HNA News: Crime Watch: More Burglaries, Announcements

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Burglary on 2300 Block of Webster Street

2. Burglary on 2300 Block of Prince Street

3. Auto Break-in on 2200 Block of Woolsey Street

4. Police Department Reports on Crime: On-Line Resources

5. Disaster Pet Class, Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

6. ZAB Hearing on B&W Liquors, Thursday, March 9, 7 p.m.

7. Neighborhood Meeting on CIL's Telegraph Ave. Site Development, Mon., Feb. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

As you can see, we've been getting more reports of burglaries over the last couple of weeks, and it appears likely that the burglars are watching people's comings and goings. Please keep your eyes open and call either 911 (for emergencies/crimes in progress) or 981-5900 (nonemergency number) as appropriate.

-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor

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1. Burglary on 2300 Block of Webster Street

A Webster Street neighbor reports:

"Our next-door neighbor got robbed Thursday, Feb. 23, between 1 and 2:30 p.m. The burglar opened her accessible kitchen window and went out the back door. Apparently the lock was left ajar. I was on my dog walk, and she was out only during that hour, so we think someone may have been watching."

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2. Burglary on 2300 Block of Prince Street

 A Prince Street neighbor reports:

"I do not have all the details, but there was another attempted burglary [of an apartment in the 2300 block of] Prince Street over the weekend [Feb. 18-19]. Apparently people entered through an open window and although it looked like they went through possessions, nothing was stolen. The tenants were not home at the time."

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3. Auto Break-in on 2200 Block of Woolsey Street

A Woolsey Street neighbor reports:

"I'd like to let everyone know that [on Friday, February 17] between 12 and 4 p.m. my truck got broken into. The window was smashed and the console was trashed in the thief's successful attempt to steal my cheap radio."

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4. Police Department Reports on Crime: On-Line Resources

The following information comes from Councilmember Gordon Wozniak's office:

Our office has two new pieces of information to share with you regarding crime in the City of Berkeley, including the Police Department's quarterly report on crime, and the City's new Crime View software.

The City Council has directed the City Manager to provide quarterly reports on crime in Berkeley, including comparisons of Berkeley's crime rate to other jurisdictions in the Bay Area. The most recent report came out on February 21, 2006: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/2006citycouncil/packet/022106/2006-02-21%20Item%2023%20Quarterly%20Report%20-%20Crime.pdf

In addition, the Police Department has new Crime View software available on the web, allowing users to look up crime data by address, police beat area or council district. Information will be updated daily and users can choose which crime types they would like to view for a period of up to 180 days. Once the maps are created, the user can find more specific information about an individual incident by placing the cursor over the event marker. If you are testing the system with your address, we recommend that you use a large time period (such as 180 days) to ensure that the data appears on the map. There is also an online tutorial about how to use the software:  http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/Community%20Crime%20View/CrimeView%20Intro5_.html

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5. Disaster Pet Class, Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Berkeley East Bay Humane Society, 2700 9th Street (at Carleton)

The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society is offering a workshop pinpointing the steps to take to ensure your pet's survival. Space is limited to people only (i.e., no pets!). For more information call 510 845-7735 or visit http://www.berkeleyhumane.org.

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6. ZAB Hearing on B&W Liquors, Thursday, March 9, 7 p.m.

Reminder from Dawn Rubin: The ZAB meeting to decide conditions for Black & White Liquors is scheduled for March 9, 7 p.m.; community letters are due to ZAB by March 1.

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7. Neighborhood Meeting on CIL's Telegraph Ave. Site Development, Mon., Feb. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The Center  for Independent Living (CIL) invites the neighborhood to discuss the  development of  its Telegraph  Avenue property on Monday,  February 27, 2006,  6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Center  for Independent Living, 2539 Telegraph  Ave.

