BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • City manager retiring pg. 3 Rain, with sun • Arrest made in and clouds Hollywood this weekend murder pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 10 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities March 11, 2021 Brazen robbery in BH Academy Museum zooms in on diversity n Exhibits, programs prompts increased security highlight n Police think incident is connected to other hold-ups underrepresented voices, past injustices BY EDWIN FOLVEN man dining on the patio and a strug- gle ensued when they tried to take BY CAMERON KISZLA The Beverly Hills Police his watch, police said. One of the Department is working with local assailants was armed and the gun The Academy Museum of and federal law enforcement agen- fired during the struggle between Motion Pictures is coming into cies to solve a robbery on March 4 the suspect and victim, striking a focus as the curtain rises for its in which a woman dining at a pop- woman nearby, BHPD Capt. Max Sept. 30 opening date. ular restaurant on Canon Drive was Subin added. Officers recovered a On March 10, the museum shot and a patron’s $500,000 watch handgun dropped at the scene, he hosted a virtual presentation to was stolen. said. provide a glimpse into plans for The violent robbery and shooting The victim who was shot was the initial exhibitions, which occurred at 2:10 p.m. at Il Pastaio, treated and has since been released include films as a whole and their located at 400 N. Canon Drive. components, such as costumes, Three male suspects approached a See Robbery page 22 sound design, sets, props and the people who make movies. In addi- photo by Todd Wawrychuk/©Academy Museum Foundation tion to two theaters where films Bruce, one of the sharks from “Jaws,” is the biggest object in the can be shown – the 1,000-seat Academy Museum’s collection. David Geffen Theater and the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater – the 300,000-square-foot museum will winning actress and museum Creative Director Kulapat cover multiple genres and film- trustee Laura Dern, who hosted Yantrasast highlighted the ability making types, from blockbusters much of the presentation. for visitors to travel through the to animated classics and docu- The museum building was exhibits at their own pace and mentaries. designed by Pritzker Prize-win- seek out what they find most inter- “The Academy Museum of ning architect Renzo Piano, and esting while also learning more Motion Pictures is set to be the the exhibit spaces were done by about aspects of films and film- photo by Cameron Kiszla world’s premier museum dedicat- Culver City-based wHY making they may not have The BHPD is working with private security firms to provide a high-profile ed to the art and science of Architecture. During the presenta- law enforcement presence. movies,” said Academy Award- tion, wHY founding partner and See Academy page 21 Beverly Hills approves Wilshire narrowing School bells to ring n Subway station work expected to take two and a half years again soon for LAUSD n District, teachers are met before students return to BY CAMERON KISZLA campus for in-person instruction. union come to Los Angeles County public The stretch of Wilshire agreement on health officials announced on Boulevard in the easternmost por- in-person classes March 9 that the number of tion of Beverly Hills will experi- COVID-19 cases has lowered to a ence some traffic impacts due to BY EDWIN FOLVEN level that will allow the region to construction that will last approxi- enter the state’s red tier, which mately two and a half years. With COVID-19 cases dimin- state guidelines require before all The traffic changes, which ishing and the county poised to grade levels can reopen for in-per- include a narrowing of Wilshire enter the red tier of state public son instruction. The county is cur- between La Cienega and San health orders, local school rently at the highest tier, purple. Vicente boulevards to two lanes and administrators are moving quick- closures of nearby North Gale ly to ensure necessary conditions See Teachers page 22 Drive, will accommodate construc- photo by Cameron Kiszla tion on the Wilshire/La Cienega Traffic at Wilshire and La Cienega will be impacted by construction for subway station, part of Metro’s the nearby subway station for more than two years. Purple Line Extension project. The work, known as appendage structure construction, provides noted that the city did not have street closures. “vital functions of the station, such much of a choice, as the work is “We just weren’t aware of what as emergency exits, utility rooms, necessary. kind of closures the appendage ventilation shafts, entrance and exit “There is no practical alterna- work would entail,” City Attorney structures for maintenance and tive,” Vice Mayor Robert Laurence Wiener told the council. more,” according to a report by Wunderlich said. This process is not likely to be Beverly Hills city staff. The council members expressed repeated at the next location, the On March 2, the Beverly Hills some concern about the timing of Wilshire/Rodeo station, as city staff City Council unanimously the discussion, as the original agree- has learned more about the subway approved the work and traffic ment with the Los Angeles County construction process and the street photo by Cameron Kiszla changes to begin this month, Metropolitan Transportation Students may return to Fairfax High School by the end of April under though multiple council members Authority did not include these See Metro page 21 plans announced by the LAUSD. 