HNA E-News: Sunday, 12/2, 4-5:30, Planning Meeting for 2008 Dates; Crime-Watch Alert; 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. Joint Steering Committee/ Disaster Prep Committee Meeting, Sun., Dec. 2, 4-5:30 p.m., to Plan HNA's Dates for 2008

2. Neighborhood Watch Database Being Updated

3. Prince Street Neighbor Collecting Gifts for Children and Families in Need

4. Crime Watch Alert: Armed Robbery on Fulton near Oregon on Thanksgiving

5. Link to Article on Exhibit concerning Centennial of Berkeley's Park System

* 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:

A large number of neighbors have been expressing interest in finding an affordable way to go solar. The proposal passed by the City Council to provide financing to help people do this is worth continued attention (see item 4 for recent coverage).

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

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1. Joint Steering Committee/ Disaster Prep Committee Planning Meeting, Sun., Dec. 2, 4-5:30 p.m., to Plan HNA's Dates for 2008

If you're interested in helping plan dates on HNA's calendar for 2008, you're invited to attend next Sunday's planning meeting, which will be held at 3044-B Halcyon Court (back unit at end of driveway); please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you can make it. We particularly invite those interested in our ongoing emergency preparedness events to attend  -- as well as those who might be able to help us steer clear of conflicts with major sports events (an area where we've sometimes erred in the past!). We'll be looking at dates for the following likely events for the new year (other events are also possible if there's energy and commitment present to make them happen):

1/13/08 (date already set): Progressive Neighborhood Potluck (4 hosts): date already set as Sunday, Jan. 13, 5:30-8:30

January/February: Disaster Preparedness Committee meeting

        to plan disaster prep portion of Spring Neighborhood Watch meeting plus spring drill

January/February: possible meeting west of Shattuck, east of Adeline regarding potential disaster supply cache

Early Spring Work Party in the park (at least one of the spring work parties may end up getting

        set  by the calendar the Cal students come up with for their spring volunteer day)

Spring Community Potluck

Spring Neighborhood Watch meeting (focus on disaster prep, with crime watch covered as well)

        Ordering Water Barrels (tied in to follow spring meeting)

Spring Disaster Preparedness Drill at Cache, including fire-fighting element (past rainy season)

Late Spring Work Party in the park

Late Spring: Self-Defense Workshop in Park (late afternoon on a Sunday, past rainy season)

Early Summer Work Party in the park

Early Summer Community Potluck

Late Summer Work Party in the park

8/5/07: National Night Out Against Crime, potluck in the park, followed by Safety Walk

        (date set nationally: first Tuesday in August)

Early Fall party/potluck with music in the park

        to celebrate completion of Halcyon Rejuvenation Project (invite chancellor, etc.)

Early Fall: Disaster Preparedness Committee meeting

Fall Disaster Preparedness Drill at Cache (pre rainy season; or is one annually ambitious enough?)

Late Fall community potluck

Fall Mulching Work Party in the Park

        (date to be set based on Cal's Berkeley Project day, likely in October)

Fall Neighborhood Watch meeting (focus on crime watch, with disaster prep covered as well)

January 2009: set date for Progressive Neighborhood Potluck

We welcome your participation!

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2. Neighborhood Watch Database Being Updated

We are in the process of updating HNA's neighborhood watch database. This information will help us respond quickly to neighbors' needs in the event of a disaster. You may receive an email or phone call to verify your information (address, phone, special needs in the event of an emergency, etc.). This database is only for use by HNA's Steering Committee and Block Captains and is never shared with third parties. If you're not sure whether the information in the database for your household  is current, please contact HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton at <halcyon92@gmail.com> or 644-0172 to provide an update. It's especially important that the database include up-to-date information on children, pets, and those with special needs, so that we can check on their well-being following a major earthquake or other disaster. Thanks for your cooperation!

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3. Prince Street Neighbor Collecting Gifts for Children and Families in Need

[Editor's Note: A Prince Street neighbor passed on the following announcement.}

I work for an organization named Kidango, and we are currently running our Gifts from the Heart program that helps families and children in  need this holiday season. This program directly helps families and  children in Alameda County.

If anyone in the neighborhood is interested in participating by purchasing gifts for children and/or families this holiday season,  please let them know they can contact me for more information. I would  be able to pick up gifts in our neighborhood, or they could drop them off to me. I live on Prince Street.