The Center for Independent  Living is a landmark disability rights organization in the City of  Berkeley.   For 34 years, CIL has been advocating for independent living for people with  disabilities, and providing essential programs and services in Berkeley and  beyond. CIL is part of the group of  nonprofits that will move to the Ed Roberts Campus (ERC) at the Ashby BART  station. The ERC will bring together eight groups who work with people  with disabilities in a new universally designed  community center easily  accessible by public transit. Once the ERC is complete in 2008, CIL will  move its offices to the new facility. The Center for Independent  Living looks forward to meeting with its neighbors to discuss the development of  its Telegraph  Avenue property. CIL is committed to ensuring the  site's future uses add to the vitality on Telegraph  Avenue and to the quality of life  of its residential neighbors.

For  More Information: Caleb Dardick, Community  Liaison <caleb@cdastrategies.com>

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as announcements about events of interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley, including community-building potlucks, greening projects, disaster preparedness meetings, and work parties in Halcyon Commons Park. If you're receiving this email, either you signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor may have forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA always uses bcc and does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

HNA Listserve:  If you would like to receive messages (and participate in discussions) on the HNA Listserve, please reply to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join.

HNA Blog:  If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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HNA News: Disaster Prep Mtg. 3/11; Crime Watch, B&W, Transit Village

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Disaster Prep Subcommittee Meeting, Saturday, March 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Location TBD (RSVP)

2. Crime Watch Report: Burglary on Wheeler Street

3. Update on B&W Liquors (Next ZAB Hearing Thursday, March 9)

4. Ashby Transit Village Links

Please note the rescheduled meeting date for the Disaster Prep Subcommittee and be sure to RSVP promptly if you're interested in attending. This is a key meeting for guiding a  step-by-step process this year toward a stronger disaster preparedness and crime watch network in our neighborhood. Meanwhile, hope you enjoy a happy and safe holiday weekend.

-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor

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1. Disaster Prep Subcommittee Meeting, Saturday, March 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Location TBD (RSVP)

If you're interested in playing a leading or organizing role in strengthening our neighborhood's disaster preparedness (and following up on some of the good ideas generated at the neighborhood-wide meeting last October) either as a block captain or in some other role, please join the rescheduled Disaster Prep Subcommittee meeting Saturday, March 11.

If you plan to come, please RSVP to HNA Crime Watch/Disaster Prep Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin (<familyrubin@comcast.net>, 843-6306) since the location will be determined in part by the number of people attending.

Discussion will include:

* Practical next steps to move our neighborhood toward greater preparedness

* Water drum project (bulk order of 55-gallon drums)

* Organizing an effective block-by-block structure, including identifying block captains for all blocks

* Sharing information about Oakland's program and available resources through the City of Berkeley

* Brainstorming

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2. Crime Watch Report: Burglary on Wheeler Street

A neighbor from Wheeler Street Reports:

"On Monday, Feb. 13, between the hours of 8-4, our neighbor's house (on Wheeler between Woolsey and Prince) was broken into. No fingerprints were left."

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3. Update on B&W Liquors (Next ZAB Hearing Thursday, March 9)

Dawn Rubin, Crime Watch/Disaster Prep Coordinator, for HNA, reports:

The Zoning Adjustments Board will discuss Black & White Liquors again on Thursday 3/9 ). They would like to see neighbors at the meeting so that they know we're still interested -  especially since the issue has now dragged on for so long with no resolution.   Also, neighbors are strongly encouraged to submit letters to the ZAB as soon as possible stating what they would like to see happen (e.g. conditions to impose or not, "voluntary" zoning certificate if it can be done IMMEDIATELY - otherwise a nuisance finding to impose the conditions, or however people feel).  Letters should be submitted to Ms. Debra Sanderson, ZAB Secretary, by email (DSanderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us) or in person at the Planning Office (2118 Milvia). Ideally letters should be submitted by March 1 so they'll go out in the big packet delivered March 3 to ZAB members (last-minute communications often get lost in the pile the night of the meeting).  Please feel free to copy me, Dawn Trygstad Rubin (<familyrubin@comcast.net>, 843-6306, 3049 Wheeler St.), on all letters, regardless of position, and I will make sure that they are all received by Ms. Sanderson for inclusion in the ZAB packet. Also let me know if you plan to attend the ZAB meeting on March 9 (starting at 7 p.m.).

