HNA E-News: HNA Anniversary Celebration Sunday!; Crime Watch updates, 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. Halcyon Community Potluck/Celebration with Live Music at Halcyon Commons, Sunday, September 30, 5-7:30 p.m.

2. HNA's Big Fall Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Sunday, October 28, 6:30-8 p.m. at Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

3. Community Alert from Berkeley Police Department: Increase in Robberies

4. Crime Watch Report: Mugging at Tremont and Prince, Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.

5. Crime Watch Report: Suspicious Individual Scoping Out East Lorin Neighborhood

6. Crime Watch Tips: Identifying Suspicious Persons and Activities

7. Crime Watch Report: Assault at the Ashby BART Station, Weds., Sept. 19, 8:45 p.m.

8. Crime Watch Report: Suspicious Individual Casing Wheeler Street near Ashby

9. Crime Watch Report: Attempted Breakin on Wheeler, Sept. 11

10. Hidden Gems of Berkeley Bike Tour, Saturday, October 13, 1-4 p.m.

11. Free Mulch Available next to Halcyon Commons Park

12. Multi-Family Yard Sale in the Fulton-Russell Street Neighborhood, Saturday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

* 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'm just back from two weeks in beautiful and inspiring Peru, where I was celebrating my 50th birthday. I was deeply moved by an impromptu fiesta put on for me by the Quechua people of the island of Amantani in Lake Titicaca. Their extension of community and celebration was infectious, and I'm looking forward to celebrating again with many of you at the 15th anniversary of Halcyon Neighborhood Association this coming Sunday, September 30th, which will include a birthday cake as well as live music and good company (see item 1).

There have been far too many crimes in the short time I was away (see crime watch reports below); although some took place just outside our neighborhood's boundaries, they affect all of us. These challenges to our neighborhood's well-being only convince me of just how important it is that we continue to get to know one another and take a stand for our mutual safety. HNA Neighborhood Watch coordinator, Dawn Rubin, is hard at work planning another informative annual Neighborhood Watch meeting on Sunday, October 28 (see item 2). Please mark your calendars now and make this event a priority.

I hope you'll take the time to get involved by participating in a few neighborhood events each year. I look forward to the possibility of seeing you on both September 30th and October 28th!

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

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1. Halcyon Community Potluck/Celebration with Live Music at Halcyon Commons, Sunday, September 30, 5-7:30 p.m.

Halcyon Commons Community Potluck/Celebration with Live Music

featuring Rodeo Victory (acoustic folk) and the Zazous (Cajun-jazz fusion)

Sunday, September 30, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Halcyon Neighborhood Association and 100th Anniversary of Berkeley Parks

at Halcyon Commons park (Halcyon Court at Prince St.)

with birthday cake to celebrate HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton's 50th Birthday

Come celebrate the life in and around the newest park in the City's park system (dedicated in 1996)  - and the only one designed and built and maintained through the partnership of  the neighborhood around it. Bring food and drink to share with others (see suggested guide below). Lively musical offerings by Rodeo Victory, an acoustic folk band, and The Zazous, a Cajun-jazz fusion group. Come share in the good vibes and vittles.

Please bring a dish to share (and also a beverage if you're able).

Appetizer:  U-Z * Salad: I-O * Main Dish: A-H * Dessert:  P-T

(If not obvious, kindly attach a label with ingredients for your dish to alert those with vegetarian and other diets.)

Volunteers needed to help set up before the event and clean up after. We also need someone willing to purchase and donate paper plates, cups, and napkins as well as plastic forks to replenish Halcyon Neighborhood Association's supplies so we're stocked for this event. Loan of additional lawn chairs also appreciated! Please contact John Steere for more information or to volunteer: 510-849-1969 or <jsteere@igc.org>

In addition to the aforementioned volunteer opportunities, HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Rubin is looking for a couple of folks willing to help organize some fun activities for kids. Please contact her at  at your earliest convenience if you'd be willing to help out: <familyrubin@comcast.net>.

