Pageant make-over underway

BARBARA DIAMOND

The dilapidated buildings backed by a neglected area of concrete and

filled land that have served as workshops for the Pageant of the

Masters will be replaced by a state-of-the-art production complex.

Demolition of the ramshackle workshops began Monday, just three

days after Festival of Arts President Bruce Rasner signed a $1.5

million construction contract at a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony.

“This is a happy day, two years in the making,” said pageant

Director Dee Challis Davy at the Sept. 5 ceremony.

Hard hats and shovels were passed around from Challis Davy and

Rasner to other board members for the de rigueur photographs.

“This is the first step; there is more to come,” Rasner said.

The 10,000-square-foot complex will house paint, metal and wood

shops, a sculpting studio and the headpiece department.

“I want to congratulate Dee and the staff,” Rasner said. “You’ve

deserved this for a long time. It is a safer environment for

everyone.

“The board has proved itself by going ahead with this project, not

just talking about it.”

Rasner said the production complex had been planned for 3 1/2

years, starting before the recall of the Sherri Butterfield-led

board, and given top priority on the To Do List.

“I have worked back stage and seen the conditions,” said board

member Anne Webster. “This is long overdue.”

Among those also attending the ground breaking: Planning

Commissioner Linda Dietrich; festival staff members Sharbie Higuchi,

Cindy Perdue, Fran Hudzinski and Jack Clancy; and board members Diane

Reardon, Bob Dietrich, John Campbell and Kathleen Blackburn.

“We couldn’t have done this without the favorable lease with the

city,” said Blackburn. “The board is grateful for the positive

process that has allows us to move forward in improving the festival

grounds.”

ART WALK PRELUDE

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson and Ernie Schnider hosted an open

house at Pearson’s North Laguna home before First Thursday Art Walk.

Guests represented a broad spectrum: Orange County Supervisor

Chris Norby and his brother, Laguna beach resident Eric Norby, county

Harbors, Beaches and Parks Chief Eric Jessen and Planner /

Acquisitions Coordinator Harry E. Huggins, architect Lance Polster;

Marilyn and Arts Commissioner Les Thomas; Catrina and Councilman

Steven Dicterow and Aliso Viejo City Councilman Greg Ficke, who also

attended the Labor Day Pancake Breakfast.

The Dicterows ducked out for a few minutes to drive daughter Taryn

to a Laguna Plahouse rehearsal.

Also on the guest list: Playhouse Executive Director Rick Stein,

Bob Chapman and Norm Grossman, who served with Pearson on the

Planning Commission, Treasurer Laura Parisi, Arts Coordinator Sian

Poeschl, former Arts Commissioner Suzi Chauvel, Ocean Laguna founder

Walker Reed and his wife, Diane, Laguna Beach County Water District

General Manager Renee Hinchey and former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn.

Pearson set up an easel in her front yard for an “add-on”

painting, inviting guests to contribute their daubs.

Reed added a sun to the painting. Other guests painted in the

ocean, a surfer with a beer in one hand, trees, flowers and a

low-flying airplane in the sky. Artist John Cosby pulled it all

together.

Libations and appetizers were served as a prelude to the Art Walk.

Guests were supplied with a list of galleries open for First Thursday

and Person led them to the nearby Peter Blake Gallery to start them

off.

IT’S A ZOO OUT THERE

Bonnie Hano will celebrate her 77th birthday today with a visit to

the San Diego Zoo.

“That was her request,” said husband, Arnold. “She prefers animals

to people.”

CHEL GAME

The City Council recently honored Lisette Chel Walker for 20 years

of exemplary service to the city.

You might not know her name, but you might recognize her. She’s

the lithe runner on city streets with the long brown hair streaming

behind her and the woman that handles irate complainers about traffic

tickets issued in the city with a smile.

“Lisette is one of a couple of the most positive people in the

police department,” said Captain Paul Workman. “When the public talks

to Lisette, they can tell she really cares.”

Chel Walker began working as a clerk in the department Sept. 23,

1983. The department subsequently sent her to training that qualifies

her to run the parking and dispatch computer systems.

Her 10-year-old daughter, Marlise, stood at her side during the

presentation of a city plaque and a 20-year pin.

“I also have here a copy of Adventure Magazine with an

illustration of a tent,” Workman said. “It was too bulky for the

mayor to pack in here.”

BENCHED

Laguna Beach artist John Alabaster will be paid $15,000 for the

bench he designed and will create for a bus stop at the corner of

South Coast Highway and El Paseo.

The City Council unanimously approved the design for “Five Frog

Bench.” It will measure 10 feet long and 4 feet wide. The seating

area will be constructed of teak that will be polished by sitters.

The back support is stainless steel, shaped like a fish with five

frogs mounted on its back. Hence the name.

Cal Trans and the Planning Commission had previously reviewed and

approved the proposed bench. The existing bench will be removed.

The artist honorarium will be paid out of the Business Improvement

District Fund. An additional $1,000 be provided for the installation

of a bronze plaque and miscellaneous costs.

Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman has asked for a special meeting of the

Laguna Beach hoteliers who fund the Business Improvement District to

discuss the allocation of funds raised by a voluntary increase in bed

taxes.

The district funds art and cultural institutions and art projects

that draw tourists to town. Kinsman questions whether other projects

might well attract tourists, or at least not discourage them from

coming to town. Did someone say parking?

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call 494-4321 or fax 494-8979.