See the Berkeley Daily Planet for background about B&W and the ZAB process:

* 07/22/05: http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?archiveDate=07-22-05&storyID=21895

* 9/20/05: http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=09-20-05&storyID=22338

* 12/13/05: http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?archiveDate=12-13-05&storyID=22937

* 01/24/06 (end of article): http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=01-24-06&storyID=23271

* 01/31/06: http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=01-31-06&storyID=23315

* 2/14/06:  http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=01-31-06&storyID=23421

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4. Ashby Transit Village Links

Tuesday's Berkeley Daily Planet  (Feb. 14) contained this news story on the Saturday (Feb. 11) community meeting about the Transit Village (Mayor, Anderson Field Ashby BART Questions"):  http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=02-14-06&storyID=23415

The latest Berkeley Daily Planet (Feb. 17) contained this commentary by neighbor Rosemary Hyde "BART Proposal Contains Blatant Mistakes and Should Be Withdrawn Due to Flaws"): http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-17-06&storyID=23456

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as announcements about events of interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley, including community-building potlucks, greening projects, disaster preparedness meetings, and work parties in Halcyon Commons Park. If you're receiving this email, either you signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor may have forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA always uses bcc and does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

HNA Listserve:  If you would like to receive messages (and participate in discussions) on the HNA Listserve, please reply to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join.

HNA Blog:  If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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HNA News: Crime Watch Report, Transit Village Mtg. Sat. 2/11, etc.

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Crime Watch Report: Burglary in 2300 Block of Prince Street

2. Sat., Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-noon: City to Host Discussion on Possible Development Project on Ashby BART Parking Lot

3. Links to Ashby Transit Village articles

4. Sign-up Open for Tour of East Bay Gardens with Native Plants, May 7, 2006

5. News Rules on Toxic Waste Disposal Now in Effect

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1. Crime Watch Report: Burglary in 2300 Block of Prince Street

A neighbor from the 2300 block of Prince Street reports:

"There was a burglary early the morning of Tuesday, February 7, on the 2300 of Prince St. The burglar walked into our backyard area, where there are two other units. The burglar climbed into the unit's bathroom that is farthest back on the property. The single tenant, who is a woman, was there asleep when the person broke in. She awoke when she heard him leave, but didn't get a good look at him. He stole her laptop computer and $40.00. Now, we aren't sure if he was scoping the property out or was snooping around the back area, but she did leave a 5 foot. ladder out in front of the window which he used to enter into the apartment. She did inform the police but not until later in the morning. . . . I just want to send this email out to the neighborhood to let everyone know and keep us more aware. The strangest things can happen in any neighborhood. I'm just glad she is safe."

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2. Sat., Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-noon: City to Host Discussion on Possible Development Project on Ashby BART Parking Lot

Announcement from the Mayor's Office concerning tomorrow's meeting on the proposed Ashby Transit Village:

Berkeley, CA - There has been considerable discussion in South Berkeley about the City's recent application for a community planning process grant to explore a housing development on the Ashby BART parking lot. Council Member Max Anderson and Mayor Tom Bates have called for this community meeting to discuss what actions the city has taken and how to work more collaboratively and proactively with the neighborhood.

