Following 10 years of planning and development, the Board of Directors of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts took a major step today towards realizing their dream with a construction-chic groundbreaking celebration at the historic Beverly Hills Post Office. Adorned with work lights and decorated with an array of construction equipment, the landmark building became the site of the festivities as almost 500 community leaders, celebrities, VIPs and politicos celebrated the start of the transition from former postal facility to vibrant performing arts venue.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses officially invited the Beverly Hills Tournament of Roses Committee to participate in the 2011 Rose Parade. Beverly Hills will return to the world-famous parade after a 22-year absence.

 The Beverly Hills City Council unanimously invited the newly-formed Committee, incorporated as a 501c(3) non-profit corporation, to submit an application on behalf of the entire community. The Committee, comprised of Directors Fred Hayman, Robbie Anderson, Brian Rosenstein and Clif Smith, met with Tournament officials and submitted the application a month ago. Tournament COO Bill Flinn notified the Committee Tuesday of the invitation. Councilman John Mirisch originated the idea, but all members of the Council have expressed enthusiastic support for returning to the signature event.

Is the Board of Education justified in spending the resident-approved Measure E bond monies on their current litigation? The Citizens Oversight Committee is asking that  question.

The COC is a committee of citizens appointed to audit expenditures related to the $334 million Measure E bond for school site upgrades, retrofitting and modernization voted into effect in Nov. 2008.

Is BHUSD facing another budgetary shortfall? A recent audit of the Beverly Hills Unified School District food services department found discrepancies that could mean more dollar woes for the budget totaling over $400,000.

The findings follow a major discrepancy uncovered detailing over reporting of student  enrollment numbers in lunch programs and comes directly on the heels of the resignation of Director of Food Services Maria Hunsaker Feb. 5.

The report, issued by Interim Superintendent of Business Services Mary Anne McCabe, also states that the basic operational accounting system is flawed.

Planning a remodel and think Beverly Hills won’t notice if your builder ignores City approved plans?

Think again.

A single family residence at 1201 Laurel Way approved for a remodel that allowed for a demolition of only 50 percent of the structure was issued a stop work notice after the City’s building department realized 90 percent of the home had been torn down.

Project Supervisor Keith Bae claims he was given the okay to do so by a City building inspector named Steve Tabor.

The Beverly Hills City Council will support Assemblymen Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield in their efforts to prohibit California and local governments from contracting with companies that have business activities in Iran’s energy sector by unanimously endorsing the assemblymembers’ newly introduced bill AB 1650.

The bill precludes all public entities in California from renewing or entering into contracts with companies that have substantial business in Iran’s energy sector, ensuring that California’s tax dollars do not support companies whose investments either directly or indirectly support Iran’s nuclear program, exploitation of terror and brutal suppression of internal dissent.

It isn’t officially spring in Beverly Hills until the annual BHEF Apple Ball preparations get underway. Thursday, Beverly Hills Education Foundation CEO Dev Hankin announced the 2010 honorees.

This year finds Shawn and Larry King, acclaimed television and radio host and notable City personality, the recipients The Bosse Spirit of Philanthropy Award. The award, named for residents and long-time Beverly Hills Unified School District donors Lili and Jon Bosse, recognizes excellence in contributions to philanthropy to the City and world at large.

It was once sunshine and blue skies for Beverly Hills real estate agent and licensed appraiser Kyle Grasso.

But now the only light he will be seeing is through prison bars.  

The Beverly Hills agent  was sentenced today to one year and one day in federal prison and five years of a supervised released for his role in a  $40 million Ponzi scheme.

He will also have to pay $13,070,148 in restitution fees.

Last August, a jury convicted Grasso of criminal conspiracy, bank fraud, numerous loan fraud counts, and money laundering, according to Thom Mrozek, Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

To promote Alice In Wonderland, Disney trotted out its stars during a Hollywood fan fest. Mia Wasikowski plays Alice, with Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, with Johnny Depp appearing as the Mad Hatter. See more on George Christy's page.

The newest guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy, the USS Dewey (DDG 105) entered active service this past Saturday at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station in a historic commissioning ceremony heavily supported by Beverly Hills community members.

The Courier’s online web site, bhcourier.com, stunned local readers and advertisers with its most recent results from Google analytics. The stats revealed a worldwide audience and following throughout California and the United States with 4.2 million total page views, 816,771 visitors, and more than 12.4 million hits in the last year alone.

Legendary Beverly Hills family, the Max Factors, will auction their private collection of jewelry, art and silver.

All proceeds from the property of Dorothy and Sidney Factor and son Max Factor III will be donated to several City organizations including a large endowment to benefit Beverly Hills High School’s music program. The auction begins March 31 and is organized through Heritage Auction Beverly Hills.

The auction will prominently feature important pieces from the couples’ extensive collection over their 65-year marriage and is held in memory of Sidney Factor and his commitment to philanthropy.

Italy’s superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli received his star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week. He was joined by wife Veronica Berti. See more on George Christy's Page

A no-name beauty queen from Pasadena appears to be using her self-appointed title of  “Miss Beverly Hills” and her public opposition to gay marriage as a way to earn her 15 minutes of fame.

Lauren Ashley, a 23-year-old contestant in the 2011 Miss California USA pageant, has made recent headlines for her opposition to gay marriage under the title of “Miss Beverly Hills.”

But Beverly Hills states Ashley does not represent the City in any capacity.

The 9900 Wilshire Blvd. property controlled by Project Lotus LLC, a joint venture with Kaupthing Bank and Guernsey based development company, CPC Group, was foreclosed on Thursday morning in Norwalk, Calif.  by means of a public auction conducted at 10: 30 am.

There were no bidders other than the lender, Banco Inbursa, which now owns the property.

Spokeswoman from CPC Group, Nina Sanders, said early Thursday morning that CPC and the lender had reached a final agreement.

When asked whether the agreement called for the public sale to proceed today, she declined to comment.

FEB. 25, 2010 1:53 p.m.—It was once sunshine and blue skies for Beverly Hills real estate agent and licensed appraiser Kyle Grasso.
But now the only light he will be seeing is through prison bars. 
Grasso  was sentenced today to one year and one day in federal prison and five years of a supervised released for his role in a  $40 million Ponzi scheme.
He will also have to pay $13,070,148 in restitution fees.