Maurice Sendak Dies; North Hollywood School Is Named After Beloved Children's Author

The writer was best known for 'Where The Wild Things Are.'

Children's author Maurice Sendak died early Tuesday in Danbury, Conn., at age 83, four days after suffering a stroke, according to the Associated Press. He was best known for his book, "Where The Wild Things Are." The Maurice Sendak Elementary School in North Hollywood, which opened in 2005, is named after him. "We enjoy and embrace his creativity and the serendipity that he represents," the school's former principal Nancy Oda told the Daily News. "We embraced his mind for 'Where the Wild Things Are' and the colors and the complexity of it all." See the KNBC report here: North Hollywood School Named for Sendak Mourns Author's Death‎ Read the New York Times obituary for Sendak here: Maurice Sendak, Children's Author, Dies at 83 - NYTimes.com

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Ask Paul ... Questions for Councilman Krekorian

Ask Paul: Parking Along Moorpark, Illegal Dumping and More

Ask your City Councilman questions about your neighborhood.

Thanks for your continued questions -- we’re working hard to get to as many as we can as quickly as we can in the space we're allotted. I appreciate your continued active engagement in the issues that affect our great city!  Dear Paul, I have a couple questions: on Moorpark St, between Radford and Colfax - a multi unit residential area - what are the parking/zoning regulations? It seems commercial vehicles are parked for days making it is very difficult for residents and their friends or medical staff to access their units.  Secondly, I admire the job the trash pick up in LA does but I am curious about the number of abandoned Christmas trees, grocery carts, piles of bagged garbage, furniture seen on all our streets. Is there anyway to put …

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David Rivers

9:39 am on Friday, March 16, 2012

Paul, I'm so excited to soon have you represent NoHo. You have fresh energy and will be a great fit to make things better.   more ›

Doobie Brothers Drummer Michael Hossack Dies

Hossack was a partner in Chataeu Recorders, a music studio once located at 5500 Cahuenga Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Michael Hossack, the longtime drummer for the Doobie Brothers, has died of cancer, according to CNN. Hossack played with the group from 1971 to 1973 and rejoined in 1989. His drumming can be heard on early hits including "Listen To The Music" and "Blackwater." According to the Doobie Brothers' website, Hossack became a partner in Chataeu Recorders in 1977, which was a music studio located at 5500 Cahuenga Boulevard. Today, the studio is known at The Hive and has been operated by the rock band 311 since 2000.   Read more about Hossack's passing: Doobie Brothers' Michael Hossack dead at 65 - Washington Post Michael Hossack, 65, Doobie Brothers Drummer - NY Times Read more about the music recording history of North Hollywood here: Remembering…

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Theater Review: 'The Seagull' by The Antaeus Company

Utilizing the usual two casts, Antaeus manages to clearly define where they are as a theater company and why they so brilliantly specialize in the classics.

In a good Anton Chekhov play every word matters. In a great one every breath does. A perfect example of the latter is the The Antaeus Company's production of Chekhov’s The Seagull running in the NoHo Arts District through April 15 at the Deaf West Theatre. Utilizing the usual two casts, Antaeus manages to clearly define where they are as a theater company and why they so brilliantly specialize in the classics. This is Chekhov boldly searching for new forms of theatre amongst time-honored ideals such as love, family, country and art. But it is the humanity and quiet poignancy with which Antaeus underscores and searches for the truth that sets it apart from other forays into the classics. From the opening scene where Treplev admits to …

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El Portal to Hold Memorial For Zina Bethune, Killed in Hit-and-Run

The renowned dancer, choreographer and actress died after stopping to help a wounded animal, according to police.

The El Portal Theatre is planning on hosting a memorial service for dancer and actress Zina Bethune on March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend the service should RSVP to tommy@bethunetheatredanse.org. Police said Bethune was fatally struck by a vehicle on Forest Lawn Drive as she stopped to care for an animal lying in the road near the famed Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills early Sunday. Bethune directed and choreographed the show Silent Roar: A Whale's Journey that ran at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood this past fall. The Los Angeles Times profiled Bethune and her work today. The hit-and-run happened about midnight in the 6000 block of Forest Lawn Drive, and Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics declared her …

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A Moving Tribute to Zina Bethune, Killed in Tragic Hit-and-Run

Nancy Bianconi, editor of NoHoArtsDistrict.com, writes about the dancer and choreographer who was killed trying to help a wounded animal.

