HNA E-News: Caroling Safety Walk Sat. 12/22 & Sun 12/23 at 5 p.m.; Willard Labyrinth Solstice Walk, Fri., 6-8; crime watch updates; 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 East Lorin/Halcyon Caroling Safety Walk, Sat. Dec. 22 and Sun. Dec. 23 leaving Halcyon Commons at 4:45 p.m. Sharp (5 p.m. start at  6550 Whitney)

2. Solstice Walk by Candlelight at the Willard Community Labyrinth, Fri. Dec. 21, drop in anytime 6-8 p.m. (Halcyon Walkers leaving at 5:45 p.m.)

3. Feral Cat on Halcyon Court: Do You Know Where It Belongs?

4. Crime Watch Report: East Lorin Robbery Earlier in the Month

5. Crime Watch Report: Car Break-in on Prince Street near Telegraph

6. New Ordinance on Alcohol Sales Passed by Council

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

* Halcyon Neighborhood Association's Guiding Principles

Editor's Introductory Note:

Although I'll send out significant crime alerts if necessary (i.e., concerning any armed robberies i learn of, or burglaries where there's identifying information),  this is likely the last regular HNA E-News of 2007.  Many thanks to each one of you for all you contribute toward making this such a great neighborhood and such a wonderful place to live,  despite the occasional challenges! Please have a happy and safe end to the year and a good start to 2008. And don't forget to add some of our HNA dates for 2008 to your new calendars (see the placeholder toward the end of the E-News)!

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

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1. Joint East Lorin/Halcyon Caroling Safety Walk, Sat. Dec. 22 and Sun. Dec. 23 leaving Halcyon Commons at 4:45 p.m. Sharp (5 p.m. start at  6550 Whitney)

 

After a delightful time walking the streets last Wednesday night with a French film crew in tow (at the last minute, Sgt. Kusmiss of the Berkeley Police Dept. called us with an unusual request: a crew from a French TV station was in town doing a story on policing in the U.S., and specifically in Berkeley), along with delicious cocoa provided by safety walker (and chef) Susan Hunter, we're ready for more fun and variety as we walk! Deborah  Mikuteit, who joins many of our walks and also participates in East Lorin safety walks, is helping to organize the following fun event:

Caroling Safetly Walks

Both Saturday and Sunday late afternoons, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23rd (either day, heavy rain cancels; check first if in doubt)

4:45 p.m.:  Those who'd like company walking over to the caroling from the Halcyon Court end of the neighborhood. We'll leave promptly from the picnic table in the park.

5:00 p.m. Meet at 6550 Whitney (directions below) and head out to walk and sing.

Here's Deborah's invitation:

After our unusual safety walk last week with the French film crew, here's another unique walk plan: a singing safety walk! Actually this will be a group of neighbors who will do Christmas Caroling, walking the streets probably mostly west of Shattuck in the East

Lorin and Halcyon areas there. The walk will double as a safety walk too as we should be stocked with sufficient numbers and spirit to dissuade criminals. Some of us met today to practice singing "standard" carols (we're open to non-English, other faith songs, ethnic songs: come and teach us) and we will meet again to practice this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Pamela's house, 6550 Whitney Street (directions below). You do not have to practice beforehand to participate on Saturday or Sunday, but feel free to join our practice if you're able. Then we will do our Caroling (singing safety walk) on two nights: Saturday Dec. 22nd starting at 5 p.m., and Sunday Dec. 23rd at 5 p.m., both nights again meeting at Pamela's at 6550 Whitney to start. We plan to sing as we walk down the street, stopping at the houses of the elderly and shut-ins. Again, you don't have to come to the practices to carol with us. Come to whichever night you'd like(or both!) and spread song through the streets! Children welcome. Dogs may come too, even if they can't sing. Any questions, call either Pamela at 655-4781 or Deborah at 420-8983 or email me, Deborah at <deb.ratfriend@yahoo.com>.

Directions to 6550 Whitney from area east of Shattuck:  take Woolsey west towards Shattuck. Cross Shattuck.  Continue along Woolsey towards the BART station.  Whitney is the first street after Shattuck, running parallel to Shattuck. It is a one-block long street here, dead-ending into Woolsey. If you reach Tremont, you've gone one block too far.  Pamela's house at 6550 Whitney is approximately in the middle of the block on the east side.  It's a yellow house with some Tibetan prayer flags hanging on the porch.

Susan Hunter, who provided wonderful homemade cocoa will provide cocoa and cookies at some point during the walks.

 

Note: Please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd like to be added to the Halcyon Safety Walk list to plan future and impromptu walks (the list is solely for planning the walks, and you can select to receive correspondence as a daily digest if you prefer to manage incoming email). We could really use some additional walkers so we can step up our presence as eyes on the street, all while having a good time and building community!

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2. Solstice Walk by Candlelight at the Willard Community Labyrinth, Fri. Dec. 21, drop in anytime 6-8 p.m. (Halcyon Walkers leaving at 5:45 p.m.)

FRIDAY, December 21

Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk by Candlelight, drop by anytime 6-8 p.m., Willard Middle School (Telegraph Ave. between Derby & Stuart, Berkeley). Take a break from the holiday stress to enjoy a quiet walk, hot mulled cider, and nibbles. Free. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. Contact  info@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org, 510-526-7377.

For any of you who'd like to walk over to Willard Middle School  from our neighborhood, join a couple of us for a cross-neighborhood safety walk down Telegraph. Meet at 5:45 p.m. at the picnic table at Halcyon Commons (Halcyon Court near Prince Street), and we'll walk over together. Or, of course, feel free to stop by Willard at the labyrinth near the gardening project at any point up to 8 p.m. for some welcome respite from the end-of-the-year rush.

