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)

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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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