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BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME XXXXVIIII NUMBER 5 $135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY •
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SINCE 1965
January 31, 2014
THIS ISSUE
C E L E B R AT I N G 100 YEARS— More than 1,800 Beverly Hills residents and fans packed inside the Saban Theatre on Tuesday night for the City’s Centennial SingAlong Celebration, which kicked off a year-long celebration of Beverly Hills’ history. As a finale, the Beverly Hills High School Marching Band came down the aisles to join the L.A. Lawyers Philharmonic playing 76 Trombones by the late Beverly Hills resident Meredith Willson.
The City celebrates 100 years with cocktails at the Beverly Hills Hotel. 4
The BHPD gets a new K-9 in Tau, who specializes in detecting explosives. 4
Beverly Hills Centennial Celebration Sings At The Saban By Laura Coleman It was undoubtedly a Beverly Hills Centennial Celebration, and it was fabulous. If you hap-
pened to be among the 1,800 people lucky enough to snag a ticket to Tuesday’s “sold out” free concert at the Saban Theatre on
Wilshire Boulevard, you were treated to an array of musical homages to the old and the new. From 92-year-old Betty
John Scott stepped into his new role as L.A.’s interim sheriff. 5
Local Lucy Meyer asks President Obama to support UNICEF. 5 •Arts & Entertainment 12 •Health & Wellness 16 •Birthdays 22
George Christy, Page 6 Musical Highlights From The Grammys Included Moments With Paul McCartney And Ringo Starr, John Legend, A Trio Of Cowhands, And A 17-Year-Old Named Ella Marie Editorial from Rabbi Pressman AND MORE
CLASSIFIEDS • • • • •
Announcements Real Estate Rentals Sales and More
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White leading the audience in the BHHS Fight Song (she was (see ‘CENTENNIAL,’ page 12)
Willie Brien: Does He Limit Commissioners To Backers? BY Bill Arp Beverly Hills gratefully welcomes volunteers to the 56 commission posts of the 12
City commissions. Some seats go begging and others have multiple applicants. Are they (see ‘BRIEN,’ page 2)
Ex-Beverly High Coach Fisher Sues District, Paysinger WORLD-SAVING—With 25 percent of all ocean life living on coral reefs, the work of Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientist Mary Hagedorn (pictured above, far right) and her team’s efforts to use the latest technology to save coral species from extinction via cryopreserving – or freezing – coral sperm and stem cells is critical. Last week, Hagedorn was the guest speaker at a Smithsonian event hosted by Lisa Detanna, senior VP of Investments and managing director for Raymond James. “Whether it is any species at the zoo or the coral that helps protect our reefs, we are all interconnected and when we save the animals, it helps save the planet, and us of course,” said Detanna. Pictured above (from left): Smithsonian National Board Member Jennifer Walston Johnson, Sjon Dowell, Detanna and Hagedorn. Courier Photo by Laura Coleman
By Laura Coleman Last Friday, former Beverly Hills High School coach Jeff Fisher filed a lawsuit in Los An-
past several years. Throughout the communities of Los Angeles, the venerable institution has been (see ‘METRO,’ page 10)
Beverly Hills School District Retention Policy Up For Debate By Laura Coleman A proposal to change the Beverly Hills Unified School District’s retention policy could see the
number of students held back a year balloon from a handful to upwards of 30, according to Chief (see ‘RETENTION POLICY,’ page 10)
(see ‘FISHER SUIT,’ page 2)
By Laura Coleman California Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a leader in the enactment of major health, consumer protection, environmental, telecommunications, and good government laws, yesterday announced that he would retire at the end of this
Metro Down The Line: How Metro Dealt With Brentwood By Victoria Talbot Metro has been involved in a spate of projects that have ensured gridlock with a padlock for the
geles Superior Court against the Beverly Hills Unified School District, Beverly Hills
Rep. Henry Waxman To Retire After 40 Years
Henry Waxman
Celebrity Photo Agency/Janet Gough
Beverly Hills Lawn Bowling Club hosts Friends and Family Day Feb. 9. 4
(see ‘WAXMAN,’ page 15)
HONORING CAROLE —The 14th annual Music Cares Person Of The Year Gala honored songwriter Carole King at the Los Angeles Convention Center with a special performance by Lady Gaga. Carole King arrived with daughters Louise Goffin and Sherry Goffin Kondor. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.