HNA News: Potluck Sunday 11/19, 6-8, Crime Watch Report, Elmwood Matinees, Holiday Pies, Labyrinth Walk, etc.

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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1. Community Potluck Honoring Judy & Joel, Sunday, November 19, 6-8 p.m., 2329 Webster

2. Crime Watch Report from LeConte Listserve: Pickpocket on Deakin near Russell; Recommendation of Express Articles on Youth Crime

3. Elmwood Merchants Offer Low-Cost Weekend Matinees for Kids to Benefit South Berkeley Schools

4. Prince Street Neighbor Offering Homemade Holiday Pies

5. LeConte Neighborhood Association President thanks UC for Police Report at meeting

6. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun. Nov. 19, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Hope to see you at our Community Potluck Sunday evening honoring Judy Lightstone and Joel Hildebrandt, as well as Cal students who helped in the Berkeley Project volunteer day (see item 1)!

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

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1. Community Potluck Honoring Judy & Joel, Sunday, November 19, 6-8 p.m., 2329 Webster

What:  A chance to gather with neighbors over shared food as we bid farewell to longtime neighbors Judy Lightstone, Joel Hildebrandt, and their daughter Sandy before they move to New Zealand, as well as to thank some Berkeley Project volunteers who may join us.

When:  Sunday, November 19, 6-8 p.m.

Where:  John & Michelle's house, 2329 Webster (2nd house west of Whole Foods Market).

Who:  Those who live in the Ashby-Telegraph-Woolsey-Adeline quadrant are welcome, including children. We've also invited Cal student volunteers who helped in the Berkeley Project day last Saturday.

Agenda:  We'll share food and socialize for the first hour-plus, say goodbye to Judy, Joel, and Sandy, and then have a brief informal meeting where we brainstorm our HNA calendar for the coming year, including arranging hosts and locations for our fabulous Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck in January (we progress to four households for the different courses); setting a date for a community-wide Neighborhood Watch meeting to address crime and disaster preparedness; setting date for next Steering Committee meeting; planning Halcyon Commons work party dates for 2007; etc.

Bring:  Please bring a potluck item to share. Potluck suggestions:  * A-H: Main Dish *  I-L: Appetizer *  M-S:  Salad *  T-Z Dessert (if it's easy, please also bring a beverage to share). Please make a little extra so we'll have enough to feed any Berkeley Project volunteers who may join us!

Volunteers Needed:  John and Michelle request two volunteers to come half an hour early (5:30) to help set up; please email John at  <jsteere@igc.org> if you can help in this way.

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2. Crime Watch Report from LeConte Listserve: Pickpocket on Deakin near Russell; Recommendation of Express Articles on Youth Crime

A Fulton Street neighbor reports on the LeConte Listserve:

"On Monday evening around 6:30 or 7 p.m., there was a 'partial pickpocket' on Deakin near Russell. Bill Carpenter, who has a workshop behind 2926/8 Fulton, was loading his vehicle when one of three young men darted across Deakin and attempted to grab his wallet out of his back pocket. He didn't get Bill's wallet, but did get his day planner. Bill turned toward him angrily, using loud strong words, and the man noticed that he had a tool in his hand (a small bolt cutter). Either out of fear of being hit with the tool or because he realized he had missed the wallet and wouldn't get it now, he took off running, accompanied by his friends. All Bill knows by way of description is that the assailant and his companions were African American teens (or possibly a little older). Bill found the day planner this morning  in nearby bushes. Probably the 'message,' if there is one, is to practice awareness of one's surroundings on the street, especially at night--doing visual sweeps of your personal vicinity, and the like.

And from a Stuart Street neighbor on the LeConte Listserve:

"It would be useful for LeConte residents to read the cover story in the East Bay Express this week [and last]. It discusses, amongst other things, apparently rising juvenile crime in the East Bay along with an apparent decline in police work that focuses on juveniles. It raises some questions relevant to Berkeley. Part of the street crime that occurs in LeConte does seem to involve juveniles looking opportunistically for people on the street to harass or rob."

[Editor's Note: The two-part Express series can be found online at  http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2006-11-08/news/feature.html and http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2006-11-15/news/feature.html ]

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3. Elmwood Merchants Offer Low-Cost Weekend Matinees for Kids to Benefit South Berkeley Schools

Prince Street neighbor Yolanda Huang passes on the following:

"Elmwood Merchants have organized a fund raiser for the four south Berkeley elementary schools (LeConte, Emerson, Malcolm X, and John Muir). Elmwood Theatres will be offering 3 matinees each weekend from Thanksgiving through the holidays for children's movies at $2 a ticket (wow, what a deal!). All proceeds will go to the four schools. Parents and guardians will be able to drop off their children for a movie and then do some shopping around town while the children are watching the movie (movies will be chaperoned by parents from the 4 schools).  Volunteers from the schools will serve as ushers."

[Editor's Note: There's an article on the front page of  today's Berkeley Voice on the program (sorry, couldn't find link): "Matinees offer taste of long ago treats: Four elementary schools in South Berkeley to get financial aid from events." Contact  information number is listed as 843-3794.]

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4. Prince Street Neighbor Offering Homemade Holiday Pies

A Prince Street neighbor announces:

"One of your Prince Street neighbors is selling homemade pies for the holiday season. My name is Veneita, and I can often be found in our sweet park with my two dogs, Simone and Diego. I will be offering the following varieties of holiday pies: sweet potato, apple & French pear, berry (strawberry, blueberry, etc.; berries will be out of season soon, so availability may be limited), lemon meringue, coconut cream, and the holiday favorite pumpkin. My pies are spicy, tart, and special. The price will range from $18 to $32. For Thanksgiving, the order must be placed by the 20th, and can be picked up at a Prince Street kitchen. The pies normally sell for a higher price, but I really wanted to do something for our neighborhood this holiday season, and for every 7 pies brought one will be donated to a local battered women's safe house. The  delights will be for sale  until January 2th, with some change in favor as the season progress. Recommendations are available."

Contact Veneita Porter <vlporter@sbcglobal.net> or 510-644-03252 (hm) and 415-516-0352 (w).

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5. LeConte Neighborhood Association President thanks UC for Police Report at meeting

Karl Reeh, President of LeConte Neighborhood Association (which includes neighbors south of campus  to the Oakland border and west of Telegraph to Shattuck, overlapping with Halcyon Neighborhood Association south of Ashby), sends a copy of the following email sent:

TO: Irene Hagarty, UC Public Relations Office

Irene, thanks for helping arrange for Sgt. Milani to attend our LeConte NA meeting on Thursday evening. This was the first time we have had a UCPD representative report on crime and policing procedures that include part of our District borders (i.e. Dwight to Derby). There were many questions about Telegraph as well and we learned a lot concerning how the two police departments cooperate especially with bike patrols and party monitoring. Sgt. Milani made an excellent presentation and was well prepared with an up-to-date breakdown on the number and location of reported crimes on campus and south of campus. With frequent accounts of muggings and property crimes in our District, it is reassuring to know that we have the resources of both police departments working together.

Karl Reeh, LeConte NA

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6. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun. Nov. 19, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m., Willard Middle School (Telegraph Ave. between Derby & Stuart, Berkeley). Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. Contact  info@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org, 526-7377.

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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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