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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