I will tell you what I’d like to see with McBrien Elementary and it is very much in line with your suggestion. The school just happens to be in my walking path and every time I walk by the school I think, “what a great place for a market.” Specifically, with an international flare.

It would work much like a flea market, where you rent booths. Man, I love some international food and when I want a really a good variety I go to Atlanta. They have all kinds of places to get international food prepared for you and places to buy the ingredients. They even have grocery stores that allow vendors to sell you something delicious to eat. As for the ingredients, they have everything you have ever seen and everything that you have not seen. And that is a lot.

Now, I know there are some small international markets here, but that is a very small scale, and I have been to most. Where do you think those markets are getting their products? The variety of foods and particularly produce is unreal in the Atlanta international markets. There is no reason you can’t have something like that here at our very own McBrien Elementary.

I am well aware that East Ridge is not Atlanta, but to simply say that East Ridge is culturally diverse would be an understatement.

Now, let’s provide a place and encourage some of these internationals to put their cooking skills to work. Let’s provide a place where we can get some really good international foods and groceries.

Now, I am not saying that all of the space should be used to fulfill my need for more international foods that please my palate and amaze my eyes, but I do think a good bit of the space could be dedicated for it and you did ask me what I wanted.

_ Tom Reagan