HNA News: Disaster Prep/Steering Comm. date CHANGED to 3/4; City Council to hear BAPAC Proposals Tuesday 1/30; etc.

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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Items appearing in the HNA E-Newsletter are deemed to be of general interest to neighbors but do not necessarily reflect the views of Halcyon Neighborhood Association, its Steering Committee, or the Editor. The Editor's introductory comments express her own personal viewpoint.

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1. City Council to Hear Berkeley Alcohol Policy Advocacy Coalition (BAPAC) Proposals Tues. Jan. 30

2. Disaster Preparedness Supply Cache Meeting, Sunday, March 4, 4:00-5:15 p.m.

3. HNA Steering Committee Meeting, Sunday, March 4, 5:20-6:00 p.m.

4. Neighborhood Alert: Webster Street Apartments Canvassed for Donations to Questionable School Groups

Thanks to everyone who helped make HNA's Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck last weekend such a success. The food and company were wonderful! And welcome to neighbors who have joined the E-Newsletter list recently. Special thanks to hosts Tory Finn, Bruce Wicinas & Noriko, Susan Hunter & Candice, and John and Michelle Thelen-Steere -  as well as to everyone who helped distribute flyers and the fifty-plus folks who attended at least one of the courses and brought delicious food to share.

Special note to those who attended the potluck and took a flyer about the meetings originally scheduled for February 4. I can't quite believe we once again made the mistake of scheduling something on Superbowl Sunday, which seems to be one of those secular holidays it's best not to intrude upon! Both meetings (see items 2 and 3 below) have been rescheduled to Sunday, March 4. Please update your calendars! A revised flyer will be forthcoming.

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

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1. City Council to Hear Berkeley Alcohol Policy Advocacy Coalition (BAPAC) Proposals Tues., Jan. 30

HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Rubin has been involved with the Berkeley Alcohol Policy Advocacy Coalition (BAPAC) and sends the following request:

"We need as many people as possible to go to the City Council meeting this Tuesday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. (Old City Hall on Milvia across from Civic Center Park). We don't need people to speak, but we do need warm bodies so that the Council can see that lots of voters want reasonable alcohol regulation for the health and safety of everyone in Berkeley. If you only go to one meeting all year, in my opinion this should be it!

The City Council will be discussing the proposals that BAPAC has been working on for almost five years. The idea is to enact legislation to allow the City to be proactive in preventing alcohol problems, while still allowing reasonable alcohol sales and use. Currently, the only ways to deal with problem alcohol outlets are police actions and the nuisance procedure through the Zoning Adjustment Board.  While these tools have been better than nothing, using them takes about two years plus hundreds of hours of community volunteer time and is very costly in staff time. Because of the cost and time, it is only feasible to use the nuisance procedure in the most egregious cases. There is no tool in existence now for the City to deal with issues before they become major public health hazards - most of the liquor outlets are "grandfathered" in and the City can't do anything.

Two BAPAC items are on the City Council agenda: The City Manager's Recommendations and the Community Health Commission's:

Item 25: BAPAC Proposals Concerning Additional Alcohol Regulations
(From: City Manager)

Item 26: BAPAC Proposals Concerning Additional Alcohol Regulations

(From: Community Health Commission)

For details:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/2007citycouncil/packet/013007/01-30a.htm

Feel free to contact me with questions and/or to RSVP that you will be going to the meeting:  Dawn Trygstad Rubin <familyrubin@comcast.net> or 510-843-6306."

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2. Disaster Preparedness Supply Cache Meeting, Sunday, March 4, 4:00-5:15 p.m.

Our neighborhood won a Disaster Supply Cache from the City of Berkeley in November, but to use it to the fullest, we need to supplement the supplies and get better organized. Please join us for a brief meeting that can help us take the next step to get our neighborhood ready for the BIG ONE!

Sunday, March 4, 4:00-5:15 p.m.

3044-B Halcyon Court (back unit at end of driveway to south of house where supply cache is located)

This meeting is open to anyone in the territory covered by HNA (bounded by Ashby, Telegraph, Woolsey, and Adeline) who is interested in helping the neighborhood become better organized in the face of an earthquake or other major disaster. While folks who have taken the City's emergency classes are encouraged to attend, you do not have to have received prior training - just be willing to pitch in!

* We'll review what's in the Disaster Supply Cache (located at the end of the driveway at 3044 Halcyon, where we're meeting), and discuss the best ways to get the cache fully operational (i.e., obtaining batteries and gas for the generator; scheduling drill; identifying additional useful supplies).