WHO: Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, Council Member Max Anderson

WHAT: Community Meeting on Ashby BART development

WHERE: St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Avenue (near Adeline)

WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 10 a.m. -Noon

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3. Links to Ashby Transit Village articles

Here's the latest link to today's article in the weekend edition of the Berkeley Daily Planet  (Feb. 10-13, 2006, "Ashby Transit Village Opponents Win Delay"): http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-10-06&storyID=23390

The issue was also covered in a recent Daily Californian article (Feb. 9, 2006, "Ashby BART Station Plan Comes Under Fire"): http://www.dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=21058

And in today's Berkeley Voice( 2/10/06 as reprinted on the City of Berkeley's News Scan service, "City Council News: Anderson Drops Grant Proposal"): http://www.cityofberkeley.info/news/print.asp?id=15313

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4. Sign-up Open for Tour of East Bay Gardens with Native Plants, May 7, 2006

For those interested in learning about using native plants in local gardens, registration is now open for the 2006 Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour.  It's a free, one-day tour of 60 East Bay gardens that use native plants to save water, attract wild life, reduce or eliminate pesticide use, and  create beautiful gardens. Ten of the gardens are in Berkeley  so biking is possible.  The event is expected to fill; for more information and to register for the event on May 7, 2006 , see http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/reg06-form.html.

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5. News Rules on Toxic Waste Disposal Now in Effect

Just a reminder that residents of California must now dispose of computers, cell phones, radios, batteries,  fluorescent bulbs, and other electronic devices at formal disposal centers or face fines for throwing them in the trash.

For a  complete list of e-waste and information about disposal and recycling: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/universalwaste/index.cfm.

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as announcements about events of interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley, including community-building potlucks, greening projects, disaster preparedness meetings, and work parties in Halcyon Commons Park. If you're receiving this email, either you signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor may have forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA always uses bcc and does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

HNA Listserve:  If you would like to receive messages (and participate in discussions) on the HNA Listserve, please reply to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join.

HNA Blog:  If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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HNA News: Mtg. Sat. 2/11 on Transit Village; More on Transit Village

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Community Meeting on Ashby BART Future Sat. Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-Noon

2. Reply from Robert Lauriston to Fred Dodsworth's Letter on  Ashby BART Transit Village

3. More Ashby BART Transit Village Links

4. Free Emergency Preparedness Classes in February

The Ashby Transit Village proposal is clearly a hot issue in our neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. I will continue to pass on relevant information such as links to articles and notification re meeting dates related to it so neighbors can engage in the process as they choose, although our focus as Halcyon Neighborhood Association will remain on working together to improve our neighborhood through crime watch, disaster preparedness, and community-building potlucks and other activities, including children's play dates and greening efforts such as maintaining Halcyon Commons Park. The HNA Steering Committee has reaffirmed our desire to focus on nonpartisan issues so all neighbors feel welcome to participate.

As the HNA E-Newsletter editor, I also wish to point out that the E-Newsletter is not the product of professional journalists, but simply the work of concerned neighborhood volunteers trying to pass on information of interest on an occasional basis. It is not a discussion listserve or blog. Since the controversy over the Transit Village proposal is starting to generate "letters to the editor" (a.k.a. me!), I want to remind everyone that HNA has both a listserve and a blog (see the tag lines at the end of the newsletter for information on how to participate). Our community newspaper, the Berkeley Daily Planet, also provides generous space for letters to the editor and commentary from a variety of points of view. I encourage those of you who feel a need to comment on issues raised in this newsletter to make ample use of these resources.

-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor

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1. Community Meeting on Ashby BART Future Sat. Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-Noon

Title: Working Together for Housing, Shops & Jobs at Ashby BART
Community Information & Discussion Meeting

Saturday, February 11, 2006, 10:00 a.m. -12:00 noon

St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Avenue (near Adeline)

Berkeley City Councilmember Max Anderson and Mayor Tom Bates invite the public to meet with them and [Ashby BART Transit Village] Project Director Ed Church to discuss our community planning process for potential development at the Ashby BART station which will  include:
 

* The grant proposal to fund a planning process

* City Council actions  to date

* Preserving the Flea Market

* The roles of a Task Force in the initial phase of the process

* The time line for the process

* Questions  and comments from the public

Mayor Bates, Councilmember Anderson, and Ed Church [of the South Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation] will make brief presentations and answer questions/listen to comments and concerns from the public.  The majority of the time will be dedicated to questions and comments from the  public.

