BHCourier 03-20-15E-edition by BH Courier Acquisition LLC

Celebrate Nowruz!

BEVERLY HILLS NUMBER 12

THIS ISSUE

Beverly Hills will be a host town for the Special Olympics World Games. 4

Alfie is a 12-year-old Poodle looking for a new home. 4

The BHHS Robotics team took first place in Saturday’s L.A. Regional FIRST competition. 4

U.S. Holocaust Museum holds L.A. Dinner – “What You Do Matters.” 5

Beverly Hills held its final “Healthy Lunch & Learn” seminar. 17 •Real Estate 10 •Special Sections 15-17 •Sports 30

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Julian Gold Will Take Reins As The New Mayor Of Beverly Hills By Victoria Talbot Mayor Lili Bosse will be handing the reigns over to Vice Mayor Julian Gold next week in a supersecret surprise-filled evening for Gold’s installation as mayor. The event is sure to reveal a style all his own. Mused Gold: “Life is not a straight line. If you had told me one of my life’s goals would be to become mayor of Beverly Hills at age 66, I would say you have to be kidding,” he joked. “But I am so honored! It’s really exciting.” Keeping mum about the details, he did say that his parents, daughter and family members from Illinois would be in attendance. Dr. Gold is married to Michele

Julian Gold will be installed as Mayor of Beverly Hills Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Gold, CRNA, PhD. Their daughter, Rebecca, attended Beverly Hills schools while Gold was serving as commissioner for Traffic and Parking and Parks and Recreation. In addition to his service to the City, (see ‘JULIAN GOLD’ page 7)

Francis-Orr Helps Write The History Of Beverly Hills This year, The Courier celebrates 50 years in the community. Throughout the year, we will honor the legacy of excellence in Beverly Hills’ heritage businesses that have called the City their home since 1965 or earlier. By Matt Lopez When you’ve owned a stationary store for more than half a century, you become an expert in a little more than just pens and paper. Francis-Orr manager Greg Guss fancies himself as someone who can dole out some pretty valuable relationship advice as well. “Sit down and write a girl a letter,” Guss told The Courier in his office at the store’s 320 N. Camden Dr. location. “In today’s digital world, a nicely-written letter or note stands out now more than ever. Trust me, it works.” His forte, of course, is still stationary.

Beverly Hills Elder: Jeanne Uzelac, Former Model, GI Girl Part 28 in a series on Beverly Hills residents who have

Editorial from Rabbi Pressman AND MORE

CLASSIFIEDS • • • • •

Announcements Real Estate Rentals Sales and More

City Watch

Beverly Hills 2014 Employee Salary & Benefits Survey By Matt Lopez This week, The Courier once again releases its annual comprehensive chart of City of Beverly Hills employee salary, pay and benefits, received this week after a California Public Records Act demand. This year’s chart is based on 2014 financial data and will be released in two parts, with the first of the two in this week’s edition of The Courier. The chart provides financial information on 1,013 full-time and part-time public employees of the City. The two-part chart will show that the City spent more than $79 million on total pay for employees (that includes salary, overtime, leave payoffs and car allowances), more than $22 million on retirement pay and more than $10 million

By Laura Coleman Jeanne Uzelac, 89, still recalls idyllic Beverly Hills in its infancy when sunflowers “six-feet solid” lined Robertson Boulevard and she would run through the yellow blooms as a child playing with her young friends. “The air–I can see those blue skies,” she reminisced recently from her Beverly Hills home overlooking the canyon. “Oh, you’d run and feel like you’d get oxygen.” “I’d run everywhere,” she added, noting that one time, while running through the halls of Horace Mann as a student, the princi-

Jeanne Uzelac

pal had scolded her for it. Jeanne originally moved into the City at two-years-old, daughter to one of the town’s earliest realtors. She said her father sold mostly acreage from his one-room real (see ‘JEANNE UZELAC’ page 7)

on health, vision and dental. Another $320,000 went into various employee Retirement Health Savings (RHS) plans. It all adds up to a total cost of more than $112 million. Employee salaries and benefits are matters of public record under California statutes and multiple court decisions. The Courier requested date of hire, along with names and titles, but the chart the City returned did not include the date of hire for its employees. Next week, The Courier prints part two, along with a list of how City employee pay compares to other similar cities. On page 17 is a glossary of terms with their explanations. The chart begins on page 18.

Steve Kessler Tapped As New BHUSD Superintendent By Laura Coleman Come July 1, Beverly Hills Unified School District's longest serving employee, Horace Mann Principal Steve Kessler, is poised to assume the position of Superintendent. The Board of Education unanimously made the decision to tap the veteran (and beloved) administrator who joined the district in 1976 in a closed session discussion that carried over into Wednesday morning. “The board thought we needed to bring in someone

grown with the Centennial City.

The Polo Bar Is Ralph Lauren’s First Restaurant In Manhattan, His Third Dining Room Worldwide, And New Yorkers Can’t Stop Talking About It. A Beautiful Oasis For Good Food.

March 20, 2015

City paid more than $112 million to employees last year

(see ‘FRANCIS-ORR’ page 30)

George Christy, Page 6

SINCE 1965

Celebrity Photo Agency/Scott Downie

VOLUME: L

with a proven track record [who] understands the community,” board President Howard Goldstein said. "It will allow us to stabilize the district.” Kessler, who was named an Apple Award winner last year, originally joined the Beverly Hills public school system in 1958 as a kindergartner at El Rodeo. The decision comes one week after Superintendent Gary Woods informed the (see ‘STEVE KESSLER’ page 17)

H OT G I R L S O N T H E TOWN — Charlize Theron and Pamela Anderson were joined by the film’s star Sean Penn on the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of The Gunman presented by Open Road Films at Premiere House at Regal Cinemas, LA Live Stadium 14. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.

BEVERLY HILLS

Page 2 | March 20, 2015

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NOTICE OF COMMISSION OPENINGS: TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION – deadline to apply April 10, 2015 The Beverly Hills City Council is seeking qualified residents to fill two positions on the Traffic and Parking Commission. For more information on these Commission positions, please visit the City’s website at www.beverlyhills.org or call the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 285-2400. BYRON POPE, MMC City Clerk

BEVERLY HILLS

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BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | MARCH 20, 2015 Page 4

HERE!

B E V E R LY H I L L S M A I N N E W S

Metro Talks Future Work At Sparsely-Attended Meeting

CHEER CHAMPS–Beverly Hills competitive Cheerleading Junior Varsity Team continues undefeated for the season. Last week the team participated in the Aloha Spirit Championship at the USC Galen Center, winning first place and being named Division Champions with the highest score in the Youth Prep Level 1 Division. Front row (from left): Ivy Bucksbaum, Madison Mayo, Sarah Hoorfar, Ryan Smith, Jasmine Singer, Alabama Barker, Rachel Rodier, Sophia Omidi and Jenna Alkhaled. Middle row (from left): Kasey Chong, Juliet Vronay and Ariela Rugendorf. Top row (from left): Jenna Alkhaled, Amy Geller, Alexa Wachtel, Lily Weisskopf, Jasmine Vahabzadeh, Anna Michael, Leah Uslan, Chloe Sooferian, Mackenzie Bass, Charlotte Greene, Gabriella Pahed, and Camille Kaiserman.

