HOLLYWOOD—On August 26, voice actor, Peter Cullen died at his home in Southern California at the age of 85. He was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. The sound of his voice would take him to Universal City, California. For decades, he was the sound of characters with the Smothers Brothers, appearances on Sonny and Cher, to G.I. Joe, and “Transformers” robot, Optimus Prime. He was the voice of Eeyore, Walt Disney’s gloomiest donkey from Winnie the Pooh. Over the years, he’d tell his interviewers of the awesome moment he discovered his voice talent. He was an 8-year-old boy, in the barn and made a loud noise getting the attention of all the cows at the farm. Cullen received tons of fan mail that Hasbro did not share. He is credited with over 200 voices and acting credits. He was one of the first actors inducted into the Hasbro Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program. In December 2023, Cullen was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. “If you do something you love, that’s what I tell kids, if you find something you love to do, do it, stick with it, and you’ll never work a day in your life. You love it, it’s just a holiday,” Cullen stated his advice during a 2023 interview. Cullen is survived by his wife, Brandi Cullen and their four children; Clay, Angus, Claire, and Pilar E. Cullen and three grandchildren. The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery – Hollywood Hills Hall of Liberty. By Sharon

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit is asking for the public’s help to locate At-Risk Missing Person Natalia Lapizki. She is a 61-year-old Caucasian female who was last seen on Sunday June 28, at approximately 7 p.m., on the 7700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.

Lapizki is 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighs 167 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She suffers from a medical condition. Her family is concerned for her well-being.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. To provide information anonymously call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced that starting Monday, August 31, that Palisades Fire Recovery Road closures will take place. Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) as recovery and repair work continues.

For Labor Day there will be no lane closures on PCH or Topanga Canyon Boulevard from 6 a.m. Friday, September 4, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 7.

Pacific Coast Highway

-9 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays: Intermittent Lane closures near Las Flores Canyon Road and Sunset Blvd.
-Right-turn Lane from PCH onto Rambla Pacifico St. will be closed as needed.
-Near Pena Road–Tuna Canyon Road: Southbound traffic may be reduced to one lane for retaining wall work.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27)

-10 p.m.–6 a.m., Monday–Thursday: One-lane traffic control between Entrado and PCH for guardrail and shoulder work.
-15 mph speed limit through the Caltrans work zone.

Closures are weather-dependent and may change. Expect delays, use alternate routes when possible, and slowdown in work zones. Fines can be doubled. For live road conditions and closures visit: www.quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on its Facebook page that it is asking residents to be more sustainable with their irrigation system and maintenance when it comes to water during the year.

Metropolitan Water District recently launched a new Commercial Turf Replacement rebate of $4 per square foot of grass replaced.

Metropolitan Water District is offering a Residential Turf Replacement rebate of $2 per square foot up to 5,000 square feet of converted yard per year. Those planning to replace grass with California friendly landscape, can be eligible to receive money back, as well as save water.

To verify eligibility and calculate the current rebate amount for a project visit Estimate Your Rebate. For full details and to check eligibility, visit SoCal WaterSmart website.

Residents can take advantage of available rebates for Beverly Hills residents:

-Residential turf replacement — up to $2 per square foot
-Commercial turf replacement — up to $2 per square foot
-Rain barrels and cisterns
-Rotating sprinkler nozzles
-Soil-moisture sensor systems
-Weather-based irrigation controllers

Residents can explore rebates, incentives, and landscape-planning resources at www.Beverlyhills.org/rebates.

By Danny Jones

WOODLAND HILLS—Developer Akhilesh Jah and his wife, Janet Jah, want to convert a four-bedroom, three-bathroom family home into a 71-unit senior living facility. The property is located on Del Moreno Drive in Woodland Hills, directly across from Taft Charter High School.

The senior living facility would house up to 142 residents. It plans to include a cafeteria and a medical office, with no on-site parking.

Local residents and the developer got into a heated debate during a hearing with the LA City Planning Commission. In a video released by FOX 11, the wife of the developer was allegedly shouting and invoking threats against the residents, saying, “I’m gonna do black magic on you.”

At one point during the video, Akhilesh was yelling at the community members, claiming, “It’s my turn to speak, when you spoke, I didn’t interrupt you, did I?”

During the hearing, residents argued that California’s state density laws, which let developers bypass local zoning, are being exploited for profit under the guise of helping the homeless. They argue that their properties are in high fire hazard zones and that the development, which adds no parking spaces, poses a risk to community members in an emergency.

“The state has really over the last decade gone above and beyond to tie our hands. I will reluctantly make a motion to adopt staff’s recommendations approving the 12 waivers,” stated the Los Angeles City Planning Commission.

The project passed unanimously, despite the commission’s hesitancy. State law outranks local city ordinances, and because the project technically complies with state density law criteria, the commission is legally obligated to approve the waivers.

The developer expects a fight and understands this could be disputed in court and it could take at least two years to obtain full approval.

