HNA News: Design Charrette Sunday 10/8 2:30, Crime Watch report, Council District 7 race, etc.

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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In This Newsletter

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

2. Crime Watch Report: Would-be Thief on Woolsey Apprehended on Alcatraz at Adeline

3. Halcyon Neighbors on District 7 Council Race (links to articles)

Everyone who enjoys Halcyon Commons Park is invited to come Sunday afternoon to brainstorm about the three projects that are part of the Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project grant we received from the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund. The general scope of these projects was mapped out at two community meetings held in the park in the late spring/early summer in preparation for the grant application process (see summary descriptions in Item 1 below), but there's still plenty of room for creative input. So please come out and put in your two cents (neighbors will have another chance to participate when we call on "sweat equity" labor to help install and plant some of the new features; this will likely be in the spring or summer of next year).

FYI, there will be a short break from newsletters as I will be out of town for part of October; feel free to send news items, but please understand that they most likely won't be published until after October 25 (unless by some miracle I find time to get one more edition out before I leave).

Hoping to see you Sunday at the design charrette!

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

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1. Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project: Design Charrette,  This 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)

Facilitated by Michael Lamb (with the assistance of Sarah Syed, John Steere, and Nancy Carleton)

In case of rain, the charrette will be held at 3044-A Halcyon across from the park (with brief umbrella forays to 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 (see following for a fuller description). All are welcome to participate!

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project brings three new elements to this neighborhood-designed park in South Berkeley: (A) a gateway at the north end with the words HALCYON COMMONS and animal cutouts related to park history;  (B) a bronze-cast sculpture of a halcyon bird (a kingfisher associated with peace); and (C) a redesign and replanting of the incomplete southeastern corner - all with community design input. Because of the significant contribution of professional and artistic skills and volunteer labor, the grant funds go directly toward implementation, helping to build community as well as adding beautiful new features to this unique neighborhood commons.

(A) A Gateway at the North Entrance to be forged by craftsperson Amy Blackstone (who created the wrought-iron decorative gates to the Peralta Community Garden in North Berkeley and the Art Tech building in downtown Berkeley, and who is giving us a significant donation of her labor to keep costs down). This will comprise a pergola/arbor-style entry with the words HALCYON COMMONS and animal cutouts to be designed with community workshop input. There is currently no sign letting people know they are entering Halcyon Commons at this most used entryway to the park, so this project will help anchor a sense of place, as well as honoring the animal, bird, and insect life that shares this greenspace, including animals with special ties to the park (such as Emma, the neighborhood dog who was present throughout the park's planning process, the bees that swarmed in the park and were relocated to a nearby neighbor's yard, and the barn owl neighbors are hoping to encourage to nest in a nearby palm tree).

(B) Halcyon Bird Sculpture (a halcyon bird is a kind of kingfisher) originally planned ten years ago for the oval in front of the "Father Sun" bench in the park's southwestern corner. The sculpture will be cast in bronze, and will be sculpted by local artist Christina Bertea, in collaboration with John Steere, both of whom are making a significant donation of their labor to keep costs down. It will be approximately three feet long and two feet high and sit on a pedestal in the middle of the existing planted oval. The bird will be shown on a nest, representing peaceful coexistence. The details will be worked out by the artists with additional input from a community design charrette.

(C) Redesign of the Southeastern Corner of the park through a new landscape plan and planting, with the inclusion of either large, flat boulders esthetically arranged that serve the dual function as sitting areas, or possibly a rustic bench (final decision pending community input), along with the completion of the irrigation system, and attractive, drought-resistant plantings. We are intending that this feature be designed at a hands-on community design charrette under the guidance of Michael Lamb, the neighbor and registered landscape architect who drew up the initial plans for the park based on community design workshops, resulting in an award-winning design (honored by Berkeley Design Advocates in 1997). This feature will allow neighbors, UC students (a couple of whom are already committed), and other community partners to participate in many ways, from the design process through the "sweat equity" involved in installing the landscaping features and planting the plants.

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2. Crime Watch Report: Would-be Thief on Woolsey Apprehended on Alcatraz at Adeline

A Woolsey Street neighbor reports:

"Just wanted to let the folks in the neighborhood know that someone came to the back of our house today around 1:30 p.m., tools in hand to either steal my bicycle or open our back door. I saw the person and tried to confront him, but he took off on his bike. Fifteen minutes later, as I was parking my truck on Raymond Street, I saw the same guy coming out of a driveway. The police caught him a few minutes later at Alcatraz and Adeline and took him to jail. He is African-American, in his fifties, a black baseball cap, a light blue windbreaker and a backpack of similar color with strings, about 6 ft. tall, medium build. His bike was a mountain bike, silver with red writing on it. I'm surprised he would try a house with a vehicle parked in the driveway and the presence of my dog being announced by signs in the windows. I was so lucky to be at home and prevent whatever this person had in mind!"

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3. Halcyon Neighbors on District 7 Council Race (links to articles)

Editor's Note:  Two opinion pieces with divergent points of view on the District 7 council race (in which Councilmember Kriss Worthington is being challenged by George Beier) appeared in today's Daily Planet written by neighbors who live within HNA's territory (Ashby to Woolsey, Telegraph to Adeline). Links appear below. Please note that HNA is a nonpartisan group and does not endorse candidates, but of course some of our members and leaders have strong views and do make endorsements! If you live in  the Halcyon neighborhood and get an opinion piece published in one of our local papers (and if you submit one, the Daily Planet is almost certain to publish it!), please email me the link at <ngc2@mindspring.com>, and I'll be glad to include it in the next newsletter (most likely after 10/25, per my note above). Note, too, that the HNA E-Newsletter does not publish opinion pieces submitted directly to it, mainly because to do so in Berkeley would drive this volunteer newsletter editor crazy (and there's already ample opportunity to express your opinion through the Planet). If possible, however, the E-Newsletter will gladly pass on information about candidate forums that are taking place in our immediate neighborhood.  -NC

Commentary: "Ten Reasons We're Supporting Kriss Worthington" by Nancy Carleton and Susan Hunter

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=10-06-06&storyID=25245

Letter to the Editor: "Try Something New" by Faith Fuller (second letter from end)

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=10-06-06&storyID=25247

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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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