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Drew Barrymore might be a reformed wild child who has a respectable career acting, writing, directing and generally pulling in a lot of box office dinero — but she still knows how to throw the kind of party that pisses off her neighbors. more › See the rest here: Drew Barrymore Can Still Throw the Kind of Party That Pisses Off Her Neighbors
The Beverly Hills High School campus was adorned with Halloween decorations like jack-o-lanterns, spider webs and skeletons, but it was the Normans who got spooked in Friday night’s homecoming game at Nickoll Field. Indeed, defending Ocean League champion Inglewood was the scariest thing BHHS encountered all evening, as the visiting Sentinels forced five turnovers and dominated from start to finish in a 42-0 drubbing that left the Beverly Hills players and coaches looking like they had seen ghosts. “I knew that they were a good team,” BHHS coach Donald Paysinger said. “Our game plan was to establish the run. It was a combination of them being more physical and us not executing the way we needed to. We planned on using both quarterbacks [Brandon Adams and Cameron Countryman] all along and we did, but neither one could get into a rhythm.” Inglewood scored its first points on Devian Shelton’s 14-yard run midway through the first quarter. In the second quarter, he scored on a 36-yard fumble return, Deandre Johnson caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Derrick Woods and Woods scored on a quarterback sneak to give Inglewood a 28-0 lead going into halftime. “I was really impressed with our defense,” said Inglewood coach Stephen Daniel Thomas, who lost 35 players to graduation off last year’s 9-3 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs. “Offensively, I think we were a little sloppy, but our defense has played well all year.” After a festive halftime show, which included performances by the BHHS cheer squad and marching band, and the announcement of the homecoming court, the Normans came out determined to give their fans something to cheer about early in the second half. After Beverly Hills was forced to punt on its first possession, the Sentinels fumbled at their own 35-yard line and the Normans recovered. They failed to capitalize, however, driving inside the 5-yard line before running back Frank Brown was stuffed behind the line on fourth-and-goal. “I was more disappointed in our passing game,” Paysinger said. “Whether it’s running or throwing, you need one or the other working and tonight we had to be able to pass a little to open up the running game and we couldn’t do it.” Shelton scored on a 67-yard run in the third quarter and Johnson caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Woods in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring. “Losing Broderick Smith and Willie Green definitely hurt our offense because they are big-play guys, but things like that happen,” Countryman said of his two teammates who are out due to injury. “There are no excuses. We thought we’d win. The bottom line is we’re not playing very well as a team. The last two games are huge just from a pride standpoint. We want to finish strong.” The loss dropped the Normans into a tie for fourth with Hawthorne in the league standings. Santa Monica is one game ahead of Culver City and Inglewood going into Week 9. The Normans face last place Morningside in an away game next Friday, then host Culver City in their league finale Nov. 10. “The fact that we were playing the defending league champions doesn’t change anything,” Paysinger said. “If you asked most of our players who won league last year they couldn’t tell you. We don’t look in the past, we look at what’s in front of us. We have to get better.” Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final Inglewood 7 21 6 8 42 Beverly Hills 0 0 0 0 0 Scoring Summary 1st Qtr. Inglewood — Shelton 14 run (kick good) 2nd Qtr. Inglewood — Johnson 36 fumble return (kick good) Inglewood — Johnson 16 pass from Woods (kick good) Inglewood — Woods 1 run (kick good) 3rd Qtr. Inglewood — Shelton 67 run (kick blocked) 4th Qtr. Inglewood — Johnson 32 pass from Woods (Woods run) Records: Inglewood 3-5, 2-1; Beverly Hills 2-6, 1-2. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . See the rest here: No Home Sweet Home for Normans
Occupy San Fernando Valley launched into full swing today with protesters targeting local branches of large corporate banks with signs and chants. But the movement will face its first big challenge tonight when it tries to camp out at the Van Nuys Civic Center Complex. more › View original post here: Occupy San Fernando Valley Protesters Could Get Booted Out On Their First Night
On Tuesday, November 1, Angelenos can do good just by being kind. Sounds simple, right? It is. And it will bring a happy and healthy Thanksgiving to hundreds of senior citizens. more › Visit link: Be KIND: Help Feed Senior Citizens This Thanksgiving
The man who hacked into the accounts of celebrities like ScarJo and Mila Kunis may have stalked a totally unfamous Connecticut woman for 12 years, starting when she was 13 years old. more › Link: Scarlett Johansson’s Hackerazzi Allegedly Stalked a 13-Year-Old Non-Celebrity
Visit link: Death Cab for Cutie’s Intimate Studio Session Airs November 1 on KCRW
‘Twas the Friday before Halloween, and all through the internet….bloggers were posting videos of their favorite Halloween cartoons. Here are some of ours: more › Go here to see the original: It’s The Great Pumpkin! And Other Halloween Classics
