HNA E-News: Crime Watch Alert re Sexual Assaults, Graffiti on Bulletin Board in Park

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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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1. Community Crime Alert: BPD Investigating Sexual Assaults in Apartment Buildings

2. Crime Watch Report: Graffiti Vandalism of Bulletin Board in Halcyon Commons Park Last Night

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Editor's Introductory Note:

I am sending out a second E-News today because the information contained in item 1 concerning two near-identical sexual assaults is so important. Although these incidents took place outside our immediate neighborhood, the pattern is disturbing and the locations all too close for comfort. As we saw earlier this summer, one perpetrator can be responsible for multiple crimes that cross usual neighborhood boundaries. I encourage neighborhood residents, especially apartment dwellers, to read the suspect's description carefully, and report anything suspicious promptly.

Again, hoping to see many of you tonight at our National Night Out Against Crime event!

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

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1. Community Crime Alert: BPD Investigating Sexual Assaults in Apartment Buildings

Berkeley,  California  (Friday,  August  3,  2 7)  -  City  of  Berkeley  Police  Department

(BPD)  Sex  Crimes  detectives  are  currently  investigating  two  similar  sexual   assaults  that have heightened their concern.  Detectives are sharing details of these crimes to keep the community  informed  and  in  order  that  community  members  may  better  protect themselves. 

 

On  July  6th,  at  about  3:00  p.m.,  a  woman  was  assaulted  in  the  2500  block  of  Hillegass Avenue.  On  Thursday, August 2nd at about 6:00 p.m., another woman was attacked in the 2100 block of Haste Street  In both cases, the suspect targeted college-age Asian women and made his way into secure  lobby areas of multi-unit apartment buildings.  

 

The suspect is described by the victim(s) as:

Black Male, in his late 20s, dark complexion, 5'8" to 6' feet tall  

Clean appearance, thin build, with shoulder-length dreadlocks or twists 

 
Community members are reminded to employ crime prevention measures whenever possible  By taking a few precautions, you may reduce your risk as well  as discourage those who commit crimes: 
 

* Be alert to your surroundings and people around you.  

* Whenever feasible, walk, jog or travel  with a friend. 

* Walk confident y and at a steady pace. 

* Do not talk on cellphones or  listen to iPods when a one, as they  limit awareness. 

* Be aware of  locations and situations, which make you more vulnerable to crime.

such as alleys, doorways, parking  lots and stairwells.  

* Stay in well-lighted areas as much as possible. 

* Become familiar with your neighbors. 

* Call  BPD to report suspicious persons or activity.

If  you  have  any  information  regarding  these  assaults,  please  call  the  BPD  Sex  Crimes Detail  at (510) 981-5735.  For crimes in progress, call 911 or (510) 981-5911 from your cellphone.  To report suspicious persons or activity, call  BPD nonemergency (510) 981-5900. 

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2. Crime Watch Report: Graffiti Vandalism of Bulletin Board in Halcyon Commons Park Last Night

Last night our beautiful hand-crafted bulletin board in Halcyon Commons park was vandalized with magenta spray paint on both Plexiglas doors (on the left, the word Warriors was spray-painted next to another word that was crossed out; on the right, the words "It's Mookie, Baby" were spray-painted).

This incident has been reported to the Police Department, which is sending an officer out to photograph the tag and follow up to see if it matches any of their known taggers. HNA has photographed the tag also and will be removing it promptly, as our first item of action at this evening's National Night Out Against Crime (see item 1 in the preceding HNA E-News).

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

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

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,  5:00-7:30 p.m., Halcyon Community Potluck with Live Music, 15th Anniversary of Halcyon Neighborhood Association and 100th Anniversary of Berkeley Parks, Halcyon Commons park (Halcyon Court at Prince St.)

Saturday, October 27, 9 a.m. on, 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 (location and date 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):

Duct Tape (this is a versatile supply that allows us to improvise with common household items in the event of a disaster: lots needed!); Batteries (AA, C, D), regular & rechargeable; Battery Recharger for AA, C, D; Quality Walkie-Talkies with 8-mile range, 22 channels (i.e., Motorola Talkabout T5500 two-way radios); Axes; Crow Bars, Hard Hats; Other Tools for Search & Rescue; Head Lamps; Heavy-duty Flashlights; Bullhorn; Laptop Computer with rechargeable power supply & USB port; 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; Two-Foot Lengths of 2x4s and 4x4s (good for cribbing and creating fulcrums for removing heavy objects during search & rescue operations).

Contact HNA Co-Chair and Cache Coordinator Nancy Carleton at <halcyon92@gmail.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.

Link to crime stats:

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

Link to police bulletins:

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

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/)/Parks: 981-6660

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 <halcyon92@gmail.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 <halcyon92@gmail.com>. Crime-watch reports and news about neighbors (births, new jobs, announcements re home businesses) 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 Halcyon Safety Walk Listserve: For those who'd like to participate in night-time and daytime safety "dog" walks (dogs not required) to build community and serve as eyes on the street, please reply  to Halcyon Neighborhood Association <halcyon92@gmail.com> indicating your interest, and you will receive an invitation to join. For everyone's safety, be sure to include your full name, address, email, and phone.

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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