 
The meeting will be facilitated by Taj Johns, City of Berkeley Neighborhood Services Liaison.  For more information, call 981-7130.

Note: As there will be many in attendance, you're welcome to submit your question(s) a head of time via email to Ed Church <ed.church@sbcglobal.net>.

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2. Reply from Robert Lauriston to Fred Dodsworth's Letter on Ashby BART Transit Village

The following response was received regarding Fred Dodsworth's letter on the Transit Village posted in the last HNA E-Newsletter (see http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/  Weds. Feb. 4, item 2,  for full letter ) :

[To: HNA E-Newsletter Editor Nancy Carleton:]

Fred's claim that "the planning process doesn't include anything beyond the outer perimeter of the parking lot" is incorrect. Objective IIB (page 20 of the PDF) discusses acquiring parcels and development rights elsewhere in the project area.

I don't know that anyone else's misstatement of the facts is any more deliberate than Fred's. The grant application is badly written and confusing. It's easy for even a knowledgeable reader to jump to conclusions from the map on page 27 of the PDF. I discussed that in my Jan. 20 open letter to Max Anderson.

From my initial reading of the grant application, I thought the map was of a proposed Transit Village Development District. I believe that Steve Wollmer, who's as astute a reader of such documents as we have in Berkeley, came to the same conclusion.

On January 9 I asked Ed Church whether his plan would suffer if the city did not declare a transit village development district, and to my surprise he answered there was no plan to do so. On January 12 I emailed him and asked, "if you don't intend to pursue designation of a transit village development district, what's the import of the grant application's 'project area' extending about a quarter-mile from Ashby station?" He still hasn't responded to that question.

From reading Caltrans's "tips and pointers" sheet for grant applicants, I figured out that the project area could simply be the area where invitations to community meetings would be distributed, traffic and parking studies done, and so on.

If the planning process had been open and transparent from the beginning, there would have been no need to guess what Ed Church and Max Anderson were up to.

[From: Robert Lauriston]

[Editor's Note: See http://nabart.com/ for background information Lauriston cites.]

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3. More Ashby BART Transit Village Links

There's a variety of coverage of the Ashby BART Transit Village in the weekday edition (Feb. 7-9) of the Berkeley Daily Planet (out today), starting with an article on tonight's Council meeting ("Ashby Transit Village, Landmark Ordinance Top Council Agenda") http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-07-06&storyID=23367 and including two commentaries, one by former Mayor Shirley Dean ("Pull Grant Application, Start Over with Public Participation") http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-07-06&storyID=23384,   and one by neighbor Kenoli Oleari (" Ashby Transit Village? No Thanks.") http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-07-06&storyID=23386.

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4. Free Emergency Preparedness Classes in February

Berkeley's Office of Emergency Services (OES) offers free classes in Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) to anyone who lives or works in Berkeley.  

 

*           Saturday, February 11, 9-12 - Disaster First Aid (997 Cedar Street)
*           Saturday, February 25, 10-12 - Neighborhood Organizing (997 Cedar Street)
 

Call 510-981-5605 or 510-981-5506 to register, or for information. You may also register on-line at  <http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html> www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html.

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as announcements about events of interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley, including community-building potlucks, greening projects, disaster preparedness meetings, and work parties in Halcyon Commons Park. If you're receiving this email, either you signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor may have forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA always uses bcc and does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

HNA Listserve:  If you would like to receive messages (and participate in discussions) on the HNA Listserve, please reply to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join.

HNA Blog:  If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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HNA News: 2/5 Disaster Prep Mtg. Cancelled, Transit Village, etc.

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. CANCELLED!!! Disaster Prep Subcommittee Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 5, 4-6 p.m.

