It was the one and only time the famous television host Larry King has ever sworn in a mayor, but it’s only the best for the nation’s highest-ranking Iranian born office holder in the United States, Mayor Jimmy Delshad.

“Perhaps to mark this occasion we should make a trade: how about my handkerchief for a pair of your suspenders? Deal or no deal?” Delshad asked King.

Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart tackle the roles of Cherie Currie and Joan Jett in The Runaways  which premiered this week in Hollywood.  See more on George Christy's page.

I asked Mayor Jimmy Delshad at the end of our interview one question:

“How do you want people to remember you at the end of your Mayorship one year from now?”

“I hope people say the year was a blessing,” said Delshad. “I want to make my life matter, I want to have contributed something to the world.”

With enormous cuts to education budgets statewide, it is no surprise Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the state’s largest and most cash strapped districts, is taking drastic measures to recoup losses. Effective immediately, LAUSD plans to eliminate all grants to interdistrict permits.

Students must receive a “release” from their home district before they are granted a permit for their chosen district. Most children on permit in Beverly Hills Unified School District come from LAUSD. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

The man responsible for creating the coonskin hat craze, actor Fess Parker, died yesterday at his home in Santa Barbara. He was 85.

Parker is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcella, their son and daughter, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Come fall semester 2010, Beverly Hills Unified School District will have replaced four of the five school site principals and put in place a new superintendent.  

Beverly Hills High School Principal J Guidetti and Beverly Vista School Principal Eric Warren were released from their contracts March 11. El Rodeo Principal Pat Escalante was promoted to Director of Pupil Services and Preschool Development.

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.

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.

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