HNA News: Don't miss Sunday's special Disaster Prep workshop/Neighborhood Watch meeting, 55-gallon water barrels, etc.

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

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 (HNA), its Steering Committee, or the Editor. The Editor's introductory comments express her own personal viewpoint.

 * * * * * * * * * * *

Items in This E-Newsletter

1. Big Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Sunday, April 15, 4-6 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

2. Register for Childcare Coverage for Meeting on Sunday, April 15, 4-6 p.m.

3. Order Your Disaster Prep 55-Gallon Water Barrel by Friday, April 20

4. Sign Up Now to Participate in Huge Multi-Block Yard Sale, Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

5. Follow-up on Hate Materials Distributed in Neighborhood: Halcyon Neighbors Interviewed

6. Save Iceland Update: Deakin Street Neighbor in Daily Planet Photo

7. Berkeley Police Department Launches "Community POP Watch" Newsletter and Brings Back Daily Crime Bulletin

8. Get Ready, Berkeley Day 2, Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.: Volunteers Needed

9. Free Seminar Being Offered on Seismic Retrofitting, Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m., 2701 College

10. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun., April 15, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

11. Organic Produce Delivered at Chochmat-Tuv Ha'aretz Plus "An Evening with Our Farmer," Tuesday, April 17, 7 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

12. Civic Berkeley Meeting, Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m., on "Navigating the Maze: Lessons We've Learned"

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Editor's Introductory Note:

If you attend just one neighborhood event this year, consider making it our big Neighborhood Watch meeting this coming Sunday, April 15, which will include complete information from the City's Personal Disaster Preparedness workshop, as well as lots of other useful information on the Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Plan and Crime Watch.

Note that childcare will be provided if enough people sign up in advance (see Item 2), and it will also be possible to place your order for a 55-gallon water barrel (see Item 3) and to sign up for the Multi-Block Yard Sale June 9.

Hope to see you Sunday, and please spread the word!

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

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

1. Big Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Sunday, April 15, 4-6 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

HNA's BIG Neighborhood-Watch Community Meeting

focusing on Disaster Prep & Crime Watch

including SPECIAL presentation of City's Personal Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Sunday, April 15, 4-6 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

Facilitated by Dawn Rubin, HNA's Neighborhood Watch Coordinator

* Note to those who wait until the last minute to file your taxes: Tax Day this year is Tuesday, April 17, due to April 15 falling on a Sunday and April 16 being Emancipation Day, a holiday in D.C.

HNA includes neighbors living in the area bordered by Ashby, Telegraph, Woolsey, and Adeline. Come learn how you can upgrade your personal disaster preparedness as well as participate in a neighborhood plan that will save lives in the event of the Big One. We have invited the Mayor's Office, our City Councilmembers, and Beat Officers, with the goal of strengthening our disaster preparedness and fine-tuning our Crime Watch for the warmer weather. Special bonus: The meeting will include a time-condensed version of the Office of Emergency Services' workshop on Personal Disaster Preparedness, which ordinarily requires pre-registration and travel to City premises.

Our agenda includes:

4:00 Call to Order, Review Agenda, and Introductions: Dawn Rubin, Facilitator (Please arrive promptly!)
            * John Steere re: Halcyon Neighborhood Association
            * Councilmember Kriss Worthington
            * Councilmember Max Anderson
            * Vicky Liu from the  Mayor's Office
            * Jim Hynes from the City Manager's Office
4:20    Nancy Carleton re: Emergency Supply Cache and Strengthening Neighborhood-Wide Disaster Prep Plans

            * Halcyon Emergency Plan Overview
            * Incident Command System Introduction
            * Need for volunteers to help further organize our neighborhood
            * Fundraising for additional supplies for cache (batteries, sheets, etc.)

4:30    Personal Disaster Preparedness Workshop: Five Critical Steps to Prepare for Emergency (firefighter presentation)
5:30    Crime Watch
           * Introduce Beat Officer(s) & Area Coordinator(s)
           * Recent Crime Overview
5:45    Q & A
5:55    Future Events & Next Steps (John Steere)

6:00    Adjourn & Clean-up (we will end promptly)              

See Item 2 to arrange for Childcare coverage during the meeting!