2. Ashby BART Transit Village Response from Fred Dodsworth

3. Another Ashby BART Transit Village Link

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1. CANCELLED!!! Disaster Prep Subcommittee Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 5, 4-6 p.m.

Oops! Without thinking, we scheduled this meeting on Superbowl Sunday, so we're cancelling and will have another date on the calendar for this important meeting soon. Watch for the new date. And in the meantime, enjoy your Superbowl party (or your quiet time away from the cultural vortex)!

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2. Ashby BART Transit Village Response from Fred Dodsworth

The following response was received regarding the recent Transit Village Update in the last HNA E-Newsletter (see http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/  Weds. Feb. 1, item 2,  for full article ) :

Regarding:
[[ * Some neighbors want the current CalTrans grant application to be withdrawn as a sort of community a "time-out" because:
  * it includes homes up to 1/4 mile away in area described for development,

        * the South Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation named in the application to  manage grant funds is an unknown entity to most people,
  * they want full consideration of the possible risks of this grant application in light of recent California Transit Village legislation and Supreme Court rulings re eminent domain.]]

Halcyon neighbors:

This portion [excerpted above] of the discussion is a deliberate misstatement of the facts.

The planning process doesn't include anything beyond the outer perimeter of the parking lot. The application only identifies the surrounding 1/2 mile, because BART considers its impact area to cover that area, so the proposed planning process took that into account.

For better or worse, and I've heard both, the applicant,  South Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation, has been in the community for many years.

"California Transit Village legislation and Supreme Court rulings re eminent domain" are irrelevant. The application is for a planning process, not a 'Transit Village Development District.' Only governmental authorities, like the city or the county could create a  'Transit Village Development District.' The city is on-record as not seeking the designation and Councilmember Anderson's agenda item on the council calendar for next Tuesday [Feb. 7] would specifically exclude that option on the city's behalf.

I've heard a great deal of deliberately misstated arguments against this proposal. Whether or not the city or the neighborhood want development on the Ashby BART parking lot, no one is served by deception.

Fred Dodsworth

(only speaking as a Berkeley resident who works in the Halcyon/South Berkeley neighborhood)

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3. Another Ashby BART Transit Village Link

Another article by neighbor Robert Lauriston ("Commentary: Stop the Ashby BART Grant") appeared in the weekend edition (Feb. 3-6) of the Berkeley Daily Planet: http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-03-06&storyID=23360

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as announcements about events of interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley. If you're receiving this email, either you signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor may have forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA always uses bcc and does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

HNA Listserve:  If you would like to receive messages (and participate in discussions) on the HNA Listserve, please reply to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join.

HNA Blog:  If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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HNA News: Disaster Prep Comm 2/5; Transit Village Update; etc.

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Disaster Prep Subcommittee Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 5, 4-6 p.m.

2. Ashby BART Transit Village Update

3. B&W Liquors Update

4. Free Emergency Preparedness Classes in February

5. 2006 Dates for Neighborhood Events

6. Play Date List for Neighborhood Kids

Many thanks to the hosts and folks who distributed flyers - as well as all who attended -  for making our annual Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck a big success. We had a great turnout at the three stops on our culinary tour  -  and lots of fun.  In this newsletter, you'll see there are many more ways for everyone to participate over the coming year. As always, please email me at <ngc2@mindspring.com> if you have announcements or crime alerts you'd like me to pass on.

-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor

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1. Disaster Prep Subcommittee Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 5, 4-6 p.m.

Dawn Rubin's Basement Office, 3049 Wheeler (go to right of house to back door to enter)

If you're interested in playing a leading or organizing role in strengthening our neighborhood's disaster preparedness (and following up on some of the good ideas generated at the neighborhood-wide meeting last October) either as a block captain or in some other role, please join the Disaster Prep Subcommittee meeting this coming Sunday.

