Getting your money’s worth at dollar discount stores

 

From the company website

By Felicia Hodges

Ever needed a basic item for your kitchen or bathroom and just didn’t feel like heading to a department or big box store to find it?

The convenience of grabbing a pack of sponges, paint brushes for a quick touch-up project, or a bottle of glass cleaner at the local discount store can’t be beat – especially since those spots are generally easy to navigate, the checkout lines are relatively manageable and the prices aren’t bad.

But what do you do when the three or four bucks you planned to spend turn into $15 or $20 when you check out? The problem might not have anything to do with your ability to walk past a sales table at all. The items in your basket might just be a bit more at the register than you thought.

Not that long ago, everything on every shelf at Dollar Tree stores across the country was only $1. But in early 2022, the chain rolled everything under its roof to $1.25, citing increased operating and shipping costs. The company had been testing even higher prices in their Dollar Tree Plus stores, introducing items that were up to $7.

According to CNN, the company started to raise some item prices in regular Dollar Tree stores from $1.25 to $1.50 in 2024. Since not all packages have prices, it can make knowing the cost of the glass bowl that’s caught your eye a bit of a mystery.

“Dollar Tree doesn’t have signs telling you what prices are,” said Sandra Morton. The Orange County shopper added that sometimes, surprises happen in the checkout line as they did recently when she visited a local store to pick up items for her grandchildren’s Easter baskets.

“I bought five items. When I was checking out, I was told the total was $19.75 with tax,” she said, noting that two of the items were $7 each. “I wasn’t expecting them to be that much. It was in the ‘Easter section,’ not the $5 section.”

Although she thought about not getting the items, she did make the purchase.

“It is what it is,” Morton said. “I was shocked. But I wasn’t going to put stuff back because I went in there to get those specific (things).”

Regional pricing problems

In Dollar General and Family Dollar stores, sometimes the item price listed on the shelf may not be the price it rings at the register.

A 2025 an investigation by The Guardian discovered that both Dollar General and Family Dollar stores have had shelf-pricing issues. Since January 2022, 4,300 Dollar General stores across 23 states failed accuracy inspections while Family Dollar failed more than 2,100 price inspections in 20 states over the same period.

What that means is that all those items may have been priced lower on the shelf than they rang up at the register.

In Pennsylvania, there are more than 900 Dollar General stores. In December, the commonwealth’s Office of the Attorney General reached a settlement with store’s parent company, Dolgen Corp., LLC, after an investigation found shoppers were charged higher prices at store registers.

According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office, Dollar General stores failed more than 40 percent of pricing accuracy inspections in Pennsylvania between 2019 and 2023. The company agreed to pay $1.55 million in penalties and costs as well as to improve business practices through employee training and increased staffing – the latter of which has been named as a reason the shelf prices aren’t changed when prices change.

“Our investigation found widespread and repeated instances of Pennsylvanians being overcharged at checkout — blatant deception of customers all over the Commonwealth,” Attorney General David W. Sunday Jr. said in the press release. “We are hopeful the corporation takes this settlement very seriously, as Pennsylvanians expect to pay the price that is on stickers and labels.”

In November of 2023, Dollar General, which has 186 stores in New Jersey, agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle merchandise pricing violation allegations across the state.

And in New York in 2019, the state Office of the Attorney General secured a $1.2 million settlement with Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar in fines and damages over the sale of expired over-the-counter drugs, obsolete motor oil and failure to comply with the state’s bottle deposit law. Although the settlement in New York wasn’t the result of pricing discrepancies, it was for issues people generally don’t want to experience with the products they buy.

In response to a Straus News inquiry, Dollar General indicated that the company is committed to providing customers with accurate prices and expressed disappointment when they are unable to do just that.

“When a pricing discrepancy is identified, our store teams are empowered to correct the matter on the spot for our customers,” a statement from the corporation’s public relations department reads. “Additionally, we have in place a number of measures designed to help us deliver on our commitment to pricing accuracy, including scheduled time each week for price change execution.”

Family Dollar and Dollar Tree did not respond to requests for comments by press time.