My contact information: <lcorrigan@kidango.org> or 510-744-9280 ext. 20.

Thank you!
Leigh Corrigan

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4. Crime Watch Alert: Armed Robbery on Fulton near Oregon on Thanksgiving

[Editor's Note: Although this happened outside our immediate neighborhood, it seemed important to pass on the information so everyone can be extra alert. There have been several armed robberies recently in the LeConte and Willard neighborhoods.]

A LeConte neighbor reports:

"I was robbed at gunpoint at 8:55 p.m. Thanksgiving night while walking alone along the west side of Fulton between Oregon and Stuart, right in front of the house with the red shingles. I just rounded the corner on my way to Reel to return a movie when a young black male, 5'11", black hoodie, dark baggy jeans asked from behind me, "Hey cuz, got the time?" I knew what was going on and tried crossing the street, but when I looked back, he had a gun pointed at me. He pulled a veil over his face while saying, "empty yo pockets, cuz," over and over, in a soft voice. I was on the phone with my sister the whole time, but he didn't seem to notice as I was on an old headset. I dropped my movie and my wallet on the ground and he told me to run. So I walked, and then I ran. Rounded the corner, and then ducked in someone's backyard halfway down Stuart while I called the Berkeley Police. They had 5 cars out immediately, but I could not think of what street I was on. The police met me at Kirala and then proceeded to take a detailed report.

I went back to the scene afterward and found the movie still lying on the ground. I've just cancelled my cards, and was informed by one officer that my card was charged at Xtra Oil Co, which I presume is the  Shattuck location. I informed [the officer] of this, which he'll be including in his report.

Anyhow. I thought I'd let everyone know. I'm usually quite vigilant around our neighborhood at night and have been expecting to be robbed after being on the Berkeley campus for many years and having lived in north Oakland for a period months back. It finally happened, and my mace and my flashlight didn't matter when a gun was being pointed at me. Being on the phone likely made me a target as well, he must've been waiting right at Oregon and Fulton. The holidays usually see an increase in robbery as well. Be safe!"

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5. Link to Article on Exhibit concerning Centennial of Berkeley's Park System

LeConte neighbor Steve Finacom has an interesting article in today's Berkeley Daily Planet on the Centennial celebration of Berkeley's park system, with a brief mention of Halcyon Commons toward the end of the article:

"Centennial Exhibit Tracks History of Berkeley Parks"

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=11-27-07&storyID=28560

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007/Early 2008

Dates set as of  November 2007 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):

Sunday, December 2, 2007, 4:00-5:30 p.m., HNA Steering Committee Meeting, 3044-B Halcyon Court (back unit at end of driveway)

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:  981-6620 (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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HNA E-News: Crime Watch Update; BPD Community POP Watch Excerpts; Solar Installations

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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: Burglary on Webster Street near Halcyon

2. Whole Foods Events, Including Customer Appreciation Day Saturday (Free Samples), Etc.

3. Excerpts from the Police Dept.'s Community POP Watch Newsletter

4. City to Help Finance Solar Installations: Links to Articles

5. Good Quality Mulch Available on Halcyon Court

6. City Issues Alert on Closure of  Berkeley Marina Due to Oil Spill

* 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:

A large number of neighbors have been expressing interest in finding an affordable way to go solar. The proposal passed by the City Council to provide financing to help people do this is worth continued attention (see item 4 for recent coverage).

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

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1. Crime Watch: Burglary on Webster Street near Halcyon

A Webster Street neighbor reports:

 

"I want to report that we were burglarized in the early morning hours of October 30th, at the Webster Apartments, while we were asleep. We live on the ground floor, and this is the second break-in in about a year and a half (last incident occurred while we were out). The thief broke in through the window (there was a piece of wood to prevent it from being opened, but he somehow removed it and opened it anyway), stole my wallet, two cellphones, and my wristwatch and iPod. According to the Berkeley PD website, there has been no arrest made in our case. He used my credit card at few gas stations. He also tried to use a credit card at a gambling club in Emeryville. Fortunately, the manager was able to confiscate back my driver's license. They got a picture of him, but all I know is that he is African American. Since then, I have installed window locks that require an allen wrench to open. I am trying to get the landlord to install bars in the windows as well. I can't even think what would have happened had we stumbled upon him or had he tried to enter our room."

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2. Whole Foods Events, Including Customer Appreciation Day Saturday (Free Samples), Etc.

