To the editor:

This letter is regarding the recent article about the submitted plans to tear down the Barrington BP and put up a restaurant. I am opposed to this idea. 

Barrington BP is not only a gas station, it is also a service garage. The owners, Kenny and Wendy Wajda, are warm, friendly people who treat everyone like a friend. Kenny is a fair and honest mechanic who takes the time to explain your auto repairs to you. They treat everyone with respect and honesty. They don't treat you like a faceless, nameless customer and just hand you a bill.

The Wajdas have lived in town all their lives and have contributed greatly. They have owned the gas station for 17 years. They have the only full service gas pumps in town, which the older customers rely on when they can't pump their own gas. They offer free air — something unheard of these days. Everybody that works there is friendly and cares about others. Don't we really need that these days? There is a sign on the lamppost in front of BP that says "Support Local." Shouldn't we really be doing that — supporting small, local businesses that enrich the town, as BP does? 

It would be a shame for these wonderful people to lose their livelihood for the sake of a restaurant. Barrington has plenty of restaurants but only one BP. Please keep it that way. The residents of this town need Barrington BP.

Karla Swider

East Providence