BHCourier 061215 E-edition

Page 1

The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance Is Father’s Day, Sunday June 21

BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME: L

NUMBER 24

$135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY

www.bhcourier.com

SINCE 1965

THIS ISSUE

Chrisitiansen vs. BHUSD Gets New Twist After Davis vs. Fresno Unified Extends 1090 Conflict Of Interests To Consultants

Beverly Hills Bear, the Courier pup, takes a fourlegged stance for dogs. 4

Esther Goldberg carries the Courier to Jerusalem for her Bat Mitzvah. 5

French chef serves up delicious cuisine at Montage Beverly Hills. 5

Environmentalists flocked to Heal the Bay’s Gala at the Jonathan Club. 8 •Real Estate 10 •Health & Wellness 14 •Birthdays 20

DON’T YELL FIRE IN THIS HOUSE–Host Jay Leno, the Beverly Hills Firefighters and members of the California State Firefighters Association Pipes & Drums begin the entertainment with Firefighter Chad Beery singing the National Anthem at the 23rd annual Beverly Hills Firefighter’s Backdraft Ball. See page 21 for more coverage on this special annual event!

Backdraft Ball Lights Up Beverly Hills, Emcee Jay Leno Riffs With Chief Mundell By Victoria Talbot Beverly Hills loves its firefighters, and Tuesday’s Backdraft Ball was the testament with over 700 attendees at this year’s annual event, held at The Beverly Hilton. Fire Chief Ralph Mundell played straight man to emcee comedian Jay Leno throughout the evening. But for all the fun, there was a solemn moment when the BHFA honored fellow firefighter, Fire Engineer Mike Downing, as the BHFA “2015 Firefighter of the Year.” Downing has been with the BHFD since 1994, rising to assume a leadership position, gain the respect and admiration of his fellows and to mentor others to become Fire Engineers. However, last year Downing suffered a paralyzing stroke. His dedication and steadfast determination to overcome his difficulties

has been unwavering and his presence, walking unaided on stage, served as a reminder of the character of these incredible men and women. Downing’s resolve is an inspiration to the BHFD and to the community of Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills Firefighters’ Association Don Reynolds Scholarships went to three women, Rebecca Reinhardt at Colorado State University to receive a Masters in Occupational Therapy; Samantha Grate, attending Brigham Young University and majoring in nursing; and Marcelle Occomore-Viana who is attending Northern Arizona University to study Dermatology. Among the spectacular auction items, was an 11-night African Safari, which went for $13,000.

Beverly Hills Elder: Cecile Krevoy, A Lifetime Of Laughter Part 39 in a series on Beverly Hills residents who have grown with the Centennial City

George Christy, Page 6 Shirley Temple’s Mint-Condition Memorabilia Of 500 Pieces From Her 40 Films Is Being Exhibited Across Country, Ending In Auction By Theriaults On July 14 In Kansas City, MO Editorial from Rabbi Pressman AND MORE

CLASSIFIEDS • • • • •

Announcements Real Estate Rentals Sales and More

24

A BLISSFUL MARRIAGE–Cecile and Norman Krevoy were married for 65 years before he passed away last month at age 90. Cecile credits laughter as the miracle that sustained their marriage.

By Laura Coleman It’s been a lifetime of laughter for Cecile Krevoy thanks largely in part to her marriage of 65 years to prominent Beverly Hills dentist Norman Krevoy, who died on May 25 at 90. “It was his humor that made our marriage,” she said. “He made me laugh every day up until the end.” Born in 1925 in the Bronx, Cecile moved out to West Adams Boulevard at six years old with her parents and little brother. Cecile met Norman when she was 17 during a service at Temple Beth Jacob–their parents being good friends. At the time, Norman was in the Navy (see ‘CECILE KREVOY’ page 13)

Celebrity Photo Agency/Scott Downie

Adopt the perfect Beverly Hills designer pooch with Carter the maltipoo. 4

June 12, 2015

By Laura Coleman Beverly Hills Unified School District’s legal battle against its former facilities manager Karen Christiansen, who at last count was due some $20.4 million from the school district, is far from over, according to BHUSD attorney Fred Fenster with Greenberg Glusker, who is now appealing the judgment on behalf of the district. Thanks to a new legal ruling handed down last week by the Court of Appeal in the case of Stephen K. Davis v. Fresno Unified School District, the legal battle will likely tip back in the district’s favor, averred Fenster. “The opinion is extraordinarily important in its analysis of Government Code section 1090 since the Court of Appeal determined that conflicts of interest engaged in by individual consultants as well as corporations and limited liability companies are subject to its reach,” he said. For the past several years, the two sides have played a litigious game that has gone from one extreme to the other. In 2012, Christiansen was criminally convicted by a jury for self-dealing by engaging in a conflict of interest. That verdict was subsequently reversed on appeal because the court (see ‘BHUSD VS. CHRISTIANSEN’ page 16)

GUYS CHOICE — L.L. Cool J, Melanie Iglesias, Mary J. Blige paraded the Red Carpet during Spike TV’s Guy’s Choice 2015 at Sony Pictures Studios. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS for the FIRST ANNUAL WILL ROGERS AWARD Friends of Beverly Gardens Park is now accepting nominations for Beverly Hills stars of real estate in 2 categories “Rookie of the Year” and “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Compelling entries with reasons for the candidate’s nomination can be sent to submissions@willrogers.org through July 1, 2015. Winners will be announced at a star-studded gala event October 15 at the Montage Hotel.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.