briefs • Centennial spending briefs • Cement truck collision on briefs • Palm Drive curved condo exceeds $800k Page 3 1000 block Loma Vista Drive Page 6 project requests sixth floor Page 7 Issue 762 • May 8, 2014 - May 14, 2014 Former students and friends share how the legendary choral teacher has influenced them Pages 6 - 7 Brunei controversy continues City Council condemns new laws but stops short of a boycot cover story • page 9 BHUSD legal fees exceed $1 million for third quarter fiscal year 2013 – 2014 Beverly High Prom 2014 who is the longest serving administrator in briefs • City Council unanimously photos • Beverly High briefs • BHUSD legal fees exceed approves fracking ban Page 2 Prom 2014 Page 6 $500k the past quarter Page 7 letters the BHUSD, is more than deserving of special recognition. Starting as an outstanding music teacher at & email El Rodeo in 1977, [then] later teaching U.S. Issue 761 • May 1, 2014 - May 7, 2014 History and taking students to Washington A “Condemning Brunei Government” D.C. during “spring break,” she was admired Weekly and respected by students, parents, teachers, Exclusive Our City Council showed an extraordinary lack of intestinal fortitude at last night’s meet- and administration. ing. Does Brunei have to stone a woman to Toni became assistant principal for many Former students and years at El Rodeo, later becoming assistant friends share how death before the Council will act? the legendary choral principal at Beverly High where she has teacher has influenced Richard A. Stone them remained, except for two years when she was Pages 6 - 7 Read this issue on your smart Beverly Hills phone by scanning the QR code. principal at Hawthorne. In all these positions All you need is a QR scanner “Beverly Hills Hotel Boycott” she maintained an extraordinary relationship In remembrance of application. Unfortunately our Beverly Hills City with all segments of the school community. the Holocaust Council decided not join the LGBT, Women’s During all these years along with her hus- Mayor Lili Bosse discusses her family history band Nick Strimple, who recently retired as cover story • page 8 Rights and Hollywood Communities in calling for a boycott of the Beverly Hills music director at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church and Southern California Choral WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? Hotel Tuesday night. Condemning the owner of the hotel for human rights violations and Society but still teaches at USC, they raised crimes against women and gays but continu- two children, both graduates of Beverly High. You can write us at: ing to patronize the hotel is talking the talk but While at El Rodeo, Toni also accompanied 140 South Beverly Drive #201 not walking the walk. The Council fell short students to Idyllwild and 8th grade students Beverly Hills, CA 90212 in their resolution by not calling for a boycott to Yosemite for “outdoor education.” She has remained a familiar figure at Beverly High You can fax us at: but instead stating that patronizing the hotel is events, games, and field trips. 310.887.0789 a “personal choice.” I, for one, will not patron- ize the Beverly Hills Hotel until either these Ms. Staser has given so much to Beverly email us at: • Interview with former California laws are repealed or the hotel changes owner- Hills. I feel she deserves special recognition. [email protected] Chief Justice Ronald George will air on ship and unlike our City Council, I encourage Patricia Melniker Channel 10: May 8 at 11:00 p.m., and all my friends, family and the Beverly Hills Retired faculty May 9 at 6:30 p.m. Community to join me and do the same. Los Angeles • Interview with Jack Abramoff: May 19 Brian Rosenstein at 3:30 p.m. and May 20 at 6:30 p.m. Beverly Hills Publisher’s note: We are planning an upcom- Available online at www.beverlyhills. ing story on this year’s retirees. org/living/beverlyhillstelevision “Upcoming Retirements” Staser was previously profiled in an issue #532 You have featured [those] who have had cover story which is available on bhweekly. SNAPSHOT distinguished careers in Beverly Hills. Beverly com High retiring Assistant Principal Toni Staser, WeeBeverly Hillskly Issue 762 • May 8, 2014 - May 14, 2014 Beverly Hills Weekly Inc. Founded: October 7, 1999 Published Thursdays Delivered in Beverly HilIs, Beverlywood, Los Angeles ISSN#1528-851X www.bhweekly.com 1 year Publisher & CEO subscriptions Josh E. Gross are available. Reporter Sent via US Mail Nancy Yeang $75 payable in Sports Editor advance Steven Herbert Contributing Editor Rudy Cole Adjudicated as a (1925-2013) newspaper of general circulation for the County Advertising Representatives of Los Angeles. Case Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Jasmin Boodaie # BS065841 of the Los Legal Advertising Angeles Superior Court, Mike Saghian on November 30, 2000. Eiman Matian Mathew Mokhtarzadeh 140 South Beverly Drive #201 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310.887.0788 phone 310.887.0789 fax CNPA Member [email protected] All staff can be reached at: first name @bhweekly.com Unsolicited materials will not be returned. ©2013 Beverly Hills Weekly Inc. Boycott Brunei! SunSet Boulevard Beverly Hills residents Jay and Mavis leno called for a boycott of Beverly Hills Hotel, owned by the Brunei govern- ment operated hotel chain, dorchester collection. See more in the cover story on page 9. Page 2 • Beverly Hills Weekly briefs Centennial spending exceeds $800k Centennial spending exceeds $800k The City of Beverly Hills has spent over $800,000 on Centennial events and initia- tives as of Feb. 18. Full payments were made on events that have already passed as of Feb. 18, such as the Rose Parade Float. Partial payments were made for events and initiatives that have not passed as of Feb. 18, such as the Centennial Tree and Rose Bush. Payments have been made for the Centennial Tree event, but not for the Rose Bush, since the event has not passed yet. The Sing-Along had $4,606 in unspent funds. The “100 for 100” campaign reflects a volunteer committee that reached out to the community to get 100 sponsors at $100 each to raise funding for the Concert and Sing-Along program book which was not initially included in the event budget. The campaign was able to raise $2,966 in revenue for the concert. Total approved budget as of Feb. 18 is $1,022,889, and does not include amounts for the Centennial Postage Stamp, Beverly Source: City of Beverly Hills Hills coffee-table books, “The Next 100 to determine who can use the videos, and Years,” and “Past, Present, and Future.” somebody is parking adjacent to their away so it’s the City can pursue legal consequences See chart to the right. driveway regularly,” Transportation great.” for copyright infringement. Deputy Director Aaron Kunz said. A 1992 In the license agreement Savenick pro- Residents can contact the Transportation Beverly High Savenick maintain rights posed, the City can distribute and use the Department to receive a request form. A graduate, to Beverly Hills: 100 Years, video, but would need permission from traffic engineer will evaluate the site and Alexander 100 Stories Savenick for any uses not specified in determine the appropriate length of red went to The City Council agreed on Tuesday’s the agreement. Through this agreement, paint, which at minimum would be three UC Santa study session to allow Beverly Hills film- Savenick would have the rights to the feet. There is a charge of $110. Requests Barbara maker Phil Savenick maintain rights films, and the City would not be liable for will be processed within four to six weeks. where he first to Beverly Hills: 100 Years, 100 Stories, any reuses. E-mail transportation@beverlyhills. developed a and directed that a new license agreement Savenick was ready to reveal the first org or call (310) 285 – 1128 to request passion for be drawn up. series of films at the Centennial Block a form. Ben Alexander wine. The City Council approved $75,000 in Party. According to City Attorney Larry “I was funding in Oct. 2013 for Savenick’s pro- Wiener, the City would be liable for any Alexander launches going to play cards at the Indian Casino copyright violations if they did not own duction company. Compliment of Beverly and we were driving through wine coun- Savenick was able to use the City’s the films. Savenick would have needed to try and decided to pull over and do a studio to produce the film and has inter- provide full clearances for the footage in Hills [wine] tasting,” Alexander said. “It was a viewed over 200 families to produce order for the City to not be liable. Ben Alexander’s wine and spirit bou- life-changing event.” approximately 50 videos. “My preference at this point is to fig- tique, Compliment of Beverly Hills, will Alexander traveled to Europe and According to Savenick, he would like ure out a way to unwind this deal,” be taking over 90210 Wine and Spirits. throughout California, and took exten- to show the longest version of the docu- Councilmember Willie Brien said. “I never anticipated being able to be sion courses at UCLA in the late 1990s to mentary free of charge to the community “Whether there’s a licensing agreement right in the middle of Beverly Hills but it’s perfect his craft. He initially made wine and to the families who’ve shared their where [the City] can have access and put an absolute dream come true,” Alexander with his father, Barry Alexander, for their stories, provide the material to be used it on the website [or] if it means you allow said.