HNA News: LeConte District 7 Candidate Forum TONIGHT, Tenth Anniversary Celebration 10/1, Crime Watch Alert

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

1. Reminder: Tenth Anniversary of Halcyon Commons 10/1: Simple Volunteer Opportunities

2. LeConte Neighborhood Association Candidates' Forum Thursday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.

3. Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project: Design Charrette, Sunday, October 8, 2:30-5:00 p.m.

4. Crime Watch Alert: Catalytic Converters Stolen

Our Tenth Anniversary Celebration in Halcyon Commons Park is fast approaching (Sunday, October 1, 1-4)! In addition to needing several more people to agree to bring festive finger foods and chairs, we could really use a few more folks willing to deliver flyers to some of our as-yet uncovered streets in the neighborhood. If you sign up to deliver one stretch, it's a half-hour job and really makes a difference. Some of our existing noble flyer deliverers cover two stretches, earning extra Brownie points. If you're willing to do one or two stretches on a regular basis, it's even more helpful (there are flyers to be delivered approximately five or six times a year, so it's not a huge commitment). I'd really, really appreciate it if we could get to the point where all blocks have regular coverage since it will greatly simplify my part of the job (making the flyers, duplicating them with Susan's help, arranging for distribution, and dropping them off to distributors, as well as dropping flyers on the blocks I cover). So please email me by replying to this email (<ngc2@mindspring.com>) to let me know if you're willing to help in this way!

Many thanks!

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

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1. Reminder: Tenth Anniversary of Halcyon Commons 10/1: Simple Volunteer Opportunities

TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of HALCYON COMMONS PARK

Sunday, October 1, 1-4 p.m.

* Block Party in the Park and Halcyon Court (from Prince to Webster)

* Music from Forreal foreals (a Brazilian inspired jazz-rock-reggae band) and other music TBA

* Light Refreshments donated by Neighbors and Whole Foods Market

* Brief Program on Creation of the Park with words from the founding organizers

* Special guests who used to live in the neighborhood and helped with the park

* Fun activities for Kids

Festive Finger Foods Needed

Please contact John Steere <jsteere@eipassociates.com> if you would be able to contribute a platter of finger foods (hors d'ouevres, snacks, or dessert items) to make the day special.

Logistical Supplies Needed

Please contact Kate Day <katherin.day@sbcglobal.net> (with cc to John Steere  <jsteere@eipassociates.com>)  if you can loan us some tables, chairs (we need about 60, so we'll most likely need chairs from several sources), or a speaker's podium for the day of the event. NOTE: We may also need help from someone with a van or truck to pick some of these up!

Set-Up and Clean-Up Crews Needed

(Event itself is from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, October 1)

Please contact John Steere  <jsteere@eipassociates.com> if you would be able to help set up an hour before the event or clean up the hour after.

Help Organizing Fun Activities for Kids

Please contact Dawn Rubin <familyrubin@comcast.net> (with cc to John Steere  <jsteere@eipassociates.com>) if you'd like to help plan some fun activities for kids on the day of the event.

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2. LeConte Neighborhood Association Candidates' Forum Thursday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Karl Reeh, President of LeConte Neighborhood Association, which includes residents from Dwight south to the Oakland border, sends the following announcement:

Our meeting Thursday, the 21st, will be held in the LeConte School  cafeteria (Russell St. entrance) beginning at 7:30 p.m. We will feature a candidates' forum between George Beier and District 7 Councilmember Kriss Worthington. Each will speak, and questions will then be asked by our members.  We will also discuss some of the other items on our November  ballot. A representative of the Good Neighbor Task Force will hand out a  brochure and discuss how the University and local residents can work together to improve our neighborhoods.

Reminder: We will be having mayoral candidates talk and answer questions at our next meeting, Thursday, October 19. Same time and place. November 16: Board Elections.

P.S. Dues for 2006/007 at $10 per household will be  appreciated.

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3. Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project: Design Charrette, Sunday, October 8, 2:30-5:00 p.m.

Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project

Design Charrette Open to the Community

Sunday, October 8, 2:30-5:00 p.m.

Halcyon Commons Park (Halcyon at Prince)

In case of rain, charrette will be held at 3044-A Halcyon across from the park.

Refreshments donated by Whole Foods Market.

A chance to help plan features funded by the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Grant to Halcyon Neighborhood Association (fiscal sponsor: Berkeley Partners for Parks), including Animal Cutout Entry Arbor at north end of park, Redesign/Replanting of south end of Park, and Halcyon Bird Sculpture. All are welcome to participate!

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4. Crime Watch Alert: Catalytic Converters Stolen

 

HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Rubin reports:

On Tuesday 9/19 early morning (while I was asleep from Monday night), the catalytic converter was stolen off of my 1995 4-Runner.  Apparently, Toyota trucks are one of the few vehicles where the part is just bolted on, not welded; BMW's may also have this characteristic.

 

The police dispatcher said I was the third person he had taken the call for on Tuesday. The beat cop said she'd heard of 6 that day. Ron's Mufflers said they had heard of eight from the same night/early morning and over a dozen in a three-day span in mid-August; they had done a news story with Channel 2 10 o'clock news on August 11.  In Berkeley I know some of the addresses were on Hearst Street, Russell Street, Stuart Street, Wheeler Street, as well as in Emeryville and north Oakland.

 

Two people saw the crime in action without knowing it in the early morning hours Tuesday. One reported being awoken and seeing a dark sedan with 3 young Latino males. That person got a license plate, which the police say was probably stolen. Another person called the police after hearing a loud noise (clunk of the part being moved) and seeing a dark blue sedan. The police showed him pictures of a heavy-set Latino male, which he identified as probably being the person he had seen.

 

Apparently, the parts are being stolen for the precious metals in them . . . worth over $100.  The thieves seem to be working in a team, probably getting about $25 each.  They cost $200 - $1,000 to replace. If you have a Toyota truck, or know that your catalytic converter is only bolted on, I suggest you get it welded on ASAP; several places are doing this free or at a reduced rate. Otherwise, your first warning could be turning on your engine and having it sound like you installed one of those LOUD motorcycle mufflers.

 

If you know anything about these crimes, please email me.  I will share the collected information with the police property crimes detective.

 

Thanks!

Dawn <familyrubin@comcast.net>

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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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