Whole Foods Market Community Relations Rep Nick Heustis forwarded the following announcements:

Customer Appreciation Day

Free, Saturday, November 10

This is our chance to thank our customers for being with us over the last 17+ years. We will be giving away green bags to the first 500 customers, have live music, random gift basket giveaways, and free samples galore.

Conscious Goods Alliance Veggie Bus Tour!

Thursday, November 15th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Free

We will be joined by the Conscious Goods Alliance's amazing veggie bus! They will be parking out front and giving away fabulous samples, information on alternative fuels, and of course showing off their amazing bus.

Berkeley Food Pantry

Sunday, November 18th, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Join Whole Foods Market as we volunteer to assist the Berkeley Food Pantry in preparing their holiday meals this year. We will be helping to pack 600 boxes for 300 homes in the local Berkeley area. Whole Foods Market will also be donating some tasty natural and organic foods to make this an even better gift for the community. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Nick Heustis @ (510)649-1333 x261.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/calendars/BRK.html

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3. Excerpts from the Police Dept.'s Community POP Watch Newsletter

The following are excerpts from the November Community POP Watch Newsletter put out by the BPD:

Numbers Tell (Part of) the Story

Chief Hambleton presented his crime report on September 18, 2007 to City Council and the community. [Editor's Note: You can view the table at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/ (then click on November Community POP Watch)].

Although the violent crime numbers are troubling, in particular the robbery statistics, we will not know the full impact until year's end. Most Bay Area cities have also reported a rise in violent crime. BPD Robbery detectives coordinate and work closely with patrol officers and their detective counterparts in other law enforcement agencies. In August, detectives closed (made arrests/identified suspects/secured arrest warrants) for over

40% of Berkeley robbery cases. In September, the closure rate was over 30%.

Making a Difference with Robbery Prevention

* 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 cell phone. In Berkeley - dial (510) 981-5911
* 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.

Thanks for working with us to prevent and reduce crime. Calls from you describing suspects, offering license plate numbers, reporting suspicious people, activity, cars and drug dealing very often lead to further investigation, surveillances and arrests. Your involvement is very important to making Berkeley even better.

South Berkeley Focused Patrol Project

On October 18, between about 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., BPD Community Services Bureau (CSB) and the Patrol Division collaborated in the second South Berkeley Focused Patrol Project Operation. The project, conceived by Officers Pierantoni #96 and Frankel #25, BPD Area Coordinators, uses Problem Oriented Policing (POP) concepts and was designed in response to ongoing community concerns regarding violent crime and activity in South Berkeley. The team of seven officers set out using creative means - several officers on bicycles during hours when bike patrol is not ordinarily seen, two person cars with knowledgeable beat officers as well as two beat officers after their shifts were done at 9 pm. The goal of the project was to participate in proactive, focused enforcement, targeting identified problem locations and individuals.In addition to enforcement action, the team was committed to actively engaging the community they saw and met. These special projects are on an overtime basis and will be organized periodically as budgets allow.

Between January - June BPD communications center dispatchers handledŠ.
911 calls - 14,758 avg. of 2,108 calls per month (cpm)
Priority 1 - 9,073 avg. of 1,297 calls per month
PRIORITY 1: Life threatening, crime of violence, in progress felonies, missing juveniles (under 12 yrs), accidents w/injuries. These calls shall be dispatched immediately.
Total Calls - 911+5911+5900 = 111,041, 15,863 cpm

Dispatched Priority 1 calls in: 2:14

[Editor's Note: To see the rest of the news, go to http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/ and then click on November Community POP Watch].

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4. City to Help Finance Solar Installations: Links to Articles

"Council Approves Private Solar Power Financing Concept"

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=11-09-07&storyID=28429

"City Council unanimously OKs solar financing district: Property owners could opt for tax to cover setup costs"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/07/BAT9T7GC0.DTL&hw=Berkeley+solar+finance&sn=001&sc=1000

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5. Good Quality Mulch Available on Halcyon Court

There's still a bit of mulch left from the last work party. It's in the street near the big weed pile on the north end of Halcyon Commons. Help yourself!

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6. City Issues Alert on Closure of  Berkeley Marina Due to Oil Spill

The City of Berkeley's website contains a variety of information and links about the recent oil spill and its affect on the Berkeley Marina:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Manager/busanoilspill.html

COSCO Busan Oil Spill

On Wednesday, November 7, 2007, the COSCO Busan, a container ship, collided with the Bay Bridge and spilled 58,000 gallons of fuel into San Francisco Bay. The effects of the spill were minimal on Thursday, but Friday morning's high tide brought more oil and tar debris into the Marina area, forcing the closure of the Marina. The City also posted signs warning of contamination in all public waterfront areas.