By Milan Manesh

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills posted on its Facebook page that final street paving is taking place for the Metro D Line Extension Project from Saturday, August 29 thru Monday, August 31.

As part of Phase 3, Metro will be paving the west portion of the Wilshire/La Cienega intersection beginning Saturday, August 29, at 6 a.m. through Monday, August 31, at 6 a.m., resulting in temporary traffic closures and detours.

Weekend Traffic Impacts:
-Wilshire Boulevard will CLOSED in both directions between Le Doux Road and Wilshire/La Cienega intersection.
-Right turns ONLY from westbound Wilshire Boulevard to La Cienega Boulevard.
-Southbound La Cienega Boulevard: thru traffic CLOSED at Wilshire/Burton Way to Wilshire/La Cienega intersections.
-Northbound La Cienega Boulevard: thru traffic OPEN at Wilshire/La Cienega intersection.
-Southbound traffic on La Cienega Boulevard will be detoured at Clifton Way.
-Eastbound traffic on Wilshire Boulevard will be detoured at Robertson Boulevard
-Local access maintained on Wilshire Blvd. between Robertson Boulevard and Le Doux Road
Business Access:
-Local access to businesses will remain available throughout the work area.

For any questions contact the 24/7 Metro Hotline at 213-922-6934.

By Danny Jones

LOS FELIZ—On Saturday, August 29, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced it battled a fire at an apartment building.

The fire was reported at 9:16 a.m. at a two and three-story apartment building located at 1774 N. Harvard Blvd. The fire on two floors was knocked down by 77 firefighters in 32 minutes.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power assisted with impacted power lines. One patient was transported to a local hospital. The actual cause of the fire is still under investigation.

By Danny Jones

WOODLAND HILLS—A special board meeting was called on Monday, August 24, in response to the community about three coaches suspended by El Camino Real Charter High School’s board of directors. Baseball coach Josh Lienhard, girls’ soccer coach Eric Choi and boys’ tennis coach Jason Grider are being investigated after submitting CPR and first aid cards that did not meet the school’s requirements. The board gave notice of the meeting one day in advance, and it was held at the school’s North Campus in West Hills.

Chairman of the Board Brad Wright told those in attendance he is waiting on the results of a third-party investigation before taking any further action. The three suspended coaches were not present during the meeting. Wright defended the coaches’ character and asked community members not to spread rumors or rush the process.

Parents and staff pushed back during the meeting and asked why the certification issue was not caught before the season began. They argued removing the coaches from their positions harmed student athletes seeking college recruitment. United Teachers Los Angeles representative Beto Lopez indicated staff is now collecting signatures asking for the board to step down and resign from their positions.

The school’s athletic department has been undergoing many changes recently. Executive Director David Hussey and the assistant principal who oversaw athletics were both let go this past summer, and several other coaches were replaced during Wright’s time as chairman. The next board meeting is set for Thursday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m.

Parents have started a petition with Change.org asking for the coaches to be reinstated with a total of 793 signatures as of Sunday, August 30.

“We are asking for a process that is timely, consistent, fair, and proportionate, while protecting both student safety and recognizing the dedication, contributions, and reputations of coaches who have given so much to ECR and its student-athletes.

This situation has also highlighted a significant breakdown in communication between ECR school leadership and the ECR community. Families should not first learn about major developments affecting our students and programs through students or the media. We respectfully ask the administration and Board to address this communication gap and ensure that timely, transparent, and proactive communication becomes the standard moving forward.

Our community’s advocacy comes from our commitment to those coaches, our students, and the strength and stability of ECR’s athletic programs. We appreciate the Interim Executive Director’s commitment to update the community when the review concludes. We respectfully ask that every reasonable effort be made to complete that review sooner rather than later and to restore affected coaches to their positions promptly once all applicable requirements have been verified.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our student-athletes, coaches, and ECR community,” the Change.org petition states.

Written By Milan Manesh and Donald Roberts

SANTA MONICA—On August 29, the Santa Monica Police Department announced an investigation led to multiple arrests and the recovery of a stolen car and several weapons.

On August 25, officers conducted an operation to prevent catalytic converter theft when they spotted a black Audi near Ocean Avenue. The same vehicle was seen again on Colorado Avenue and 2nd Street after it crashed, and officers saw several people flee from it. Officers located the individuals and they were arrested. One person approached the vehicle, retrieved a black backpack, and fled with it.

With assistance from the SMART center, the Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center, officers found the person in a nearby alley, where he was in the process of getting rid of the backpack. Officers encountered another individual who took the backpack to a nearby construction site and hid it.

Once officers found the backpack, they discovered three loaded handguns, along with two weapons that lacked serial numbers; these weapons are commonly known as ghost guns. Officers arrested the individual who tried to hide the backpack.

The SMPD learned that the Audi had been stolen in an armed carjacking that was under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division. A total of four individuals were taken into custody.  No additional details have been released to the public.

Canyon News reached out to the SMPD for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

By Daniel Diquinzio