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2. HNA's Big Fall Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Sunday, October 28, 6:30-8 p.m. at Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

HNA hosts two big Neighborhood Watch meetings annually, with the spring meeting focusing on disaster preparedness and the fall meeting focusing on crime watch. We'll be inviting representatives from the Police Department, including our beat officers, as well as our elected Council representatives, the Mayor's office, and the City Manager's Office. In addition, Dawn is working on a surprise event to help hone our crime prevention skills.

Please contact HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Rubin at <familyrubin@comcast.net> to help plan the meeting or if you're able to help set up before or clean up after the event.

Many thanks to our neighbor Chochmat HaLev for their generosity in once again providing us with a free meeting site, as well as for agreeing to donate use of their photocopy machine to produce neighborhood flyers six times a year!

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3. Community Alert from Berkeley Police Department: Increase in Robberies

Editor's Note: The Berkeley Police Department is circulating the following community alert:

September 19, 2007

COMMUNITY ALERT

Increase in Robberies

In the months of August and September, the City of Berkeley has experienced an increase in robberies. Many Bay Area communities are also being challenged by this troubling crime trend. Detectives and patrol officers are aggressively responding to these cases and have made some recent noteworthy arrests.

The Berkeley Police Department (BPD) would like to remind community members of

the following crime prevention measures:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings, particularly if you are
• alone or it is dark.
• Refrain from using cell phones and I-Pods in public, as they
• significantly limit your awareness and can attract a robber's
• attention.
• Whenever possible, travel with a friend or group.
• Walk confidently and at a steady pace.
• If you sense trouble, move to a populated, well-lit area.
• Do not respond to conversation from strangers on the street.
• Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys where criminals can hide.
• Program the local direct 911 - emergency number into your cellphone. In Berkeley, dial (510) 981-5911 from your cell.
• If you are the victim of a robbery, provide as much detail as you recall to the police officer. Robbers usually operate in the same areas each time and employ the same methods. The smallest details can often lead to arrests.
• Do not resist a robber.

For additional resources, visit the BPD website at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police. If you notice any suspicious individual(s) or activity, please contact BPD's nonemergency line at (510) 981-5900. For crimes in progress, dial 911 or (510) 981-5911 from your cell phone.

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4. Crime Watch Report: Mugging at Tremont and Prince, Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.

An East Lorin neighbor forwards the following report:

"Sunday Sept 16th at 1p.m. there was a mugging at Tremont and Prince St.  The perpetrator of the mugging was the very same guy I chased out of the area Thursday night (see item 5). While out driving I noticed two police cars on Prince and stopped and found out what happened.  The perpetrator, a husky black man on a bicycle with a t-shirt wrapped around his face, first approached two teenagers (at least one of whom lives on Prince between Shattuck and Tremont) saying he had pot to sell. Once he had engaged them, he told them he had a gun and robbed them. One of the teens had seen the guy bicycling around with the t-shirt on his face a half hour previous to the robbery and thought this looked suspicious but unfortunately did not follow through and call the police.

 

"If you see such a man bicycling around here with a t-shirt around his face, CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.  DO NOT let him approach you if you are on foot.  DO NOT respond to him; walk away. Notify all others around if possible so that others are not victimized. I myself have purchased a megaphone for possible use to warn nearby pedestrians in such cases."

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5. Crime Watch Report: Suspicious Individual Scoping Out East Lorin Neighborhood

An East Lorin neighbor reports:

