Story on Panida had inaccuracies

What a nice surprise to open the paper this morning (Handle Extra, March 22) and find a half-page article on our beloved Panida Theater. Imagine my further surprise to read that my friend Karen Bowers, who has been the executive director for over 20 years, has suddenly been replaced by someone named Mary Bowers. A relative?

Reading further I found a whole new story about the mural down stage right. The phoenix I had known had been changed to a flamingo and Tirrell’s Chicken has become the Panida Bird of Horror.

I had always been told that when the plaster needed repair from water damage caused by firefighters when the cafe next door burned, Mr. Tirrell, a plasterer, was hired to do the work. He finished the plastering and was told by the owner that no pay until the bird was repainted as well. No bird, no pay. Unable to convince the owner that he was no painter, he proceeded to prove it.

Of course, I could have the wrong information, having only lived here for 29 years and being one of three Panida Founding Moms who made sure that she didn’t go the way of the Wilma.

Susan Bates-Harbuck

Sandpoint