HNA News: Armed Robbery Last Night, National Night Out Against Crime Tuesday

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

* * * * * * * * * * * *

In This Newsletter

1. Crime Watch Report: Armed Robbery Last Night, Telegraph at Prince

2. National Night Out Against Crime: Tuesday, August 1, 6:30-8:30, Halcyon Commons Park

Thanks to a neighbor on Prince Street, we've received speedy word of an armed robbery on Telegraph at Prince last night. Her note in item 1 shows how violating and upsetting such incidents are.

While there are no easy answers, our alertness and willingness to look out for each other *can* make a difference! Of course, it's always harder to quantify the crimes we may be preventing by our calls to police when we notice something suspicious (the neighbor who reported making a call about someone who appeared to be casing out the Halcyon Commons Park neighborhood last week may have prevented a burglary that day, but there's no way to know for sure). But no matter what, we'll be safer if we come together and take action!

So come to the National Night Out Against Crime event Tuesday evening. Meet your neighbors, share prevention tips, and ask questions of the visiting police and firefighters! We are working to set up a beat-wide neighborhood watch structure, starting with a community meeting early this fall. We'll have a chance to set this in motion Tuesday.

(And if anyone has half an hour to spare today to pass out flyers about the National Night Out Against Crime on one of the remaining uncovered blocks, please drop me an email. There are still a few gaps in our coverage. Many, many thanks to those who have already come forward to help; there are close to 1,000 households in our neighborhood, but if we have a good-sized crew, we can reach them all with no one person having to give too much time.)

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

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Crime Watch Report: Armed Robbery Last Night, Telegraph at Prince

A Prince Street Neighbor reports:

"I had overnight guests over last night [Saturday, July 29], and as they were walking down Telegraph, heading to turn onto Prince St (to return to my house), they were mugged at gunpoint by two African American men between 25 and 30 years old. Luckily, no one was hurt. This is horribly disturbing. The guests are actually former neighbors of mine, visiting "the old neighborhood." The police weren't much help when called. There wasn't much they could do. But this does make me feel angry and violated. Our neighborhood looks so peaceful, but it isn't. In the last six months there have been a ridiculous number of muggings, robberies, home invasions, and car break-ins. It's really sad that I don't feel safe here in Berkeley anymore."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

2. National Night Out Against Crime, Tuesday, August 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Halcyon Commons Park (Halcyon Court at Prince Street)

6-7:30 p.m. Potluck in Halcyon Commons Park (Halcyon at Prince) with visits from Police and Firefighters (children especially encouraged to attend - it's a nice way for them to meet the police and firefighters). There will be a chance to ask questions of visiting officers -- and to help plan a neighborhood-wide beat structure similar to an effective model used in North Oakland.

7:30-8:15: Walking Tour of Neighborhood from Telegraph to Adeline, Ashby to Woolsey (a chance to make note of trouble spots with regard to lighting, etc.)

Please bring a food item (and possibly beverage) to share.

Potluck suggestions: * A-F: Salad * G-K: Appetizer * L-S: Main Dish * T-Z Dessert

HNA will supply the plates/cups/napkins.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

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/

* * * * * * * * * * * *