Beverly Hills ‘Cat Lady’ Rousted By Victoria Talbot The late-night incident began when “the Feral Cat Lady,” Katherine Varjian, was feeding cats in a Beverly Hills alleyway in the 100-block north of Wilshire, between Oakhurst and Palm, just as she has for about a decade. Responding to a complaint, the Beverly Hills Police Department sent a patrol officer to the site. According to Varjian, the officer was un-

aware of the Feral Cat Ordinance that allows permitted applicants access to feeding the cats as part of a program for Trap-Neuter-and Return (TNR). Varjian used her cell phone to call a friend at a home nearby. The elderly Varjian asked her to “Please come out,” said the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous out of concern for retaliation by the BHPD. “The officer said, ‘You’re not allowed to

feed cats in Beverly Hills.’ I corrected the officer.” The resident, a civically minded citizen, was prominent in the effort to create the Feral Cat Ordinance several years ago. A former city commissioner, she asked to speak to the patrol officer’s superior, Sgt. Giovanni Trejo. “’It’s against the law to feed feral cats in alleys unless you are a registered TNR,’ he told me.” (see ‘CAT LADY’ page 14)

By Matt Lopez Metro unveiled its future La Cienega Station construction plans Monday at a sparsely-attended meeting at the La Cienega Community Center. Discussion centered around the Purple Line Extension’s first stop into Beverly Hills, at the La Cienega Station, and what work options were available. The meeting was run by Cordoba Corp., the City’s paid consultant which is in charge of monitoring Metro’s work. Of the about 24 people in attendance, only half were residents, with the other half being various Metro and City staffers. Phase 1 of work is scheduled to run from 2015 to 2023, with the next work slated to be decking installation and pile installation. This work includes “cut and cover” work to install decking and support piles. Cut

and cover removes the street pavement, where a trench is dug and a station box is constructed. Metro presented four options for deck Installation and removal: 1.) Full weekend closures of Wilshire Boulevard with work from Friday 8 p.m. to Monday 7 a.m. would take 15 weekends; 2.) Full weekend closures of Wilshire with daytime work hours only would be Saturday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and take 60-66 weekends; 3.) Continuous Wilshire Boulevard closure would take nine weeks and see weekend work, along with weekday work Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 4.) Continous Wilshire Boulevard closure with 24 hour/day work would take just five weeks with non-stop work day and night. There were similar options (see ‘METRO’ page 9)

NEW LUXE RODEO GM—The Luxe Rodeo Drive hotel welcomed hospitality veteran Adam Sydenham as its new general manager. Sydenham has worked at the Four Seasons hotel properties in Moscow, Toronto, London, Seychelles and Beverly Hills. “After years of working for a large corporate chain, I am delighted to make the transition to an intimate boutique hotel,” Sydenham said. Sydenham will serve as the strategic leader and manager of all hotel personnel while overseeing operations for the 88-room hotel.

City Prepares To Support SB277; BHUSD Reduces Vaccination Opt-Out Rate

SPECIAL OLYMPICS — Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse and Vice Mayor Julian Gold joined CEO/ President of LA2015 Special Olympics Organizing Committee Patrick McClenahan and Special Olympian Lucy Meyer on the front steps of City Hall to announce that Beverly Hills has been selected as a host city for 300 Special Olympics athletes from Monaco and Gibraltar for this summer’s games. Beverly Hills will provide hospitality for the athletes and their coaches July 21-24, in and around Beverly Hills, allowing them time to adjust to the time zone and prepare for their competitions in the World Games, which take place in Southern California from July 25-Aug. 2 with more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries and territories participating. Pictured above (from left): Alissa Roston (of the Host Town Committee), Gold, Bosse and Meyer.

MORTORQ–The Beverly High’s Robotics Team, MorTorq Team 1515, which nabbed the #1 place at Saturday’s L.A. Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science Technology) Robotics Competition in alliance with two other teams, is now preparing for next month’s national competion in St. Louis while readying the champion “Robospierre,” the BHHS robot, in anticipation of next weekend’s second competitive regional event in Ventura. This marks the third year in a row that the team will advance to the championship national competition. “Every single team member deserves to be recognized for their outstanding performance, professionalism while representing our district, and for their spirit of collaboration and empathy while helping each other,” said Robotics teacher Conny Santa Cruz. The championships are next month in St. Louis.

By Laura Coleman The City of Beverly Hills edged closer to taking a position on state legislation that intends to prohibit students from not getting vaccinated due to personal beliefs. Following yesterday’s City Council/Legislative/Lobby Liaison Committee meeting, City Councilmembers John Mirisch and Willie Brien directed staff to take “proactive steps” to better inform the Council in anticipation of taking a position to support the proposed legislation. California State Senators Richard Pan and Ben Allen introduced Senate Bill 277 last month to eliminate the exemption from immunization based upon personal beliefs. The legislation is expected to be heard

April 6. State law requires kindergartners to be vaccinated against measles, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, chicken pox, diphtheria and tetanus. However, parents can obtain exemptions based on personal beliefs, religion or medical issues. Brien advocated for the City to take a position in support of scrapping exemptions for both personal beliefs as well as religious, whereas Mirisch questioned constitutionality of taking a stand on the religious exemption, despite concerns that religion exemption could be use as a way for sneaky citizens to wiggle (see ‘VACCINATION’ page 9)

AN ALFIE A DAY–Alfie is a male, 12-yearold, 16-pound, poodle. He was owner-abandoned at a shelter, and due to his age, had little to no prospects for adoption before being taken in by ShelterHopePetShop.org. This non-profit, rescue-only pet store is offering a “Senior To Senior” special of no adoption fees for senior citizens wishing to adopt this sweet dog. Those interested in Alfie may call Shelter Hope at 805-379-3538.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Beverly Hills Weekly Attacks Brian Goldberg’s Family, Goldberg With Threats From Attorney By Laura Coleman

Beverly Hills Board of Education member, Brian David Goldberg, learned on Wednesday that the Beverly Hills Weekly seemed to be preparing a “hit piece” article that would alleged Goldberg had committed tax fraud. In response, Goldberg emailed Weekly Publisher Josh Gross stating, “Any attempt by your publication to disseminate knowingly false information about me will be deemed intentionally malicious defamation, and you and your publication will be held legally accountable. Please conduct yourselves accordingly.” At 4:43:42 p.m., less than two hours after Goldberg sent the email, he received an email from attorney Ronald Richards, purporting to represent the Weekly, reading as follows: “Dear Mr. Goldberg: “Our office represents BH Weekly. As you know, you are a public figure and the burden for defamation is malice. It is a very high burden. “However, since you raised issues related to a possible story, I have advised my client to give you the opportunity to respond to these questions. If you fail to respond to the questions directly, by you, that is story in itself. My client will also construe the failure to respond as a negative admission that the inference that one would draw from future story about you is accurate, and my client has a good faith basis for reporting facts related to you. This would of course be based your blanket refusal to answer questions by not only the City’s local newspaper but by two Beverly Hills residents. If you

refuse to answer the questions, please also be advised that my client will run a story with the questions that you refused to answer. That is newsworthy in of itself. “Please respond to the questions no later than 12:00 p.m. tomorrow. You now have a golden opportunity to clarify what are important issues related to your ability to serve as boardmember and the facts being investigated by BH Weekly. I am sure that your answers to these questions will be responsive, truthful, and will give my client the opportunity to reflect on any potential story in the future.” At 10:31 a.m. yesterday (Thursday) morning, Goldberg received the following email from Richards: “You have an hour and a half to answer the questions or I will advise my client that no answers were received. Please call me with any further questions, comments, or concerns. I will disclose I am also a voter in Beverly Hills and I did vote for you so I have no bias here whatsoever other than I do represent the BH Weekly in responding to your threatening email. We are past that now. The issue is simply will you respond to the local newspaper’s questions or will you be evasive and avoid them. It is your issue, not mine.” The 11 questions to Goldberg, which he was reminded that he had 90 minutes to answer, are the following: 1) In your email sent to Beverly Hills Weekly you indicate that you were "last paid by Casa de la Familia in 2011". Yet in the Beverly Hills Courier article of 3/13 pg 22, you indi-

Brian Goldberg

cate that you have "worked there for 8 years". Explain which statement is correct. Why would you make a conflicting statement to the Courier and/or the Weekly? 2) An address in Santa Ana affiliated with Casa de la Familia was listed on the board agenda as the place from which you were calling in to the 3/17 Board of Education meeting. Why would you list this address on an official board agenda if you don't "work" there? 3) Are you now, or have you ever been, a Director for Casa de la Familia? 4) Does your wife/ex-wife Eleonora Kawka aka Eleonora Goldberg receive any compensation from Casa de la Familia, now or at any time in the past? 5) Do you agree the Form 990 and an IRS tax return are signed under penalty of perjury? 6) You indicate in your email that your judgment from SAE Enterprises was satisfied in full, please submit evidence of this. Isn't it true that (see ‘BRIAN GOLDBERG’ page 9)

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Honors Michael Berenbaum At L.A. Dinner “What You Do Matters” By Laura Coleman On Monday evening, 70 years after the liberation from Nazi Concentration Camps, survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust joined together with hundreds of “witnesses to the witnesses” in Beverly Hills for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s 2015 L.A. dinner: “What You Do Matters,” held at The Beverly Hilton. In the facing of rising antisemitism, Holocaust-deniers and the dwindling numbers of the eye-witness generation, the museum’s mission to preserve the evidence and make a digitized record of everything freely accessible on the Internet is crucial to ensure that the world “never forget” the murder of 6 million people. To that end, the museum has undertaken a $540 million campaign to preserve as much evidence as possible so that the seeds of denial shall not germinate. “The museum is the most important reminder,” said the evening’s honoree, Michael Berenbaum, who from 1988 to 1993 oversaw the creation of the memorial museum in

Michael Berenbaum, Hal Holbrook, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Gary Sinise

Washington D.C. Dinner Co-Chairs Sheryl and Ken Pressberg emphasized that education is key to understanding how people could be complacent to the Jewish genocide that was happening around them; and by preserving the memories, documented history is able to teach understanding. “We now understand the human capacity for evil and the capacity for indifference in the face of evil,” informed actor/humanitarian Gary Sinise, a guest speaker for the evening, whose work on behalf of the military community earned

him the Presidential Citizens Medal. “What you do as individuals matters,” stated featured speaker Doris Kearns Goodwin, a presidential historian. Goodwin illustrated the power of community with the example of the U.S. capacity to eventually build a cargo ship a day during World War II under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who understood the essential concept of collectivity. “We can deepen our commitment to our collective humanity....and be witnesses to the witnesses,” Berenbaum said.

BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | MARCH 20, 2015 Page 5

BAHOA Success: PLUM Approves Ordinance to Curb Mansionization By Victoria Talbot The city of Los Angeles Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee passed an Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) Tuesday that will temporarily suspend the massive excavations that have plagued Bel-Air residents in recent years. The ICO affects 15 neighborhoods with a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) to protect sensitive neighborhoods from loopholes in the City’s Baseline Mansionization Ordinance. The ICO says: “no building permit shall issue for a Project in Bel-Air on a hillside area lot where the exempted grading … exceeds 6,000 cubic yards.” The limit would allow for over 12,000 square feet in basement area, but, at a meeting of the Bel-Air Homeowners Alliance Monday, President/CEO Fred Rosen pointed out that there are currently over 70 projects under construction of 20,000 sq. ft. or more in the area. A 2011 Baseline Hillside Ordinance restricts height but not excavation, resulting in the onerous truck traffic that will

be curtailed by this ordinance as developers max out the buildable area to increase square footage and home prices. The ICO will be in force for 45 days awaiting a L.A. City Council extension. They can, and likely will, extend it for 22 months while the current Baseline Mansionization and Hillside Ordinances are reviewed to fix loopholes. The ICO has gained widespread support from homeowners throughout the 15 neighborhoods. At the BAHOA meeting, Rosen said he believes that structures exceeding 20,000 square feet should be subject to CEQA regulations as are commercial properties. The meeting, held at the Bel-Air Country Club, introduced the organization to potential new members and was very well attended by frustrated residents. Rosen touted the organization’s successes since its inception last year. BAHOA has mapped development in the area, monitored haul routes and permit violations and achieved recognition with (see ‘MANSIONIZATION’ page 14)

Commissioner Javier Nunez Recommended For LADBS Reappointment By Victoria Talbot Commissioner Javier Nunez has been recommended for reappointment by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti to the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners and Wednesday, the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee approved this with a positive recommendation to the L.A. City Council. The reappointment is expected to appear on the March 31 council agenda. In 2006, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa removed Nunez from the Los Angeles Building and Safety Commission for allegedly getting special approvals for building permits. The controversy included nine other commissioners, concurrent and former, alleged to have received special treatment in the building process. Originally appointed by Mayor James Hahn, Villaraigosa’s office said it was reviewing the previous appointments; however a report in the L.A. Times quoted an unnamed City official that any chance Nunez had “of being retained dissipated after that.” “The commissioners' projects were referred to the department's little-known ‘case management unit,’ which assigns an expediter to selected cases. The expediter then calls

a meeting of all involved city departments to work out any difficulties,” said the LA Times article. Nunez sought special treatment for a church project in Arleta. He sits on the board of Victory Outreach Ministries of San Fernando Valley and was listed in the building records as the contact person for the church. Gabriel Linares, the department's case manager, invited representatives of seven City departments to meetings to push through the project, according to the Times. Documents that are public record from May 8, 2014 list the following as his qualifications to serve: “Javier Nunez was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He attended O’Melveny Elementary School, San Fernando Middle School, San Fernando High School, and Los Angeles Mission College before transferring to Victory Education Training Institute. He has 36 years’ experience in the construction industry and as president of the Laborers Local 300 in Los Angeles. He is a minister and the board chair of Victory Outreach Ministries of The San Fernando Valley; the board chair of Communities in Schools, which helps at-risk youth in the (see ‘JAVIER NUNEZ’ page 14)

GEORGE CHRISTY

George Christy N

ew Yorkers can’t stop talking about Ralph Lauren opening his first restaurant, The Polo Bar, in Manhattan, his third dining room worldwide.

L in Chicago. Opened 1999, on East Chicago Avenue.

pen since December, The Polo Bar is located alongside Ralph’s flagship store, fronting 55th Street across from the St. Regis Hotel, once owned by Mr. Vincent Astor, who never refused a tipple.

he posh dining room is an oasis for good food prepared with excellent ingredients from a down-to-earth menu. Where catch-up New Yorkers order Ralph’s favorite zesty corned beef sandwich, house-brined, with melted Swiss cheese and mustard on rye with a side of cole slaw ($22). Also Chesapeake Bay crab cakes, and the best steaks, when available, from Ralph’s 17,000-acre Colorado ranch.

Unless you’re in a deli,

corned beef is a dish not around the corner, and Ralph addresses his childhood passion, and serves it “for lunch and dinner.” In its previous life, The Polo Bar was La Cote Basque under the wing of grand seigneur Henri Soule (more about this later).

Only

last week, The New York Times’ astute social chronicler Guy Trebay profiled the comings and goings of the Who and the Who sipping and supping amid the clubby equestrian art and glowing trophies.

“O

n a banquette beneath an oil painting depicting the racehorses Man o’ War and Citation,” observed Guy, “Rihanna and Naomi Campbell sit like sleek and impossibly beautiful fillies after a sudden storm.”

avoring a Gruyere popover, CAA’s Bryan Lourd is with client Chris Hemsworth, who’s “practicing his incognito, which is what one does when the prize view at a prize-view table happens to be you.”

Page 6 | March 20, 2015

Courtesy Ralph Lauren

aris. Opened 2000, on the Left Bank along the Boulevard Saint-Germain, where the all-American burger with fries became the overnight draw.

The Numero Uno burger with fries at The Polo Bar, the perfectly appointed new dining room from Ralph Lauren (as seen in these images). His third restaurant worldwide after Paris and Chicago.

Guy

finds Ralph’s contains the “dazzle and excitement of a celebrity petting zoo.” While Estee Lauder heiress Aerin Lauder sees “an unusually ‘crossgenerational’ array of New Yorkers.”

urnished mahogany, caramel leather, gleaming brass and crystal, candlelight and sexy table lamps provide a warm ambiance. Prompting chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernadin, globally critiqued as one the finest French restaurants, to assess The Polo Bar’s lighting as the best he’s seen anywhere in a dining room.

For quite a while we’ve

been haranguing about chefs indulging in silly “overcreativity,” and we’ve now discovered that Ralph concurs. Truth is we don’t give a fig about the “foraging” cuisine of Denmark or the oddball Asian dishes that crop up on show-offy menus. Eric Ripert adds high praise for The Polo Bar’s classic comfort food from chef Sepp Stoner. To boot, Ralph imports his own coffee.

“I

’m about longevity,” Ralph tells the press. “I’m about timeless. I don’t want to be the hot restaurant. I want to be the restaurant you want to go to twice a week.”

