BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | DECEMBER 16, 2011 Page 4
HERE!
B E V E R LY H I L L S M A I N N E W S
Environmental Drilling Begins At BHHS By Marla Schevker Drilling began yesterday for the seismic studies of Beverly Hills High School. The work, done by Leighton Consulting, Inc., will form the basis for the BHUSD’s defense against the Westside Subway Extension. The boring began after the Board of Education approved 4-1 to amend the contract with Leighton to add a compressed schedule Tuesday. Boardmember Lewis Hall dissented. Because of a need for the
geotechnical analysis, the consultants are planning to work 10-hour days. Leighton Consulting Inc. began yesterday and will continue boring in various areas around Beverly High through Dec. 30. They will bring a trenching plan to the Board Jan. 3 for approval. The total cost for the work is $420,290 that will be broken into Phase 2A and Phase 2B. The money will come from the Measure E Bond Fund. (see ‘SEISMIC STUDY,’ page 27)
SPARK OF LOVE —Back row from left: BHFD firefighters Amy Horst, Charles Ratcliff, Dean Viana, James Charron, Geoffrey Ertel, David Gonzales, Dean Guccione, Joshua Sattley, and Victor Gutierrez. Front row from left: Jake Noval, Sheikh Jarrah Khaled Al-Sabah, Samir Mahallawy, Jimmy Delshad, Victorino Noval, Maria Welton, Fire Chief Timothy J. Scranton, Kathleen Mojas, Deputy Fire Chief Mark Embrey and Ed Sullivan. BHFD firefighters have been an instrumental component for 19 years in helping garner toy donations throughout the local community to benefit foster care and at-risk youth for the annual holiday “Spark of Love Toy Drive,” which is sponsored by the Children’s Trust Fund of Los Angeles. The Victorino Noval Foundation made a $30,000 donation to help “ignite” support for this year’s drive.
Board Approves 3 Month Extension For Venable The BHUSD Board of Education continues to keep its arsenal full against the Metro Westside Subway Extension tunnel under Beverly High. At the Tuesday meeting, it unanimously approved a threemonth extension to its contract with the lobbying firm Venable. The original Venable contract expired Oct. 31 and was extended twice in one-month intervals. The new agreement
will expire March 31. Although the agreement was on the consent calendar, Boardmember Noah Margo pulled the item, expressing concern over the three-month time period of the extension. He said it was his understanding the Westside Subway Extension Final Environmental Impact Report would be available in late January or early February and after that, Ven-
able’s services would not be needed. “We should leave our options open,” Margo said. Boardmember and Venable liaison Lisa Korbatov said Venable would begin lobbying the House in January and the Senate in February. They are lobbying the Federal Transportation Authority and transportation subcommittees. Ven(see ‘VENABLE,’ page 27)
TENNIS CHAMPS—The Beverly Hills novice tennis team won the Westside Tennis League Novice Championships on Dec. 11 completing an undefeated season. Pictured from left: Jonathan Mills, Tyler Mehrdad, Mira Berenbaum, Landon Cronin, Matthew Paul, Tsehay Driscoll, Jasmine Matta, Sasha Corcuera, Sanjna Chawla and Oliver Gower.
City Council Increases Funding For BHAA The City Council unanimously agreed last week to increase the funding of the Beverly Hills Active Adult Club for the current fiscal year, from $5,500 to $11,000. The organization received $8,000 from 1995 to 2009 when its funding FINISH LINE —The BHHS Girls Cross Country season ended with junior Sydney Segal making it to the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego last Saturday, where she came in 32nd at 18:21. Segal said that although she did not rank first place: “I already reached my goal of making the nationals and being a part of the top 39 cross country runners in the nation.” Photo courtesy PhotoRun.net
was cut by $2,500. The additional funds will go towards expanding recreational opportunities and activities for the senior population. They are looking to reintroduce day excursions, add additional social opportunities and intro-
duce new activities for the “young seniors.” According to the staff report, the funding will specifically be divided: $1,400 for two day trips, $1,200 for two additional dances or parties, $2,000 for tea and a fash-
SOCCER SUCCESS STORY—The Blaze beat The Silence 1-0 at the AYSO Girls Under 14 championship game Dec. 11. The Blaze will now play in the league championship tournament Jan. 21-22. Back row from left: Coaches Alex Arko and John Benun. Middle row from left: Taite Wiederhorn, Samantha Pezeski, Celine Rafalian, Maria Pineiro, Carli Stein, Lexi Babbush, Kate Adams, Cady Hakim, Lily Manavi and Olivia Benun. Front row from left: Sydney Karmes Wainer, Valentina Pagliari and Kasey Arko.
Goldberg Introduces ‘Parking Lot’ To Board Agendas By Marla Schevker Added to the agenda of new Board of Education President Brian Goldberg is a section called “Parking Lot.” The parking lot holds items “parked” on the agenda and Goldberg said he would pull one or two items for discussion at future general board meetings. Items in the parking lot were generated from boardmembers. “It’s a reminder for staff and the community to know these are items we haven’t forgotten about,” Goldberg said. “I found that we would discuss things
and they would fall through the cracks. I wanted to alleviate that as much as possible.” Once an item is pulled from the parking lot and placed on the agenda, there will be the opportunity for discussion on the item. Then it will be placed into a “follow up” category and action can be taken if necessary. After an item is discussed and moved from the parking lot, it frees up space for another issue to be brought up. Items currently in the parking lot are: (see ‘PARKING LOT,’ page 13)
(see ‘BHAA,’ page 15)
A NIGHT ON THE TOWN—Daniella Cohen, Letal Hayon, Gabe Goldstein, Sande and Katherine Schwartz enjoy an evening out at Horace Mann PTA’s Farmer’s Market “Shopping and Restaurant Night” fundraiser Tuesday.