Handling pricing issues

But what should shoppers do if they find the price at the register doesn’t match the store’s shelf price?

“The first step is to talk to the store manager. Simply walk to the item on the shelf with them and see if there is a discrepancy,” said John O’Reilly, director of the Orange County, N.Y., Department of Consumer Affairs and Weights and Measures. He added that the office conducts price accuracy checks on about two stores in the county each month.

He suggested getting help if the issue can’t be resolved in-store or through a call to the corporate office by calling his or the N.Y.S. Attorney General’s Office to get relief.

“That’s one of the things we want to keep an eye on,” he said.

To reach the Orange County Consumer Affairs, call (845) 360-6700 or log onto https://www.orangecountygov.com/242/Consumer-Affairs-Weights-Measures.

For the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, call (717) 787-5211 or log onto https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/public-protection-division/bureau-consumer-protection/.

To connect with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, call (973) 504-6200 or log onto https://www.njoag.gov/programs/consumer-protection/.

Things to do while shopping and after ringing up: 

·      Check for in-store help: Dollar Tree and Dollar General stores often have scanners in aisles or near the front of the store so shoppers can check item prices, although not all stores have them. Also ask an associate for help if you need it. 

·      Use technology: Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree all have apps that allow shoppers to scan product barcodes while in the store to see what it will ring at the register. They are also designed to make consumers aware of active digital coupons. 

Downloaded the apps via the Apple App and Google Play stores. 

·      Pay attention: Jot down the price the item is listed for on the shelf and watch the register as everything is being scanned and bagged. If the prices don’t match, let the cashier know right away. 

·      Look for red dot stickers: Dollar Tree stores sometimes use them to cover the old or current price on the shelf, indicating that the price has either recently increased or is about to. Sometimes the higher price is listed on the shelf under or near the sticker.

·      Examine your receipt: Check to make sure that the items rang for what they were advertised to by giving the register receipt a close look. Bring any discrepancies to a cashier’s or store manager’s attention as soon as possible and ask for a correction or refund of the difference. Be aware that cashiers at all three stores often ask if you want a printed receipt, so tell them that you do. Dollar General receipts are often accompanied by a coupon for a future visit.

Originally appeared in The Pike County Courier/Straus News (March 2026).

A Day at Hoshin Martial Arts

 By Felicia Hodges

Located at the corner of Grant and Elm Streets in Walden, Hoshin Martial Arts hosts Tae Kwon Do (TKD), Self Defense and Kickboxing classes six days each week. Head instructor Trevor Hurst, who began training at the facility when he was 7, took over Hoshin in 2020. The fifth-degree black belt is a special education teacher at Orange-Ulster BOCES who leaves school and comes straight to Hoshin each weekday. He also does private sessions, weapons training class, and a kickboxing class every Saturday.

Gianna, 4, of Newburgh, prepares to do a kicking drill in her second TKD class. Her father, Edwardo, is a regular in the adult Kickboxing Class each Saturday afternoon.

Edwardo Gonzalez travels to Hoshin every Saturday morning for the Kickboxing Class.

Uniform belts occasionally come untied so Hurst gladly offers assistance. “I feel like I learn as much from my students as they learn from me,” he said.

Anthony Amador of Newburgh gets ready for Kickboxing.

Before class official begins, students begin their warmup as soon as they are dressed and make their way to the dojang floor.

Hurst demonstrates a side kick during class.

Hurst does pushups with the youngsters during class warmup.

Frank Dwyer and Patrick Conan, all of Walden, work with bo staffs during the Saturday morning self-defense class. Dwyer, a brown belt, and Conan, a second-degree black belt, also help with youth TKD class instruction.

                                                          Hurst helps Gianna try on her new dobak (uniform) after class.

Originally appear

Originally appeared in the Hudson Valley Times community newspaper (April 2026)

Bingo Night at Union Presbyterian Church

Since the end of the Covid pandemic, the Union Presbyterian Church (44 Balmville Road, Newburgh) has converted its fellowship hall into a Bingo center the last Friday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m.