The City also issued the following press release:

Berkeley Marina Closed Due to Oil Spill
Marina closed to incoming and outgoing boat traffic; more soiled birds arrive on beaches and HazMat teams called to help with cleanup

Berkeley, California (Friday, November 9, 2007, 11:50 a.m.) - Friday morning's incoming tide brought more oil globules and soiled birds into the Berkeley Marina and surrounding parks, leading to the closure of the Marina. Boats are not being allowed in or out of the Marina, and residents and visitors are being warned by the City's Environmental Health Division that the shoreline is contaminated and they should keep people and pets away from the beaches and the water.

        The Berkeley Fire Department's Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team brought booms and other absorbent materials to the Marina to help with the cleanup. Marina staff and the entire HazMat team, made up of eight firefighters, responded to clean the water and the shore. Efforts are expected to continue all day and possibly into the weekend.

        "It's hard to predict how long the cleanup will be, or how long the effects will linger," said Acting Waterfront Manager Ann Hardinger. "A lot depends on just how much the ocean can take."

        High tide for Berkeley was at 10:45 a.m. today, with low tide predicted at 5:38 p.m. It is hoped that the tide will take some of the oil and tar pollution away from the shore.

        At least two dozen more birds, dirty with oil and tar debris, were found on the Cesar Chavez Park side of the Marina. The City of Berkeley is working with the California State Parks and East Bay Regional Parks on the capture and care of the birds and any other wildlife that is discovered.

        Residents and visitors who see injured or oil-soiled birds should call the International Bird Rescue Research Center hotline at (877) 823-6926. Do not handle the birds! The oil is toxic. If you see birds, please call the hotline and report the birds number, location and type (if known). If you would like to volunteer to help the birds, please call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network volunteer hotline (800) 228-4544 or visit www.owcn.org.

        Although the overall health effects of the spill are likely to be negligible, Berkeley Health Officer Linda Rudolph, M.D., recommends people stay away from the shore and take the following precautions:
    * Avoid direct skin contact with the oil.
    * If you get oil on your skin, wash it off with soap and water; wash your hands before eating.

    * Do not eat fish that smell or taste of petroleum, or that are coated with oil.

        For up to date information about the COSCO Busan spill, visit the U.S. Coast Guard website at http://www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/site/823/.

Other Resources

East Bay Regional Parks oil spill update: http://www.ebparks.org/node/538
United States Coast Guard: http://www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/site/823/
Oiled Wildlife Care Network: www.owcn.org
If you want to volunteer:

Please call the volunteer hotline, (800) 228-4544. We are overwhelmed with calls and ask that you be patient if you hear a busy signal. We appreciate your concern. Please keep trying. If you see oiled wildlife: Don't approach or pick it up, but call (877) 823-6926 to report it. Please do not call this number about volunteering.

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007/Early 2008

Dates set as of  November 2007 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):

December 2,  4:00-5:30 p.m., HNA Steering Committee Meeting (email <halcyon92@gmail.com> for location)

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:  981-6620 (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)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* 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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

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/

* * * * * * * * * * * *

HNA E-News: East Lorin Safety Walk Tonight!; Disaster Prep Cache West of Shattuck?; Crime Watch; Mulch Available; Etc.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter

* * * * * * * * * * * *

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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Monthly Safety Walk in East Lorin Neighborhood, Tuesday, Nov. 6  8:30 p.m., Nomad Cafe

2. Crime Watch: Prowler in Yard on Wheeler Street

3. Crime Watch Reports from Nearby Neighborhoods

4. Neighbors West of Shattuck & East of Adeline: Please Respond re Disaster Preparedness Shed Location

5. Good Quality Mulch Available on Halcyon Court

6. First Meeting of Elders Guild Community, Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.

7. Deakin Street Neighbor's Letter to the Editor in Recent SF Chronicle

* 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:

Just a reminder that there's a walk taking place tonight along the Berkeley/Oakland border (see item 1). I also hope that neighbors who live west of Shattuck and east of Adeline will pay special attention to item 4 and take the time to get back to me so we can keep improving the level of disaster preparedness in the larger neighborhood.

