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The BEVERLY HILLSThe Best Read Newspaper in Beverly Hills

VOLUME XXXXII NUMBER 52 $75 PER YEAR - 50 PER COPY www.bhcourier.com December 28, 2007

Main News: Pgs. 4, 5 Editorial, Rabbi Pressman: Pg. 47

Health & Wellness: Pg. 22 Arts & Entertainment: Pg. 18

Classifieds: Pgs. 39-46

George Christy, Page 6 Smart ass laughs; A Birthday; AWedding; Johnny Depp Freaks

I I N N S S I I DD E E : :

High School Sports, Page 13 Sandifer Commits To SDSU, Girls &Boys Basketball Teams Make Finals

H Ha a p pp py yN Ne e w w Y Ye e a a r r

H Ha a p pp py yN Ne e w w Y Ye e a a r r

The Year That Was In Beverly Hills

(see 2007, page 28)

By Courier Staff With 2007 drawing to a

close, we take a look back at thegood and bad in Beverly Hills.We also take time to remembersome of the people we lost thisyear.

City Hall had its ups anddowns with the installation of anew mayor and vice mayor (Jim-my Delshad and Barry Brucker

respectively), and Nancy Krasnedefeating incumbent MayorSteve Webb for a seat on the CityCouncil.

Four years ago, many peo-ple were asking whether BeverlyHills was ready to elect a Per-sian-American to the City Coun-cil for the first time, Delshadsaid in March during his installa-tion as mayor. I told anybodywho asked that I think Beverly

Hills is ready to make sure everycitizen feels welcome to step for-ward and make contributions tocivic life.

The council also approved anoutdoor non-smoking ban, thenew William Morris Agencyheadquarters and restored two-hour free parking. The five-mem-ber council passed a strongerethics ordinance that increases

the time from one-year to 30-months a former planning com-missioner or elected official isprohibited from lobbying on be-half of companies doing businesswith the City.

The new mayor quicklymade a name for himself by get-ting the council to approve a pro-posal that asked the City to sup-port legislation in Sacramento.

Beverly Hills Looks To Add Sister Cities In China, IsraelBy Chris Sieroty

Over the years Beverly Hillshas formed several sister city rela-tionships in an effort to promotetourism and economic develop-ment between the cities.

In the past, relationships havebeen formed with Cannes, Franceand Acapulco, Mexico. But theserelationships have become dor-mant in recent years.

Although Beverly Hills is asmall city, we are proud to beknown throughout the world,said Mayor Jimmy Delshad. Weare a leading destination for fash-

ion, retail, tourism and (the) en-tertainment business.To continue to expand its rep-

utation, the five-member councilunanimously agreed to give theSister City program another try,but with changes to how the pro-gram is developed.

The world is smaller todayand we want to share knowl-edge, best practices, cultural ex-periences and business opportu-nities with our global partners,the mayor said. Learning fromothers will only make us better.

The council instructed Ali-son Maxwell, the Citys directorof economic development andmarketing, to begin assembling

a non-profit organization thatwould oversee the creation of new relationships and fund any

educational or cultural activities.She said a non-profit organi-

zation would make it easier tomanage fundraising and sponsor-ship to support the groups pro-grams. At an informal City Coun-cil meeting (Dec. 18), Maxwellmade it clear the organization wasnot asking for funding.

But she did ask that BruceCole and Howard Szabo be ap-pointed founding members of thenew independent Sister City or-ganization, and be given permis-sion to pursue relationships withseveral cities.