*  We'll discuss an outline of a bare-bones emergency response plan for the larger neighborhood and consider ways to flesh it out. This will include information on how to organize an effective Incident Command System (a flexible and expandable organizational structure that will enable us to respond with maximum efficiency in the event of a disaster).

For more information, contact HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton <ngc2@mindspring.com>.

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3. HNA Steering Committee Meeting, Sunday, March 4, 5:20-6:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 4, 5:20-6:00 p.m.

3044-B Halcyon Court (back unit at end of driveway to south of house)

Immediately following the Disaster Prep meeting on Sunday, March 4, HNA's Steering Committee will meet briefly to set the calendar for the coming year (community-wide neighborhood watch meeting(s), work parties in the park, quarterly potlucks, National Night Out Against Crime, Steering Committee meetings, etc.). If you're interested in joining the Steering Committee (prime ingredient: willingness to work some, not just talk! - meetings are infrequent, with other business conducted by email in between meetings), please contact HNA Co-Chairs Nancy Carleton (644-0172) or John Steere (849-1969), or email<ngc2@mindspring.com>.

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4. Neighborhood Alert: Webster Street Apartments Canvassed for Donations to Questionable School Groups

A Webster Street neighbor reports:

"Our building has been canvassed twice within the past month or so by some young people with clipboards and forms in duplicate, who claim to be taking part in the "Stay in School Program" at various schools (one claimed Berkeley High, and the other's school was unknown or nonexistent). I've grilled the two young men I spoke with and asked them for information that can be left with me so that I can make a decision. They say that they can't leave any information, but if I give a donation, the form will have an 800 number on it that I can call. They claim to be under a deadline and trying to make a quota of donations. I told one of them that I've worked in the schools for over ten years and I've never heard of their program."

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as items of general interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley (HNA's borders), including announcements about community-building potlucks, greening projects, disaster preparedness meetings, and work parties in Halcyon Commons Park. If you're receiving this email, you probably either signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor 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>. Feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

To submit items for the newsletter:   Email unformatted content or links (no graphics or attachments) to HNA E-Newsletter Editor Nancy Carleton <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please note that due to the volunteer nature of the endeavor, the E-Newsletter does not typically include "letters to the editor" or "commentary," but will gladly include links to such items written by neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area and published elsewhere.

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. [The HNA Listserve is currently inactive but can be revived if enough neighbors show interest.]

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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HNA News: Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck Sunday 1/21, 6-9; Oak Grove update, Labyrinth walk, Distilled Spirits Application

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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

Items appearing in the HNA E-Newsletter are deemed to be of general interest to neighbors but do not necessarily reflect the views of Halcyon Neighborhood Association, its Steering Committee, or the Editor. The Editor's introductory comments express her own personal viewpoint.

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1. Fabulous Post-Holiday Multi-Course Progressive Potluck, Sun., Jan. 21, 6-9 p.m.

2. Memorial Oak Grove Help Needed This Week!

3. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun., Jan. 21, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

4. Ethiopian Restaurant at 2953-55 Requesting to Add Distilled Spirits to Its Beer & Wine License

Hope to see you Sunday for HNA's Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck (see Item 1). Be sure to say hello if you get a chance -  it's nice to be able to connect names with faces!

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

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1. Fabulous Post-Holiday Multi-Course Progressive Potluck, Sun., Jan. 21, 6-9 p.m.

Make sure your new year's gotten off to a good start by joining your neighbors for this fabulous post-holiday feast where we progress from house to house and sample a range of delicious courses. This is our most popular community potluck event of the year, so don't miss out! Feel free to join us for all four courses, or just for one or two (substitute a dish if your name doesn't match the course you're attending). And don't forget to bring something especially tasty to start the New Year right!

6:00-6:40 Appetizers at Tory's, 3009 Wheeler

6:45-7:25 Salads at Bruce & Noriko's, 2311 Prince

7:30-8:15 Main Dishes at Susan's, 3044-A Halcyon

8:20-9:00 Desserts at John & Michelle's, 2329 Webster

Potluck suggestions:

* T-Z: Dessert *  N-S: Salad *  A-E:  Appetizer *  F-M: Main Dish

Please bring a festive dish to share, and, if so inspired, a beverage to share as well (it really helps if enough folks bring beverages too). Children welcome! More info: 644-0172

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2. Memorial Oak Grove Help Needed This Week!