Discussion will include:

* Practical next steps to move our neighborhood toward greater preparedness

* Water drum project (bulk order of 55-gallon drums)

* Organizing an effective block-by-block structure, including identifying block captains for all blocks

* Sharing information about Oakland's program and available resources through the City of Berkeley

* Brainstorming

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2. Ashby BART Transit Village Update

The following summary is from HNA Crime Watch & Disaster Prep Coordinator Dawn Rubin with some minor additions from HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton:

Next Tuesday, 2/7, Councilmember Max Anderson has put forward a second resolution on the City Council agenda  affirming the CalTrans grant application for the Ashby BART station and clarifying it in response to concerns raised in the community. Please see the recent Berkeley Daily Planet article ("Anderson Seeks to Allay Ashby BART Anxieties") for more information:  http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=01-31-06&storyID=23319

This article refers to a community meeting on the project being planned by Councilmember Anderson on February 11th. The HNA E-Newsletter will forward details about this meeting as they become available.

Neighbors have varying opinions and strong feelings about the plans for developing the Ashby BART site. Hundreds of South Berkeley residents turned out for the Transit Village Forum held on January 17, most in opposition to the project. See the Berkeley Daily Planet article "Neighbors Oppose Ashby BART Project" for an account of the forum:  http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=01-20-06&storyID=23234

Based on feedback from various neighbors, we're aware that:

        * Some neighbors support the grant application and feel that development of the parking lot at the Ashby BART station could bring long-term benefits to our community.

        * Some neighbors support some development, but are concerned about the content of the grant application and the process used to develop and submit it.
  * Some neighbors are opposed to any development at Ashby BART because they feel this neighborhood is already too dense.

        * Some neighbors don't know what to think yet, because they haven't had time to study the issue.

        * Some neighbors want the current CalTrans grant application to be  withdrawn as a sort of community a "time-out" because:
              * it includes homes up to 1/4 mile away in area described for development,
              * grant proponents claimed they had strong support in their application, yet never reached out to any local neighborhood groups of residents,
           * the South Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation named in the application to  manage grant funds is an unknown entity to most people,

                * they want full consideration of the possible risks of this grant application in light of recent California Transit Village legislation and Supreme Court rulings re eminent domain.

        * Some neighbors want time to develop community-driven process to develop consensus about what the best long-term use of that space would be.

        * Some feel that submitting a grant application with so much community opposition now risks both the chances of current approval and future approval of any subsequent application for this money which is given out by CalTrans in an annual grant process.

A coalition of people, groups, and organizations are staging a rally to request that the current CalTrans grant application be withdrawn. This rally will take place on the City Hall steps before the meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, City Hall Steps at 6:15 p.m.  They also plan to have a series of speakers at the City Council meeting, which starts a few minutes after 7:00 p.m.

If you are interested in attending the Council meeting to express your point of view, whatever it may be, please note that speakers are selected by lottery for the public comment portion of each City Council meeting (which is usually no more than half an hour total, with ten cards drawn) .  Everyone, no matter what their opinion on this issue, can submit a speaker card; their time, if their card is selected, may then be ceded to other designated speakers if so desired.

For more information:

* Contact Mayor Tom Bates, mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us, 981-7100

* Contact Councilmember Max Anderson, manderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us, 981-7130

* See www.nabart.com (CalTrans grant application, history of Ashby BART, etc.)

DISCLAIMER NOTE: Halcyon Neighborhood Association does NOT have an official position on this issue. This newsletter strives to keep neighbors apprised of various events and issues affecting our neighborhood so that everyone can participate.  HNA exists to help coordinate community-building activities, including park maintenance and neighborhood cleanup, neighborhood crime watch, emergency preparedness, tree planting, community potlucks, kids' play dates, and other activities that help neighbors participate in and enjoy our community.  We strive to include all neighbors and encourage them to build positive relationships -  regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, or political persuasion.

