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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