The council agreed, meaningthe new non-profit, which still is(see SISTER, page 28)

A FEAST FOR FIREMEN- The culinary team at the Beverly Hiltondispatched a feast for the 75 Beverly Hills Firefighters from EngineCompany 2 on Christmas Day. Photo provided by Susan Kim

Beverly Hills Artist Known As Bendow Is SteppingThrough The Art World One Vans Shoe At A TimeBy Abbey Hood

Barry McGee is known topeople in the art community as acult figure in a subculture of artists comprised of skateboard-ers, surfers and graffiti artists. Hiswork is known internationally andfeatured in such galleries as theSan Francisco Museum of Mod-ern Art and the UCLA ArmandHammer Museum. But, watch out

McGee, theres a new kid in townknown as Bendow.Ben Waldow is 15-years-old,

a sophomore at Beverly High andleads the Los Angeles youth artmovement, according to galleryowners and L.A. artists.

I think Ben is the most tal-ented young artist I have seen,said Deborah Page Schneider,owner of the Deborah PageGallery in Santa Monica. He isthe next Barry McGee if hekeeps with it.

When he was little he usedto make sculptures out of themarshmallows in the LuckyCharms cereal, according to Wal-dows mother Ellen Lutwak. Hewould take apples and makecreatures out of them. Every-thing in Waldows world turnedinto a piece of art. Years laterthings havent changed. Fromtennis shoes to salad bowls, to

old photographs, life is his can-vas.

Honestly, I just do art be-cause its fun, said Waldow. Itgives people something to enjoy.

He stands about 56 withdark brown hair, covered by a hatthat looks like a 1920s newsboycap. From his pocket, he pulls outhis moleskin notebook filled withpen and ink drawings. He carries

it with him wherever he goes.On the front of his shirt is alogo of the Giant Robot store onSawtelle Boulevard. The store isfilled with pop culture art.

BHUSD Facilities Master Plan UpdateBy Abbey Hood

After nine months of workingwith a group of consultants, archi-

tects, school and communitymembers, the Beverly Hills Uni-fied School Districts planningand facilities staff has completed aneeds analysis for each school siteand applied estimated costs to thefacilities master plan.

An in-depth needs assessmentwas presented with commentaryfrom each school principal to theboard of education at the thirdstudy session on Dec. 20. Theboard reviewed the needs analysisof each school site and listened asprincipals described the currentcondition of their facilities.

Some days I have to spend asignificant amount of time manag-

ing facilities, said Hawthorneschool Principal Alex Cherniss.Cherniss described the prob-

lems with Hawthornes leaks,plumbing, power, heat and air-conditioning unit. There are con-stant power outages, constantleaks and more problems in theoldest school in BHUSD that wasbuilt in 1921.

Cherniss was not alone.Every principal shared the sameproblems as Hawthorne, and de-scribed as how managing facili-ties takes time away from otherduties at the school.

(I) spend time putting outfires, said Beverly High Princi-pal J. Guidetti about acting as afacilities manager at the schoolthat was built in 1927.

It takes time away from ourposition, it takes time away fromour primary goal of being instruc-

tional caregivers.(see FACILITIES, page 15)

(see WALDOW, page 26)

A MOST FULFILLING NIGHT More than 1,000 turned out at the Beverly Hilton for the Fulfillment FundsSTARS benefit gala. Pictured are (from left): actors Vince Vaughn and Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx; co-hon-oree Marc Schmuger, chairman of Universal Pictures; and actor/comedian Seth Rogen, who emceed thegala. Fulfillment Fund founders Cherna and Dr. Gary Gitnick were also honored.See Joan Mangum Page 10 Photo by Alex Berliner of Berliner Studio/BEImages

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BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Celebrating another birthday today are B.H. Chief of Police Dave Snowden, Ted Danson, Mary Tyler Moore and Jon Voight. Sir Anthony Hopkins, Val

Kilmer, Ben Kingsley, Tim Matheson, Sarah Miles, Bebe Neuwirth, Sylvia Nicholson, Donna Summer and Allison Tobias (Dec. 30); Stephanie Hibler, Frank Langella and Terry Moore(Dec. 31); Suzanne Marx, Marty Barab, Sol Levine and Dan Rostenkowski (Jan. 1); Dabney Coleman, Mel Gibson, Robert Loggia and Stephen Stills (Jan. 3) Opening presents onJan. 4 will be Dyan Cannon, Barbara Rush, Richard Stahl, and Janice Reches, and on Jan. 5 Jean Dickinson.