Telephone:

212-207-

5562.

e met Henri Soule, the grand seigneur of French restaurants, during our youthful New York days. He was

famous for launching his luxurious Le Pavilion during the 1939 World’s Fair, later bringing the acclaimed room to East 57th Street and Park Avenue, frequented by Cole Porter and Marlene Dietrich for their Beluga caviar and Louis Roederer rosé champagne trysts.

oule later opened La Cote Basque at 1 East 55th Street, with Truman Capote following with his “swans” – Gloria Vanderbilt, Carole Matthau, CZ Guest, Babe Paley – who, in time, were prominently featured in his Esquire short story La Cote Basque 1965. They groused over some of his revelations, as did Soule.

ould have been better for the “swans” to have shrugged it off, and joked. “Laughter,” as the Reader’s Digest reminded us long ago, “is the best medicine.”

ruman was exiled from their inner circle, where he entertained them with nonstop gossip and killer wit, while Soule continued to serve Truman’s favorite Souffle Furstenberg, popular with Austria’s nobility. Cheese and spinach and a softly poached egg plopped in the souffle’s center and spilling its golden river throughout the batter.

and wine king of America (James Beard came later), the portly Soule introduced the newly rich and beautiful to the refinements of France’s elegant cuisine and culture. Legend has his tragic demise occurring in the restaurant men’s w a s h r o o m . Suffering a stroke, he collapsed and was found the next morning by the clean-up crew.

t was during our roving editor years with Town & Country magazine when Soule guided us on the intricacies of the yeas and nays with tasting caviar. Considered the food

Online at www.bhcourier.com/category/george-christy

BEVERLY HILLS

JEANNE UZELAC (Continued from page 1)

estate office on Robertson just north of Pico. Back then, the world was a much safer place in certain respects where people left keys in cars and front doors unlocked. She recalled how the town was markedly devoid of traffic, to the point where they played “kick the can” on the streets. “On Beverly Drive we could go back and forth 10 times across the street with no cars,” she said. “It was so great.” A little market on Robertson offered candy for a penny and horses still used the bridle path. She’d buy hairpins, makeup and candy at the Woolworth's; ice skate on the Beverly Drive rink during the winter; and plop down at the Blum’s counter for chocolate cake and sandwiches. When not in school or at home, she often roller skated to visit the local gramophone shop or the Beverly Drive arcade “with Spanish tiles a big fountain and shops inside” where upstairs a lady streaked hair. As a Beverly Hills High School freshman, Jeanne recalled writing an essay about what made America great and winning an award for it. “It was a super place to learn,” she said. “It had been like a country club.” At 16, Jeanne’s mom bought her a silver fox coat for $100. It was her first fur and back then it was a really big deal, she said. Not long after, when yellow-white fur coats soon came into style, Jeanne got a job at Van De Kamps on the corner of Wilshire and Doheny selling people baked goods in order to pay for her second fur coat. “It was fun. Movie stars would come in–Clark Gable, Maureen O’Sullivan, Ann Sheridan,” she recalled. “They had this big truck they’d drive around on the streets. When they’d honk its horn, people would run out and get jelly donuts.” She recalled her mother taking her to a designer dress store one time on Beverly Drive to find something for a high school dance. The shop girls would bring the clothes you selected while you sat down. To this day, Jeanne remembers the black crepe dress with a sash covered with a big bunch of orchids. “It’d probably cost a couple thousand today,” she said, “but its $29 or $30 price tag was expensive then.” A natural blonde-haired beauty with an enviable figure, Jeanne started modeling in high school, primarily for wholesale shops and in hair shows. The summer before college, she went to see Vogue photographer Richard Avedon who told her: “Lose 10 pounds and then come back to see me.” She didn’t lose those 10 pounds but instead, she en-

rolled at the University of Southern California and joined the Delta Delta Denta sorority. Since she was an only child, sharing the bathroom with several other young ladies was a definite adjustment. As a college sophomore, she met her first husband, Al Swenson, a marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, while volunteering at the Hollywood Canteen. “You weren’t supposed to go out with them–that was the rule,” she said of the locale that drew actresses like Bette Davis who would go there to serve the servicemen. “Stars would come in, serve food and dance with the guys.” Years before the night she agreed to a date with a GI at the Canteen (a first, she said), while a BHHS junior, Jeanne had joined the Bev-Debs, which she described as a club started by a Beverly grad in her early 20s. Once a week, the club would meet in the founder’s home, just north of Sunset, and often go over to the canteen. “We shouldn’t have been going there,” she admitted of her high-school extracurricular pastime, which went on into college when she would go just with friends.” Within a few months of dating, Al and Jeanne were engaged to be married. “I quit school because I was going to get married,” she recalled, noting that it was typical of the time. “You were going to be a housewife and didn’t think about a career. You went to school, got married and had a kid.” Two weeks after the wedding, Jeanne said she got a call to enter the “Miss California” competition. Coincidentally, she also got a call to audition for the movie Cover Girl. However, because she was now married, and had gotten pregnant with her first child, Cheryl, on her honeymoon, she closed the door on beauty pageants and modeling forever. Five years later, Jeanne divorced her husband and returned to USC to become a school teacher, initially teaching at Coldwater Canyon Elementary School. While back in school, she met her second husband, Mark, at the Hollywood Palladium and they went on to have two sons, Mark Jr. and Vince. Together they opened Dependable Mortgage Company, which operated next to the Fine Arts Theatre for 35 years until Mark’s death 15 years ago. Today, Jeanne’s life is particularly serene. Her constant companion is her prize-winning Maltese “Cash” (Jeanne bred maltese show dogs for 10 years) and her beautiful memories of the City’s bygone era. “Back then it was the most ultimate of ultimate of small towns,” she said. “Beverly Hills was truly fantastic with the movie stars and the clean air–just gorgeous!”

JULIAN GOLD (Continued from page 1)

Gold is co-chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Cedars-Sinai and co-managing partner of General Anesthesia Specialists Partnership Medical Group. He is a professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at the UCLA School of Medicine and USC Keck School of Medicine. In the coming year, Gold expects some challenges, including the ongoing search for a city manager. “It may be (Interim City Manager) Mahdi Aluzri; if not, we have to get that person installed and up to speed with a lot of energy and effort on the City Council’s part.” Pending projects are also slated to begin including Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction and Metro’s Purple Line Extension and the La Cienega Subway Station. The two projects will impact traffic on Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards at the east entrance to the City. The Metro project will be carefully scrutinized to minimize impacts on businesses and residents. In this first phase of construction, Metro is realigning underground utilities in anticipation of the station and subway tunnel phase. On the West side, the 9900 Building and the new Waldorf Astoria are significant as well. Besides construction, Gold is concerned about the future

of the City’s water supply. For Beverly Hills, water has been the fulcrum for independence. The Water Master Plan will build out the City’s water storage and capacity for the future. Another vision for the future of the City’s infrastructure is bringing fiber optic cable to residences, which Gold wishes to advance this year. Beyond infrastructure, Gold is looking ahead. Gold worked very hard with Councilmember Nancy Krasne toward commission restructuring, a plan that will include the education of commissioners and a predictable schedule of shifting chairs and renewing commission assignments. Now, the new structure is to be implemented. “I feel comfortable with that.” “We will begin to have the Joint Powers Agreement conversation,” he said. “In June of 2016 it expires.” The JPA is an agreement between the City and Beverly Hills Unified School District that gives the City use of school resources to run after school programs and use facilities in exchange for a fee of $10 million per year. Gold is not comfortable with the infrequency of liaison meetings between the City and the school board. “One thing I am going to do with the liaison, I propose we meet monthly with two members of the school board

March 20, 2015 | Page 7 and two members of the City Council and their staff, with a set agenda.” Both the school board and the City will set the agenda. In this context, he hopes they can talk about the JPA, school security and “things that we can do to support BHUSD,” he said. “Whatever issues are on the agenda this is more coordinated. This is an opportunity to make things better.” Gold has been invited to join the Council of Mayors on a trip to China, which will culminate with a meet-up with Conference and Visitors Bureau CEO Julie Wagner at a tourism mission in Shanghai. The trip would take place at the end of May or beginning of June, said Gold. One of the Vice Mayor’s super-secret surprises will include “new ways to involve the public. Lili did it with her walks. I have a different strategy,” he said with grin. “The concept is really important: public engagement.” “We’ve had a very nice year with Mayor Bosse. She has a style all her own,” said Gold. “It was a fun year when we celebrated our City’s Centennial; everybody feels good about our City. Her energy makes people feel good!” Now, with so many projects beginning, Gold will be rolling up his sleeves.