Bring check to pay for Disaster Prep 55-gallon Water Barrel (see Item 3) and/or to participate in Multi-Block Yard Sale June 9 (see Item 4)

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

2. Register for Childcare Coverage for Meeting on Sunday, April 15, 4-6 p.m.

ATTENTION, FAMILIES:  We're hoping more parents will come to the neighborhood meeting on April 15 if kids can come too and have fun getting to know one another in an adjoining room.  We have a tentative plan to offer childcare at  $10/family for 2 hours. If we get at least 3 families interested, we will arrange with local teenagers to come work. We need to know ASAP.  Please email Dawn Trygstad Rubin at <familyrubin@comcast.net> to make a childcare reservation and/or if you have teenagers who are interested in offering childcare. Reservations will be REQUIRED - there will be no drop-in childcare because we need to know the number of kids in advance in order to hire enough babysitters. Volunteers to help coordinate this offering are welcome (contact Dawn).

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

3. Order Your Disaster Prep 55-Gallon Water Barrel by Friday, April 20

The City of Berkeley recommends that households store at least 1 gallon of water per resident for a minimum of five days (i.e., a household of four would need to store at least 20 gallons). Many of us who witnessed the slow governmental response to the Katrina disaster feel it's prudent to store supplies for at least 7 to 10 days, since we are likely to be on our own that long, and the EBMUD water delivery system may well be compromised. And many of us have pets and house plants that will need water too. 55-gallon barrels that can easily be stored in a corner outside allow an easy way to store plenty of water for your household's needs in the event of disaster. They require simple annual maintenance for best results.

Neighbors Susan Hunter and Mark Foy have researched costs for 55-gallon blue plastic water barrels and manual pumps for disaster preparedness. If we place a group order for 40 or more, we will receive a substantial discount (approximately 36%). You'll be able to order your barrel at the April 15 Neighborhood Watch meeting or by dropping off or mailing a check by April 20. Moving forward with this project this spring requires an order of 40 or more barrels.

The $58.08 cost covers a 55-gallon water barrel (discounted to $31.95 from  $52.21 for orders over 40), a manual pump to allow access to the water (and to facilitate annual cleaning) ($12.00), and shipping costs ($14.95 per barrel) to a central location (Halcyon Court).

To Order (Orders needed by Friday, April 20):

Send your check or money order for $58.08 made out to Halcyon Neighborhood Association (or HNA), earmarked "water barrel" to:

Susan Hunter, Treasurer, HNA

3044-A Halcyon Court

Berkeley, CA 94705

(or drop through mail slot in front door at 3044 Halcyon across from Halcyon Commons Park)

Note: Checks will not be deposited until 40 orders have been received; if we don't get 40 orders, the cost of each barrel will go up, and we will have to reevaluate our plans. Please be sure to include your full address, email, and phone number with your order for follow-up.

Attention: LeConte, Bateman, WIllard, and Lorin Neighbors: We are happy to include orders from nearby neighborhood groups in our group order; however, if you live outside HNA's boundaries (Ashby, Telegraph, Woolsey, Adeline), you will need to arrange to pick up your barrel from Halcyon Court in a timely manner following delivery (date TBD).

Volunteers with Trucks Needed:  The water barrels will be delivered to Halcyon Court. We need a neighbor with a truck (or, even better, a few neighbors with trucks) to deliver the barrels to individual addresses. Some neighbors may also need help setting up their barrel.  To volunteer for both or either function, email Susan Hunter <suze208@earthlink.net>.

For More Information, contact:

Susan Hunter <suze208@earthlink.net> 517-0241

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

4. Sign Up Now to Participate in Huge Multi-Block Yard Sale, Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In years past, HNA sponsored several hugely successful multi-block yard sales. Several neighbors have said it's time to do it again! The date is set:

HNA Multi-Block Yard Sale

Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

(set up by 9 a.m. recommended; when multiblock yard sales are advertised, dealers come early)

* Sale will be advertised widely in locals newspapers and on the web, and we expect a huge turnout.

* Sign up now - $5 checks to HNA required to participate (goes toward ads and flyers). Mail your check (or drop off) to: HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter, 3044-A Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705. Or bring your check to HNA's Neighborhood Watch meeting April 15, 4-6 p.m. at Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton).