"On Thursday Sept 13th at 8:30 p.m. I received a call from an acquaintance on Whitney Street who told me that a black man on a 10-speed bicycle with a white t-shirt around his face, disguising his face, continually harassed him and ever more closely approached him.  My friend thought this man was scoping him out to rob him.  I got in my car and found the individual bicycling back and forth along Shattuck between Prince and 65th, and along Woolsey between Shattuck and Tremont.  He was in his 20s, somewhat stocky build, wearing jeans with embroidered rear pockets, blue shirtless t-shirt, white tennis shoes, and a white t-shirt wrapped around his head.  He rode his bike on the sidewalks and continually circled around, staying in this small area. I called Berkeley PD. I followed the individual. Because he turned so often, he eventually saw me following him, and threw down his bike and confronted me. I remained stopped, kept car windows closed, and ignored him. He made a motion suggesting that he was armed. He then took off at high speed south on Shattuck, and I did not see him again that evening. I believe that realizing he was being watched discouraged him from continuing.  The police had told me for my safety not to follow him, but they also said they were very busy and it could take them an hour to arrive.  Within that space of time this individual could easily have robbed someone and been long gone. I believe I was safer keeping tabs on this individual from my car than was any pedestrian out walking these streets with this masked man prowling here at that time. Ideally, especially when police response times are slow, as they often are, I envision a neighborhood alert type situation where neighbors can be called to come out and watch a suspicious character or prowler from different points.  Thus it could be conveyed to the prowler that he's being watched by the whole neighborhood, not just by one person. What do folks think of such a plan?"

[Editor's Note: For your safety, consult the police department regarding the safest way to deal with such situations. See the contact information at the end of the E-News.]

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6. Crime Watch Tips: Identifying Suspicious Persons and Activities

A neighbor excerpted this information for a Berkeley Police Department handout and added some additional categories:

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS and ACTIVITIES:

1. When someone is paying an unusual amount of attention to the people or places around him or her.  The person may be preparing to commit a criminal act after making sure no one is watching.
2. Someone who is hanging out in dark or obscured areas.  Criminals do not want to be seen while waiting for an opportunity to strike.
3. When someone flees or runs away from a car or home when they notice you are watching or have seen them.

4. Someone going door-to-door in the neighborhood or wandering with no purpose.  Anyone can walk on our streets, but looking into cars, homes, and windows or down driveways is known as "casing."

5. If you hear any unusual noises that you cannot explain: breaking glass, prying or pounding noises.
6. Slow moving cars, cars repeatedly circling the neighborhood/block, cars driving without headlights on or someone conducting business from a car. 
7. Persons walking or bicycling down the street carrying property or household items in an awkward manner.
8. You see someone removing property or materials from a home or business at unusual hours.
9. A stranger entering a neighbor's home or business when your neighbor appears away at home or work.

To these might be added:

10. Persons loitering/circling in residential areas who are not known to live in these areas. 

11. Persons disguising their faces.
12.  Persons bearing a resemblance to descriptions of suspects in other neighborhood incidents. 

13.  Persons behaving oddly or aggressively, such as walking down the street yelling obscenities. 

A Berkeley Police officer said this:  "If you are uncomfortable about someone, there is a reason.  Never let someone tell you that you shouldn't call the police."  Do not allow anyone who you feel uneasy about to approach you.

 
To contact police:

To report suspicious persons/activities:  Berkeley  (510) 981-5900;  Oakland (510) 777-3333

To report crimes in progress:  in Berkeley call 911 from a land line or (510) 981-5911 from cellphone. 

In Oakland  call 911 from land line, (510) 777-3321 from cellphone.

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7. Crime Watch Report: Assault at the Ashby BART Station, Weds., Sept. 19, 8:45 p.m.

An East Lorin neighbor reports:

"My housemate who the prior week experienced someone attempting to rob him on Whitney Street was assaulted at 8:45 p.m. at the Ashby BART Station on

Weds night, Sept 19th. He was riding his bicycle into the BART parking lot and was suddenly struck on his head. He fell unconscious to the ground, where he remained until police and ambulance came to him. He does not know how long he laid on the ground. His bicycle was not stolen. He did not see anyone attack him, and guesses he was attacked from behind. To me this sounds very much like the incident on 59th Street not long ago where a man on a bicycle was approached by a group of black kids and hit in the head with a metal pipe. My housemate is lucky to be alive and I am furious with anyone who says that Oakland does not need more police officers. Please be very careful walking to and from the BART station at night."