The first school renovation funded by Measure E is one step closer to reality. The Board of Education unanimously agreed this week to support a plan to spend about $55 million on renovations at Horace Mann School . The proposal, which is still being developed, would create a new two- or three-level building on the corner of Charleville and Robertson boulevards. The building would include a large multipurpose room, underground parking and a new library. Beverly Hills Unified School District facilities director Nelson Cayabyab presented the construction outline to board members at a Measure E study session Tuesday. He received direction to finalize the plan and bring it back to the board at a still-to-be determined study session next month. “Other options were to build a three-story [building] on the east side of Arnez Drive or to just modernize the existing campus,” Cayabyab told Patch in an email. “We do have clear direction now to build a new building. … We are looking at the pros and cons of an underground classroom level or [adding] a third floor onto the existing two-story building.” In accordance with the board’s direction, Cayabyab said he is studying what the total square feet of the building should be, how much parking is necessary and the location of new drop-off and pickup points for parents, which could ease traffic concerns around the school. At least one city traffic officer directs traffic at the school and sometimes another officer issues tickets to those not following directions. “I would want to see curb cutout lanes and other means of ingress/egress to ensure safe and efficient drop off and pickup,” board member Myra Lurie told Patch in an email. “We discussed a drop-off lane inside of the property running east/west that would be entered from Hamel [Road] and exited onto Robertson.” Construction funding would come from Measure E, the $334 million bond passed by voters in 2008 to modernize the city’s schools. As Patch has reported, the original Measure E bond schedule has been revamped because assumptions made at the time of the bond proved to be overly optimistic. The board decided in August to limit initial Measure E construction to Horace Mann and Hawthorne schools, as those are regarded as being the most in need. The $55 million budget for Horace Mann renovations includes about $3 million for modernizing the auditorium. Board members last month had considered tearing down the auditorium and building a new one. Cayabyab and board members have said they hope to start Horace Mann construction in summer 2013. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Read more: Board of Ed OKs Plan for Horace Mann Renovation
As Californians, we are fortunate to enjoy some of the most breathtaking landscapes and pristine wilderness in the country, from Muir Woods in the north of our state to the Santa Monica Mountains in the south. The continued preservation of these and many other sites of great natural beauty across California and the United States is thanks to wise investments made through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Funded by royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on federal lands, the LWCF provides matching grants to states and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities without using a penny of tax dollars. These grants are also an investment in our economy. Outdoor recreation contributed $46 billion, including $28.1 million in retail sales and services, to California’s economy this year, and this economic activity supports approximately 408,000 jobs throughout the state. Given California’s and our nation’s unemployment rate, it’s all the more disturbing that Republicans in the House of Representatives are attempting to gut the Land and Water Conservation Fund this year. If successful, their actions will not be without consequences; cuts to the LWCF risk further damage to our state’s fragile economy and the communities that depend on revenue generated by outdoor recreation. Many of these communities already suffer from high unemployment, and cutting off funding for projects that help create jobs is unconscionable. The debate around conservation funding will soon become critical as Congress gears up for the final steps in the Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations process. In the Senate, a draft version of the bill that funds the Interior Department, including the LWCF, was recently released and established the Senate’s priorities for the agency. We recently sent a letter with 30 of our colleagues to Senators Feinstein and Boxer letting them know that California House Democrats stand with them against attempts to undermine these essential investments in our natural heritage. We have entered a dangerous period for the future of public lands in California and across the nation. Congressional Republicans are intent on undermining our ability to safeguard irreplaceable landscapes and advancing legislation that will result in paving wilderness with development, polluting our clean air and water, and cutting funding for ball fields, playgrounds and national parks statewide. In the days and weeks ahead, we will keep fighting to preserve California’s natural heritage. Protecting the great outdoors is good for our economy, helps create jobs, and ensures that the scenic landscapes that millions of people enjoy in California each year will be here for generations to come. Rep. Honda represents California’s 15th district, and Rep. Roybal-Allard serves California’s 34th district. Follow Rep. Honda on Facebook and Twitter . This Op-Ed first appeared THE HILL’s Congress Blog on 10/28/11 . More: Rep. Mike Honda: Protecting the Land and Water Conservation Fund: A Win for the Environment, a Win for the Economy
Crews of gold-snatching criminals are roving neighborhoods in northeast and yanking the gold chains right off their victims, according to The Eastsider . So far nine robberies have been reported in Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, Highland Park and Cypress Park. Police believe that there are three separate crews of criminals that are targeting victims wearing gold chains. more › See the original post here: Hide Your Valuables! Gold-Snatchers Strike Northeast Neighborhoods