Karl Reeh, President of LeConte Neighborhood Association forwarded the following message.

The University recently raided the grove and is now accelerating its plans  to remove tree-sitters and supporters, so that it can then immediately cut down the historic grove of grandmother oaks. Your support this week is critical for saving Memorial Oak Grove.

Please visit http://www.saveoaks.com/ to see how you can help!

Since cutting down these oaks is against city law, destroys the last Coast Live Oaks ecosystem in the Berkeley lowlands, and is opposed by the community, lawsuits have been filed by the City of Berkeley, California Oaks Association, and two community advocacy associations.

This Tuesday, January 23rd we'll find out if the Alameda County Superior Court will grant an injunction to halt this destruction. Until then, we greatly need your presence, voice and support to protect the Memorial Oak Grove. Here's how you can help:

1. Festival and Press Conference Saturday - Jan. 20th @ Noon - to Save the Oaks

* Join us for a huge all-day forest festival with returning UC Berkeley students to show support for Memorial Oak Grove. There will be tons of food, music, art, workshops, and more! Visit http://www.saveoaks.com for updates.

* At 1 p.m. we will hold a press conference with student leaders, athletes,  faculty, community leaders, and city officials. We want to demonstrate

overwhelming support, so please come and bring your friends!

2. Action Alert Network

* If the University raids Memorial Oak Grove again and then tries to cut down the trees, it is critical that we have everyone immediately come out to thegrove to show their support and act as witnesses - if you would like to be notified of a raid by our action alert network, please click

http://tinyurl.com/yutp5m . Note: the raid may occur in the early morning.

3. Contact UC Berkeley & CC Project Funders

* Contact Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau by email by clicking http://tinyurl.com/2pa9ek , or by phone at (510) 642-7464, and tell him to

build the athletic center at one of the alternative sites instead of destroying a rare, ancient, and beautiful oaks grove.

For more information on the campaign and how you can help through actions, donations, or ground support for the six fabulous tree-sitters guarding the oaks, please visit http://www.saveoaks.com/

Together, we can help convince UC Berkeley that instead of destroying a rare grove of coast live oaks up to 200 years old and placing students in seriousdanger by building the new athletic center within the Hayward fault zone, they should instead build the new athletic center in one of two more appropriate location alternatives on Berkeley campus.

Thanks so much for your support.

For the Trees,

The Save the Oaks at the Stadium Coalition

http://www.saveoaks.com

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3. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun., Jan. 21, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m., Sun., Jan. 21, 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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4. Ethiopian Restaurant at 2953-55 Requesting to Add Distilled Spirits to Its Beer & Wine License

[Editor's Note: HNA does not have a position on this application but encourages neighbors concerned with the issue to consider submitting their views, pro or con, to the Planning Dept. to be passed on to the Zoning Adjustments Board, which will be hearing this item at its January 25th meeting; the application also apparently includes a request to extend the business's hours until 2 a.m.]

 

South Berkeley neighbor Ozzie Vincent passed on the following:

"I noticed that Ethiopian Restaurant, 2953-55 Telegraph [just north of Ashby], phone 843-1992, is asking to add distilled spirits to its beer and wine license. They got their license in Nov. 2005, then they sold alcohol to a minor in Feb. 2005, and then bought alcohol off the street in April 2006, not a great record for such a short time. You can view their status by going to www.abc.ca.gov, click on License Query systems at the right, then enter license # 293370, or by going directly to http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSdata.asp?ID=293370000

"I suggest considering writing objection letters with a reference to Ethiopian Restaurant, 2953-2955 Telegraph Ave, to:
Planning Dept., City of Berkeley, 2120 Milvia St, 97404, (981-7410)

"Alcoholic Beverage Control, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 2208, Oakland, CA 94612
(OAK.Direct@abc.ca.gov <mailto:OAK.Direct@abc.ca.gov> (510) 622-4970)"

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The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter:  The HNA E-Newsletter forwards occasional crime watch notices as well as items of general interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley (HNA's borders), including announcements about community-building potlucks, greening projects, disaster preparedness meetings, and work parties in Halcyon Commons Park. If you're receiving this email, you probably either signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor 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>. Feel free to pass the HNA E-Newsletter on to other neighbors you think might be interested.

