After hearing a number of comments regarding the negative side of Evans City recently, I feel it's important that I point out the positive side.

Evans City is a small community of roughly 1,850 residents that is almost completely self-contained. We have excellent fire service from our dedicated volunteers. We have a police department that keeps our crime level well below other communities'. We have a terrific elementary school staffed with excellent teachers and motivated students.

We have a convenience store, grocery store, pharmacy, three restaurants, beauty shops, an auto parts store, gift shop, nail salon, doctors' offices, service station, ice cream parlor, swimming pool, two banks, a dentist office, coffee shop and a number of other businesses.

We will even have a candy store soon.

All of these businesses are in an area of about one-half mile square.

Should the residents of Evans City be in a situation of not being able to drive anywhere for several weeks, we would be perfectly OK. We can all walk to all of these services in minutes.

Evans City is one of the most convenient places I know.

This great country was established with much debate. I believe in the principles of debate. We need to debate the goals, values and resources needed to make Evans City an example of what other communities want to be. However, that debate needs to be tolerant, principled and respectful.

Everyone has a right to their own opinions and to be heard. The residents can best be heard by voting.

All borough residents have a hard-won right to vote and they need to exercise that right.