Hijacking of theater hurts community

It is with sadness that I write an open letter to the community I call home. Not for the actions directed at my wife, but for the hijacking of our historic theater.

Mssrs. Gunter and Daarstad, with a quality assist from City Councilman Michael Boge, have stolen your theater. Somehow they thought the community envisioning process, the board of director's votes, and the current efforts of the active board members were invalid. They must "know" the right direction. I can only hope they are as successful at helping the theater move into the future as they are at sabotaging its present. To them, I say, "shame on you!"

To the Panida Moms: You would have been very proud of the theater you helped save, but for a little trust in the board of directors. Now I believe we will never know how great the Panida would have been.

To the executive director and current board: Good luck in restoring order and direction; and in fulfilling the dreams our community has for the Panida.

To friends and supporters: You are the reason we call Sandpoint home. Thanks.

To my wife: You deserve better. Thank you for all your tireless work in support of the Panida.

To the community: Nothing succeeds without involvement. Only working together, through honest disagreement, will we create the places and things that sustain us all. When people act in a manner that undermines constructive dialogue, replacing it with personal attack we all lose. When we allow them to get away with it, that loss becomes tragic. The hijacking of the Panida Theater's future should not go unnoticed.

JOHN TOBIN O'HARASandpoint