TO SEE AND BE SEEN

BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | MARCH 20, 2015 Page 8

T H E FA S H I O N O F B E V E R LY H I L L S

POWERFUL WOMEN –The Women Presidents’ Organization held its inaugural WPO summit at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard hotel, bringing together more than 50 members and Los Angeles Magazine editors to explore evolving changes in Southern California. Worldwide, there are 120 WPO Chapters with around 1,800 members. The average WPO member runs a $16 million business with 99 employees. Pictured standing (from left): Dulari Amin, Inna Tuler, Jill Albert, Joy Fehily, Carole Savoie, Sheryl Rooker, Linda Kang, Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, Hilary Kaye, Ronit Molko, Sofia Riley, Cheryl Calhoun, Jackie Keller, Lindsay Shields, Robin Shaw, Becky Blair, Debra Valle, Judy Kastner, Blayne Cutler (partially obscured), Barbara Bouza, Jill De Forest, Vicki Rapaport, and Kathy McCune; seated (from left): Melissa Partridge, Frances Moreno Renee Fraser, Nora Plesent, Stacy Phillips, Vicki Unger, Cathy Kirkpatrick, Nilou Ghodsi, Cindy Gray and Laurie Resnick. Photo by Orly Halevy YEAR OF THE RAM–The Peninsula ‘PRETTY IN PINK’–Get In Touch Foundation’s 2nd “Pretty in Pink” Beverly Hills welcomed the Year of luncheon was held at the Four The Ram with its annual Chinese Seasons on Doheny Drive. From New Year celebration. Guests, left were honorees Samantha including Stuart and Louise Harris (Extra, Dancing With The Korshak, left, pictured with Stars), Jason Katims (Parenthood), Managing Director Offer and philanthropist Beverly Cohen; emcee David Walton; and honoree Nissenbaum, were entertained by a Jessica Queller (Gilmore Girls). traditional dragon dance, aqua-gymGet In Touch Foundation (www.getnastics performed in a clear bubble intouchfoundation.org) provides floating atop the hotel’s rooftop pool breast health initiatives to educate and a classical Chinese lute perpeople of all ages how to "get in formance. The event raised donatouch" with their bodies in the crutions for 16 surgeries for nonprofit sade against breast cancer. Photo by Maxine Picard organization Operation Smile.

BEVERLY HILLS

VACCINATION (Continued from page 4)

around the bill’s intent. “The overwhelming number of people are going to take the path of least resistance, which means they’re going to get vaccinated,” Brien said. B e ve r l y H i l l s U n i f i e d School District Student Services Director Chris Hertz said over the past year the number of students opting out of getting vaccinated has dropped significantly to roughly two percent district-wide. Hertz said reasons for that drop are most likely related to the Department of Public Health having recently established a procedure that a health practitioner must sign the optout form, which makes it just as “easy” to get a vaccination as it does to go to the doctor’s office to get the form signed. In addition, Hertz said the district does not provide a link to the opt-out form online in order to

METRO (Continued from page 4)

for pile installation work along Wilshire. Pile installation seven days per week until midnight would take six months on each side of Wilshire. Another option was seven days per week until 8 p.m., taking nine months to complete each side of Wilshire and a third option was seven days per week until 4 p.m., which would take 12 months. In each case, work

March 20, 2015 | Page 9 make it as difficult as possible. “We are sending a message to the community that we support the health code...and that is that children should be vaccinated,” he said. “The thing that would be really concerning is private schools have extremely high numbers of kids that are not being immunized; that’s true in Beverly Hills and in the adjacent cities.” Beverly Hills Health and Safety Commission Chair Myra Lurie said over the past two years the trend toward opting out has “really shot up” in highly educated and affluent communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the associative link between vaccination and autism is not conclusive. “Under the ways California laws are written, ignoring medical science is allowed,” Hertz said. would start at 7 a.m. “We need to know what will and won’t work for everyone,” said David Niemerow of Cordoba Corp. “Your input is important here.” The few residents in attendance mainly voiced concerns about overnight construction work. No decisions will be made on any work until future meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for March 26 from noon-1:30 p.m. at the La Cienega Community Center.

BRIAN GOLDBERG (Continued from page 4)

this judgment was satisfied by a related lawsuit pertaining to a conflict of interest ruling involving a previous attorney who represented you? Did this attorney's liability insurance actually satisfy the SAE judgment? Did you personally make any cash payments and/or garnishments to satisfy the SAE enterprises judgment? Please explain in detail. 7) Did you file for bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying the SAE judgment? Please explain. 8) Did you divorce your wife/ex-wife Eleonora Kawka aka Eleonora Goldberg in an attempt to shield her significant income at Amgen from the SAE judgment? Have you since remarried? 9) Explain the circumstances under which you left your home at 462 S La Peer Drive? Was it subject to a foreclosure? 10) Were you fined by the FPPC (Fair Political Practices Commission) for errors and omissions related to your 2007 Board of Education campaign? Please explain. 11) Did you receive any compensation as a "Beverly Hills College Admissions Consultant"? Do you see an inher-

ent conflict of interest for sitting a Beverly Hills Board of Education member to hold such a position for profit? Goldberg, who cited to The Courier the Weekly’s inaccurate reporting of other matters, emailed his answers to every question directly to The Courier with permission to publish. “I trust The Courier to report the facts and verify the facts,” Goldberg said. “I don’t trust the Weekly as its ulterior motive has been very clear–to defame me and promote Steven Fenton and Carter’s Paysinger’s agenda which is to elect Carter to the school board and win Carter’s lawsuit against the district.” Richards’ assertion that the Weekly would interpret Goldberg not responding as a “negative admission” is particularly troubling coming from a publication that has a consistent pattern of making reporting making mistakes. For example, the Weekly’s most recent cover story published yesterday, “Board of Education Shakeup,” incorrectly reports the vote on Goldberg’s motion to have Boardmember Lisa Korbatov serve as vice president as 1-4. In fact, the vote was 1-3-1, with Goldberg voting yes and Korbatov abstaining. Just before yesterday’s

noon deadline, Goldberg emailed Richards the following: “You have asked many questions which are obviously designed to embarrass me personally and involve my family in matters with which they have no personal involvement. None of the others you ask about are “public persons” under the law and are entitled to their privacy. Regarding matters of public record, such as the Form 990 filed by Casa de la Familia, those matters are open to the Beverly Hills Weekly to examine. Should the Beverly Hills Weekly fail to examine those public documents and report accurately what they contain, that will be evidence of intentional disregard for the truth. “As for the factual questions you ask, and the implicit threats you make, I will respond promptly through counsel. However, you have given me insufficient time to respond. Should the Beverly Hills Weekly proceed in the manner you threaten, especially dragging these other people into this matter to present them in a false light, I believe that alone demonstrates ‘malice’ sufficient to support an action for defamation against both the Beverly Hills Weekly and its employees.”

BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | MARCH 20, 2015 Page 10

B E V E R LY H I L L S R E A L E S TAT E

The Agency Report Shows The Beverly Hills’ Luxury Home Market Has Reached Stability

City Of Los Angeles Denies Oakhurst Drive Appeal

By Victoria Talbot Last year the luxury home market recovery reached a point of stability, according to the annual report by The Agency, the trendy Beverly Hills real estate partnership started by Mauricio Umansky and Billy Rose. That’s good news for property owners. Following years of tough going, the housing market appears to be making a solid comeback, evidenced by three solid years of growth following the 2007-2009 housing recession. In those years, the luxury housing market saw a decline of 20-percent in value that has been inching back up to par. Using the Price Per Square Foot (PPSF) valuation, LA’s market recorded an average of $885/SF, up 10.2-percent over 2013. PPSF is up 26.9-percent over the past five years and, says the annual study, is at its highest level in a decade. In the last five years for the $1 to $3 million single family home segment, sale prices have remained steady at about $1.65 million and $719/SF in 2014, up 7.7

By Victoria Talbot After the City of Beverly Hills gave away its jurisdictional rights to a property that is partially in Los Angeles but fronts on three sides in Beverly Hills last month, the city of L.A. denied an appeal by resident Steve Meyer to stop the development at 332-336 N. Oakhurst Dr. this week. Meyer filed his appeal when the City Council, minus Mayor Lili Bosse (who was absent on bereavement), in a special session voted 2-2, Councilmembers Willie Brien and Nancy Krasne voting nay, on an appeal that could have saved the historic buildings there. The City of Beverly Hills abdicated its own request to file an EIR, “that is clearly warranted in this case as historic resources are significantly impacted by the proposed project . . . These buildings contribute to a potential historic district.” In addition, the developers have treated the tenants very badly, according to the lengthy history of complaints and violations used to remove them from the premises, including boarding up the building with renters still living inside. Beverly Hills Planning Commission will see the project again, to approve the portion of the 31-unit building that will be in Beverly Hills. Having relinquished any control over the matter belongs to Los Angeles. The towering new “apartment” building will interrupt the neighborhood character significantly. Instead of the rich multi-family Period Revival architecture by L.A.’s first female architect, Edith Mortensen Northman, the proposed project will be another building without the historic charm, green lawns and mature landscaping. Both L.A. and Beverly Hills dropped the ball.

