El Morro residents are sought for film

Artist, filmmaker and El Morro resident Ron Pastucha is filming a documentary, “The End of Summer: Last Days of El Morro,” and looking for past and present residents of El Morro Village at Crystal Cove to share their accounts of living in the soon-to-be-disbanded coastal community.

The residents are in the process of leaving the trailer park, which is located on state park land.

“One day I looked around and realized I was living in a setting that is it’s own character, a kind of ‘back lot’ that tells a story,” Pastucha said. “El Morro is a special part of California’s rich coastal history. I am compelled by its beauty and by the resident’s struggle to save their community, so I decided to document these last days before we all have to move away forever.”

Pastucha created and co-produced the animated short “The North End,” a Comedy Central project, and has also worked on films including “Titanic” and “Virus.”

As the trailers are taken off their foundations and loaded for transport or demolished, Pastucha is documenting the days until he too must move. The documentary’s main focus, however, will be the interviews of the residents who have called El Morro home.

Onscreen interviews will be scheduled from Dec. 8 to 11 and Dec. 15 to 18.

Any past or present resident of El Morro who would like to participate may contact Lynn Hackman, executive producer, (949) 723-1352, (310) 968-4678 or [email protected]. Write to Pastucha or Hackman at Upwardly Mobile Productions, 537 Newport Center Drive, No. 529, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

The film is planned to be finished in time for the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Public art component at former Pottery Shack

Creative Art Services has been retained to assist developer Brooks Street LLC with the fulfillment of the public art requirement at the former Pottery Shack site. Several local artists have been invited to collaborate on the development of a “historical yet contemporary reflection of life in Laguna Beach.”

Creative Art Services will also be overseeing the restoration of the Gladding McBean tile mural, the larger-than-life sculpture of Greeter Eiler Larsen that has stood on the corner for decades, and other historic elements of the original Pottery Shack structures, as recommended by the heritage committee.

Another aspect of the art is a visual display reflecting the history of Laguna Beach as an art colony and nucleus of the creation of California pottery and ceramics. Research and procurement of material for a Heritage Walk is underway, and specifics of how the collection will be exhibited are still being considered.

“We are excited to be making a significant contribution to the City of Laguna Beach’s Art in Public Places Program while retaining some of the memorable, unusual qualities of the original Pottery Shack,” Creative Art Services principal Cheryl Thiele said.

Creative Art Services has been headquartered in Laguna Beach for nine years.

Construction of the redeveloped site is expected to be completed at the end of the year, with an anticipated opening in the first quarter of 2006.

Firefighters support Measure A

The Laguna Beach Firefighters’ Assn. has come out strongly in support of Measure A, the proposed sales tax increase.

“Our community has endured numerous disasters in its history, most recently the devastating landslide in Bluebird Canyon. The fiscal burden of these tragedies falls upon the budget of the city. Without a disaster fund to fall back on, we are destined to repeat the cycle of financial crisis,” said Andrew Hill, president of the association.

“Regardless of any FEMA funding, the need for a disaster contingency fund cannot be ignored. The main function of a municipality is to provide for the safety of its citizens, and this endeavor cannot possibly be accomplished without providing for future calamities,” he added.

Floral designer to address Garden Club

The featured speaker at the Laguna Beach Garden Club meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, December 9 will be Jonathan McGowen, floral designer at Laguna Drugs. McGowen will teach how to incorporate materials from the garden to create stunning and unusual holiday arrangements.

Green Thumb activities include a members-only holiday decoration tour.

Regular Garden Club meetings are held on second Fridays at The Neighborhood Congregational Church, at the corner of St. Anne’s and Glenneyre Street.

Information: lagunabeachgardenclub.org

Women Voters to discuss Patriot Act

The Laguna Beach unit of the Orange County League of Women Voters will hold its regular monthly meeting at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 429 Cypress Drive.

The program will consist of a film about the Patriot Act titled “Civil Liberties: Balancing Liberty and Security,” followed by a discussion. The public is cordially invited to attend. Information: Glenna Matthews, (949) 497-2557.

Community Band Christmas Concert

The Laguna Community Concert Band will hold a free Christmas Concert from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the high school auditorium, 625 Park Ave.