Artist Mike Tauber lacks a medical license but he’s behind the facelift of a local celebrity: the statue of Eiler Larsen, the best-known Laguna Beach “greeter.”
Tauber recently touched up the statue that hails visitors to the HIP District, a Coast Highway commercial strip between Mountain and Anita streets.
Commissioned by Roy Childs and crafted by Charles Beauvais, the sculpture was originally installed at Brooks Street and South Coast Highway in the 1960s at the Pottery Shack.
Tauber took up his sculpting tools after the property was re-invisioned and re-opened in 2006 as the Old Pottery Place. The penetrating scowl, known for scaring small children, was softened. A bit of color has been added to the cheeks. And the mouth reworked with a welcoming smile. The pants and shirt continue to sport the original lumberjack blue and red, but highlights intended to simulate natural fabric folds have been added to give the statue a more life-like feel.
Friendship Shelter’s Founder to Describe Intervention for Homeless People
An activist in combatting local homelessness will speak at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14 at the United Methodist Church, 21632 Wesley Dr.
All are welcome to attend Rev. Colin Henderson’s talk, “Changes in the Response to Homelessness.”
“I will share a broad approach into the history of how we have sought to assist homeless people, how it has evolved so that we now have an Orange County 10-year Plan to End Homelessness and how we all fit in,” says Henderson, a retired Episcopal priest, who is currently affiliated with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Irvine.
Volunteers Undergo Disaster Training
Community Emergency Response Teams from four cities will converge on San Juan Capistrano City Hall for an annual training exercise on Saturday, May 31.
About 200 people are expected to sharpen their disaster response skills during the training, including CERT members from Laguna Beach.
“CERT teams provide extra assistance during a disaster when first responder resources are overwhelmed,” said Terrie Sheldon, CERT volunteer from San Juan Capistrano and a team leader for the joint exercise.
San Juan Capistrano has trained over 600 CERT members, Laguna Beach 100, Dana Point 400, and San Clemente 120.
Church Shows Documentary on the Mentally Ill
The public is invited to a free screening of “The Released,” described as a rare and intimate look into the lives of mentally ill offenders struggling to make it on the outside, is set for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
A discussion about what happens to mentally ill offenders when they leave prison follows the film screening at 429 Cypress Dr.
Free and open to the public; for more information, call or e-mail Tiffany at 949-981-4887 or [email protected].
Merchants Learn to Identify Fraud
Police crime prevention specialist Nickie Hernandez leads a workshop on identifying counterfeit credit cards on Tuesday, June 3, from 8:30 -10:30 a.m. at Boys and Girls Club, 1085 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Police say credit card fraud in town increased by 10 percent last year.
Make reservations through the organizer, the Chamber of Commerce, at 949 494-1018. Tickets at $15 to $25 per person include a continental breakfast.
Church Welcomes Buddhist Teacher
The public is invited to a free talk on “The Five Qualities of Great Compassion” Wednesday, June 4, at the Neighborhood Congregational Church led by Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche, a religious leader and teacher in Tibetan Buddhism.
“This will be a profound teaching and a great opportunity to be in the presence of a high teacher of Buddhism,” said Pam Wicks, coordinator of the 7 p.m. event at 340 St. Ann’s Dr.
Jewish Center Celebrates Shavuot
Chabad Jewish Center welcomes the community to a special Shavuot service on Wednesday, June 4, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with special holiday prayers, reading of the Ten Commandments at noon, followed by an ice cream party and holiday program for the kids at 4 p.m., 30804 Coast Highway.
Yizkor memorial services will take place on Thursday, June 5, at 12:30 p.m.
Shavuot, or Festival of the Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals that include Passover and Sukkot.
For more: visit chabadoflaguna.com or call 949- 499-0770.
Party to Benefit Central American Farmers
Help Growers First give a hand up instead of a hand out to farming communities in Central America by attending their “Build-A-House” fundraiser at the Ranch at Laguna Beach, 31106 Coast Highway on Sunday, June 8, from 3-6 p.m.
The speakers include author Josh McDowell, Laguna Beach-based Growers First’s founder Dave Day and the organization’s executive director, Ed Apffel. They will describe the foundation’s impact in Honduras and Mexico.
The $50 per person ticket includes live entertainment by the local band, Blues Offenders, and appetizers. Purchase tickets in advance by visiting http://growersfirst2.givezooks.com/events/build-a-house-fundraiser
Mothers Set an Example
Fifty Girl Scouts and their mothers gathered at Neighborhood Congregational Church for a mother-daughter tea to benefit the Laguna Food Pantry and to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Reagan Hannus and Hannah Miller, both of Laguna Beach Troop 3222, won top honors for their sweets and savories. Rosie Morealle and Ella Steinbach provided beautiful music, and Christina Shook donated professional portraits of each mother daughter.
The event was hosted by church member Jennifer Baker.
Festival Helps Recruit Youth to New Program
The junior youth spiritual empowerment program thanks the Healthy Girls Festival for providing a forum to promote their program, which assists 11 to 14 year olds navigate a crucial stage in their lives.
Eleven kids joined JYSEP as a result of the festival last month. In June, the children will deliver handmade birdhouses to Habitat for Humanity.
To join or become a mentor, contact: [email protected]
Help Rebuild the Jersey Shore
Laguna Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a Hurricane Sandy recovery trip June 22-29 to help residents in New Jersey, who are still displaced and jobless.
Members of the public are welcome to join the church work group. The cost is $500 per person. For job descriptions, contact Jim Perkins, 949-487-0384 or [email protected].
Juicebox Joins Chamber
The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce welcomes new member, Ritual Juicebox, at 1100 S. Coast Highway. A ribbon cutting ceremony will mark the occasion on Thursday, June 5, at 4 p.m. A reception with organic cold-pressed juices will follow.
[…] (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Artist Mike Tauber lacks a medical license but he’s behind the facelift of a local celebrity: the statue of Eiler Larsen, the best-known Laguna Beach “greeter.”Commissioned by Roy Childs and crafted by Charles Beauvais, the sculpture was originally installed at Brooks Street and South Coast Highway in the 1960s at the Pottery Shack. Read full article […]
[…] Artist Mike Tauber lacks a medical license but he’s behind the facelift of a local celebrity: the statue of Eiler Larsen, the best-known Laguna Beach “greeter.”Commissioned by Roy Childs and crafted by Charles Beauvais, the sculpture was originally installed at Brooks Street and South Coast Highway in the 1960s at the Pottery Shack. Read full article […]