Someone Cares Soup Kitchen to honor founder

Phil Roberts never met Merle Hatleberg, the founder of Someone Cares Soup Kitchen who passed away in May; but by the time he finished painting her portrait, he almost felt as though he had.

Roberts, a painter and sketch artist who lives in Corona del Mar, is longtime friends with Hatleberg’s daughter Debbie Pezman and her husband, Steve, the publishers of Surfer’s Journal.

When Someone Cares planned an open house in honor of its late founder, Pezman approached her friend and asked him to paint a portrait of her mother. The kitchen, located at 720 W. 19th St., is expected to unveil the painting at a ceremony at 5 p.m. today.

— Michael Miller