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

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Monthly Safety Walk in East Lorin Neighborhood, Tuesday, Nov. 6  8:30 p.m., Nomad Cafe

Halcyon neighbors may be interested in joining the East Lorin Neighborhood Association's monthly walking group (East Lorin's boundaries overlap with HNA's territory, and we've hooked up with them for several walks through our mutual border territory). They meet at Nomad Cafe at 8:30 (or arrive a few minutes early if they want to share tea/coffee) and walk for about half an hour or so from there. Contact Jeffrey Jensen  if you'd like to be added to the ELNA walk list:  <jeffreygjensen@yahoo.com>.

And if any of you would like to start out at Halcyon Commons at 8:00 p.m. and join up with the East Lorin folks at 8:30 p.m., please contact <halcyon92@gmail.com> by 7 p.m. so we can see if we have a critical mass to make it safe.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

2. Crime Watch: Prowler in Yard on Wheeler Street

A Wheeler Street neighbor reports:

"Saturday night ( Nov. 3), for the second time, someone entered our yard on Wheeler Street and opened two unlocked doors that lead to the crawl (hunker) space under our house. This happened several weeks ago, but we took no action. It seems likely that someone is looking for easy-to-steal items. In neither case was anything taken, likely because there really is nothing of value there. We will now buy locks. These incidents suggest pretty strongly that yards and even doors are being cased in this area. That fact that it happened several weeks back, nothing was taken, and then it happened again, is more disconcerting than a one-time occurrence."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

3. Crime Watch Reports from Nearby Neighborhoods

 

[Editor's Note:: The following reports come from outside Halcyon's immediate boundaries, but are close enough by that they bear our added vigilance so we can do our best to prevent similar activities here.]

 LeConte Neighborhood:  Burglary on 2300 block of Russell Street

Burglary on Russell (at Ellsworth), 11/4/2007 4:00 a. m.

"A house was burglarized 11/4 at about 4:00 am. Entry through their back door (which apparently was unlocked) into their kitchen. About $300 of cash taken from purse. Dogs went off, but residents did not realize it had been a burglar until the morning when they got up."

LeConte Neighborhood: Burglary on 2300 Block of Ward

"We are in the 2300 block of Ward St (corner of Ellsworth). We were burglarized 10/29 sometime between 8:15-11:15. The thief broke in through a rear sliding glass door and ripped out our home alarm sensor (which was not armed). Jewelry, camera, ipod, money were all taken. The police were here last night and dusted for prints, believing that our theft was in connection with other recent ones in the neighborhood. I'll let you know if they find anything. Also, they believe it was not a forced entry, but that the thief walked in the back door that was unlocked. Please alert the neighbors."

East Lorin Neighborhood: People Digging Through Trash for Paperwork

This was reported by someone in our neighborhood: "Forgot until putting out garbage just now that last week on Friday morning before collection I saw the male and female adults and a boy, approximate age 9 - 12, from a very large and newish white pickup truck removing papers from gray collection cans. They didn't seem to be taking newspapers. I hope you all do NOT put papers such as bank statements, credit card statements, or anything with account numbers or social security numbers in your gray cans."

Willard Neighborhood: Armed Robberies

Parker at Hillegass, BPD Case #0756455

On Monday, October 22, 2007, at 12:11 AM, BPD received a report of a robbery which had just taken place on Parker Street at Hillegass Avenue. A group of 8 males were walking westbound on Parker. Five of them, all Cal students, were approached by a Black male suspect who had been perched on a fire hydrant. The suspect displayed a fire arm and demanded their wallets and cell phones. Suspect #1 was joined by suspect #2 who was also armed with a gun. After complying with the demand, two of the victims were struck by the suspects. The suspects ordered the victims to run. BPD searched the area but was unable to locate the suspects. One of the victims was struck in the face with the butt of the gun and was transported to Alta Bates for treatment.

The suspects were described as follows:
#1 - Black male, 5'07" to 5'10" in height, 160 lbs, medium build, in his 30s, with a goatee, wearing a_dark hooded jacket with the hood pulled over his head and blue jeans._
#2 - Black male, 5'10"to 6'02" in height, in his mid-twenties, 180 lbs, wearing a dark hooded jacket with the hood pulled over his head and jeans.