To submit items for the newsletter:   Email unformatted content or links (no graphics or attachments) to HNA E-Newsletter Editor Nancy Carleton <ngc2@mindspring.com>. Please note that due to the volunteer nature of the endeavor, the E-Newsletter does not typically include "letters to the editor" or "commentary," but will gladly include links to such items written by neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area and published elsewhere.

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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HNA News: Prevent Frozen Water Pipes and Practice Heater Safety, Berkeley Fire Fighters Newsletter; Progressive Post-Holiday Potluck 1/21

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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1. Prevent Frozen Water Pipes and Practice Heater Safety

2. Fabulous Post-Holiday Multi-Course Progressive Potluck, Sun., Jan. 21, 6-9 p.m.

3. Berkeley Fire Fighters E-Newsletter

See the City's press release below for tips in cold weather (item 1). You'll also want to cover vulnerable plants the next couple of nights. I also encourage you to take a look at the Berkeley Fire Fighters' new E-Newsletter and seriously consider supporting their request  that we lobby Council in support of full funding for our fire stations and emergency services.

Thanks to everyone who's helping deliver flyers about the upcoming Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck (see item 2); your help is much appreciated and allows us to reach out to people new to the neighborhood as well as those who don't have email. (And be sure to keep the flyer to guide you from house to house on the night of this fun community event.)

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

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1. Prevent Frozen Water Pipes and Practice Heater Safety

1/11/2007

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/news/print.asp?id=19335

Berkeley, California -- The National Weather Service is forecasting record cold temperatures in the Bay Area Thursday-Sunday, with the coldest temperatures expected on Friday and Saturday.

These very cold temperatures may lead to frozen water pipes. Since water expands as it freezes, tremendous pressure is put on whatever contains it, including metal or plastic pipes. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets.

Here are some tips to keep your pipes from freezing:

* Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

* Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

* When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.

* Keep the thermostat set to the same temperatures during the day and night. If you will be going away during this cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees.

The following heating safety tips should be followed all winter:

* Make sure you have a working smoke detector on every level of your home.

* Floor furnaces can be very dangerous when used improperly. Keep anything that can catch on fire away from the heating grate. Never put items on top of a heater. It is dangerous to use your heater to dry clothing or other flammable material.

* Never use kerosene heaters or charcoal grills indoors.

* Never use your gas stove or oven to heat your home.

* Keep portable heaters at least 3' away from walls and combustible materials. Make sure these heaters have "tip switches," which automatically turn off if the heaters tip over.

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2. Fabulous Post-Holiday Multi-Course Progressive Potluck, Sun., Jan. 21, 6-9 p.m.

Make sure your new year's gotten off to a good start by joining your neighbors for this fabulous post-holiday feast where we progress from house to house and sample a range of delicious courses. This is our most popular community potluck event of the year, so don't miss out! Feel free to join us for all four courses, or just for one or two (substitute a dish if your name doesn't match the course you're attending). And don't forget to bring something especially tasty to start the New Year right!

6:00-6:40 Appetizers at Tory's, 3009 Wheeler

6:45-7:25 Salads at Bruce & Noriko's, 2311 Prince

7:30-8:15 Main Dishes at Susan's, 3044-A Halcyon

8:20-9:00 Desserts at John & Michelle's, 2329 Webster

Potluck suggestions:

* T-Z: Dessert *  N-S: Salad *  A-E:  Appetizer *  F-M: Main Dish

Please bring a festive dish to share, and, if so inspired, a beverage to share as well (it really helps if enough folks bring beverages too). Children welcome! More info: 644-0172

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3. Berkeley Fire Fighters E-Newsletter

Editor's Note: The Berkeley Fire Fighters Association has launched a new E-Newsletter. See below for excerpts from the first edition (without graphics):

SPECIAL ALERT - State Emergency and Health Officials Urge Preparedness in Response to Extreme Cold Forecasts

 

With meteorologists expecting a hard freeze to affect much of the State by Thursday night, State officials with the Governors Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the California Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) today urged Californians to prepare themselves, their family members, and their animals for the possible effects of the inclement weather.

 

The National Weather Service has reported to OES that temperatures will drop into the 20 and 30s Wednesday night into Thursday, followed by daytime temperatures in the mid 40s in most areas. On Friday and into the weekend, temperatures will drop further, reaching the high teens to low 20s in most areas at night, and continued daytime lows in the mid 40s.

 

Actions that can be taken to help protect against severe cold and freezing temperatures are in the attached cold weather alert released by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the California Health and Human Services Agency.

