HNA E-News: Important Neighborhood events 10/27 & 10/28; HNA's Guiding Principles; Neighborhood Tragedy, 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 Big Neighborhood Work Party, Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Volunteers Needed!!!
2. Fall Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Sunday, Oct. 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)
3. HNA: Guiding Principles for a Collaborative Approach (link to Daily Planet Commentary)
4. Neighborhood Tragedy: Nine-Year-Old Amir Hassan of Shattuck Ave. Found Dead
5. LeConte Neighborhood Association Meeting, Thursday, October 18, 7:30-9 p.m.
6. Crime Watch Tips from LeConte Neighborhood Association President Karl Reeh
7. Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee's Community Workshop, Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m., Plus Online Workshop
* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007/Early 2008
* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List
* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information
* Halcyon Neighborhood Association's Guiding Principles
Editor's Introductory Note:
I'm pulling this edition together with a sense of sadness at the death of one of our young neighbors, Amir Hassan (see item 4). Though I never met Amir, I have gotten a sense of him through some of the interviews I've heard of those who did. As a letter sent out by the principal to Emerson School families said, "We are a strong community, and we will work to take care of one another in this time of grief."
Creating a strong community is a core principle of HNA, and I encourage you to follow the link in item 3 to read a commentary written by HNA Co-Chair John Steere, HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trysgad Rubin, and me about the evolution of HNA's Guiding Principles (which are now printed at the end of each E-News) and what our collaborative approach has to offer. I also encourage you to participate in two very important upcoming neighborhood events - our big neighborhood work party on Saturday, October 27 (see item 1), which is a lovely way to connect with some of the idealistic young people attending Cal, and our fall neighborhood watch meeting on Sunday, October 28 (item 2), which will give us a chance to strategize about neighborhood safety. Your participation is what allows our neighborhood group to strengthen the sense of community even more.
This time around, we're a bit shorthanded on flyer distributors to promote these two events since a couple of our regulars are unable to help out due to travel and other life changes. Flyers will be ready to go out sometime next week and can be distributed any time over the subsequent week. If you'd be willing to cover a stretch of our neighborhood (not necessarily your own block, but one within a few blocks of you), please use reply email to <halcyon92@gmail.com> and let us know at your earliest convenience. We particularly need a few more ongoing delivery folks. Each stretch takes just half an hour, and flyers go out approximately six times during a year (the one after this will go out in early January). This is a relatively easy way to pitch in and make a difference, and to ensure that we communicate we neighbors who haven't yet signed up for the E-News or who don't have Internet access.
Finally, I'd like to extend a special thank-you to Neal Rubin, who recently took the time to run, and then empty the gasoline out of, our neighborhood Disaster Supply Cache generator, keeping its inner workings from clogging up. He's also volunteered to build some shelves in the cache shed to help us better organize the supplies. Thank you, Neal!
-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor
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1. Big Neighborhood Work Party, Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Volunteers Needed!!!
Saturday, October 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meet at Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)
We'll weed, mulch, and plant rain or shine (but paint only if dry)
Refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market
Coffee courtesy of Mokka (cafe at Telegraph and Dowling)
Flyers courtesy of Chochmat HaLev
* Weeding, Mulching, and Planting in Halcyon Commons and nearby landscaped barriers
* Painting Addresses on the Sidewalk to help make our neighborhood easier to navigate by police and emergency personnel
* Picking up Litter from Streets
* Removing Graffiti from as wide an area of our neighborhood as we can reach
** Note ** We are badly in need of 4-6 neighborhood crew leader volunteers to assist and supervise groups of student volunteers. Please contact Dawn Rubin to help with painting of neighborhood addresses & clean-up (843-6306, <familyrubin@comcast.net>) and/or John Steere to help with weeding, mulching, and planting (849-1969, <jsteere@igc.org>). Or you can respond by reply email to Nancy Carleton at <halcyon92@gmail.com>.
Please spend a few hours helping us with our big annual fall work party! Around 30 student volunteers will be helping us out as part of Cal's Berkeley Project day, but in order to accomplish the most we can with this much-appreciated help from the Cal volunteers, we need plenty of neighbors present to provide guidance and lend a hand. If you can help for any or all of these two-hour shifts - 9 to 11, 11 to 1, 1 to 3 - please let us know by emailing <halcyon92@gmail.com> or calling the contacts listed above. We need your help to make this day as successful as it can possibly be. THANK YOU!