Parker near Benvenue, BPD Case #07-579721

On Monday, October 29, 2007, at 7:37 PM, BPD received a report of a robbery which had just taken place on Parker Street near Benvenue Avenue.  A non-affiliated female was walking eastbound on the 2600 block of Parker when she saw two men walking on the opposite sidewalk.  The men crossed the street and approached the victim.  he first suspect pointed a gun at her, demanded her property and grabbed her purse and camera bag.  The second suspect also had a handgun and both suspects pointed there guns at her as they left the scene walking westbound towards Telegraph Avenue. 

BPD and UCPD searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects.  The victim was not injured during the incident.

The suspects were described as follows:
#1 -Hispanic male, 20-25 years-of-age, 5'07" in height, 170 lbs, medium build, with dark hair, wearing a black knit cap and an oversized grey hooded sweater.
#2 - Black male, 20-25 years-of-age, 6'0" in height, 250 lbs, with a large build, black hair, wearing a black sweater and blue jeans.

If you have any information about either of these crimes, please contact:

Berkeley Police Department
(510) 981-5900 / 24 Hours (nonemergency)

As with any emergency situation, if you see suspicious activity, call 911 (cellphone emergency number:   510-981-5911)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

4. Neighbors West of Shattuck & East of Adeline: Please Respond re Disaster Preparedness Shed Location

A note from HNA Disaster Supply Cache Coordinator (and HNA Co-Chair) Nancy Carleton:

We have a good chance of obtaining an additional disaster supply cache for the part of our neighborhood west of Shattuck and east of Ashby (the area around the east side of the Ashby BART). This area overlaps with the East Lorin Neighborhood and includes an active disaster preparedness group right along the Berkeley-Oakland border. We have one possibility for locating such a cache (just outside the bounds of our neighborhood, in the Dover/Tremont area on the Berkeley side of the border), and I have met and spoken with  a few neighbors involved in the East Lorin Neighborhood group, who'd also like to see this happen. If someone who lives in this area (on Tremont, Woolsey, Prince, Emerson, or Essex west of Shattuck and east of Adeline) has a deep driveway or space in your yard that could serve as an alternate site, please let me know (something closer to BART would probably work better for actual mobilization in the event of a big quake). I also need to hear back from people who live in the general area (Berkeley border to Ashby, Shattuck to Adeline) who would like to be involved in strengthening disaster prep in your part of the neighborhood - at whatever level. It would be especially helpful to hear back from people who have already taken the City of Berkeley CERT trainings (one or more of the classes) or who would be willing to take some of these free classes in the future. Having this information will strengthen the chances of our obtaining the supply cache (similar to the one we already won for Halcyon Court). HNA would be mentoring the process of setting up this cache and coming up with a neighborhood disaster response plan (modeled on our existing plan) for the area on the west side of Shattuck. If enough folks are interested, I would like hold a meeting on this on a late afternoon on a Sunday to discuss further (either in November, or, more likely, early in the new year). I'd really like to see this happen as it will make us all safer, and residents west of Shattuck shouldn't have the the nearest disaster supply cache be as far away as Halcyon Court! Please respond to me at <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd like to see this happen!

Thanks,

Nancy Carleton <halcyon92@gmail.com>

* * * * * * * * * * * *

5. Good Quality Mulch Available on Halcyon Court

We have some good quality mulch left from our big annual mulching day. While about a third of the remaining pile is still needed for some nearby landscaped features, the rest is available to any neighbor who can make good use of it. It's a great way to reduce the need for quite as much weeding over the winter and spring, and also helps nourish the soil. Come help yourselves!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

6. First Meeting of Elders Guild Community, Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.

Shoshana, a neighbor who's involved in planning the meeting, forwarded the following invitation:

Dear Friend,

Please join us in creating the first Elders Guild Community. Our first meeting will be on Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Church, 2727 College Ave., close to our neighborhood.

Barry and Debora Barkan and I are beginning here and now to launch the Elders Guild as an international organization of communities of people on the multigenerational, interdependent path of becoming elders.

That huge group of us who will come to be known as the elder boomers have the potential to transform our role as we age and leave a shining legacy for the generations that will follow. We can bring wisdom, support and healing to one another and to the children of our children.

The Elders Guild combines community, activism, and deep lifelong learning in one organization. Our goal is for each of us to have connection, potency, and a meaningful role at a stage of life when we have been conditioned to expect only diminished strength, capacity, and escalating loss.