 

Follow this link to read the special alert and see the "Homeowner Preparation & Tips" guide....

BERKELEY FIRE ENGINES BEGIN ROTATING CLOSURES:

 

Beginning December 14th, 2006, Berkeley Fire Engines began to close on a rotating schedule in order to balance the budget for this fiscal year. This Station Closure or Brownout plan was adopted by the Berkeley City Council for the 2-year budget cycle, which ends at the end of June 2007.

 

The Berkeley Fire Fighters Association believes that the Mayor and City Council should make Full Deployment of Berkeley Fire Engines their #1 funding priority. We understand that they are faced with tough decisions when balancing the budget, and receive opposition to any cut they make. BUT, Berkeley Fire Fighters hold strong in our belief that there should be cuts and reductions to non-critical services, programs, and projects before emergency services and response capabilities are affected.

 

The Fire Department is already understaffed and running at a "bare bones" level.

 

This is evident if you look at the history of cutbacks beginning in the substantial when we had 10 Fire Stations with 10 Engines (pumpers), 3 Trucks (Hook & Ladders) all running with the standard 4 persons, equaling a emergency response force of over 180 personnel. During this time we ran less them 4,000 calls annually.

 

We now have 7 Stations with 7 Engines (pumpers), 2 Trucks (Hook & Ladders), have reduced staffing per apparatus to 3 persons, equaling a emergency response force of only 125 personnel, with a call volume that has skyrocketed to over 12,000 annually!!

 

The  Berkeley Fire Fighters Association is asking for your support. Please contact your City Councilperson by phone, e-mail or snail mail and ask them to restore FULL FUNDING 24/7/365 for the Fire Department at the mid-year budget review, scheduled for February 13th, 2007.

Subscribe to the Berkeley Fire Fighters e-Newsletter:

 

With the roll out of our new website, we are asking Berkeley residents and friends of the Berkeley Fire Fighters to spread the word! Join our distribution list for our e-Newsletter. Simply visit our website www.bffa1227.org - and look to the left column to for the "Subscribe to Newsletter" space!

 

Your information is not shared with any other organization and is kept private on our secure server. Please share this information with anyone in our community who you think might be interested.

 

You will only receive periodic alerts about significant events relating to public safety in Berkeley. You also have the option to remove yourself from the list at anytime.

 

Sincerely,

David Sprague-Livingston

President, Berkeley Fire Fighters Association

 

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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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HNA News: Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck Sun. 1/21, Disaster Prep, Crime Watch, LPO Referendum & More

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter*

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1. Fabulous Post-Holiday Multi-Course Progressive Potluck, Sun., Jan. 21, 6-9 p.m.

2. Disaster Supply Cache Makes a Difference: Former Deakin Street Neighbor Helps Out

3. Article on Series of Earthquakes from the East Bay Daily News

4. Crime Watch Report: Bike Stolen from Back Yard on Prince Street

5.  Webster Street Neighbor Collecting Signatures for Referendum on Landmarks Ordinance

6.  Winter Safety Tips from the Office of Emergency Services

7. LeConte Neighborhood Association Meeting, Thurs., Jan. 18, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

8. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun., Dec. 17, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Happy New Year, all! I don't know about the rest of you, but the series of 3.7, 3.7, 2.8, and 3.5 earthquakes just over a mile away on the Hayward fault at the end of last year certainly got my attention -- especially when I reflected that a Big One on the Hayward fault would be around 1,000 times as strong! So I plan to do my part to carry out a new year's intention of improving both my own household's level of preparedness and our neighborhood's disaster prep organization.  In the event of a major earthquake, our neighborhood will largely be on its own (see Jesse Townley's remarks in the article excerpted in Item 3), with us neighbors as "first responders." I hope all of you will join me, one step at a time, in improving our level of preparedness. As you'll see from the letter to the editor excerpted in Item 2, our neighborhood' disaster supply cache can make a difference even in the case of less severe circumstances.

One of the fun ways we can be better equipped as a neighborhood to deal with disasters, crime, and other challenges is by getting to know one another through neighborhood events. HNA sponsors a variety of community-building social events and work parties during the course of the year. The first opportunity, and one of the most popular, is our annual multi-course, post-holiday progressive potluck, coming up on Sunday, Jan. 21. I hope to see you there!

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

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1. Fabulous Post-Holiday Multi-Course Progressive Potluck, Sun., Jan. 21, 6-9 p.m.

