Flea market will be back

Flea market will be back

EDITOR:

The fire is out, the air is clear, the fire trucks have gone back, and the headlines have been printed. What is left is a wounded friend.

Four Seasons Flea Market has been a friend to the East Side for many years and a fire has reduced the main building to a pile of twisted metal and ashes.

Every Wednesday and Sunday thousands of anxious and curious shoppers would venture out to see what the hundreds of vendors would have new or to pick up fruit, antiques, knives, swords, and an array of unique items. Twice a week the businesses in the area also benefited from the influx of buyers, and there were thousands of them.

Now the owner has lost the main building, and nearly 200 inside vendors have been relocated throughout the market. The vendors lost their inventories and the extra income the market provided. Many lost all their stock and some just a portion but all of us are concerned about the customers and the wounded flea market.

The reality has set in regarding the losses and now the silver lining is appearing. A new building is coming very soon, vendors are buying new stock and all of us are sharing stories of the past and hopes of the future. Never before at the market have customers been so concerned about the vendors and never have the vendors been so concerned about each other. The support and prayers of everyone concerned has brought us through this tragic event.

As the summer goes on you will see a new building that will rise from the ashes of the old like the Phoenix of ancient times. We will be stronger, better, ready and wiser.

A special thanks goes to God for allowing everyone to be safe when this tragedy occurred. The fire department, the police, volunteers and market staff who helped and are still helping during this transition are all to be commended.

JACK LOGAN

C.B. MAK (a vendor)

New Castle, Pa.

Take it easy on the bottle

EDITOR:

Your recent article, “Consumers rediscover value in tap water” incorrectly captured the issue as a choice between bottled and tap water. Like tap water, bottled water is a healthy beverage option that provides consumers with access to clean, refreshing water that they can carry with them, which is a good thing. While tap water is a perfectly fine beverage choice, it is not always readily accessible when and where consumers need it — especially during periods of extreme temperatures. Further, some consumers choose bottled water for its consistent taste.

Most importantly, your article neglected to mention that bottled water containers are 100 percent recyclable. Also, the beverage industry is committed to reducing its environmental footprint by using less plastic in our packaging, improving our water use ratio, making all of our operations more energy efficient and supporting comprehensive recycling programs. These efforts are good for the environment and for business.

Simply put, bottled water has grown in popularity because consumers demand it. The beverage industry is meeting that demand by providing safe, portable and convenient bottled water when and where consumers want it. Consumers worried about the environmental impact of bottled water can easily drop the empty container into a recycling bin.

For more information about bottled water and recycling, visit www.ameribev.org.

KIMBERLY McCONVILLE

Executive Director

Ohio Soft Drink Association

Columbus