HNA E-News: Mugging last night on Prince and other crime watch reports

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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: Mugging Last Night on 2100 Block of Prince

2. Crime Watch Report: Car Break-in on Ashby Near Deakin

3. Crime Watch Report: Intruder in House Near Wheeler Last Week

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

Editor's Introductory Note:

Over the years, we have noticed two fairly predictable times when crime levels go up: the beginning of summer and the beginning of the school year (late August/September). So pay attention to the crime-watch alerts, show extra care, and be sure to call the police anytime you notice anything suspicious. Your calls will result in more frequent patrols. HNA's Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, Dawn Rubin, is working on logistics for our big fall Neighborhood Watch meeting; please watch the E-News for more details. And have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!

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

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1. Crime Watch Report: Mugging Last Night on 2100 Block of Prince

A Prince Street neighbor reports:

"Yet again another robbery almost in front of our house last night (Tuesday, Aug. 28). Two young African American men (medium height, wearing dark hoodies), attacked a young man just before 12 midnight. They grabbed this wallet. After removing the money, they dropped the wallet in the street as they fled the scene. This is the fourth mugging in as many months on our block. We have put up postings on the telephone poles. We always call the police immediately. It seems that patrons leaving the Starry Plough and people walking from BART are easy pickings. In addition to our vigilance, it might be good to have a more police patrols."

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2. Crime Watch Report: Car Break-in on Ashby Near Deakin

An Ashby Avenue neighbor writes:

"I am writing to inform you of a crime that happened near my home, which is on Ashby, near Deakin. On Tuesday morning, Aug. 21, I found that my car had been rummaged through and my Fastrak pass, which was not in view (but I do have the velcro strips on my windshield), had been stolen from the storage space below my car stereo.   My parking change was missing, and I think there may have also been an old cell phone car charger stolen from the

middle console.  The back seats of the car, which are connected to the trunk, had been pulled down and the contents of the trunk had been dumped forward onto the lowered seat backs.  The things from the front console had been dumped on the passenger and driver seat.  There were no windows broken, and the intruder left all of my car doors locked when they were done. Nothing of value was left behind, but there wasn't much of value to take in the first place.  As far as I remember, all of my car doors and my trunk were locked when I parked my car the Friday before (Aug. 17).  My Fastrak pass was used 5 times to cross the Carquinez Bridge, starting around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19th and ending on Tuesday, Aug. 21st around 12:30 a.m. I cancelled the Fastrak on Tuesday, Aug. 21st, after finding it missing. I made a police report and was informed by Fastrak that I can send in the police report to be refunded the $20 I have been charged for the stolen Fastrak transponder box. I don't think I'll be getting any of

the $20 in tolls back."

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3. Crime Watch Report: Intruder in House Near Wheeler Last Week

[Editor's Note: The details in this report are sketchy. I can only include the details people send in. The more we develop a neighborhood culture of reporting incidents when they happen, the better informed we'll all be! I'll gladly  post further details in the next E-News if someone fleshes out this report!]

A Wheeler Street neighbor reports:

"I heard a story yesterday (Sunday,  Aug. 26) that needs to go in the next newsletter.  I don't have all the details . . . will try to get them. One day last week, about 7 a.m, a neighbors dog was barking like crazy.  In fact, the dog came upstairs to get them. The neighbor went downstairs and found a man in her living room. She yelled at him and he left. I don't have much description yet - because I heard it third hand, but I think it was African American man in his 40s."

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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):

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,  6:30-8:30 p.m., Big Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting, Chochmat HaLev (location and date/time 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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