Police are asking for the public's help in a hit-and-run collision that killed Zina Bethune, a renowned ballet dancer and teacher of disabled children. Police believe Bethune was killed while trying to help a wounded animal. Nancy Bianconi, editor of NoHoArtsDistrict.com, knew Bethune and had just spoken to her last week. She has written a moving tribute to Bethune covering her life, her work and her deep connections to the NoHo Arts District. Read the story here. Detectives are seeking information on a white car seen leaving the scene of Bethune's death early Sunday on the 6000 block of Forest Lawn Drive. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact detectives Felix Padilla or Josephine Mapson at (213) 972-1825.

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Eddie Greenberg

4:03 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

This is beyond shocking!! What a tragic end for a great and very loved elegant lady. Knew her since she was about twenty-one years old. Zina's love for disabled children & animals was always well known. She contributed more to the world of arts than perhaps 10 other talented people. She will be so very missed! May she rest in peace and may her killer be found, so that justice may be done.   more ›

Former Wife of Roy E. Disney Dies

Patricia Disney was born in New Orleans and moved to Toluca Lake as a child. Her future husband lived around the corner.

Patricia Disney, whose former husband was the nephew of Walt Disney, died today. She was 77 and suffered from Alzheimer's disease, according to a family website. Patricia Disney, who lived in Toluca Lake, was vice chairman of Shamrock Holdings, the investment company for the Roy E. Disney Family. She and the late Roy E. Disney, former vice chairman of the Walt Disney Co. and chairman of Shamrock, married in 1955 and divorced in 2007. "On behalf of everyone at The Walt Disney Company, we mourn the loss of Patty Disney," Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger said. "Her passing marks a sad milestone for the Disney family, and we will always remember her irrepressible spirit and dedication to our company," he said. "Patty …

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Irving Belfer, Who Shared His Private Holocaust Museum, Dies at 97 [VIDEO]

Belfer's private museum will still be displayed some time in the future.

Irving Belfer—who for decades showed people his private Holocaust collection at his house in Burbank—died Friday at the age of 97. Belfer was moved last year to the Los Angeles Jewish Nursing Home, and looked forward to his 400 items of miniature buildings, handmade memorabilia and personal artifacts to be housed in a building that is being constructed at the Jewish Educational Trade School (JETS) in Granada Hills. The building is not yet complete, but the items are stored safely until it opens. Belfer was a longtime member of Adat Ari El in Valley Village, and executive director Joanne Klein announced his death for the family. He is survived by his daughter, Terry (Jeff) Ellis and two grandchildren, Rabbi Ari (Hope) Ellis and Shana (Adam…

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Lyle Wolf, Beloved North Hollywood Teacher, Dies in Vermont

The head of the social studies department left in 1983 to Vermont.

Lyle T. Wolf, a beloved social studies teacher from North Hollywood High School, died in Vermont on Jan. 13 of prostate cancer, according to a nephew. He was 85 years old. Wolf, of Bethel, Vermont, died at Brookside Nursing Home in White River Junction. A funeral service was held Jan. 15. Wolf taught history at the school for 24 years and led the social studies department at North Hollywood High School, and in 1983 he and his wife Barbara decided to move to Vermont to start a bed-and-breakfast. (See the news story here.) Studio City Patch "Then and Now" columnist Mary McGrath said, "I do recall hearing that he was a good teacher and a nice man. I'm sure he made a difference in many students' lives." The teacher's nephew Bruce Blizzard said…

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Actor and Dialect Coach Robert Easton of Toluca Lake Dies

Easton taught famous stars how to speak with different accents and dialects.

Actor and dialect coach Robert Easton, known as the "Henry Higgins of Hollywood," died of natural causes on Friday, Dec. 16, in his Toluca Lake home, according to the Los Angeles Times. Easton was 81. Easton earned his nickname after the speech tutor in the musical My Fair Lady, as he taught some of Hollywood's most famous actors how to speak with different regional dialects and accents.  He taught Arnold Schwarzenegger how to speak with a Russian accent, according to the Times, and he also Forest Whitaker to talk like Idi Amin Dada for his Oscar-winning role in The Last King of Scotland. He also taught Liam Neeson, Charlton Heston, Anne Hathaway, and many other stars. He coached Robert Duvall how to talk like Confederate commander Robert …

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