2 March 11, 2021 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press CALENDAR Other showtimes vary daily and start “Words and Ideas: Lynsey Addario in Theatre 40 as early as 6:15 p.m. FM radio is Conversation with Sheryl WuDunn” Theatre 40 presents a reading of the required for audio. Tickets start at on Sunday, March 14, at 11 a.m. play “Camping with Henry and Tom” $10. 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd. Addario, an artist and humanitarian by Mark St. Germain on Thursday, (323)924-1644, arenascreen.com. whose photographs are included in March 11, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. In “Tightrope: Americans Reaching for 1921, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison Hope,” will discuss her work with and President Warren G. Harding Culinary history journalist and exhibit co-creator went on a camping trip together to Culinary Historians of Southern WuDunn. The photographs document escape civilization, but they couldn’t California presents “Someone’s in the the COVID-19 crisis and include inti- escape each other. Gregg W. Breevort Kitchen with Dinah (Shore),” by Flo mate images of doctors, patients and directs a cast that includes David Hunt Selfman, on Saturday, March 13, at other individuals affected by the Stafford, Martin Thompson, Dan 10:30 a.m., via Zoom. In 1970, Shore virus. A Q&A with the artist follows Leslie and Roger Weiss. Stage direc- began hosting “Dinah’s Place,” the online discussion. skirball.org. tions will be read by Ken Kamlet. which covered homemaking, crafts, us02web.zoom.us/j/89266375753?p child-rearing, health and beauty. photo courtesy of the 13th District council office wd=dndNaGJyV3Q1RUUycHEwO Many leading chefs got their first Ebell spotlights Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, right, joined staff and those getting vaccinat- DJJUmMxUT09. national exposure on the television ed at the opening of the new 13th District clinic. program. Around the same time, women’s history Selfman accepted a two-week tempo- The Ebell of Los Angeles is holding a Beverly Hills rary job at Shore’s Beverly Hills Women’s History Month program on home helping with fan mail and soon Monday, March 15, at noon, via Chamber was asked to stay as a permanent Zoom. Author Tessa Boase will dis- COVID-19 vaccinations begin Jump start your morning at the employee. Currently the owner of cuss “Fashion, Fury and Feminism: Beverly Hills Chamber of Selfman & Others Public Relations, Women’s Fight Commerce’s monthly networking she will share her experiences with for Change.” breakfast on Friday, March 12, from Shore and will be joined by special When social his- at first 13th District clinic 8 to 10 a.m. Join chamber members, Working to support communities vaccinated must fill out an initial guests. The event is free but registra- torian Boase told area professionals and community tion closes 24 hours in advance. disproportionately impacted by form by visiting the Royal leaders to collaborate, build business eventbrite.com/e/culinary-program- COVID-19 and essential workers, bitly.com/cd13vaccine. The form Society for the and learn about events occurring in someones-in-the-kitchen-with-dinah- Protection of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell will be used to determine eligibility Beverly Hills. Admission is $10 for shore-tickets-142641864657. Birds she wanted opened the first vaccination clinic for the program and does not guar- members; $30 for guests. to write about its in the 13th District this week to pro- antee a vaccination. members.beverlyhillschamber.com. early history, she was refused access vide thousands of first and second Recipients must be 13th District St. Patrick’s Day to the archives. A former investigative doses to those who are eligible. residents and employed as educa- journalist, it became a challenge. The The vaccine clinic will be held tion workers, food and agricultural Echo Theater comedy lecture focuses on the story of a over a six week period in different workers, health care workers, child Get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit woman’s love affair with plumage neighborhoods in the district.