Party Sunday in the Park, 5-7:30 p.m.!; Night-time Safety Walk Tuesday; Yard Sales This Weekend; 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. Halcyon Night-time Safety Walk to Join up with East Lorin Walk, Tuesday, October 2; meet 8 p.m. at Halcyon Commons

3. Community Alert from Berkeley Police Department: Description of Murder Suspect

4. Yard Sale, Saturday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. on, 3044 Halcyon Court (across from park)

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

6. Meeting on the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (PCEI), Sat. Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-1 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:

Here are some reminders about events this weekend and in the near future. Hope to see you Sunday at our big party with live music in Halcyon Commons Park!

-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. Halcyon Night-time Safety Walk to Join up with East Lorin Walk, Tuesday, October 2; meet 8 p.m. at Halcyon Commons

The East Lorin Neighborhood Association hosts a monthly walk on first Tuesdays. A few of us from the Halcyon Safety Walk Group intend to join them this coming Tuesday. Our neighborhood borders overlap, although their territory extends a little into north Oakland while including the mutually shared area to the east of the Ashby BART station. We're all affected by the larger picture, and the more we support one another's efforts, the more effective we'll be.

if you'd be interested in walking over from Halcyon Commons Park next Tuesday evening (meet at the picnic table), we'll be leaving promptly at 8:00 p.m., with the goal of meeting the East Lorin folks at 8:30 p.m. at the Nomad Cafe and walking with them for half an hour, returning to Halcyon Commons by around 9:20.

Whether or not you can make it Tuesday, if you'd like to be included on the listserve for the Halcyon Safety Walk group to receive notification of impromptu walks and meeting places, send your name, email address, street address, and phone number (all required so we can be safe) to <halcyon92@gmail.com>, and you'll receive an invitation to join. Remember, no dog required!

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3. Community Alert from Berkeley Police Department: Description of Murder Suspect

Berkeley Police Department

Detectives Identify Suspect Wanted in Connection With Homicide on 8th Street

José Cristian Vera Flores

Berkeley, California (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)

City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) Homicide detectives have identified the suspect wanted in connection with the death of a man in the 1800 block of 8th Street in West Berkeley. At 4:36 am, on Saturday morning, September 22, 2007, BPD got a 911 call from a resident who told the dispatcher that a friend had fallen and hit his head on the cement. When officers arrived, they found Isaac Castro, 37, lying lifeless outside his home. Berkeley Fire Department paramedics arrived and pronounced Castro dead at approximately 4:42 a.m. A team of BPD detectives has been working on this investigation throughout the last days, and has yet to locate the suspect. (See website link below for photo.) Detectives are asking the community's help in locating and arresting Flores, who may be using another name or variations of the name noted. The suspect is a member of the day laborer community and may work in various cities in the Bay Area. Anyone who sees the suspect should call 911 and mention this case. Anyone who may have any information regarding this suspect or the crime is urged to call the BPD Homicide Detail at (510) 981-5741 (office) or (510) 981-5900. (Non-emergency dispatch line)

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

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4. Yard Sale, Saturday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. on, 3044 Halcyon Court (across from park)

HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter's roommate Roxann is holding a yard sale this Saturday, including an eclectic mix of household items, such as brand-new 10-inch lampshades, in-box exercise ball, manual citrus juicer, wine barrel with insert for fish pond/water garden, baskets, old-fashioned toaster, Guatemalan/Mexican items, and much more.

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5. 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 Association 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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6. Meeting on the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (PCEI), Sat. Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The City of Berkeley forwarded the following announcement [Editor's Note: HNA does not take positions on controversial proposals such as PCEI but encourages neighbors to get informed and express their opinions.]:

GET YOUR VOICE HEARD! 

As part of the research and policy-making process for PCEI, the City is hosting a large public meeting to discuss our goals for our shared public areas, as well as our commitment to protecting people's civil rights and providing necessary services.

Saturday, September 29, 2007
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue

The Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (PCEI) seeks to improve our City's common areas for everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Berkeley. Our parks, libraries, schools, cultural venues, and commercial districts are important gathering places for everyone, and the City wants to ensure that everyone feels welcome and safe. Integral to that goal is ensuring that people have a safe place to sleep at night, that their civil rights are protected, and that those with physical, mental, or economic disabilities are cared for and have access to essential services.

GIVE YOUR INPUT ON COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS

• Add more public bathrooms or expand the hours of existing bathrooms
• Expand supportive housing opportunities
• Develop services that help transition people towards meaningful work and educational activities
• Assess need for additional public seating
• Restrict smoking in commercial areas
• Plan superior diversion models, effective street outreach teams, and community monitoring
• Adopt laws regarding public urination and defecation, inappropriate street behavior, and determine fair and equitable enforcement options
• Increase the number of parking meters and parking meter fees to generate financial support for expanded and improved services created by PCEI

GET INVOLVED!

Please get your voice heard at the meeting, and take your friends and neighbors, too. If you can't make it to the meeting, please contact your City Council representative by email, phone, fax or regular mail. You may also email Lauren Lempert at <llempert@ci.berkeley.ca.us>, or write to her at the City Manager's Office, 2180 Milvia, Berkeley, CA 94704.

 

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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. - 3 p.m., 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, 5:00-8:30 p.m., 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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