Log in Subscribe

Highland - March 31, 2020

Paula Campbell - Community Correspondent
Posted 3/30/20

More on what's open and what's closed. I think that there are many organizations and businesses that have stepped up during this pandemic and Peck's Market is surely one.

I have gone there a few …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Highland - March 31, 2020

Posted

More on what's open and what's closed. I think that there are many organizations and businesses that have stepped up during this pandemic and Peck's Market is surely one.

I have gone there a few times and there was a decent amount of stock available including produce, milk and bread. I spoke with Jeff Gombita, the Coordinator of all the Peck's Markets. Jeff said the employees are working tirelessly to keep the stores operational and clean and every day becomes a learning process. The employees have a lot of contact with customers and they have some facemasks for them to use and he is proud of the job they are doing under some tough circumstances.

He explained that before the crisis the stores could order hundreds of pieces of anything they wanted to sell from their wholesalers, and it would be delivered but now there are imposed restrictions.

The Markets get deliveries three times a week but now each store has a limit as to what they can order which includes every category in their store. I had to ask the toilet paper question and was told that now if an order is made for 40 cases of toilet paper, they might only get six cases or none, but he feels things are slowly getting better. And what they are getting is becoming more expensive- the normal eggs brand they sell went up $1.00 in a week and it wasn't Peck's doing.

Jeff felt that the panic buying, and hoarding is subsiding somewhat, and that he feels that everyone is walking around feeling a sense of grief for their old way of life and it's been difficult for people to adjust to our new reality. He told me that “Peck's knows we are vital to the communities we serve, and we are committed to being here. We know we won't be able to please everyone, but we are doing what we feel we need to do to best serve our customers. There is no plan for a pandemic, and this is not business as usual for us. I hope everyone understands we are doing the best we can to serve the community given our limited resources.” The Pecks Markets have changed their hours during the crisis, and they are open Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The very popular breakfast and lunch spot Clancy's Diner on Route 97 is no longer serving their take-out menu and has closed for the rest of the crisis. Across the road The Carriage House remains closed. The Barryville Car Wash which is completely automated is open for business-and blessedly all three of our post offices, Barryville, Eldred and Yulan remain staffed and open for their regular hours which vary from site to site for customer window services.

Local philanthropist and business owner Lou Monteleone told me he is experiencing some wholesale supply issues as well. For the past ten years Lou and his lovely wife June have owned of The Corner, the Liquor Store and the seasonal sensational Pizza Piazza all located in Eldred.

Lou's business was declared an essential business- which is understandable since he sells both alcohol and ice cream! Lou and June are doing their usual menu of wings, sandwiches, fries, hamburgers and paninis and hand scooped ice cream on a take-out basis but Lou says business in the restaurant has been slow as people are staying home and he lost the school lunch business and the Preserve's construction workers coming in for food.

Lou said as the crisis deepens, he has noticed the worry and anxious looks starting to be noticeable on the faces of his customers as their situation gets more affected by the crisis. He reported that he is having some issues with wholesalers especially the beer distributors.

Under normal circumstances a minimum beer order would be ten cases, but due to the crisis and staff problems at the warehouses the minimum order has now jumped to forty-five cases which is way too much for his business to handle but he and June are hanging in there and are willing to help anyone who needs it.

The Corner is serving their regular menus and their hours are Monday -Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information visit their Facebook page or call (845) 557-3321.

I was glad to hear that the Victory Garden Project of the Barryville Farmers Market has once again completely sold out and has experienced over a doubling of orders this past week from 40 bags of farm fresh food to 90 bags. But also, of note the BFM helps the United Methodist Church with the Backpack Program that provides backpacks loaded with food to kids at our local schools that may be experiencing food insecurities within their families.

The number of kids and families needing assistance from the Backpack Program jumped from 20 to 50 families in just one week. I believe we are the cure and our highest obligation is to take care of each other in this time of extreme crisis and uncertainty. If you would like to help these local families as the need increases go to barryvilefarmersmarket.org/shop and donate.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here