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3. Feral Cat on Halcyon Court: Do You Know Where It Belongs?

A neighbor on Halcyon Court sent in the following notice:

"A cat seems to be living in our back yard at 3048 Halcyon Ct. It is cream colored, with grey-brown ears, grey-brown shading on the back, and a striped tail. The way it moves suggests it is an older cat. We are concerned that this cat does not have a home. If this
is your cat, please contact Amy at 684-0327. The cat tries to sneak into our house several times a day (and night), and cries for food. We have seen it outside on cold, rainy nights, huddled on our picnic table under the canvas umbrella. Most cats stay inside on nights like that. If we determine that this cat doesn't have a home, we'll take it to the SPCA. If you know anything about this cat, please contact us."

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4. Crime Watch Report: East Lorin Robbery Earlier in the Month

A neighbor from the East Lorin group forwarded this notice:

"Someone just posted this on the East Lorin e-list: Apparently this crime took place on December 6th, so a couple weeks ago.  We have at least one thug who lives right in our neighborhood , who uses drugs, and who has been witnessed trying to break into a house.  The block where that man lives (1911 Harmon St.) has seen a huge number of burglaries.  He hangs out with several other young black men in front of his house and it wouldn't surprise me if these are the thugs who perpetrated this crime. [Editor's Note: I've been told that the Berkeley Police Department has been contacted about this situation.]

THE REPORT:

Seeing you guys last night reminded me to email you so we can apprise the neighborhood group of the mugging the other night. For the record, this was around 7p.m. on Thursday the 6th. A man in a buisness suit was walking south on Tremont, heading home from the BART station. He was jumped by three young black males who put him in a headlock, claimed to have a gun, and took his wallet. phone etc. A man driving by (name omitted) then noticed the altercation and stopped, and the victim jumped in his truck. They got the license plate number of the car the perps jumped into and called it into the cops as the perps took off. Apparently the victim saw one of the perps run into a house to get his car keys. We don't know which house, but since it seems that our muggers live in our neighborhood, it would make me feel better if we left (witness's) name out of this note to the neighborhood group. Also, I called public works and they promised to fix [a broken streetlight] within 7-10 days. I told them it was a crime issue."

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5. Crime Watch Report: Car Break-in on Prince Street near Telegraph

A Prince Street neighbor reports:

"This is an FYI you might want to send out about a car break-in on Prince between Halcyon and Telegraph Sunday night 12/16. They picked the locks on my car (this has happened before in this neighborhood), but nothing was taken (there wasn't anything to take). So, people should be aware that there's obviously some activity going on and not to leave anything of value in their cars."

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6. New Ordinance on Alcohol Sales Passed by Council

Karl Reeh, President of LeConte Neighborhood Association, included this announcement in a recent LNA Chat Group email:

Dear BAPAC Members, Supporters, and Other Interested Individuals,

For those of you who have not yet heard, we have excellent news from last Tuesday's Council meeting. The Council voted unanimously to support the Alcohol Ordinance! For more information, see the Dec. 11 annotated agenda on the

council website:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/

Second reading is scheduled for January 15, 2008, we will once again be there. Thank you once again for your support on these important issues.

Lori Lott

On behalf of BAPAC

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

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

Sunday, January 13, 2008, 5:30-8:45 p.m., Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, four locations TBA

Sunday, January 27, 2008,  4-6 p.m., Disaster Preparedness Committee meeting  (4-5 p.m. plan spring disaster prep drill;  5-6 p.m., discuss supply cache for west of Shattuck), Wheeler St.

Saturday, February 23, 2008, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (heavy rain reschedules), Work Party, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, March 16, 2008,  6-8 p.m., Community Potluck, location TBD

Late March/Early April, date to be announced by Cal's Berkeley Project, Big Work Party in Halcyon Commons and surrounding neighborhood, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, March 30, 2008,  4-6 p.m., Big Disaster Prep Planning Meeting, location TBD

Sunday, March 30, 2008, 8 p.m., Deadline for ordering 55-gallon water barrels, drop off order forms and payment to HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton 3044 Halcyon Ct.

Sunday, May 18, 3-5:30 p.m. (setup 2-3 p.m.), Outdoors Neighborhood Watch event with BIG Neighborhood Disaster Prep Drill, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Saturday, May 31, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Work Party, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, June 1 (tentative date), afternoon, Neighborhood Watch Self-Defense Training, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, June 22, 6-8 p.m., Summer Community Potluck, location TBD (someone's backyard/patio)

Saturday, July 26, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,  Work Party, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Tuesday, August 5, 6-8:30 p.m., National Night Out Against Crime (Potluck 6-7:30; Safety Walk, 7:30-8:30), Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince) and surrounding neighborhood

Saturday, September 20, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon, Work Party, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, September 28, 4-7 p.m., Party in the Park to Celebrate Completion of Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project (with potluck and live music), Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Late October/Early November, date to be announced by Cal's Berkeley Project, Big Work Party in Halcyon Commons and surrounding neighborhood, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, October 12, 4-5:30, Big Neighborhood Watch meeting, location TBD

Sunday, November 9, 6-8 p.m. Fall Community Potluck, location TBD

November/December, Sunday afternoon, 4-5:30 p.m., Planning meeting, 2009 dates, date TBD, location TBD

Sunday, January 11, 2009, 5:30-8:45 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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