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3. B&W Liquors Update

Here's a report from HNA Crime Watch/Disaster Prep Coordinator Dawn Rubin, who was tracking this issue for HNA:

Most of you know that the ZAB held their follow-up meeting on B&W last Thursday. The majority agreed with the owner, Mr. Sucha Banger, to drop the nuisance proceedings if he would "voluntarily" apply for a use permit with conditions (and thus apparently nullify his grandfathered rights).  I wish the ZAB had imposed much more stringent conditions than they did, especially a much earlier closing time; in my opinion, it certainly would have been justified based on past performance and the nuisance laws and public testimony. Still, I think we got as much as we could, given the reticence of many nearby neighbors to voice their complaints in public and the approach taken by Greg Daniel, the Berkeley Code Enforcement Officer and the fact that Mr. Banger's attorney was more competent than others who have worked with Berkeley liquor stores in the past.  I'm hopeful, but not yet convinced, that the standard zoning process could possibly make it easier that the nuisance process to add stricter conditions and/or shut down B&W if problems continue.  Bottom line,  we can declare victory - and remain vigilant.   Mr. Banger, the owner of B&W, is now on notice that he MUST clean up his business. It is my understanding that Mr. Banger agreed to:

* closing at 11 p.m. weeknights and midnight weekends instead of 2 a.m. every day,

*  install security cameras and additional lighting (DONE),

* not  sell fortified liquor or singles any more,

* use clear plastic branded bags,

* clean up trash in the area regularly,

* participate in crime watch and meet with neighbors at least once every two months,

* be subject to reviews at 6 and 12 months.

NOTE: The whole process  is STILL not final until the zoning use permit is complete and approved by the ZAB , hopefully at their next meeting.

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4. Free Emergency Preparedness Classes in February

Berkeley's Office of Emergency Services (OES) offers free classes in Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) to anyone who lives or works in Berkeley.  Here's the class schedule for January and February 2006. More than 1,000 Berkeley residents have taken emergency preparedness classes since Hurricane Katrina. We want to keep up the momentum. 
 

*           Saturday, February 4, 9-12 - Disaster Mental Health (997 Cedar Street)
*           Saturday, February 11, 9-12 - Disaster First Aid (997 Cedar Street)
*           Saturday, February 25, 10-12 - Neighborhood Organizing (997 Cedar Street)
 

Call 510-981-5605 or 510-981-5506 to register, or for information. You may also register on-line at  <http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html> www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html.

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5. 2006 Dates for Neighborhood Events

For those of you who like to get dates on your calendar well in advance:

Sunday, Feb. 5, 4-6 p.m., Disaster Prep. Subcommittee

        ( location 3049 Wheeler)

Sat., Mar. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Work Party, Halcyon Commons Park
(Halcyon at Prince; refreshments served)
Sun., Apr. 16, 5-6:30 p.m., HNA Steering Committee

        (email for details)

Spring Community Potluck (date & location to be announced)
Sat., May 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Work Party, Halcyon Commons Park
Sun., June 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Work Party, Halcyon Commons Park
Sun., July 9, 2-6 p.m., GALA 10th Anniversary Celebration of Halcyon Commons
     (If you'd like to help plan this gala celebration, please contact HNA Co-Chair John Steere at 849-1969.)
Tues., Aug. 1, early evening, National Night Out Against Crime
  (Potluck in park; visits from Police & Fire Departments)       

Continue to watch for the HNA E-Newsletter for more details on these upcoming events, or contact HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton at <ngc2@mindspring.com> or 644-0172 for details.

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6. Play Date List for Neighborhood Kids

At our fabulous Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, Dawn Rubin circulated a sign-up sheet for neighborhood kids interested in coordinating play dates.

If your child would like to participate, please email your child's name, age, address, phone, and your email contact information to Dawn Rubin <familyrubin@comcast.net> to be added to the list.

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as announcements about events of interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley. If you're receiving this email, either you signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor may have forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA always uses bcc and does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

HNA Listserve:  If you would like to receive messages (and participate in discussions) on the HNA Listserve, please reply to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <ngc2@mindspring.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join.

HNA Blog:  If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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