Make sure your new year's gotten off to a good start by joining your neighbors for this fabulous post-holiday feast where we progress from house to house and sample a range of delicious courses. This is our most popular community potluck event of the year, so don't miss out! Feel free to join us for all four courses, or just for one or two (substitute a dish if your name doesn't match the course you're attending). And don't forget to bring something especially tasty to start the New Year right!

6:00-6:40 Appetizers at the Tory's, 3009 Wheeler

6:45-7:25 Salads at Bruce & Noriko's, 2311 Prince

7:30-8:15 Main Dishes at Susan's, 3044-A Halcyon

8:20-9:00 Desserts at John & Michelle's, 2329 Webster

Potluck suggestions:

* T-Z: Dessert *  N-S: Salad *  A-E:  Appetizer *  F-M Main Dish

Please bring a festive dish to share, and, if so inspired, a beverage to share as well (it really helps if enough folks bring beverages too). Children welcome! More info: 644-0172

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

2. Disaster Supply Cache Makes a Difference: Former Deakin Street Neighbor Helps Out

Editor's Note: The following letter to the editor of the Berkeley Voice caught my eye. Long-time residents of our neighborhood will remember Allen King, who plays a role in the events described in the letter, as a former Deakin Street resident who was a Steering Committee member of Halcyon Neighborhood Association during the years when we were planning and then constructing Halcyon Commons Park. He now lives in North Berkeley and continues to play an active role in his new neighborhood. Our neighborhood also won a disaster supply cache that contains an emergency generator  --  stored in the shed at the end of the driveway at 3044 Halcyon.

Letter to the Editor: Miracle on Mendocino Avenue

Berkeley Voice, 12/29/2006  http://www.cityofberkeley.info/news/print.asp?id=19249

Editor:

The city of Berkeley just awarded our neighborhood a cache of emergency supplies, including a generator, because we are so well organized to combat natural disasters.

When I delivered our application for the cache to City Hall, I never suspected that one month later I would benefit personally from having an alternative power source on the block and neighbors willing and able to make it work.

Here's what happened:

Right after we won the cache, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and now depend on a feeding tube for all my nutrition. I worried when I heard on the radio that a storm was coming in with high winds that might cause power outages in Berkeley.

My husband and daughter e-mailed Mark Burger, the keeper of our block's supplies, and told him about the problem. Within an hour, Mark and another neighbor, Allen King, and his son Arik, began hooking up the generator expertly and unobtrusively. Allen worked for several more hours until a deep, reassuring roar came from the guts of the machine.

These heroes put our worries to rest and also moved our block a step closer to being ready to deal with the Big One.

We discovered, once again, what a great blessing it is to live in a neighborhood that is truly a community, always ready to celebrate and mourn together, and to do whatever is needed for one another.

If you are not yet connected to your neighbors, please do it now! It may save your life when an earthquake hits, or make it more worth living all the time -- in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health.

Marian Magid
Berkeley

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3. Article on Series of Earthquakes from the East Bay Daily News

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/news/print.asp?id=19240

Fearing The 'Big One;' Expert: String of Small Quakes Doesn't Mean Large Jolt Brewing

Doug Oakley, East Bay Daily News, 12/29/2006

Another small earthquake in Berkeley Thursday morning further strained the nerves of those waiting for the 'Big One,' but the temblors are neither relieving stress on the Hayward Fault nor are they a precursor to a larger one just around the corner, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quakes on the Hayward Fault have occurred about a mile southeast of the UC Berkeley Campus, near the Piedmont border, over the past eight days. On Dec. 20 and 22, there were magnitude 3.7 quakes followed by a 3.5 magnitude quake Dec. 23. A minor quake of magnitude 2.8 struck Thursday. . . .

John Bellini, a geophysicist with the USGS in Golden, Colo., said the recent quakes are "a normal everyday series of small earthquakes that are happening on the fault there."

"These are not going to stop the big ones from coming," Bellini said. "If you look at just California, in the last week there have been more than 230 quakes recorded and you see 230 to 280 every week."

Bellini said on rare occasions there are smaller quakes called "foreshocks" that come before a large earthquake, but it's not likely here.

"In California, who's to say because there are so many small ones every day," Bellini said. "And to let off stress for the proverbial Big One, you would need tens of thousands to make that happen. These are just part of the background seismicity and they are in a populated area where people are able to feel them."