* In addition to being a chance to clear out your closets and garages, this event is a fundraiser for the HNA Disaster Preparedness Fund; on the day of the event, HNA representatives will ask you to contribute 5-10% of your proceeds (or more, if you're feeling generous); all of these funds will go directly toward purchasing supplies for the Halcyon Disaster Supply Cache, which contains materials to support neighborhood-wide Disaster First Aid, Light Search & Rescue, and a Command Center in Halcyon Commons Park following a major disaster (if you wish your contribution to be tax-deductible, you can make your check payable to BPFP -  Berkeley Partners for Parks -  earmarked for Halcyon disaster prep).

* Volunteers are needed to help post flyers and to set up signs at major intersections on the day of the event. Volunteers will also be needed the evening of Friday, June 8 to make the big signs to post at major intersections. Please call or email Susan Hunter <suze208@earthlink.net> or 517-0241 if you're willing to help.

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

5. Follow-up on Hate Materials Distributed in Neighborhood: Halcyon Neighbors Interviewed

Various local media covered the issue of the hate materials distributed in our neighborhood (Prince, Webster, Halcyon, Woolsey) and other parts of Berkeley as described in the last HNA E-Newsletter. In addition to being quoted in the articles linked below, HNA Co-Chair (and E-Newsletter Editor) Nancy Carleton was interviewed by KCBS as well as by Channel 11/5 and Channel 2. Halcyon neighbor and HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter was also interviewed by Channel  2.

"Southeast Berkeley Blanketed with Racist, Anti-Semitic Literature"

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=04-06-07&storyID=26726

"White Supremist Literature Left in Berkeley Neighborhoods"

http://www.dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=24077

 

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

6. Save Iceland Update: Deakin Street Neighbor in Daily Planet Photo

Deakin Street neighbor Claudia Polsky, who is working hard to save Iceland, was featured in photos in both the online and print edition of today's Berkeley Daily Planet:

"Divided Commission Landmarks Iceland"

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=04-10-07&storyID=26762

The link http://www.saveiceland.com has information if you're interested in helping to save Iceland.

[Editor's Note: HNA doesn't have an official position on this issue.]

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

7. Berkeley Police Department Launches "Community POP Watch" Newsletter and Brings Back Daily Crime Bulletin

Sergeant Mary Kusmiss sent along a pdf  of the new "Community POP Watch" weekly newsletter she is helping the Berkeley Police Department Community Services Bureau  produce (POP stands for "Problem-Oriented Policing"). An interesting tidbit from the newsletter is that "nearly 40% of all residential burglaries in the City of Berkeley are accomplished via  open and/or unlocked windows and doors." While the HNA E-Newsletter by agreement does not include attachments, everyone receiving HNA E-News is welcome to sign up to receive the BPD's "Community POP Watch" newsletter. You can subscribe by contacting <MKusmiss@ci.berkeley.ca.us>.  She invites community members to send stories and ideas for projects for problem-solving issues of concern, while praising neighborhood groups such as HNA for their partnership with the BPD in fighting crime.

 See also:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police

"Daily Police Bulletins"

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/crimestats/policebulletins.html

"Berkeley Police Bring Back Daily Crime Bulletin"

Sarah Kamshoshy, The Daily Californian, 4/9/2007

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/news/print.asp?id=20521

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

8. Get Ready, Berkeley Day 2, Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.: Volunteers Needed

The following information was received from the City's Office of Emergency Services:

Saturday, April 28, 2007 is "Get Ready, Berkeley Day 2," and we need hundreds of volunteers to go door-to-door in City neighborhoods and share the information families need to get ready. How can you help?

 

Who: You and your friends and neighbors

What: Deliver important emergency preparation material door-to-door

When: Saturday, April 28 at 10:00 a.m. sharp

Where: Frances Albrier Community Center in San Pablo Park (2800 Park Street) in Berkeley

Back at Frances Albrier after the walk, the Berkeley Fire Fighters Association is treating all the volunteers to a great BBQ lunch.

To RSVP or get more information, contact Tanya Bustamante at <GetReadyBerkeley07@ci.berkeley.ca.us> or call her at (510) 981-5342. Thank you for being involved in your community. It's people like you who make Berkeley a special place to live.