At a time when many of us are pondering what happens next, the Elders Guild is creating a bold new vision for the second half of our lives. Think of it as well-being insurance that will optimize our ability to age with grace, purpose, and self-determination. The earlier we begin and the more we invest of ourselves in the process, the greater the likelihood of vitality, continued regeneration, and dignity when our need is greatest. It is not too late for us to rescue our dreams and aspirations for a better world for those who will follow us. Collectively and individually, our best years can be ahead of us.

At the first meeting we will present a working draft of the Elders Guild Handbook and begin the process of building the infrastructure for the Elders movement. Please RSVP to Shoshana@LiveOakInstitute.org . For more information, please visit us on the web at http://LiveOakInstitute.Org/eldersguild1.html.

Here is a link to Barry's recent Tikkun article, "How Elders Can Rebalance The World" http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/tik0709/frontpage/elders/base_view

Shoshana Dembitz

(With thanks to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their support for the Elders Guild launch.)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

7. Deakin Street Neighbor's Letter to the Editor in Recent SF Chronicle

Deakin Street neighbor had a letter to the editor about solar power published in the San Francisco Chronicle this week (see third letter after link):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/05/EDDOT4S76.DTL

* * * * * * * * * * * *

For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007/Early 2008

Dates set as of  November 2007 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):

December 2,  4:00-5:30 p.m., HNA Steering Committee Meeting (email <halcyon92@gmail.com> for location)

Sunday, January 13, 2008, 5:00-8:30 p.m., Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, four locations TBD

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* 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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* 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:  981-6620 (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)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* 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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

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/

* * * * * * * * * * * *

HNA E-News: Safety Walk Tonight, 9:30; Town Hall meeting Saturday; Thank-Yous; etc.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter

* * * * * * * * * * * *

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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. HNA Thank Yous!

2. Town Hall Meeting with Councilmember Max Anderson, Saturday, Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m. - 12 Noon

3. Night-time Safety "Dog" Walk, Tonight, Friday, Nov. 2, 9:30 (meet at Halcyon Commons)

4. Monthly Safety Walk in East Lorin Neighborhood, Tuesday, Nov. 6  8:30 p.m., Nomad Cafe

5. Scam Alert: Scam Preys on Elderly as Bad Guys Pose as Water Repairmen

* 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:

Thanks to everyone who helped make last weekend such a success both in terms of our big work party Saturday and our neighborhood watch meeting Sunday (see item 1 for more thank yous). With thirty student volunteers and twenty neighborhood volunteers, we got a tremendous amount accomplished in Halcyon Commons park and the surrounding neighborhood, including doing lots of graffiti removal and trash pickup, and getting a start on the address painting on curbs in front of people's houses, which we'll be continuing over the coming months and year until it's all done! We also planted fifty-two new plants in the park, funded as part of the grant we received from the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund.

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

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. HNA Thank Yous!

HNA wishes to thank the following folks for helping make Saturday's work party and neighborhood watch meeting successful:

* The UC students and their Willard Middle School mentees for their tremendous help as volunteers with the Berkeley Project on Saturday.

* Grotius Hugo and Anne Songdej, the volunteer coordinators for Halcyon from Cal's Berkeley Project.

* Shallon Allen of the City of Berkeley for help in coordinating supplies for the work party.

* Bob Maron of the Parks Dept. (and his staff) for help with logistics.

* Whole Foods Market for the delicious breakfast and lunch refreshments.

*  Mokka (cafe at Telegraph and Dowling) for the great coffee.

* Chochmat HaLev for photocopying flyers and providing our meeting space Sunday.

* Nancy Carleton for coordinating with the Berkeley Project for the work party.

* John Steere for arranging food and coffee donations.

* Dawn Rubin, John Steere, Nancy Carleton, and Jessica Hamburger for helping coordinate volunteers at the work party.

* All the neighbors who helped distribute flyers.

* All the neighbors who helped with weeding, mulching, and planting.

* Those who loaned wheelbarrows and shovels.

* Neighbors Kirby Kincaid and Susan Hunter for helping Nancy Carleton with the final trimming in the park after the rest of the work party had ended.

* The UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund grant, which made possible the purchase of in-fill plants as part of our Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project.

* Dawn Rubin for organizing and chairing the Neighborhood Watch meeting.

* Sgt. Mary Kusmiss for the great presentation at the Neighborhood Watch meeting, and Officer Fields for his convincing performance as a mugger to help us refine our suspect identification skills.

* Mayor Tom Bates and Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Max Anderson for attending the meeting.

