Groups pull off ‘amazing’ show

“The Phantom of the Opera” is an amazing production. However, sitting at the backstage door, I observed the work of four local groups that deserve recognition.

First is West Coast Entertainment, led by the dedicated and tireless effort of President Jack Lucas and his staff. Jack has been the catalyst for bringing high-quality shows to Spokane and tends to the details, which causes them to run so smoothly.

Second is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, under the leadership of Pat Devereaux. This talented, hardworking crew makes things happen in a variety of ways behind the scenes.

Third is the Spokane Public Facilities District under the leadership of Kevin Twohig and Johnna Boxley, general manager of the INB and their employees. They do an outstanding job of managing and maintaining the INB Opera House.

Fourth is the Starplex Crowd Management Services, a premier provider of crowd management. Bill Scott from CMS works magic in making sure each show is staffed with a team consisting of a supervisor, ushers, ticket takers, a security individual and a stage door person. The Spokane community should be proud, and salute all these groups and individuals for a job well done.

Jim Olson

Spokane

Hixon benefit a success

We recently held a benefit for Wes Hixon, an Army soldier who is a paraplegic as a result of his injuries in in Iraq.

So many people came forward with donations and assistance in all sections of the Spokane area that it is hard to thank them individually. We want to say a big thank you to everyone in Spokane for helping us make this a success and ultimately helping Wes and his family gain their footing after such a devastating event in their life.

The Mirabeau Park Hotel should receive special thanks for donating its lovely ballroom, which we filled to capacity, as well as donation of the audio/video setup.

John Craig of The Spokesman-Review wrote a wonderful article on Wes which helped us tremendously in getting people to the event and to donate.

Teri Fisher

Spokane Valley

Taxi driver kind, generous

Recently we arrived in Spokane on the Empire Builder in the wee small hours of the morning.

We had booked reservations in a nearby hotel months before leaving Michigan. It was our first visit to Spokane and the plan was to get eight hours rest before picking up a rental car at the airport and continuing on to Lewiston/Clarkston to celebrate a cousin’s 50th wedding anniversary.

We hailed a cab. The driver drove us to the hotel and suggested we stay in the cab while he checked things out since all the lights were off. It turned out that the hotel was closed for renovation.

We suggested getting a room at the airport. That taxi driver proceeded to turn off the meter, make at least four phone calls to not only find us a room in a hotel with full breakfast as part of the deal, but also bargained for a good price for two weary seniors who were strangers to Spokane.

We came away with warm feelings toward Spokane and that terrific taxi driver and want the whole world to know there are good people out there doing kind things for strangers.

Dr. and Mrs. John B. Atwater

Ann Arbor, Mich.