HNA E-News: Crime Watch Reports and Updates, Design Reivew Hearing on 3100 Stattuck, 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 (HNA), its Steering Committee, or the Editor. The Editor's introductory comments express her personal viewpoint.

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1. Crime Watch Report:  Backyard Shed Burglarized on Prince Street near Wheeler

2. Community Crime Alert: Update on Investigations of Sexual Assaults Plus Link to Sketches

3. Crime Watch Report: Attempted Burglary on Wheeler Street

4. Crime Watch Report: Attempted Car Theft on Prince Street near Shattuck

5. Mixed Use Development at 3100 Shattuck at Design Review, Thursday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m. (including link to article)

6. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sunday, August 19, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

7. Community Walk in Southwest Berkeley, Wednesday, August 15, 6:30 p.m., San Pablo Park

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Editor's Introductory Note:

Thanks to all who participated in our well-attended National Night Out Against Crime event last week, with special thanks to moderator Dawn Rubin, HNA's Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. Over 55 neighbors came out for the potluck portion of the evening, and a couple of dozen of us walked the larger neighborhood afterward, circling around BART and surrounding streets, and ending up at B&W Liquors, where the owner treated us to complimentary nonalcoholic beverages (thanks, Sucha!). We also hooked up with several East Lorin neighbors who get together for occasional walks in their neighborhood, making it a great joint neighborhood effort. We appreciated the attendance at the potluck of Sgt. Mary Kusmiss of the Community Services Bureau of the Police Department, along with eight other sergeants and officers; Asst. Deputy Fire Chief Gil Dong and a few emergency services personnel and firefighters; Claudette Ford, Director of Public Works; WIlliam Rogers, Director of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront; and Jesse Arreguin, Legislative Aide to Councilmember Kriss Worthington.

As you'll see from the crime watch reports in this edition of the E-News, we need to keep working together to do our part in making our neighborhood safer. Please, please call the police if you notice anything suspicious (numbers in the Useful Contact Information section of the E-News), especially when someone you don't recognize as a neighbor appears to be casing driveways or windows. And please remember to report incidents large and small to the E-News so we can keep one another informed.

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

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1. Crime Watch Report: Backyard Shed Burglarized on Prince Street near Wheeler

A Prince Street neighbor reports:

"I wanted to report that someone broke into our backyard shed yesterday [Monday, August 13] (Prince Street near Wheeler) and took some items. When I returned home at 6:00, I found one of our large tubs filled with items (some of them ours) that the thief had taken and then left there. There were two things (a weed whacker and pair of clippers) that aren't ours, which  they must have taken from someone else's backyard. If your readers can claim them, let me know [Editor's Note: If you are missing your weed whacker and a pair of clippers, reply to <halcyon92@gmail.com> and I will forward your email to the neighbor writing this report]. I filed a police report, and the very nice officer let me know that we were the second break in on Prince that day. In the other instance, a homeless person had entered an occupied home through an open side door to steal a bicycle. The woman who lived there saw him, ran after him, and stopped the thief and held him until the police came and arrested him. It could be he was the same person who was planning to steal our stuff and never got back to collect the tub and stolen goods from our driveway."

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2. Community Crime Alert: Update on Investigations of Sexual Assaults Plus Link to Sketches

Berkeley,  California  (Thursday, August 9, 2007)  -  City  of  Berkeley  Police  Department

Sketches May Be Key: Community's Help Needed

Link to Sketches: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/ [and click on sketches]

Sex Crimes detectives are requesting the community's help in solving two recent assaults. Although there are some similarities in the incidents, due to new details relevant to the investigations, as well as the following suspect sketches, detectives are compelled to investigate the incidents as two separate crimes.

On July 6th, at about 3:00 p.m., a woman was assaulted in the 2500 block of Hillegass Avenue. Suspect in Hillegass Avenue Case described by victim as: Black Male, 30, dark complexion, 5'8, thin build, wearing a black baseball cap, dark t-shirt with silver writing and dark loose fitting athletic type shorts.

On Thursday, August 2nd at about 6:00 p.m., another woman was attacked in the 2100 block of Haste Street. Suspect in Haste Street Case described by victim as: Black Male, late 20s-early 30s, dark complexion, 5'10-6', thin build, possibly chin-length dreads or shaved head, wearing, dark baggy jeans and a dark jacket.

In both cases, the suspect made his way into secure lobby areas of multiunit apartment buildings and targeted a college-age Asian woman.

If you see or recognize either of the suspects in the sketches, or have any information regarding these assaults, please call Detective Sergeant Sean Ross S-25 at (510) 981-5734 or the BPD nonemergency dispatch line at (510) 981-5900. For crimes in progress, call 911 or (510) 981-5911 from your cell phone. To report suspicious persons or activity, call BPD nonemergency (510) 981-5900.

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.

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3. Crime Watch Report: Attempted Burglary on Wheeler Street

A Wheeler Street neighbor reports:

"We had an incident at home [one morning last week].  At 6:45 a.m. a black man in an orange baseball cap jumped up and hit the protruding window in our breakfast nook that we use as an office area [in the 3000 block of Wheeler St.}.  We were home and awake, and sitting there at the computer. It may have been that he thought he could climb quickly in the window. The street was deserted. He saw us and ran off."

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4. Crime Watch Report: Attempted Car Theft on Prince Street near Shattuck

A Prince Street neighbor reported  that one of her neighbors had someone attempt to steal their car by hotwiring it last Thursday night [August 9]  between 10 and 11 p.m. The hotwire attempt was unsuccessful, either because the thief was interrupted or because the job was botched. The details given were sketchy, but worth passing on so neighbors can be aware.

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5. Mixed Use Development at 3100 Shattuck at Design Review, Thursday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m. (including link to article)

Neighbor and developer Brian Hill sent the following announcement:

Berkeley's Design Review Committee meeting for the mixed-use development project at 3100 Shattuck will be on Thursday, August 16th, at 7:00 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center at 1901 Hearst Avenue (at MLK).

When it is finalized, the Committee's agenda will be posted here: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/designreview/default.htm#current.
Aaron Sage, asage@ci.berkeley.ca.us, is the City's planner in charge of reviewing the project. Comments about the project can be sent to him.

Brian Hill, the developer, lives at 3100 Shattuck and is available to talk to or meet with people who would like to see the details of the plans. His home number is (510)666-0565 and his email is <brian42@lingerhere.org>.

[Editor's Note: HNA does not have a position on this project but encourages neighbors to inform themselves and express their opinions if so inclined using the Useful Contact Information at the end of the E-News. A recent Berkeley Daily Planet article concerning the 3100 Shattuck project can be found at: http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=08-07-07&storyID=27709 .]

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6. Labyrinth Community Peace Walk, Sunday, August 19, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m., Sunday, August 19, Willard Middle School (Telegraph Ave. between Derby & Stuart, Berkeley). Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Contact  info@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org, 526-7377.

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7. Community Walk in Southwest Berkeley, Wednesday, August 15, 6:30 p.m., San Pablo Park

Councilmember Darryl Moore's office sent out an announcement about the following community walk:

I wanted to let you all know about [an] important event in the district:  a community walk in southwest Berkeley to help build community and solidarity in the wake of the recent acts of violence. The event is being organized by Berkeley youth from Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA) and Berkeley United Youth in Action (BUYA) in partnership with the Office of Mayor Tom Bates, our office, and City staff. The walk will start at San Pablo Park at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 15th. Please come and join us and meet your neighbors.

What: Community Walk

When:  6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15th

Where: San Pablo Park, in front of the Frances Albrier Center

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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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