We also need wheelbarrows and shovels for moving mulch. If you can loan yours for the day, please reply to <halcyon92@gmail.com> (and be sure to label it with your address on masking tape so we can return it promptly when we're done).
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2. Fall Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Sunday, Oct. 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Chochmat HaLev (Prince at Fulton)
Please join your neighbors at our semi-annual neighborhood watch meeting (the spring meeting emphasizes emergency preparedness; the fall meeting emphasizes crime watch, though both are included each time). This is our big chance to network with our beat officers and city representatives and share our concerns about neighborhood safety. And the evening is especially timely given the recent upsurge in crime along the Berkeley-Oakland border.
The meeting will start promptly and be run tightly. You're welcome to come as early as 6 to help set up and to schmooze, and please plan on arriving at least a few minutes early to check in and get seated. The meeting proper will start promptly at 6:30 and end at 8, with time for individual follow-up with speakers from 8 to 8:30 while we clean up.
The agenda includes:
If you can help HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin set up at 6 p.m. the evening of the 28th, please contact her at <familyrubin@comcast.net>.
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3. HNA: Guiding Principles for a Collaborative Approach (link to Daily Planet Commentary)
On the occasion of Halcyon Neighborhood Association's 15th Anniversary this fall, HNA Co-Chairs Nancy Carleton and John Steere, along with HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin, submitted a commentary piece to the Berkeley Daily Planet, which can be found at the following link:
"HNA: Guiding Principles for a Collaborative Approach"
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=10-12-07&storyID=28215
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4. Neighborhood Tragedy: Nine-Year-Old Amir Hassan of 3011 Shattuck Ave. Found Dead
[Editor's Note: As many neighbors, particularly those with children attending Emerson School, have already heard, a nine-year-old neighbor named Amir Hassan of 3011 Shattuck Avenue (near Ashby) was found dead on Wednesday morning, October 10. Whatever the circumstances of his death turn out to be, this is certainly a tragedy: for a young life cut short, for the boy's family and loved ones, for his classmates and teachers, for the police investigating the case, and for the surrounding community. Many neighbors have been leaving flowers and statements of condolence near Amir's residence. I'm sure I speak for many when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with all concerned. -NC]
The following statement to the press released by Sergeant Mary Kusmiss of the Berkeley Police Department's Community Services Bureau yesterday read in part:
We appreciate your understanding with respect to what details may be compromising to our investigation in the pursuit of the best truth and a possible arrest.
What is new is that the autopsy is now complete. Detectives have just left to re-interview the mother based on information they have gathered through their investigative efforts and items of evidentiary value that were seized during the search warrant. The mother is still at a local hospital.
Detectives have not ruled her out as a suspect in her son's death. They are focusing their investigative energy on her. . . .
[And from this morning:] Detectives re interviewed the mom last night for the second time. We are hoping to wrap this up later today. If that is the possible, we will have a media conference . . . .
Sgt. MC Kusmiss
Berkeley Police Department
Community Services Bureau Supervisor/PIO
(510)981-5881 Tues-Fri 9-7
Berkeley Police Department
Community Services Bureau Supervisor/PIO
(510)981-5881 Tues-Fri 9-7
MKusmiss@ci.berkeley.ca.us
The following are links to recent newspaper and video accounts of the death and investigation:
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=10-12-07&storyID=28195
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=10-12-07&storyID=28196
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/12/BAESSOJ3J.DTL
http://www.dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=26393
http://www.dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=26367
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=27537@kpix.dayport.com
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=27529@kpix.dayport.com
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5. LeConte Neighborhood Association Meeting, Thursday, October 18, 7:30-9 p.m.
[Editor's Note: HNA's boundaries overlap with LNA's in the area south of Ashby, and our groups have always enjoyed a cooperative relationship. While HNA doesn't take stands on controversial issues, LNA provides a forum for neighbors who would like to express their opinions on many of the issues affecting South Berkeley and the city as a whole, in addition to its long-term work on neighborhood watch and other efforts shared by HNA. The E-News passes on information on LNA's meeting whenever possible, though this does not imply an endorsement of all of its stands.]
Karl Reeh, LNA president, forwarded the following announcement:
The LeConte Neighborhood Association will meet Thursday, October 18 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The location will be the LeConte School Cafetorium, entrance from Russell Street. Agenda topics will include BRT, local zoning issues, and nominations for next year's Board of Directors.