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

9. Free Seminar Being Offered on Seismic Retrofitting, Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m., 2701 College

Neighbor Tory Finn of Wheeler Street sent the following information about a free seminar on seismic retrofitting:

In a recent Contra Costa Times review, as many as 80% of all seismic retrofits failed to meet basic performance standards. In a much more exhaustive review, which is based on the examination of thousands of existing Berkeley retrofits, Bay Area Retrofit found that the percentage is closer to 95%.

 

To learn more about this troubling statistic and what to do about it, Bay Area Retrofit and Maison Nouveau will provide a unique, in-depth educational seminar or retrofitting in the Bay Area followed by an open question session.  Here's some topics that will be covered:

*  Translating structural reports into plain simple language.

*  An explanation of the foundation and retrofit problems identified in most reports.

*  Evaluating whether a foundation needs to be replaced or not and what to do with conflicting reports.

*  Everything you wanted to know about seismic retrofitting.

*  Recent changes to the Berkeley Transfer Tax Rebate Program.

 

When and Where

April 25, 2007, 6:30 p.m.

Maison Nouveau: 2701 College Avenue (at Derby), Berkeley

Free and open to the public

 

To sign up for the seminar (helpful to us but not necessary) please go to: http://www.maisonnouveaurealty.com/seminars.html

 

To learn more about Bay Area Retrofit please visit: http://bayarearetrofit.com/

 

For more information about the event, call Maison Nouveau at 510-849-9900

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

10. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sun., April 15, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m., Sun., April 15, Willard Middle School (Telegraph Ave. between Derby & Stuart, Berkeley). Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. Contact  info@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org, 526-7377.

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

11. Organic Produce Delivered at Chochmat-Tuv Ha'aretz Plus "An Evening with Our Farmer," Tuesday, April 17, 7 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

Our neighbors at Chochmat HaLev, who have graciously allowed our neighborhood association to use their facilities at Prince and Fulton for our meetings, have announced a special project to support local organic produce. Dawn Rubin of Wheeler Street forwarded the following information from Chochmat HaLev member Lisa Schachter-Brooks:

Hello to all!You may already know that Chochmat Halev was recently chosen to be a host site for Tuv Ha'aretz, the Jewish Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program sponsored by Hazon. This means that community members (and there is a very wide definition of community here!) join together to buy shares in a local organic farm. In exchange, we receive weekly boxes of fresh farm produce.  The

boxes will be delivered at Chochmat on Wednesday evenings from 5-7:30 where we can pick them up, shmooze with friends, exchange recipes and enjoy the beautiful garden!  Deliveries will run from Shavuot to Sukkot  (see registration form for exact dates.)

The idea is that we, as a Jewish community, can support sustainable agriculture and at the same nourish ourselves, our families and our households with healthy, organic, and local foods.  Plus, we can come together to explore contemporary food issues from a Jewish perspective. . . and we all know that food is connected to all of the big important elements of our society: health, spirituality, politics, business, environment, etc.

So, please sign up now and spread the word.  This is not just for members of the Chochmat community. We hope to include folks from throughout the wider community. Feel free to call Adam Edell, CSA coordinator, at 510.506.6410 or write <csa@chochmat.org> for more

information.

L'chaim and Moadim B'Simcha!
Lisa

ALSO!! Our first Tuv Ha'aretz event is happening soon.  MEET THE FARMER NIGHT.  If you are at all interested in this program, come meet our farmer from Eatwell Farm and decide whether  the program is right for you.

An Evening with Our Farmer:

Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm
Tuesday, April 17th, 7 p.m.

Tuv Ha'aretz and Chochmat Halev would like to invite you to meet the farmer we have partnered with for this 2007 season. Nigel will take us on a visual tour of the farm, discuss some of the sustainable principles which guide his growing practices, and answer all our burning questions about how the farm operates, what its challenges are, and what to expect in our boxes. Afterwards, we'll sample what's in season from Eatwell and address the nuts and bolts of what's involved in purchasing a CSA share. All are encouraged to attend!