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8. Crime Watch Report: Suspicious Individual Casing Wheeler Street near Ashby

A Wheeler Street neighbor reports:

"I live on Wheeler Street near Ashby.  My housemate saw the signs about the recent crimes and said that the description sounds quite a bit like the guy that comes up our driveway, ostensibly after the recycling, but lingers to look in our windows, as if he is checking out our place. My housemate said that he was a very thin black man, between 5'10 and 6 feet, had jeans, nondescript shirt, and wears a hat. He moved furtively, while  looking through our windows, and looked to be possibly in his forties.  She was not able to look closely at him, but she had seen him a number of times."

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9. Crime Watch Report: Attempted Breakin on Wheeler, Sept. 11

A Wheeler Street neighbor reports:

"Someone tried to break into our house through an open window while we were home around 9:20 p.m. the evening of September 11. Our dog ent to the window and barked like crazy, and the person ran away. We didn't see them. They just left footprints, some broken branches, and an empty booze bottle behind. The window they tried to get into was right under our porch light (bright). And my husband and I were talking loudly one room away, so they might have known that we were home. Anyway we called the police and they looked around the neighborhood. We're on Wheeler between Woolsey and Prince. We thought the neighbors should know."

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10. Hidden Gems of Berkeley Bike Tour, Saturday, October 13, 1-4 p.m.

HNA Co-Chair John Steere announces the following:

 

You're invited to participate in the fall edition of the Hidden Gems of South Berkeley Ride  on Saturday, October 13, 1 to 4 p.m.!  Last May we held the 5th annual Hidden Gems ride of Berkeley, a magical mystery tour of fascinating streetscapes, folk art, and whimsical features that grace our town - or in this case, the Elmwood, LeConte, and other sections of South Berkeley.  If haven't participated yet, here's your chance to go on a special edition ride (not advertised or posted as was this), and even if you have gone in years past, you'll find new delightful sites e nroute.  Join us for 3 hours or even 1 . . . Fun and learning on a bike parade are in store.

 

For a sneak preview of the hidden gems map and brief commentary on several features on this tour, please check out the John English's blog site "walking Berkeley," which is a treasure trove itself of the quirky and enigmatic visual character that makes up our town:

 

http://walkingberkeley.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/hidden-gems-of-berkeley/

 

Trust this will whet your appetite to join us. . . .

 

Where and when: Meet up in Halcyon Commons (one block West of Telegraph between Prince and Webster) at 1 p.m.

What (it is and to bring): Ride is 4 easy miles on fairly flat terrain.  Bring water  and snack.  Family friendly!

 

Call if you have questions or to RSVP:  510-849-1969 (or just show up)

 

Cheers,

-John

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11. Free Mulch Available next to Halcyon Commons Park

A Halcyon Court neighbor announces that he received a bigger-than-expected delivery of mulch for his landscaping needs. There is plenty of extra mulch on the street just north of Halcyon Commons Park (between Prince and Webster on Halcyon Court). Feel free to bring a wheelbarrow and help yourself.

Thanks to the neighbor for placing some of the mulch around the park so we can spread it at our work party October 27; we'll also make use of any remaining mulch at that time.

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12. Multi-Family Yard Sale in the Fulton-Russell Street Neighborhood, Saturday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Fulton-Russell Street Neighborhood Assocation announces the following:

The Fulton-Russell Neighborhood Assn. (FRNA) will be having a multi-family yard sale on Saturday, September 29, 10-4. Anyone who would like to bring

stuff to sell may do so, or just come on by for a glass of lemonade at the kids' stand! Oh! Come shopping, too!

Lisa Bullwinkel
2934 Fulton St.
Berkeley, CA 94705
510.548-5335 Ph & Fax

<LBullwinkel@aol.com>

 

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007

Dates set as of September 2007 (verify a couple 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,  6:30-8:00 p.m., Big Neighborhood Watch Community Meeting, Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)

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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