Complete with a 50-50 raffle and sold refreshments, proceeds benefit the church while providing a fun family-friendly activity for parishioners and other community members.

Run by a small group of church volunteers, Bingo night at the church is “one of only two still held in the Town of Newburgh” said Stephen Williamson, the official game certifier.

The church volunteers begin set-up close to 5 p.m. and players arrive shortly after to buy their game cards and raffle tickets. According to Jeff Bouche, the church’s fundraising chairperson, an average of 25 to 40 people show up to try their hand at the game of chance each month

Paul Hill has been the resident caller since about a year after Bingo Night began. He started as the fill-in caller when the former pastor wasn’t able to do it, but when the pastor left, Hill kept calling the numbers. “I have a voice that reaches the back of the room,” he said. “It’s a fun time and if they win, it’s even better.”

Shortly after the Pledge of Allegiance, Jeff Bouche gives the rundown of the game rules, reminding everyone to wait until the winners have been verified with his “We have a winner!” announcement before removing markers from their cards.

Since the cards are reused for each session, participants use chips instead of liquid ink bottle daubers.

Devon Scalfari (center) waits a Bingo win confirmation as Bouche reads off her card numbers, which are checked by Hill. She was the first winner of the evening and won during the session in April as well.

Powie, who is 14, always comes to Bingo night with Ryan Petrus and Hillary Taymouk (l).

Samantha DeLena reacts when she finds a match on one of her cards. The former Newburgh resident moved to Dutchess County but still comes back for Bingo Night.

Volunteers Merle Hennessey (l) and Gail McKenzieo prepare for the next game by clearing the Bingo board, which helps the players see which numbers have been called.

Originally appeared in the Hudson Valley Times weekly newspaper (May 2026).

What houses of worship are doing to keep their flocks safe when they come to pray

 

Pixabay Photo

By Felicia Hodges

In June 2015, nine worshippers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Charleston, S.C. were killed when a person who had been invited in for Bible study began shooting.

Three years later, a gunman opened fire during Saturday morning services at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., killing 11 and injuring six others. 

And just last month, a security guard and two community members were shot and killed outside of the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in the city.

Most people are shocked to hear about these attacks and the hundreds of others that have happened in the U.S. in the past two decades, but acts of violence at churches, meeting houses, mosques, synagogues and temples are not new.

Although mass shootings – those where four or more victims (other than shooters) were killed by firearms – at houses of worship remain relatively rare, the Violence Prevention Project – a research-driven entity that compiles databases to help better understand statistics on violence – points out that there have been 399 incidents in the U.S. from 2000 through 2025, resulting in 512 deaths and 213 injuries. Nineteen of those incidents happened in 2025, but their statistics show that the deadliest year was 2017 when 20 incidents of mass public shootings resulted in 47 deaths and 32 injuries.

‘We now have drills’

From church bombings in Alabama during the 1960s to school children targeted and shot during mass earlier this year, safety seems to have always been an underlying concern at religious institutions. But when deadly situations in places around the country and across the globe become breaking news, far away tragedies feel much closer to home.

“In the Jewish community, we have had to teach our children for centuries that there are people that don’t like us simply because we are Jewish. The difference today is that our young people now have drills,” said Rabbi Elliott Kleinman of the Congregation Beth Israel in Honesdale, Pa. “It’s unfortunate that it’s become part of our story.”

Kleinman said that in addition to his concern and condolences for those experiencing the tragedy directly in San Diego, protection of his synagogue and the people who gather in and around it also came to mind.

“The security of our own house of worship and making sure we are doing what we can to keep our members safe is something else I thought about,” he said.

There have been dangers for the congregation in the past, Kleinman added, including bomb threats sent via email a few years ago. Although nothing was ever found, there was a very real worry that the threats would keep worshipers at bay.

“You would think people would stay away out of fear – but it was the contrary,” the rabbi said of the services and events that had already been scheduled before the emails were received. “We want to be together in difficult times.”