For more information on Eatwell Farm, go to: http://eatwell.com/farm/index.html

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

12. Civic Berkeley Meeting, Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m., on "Navigating the Maze: Lessons We've Learned"

[Editor's Note: The following meeting announcement was forwarded to us.]

Date & Time:  Thursday, April 19, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

Location:   B-Tech Academy Multipurpose Room (formerly Berkeley Continuation School) Multipurpose Room (wheelchair accessible)

2701 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94703

More Info:     510-273-2496

Civic Berkeley

Public Forum - Free
Navigating the Maze: Lessons We've Learned

All over Berkeley, citizens now face the same challenge: getting our elected and appointed officials to respond to legitimate community concerns. On April 19, speakers from eight different neighborhood groups will describe their particular issue, what their group has done, what worked and what didn't. Their 5-minute presentations will be followed by a moderated general discussion.

Civic Berkeley is a new organization dedicated to reviving Berkeley's tradition of government and politics that are open, accountable, and informed. This forum is our first event. We seek constructive dialogue leading to more effective community action.

For more information, call 510-273-2496. If at all possible, please RSVP at http://www.upcoming.org/event/170855/

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

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

Dates set as of April 2007 (verify a few weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):

Sunday, April 15, 4-6 p.m., Big Neighborhood-Watch Community Meeting, Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

Monday, April 23, 7 p.m., presentation at Parks & Recreation Commission meeting re Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project, North Berkeley Senior Center

Sunday, May 6, 4:30-6 p.m., Supply Cache Drill, driveway of 3044-B Halcyon Court and Halcyon Commons Park

Sunday, June 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Work Party in Halcyon Commons Park

Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Giant Multi-Block Yard Sale, throughout the neighborhood

Sunday, June 24, 6-8 p.m., Halcyon Community Potluck, location TBD

Saturday, August 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Work Party in Halcyon Commons Park

Tuesday, August 7, 6-8:30 p.m., National Night Out Against Crime, Potluck in Park 6-7:30 p.m., walk through larger neighborhood 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 30, 4:30-5:55 p.m., Disaster Supply Cache Fire Drill, driveway of 3044-B Halcyon and Halcyon Commons Park

Sunday, September 30, 6-8 p.m., Halcyon Community Potluck, location TBD

Saturday, October 27, Fall Mulching in Park with help from Cal volunteers of Berkeley Project

Sunday, October 28, 4-6 p.m., Big Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting, Chochmat HaLev (to be confirmed)

Sunday, January 13, 2008, 5-8:30, Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, four locations TBD

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

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Police and Other City Departments:

Police Emergency Number:  911 (from landline) 981-5911(from cell; preprogram with this number)

Police Nonemergency Number: 981-5900

Neighborhood Services Liaison Jim Hynes <jhynes@ci.berkeley.ca.us> 981-2493

Public Works Customer Service: 644-6620 (streets, sidewalks, graffiti, sewers, litter, storm drains, street lights)

Tree Trimming/Planting (Forestry): 644-6566

Written Communication with City Council:

To comment to City Council, cut and paste the following email addresses:

City Clerk <clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Mayor Tom Bates <Mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Linda Maio <LMaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Darryl Moore <DMoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Max Anderson <MAnderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Dona Spring <DSpring@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Laurie Capitelli <LCapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Betty Olds <BOlds@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Kriss Worthington <KWorthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Gordon Wozniak <GWozniak@ci.berkeley.ca.us>

Representatives for Our Neighborhood:

Councilmember Max Anderson (District 3) 981-7130

West side of Wheeler Street to west (except for Woolsey between Wheeler and Shattuck)

Councilmember Kriss Worthington (District 7) 981-7170

East side of Wheeler to east (includes block of Woolsey from Wheeler to Shattuck)

Mayor Tom Bates 981-7100

Zoning Adjustments Board:

To comment to the Zoning Adjustments Board regarding projects on their calendar, email:

Zoning Adjustments Board <zab@ci.berkeley.ca.us>

(best to submit your comments 10 days prior to meeting for inclusion in the advance packet to board members, but late submissions will be distributed the evening of the meeting)

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

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>. Crime-watch reports and news about neighbors is especially welcome. 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 (the Berkeley Daily Planet has a large section devoted to opinion).

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, though this is a relatively inactive blog), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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