Skate Into The Holiday Season This Weekend In Beverly Hills!
BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME XXXXVII NUMBER 47 $135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY •
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THIS ISSUE
READY TO SKATE—The City of Beverly Hills cut the ribbon on the Holiday Ice Skating Rink on Crescent Drive in front of City Hall at a short ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Pictured above (from left): Conference & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Julie Wagner, Vice Mayor John Mirisch, CVB Chairman Offer Nissenbaum, Councilwoman Lili Bosse, Mayor Willie Brien, Councilman Barry Brucker, former Mayor Linda Briskman, Charles Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes, Bill Wiley of Two Rodeo and City Treasurer Eliot Finkel. Courier Photo By Matt Lopez
Beverly Hills Cuts Ribbon On Holiday Ice Skating Rink Hawthorne students celebrate “Walk to School Wednesday”. 5
By Matt Lopez The City of Beverly Hills officially cut the ribbon on the City’s Holiday Ice Skating rink Wednesday, one of the final
UCLA health system board holds inaugural meeting. 15 13 15 18
George Christy, Page 6 Anthony Hopkins Delivers an Indelible Performance in Hitchcock, The Director Loved a Good Table and Imported Delicacies From Abroad for His Walk-In Refrigerator at His Bel-Air Home
CLASSIFIEDS • • • • •
Announcements Real Estate Rentals Sales and More
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(see ‘ICE RINK,’ page 14)
Sydney Segal Wins Cross Country State Championship By Matt Lopez With each week that passes, it seems like Beverly Hills High School Cross Country runner Sydney Segal breaks another record or brings home another championship. She had already broken as-
sorted course records and school records and brought home Beverly High’s first CIF championship, but last Saturday’s performance in Fresno topped them all. Segal captured the first Cross (see ‘SEGAL,’ page 14)
Civic Leader, Philanthropist Broidy Commended By Judge By Courier staff Los Angeles civic leader and philanthropist Elliott Broidy was commended by New York State Judge Lewis Bart Stone Monday and given the minimum allowable sentence for his role in a “pay-to-play” scandal involving New York State Comptroller Alan
Hevesi. Broidy was involved in the scandal with Hevesi, who was convicted of accepting gifts from people who (see ‘BROIDY,’ page 14)
By Laura Coleman and Matt Lopez One week after suggesting a portion of the City of Beverly Hills’ $10 million surplus be allocated to the Beverly Hills Unified School District, Vice Mayor John Mirisch appears to be garnering support from the school
community for his desire to allocate $4 million to the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Mirisch appeared at Tuesday’s school board meeting to further discuss his plan to help infuse funds into the school district. He spoke during the public (see ‘PETITION,’ page 14)
School Board Approves Interim Budget With $3.5 Million In Cuts By Laura Coleman The Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the state-mandated 2012/13 first interim budget at Tuesday night’s formal meeting. The $54.5 million budget to be submitted to the Los Angeles County Office of Education includes $3.56 mil-
lion in cuts the district would need to make if it fails to raise sufficient funds to maintain a positive certification. “Make no mistake, in order to reach this certification, we are talking about layoffs,” Board VP Jake Manaster said. (see ‘BUDGET,’ page 14)
Congress Targets 401(k), Plans For Deficit “Cliff” By Laura Coleman In anticipation of next year’s comprehensive tax reform, the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) this week launched the “Save My 401(k)” campaign to raise awareness about the dangers retirement savings accounts are facing in the wake of the nation’s looming fiscal crisis. “We know [Congress will] raise money somehow, and that puts all of us potentially on the chopping block,” ASPPA Direc-
tor of Retirement Policy Judy Miller said. “Everybody that’s in a plan now would be impacted.” The so-called “fiscal cliff” that stands at the precipice of the year’s end, includes the scheduled expiration of Bush era tax cuts, a temporary payroll tax cut, an unemployment benefits extension and the special depreciation allowance, in addition to $1.2 trillion in cuts over 2013-21 known as the sequester. To avoid catastrophe, Congressional lead(see ‘FISCAL CLIFF,’ page 7)
A CAVALCADE OF COLE PORTER—Anything Goes with its treasure of Cole Porter hits is the Center Theatre Group’s holiday treat, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, at the Ahmanson Theatre through Jan. 6. Rachel York is incandescent as the alluring Reno Sweeney in fabulous costumes by Martin Pakledinaz. Cast members keep the hijinks on a roll. What’s better than singing and dancing to I’ve Got You Under My Skin, You’re The Top, Easy to Love, Friendship, It’s De-Lovely, Anything Goes, Blow, Gabriel, Blow and the brilliant Gypsy In Me number. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.
Joan Marcus
Editorial from Rabbi Pressman AND MORE
steps before the rink opens this Saturday. Crescent Drive has been closed since Friday to allow for CHAMPION—Beverly Hills High School senior Sydney Segal cemented her legacy as the most decorated cross country runner in BHHS history last weekend, capturing the first cross country state championship in school history. She was selected to run in this weekend’s Nike Nationals event in Portland, Oregon. The event brings together the best high school runners from across the country.
Temple Emanuel Town Hall addresses religious pluralism in Israel. 5
•Arts & Entertainment •Health & Wellness •Birthdays
November 30, 2012
BHUSD Parents Start Online Petition to Support Mirisch’s Plan To Help Fund Schools
Richard Bloom declares victory, thanks Beverly Hills for support. 4
BHEF receives $50,000 check from Sachs family for BHUSD. 4
SINCE 1965
Edward Staudenmayer and Rachel York sizzle in The Gypsy In Me.