HNA News: Last Chance to Order Discount Water Barrel! & Crime Watch News

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

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Items in This E-Newsletter

1. Order Your Disaster Prep 55-Gallon Water Barrel by Monday, April 23!

2. Crime Watch Report: Theft of Items from Porch & Drug Use on Webster Near Halcyon

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Editor's Introductory Note:

A quick reminder that you still have today (Sunday) and tomorrow to order your discounted (by 36%) water barrel for disaster prep. If you've been meaning to get around to the next step in your disaster preparedness, this is an easy one. All you need to do is drop off a check by tomorrow, and  you will be better prepared to meet your water needs - more essential for life than anything except air - in the event of emergency.

As a reality check, recall Katrina. If we experience a catastrophic quake on the Hayward Fault anywhere near Berkeley, there will almost without doubt be an interruption in water service from EBMUD. It will take the federal government more time to respond than we'd like, and even when it does, do you really want to be waiting hours in line at a truck drop-off, only to get to the end of the line and find out they've just run out of water for the day?

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

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1. Order Your Disaster Prep 55-Gallon Water Barrel by Monday, April 23!

[Editor's Note:  Susan is leaving some Water Barrel Order Forms on the front porch at 3044 Halcyon to make ordering easier.]

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 (though you can also opt to purify your water when the time comes).

Neighbors Susan Hunter and Mark Foy have researched costs for 55-gallon heavy-duty blue plastic water barrels and manual pumps for disaster preparedness. Since we are placing a group order for 40 or more [now up to 50 orders!], we will receive a substantial discount (approximately 36%). You can order your barrel  by dropping off  a check by Monday,  April 23 (deadline extended from April 20).

The $58.08 cost covers a 55-gallon water barrel (discounted 36% 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):

Drop off your check or money order (too late for mail) for $58.08 made out to

Halcyon Neighborhood Association (or HNA), earmarked "water barrel" to:

[Add $5.00 to your check if you also wish to participate in the June 9 Multi-Block Yard Sale!]

Susan Hunter, Treasurer, HNA

3044-A Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705

(drop through mail slot in front door at 3044 Halcyon, between Prince and Webster a block to the west of Telegraph, across from Halcyon Commons Park)

Note: We have over 40 orders, so we'll definitely being moving ahead with the order. Please be sure to include your full address, email, and phone number with your order so we can keep you posted with follow-up information.

Ordering Multiple Barrels

Some families may decided they'd like to store more water. You can either order a pump with each barrel (in which case, simply multiply by $58.08), or you may want only one pump and multiple barrels (in which case, the first barrel/pump is $58.08, and subsequent barrels without pumps would be $46.08).

Attention: LeConte, Bateman, WIllard, and Lorin Neighbors: We are happy to include orders from nearby neighborhood groups in our group order; we are looking for a volunteer with a truck to help drop these orders off as well (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 both within Halcyon Neighborhood's boundaries and to nearby neighborhoods. 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

Nancy Carleton <ngc2@mindspring.com> 644-0172

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2. Crime Watch Report: Theft of Items from Porch & Drug Use on Webster and Halcyon and in front of Whole Foods

A neighbor on Webster near Halcyon reports:

"About 6:30 p.m. last Thursday evening, still very light out, two people were sitting on one of our garden walls smoking crack. I asked them to move along. I later saw them in front of Whole Foods. It seems like there is a more active contingent of drug users/dealers around our house and the Whole Foods area. We had a rug stolen off our front porch during last Saturday night. It was rolled up, under some other items, so it took a resourceful person to see it and get to it. Our porch light was on, but that didn't deter them.

I don't know if it is related, but the drug activity on this side, and in the front, of Whole Foods, has seemed to increase. Two of the guys that hang out on the side and ask for money, got into a BIG argument last night in front of  the house on Webster with a bench in front. Because this area, especially at night, is hidden and dark, people tend to hang out there. These guys saw me watching them and eventually moved up the street to argue. I have also seen drug purchases on the side of Whole Foods."

Last week a neighbor on Halcyon also reported seeing three people on the black metal bench in Halcyon Commons Park who seemed to be involved in drug use or sale. She called the Police nonemergency number, and an officer came by.

Editor's Note: Police representatives have always encouraged us to call whenever we suspect drug activity or notice other suspicious behavior. The nonemergency number is 981-5900 (emergency is 911 from a landline, 981-5911 from a cell. Do not hesitate to make reports of matters large and small, for that is how we can ensure frequent drive-throughs by the officers and help them track larger patterns in our neighborhood. This helps draw a boundary, particularly important to prevent drug dealers from selecting our neighborhood as their next hang-out.

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* 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):

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

Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. (presentation 7:30), Arts Commission meeeting with agenda item on 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

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* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

HNA's Disaster Prep Supply Cache contains items intended to benefit the entire neighborhood in the event of disaster. You can help us have what we need on hand in two ways: (1) Make a tax-deductible financial contribution to Berkeley Partners for Parks (BPFP, our nonprofit fiscal sponsor), earmarked Halcyon Disaster Prep, which will go toward purchasing additional supplies, and mail or drop off to HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter, 3044 Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705. (2) Contribute any of the following items in-kind (supplies MUST be new or in GOOD condition):

Batteries (AA, D), regular & rechargeable; Battery Recharger for AA, D; Quality Walkie-Talkies with 8-mile range, 22 channels (i.e., Motorola Talkabout T5500 two-way radios); Axes; Crow Bars, Hard Hats; Head Lamps; Heavy-duty Flashlights; Bullhorn; Laptop Computer with rechargeable power supply & USB port; Basic Printer (for producing flyers) with Ink Cartridges; Flashcard (for storing neighborhood database to transfer to laptop);  Sheets (freshly laundered or new; good for first aid); Blankets; First Aid Supplies; Gas Siphon (for extracting gas from cars to run generator); 5-Gallon Drums for long-term gas storage; Work Gloves; Large Camping Tents (with all parts!); Coleman or similar Gas or Propane Stove; Shelving for Shed.

Contact HNA Co-Chair and Cache Coordinator Nancy Carleton at <ngc2@mindspring.com> or 644-0172 to contribute supplies.

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* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Police

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

Police Nonemergency Number: 981-5900

Link to beat maps and a list of beat officers:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/department/beatinfo/beatlineup.html

In Halcyon neighborhood, west of Fulton is Beat 10, east of Fulton is Beat 9.

Other City Departments:

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)

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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>. 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 low-activity blog), please visit http://halcyoncourt.blogspot.com/

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