* Everyone who helped with setup and cleanup at Sunday's meeting.

* Everyone who came out on a Sunday evening at dinnertime to attend a meeting that overlapped with the final game of the World Series!

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2. Town Hall Meeting with Councilmember Max Anderson, Saturday, Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m. - 12 Noon

Councilmember Max Anderson's office sent the following invitation:

Town Hall Meeting with Councilmember Max Anderson

Saturday, Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m. - 12 Noon

South Berkeley Senior Center (2939 Ellis Street at Ashby)

Light Refreshments/Child Care Available

Please join Councilmember Anderson for a community discussion. Topics will include:

* Public Safety

* Youth Services

* Health

* Education

* Opportunities in the Community

* Community Concerns and Issues

PaneL:

Chief Doug Hambleton, BPD

Angela Gallegos-Castillo, Asst. to the City Manager

David Manson, Depty. Dir. to Sen Don Perata

Vicky Breckwich-Vasquez, HHS, Public Health

Karen Hemphill, BUSD Board Member

Brief Presentations by:

Alis Simmons & Demetria Huntsman of Youth Uprising

Sally Hindman of YaYa California.

We invite you to share your thoughts with us.

For questions or additional information, call or email Deobrah McIntyre, 981-7130 dmcintyre@ci.berkeley.ca.us

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3. Night-time Safety "Dog" Walk, Tonight, Friday, Nov. 2, 9:30 (meet at Halcyon Commons)

We'll be walking tonight with a focus on helping those attending Chochmat HaLev services get safely on their way.

Meet promptly at 9:30 p.m. at the picnic table in Halcyon Commons park (Halcyon at Prince) if you'd like to join us. (Dogs optional.)

If you'd like to join the listserve for scheduling impromptu safety walks (day or night), please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> with your name, address, and phone number (as well as email).

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4. Monthly Safety Walk in East Lorin Neighborhood, Tuesday, Nov. 6  8:30 p.m., Nomad Cafe

Halcyon neighbors may be interested in joining the East Lorin Neighborhood Association's monthly walking group (East Lorin's boundaries overlap with HNA's territory, and we've hooked up with them for several walks through our mutual border territory). They meet at Nomad Cafe at 8:30 (or arrive a few minutes early if they want to share tea/coffee) and walk for about half an hour or so from there. Contact Jeffrey Jensen  if you'd like to be added to the ELNA walk list:  <jeffreygjensen@yahoo.com>.

And if any of you would like to start out at Halcyon Commons at 8:00 p.m. and join up with the East Lorin folks at 8:30 p.m., please contact <halcyon92@gmail.com> so we can see if we have a critical mass to make it safe.

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5. Scam Alert: Scam Preys on Elderly as Bad Guys Pose as Water Repairmen

Berkeley Police Department

Scam Preys On Elderly: Bad Guys Pose as Water Repairmen

Berkeley, California (Thursday, November 1, 2007) - City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) Property Crimes Detectives are warning the community after a disturbing crime trend has been making its way to the city. These crimes, dozens of cases that have plagued the South Bay, Peninsula and San Francisco since October 2006, involve a scam that leads to burglary. A group of male suspects, ordinarily two or three, pose as water repairmen seeking out an elderly homeowner and tell him/her that their home's water lines have been contaminated. The suspects then inform the resident that the lines must be flushed, repaired or inspected.

Once the resident allows the men into the home, one of the suspects preoccupies the resident by feigning some task while the other or others steals cash, jewelry and valuables. The victims typically describe the suspects as:

* Latino/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Italian or Portuguese males
* Ranging in age from 20-40 years old.

* Wearing hard hats, safety vests to appear "official"

BPD would like to remind community members of the following crime prevention measures:

* Be alert/aware of activity around your home & neighborhood.

* Do not allow anyone in your home that you do not know, have not hired or screened.

* Call BPD to report any suspicious people or activity, in particular anyone that matches the general description or MO noted above.

* If you have an older neighbor or neighbors, get to know them and please give attention to any unusual activity in or around their home(s).

* Program the local direct 911 - emergency number into your cell phone: In Berkeley - dial (510) 981-5911

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

Sgt. Kusmiss S-6
Public Information Officer (PIO)

(510) 981-5881

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2007/Early 2008

Dates set as of  November 2007 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):

December 2,  4:00-5:30 p.m., HNA Steering Committee Meeting (email <halcyon92@gmail.com> for location)

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:  981-6620 (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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