5555 est Read Newspaper in Beverly Hills 5555THE BEVERLY HILLS

THIS WEEKS BIRTHDAYSPAGE 14 DECEMBER 28, 2007

A S T R O L O G Yby Hol iday Mathis

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Dec.28). Dare to want. This year, yourwants are delivered to you inexactly the manner you can besthandle them. Connecting withnew ambitions gives you vitalityand optimismwhat could bemore attractive? Spring is busy,

social and filled with options.Work and finances go better whenyour love life is decided. Virgoand Libra adore you.CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).When in an imaginative mindset,it's almost funny to you howquickly a persistent problem issolved. The best place for you toget creative is around a Pisces.AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).When you make special holidayplans, don't forget to include a lit-tle somethin'-somethin' for your-self. You deserve to be delighted.

Libra and Leo understand this andoblige.PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20). Boldmoves are good for your heart.Break down the walls that keepyou from individuality, if there areany. Sing out loud, talk to peopleyou don't know, be the first to stand

up for the one who can't defendherself.ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19). Is ityour imagination, or do you keeprunning into a certain someone?This is too coincidental to be acci-dental. Yep, someone likes you. Oris it you who subconsciouslydesigns a way to run into them?TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20). Youbelieve in someone's creativepotential, and you back up thatbelief with solid support. Youdeserve the same for your own cre-ativity. Seek partners who believe

in you.GEMINI (May 21-June 21).There's a simpatico between matesthat's too profound to ignore. Bestfriends push each other to newheights of accomplishment. You'llfind that you feel stronger andmore independent knowing youcan depend on one another.CANCER (June 22-July 22).Ideas are flowing, and you haveunencumbered channels of expres-sion. But somewhere in your day,make your loved ones the mostimportant people in the world.LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Everyonehas opinions that are best kept pri-vate due to their incendiary quali-ties. However, today, many of those opinions that ought not beshared, well, are. And once thewords are out, there's no takingthem back.VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).There's no need to worry aboutwhat to give family members andfriends. A heartfelt card or letter isthe most precious and memorablegift, and it's always the right colorand size.LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your

belief in yourself gets stronger. Ithas to do with developing yourconsiderable talents. Love blos-soms when you're hard at workperfecting the thing you do best.SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).You can accomplish a hugeamount if you feel motivated. If you don't feel motivated, it'sbecause nothing on your to-do listis juicy enough. Raise the stakes.Challenge yourself and thosearound you.SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.21). Your spirit of generosityextends in the usual ways and in

some unusual ways, too. A casualflirtation could get snagged into thedrama of the holidays your heartmelts like a snowman by the crack-ling fire.CELEBRITY PROFILES:Capricorn Oscar winner DenzelWashington may play producer asoften as he plays actor this year,and in the process, earn an evenbigger salary working behind the

CREATIVE ARTS TEMPLE The Courier s film critic Rabbi Jerry Cutler(left) and his wife Jeff (right) of the Creative Arts Temple present JoniBerry of Beverly Hills with the CAT Humanitarian award at theHollywood Canteen in honor of the armed forces.

Photo by Maxine Picard

UGADA HONORS TheUniversal Gerontology &Alzheimers Disease Aware-ness Association symposium atUCLA finds Sheridan Dodge(left), associate advisor toUGADA, congratulating hon-oree Dr. Robert Stevenson atthe groups 2nd annual UCLA -UGADA event.

Photo by Maxine Picard

scenes than he does on camera.Capricorn people are businessminded, but with his moon inAquarius and Mars in Pisces,Washington is also a philanthro-pist who wants his work to makea difference in the world.To find out more about HolidayMathis and read her past columns,visit Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com