Attention to detail

Even when there aren’t outward signs of beefed-up safety measures – like guards near entrances, ballistic film over windows or doors that can only be unlocked by a push of a buzzer – some worship spaces have made subtle changes designed to make gaining access to inside gathering spaces a bit tougher.

John Bucsko is the chair of the board of trustees at the Vernon United Methodist Church in Vernon, N.J., who oversees the ushers, parsonage and most church maintenance upgrades. He said that although an act of random violence isn’t necessarily the biggest worry, it still is a concern that is taken seriously.

These days, the social hall door is locked so that fewer entrances need to be monitored. Bucsko stands near a main entrance during Sunday service so he can be one of the first faces people see as they enter the church – and so he can also see everyone coming in.

“The area we’re in isn’t like a big city or anything. We’re out in the country,” he said. “Not that it’s less important – but just having one less door open might help keep us safe.”

The door for the Sunday School entrance is also locked now, which Bucsko said the church has been doing for about six months. That level of concern for the safety of parishioners also isn’t new, but it is different.

“It’s the same as it’s always been,” he added, “but we’re now just more aware.”

Protecting the flock

“I agree that awareness is key,” said Brian Foley, who owns Foley Security Solutions in Monroe, N.Y.

His advice for anyone thinking of making a communal space safer? Compare the task to driving.

“We know it’s dangerous, so what do we do to make sure we’re safe? We drive the speed limit, we wear a seatbelt and more. Anything can happen, but it’s important to do your best to be safe and be aware,” he said.

Although it only provides security guard service for one religious institution in the area, not too long ago, the company got a rash of calls about bettering security.

“We saw a huge increase in requests for training in the Jewish community after (the attacks during a music festival near Re’im, Israel on) Oct. 7, 2023, with people getting pistol permits and wanting to learn how to use them,” Foley said. “A lot of people in general are carrying (guns) more often.”

His suggestion for area houses of worship that are considering making changes to help maintain a safe environment during activities, programs, religious education classes and weekly services is very straight-forward.

“Think of your home. If you leave your door open, someone could come in,” he said. “If you lock it, it makes it a bit harder.”

Budget and available space are also important considerations, but Foley added that starting someplace is always better than doing nothing. That could be the pastor and deacon of a church – both retired law enforcement officers – carrying concealed firearms during Sunday service.

As religious institutions become targets of violence more frequently, that may be less of an exception than it has been in the past.

With all that is going on, the places where people gather to prayer might understandably have safety concerns. In response to a query for this story, one layperson of an area church emailed just to make sure that the information being sought was really going to be used solely for news, not other reasons.

“The fact that we have to be in these places is kind of sad, but it’s the world we live in,” Foley said. “At the same time, I don’t want people going around in fear.”

A safe place to pray

Rob Chadwick, a former FBI supervisor special agent who responded to the AME Emanuel Church after the tragedy and now helps with civilian training programs across the country through the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) added that awareness, coupled with a plan of action, is very important.

“The most important step is the first one, and that is acceptance that it actually could happen in your house of worship, your synagogue, your mosque, your church,” Chadwick said during a recent Zoom interview.

Because people tend to think that it could never happen to them, he added that acceptance is the hardest step – especially because a house of worship is meant to be open and welcoming to those who may need help.

But as attacks are being seen across the religious spectrum, he advocates for training staff, volunteers and congregants on both armed and unarmed preparedness.

“Any responsible house of worship must accept that they absolutely could be a target because (they are) a symbol for the religion or even the ability to congregate together and worship freely. But they’re also a known and predictable gathering spot for people,” he said. “Whatever is predictable – like your (worship or event) schedule – is exploitable.”

Kleinman said Congregation Beth Israel works with the Secure Community Network, a non-profit organization that ensure safety, security, and more for over 300 independent Jewish communities. According to the agency’s website, it acts as a liaison with federal, state and local law enforcement on safety and security matters.

“This is not about people being afraid,” the rabbi said. “It’s about the responsibility of houses of worship to do everything they can to keep people safe when they come to pray.”

For more information about the U.S. Concealed Carry Association or the Secure Community Network, log onto USCCA.com/worship or www.securecommunitynetwork.org.