Karl Reeh, President, LNA
<karlreeh@aol.com>
843-2602.
To join LeConte Chat go to:
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6. Crime Watch Tips from LeConte Neighborhood Association President Karl Reeh
Karl Reeh, President of LNA, who's also on the Board of the Berkeley Safe Neighborhood Council (BSNC), circulated the following useful crime watch tips on the LeConte Chat list:
For several years now, the 2200 Block of Stuart has encouraged residents to keep their porch lights on all night, utilizing compact florescence bulbs to reduce energy needs. Likewise, Berkeley Police officers have continued to recommend that inside lamps be left on and/or connected to a timer at night. Both these actions make our streets safer by indicating that people are home and possibly awake. More home lights enhance the available street lighting.
Having gates and/or motion-activated lights in side yards is also a good idea.
I'd like to throw in one more tip: Carry a flashlight when you walk, and use it. A strong beam of light not only helps prevent falls but provides other advantages in emergency situations. LED pocket lights are available.
Cheers, and Happy Halloween!
Karl Reeh,
Karl Reeh,
President, LeConte Neighborhood Association
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7. Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee's Community Workshop, Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m., Plus Online Workshop
City Staff are circulating the following announcement:
The Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) invites you to DAPAC's third Community Workshop and to in DAPAC's On-Line Workshop. The Workshop's format strives to maximize opportunities for public comment on draft goals and policies -- or on any other issue that you might be concerned about.
View draft goals and policies, and related reports, at:
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
When: Saturday, October 20, 10 .m.-1 p.m.
Where: Berkeley High School Library, Allston at Milvia
Comments received will be delivered to DAPAC and discussed on October 29.
Comments received will be delivered to DAPAC and discussed on October 29.
ONLINE WORKSHOP
Comments can also be made online through a yahoo chat group
[Editor's Note: Email Matt Taecker for an invitation to join; the link provided would not give access without membership.]
Comments received by October 24 will be delivered to DAPAC and discussed on October 29.
Note: to avoid violating the Brown Act, DAPAC, Commission and Councilmembers may not comment online. Staff will not be participating directly. If you
have questions for Staff, please direct them to mtaecker@ci.berkeley.ca.us.
Matt Taecker AICP, 510-981-7487
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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007/Early 2008
Dates set as of October 2007 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):
Saturday, October 27, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fall Mulching in Park & Neighborhood Work Party (including painting addresses on sidewalks) 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 (LOTS of these needed!), 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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* Halcyon Neighborhood Association's Guiding Principles
HNA is a community group dedicated to stewardship of the Halcyon Neighborhood in South Berkeley (bounded by Telegraph, Ashby, Adeline, and Woolsey). We encourage positive, proactive, partnership-oriented approaches to improving the well-being of our neighborhood, with an emphasis on the following goals:
- Community building (such as regular potlucks, special events in the park, mutual support among neighbors, and multiblock yard sales);
- Ongoing care of Halcyon Commons (a park conceived of and created by the neighbors who founded HNA) under the nonprofit umbrella provided by Berkeley Partners for Parks and in partnership with the City of Berkeley;
- Continued greening and care of the neighborhood (planting trees, cleaning litter off streets, graffiti removal, and helping maintain public landscaped features);
- Strengthening neighborhood watch (crime watch, community safety walks, emergency preparedness, and disaster supply cache);
- Networking with the larger Berkeley community (nearby neighborhood groups, neighborhood businesses, City staff, and elected officials);
- Sharing information and empowering residents to become proactive in addressing neighborhood needs and in expressing individual viewpoints regarding civic affairs (spreading news through meetings, flyers, and the HNA E-Newsletter, and providing contact information).
To fulfill these goals, HNA provides a sanctuary from partisan politics so that neighbors with diverse viewpoints feel welcome to participate. Thus, HNA only takes stands on larger issues when there is near-unanimity among neighbors. By focusing on immediate local concerns, we find we can have a greater impact and get better results from the time we invest.
Guided by these principles, HNA invites neighbors who are willing to work together in a spirit of partnership to participate at whatever level makes sense for them. Opportunities for serving on our volunteer Steering Committee and project-oriented committees are available to neighbors who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work together in a nonpartisan spirit. Neighbors are invited to step forward into leadership positions defined by the work they do in accordance with HNA's primary goals and guiding principles.
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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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