Real American Stories Project Keeps Oil and Tar Out
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • AIDS groups rewarded. pg. 3 Partly cloudy, • Thanksgiving with rain likely Dining. Friday pg. 12 & 13 Volume 21 No. 46 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities November 17, 2011 Project Keeps Oil and Tar Hey! Teacher! Teach Those Kids Some Songs n RockSTAR Out of Storm Drains Afterschool Program Enriches Socially, n New System Will Filter Rain Runoff Academically BY EDWIN FOLVEN before it reaches the storm drains, but the new system will be a per- BY AARON BLEVINS he lake at the George C. Page manent solution, according to Museum, a major attraction Kerjon Lee, public affairs manager n a bit of irony, students partic- Tat the La Brea Tar Pits, is at for the county’s Department of ipating in the RockSTAR pro- risk of leaking oil and tar into the Public Works. Igram at Melrose Elementary storm drains. The Los Angeles “There is an underground School spent their Tuesday after- County Board of Supervisors pipeline that starts on the west side noon learning Pink Floyd’s school approved a $2 million project of the lake and proceeds across the protest song, “Another Brick in Tuesday to build a new filtration lake to a connecting sewer line on the Wall”, from, of all things, a system on site. Wilshire, and when there is a storm, teacher. For the past few years, a tempo- the overflow of storm water over- As part of the RockSTAR after- rary system has been in place to fil- saturates the system, and some of school program, which is offered in more than 50 elementary ter the oil and tar out of the water See Stormwater page 20 schools in Los Angeles, the stu- photo by Aaron Blevins dents were gearing up for some Students from Melrose Elementary are rockinʼ out during practices for upcoming performances. In the upcoming Winter RockFest competition in West Hollywood. February, all of the students in the program — approximately 1,000 children — will perform at the said. “It’s all about how you teach students have signed autographs Roxy Theatre, Whisky A Go-Go them.” in school, and on at least one occa- or the Key Club. In June, they’ll He said teachers use positive sion, he’s seen a former partici- participate in RockSTAR’s sev- reinforcement when instructing pant play live music at Whisky A enth annual “Battle of the Bands”. students. The program generally Go-Go. Jordan Vernik, the director of helps students with social interac- Tiffany Wright definitely RockSTAR, said the program tion, and music has been known to noticed a different “edge” to her started seven years ago, and was help improve grades, Vernik said, son, Kobie, 8, during a perfor- the offspring of STAR Education, adding that autistic or socially mance last year in which he which offers various afterschool troubled students can also benefit. played the keyboard. She said it programs. He said the program is “It gives them confidence,” he was apparent that her son has a offered at several area campuses, said. “Not one child has stage knack for performing live. including Melrose, Rosewood fright at our events because of “I saw a whole other side of him Avenue, West Hollywood and how we approach it.” I didn’t even know,” Wright said. photo by Aaron Blevins Gardner elementary schools. Vernik said by the end of the She said the program has paid The lake at the George C. Page Museum could leak oil and tar into the “It’s about proving that arts year, some students have a “differ- off for Kobie, who has taken piano storm drains if a filtering system is not in place. should be in the school,” Vernik ent edge to them.” He said some See Students page 20 Bill to Repeal DOMA Passes Real American Stories n speak about it in the past, but that organization, has been compiling Senate Judiciary Committee StoryCorps Captures reluctance gave way inside audio recordings of Americans the Unique Narratives StoryCorps’ mobile unit in Los telling their stories around the n Legislation Would optimistic that the bill will of Average Americans Angeles. country. Though it has visited Los Give Same-Sex become law, communications As part of an ongoing project, Angeles before, StoryCorps will be director Rebekah Orr said. She StoryCorps, a national nonprofit See Stories page 22 Couples More Benefits said Feinstein’s bill, which has a BY AARON BLEVINS companion bill authored by os Angeles resident Blanca BY AARON BLEVINS Congressman Jerry Nadler (D- Alvarez described her immi- New York), is the first of its kind gration from Mexico into the federal bill to repeal the to reach the Senate floor. L United States in the 1970s as terri- Defense of Marriage Act “We’re in a pretty tough leg- fying. Pregnant and barefoot, she (DOMA) passed the A islative environment for LGBT was trekking through the desert, Senate Judiciary Committee last issues,” Orr said. “I think that’s walking carefully so as not to alert week and is headed for the Senate pretty clear. …The truth is, this guard dogs. She had agreed to pay floor. bill may not pass right now, and a man for helping her sneak past Authored by Sen. Dianne [Nadler’s bill] probably won’t border patrol, so when he said to Feinstein (D-California), the make it to the House floor.” run, she did. Respect for Marriage Act seeks to However, it appears that public “When you get to the bridge, overturn DOMA, which defines sentiments may have softened on you’re on your own,” Alvarez marriage as a “union between a LGBT issues, she said. Orr refer- recalled the man saying. man and a woman,” and strips enced the repeal of Don’t Ask, Connie Alvarez had never heard same-sex couples of federal ben- Don’t Tell, which was a “signifi- her mother tell the story of her par- efits offered to married couples. cant victory” for the LGBT com- ents immigrating to the U.S. It was The judiciary committee passed munity. a pivotal moment for Connie, then the bill 10-8. “The way we achieve equality an unborn child whose life would LGBT advocacy organization is [through] a step-by-step be forever impacted by this man photo by Aaron Blevins Equality California is pleased process,” she said. and her parents’ ability to stay Harriet Ells (left), program director for KCRW, and Connie Alvarez visit- with the “small victory,” but isn’t See DOMA page 22 undetected. Blanca had declined to ed LACMA as part of the StoryCorps project to record personal histories. 2 November 17, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 18 ‘Have a at inner city Los Angeles schools, and Calendar will feature an original poem written Little Faith’ specifically for Get Lit by David he Beverly Hills Temple of the Mamet and performed by actress TArts is holding a free screening of Alexandra More, and focuses on the Helen Mirren. Additional perfor- author Mitch Albom’s “Have A Little relationship between a Southern mances will be given by Tim Robbins, Faith” on Friday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. at widow and a Yankee widower who Carol Muske-Dukes, Jimmy Santiago the Saban Theatre. The Hallmark “Hall find love late in life. Tickets are $16. Baca, Ned Colletti, Sekou Andrews, of Fame” movie is based on the latest 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. (323)556- Jeff Perry, and James Franco. Tickets best-selling book by Albom and is 5225, www.westsidejcc.org. are $200 to $250. 9070 Venice Blvd. based on the lives of Henry Covington www.getlit.org. (Laurence Fishbourne), a Detroit preacher who overcame a life mired in Artis Book Signing drugs and crime, and his wife, Annette launch and book signing party Matisyahu (Anika Noni Rose). The screening will Afor the new novel by playwright, rammy-nominated performer be followed by a panel discussion actress and breast cancer awareness GMatisyahu will perform on led by Rabbi David Baron. 8440 advocate Brandyn Barbara Artis will Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Gibson Wilshire Blvd. www.templeof- be held on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. Amphitheater. Matisyahu will per- thearts.org. at Vintageweave Interiors. Artis is the form an acoustic show featuring his 2011 grand prize-winner of Harper’s hit songs and new music, and will be Bazaar/Estee Lauder’s “Fabulous at joined by Moshe Peretz, a popular Hip Hop Benefit Every Age” competition, and her book Israeli singer and composer. Doors ip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar is titled “Running Barefoot in Paris”. open at 6:30 p.m. Some specially- and DJ Green Lantern will give a H 7928 W. 3rd St. (323)932-0451, priced tickets are available for $18 for live benefit performance on Friday, [email protected]. young people who volunteer four Nov. 18 at 8:45 p.m. at the Music Box hours of time in their community. 100 Theatre in Hollywood. The concert Universal City Plaza. (818)466-6454, raises funds for Project RISHI, a Flamenco Show www.ilcare.org. UCLA-based charity focusing on he Fountain Theatre presents an improving sanitation and healthcare in Tinstallment of its “Forever rural India, and the Downtown Flamenco!” series on Sunday, Nov. 20 21 Classical Violin Women’s Center of Los Angeles, a at 8 p.m. in the Gallery Theatre at he Da Camera Society is holding supportive housing community for Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. The Ta chamber music performance on homeless women. Opening perform- show features world-class Flamenco Monday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.