BHCourier E-edition 052716

Page 1

The Courier Salutes Our Fallen Heroes On Memorial Day

BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME: LI

NUMBER 22

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SINCE 1965

May 27, 2016

24 Residents Submit Applications For Vacant City Council Seat

SENIOR AWARDS— Beverly Hills High School held its annual Senior Awards banquet on Tuesday evening, where six students were awarded BHHS Alumni Scholarships of $2,000 each. Pictured, (from left): Elyse Rothstein Beardsley (1976 BHHS graduate and BHHS Alumni board member), Phoebe Josephson (Michael J. Libow Scholarship recipient), Amy Okada (Michael J. Libow Scholarship recipient), James Dohm (Tobey Cotsen Scholarship recipient), Sarit Wannalert (Major General William Lyon Scholarship recipient), Patrick Goolsby Jr. (Joel Pressman Scholarship recipient), Tristan McIntyre (Rhonda Fleming Scholarship recipient) and Michael J. Libow, 1981 BHHS graduate. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth

Teen BH welcomes its new board for Fall 2016. 4

The Beverly Hills dog park will have a beautiful new tree thanks to Tina Sinatra and an anonymous donor. 5

Teacher Tenure Could Be On Its Way Out As Beverly Hills High School Seniors Graduate By Laura Coleman Each year Beverly Hills High School graduates a new crop of seniors. This year’s student body from the Class of 2016, which graduates this morning at 9 a.m., is poised to excel into the future based on the influence of educators within the Beverly Hills Unified School District. “Our senior class is so talented,” extolled BHHS Principal

David Jackson. “This is a remarkable senior class that has just risen to such a high level. What a nice bunch of kids and what a tribute to the teaching staff at Beverly Hills High School and to the parents of the students.” Most of their education has been from teachers who are passionate about having the students learn. Occasionally, however, a (see ‘BHHS GRADUATION’ page 15)

Tom Ford is rumored to be completing a purchase of a $53 million home on Hillcrest. 8 •Fashion •Sports •Birthdays

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NEW PLAN— Beverly Hilton owner Beny Alagem speaks to supporters of his initiative near the Beverly Hilton’s Aqua Star Pool on Wednesday evening. Courier photo by Laura Coleman

George Christy, Page 6 Auctioneer Jim Nye Asked The Crowd To Bid On A Dollar Bill And A Bottle Of Water Which Brought Big Bucks During The 53rd Annual SHARE Boomtown Show At The Beverly Hilton Hotel Ballroom

CLASSIFIEDS • Announcements • Real Estate • Rentals • Sales • and More

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Five of the 24 submissions did not sign the pledge. The applicants are: Ann Anooshian is a lawyer who has lived in Beverly Hills for five years. She has served in numerous state and national legislative positions. She is interested in pedestrian safety and speed limit signs, homeless and pandering issues and limiting development to preserve the City’s beauty. Paul Bernstein is a retired Hughes Aircraft engineer and systems analyst who has lived in the City for 49 years. He ran for City Council in 2003 and his issues include traffic, oversized projects and faster approvals for small businesses as well as district representation by Councilmembers. He would like more police on South Beverly Drive. Darian Bojeaux is a lawyer who has served as Judge Pro Tem in West Los Angeles a past Board Member of the (see ‘CITY COUNCIL’ page 22)

Beverly Hills’ David Dreier Named To James Madison Montpelier Board of Trustees

Beverly Hilton Thanks Residents For Supporting Initiative, Vows To Record Covenant For Garden By Laura Coleman Although the 7,000 signatures needed to bring The Beverly Hilton owner Beny Alagem’s “Garden & Open Space Initiative” to the November ballot have yet to be verified, the Packard Bell founder turned hotelier couldn’t refrain from whole-heartedly thanking those who had helped make that happen at a celebratory cocktail party on Wednesday evening. “Thank you for helping us get

on the ballot with 7,000 signatures; we only needed 3,000,” he told the roughly 250 people in attendance at the poolside soiree, which featured Champagne and handmade pizza. “That really gives us huge strength to continue with our vision of what we feel is a better plan and will help us continue the tradition of 61 years of the Beverly Hilton.” In March, Alagem unveiled his (see ‘HILTON PROJECT’ page 14)

By Matt Lopez Hon. David Dreier (R-California), a longtime Beverly Hills resident who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years, was named this week to the Board of Trustees at James Madison’s Montpelier. Dreier served as chairman of the House Rules Committee from 1997-2007 and is on the Board of Trustees for the California Institute of Technology. Founder of the Dreier (see ‘DAVID DREIER’ page 14)

Celebrity Photo Agency/Scott Downie

THIS ISSUE

By Victoria Talbot Twenty-four residents have submitted applications for the City Council vacancy left with the resignation of Councilmember Willie Brien. On May 31 at 11 a.m., the City Council will interview all the applicants in a public, televised meeting at City Hall. The format will begin with public comments, after which each candidate will deliver a three-minute statement. They will each be given the same three questions to answer and then the Council will ask follow-up questions. A selection will be made that day.The appointee will fulfill the balance of Brien's term, ending in March 2017 with the election. At the insistence of Mayor John Mirisch and Councilmember Julian Gold, and with the support of Councilmember Nancy Krasne, the application contains an optional pledge that the candidate will not run for City Council in March.

David Dreier PARTY PEOPLE — The Voice’s Judge Melanie Brown with daughters Madison Belafonte, Angel Iris Murphy Brown and Giselle Belafonte during Disney's premiere of Alice Through The Looking Glass at the El Capitan Theater. Also attending were: Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp, Jenna Elfman, Danny Elfman, Carmen Electra, Ali Landry, Melora Hardin, Mia Wasikowska. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.


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