‘Toy Shelf’ starts next week

Ballet Spokane will present “The Toy Shelf” Nov. 23, 24 and 25 at the Bing Crosby Theater.

The show is an original production written and choreographed by the company’s founder and former artistic director Janet Wilder.

J.D. Thayer will narrate the children’s tale and Christopher Lamb will play the toymaker. Dancing parts will feature professional members of Ballet Spokane, plus 45 children from four area dance schools.

Tickets are available through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT or the Ballet Spokane ticket office a 922-4962. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children and seniors.

– Staff reportsWORLD

Text your thanks to troops

“Giving Thanks,” a new program from America’s Defense Department’s America Supports You program, has arranged for holiday communications with U.S. military personnel deployed around the world, according to the American Forces Press Service,

Between 6 a.m. on Saturday, and midnight Nov. 22, anyone wishing to express gratitude to the troops for their service can text a brief one- or two-line message to 89279. Each message sent will receive a response from an active-duty service member.

“We know that thousands of families will be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner and thinking about loved ones who are far away from home serving their country. We are counting on other American families to take a moment during their holiday celebration to think of those families and their family members who are serving and say, ‘Thanks,’ ” said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications.

– Mary Jane Honegger