WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Beverly Hills pension Sunny, with liabilities. pg. 3 highs in the • BLAST gets new upper 70s coach. pg. 10 Volume 27 No. 49 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Beverly Hills and Wilshire Communities December 7, 2017 Ryu announces Sixth n CommunityThe Festival of prepares Hanukkah lights Lights will take place Street improvementsIt includes left turn lanes at Sixth from Dec. 12-20 Street’s intersections with La Brea Councilman David Ryu, 4th Avenue and Hauser Boulevard, District, announced on Dec. 6 a continental crosswalks and other series of road and safety improve- intersection-specific improve- Members of the Jewish commu- ments on Sixth Street between ments. nity will light the first candle on Fairfax and La Brea avenues that The other option, endorsed by the their menorahs on Dec. 12 signal- his office will undertake. Mid City West Community ing the beginning of Hanukkah, an The announcement follows a sur- Council, would have created a road annual eight-day period marked vey period during which residents diet, reducing the number of traffic by celebrations and gift giving. provided feedback about two possi- lanes to one eastbound, one west- However, Hanukkah also has a ble plans the councilman had been bound and one center median, with symbolic religious meaning root- considering. Survey results indicat- bicycle lanes on both sides. ed in the history of Judaism. The ed support for the plan he had been holiday period symbolizes the leaning toward. See Sixth Street page 25 return and restoration of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after a small group of Jews known as the Maccabees overthrew a much larger Greek army occupying the Holy Land in the second century B.C. photo courtesy of Chabad of the Miracle Mile “It was a great struggle for reli- Rabbi Chaim Fischer, of Chabad of the Miracle Mile, lights a LEGO gious freedom,” said Rabbi David menorah each year during a Hanukkah celebration at the Original Baron, of Beverly Hills Temple of Farmers Market. the Arts. “They essentially out- fought the Greeks and restored the ple, in which the Maccabees only Hanukkah has nine candles, with worship of the Jewish people at had enough oil to light their lamps the extra candle used to light the the Temple.” for one day but the oil miraculous- others. Baron said the lighting of the ly lasted for eight days – enough Baron said Hanukkah has many photo by Edwin Folven menorah is directly related to a time to produce more oil. The spe- miracle that occurred at the tem- Sixth Street, from La Brea to Fairfax avenues, will receive safety upgrades. cial menorah used during See Hanukkah page 26 n Beverly Hills water rate New22 person school team of thought in Beverly Hills prepares new ideas to n reshape the district increasesCity Council approved approved the increase 3-2 despite questions from WeHo customers over a surcharge Members of the Beverly Hills Unified School District’s Future The Beverly Hills City Council Focused Schools team addressed voted 3-2 on Dec. 5 to implement a the school board for the first time five-year plan for water rate on Dec. 5, indicating support for a increases amid strong opposition shift from the district’s K-8 model. from the city’s West Hollywood The team will make specific rec- customers. ommendations to the school board Beverly Hills provides water to next month. the western portion of West The district is exploring a recon- Hollywood, where residents’ water figuration of its four K-8 schools photo courtesy of the Beverly Hills Unified School District bills have long included a 25 per- as a cost-savings measure, and for The 22 members of the district’s Future Focused Schools team have cent surcharge. Speaking before the more efficient programming. been discussing options to reconfigure the district. council at Beverly Hills City Hall, Fifty-four applicants applied for West Hollywood Councilwoman photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills the Future Focused Schools team the high school. compared to their potential in Lauren Meister said there is “no West Hollywood Councilwoman during an application period run- With the district’s four middle another type of configuration, direct documentation” to justify the Lauren Meister questioned Beverly ning through Sept. 22. The district school model, curricular options, according to a presentation by surcharge. selected 21 to represent stakehold- extracurricular options, flexible Superintendent Michael Bregy. Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse Hills council members about a 25 ers throughout the city, and added scheduling of students and teacher “The K-8 model doesn’t work cast one of the dissenting votes, percent surcharge levied to West an additional representative from collaboration options are limited See Schools page 26 Hollywood residents who get their See Water page 26 water from Beverly Hills. 