HNA News: Weeding Work Party Sat. 3/25, 10-2, and other newss

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Weeding Work Party in Halcyon Commons Park, Sat., 3/25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

2. LeConte Neighborhood Association Report

3. Sunshine Ordinance Meeting Monday, 3/27, 7 p.m., 6th Floor, City Hall

4. Free Emergency Preparedness Class 3/25

5. Car Break-in on Webster Street (between Halcyon and Telegraph)

6. Theft of Mail on Deakin Street

Our HNA work parties not only provide a chance to contribute to keeping Halcyon Commons Park and the surrounding neighborhood in good shape; they offer a chance to meet your neighbors, enjoy refreshments, and build community. They're also a way we honor our commitment to the city to help in the ongoing maintenance of this community-created greenspace. If you can, please stop by this Saturday and lend a hand!

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

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1. Weeding Work Party in Halcyon Commons Park, Sat., 3/25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Please join us for spring weeding in Halcyon Commons Park (Halcyon Court at Prince Street) this Saturday. If we have enough helpers, we'll also do trash pickup in the surrounding neighborhood and weed the landscaped barrier at Prince and Deakin.

Refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market.

Please bring weeding and pruning tools if you have them (some extra tools will be available for those who don't have them).

Children welcome. Heavy rain cancels, but a few sprinkles won't stop us!

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2. LeConte Neighborhood Association Report

Karl Reeh, president of LeConte Neighborhood Association, sends this report from LNA's meeting on March 16:

Despite a downpour beginning at 7 PM, 15 hardy souls made it to the  meeting.

Beat Officer Bartalini (#154) spoke about a rash of broken  windows caused by students on their way home after school. He makes it a point  to be in the area around 3:00 every week day. He has also talked with school  authorities. It was suggested that residents who are home in the afternoon pay  close attention and, if convenient, go out front to garden or do other chores while watching. A mother on our block has been sitting outside with her children and  greeting each group of kids who pass. Another recent act of vandalism on the 2200 and 2300 Block of  Stuart St. has been the smashing of windshields and denting of hoods of parked  cars. Three so far.

Patti Dacey spoke about how changes proposed in the "Structure of  Merit"designation will greatly reduce the chances of saving buildings that have historical significance but were not designed by prominent architects. She will  be drafting a letter for LeConte to submit to the Council.

The owner of Black & White Liquor, Sucha Singe Banger, was in  attendance to encourage residents to shop there and suggest items he should  sell. He will also be participating in another meeting next month which will be  held at the Shotgun Players theater. He agreed to repair his neon sign which is  missing letters.( Further details on the restrictions imposed by ZAB will be sent  later.)

Ozzie Vincent from Woolsey Street spoke about an  crime prevention council in North Oakland that has been highly effective. It is  a supplement to Neighborhood Watch which includes a telephone "hotline" so that  crimes that are reported to the police are ALSO recorded locally. This allows  immediate neighbors and coordinators of the council to keep better records for  follow up. Beat officers and merchants are encouraged to participate. (More  later.)

The Office of Emergency Services has announced that it will be  providing more neighborhood training this year. It will also be offering  additional Emergency Supplies to Neighborhood groups that have organized and  taken CERT classes.

A discussion of Ashby/BART development indicated no change.  However, only 15 grants will be made from the 50 or so that have been submitted.  It is hoped that future planning meetings will be held based on what district residents  want before a new grant is applied for.

The Board election was again postponed. Next meeting April  20. To sign onto our regular LeConte "Chat" e-mail go to the following: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lecontechat/

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3. Sunshine Ordinance Meeting Monday, 3/27, 7 p.m., 6th Floor, City Hall

District 7 Councilmember Kriss Worthington has called a meeting to discuss the proposal for a Sunshine Ordinance to make Berkeley's decision-making process more accessible to citizens. The meeting will take place Monday, March 27, at 7 p.m. on the sixth floor of City Hall (2180 Milvia).

Councilmember Worthington's announcement for the meeting reads: "Five years ago, on March 27, 2001, I introduced to the Berkeley City Council a Council item to create a Sunshine Ordinance. It is long overdue. With recent secret events, including but not limited to the secret settlement agreement,it is more obvious that we need a Sunshine Ordinance. (Ironically, the original City council item specified that settlement agreements should be disclosed 10 days before the meeting at which the settlement is to be approved.) Now the City Attorney has offered a draft Sunshine Ordinance which does not include our important original proposals, and also includes some very restrictive language. If the public does not insist on a comprehensive effective Sunshine ordinance, we may get a watered down lowest common denominator version, which will not actually fix any problems. Bring your ideas of what Berkeley can do better to make information available to the public." You can contact Councilmember Worthington at 981-7170 or <kworthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us> for more information.

See also this article in Tuesday's (3/21/06) Daily Planet ("Sun Slow to Shine on Berkeley Government") for more on this issue:

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=03-21-06&storyID=23691

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4. Free Emergency Preparedness Class 3/25

The City of Berkeley has scheduled this free emergency preparedness class:

Disaster First Aid - Saturday, March 25, 9:00-12:00, 997 Cedar Street. Learn how to apply basic first aid techniques, give initial care to the seriously injured, and stabilize victims until other services are available.

To register, or for more information, call 510-981-5506. You can also register on-line at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html <http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html>.

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5. Car Break-in on Webster Street (between Halcyon and Telegraph)

A Webster Street couple reports that their car was broken into last week; small items were taken and oil was spilled on the interior.

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6. Theft of Mail on Deakin Street

A Deakin Street neighbor reports:

"We had at least a box of checks (two of them forged to our account) and a Christmas present CD stolen from our mailbox.  Who knows what else might have gone?  We've replaced our cute cottagey box with a grim black locking one.  So sad to have to do this."

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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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