this when you shop. Most of all, tell Emmanuel's staff that you will shop MORE, not less, at Emmanuel's once they ban single-use plastic bags at checkout, institute that tiny fee for paper checkout bags, and participate in our town-wide plan to distribute sturdy, attractive reusable bags, for free, to all!

We've all got to be part of the solution now as much as we can. Thanks...

Be cautious when picking out your milk. It's hit and miss as to whether or not it's spoiled. Even though the sell by date may still be within the appropriate range, there is something that happens that often results in soured milk. However they never once hesitate in taking the milk back or anything for that matter. The mixed greens often go bad quickly too, despite the sell by date. Their ground beef often has a lot of added water, but the quality is much better than what you find in the big box grocery shopping stores. Just buy more than you think you need because you will be pouring a lot of liquid out of your pan. The cashiers sometimes leave a bit to be desired in terms of customer service. Don't expect a smile from some of them. And there are unfortunately rather rude customers. More so than the big stores. Which is odd for a small town shop. I've been pushed out of the way and shoved to get in front of me at the deli or cash register. The deli staff changes frequently, but if you are specific, you can get your meats and cheeses the way you want them. And the card readers have a habit of not working. I've waited in line for 30 minutes as the registers and card readers have been rebooted a couple times in a row before they work again.

The store appears to be in the process of being sold, so with some hope, these things will improve, but even with the amount of issues, it's still a better shop than anything you will find in any of the other small towns around. Definitely a better bet than Boiceville for meats and dairy, which may be the only other small local grocery store...

When it was Emmanuels it was a better store. The people who used to work there cared now the store has all diffrent people and you can tell the produces is horrible. Most stuff should be thrown out not sold at high prices. Boxed lettuce shouldn't have liquid in the bottom.Strawberries shouldnt have liquid. Cucumbers shouldn't be squishy. Deli most foods look old.Have had to return cold cuts for being slimy.The bulk bins look like they have never been cleaned just keep adding more stuff to the old crumbs they are clear you can see the old stuff on the bottom it is a few inches thick.The other day they were fixing or cleaning the chicken cooler with the chicken just sitting on a rack ...lets not take the exta few minutes to put it in a cold refrigerated area.The other My Town Market place in Rosendale is just as bad the produce is again horrible i have never been able to get a box of lettuce without liquid.The meat I wouldn't buy there it looks old.The deli is also just as bad. Both stores if you complain to someone about something being bad they brush it off instead of finding a solution such as work on finding better people with more knowledge about the items they are stocking and selling.Both places need the health department to look in to everything.The only reason both place are still open must be because there is no other stores close.Lately there has been other complains on nextdoor about bad produce and expire food in regards to the Stone...