2 December 7, 2017 CALENDAR Park Labrea News/Beverly Press they are forced to spend nearly 17 pagne and a buffet. General admission It’s a Wonderful Life days together scattering ashes across is $85; $45 for students . 135 N. Grand Enjoy a screening of the holiday clas- Europe. Showtimes are 8 p.m., Ave. (310)498-0257, lesalonde- sic “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m., musiques.com. Thursday, Dec. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Sunday. Tickets are $30. 2055 S. the West Hollywood Library Sepulveda Blvd. (310)564-9410; Community Meeting Room. James ashestoashestheplay.com. Stewart stars as a businessman who Electric Vehicle learns what life would have been like without him in the film by director ForumThe Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Frank Capra. The screening is part of LouEnjoy the Harrison music of American compos- Council’s Environmental & the library’s free “Classic Movie er Lou Harrison in “Music of the Sustainability Committee is meeting Matinee” series. 625 N. San Vicente Pacific” on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8:30 on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at Blvd. (310)652-5340, weho.org. p.m. at REDCAT. The performance is Marlborough School, Collins Room, part of a worldwide musical celebra- D200. Marvin Moon, director of tion of Harrison’s centennia l, offering power engineering for the Los Angeles Comedy Show a rare opportunity to hear a survey of Department of Water and Power, will Comedian Joe Kwaczala will perform works by the composer known for present an overview on electric vehi- a half-hour headlining set in a show blending eastern and western sounds. cles and rebate offers for the installa- featuring some of his funniest friends 631 W. Second St. redcat.org. tion of EV chargers for residential and in comedy on Thursday, Dec. 7 from commercial property owners. 250 S. 9 to 10:30 p.m. at Meltdown Comics Rossmore Ave. greaterwilshire.org. in Hollywood. Sam Wiles hosts the show with Kwaczala, Greg Behrend, Where the Wild Sean O’Connor, Allie Goertz and Anna Seregina. Admission is $8. FamiliesThings are invited Are a screening of the 7522 Sunset Blvd. face- feature film “Where the Wild Things book.com/events/140783539913282. Are” on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. at the Hammer Museum. The screening is part of the museum’s “Family Beverly Hills Flicks” series. The film will be pre- photo by Gilles Anquez ceded by author Maurice Sendak’s Chamber 1973 animated short version of The Beverly Hills Chamber of Fortepiano player Tom Beghin will perform the complete Beethoven “Where the Wild Things Are.” 10899 Commerce is holding its December sonata cycle for cello and piano on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Wilshire Blvd. (310)443-7000, ham- networking meeting on Friday, Dec. Broad Stage. The five sonatas take the audience on a journey through mer.ucla.edu. 8 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Paley Beethoven’s life, covering all three of the composer’s major creative Center for Media. Join chamber mem- periods. Beghin will play two fortepianos from Beethoven’s time, cour- bers, local professionals and commu- nity leaders to collaborate, enhance tesy of UCLA and John Broadwood & Sons. Ti ckets start at $50. 1310 Playhouse business and learn more about the 11th St., Santa Monica. (310)434-3200, thebroadstage.org. city. Networking and a buffet begin at HolidaySanta Monica PlayhouseParty is hosting its 8 a.m.; members announcements are annual holiday party on Sunday, Dec. from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 free. 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. 10. The festivities begin at 12:30 p.m. for chamber members; $35 for non- The Waltz of the (323)960-5651, weho.org/arts. with a production of “All About members. 465 N. Beverly Dr. mem- Santa.” The party runs from 2 to 6 bers.beverlyhillschamber.com. p.m. and includes food, fun and ToreadorsClassical Theatre Lab and the city of David Sedaris’ holiday classic, “The West Hollywood are hosting a staged Ashes to Ashes Enjoy a world premiere of the come- Santaland Diaries.” Admission is reading of “The Waltz of the dy production “Ashes to Ashes” run- free; RSVPs requested. 1211 Fourth Toreadors,” written by Jean Anouilh Beauty and ning from Saturday, Dec. 9 through St., Santa Monica. (310)394-9779. and directed by Michael Arabian, on Sunday, Jan. 14 at the Odyssey CASAthe Beast 0101 Theater, TNH Saturday, Dec. 9 from 2 p.m . to 4:30 Theatre. Liberal Sara and conserva- Productions and El Centro Del Pueblo p.m. in the West Hollywood Library tive Jefferson are present a production of Disney’s Community Meeting Room. The polar opposites Le Salon “Beauty and the Beast” running from screening is part of the city’s “Free about everything, De Musiques Friday, Dec.