-percent over last year with a reported 435 units sold. In the $3 to $5 million range, sales have increased “substantially” with PPSF at $888 in 2014. This is where the Agency sees the most opportunity for value enhancement. Transactions during 2014 for homes over $5 million in 2014, experienced an increase of 23.7percent. That is up 140-percent from four years ago. The PPSF average in 2014 was $1,403/SF. The condominium market has strengthened as well, the best plan for entering the housing market as a first-time buyer or as an investment or a home choice on retirement. The demand for condominiums, especially in the luxury class, has outpaced production. “In Q3-14 a condo residence at Montage Beverly Hills traded in excess of $2,900/SF, the highestever recorded condo sale in Los Angeles County,” said the report. The lack of inventory has driven prices, with sales volumes nearly tripling since 2010 for the $1 to $3 million segment.

The luxury condominium is in great demand, reflecting development trends in Beverly Hills with the Richard Meier building going up at 9900 Wilshire Blvd. “The market is demanding higher caliber product in nothing less than prime locations, and the pipeline is bursting with projects.” Prices for the single-family residences in L.A.’s prime market averaged out to $2.7 million in Q4-14 or $945/SF and a yearover-year (YoY) 17.1-percent increase. The median sale price topped off at $1.850 million with a YoY increase of 5.7-percent. For Q4-14: -In Beverly Hills, there were 34 sales with an average price of $7.166 million at PPSF $1,560. This report was compiled by Morgan Ball, associate director of Research and Development, and analyst Cameron Selmer. For more information, check out The Agency Report. The Agency’s corporate headquarters is located at 331 Foothill Rd. (Suite 100) in Beverly Hills or inquire at info@theagencyRE. com.

ARTS & E N T E RTA I N M E N T

LACMA And The Farhang Foundation Celebrate The Iranian New Year And First Day Of Spring

Carol Fragen, Jewish Family Services (JFS) board president, Lucie Arnaz, and Maureen Forman, JFS executive director

Lucie Arnaz Screens Doc For Jewish Family Services, Joins ‘One Night Only’ Having made a permanent mark on Desert entertainment years ago with Michael Childers’ “One Night Performances,” Jewish Family Services of the Desert (JFS) has branched out into providing more entertainment-based events such as the recent special event Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie. This is not

Frances Allen’s Desert Roundup your average screening of camcorder or cell-home photographs. Beverly Hills’ native daughter Lucie Arnaz won an Emmy as executive producer of the film that is emotional in spots, hilarious in others, all while providing an honest glimpse of her world-famous parents. Lucie and her husband,

BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | MARCH 20, 2015 Page 11

actor Laurence Luckinbill, recently moved to Palm Springs and held a special screening in support of JFS which, for more than 30 years, has provided services throughout the Coachella Valley to those in need, regardless of religion, age, income, ethnicity or life style. The Lucie Arnaz-Michael Chiders connection continues in April when Arnaz becomes one of the cast members of the Childers-produced “One Night Only,” a live, on-stage performance with each cast member contributing one knock-out song to the overall performance. All performers donate time for this one-of-a-kind performance produced by noted photographer-producer Childers, who says this year’s songfest is sub-titled “Back To the ‘60s.” For information about JFS, call 760-325-4088. The McCallum box office may be reached at 760-340-2787.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the nonprofit Farhang Foundation will celebrate Nowruz (“new day”), the Iranian new year and first day of spring from 11 a.m.7 p.m., Sunday, March 22 at the museum, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. “Our Nowruz celebrations, in partnership with LACMA, have become a Southern California tradition. It is an honor for us to share this historic and traditional Iranian celebration with the entire community,” says Hormoz Ameri, Farhang Foundation trustee and chair of the Nowruz Committee. “This spring also marks the 50th anniversary of LACMA, which today is the only American museum that both collects and actively exhibits the full range of Iran’s artistic heritage from the fourth millennium B.C. to the present,” said Dr. Linda Komaroff, LACMA curator of islamic art. Highlights of the day will include: • From 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Director’s Roundtable Garden, there will be storytelling, tiara making, calligraphy and puppet shows. • From noon-4 p.m., Saaz O Dohol (a traditional musical duo playing a drum and pipe) and a troupe of traditional Iranian dancers will ring in the New Year. • The world premiere of VOICE FOR THE ANIMALS— Prominent songwriter and major animal advocate Diane Warren (center) was the recipient of the Voice For The Animals Foundation’s Lily Award at last Saturday’s 15th Anniversary Comedy Gala at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying. The honor was presented by its namesake, Lily Tomlin (left) who is joined by Melya Kaplan, executive director of the foundation, which is devoted to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation, and advocacy. The evening included performances by comics Wendy Liebman, Orny Adams and Brian Kiley. Photo by David Newey

Persian dancers will be part of the celebration.

singer Zohreh Jooya’s multimedia performance, The Sounds Of A Persian Spring, combining music, dance, poetry and theater, will be at 1 p.m. in the Leo S. Bing Theater. Tickets are $20, and may be purchased by calling 323-857-6010 or visiting http://www.lacma.org/event/nowruzcelebration-1. • At 5 p.m., the band KIOSK, pioneers of the underground rock-music scene in Iran, will present a free outdoor concert in the BP Grand Entrance. • From noon-5 p.m., six short films, the top picks from the Farhang Foundation’s Short Film Festival, will be screened in a loop at the Brown Auditorium. • The tented food fair in front of Ray’s will offer a Persian-inspired menu, created

by Patina Group’s chef Rui Wang, throughout the day. Offerings will include kabobs and dips, watermelon, rosewater and other traditional beverages from a Persian juice bar. • A backgammon tournament will be held from 2-5 p.m. on the North Plaza. With the exception of The Sounds of a Persian Spring and LACMA’s art exhibitions, Nowruz events are free and non-ticketed. Visitors are encouraged to experience the first major installation of LACMA’s exhibition of contemporary art of the Middle East, “Islamic Art Now,” featuring works by artists from Iran and the Arab world. Tickets are available at http://tx1.lacma.org/default.asp.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

UCLA DEDICATES NEW CENTER FOR PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH— UCLA recently celebrated the naming of its Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases in honor of Hirshberg, founder of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. The naming was made possible by Hirschberg’s $10 million in gifts to the school. “Agi Hirshberg is making a powerful impact in pancreatic cancer research and her gifts will help create breakthroughs,” said Chancellor Gene Block. Hirshberg first established the foundation in 1997, in memory of her late husband, Ronald S. Hirshberg, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 54. “The innovative research inspired by the foundation has changed the face of pancreatic cancer treatment,” said Dr. O. Joe Hines. As the first beneficiary of the foundation’s giving, UCLA established the Ronald S. Hirshberg Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory in 1998 and the Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research in 2000. Pictured at the naming ceremony, were from left: Hines, Dr. Vay Liang Go, Hirshberg, Dr. Howard Reber and Block. Photo by Reed Hutchinson

BEVERLY HILLS COURIER | MARCH 20, 2015 Page 12

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

OFF TO ETHIOPIA—Beverly Hills-based nonprofit CureCervicalCancer (CCC) held a recent pack-day at the home of Founder/Executive Director Dr. Patricia Gordon, where CCC’s entire inventory is stored in her garage. Volunteers met to pack all the supplies the organization will donate to ground partners in Ethiopia. With the team’s model, one suitcase supplies an entire clinic. Team members include lifetime resident and boardmember Judy Carmel, resident/photojournalist Donna Stellini; and pictured (from left): resident and philanthropist DeeDee Dorskind, Gordon, CCC coordinator Yvonne Nong, volunteer Bradley Neutel , Mamta Singhvi, MD and Jacquelyn Dang and Stephen Morris, CCC coordinators. Additional team members include Dr. Lirona Katzir and Elsa Miramontes, RN.

BH-Based CureCervicalCancer Readying To Take Its ‘One Suitcase Clinics’ To Ethiopia The CureCervicalCancer (CCC) team, led by Dr. Patricia Gordon (MDHarvard/UCLA), Lirona Katzir (MDUCLA) and Mamta Singhvi (MD-UCLA), is packed and set to return to Ethiopia in April. The Beverly Hills-based nonprofit plans to establish four CCC “See and Treat” programs and train 24 local healthcare providers. “Our trainees learn how to properly operate these fully sustainable clinics,” says Gordon. “Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death for women and is considered in epidemic proportions in this area. This disease is pervasive, fatal, and entirely preventable.” Per invitation from the Vice Provost

Eyoel Berhan, the main clinic program will be set up at St. Paul’s Hospital, Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC)—the only medical college in the country owned and financially supported by the leadership of the minister of health. Located in Addis Ababa, the clinic will serve thousands of impoverished urban women hoping to find healthcare in an overpopulated city of more than three million with a wide income gap. In addition to the main clinic at SPHMMC, CCC will also open three satellite clinics in the Addis Ababa region at the Folege Meles Health Center, Kolfe Health Center and Alert Hospital.

