Grocery

Less than two years ago, I would not pay more than 99 cents for a 64-ounce bottle of apple juice. I could have paid more if I'd picked up any brand any place, but with a flip through flyers or a trip to a discount store, I could find a price I liked. Now the grocery shopping game has changed. If I wait to find apple juice for 99 cents, I might never drink it again. Grocery prices have risen throughout the past year. The best price I've seen in months for a bottle of apple juice was $1.49.

By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer, Charles Town CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Office supply giant Staples plans to open a store in Charles Town on Feb. 16, a store official said Thursday. Work has begun to convert the former Barnhart's grocery store off U.S. 340 for use as a Staples. The store is in the Charles Town Plaza near the new Wal-Mart Supercenter, which opened in October. This gives the shopping center a second "anchor" store and comes at a time when the entire shopping center complex is being renovated to spruce up its image.

Letter carriers again are collecting food for the needy. Matt Bachtell of the Hagerstown branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers said this year's drive is important because of the poor economy. More and more people are going to food banks for help, he said. The National Association of Letter Carriers annually collects food and money to help. People throughout Washington County can leave donations in or near their mailboxes through Saturday, Bachtell said.

Area military personnel, active and retired, including National Guard members and their dependents, are enjoying bargain prices this weekend shopping for groceries and big-screen televisions at an on-site commissary sale at the West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Airlift Wing. Among the long lines of customers Saturday were retired Marine Master Sgt. Jesse Englehart, a Korean War veteran, and his wife, Betty Englehart, of Smithsburg. "We try to shop at the commissary at Fort Detrick as much as we can," Betty Englehart said.

ekm Inspirations Norine Dagliano, a professional resume writer, job search coach and owner of ekm Inspirations, recently gave a presentation at the National Resume Writers Association's annual conference in Annapolis. Dagliano's topic was "Don't Fear the Federal Resume. " The presentation provided conference attendees from around the country with an overview of the federal application process, including how to develop a federal resume and KSA package. Giant Food Stores CARLISLE, Pa. - Chuck Shank has been promoted to director of operations and merchandising for District 2 of Giant Food Stores LLC. Shank, a Clear Spring resident, will be responsible for the overall operations, merchandising and customer satisfaction of the 11 stores in District 2, which covers southern Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. -A light used to illuminate work being done in the attic that was either dropped into blown insulation or was forgotten and left on was listed as the cause of a fire on Thursday that caused serious damage to Henicle's Market north of Waynesboro, borough Fire Marshal Jerry Hartman said Friday. The store, at 11359 Anthony Highway north of Waynesboro will be reopened as soon as possible, said Kerry Bumbaugh, who said he is one of the store's owners.

Last week's question Since The Herald-Mail changed the software for its Monday editorial page forum, the number of comments has dropped drastically. Is it because: 1. The questions are on issues that don't interest you, or 2. The new sign-up process is too difficult. Thank you. Poll results 1. The questions are on issues that don't interest you. - 10 votes (32 percent) 2. The new sign-up process is too difficult. - 21 votes (68 percent) Comment · Not to be unkind, but, your questions are not done well.

The rising cost of gas, diesel fuel and other forms of energy are affecting the price of many foods, from milk and bread to coffee and sugar. It can be a real challenge to keep family food costs manageable in today's economy. To get the most from your food dollars: Create a food budget. Take the time to figure out how much money your budget allows for food each month, then divide your monthly food budget by how many times you shop each month. Get cash for the budgeted amount and take only that amount to the grocery store.

Ginny Burdette was in the grocery store one day when an unfamiliar man stepped up to her. "He said, 'Do you remember me?'" Burdette recalled during an interview at The Herald-Mail. "'When you used to go to church and read your poems, it changed my life.'" Burdette, 52, a lifelong Tri-State resident, has recently published her first volume of poetry, "Ginny's Book of Poetry. " Many of the poems are religious in nature. For Burdette, stories like her encounter with the man in the grocery store explain the power of poetry.

Chambersburg Sav-A-Lot to close Saturday By STACEY DANZUSO / Staff Writer, Chambersburg CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Faced with stiff competition and a format that never caught on, the Chambersburg Save-A-Lot is closing Saturday, a company official said Tuesday. "We've been struggling since we opened. The concept never caught on in the Chambersburg area," said David Rainey, director of operations for Tri-State Foods, which owns the borough grocery store, as well as one in Cumberland, Md. Save-A-Lot, at 949 Lincoln Way East, opened in October 1999.