The USGS predicts a 62 percent probability of at least one magnitude 6.7 or greater quake striking the San Francisco Bay Area before 2032. Seismologists at UC Berkeley predict a 27 percent probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater quake before 2032 on the Hayward Fault.

The last big quake on the Hayward Fault was a magnitude 7.0 in 1868.

Jesse Townley, chairman of Berkeley's Disaster and Fire Safety Commission, said the recent quakes were more evidence that UC Berkeley's plan to rebuild its Memorial Stadium, which straddles the Hayward Fault, is a bad idea.

"Rebuilding the stadium on the Hayward Fault is probably criminally negligent," Townley said. "They know the fault is there. They know it's going to go in the next few years and yet they insist on putting 60,000 people at risk every time they have an event there."

UC Berkeley officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment Thursday.

Townley said Berkeley is in decent shape when it comes to earthquake preparedness, but residents will no doubt have to fend for themselves when the Big One hits.

"The only thing good to come out of Katrina is that people realized how much we have to rely on ourselves and our neighbors," Townley said.

"We know the feds won't be able to help us and the local government will be busy with the big ticket items like the hospital on fire, or the collapsed apartment building."

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4. Crime Watch Report: Bike Stolen from Back Yard on Prince Street

A Prince Street neighbor reports:

"On Jan, 3, 2007. someone stole a bike from a locked backyard on the 2100 block of Prince Street, by going over the back-yard fence from a  neighbor's yard, which was not locked.  This was not a crime of opportunity, as the bike was in a shed, covered with a tarp, so the thief was purposefully prowling for things to steal.  The fence was a four-foot wire fence, which the thief bent in taking the bike out. Perhaps this is a good reason to not reduce the permissible height of fences, as the replacement fence we will install will be the six-foot legal limit."

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5.  Webster Street Neighbor Collecting Signatures for Referendum on Landmarks Ordinance

Webster Street neighbor Chris Lien is collecting signatures to put a referendum on the ballot concerning the revised Landmarks Preservation Ordinance recently passed by Berkeley's City Council. If you're interested in signing the petition so the voters can decide on the Council's revisions, please contact Chris at <nonpost@post.com> by Wednesday evening 1/17 (or by noon on Thursday 1/18 at the very latest). The petitions are being submitted Thursday afternoon.

Editor's Note: Halcyon Neighborhood Association does not have a position on the revised LPO or on the referendum (as a nonpartisan group, we rarely take positions on citywide issues, and then only when there is near unanimity among neighbors). As E-Newsletter editor, I am happy to pass on announcements concerning neighbors' interests and efforts, and to encourage neighbors to stay informed on issues that may affect us. For those who want background on the referendum, here are a few links:

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=01-09-07&storyID=26045

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=01-09-07&storyID=26065 (commentary by Gale Garcia in favor of the referendum)

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=01-05-07&storyID=26013

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=12-19-06&storyID=25910 (commentary by Alan Tobey against the referendum)

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6.  Winter Safety Tips from the Office of Emergency Services

Dear Disaster Supply Cache Recipients,

Thanks to you all for your commitment to preparing your neighborhoods, and to making Berkeley safer.

Now that we're dealing with winter weather, here are a few safety tips to pass along to you neighbors:

* Make sure you have a working smoke detector on every level of your home.

* Floor furnaces can be very dangerous when used improperly. Keep anything that can catch on fire away from the heating grate. Never put items on top of a heater. It is dangerous to use your heater to dry clothing or other flammable material.

* Never use kerosene heaters or charcoal grills indoors.

* Never use your gas stove or oven to heat your home.

* Keep portable heaters at least 3' away from walls and combustible materials. Make sure these heaters have "tip switches," which automatically turn off if the heaters tip over.

* Make sure wood stoves are properly installed, have adequate ventilation, and are at least 3 feet away from flammable material.

* Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace.

* Turn off your heater before going to bed.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday!

Dory Ehrlich, Berkeley Fire/Office of Emergency Services

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7. LeConte Neighborhood Association Meeting, Thurs., Jan. 18, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

The first meeting of LNA in 2007 will take place Thursday, 1/18, from 7:30 to 9:00 at LeConte School.

[Editor's Note: The southern reaches of LNA's traditional territory includes the area also covered by Halcyon Neighborhood Association, and our groups have a history of working together.]

 

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8. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun., Jan. 21, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m., Sun., Jan. 21, 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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