Tower Cancer Offers Free ‘Heart To Heart’ Class For Caregivers Coping With Cancer Tower Cancer Research Foundation’s (TCRF) “Heart to Heart” free six-week workshop “designed to help caregivers of cancer patients develop a toolkit for managing the exceptional challenges of being a caregiver,” will begin Monday, March 30 and meet from 5-7 p.m. Mondays in Beverly Hills. The course—designed for anyone caring for a loved one dealing with any form of cancer, regardless of stage—was developed and will be led by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jan Berlin, who was the primary caregiver for his cancerstricken wife. “The goal is to understand and cope with what it means to care for another: the fears and triumphs, the losses and

responsibilities, the opportunities and gifts as well as the journey toward a deep sense of purpose,” says Berlin. Built upon Dr. Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning, the class integrates tools for coping with difficult times, inspirational music and videos, and accounts to bring alive the many options in caregiving for “attunement, connection, advocacy and appreciation.” Participants will learn a variety of skills, including strategies for freeing oneself from guilt and expectations, and selfcare tools, which Berlin says are critically important to sustain one’s energy as a caregiver and also to provide a positive caregiving environment for all con(see ‘CAREGIVERS,’ page 13)

BEVERLY HILLS

CAREGIVERS (Continued from page 12)

cerned.” For the workshop, caregiver is defined as an unpaid individual (spouse, partner, family member, friend, or neighbor) involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks. In a recent Pew Research survey, 36-percent of U.S. adults said they provided care to an adult relative or friend in the past year, up from 27-percent in 2010. A 2009 National Alliance for Caregiving study reports that more than 65 million people in the U.S. provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend. To register for the class, call Nicole at 424-230-7154, or email nicole@towercancer.org.

March 20, 2015 | Page 13

On The Challenges Of Two-Faith Marriages, Pets As Practice For Parenting Q. Dear Dr. Fran, I am engaged to a wonderful woman. She is Catholic and I am Jewish. We were both raised conservatively, meaning without fanaticism. But, we do worship in our respective Temple/Church on the major holidays. Are there any special issues I should be alerted to related to marrying outside of my faith? Adam Z. A. Dear Adam, I have treated many couples in two-faith marriages. As long as there is no fanaticism, the only time when I have seen this become a problem is in the case when there are children and a crisis occurs that tips one partner’s return to their original religion with intense beliefs and practices. Examples of a crisis are a medical scare, for instance, a brush with cancer or a life-and-

Dr. Fran Walfish Answers Your Questions death accident, earthquake, financial wipeout, or some other type of traumatic life-turning event. Sometimes, an experience like this can scare a person into returning to their faith. When the couple has children it can become a deal breaker if, for example, the religious returnee feels strongly that the kids should go to private, religious parochial schools and their partner is opposed. How to spend religious holidays can also become a sticking point . Q. Dear Dr. Fran: Can pets be

MEALS ON WHEELS–A kickoff to an 80-day fundraising campaign for St. Vincent’s Meals on Wheels (STVMOW) was held last Saturday in Montage Beverly Hills in honor of the upcoming 80th birthday of Sr. Alice Marie Quinn, D.C. (second from left) the organization’s founder/executive director. She is flanked by LL Cool J (Todd Smith) and his wife Simone Smith, with Wolfgang Puck on the right. All are longtime supporters of STVMOW, the largest privately funded senior nutrition program in the country. Entertainment was by the cast of Jersey Boys, with a special grace by her fellow nuns from the Daughters of Charity. The event was the start of a spring-into summer campaign that will be punctuated by a host of fundraising events as well as an online, viral campaign to give the birthday girl what she want most: $1 million to support the program she began 38 years ago that feeds L.A.’s homebound and hungry frail elderly. Nearly a million meals are served annually, regardless of clients’ background or ability to pay. Photo by Miriam Geer

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good practice for parenting? Not sure if my husband will chip in and carry his share of the load when we have kids. Can I get a glimpse of how he’ll be with a child by first adopting a pet? Sandy Z. A. Dear Sandy: Adopting a dog or cat before deciding to have children on their own does little to nothing for practicing parenting or evaluating parenting skills. If one person is doing most of the care taking of the animal it is absolutely zero indication that the person will mirror the same behavior with a child. My experience is that there are large numbers of people who are either animal lovers or child/baby lovers. There are a percentage of folks who passionate love both kids and pets. Certainly, if one partner is

always the one who walks the dog while the other sits in front of the TV, that's not a good sign. How a person treats their flesh and blood is most likely going to get priority. A better predictor for how much your partner will step up in parenting is how much partnering your spouse does with you in your marital relationship. Does he or she share in menial household chores and duties including cooking, washing dishes and clothes, paying bills and doing taxes, repairing broken things around the house?

Dr. Fran Walfish is the author of The Self-Aware Parent at www.DrFranWalfish.com. Send questions to franwalfish@gmail.com. Watch her on WE tv Friday at 10 p.m.

Page 14 | March 20, 2015

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OUTLOOK B E V E R LY H I L L S OUTLOOK Children 3-12 can join the “Autry Explorers: Build a LEGO Western Town” event from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, March 22 at The Autry, 4700 Western Heritage Way in Griffith Park. From stagecoach stations to the jail cell, children can find inspiration within the museum galleries then join other LEGO lovers to build a fanciful Western town of the past, present, or future. Presented in partnership with LUGO-LA (LEGO Users Group of Los Angeles) the event is free with museum admission; $10 for adults, $4 for children. For more information, call 323-667-2000 or visit www.theautry.org. • • • • • The Music Center will present the third annual “Downtown Bookfest,” with activities and performances for all ages, from noon-5 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. Focusing exclusively on L.A. authors and publishers, the event will feature the culmination of The Music Center’s Artizen Lab, an online platform giving people the chance to express their creative ideas to inspiring challenges; storytelling by Renaissance Faire Storytellers, readings from Matilda by Kate Burton and by L.A Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez, bookmaking using recycled materials and a pop-up bookshop with 30 L.A.-based presses and publishers. For information, visit http://www.grandparkla.org/boo kfest2015 or call 213-972-8080. • • • • • Jelly Belly artist-in-residence Kristen Cumings brings an L.A. Zoo Grevy’s zebra to life in artwork made entirely of more than 10,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans as guests observe her, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, March 28- 29 at the Zoo, at the junction of the Ventura (134) and

Jelly Belly artwork of a Giant Panda by Kristen Cumings, 2014.

Golden State (5) freeways, 5333 Zoo Dr. Once complete, the 4x5foot mosaic becomes part of the Jelly Belly Endangered Species Bean Art collection, which tours the country for display at museums and through animal conservation programs and includes images of a Bengal tiger, a hawksbill turtle and rockhopper penguins. “Kids Mix” sample packets of Jelly Belly jelly beans will be distributed throughout the weekend, while supplies last. Zoo admission is $19 general admission, $16 for seniors, and $14 for children. For more information, call 323-644-4200 or visit www.lazoo.org. • • • • • Violinist Jennifer Frautschi will make her New West Symphony debut when the orchestra performs Sibelius’ Concerto in D Minor for Violin & Orchestra, Opus 47, at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 29 at Barnum Hall, 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Led by Music Director Marcelo Lehninger, the concert will also feature Holst’s The Planets. Tickets, ranging from $29$102 are available by calling 866-776-8400 (between 9 a.m.5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or by visiting www.newwestsymphony.org. • • • • • The weekly update of events for the Southland area.

