Back row, left to right: Assistant Principal Dana Findley, middle school science teacher Helen Hixon, Principal

Steve Kessler. Second row: Iden Azad, Wesley Wu, Wesley Wu, Arjun Batra, Daniel Wiener, Brandon Shabani, Kimia Azad, parent coach Tina Wiener, Board of Education President Dr. Brian Goldberg, Board of Education member Noah Margo. First row: Maxbryan Cosmosse, Christopher Courion, Jared Kurtz, Oren Azad, Ayon Bhowmick, Audrey De Leon.

Horace Mann Science Olympiad team recognized by PTA

The Horace Mann Science Olympiad Team was recognized last month by the Horace Mann PTA for its performance at the 26th annual Los Angeles County Science Olympiad at Occidental College on Feb. 25. Team Horace Mann placed 12 out of 36 teams. The Horace Mann elementary team (pictured), which was coached by PTA Executive Vice President Eleonora Goldberg, PTA Vice President of Programs Tina Wiener, and science teacher Helen Hixon, earned the silver medal. prison, a portion of that can go to pay BHUSD, Huntsman said. If she is employed after prison, a portion of her wages can also go toward restitution, Huntsman said. Christiansen was sentenced to four years and four months in prison, but is free on bail pending appeal. Christiansens attorney Philip Kaufler did not return a phone call from the Weekly. In March, Kaufler said he was working on briefs for the appeal, and he expected a trial date in the appellate court to be at least six to eight months away. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. in the International Ballroom. Dietary laws will be observed at the black tie event. The Magbit Foundation was established in 1990 to promote university education in Israel. To accomplish this goal, Magbit established an interest-free loan program for needy and qualified students. The loan recipients repay the loans when they are financially able and loan repayments go directly to the students university. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit magbit.org or call (310) 273-2233.

This will be [more than] a year-long event for our city, so this group is used to doing something on that kind of a scale. They have the relationships, they know the type of brand that Beverly Hills is, and could entice those kinds of companies to be sponsors and help support this event. Vice Mayor John Mirisch voted no, because he objected to Argus receiving both a monthly $10,000 retainer payment and 20-percent commission on sponsorships it secures, including on the fair market value of in-kind donations. To me it seems like double dipping [to receive a retainer and commission], Mirisch said. In principal, I have an issue with that. Im not calling into question their skills or talents or that theyre good. I like the model if they get the deals done, they get rewarded; if they dont, they dont. Mirisch pointed out that William Morris Endeavor, with which the City has a licensing agreement, works on commission only. Deputy City Manager Cheryl Friedling explained the City was agreeing to a higher commission rate than Argus initial proposal of 10 percent because Argus initially proposed a higher retainer rate of $30,000 per month. Friedling said the City has told Argus the expectation is to focus on cash donations, and any offers of in-kind donations will be reviewed by the anniversary committee. She said Argus would not be compensated for any sponsorships or donations it is not responsible for securing. The City has already allocated $250,000 from the current years tourism and marketing budget, which comes from the transient occupancy tax, toward the anniversary cel-

ebration. The City plans to allocate the same amount over the next two years for a total of $750,000. The Argus Group has relationships with prominent corporations, philanthropic leaders and celebrities, Friedling explained. When Argus worked with Mexico for its bicentennial celebration, it secured Bill Clinton, Salma Hayek, and Placido Domingo for its Host Committee, which can improve visibility and brand recognition for the City, Friedling said. Bosse said the 100th Anniversary Committee would be meeting with Argus in the coming weeks to develop a plan for executing the celebration.

Traffic and Parking Commission recommends allway stop at Carla Ridge and Arkell Drive
The Traffic and Parking Commission voted unanimously April 5 to recommend the addition of a two-way stop sign at Carla Ridge and Arkell Drive to make the intersection an all-way stop. Stop signs facing eastbound and westbound traffic on Arkell Drive at Carla Ridge currently exist, but the Commission recommended installing stop signs facing northbound and southbound traffic on Carla Ridge to address visibility issues at the intersection. Deputy Director of Transportation Aaron Kunz said the Citys Transportation Department investigated the site at a residents request and determined there was a right-of-way visibility issue at the intersection, meaning, if theres a two-way stop, briefs cont. on page 7

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Next months Magbit Foundation Gala to feature Israeli singer Sarit Hadad
The Magbit Foundation is celebrating the State of Israels 64 years of independence with a performance by Israeli pop star Sarit Hadad and her band at the foundations 23rd Annual Gala on May 6 at the Sarit Hadad Beverly Hilton Hotel. Since 1995, the award-winning pop singer has released 20 albums, all of which have attained gold and platinum sales. The Israeli Music TV Channel named Hadad the best female singer of the decade in 2010. During the course of her career, Hadad has toured internationally, including stops in Los Angeles. Cocktails will be served at 5:30 p.m.

City retains New York marketing agency for 100th anniversary

The City has retained The Argus Group, a New York-based marketing agency, to sign up corporate sponsors and develop a highprofile host committee for the City of Beverly Hills 100th anniversary celebration. The City is planning an 18-month celebration beginning in mid-2013 that will continue throughout 2014. The official anniversary date is Jan. 28, 2014. The City Council voted 4-1 April 3 to approve the one-year, $120,000 contract. Councilmember Lili Bosse, who serves on the 100th Anniversary Celebration Committee with Councilmember Barry Brucker, called the agreement with Argus a smart investment. Dick Rosenzweig, recently retired Playboy executive, chairs the committee. We want to do something that is global that will reach all over the world, Bosse said. My goal is people are going to choose to come to Beverly Hills during that year, just like people travel to wherever the Olympics are because they want to be part of an event.

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