Originally appeared in June 2026 in The Chronicle, a weekly community newspaper in Chester, N.Y.

With rising grocery prices, it’s good to comparison shop

By Felicia Hodges

Whether due to increased demand for certain items, climate anomalies across the globe, or supply chain issues left over from Covid, there’s no question that it costs more to feed a family now than it did a year ago.

According to a survey conducted in March by Change Research, being able to afford groceries has become harder over that past 12 months for 79% of New Yorkers – an increase of 6% from 2023.

Since food prices don’t seem to be dropping and eating isn’t really optional, how can shoppers spend less in the grocery store these days?

The answer may depend on and how you shop.

Although many have a go-to favorite grocery store, Diane Cosh from the Orange County Department of Consumer Affairs and Weights & Measures said that a shift has occurred over the last few years.

“Consumers who were loyal to a specific store have moved on to become ‘Cherry Pickers,’” she said. “These people will shop at all the stores looking for sales, coupons, and the cheapest prices at all of them instead of being loyal to only one store.”

Cosh said checking an item’s unit or per pound price can make comparison shopping easier – and one of the best tools to help can be the store flyer.

“Most stores have also begun posting these flyers online on the store website, their app, or a kiosk in the store. If consumers make a plan before heading to the store, they can save time, gas, and money,” she added.

But a new grocery store can sometimes be daunting because it isn’t as familiar, and items might be a little harder to find.

Malcolm Griffin, a Newburgh dance instructor who began working throughout Orange County as a shopper for grocery pick-up and delivery service Instacart during the pandemic said he sometimes found himself in stores he didn’t know very well. He also said It helps to have a plan.

“If you’re going to an unfamiliar store, know how it’s laid out. I always start with produce. If I can navigate produce in a new store, I find I can pretty much learn my way around easily and get what I need,” he said.

Often, if a customer requested a particular brand of an item but the store didn’t have it, he has had to get their approval before grabbing a comparable substitute, which sometimes was a store-brand product.

“Basically, eggs are eggs are eggs. The name brand isn’t always higher quality over the store brand,” he said. “You’re not getting a knock off just because it’s a brand you may not have heard of. There’s really no difference in quality.”

Cosh said that both store- and name brands offer good value, adding that consumers should try both and stick with the one they like best.

“Judge them by price, taste, and overall value,” she added.
With Griffin’s guidance, 14 staple food items were compared pricewise between area Aldi, Adams Fairacre Farms, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Hannaford, and ShopRite stores. As most of the customers he shopped for tended to request specific products – such as whole milk (instead of almond, goat, or fat-free varieties) and bottled spring water (instead of purified), the items may not be what you usually toss into your cart but they will give an idea of what a similar item may cost.

While some items are noticeably higher than others at certain stores, shoppers may be able to save even more by using store rewards programs. Designed to incentivize repeat purchases and entice customers to choose a store over its competitor, the rewards are matched to customers’ preferences and shopping habits. Usually a phone number, driver’s license or email address is needed to sign up at any supermarket that offers it.

Also, all stores have sales and buy-one-get-one-free deals, which may make it more cost-effective to buy, say, three packs of bottled water if storage of the extra packs isn’t an issue or there is someone with whom to split the cost.

ITEM COMPARISON BY STORE

NOTE: Store Brands are listed when they were available, but Aldi doesn’t have just one particular store brand, so the “store brand” name for the particular item is listed instead (Dole is the exception). 

Hannaford, ShopRite and Stop & Shop were the only stores that had store brand bread. For an easier comparison, Sara Lee and Wonder Bread were listed as a bread comparison benchmark for those stores. The same happened with salt, sugar, and orange juice (with Morton, Domino and Simply Orange listed respectively).

Only Aldi, Price Chopper and Shop Rite had their own coffee brand. Green Mountain was available in all the stores except Aldi, so it was the benchmark comparison when it was on the shelves. All listed prices are current regular prices – not sale prices.

Originally appeared in the Mid-Hudson Times (2024)