CAT LADY (Continued from page 4)

Sgt. Trejo read her the code and spoke to her in a manner she described as “threatening.” “He asked, ‘Do you trap cats?’ and I said ‘no, not anymore’. He said, because “if you did I would have to cite you.’ That was after I told him no. I consider that threatening. She described the sergeant as “looking for an argument.” The tape of the conversation was played for the anonymous resident, the Interim City Manager and numerous others, but not for this reporter. “This started out as a call for service,” said Sgt. Lincoln Hoshino, the BHPD Public Information Officer. “We reviewed the audio and found nothing unprofessional.” An email from Interim City Manager Mahdi Aluzri confirmed the City’s position, that, “nothing rude or inappropriate was said by Sgt. Trejo.” Varjian’s daughter Tina told The Courier “she believes she was followed last night. Someone blinded her with a flashlight in her face and then the cops came. She told me, ‘I thought somebody was going to kill me,’” said Tina. Varjian has a history of being harassed by those who ob-

JAVIER NUNEZ (Continued from page 5)

San Fernando Valley; and a member of the Rotary Club of Greater Van Nuys. He previously served as chair of the Arleta Neighborhood Council and chair of the board of Building and Safety Commissioners.” Victory Outreach International is a Bible Ministry Training school that became recognized as an Institute by the state of California in 2001. It is where he received training and is currently a board member and minister. Nunez is the president of Laborer’s Local 300. LiUNA, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, calls itself “the most progressive, aggressive and fastest-growing

MANSIONIZATION (Continued from page 5)

code enforcement agencies and City Hall. With an original $5,000 buy-in, a law firm was hired to contest egregious developments. Among their successes, the organization has brought 5th District Councilman Paul Koretz into the fold, adding weight and substance to enforcement issues. Until then, developers, sensing a window of opportunity in the Bel Air area, operated without oversight; violations went unchecked. “People looked the other way,” said Rosen. “If you don’t do things in an organized, meaningful way, everything gets shut down. They have armed themselves with knowledge. Now, BAHOA members are vigilant. They do not want what happened on Loma Vista in Beverly Hills to happen in

BEVERLY HILLS ject to her work. However, feral cat communities will form again if they are removed; new colonies will have to be trapped and neutered again. The feral population has declined with her efforts, but the colonies of neutered animals must be maintained to prevent new, untreated animals from coming in. Varjian has been caring for feral and stray cats since 1995. She does this without remuneration. “My mom is into the cats, to protect their welfare. She is a very humble lady. She has her heart in her mission,” said Tina. Worldwide, interested individuals maintain most feral cat communities without legislation. Varjian obtained her first permit in 2009, following the legislation. The permit process is indeed onerous. Varjian was permitted as a volunteer partner under Kitten Rescue, but the organization has failed to renew, said Nestor Otazu who heads code compliance as Community Preservation Manager. At issue is the alleged harassment received by Varjian and the alleged threatening behavior of a BHPD sergeant, unprovoked, towards a resident.

union of construction workers, and one of the most diverse and effective unions representing public service employees.” Nunez has not demonstrated any interest in the concerns of Bel-Air homeowners as they have sought to gain traction in their bid to pair down runaway development in their streets. In fact, Nunez has challenged residents at hearings. As president of Laborers Local 300, Nunez declared his income to be over $100,000 per annum. A Form 700 shows he has an interest in a property in Sylmar and no others. His appointment to the position in May 2014 ends in June. If reappointed, his term will be extended through June 2020. Bel-Air.” BAHOA invited new members to come in at half the buyin, hoping to afford the organization full-time representation. Though the ICO is not perfect, it is a start, stated Rosen. It was, “A major step forward,” said Koretz. “I’m very appreciative of the community leaders and activists, neighborhood organizations and concerned residents who have all shared their views and dedicated efforts.” BOHOA with Koretz’ office to craft something meaningful to protect residents’ safety and slow down rampant development. And, for the first time, the city of Los Angeles Planning is working on a system to review projects in context with the surrounding area to determine impacts, a great victory for homeowners.

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SCHOOLS/CAMPS/SUMMER PROGRAMS

Beverly Hills Salary Survey - What It All Means

HEALTHY LUNCH–Beverly Hills hosted the Mayor’s final “Healthy Lunch & Learn” on Wednesday at City Hall, focusing on a Healthy Business Community. Pictured, from left: Julie Wagner, Mayor LIli Bosse and Alex Stettinski.

STEVE KESSLER (Continued from page 1)

board that he planned to resign from the district effective June 30. At Tuesday’s special board meeting with executive search firm Hazard, Young & Attea (HYA), which had originally recruited Woods as one of six candidates presented to the board back in 2010, the board did not discuss the possibility of having the search firm engage in another search for a superintendent to replace Woods. HYA is currently tasked with finding a director of Special Education, a director of Human Resources and three principals for the upcoming 2015/16 academic year. In addition to Beverly Hills High School Principal Carter Paysinger resigned earlier this year effective June 30 and now Kessler, HYA is also charged with finding a new Hawthorne principal, following last week’s announcement that Hawthorne Principal Kathy Schaeffer is planning to retire after 26 years with BHUSD. Goldstein, who made the motion to appoint Kessler to the position of superintendent, said

his decision to not search outside the district came upon the advice of a private conversation he had with an HYA consultant, who told him it would take at least one year for a new superintendent from outside the district to get up to speed. HYA founding partner William Attea told The Courier that it takes roughly half a year to perform a national search for a superintendent. “They've got five administrative vacancies,” he said. “The board may be looking to provide some consistency.” Goldstein said the board spent over two hours discussing the appointment before reaching a unanimous decision. He highlighted Kessler's proposed three-year contract, which he said demonstrates the continued commitment of a man who has worked for the district since the 1970s, in addition to providing the board time to conduct a national search for a new superintendent when Kessler does decide to retire from the district. The board is scheduled to vote to ratify Kessler's appointment at its next formal board meeting on March 31.

Note: the majority of City employees work a 9/80 (nine eighty hour days every two weeks) or 4/10 (four 10 hour days per week), meaning they get off either every Monday/Friday, or every other Monday/Friday. PERS: Public Employee Retirement System. Beverly Hills grants employees retirement benefits equal to 3-percent of their highest-ever compensation multiplied by each year of service to a maximum of 30 years. “Legacy” CALpers members (those in the PERS system prior to January 2013) may retire at 55, while new employees after January 2013 can retire at 62. An employee with 30 years service receives 90-percent of highest pay, plus health benefits, plus cost-of-living adjustments. “PERSABLE Pay” is pay used to calculate annual retirement pay. CalPERS requires an annual contribution of 8-percent of the employees salary toward their pension fund. City employees will now begin paying their full 8 percent contribution, in accordance with new CalPERS regulations, but received a pay raise to “make up” for the burden of having to contribute to their own retirement. •Retro PERS/Retro NonPERS: “Retro pay happens when after an employee group contract ends, sometimes it takes a while to come to terms on a new contract. Once that new contract is in place, if it was agreed to pay any increase retroactive to the last contract end date, that generates the retro pay.” City CFO Don Rhoads told The Courier last year.

•Cafeteria Plan: An employee health benefits plan that allows an employee to chose from a variety of benefit plans. What the employee doesn’t spend on a health plan, they get back in the form of additional wages. This column is what the employee gets back after money is not spent. •Leave Payoff: When an employee has an excess amount of vacation time, beyond what is needed on the books, it can be paid off in a lump amount. •PERS Overtime vs. Overtime: Some overtime, mostly public safety, falls under PERS rules, while other overtime doesn’t. •Pay for Performance: “It’s a program for our management, professional and executive folks based on performance, goals and objectives that are set up at the beginning of the year. They are evaluated at the end of the year and depending on how well they met those goals and objectives, they would qualify for some amount of pay for performance, which can be all the way from one percent to 10 percent of a total pool of dollars. It’s the closest thing we have in the government sector to performance plans and that sort of thing.” City CFO Don Rhoads. •Merit/Bonus: If an employee does something “particularly meritorious”, according to Rhoads, there is a provision where a bonus can be given. •Other Pays: Generally falls under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows an employee to receive funds in a different category while they are

out on personal leave. •Deferred Compensation: A matching deferred contribution between the City and Employee, where the employee contributes a certain amount of their paycheck, tax-deferred, which is matched by the City. •Administrative Leave: Rhoads says: “Generally speaking, it’s used in cities for management employees. Management doesn’t get overtime pay, so it’s typically used for those employees in recognition of the fact that they don’t get overtime pay. It basically says ‘we’ll give you a certain number of hours per year that you can use administratively.’ It can be used much like vacation time, or can be used for whatever personal leave they have.” •Explanation of the Leave/Vacation/Sick Categories: Rhodes says: “These hours don’t add any additional cost to the other columns. The only way they add cost is if someone doesn’t use all their leave at the end of the year, so they want to cash it out. That would generate additional cost outlay, which shows in the ‘leave payouts’ column. If someone used their leave time, it would be recorded in the salary column.” •Total Cost of Employee: All forms of income each City employee receives combined with the retirement, health care and deferred compensation benefits the City contributes to provide a more accurate look at the total cost of a City employee to the taxpayer. •RHS Health: Is an employee Retirement Health Savings plan.

BEVERLY HILLS

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