HNA E-News:: Halcyon Commons Archway installed; Water Barrel order; Crime Watch; Disaster Prep; 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. Check Out the Newly Installed Entryway at the North End of Halcyon Commons!

2. The 2008 Neighborhood Disaster Prep Water Barrel Order: Orders Due by March 20

3. Please Leave Your Front Porch Lights On at Night!

4. North Oakland Community Meeting on Crime, Saturday, February 9, 10 a.m. to Noon

5. Link to Article on Community Disaster Preparedness in Berkeley, Featuring Halcyon Efforts among Others

6. Councilmember Kriss Worthington's Item on Addressing Violent Crime Returning to Council Tuesday, February 12

* 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:

I haven't received reports of any crimes in our immediate neighborhood since the last E-News! Now, that doesn't mean there haven't been any - often receiving the E-News is what jogs people's minds to send in a report, which I then pass on in the following edition. But it was still nice to see the number of incidents apparently go down some. At the same time, I continue to read reports of robberies and attempted muggings in the LeConte area north of Ashby as well as in the North Oakland Shattuck corridor - all too close for comfort - so it's wise for us to stay aware and to do what we can to make ourselves and our streets and households less likely targets. See item 4 for information about a meeting taking place tomorrow morning just over the border in Oakland, and see also item 6 regarding an item on Berkeley's Council agenda next week to add resources to address violent crime to the midyear budget.

Meanwhile, it's nice to have good news to pass on, both about our new entryway to Halcyon Commons (see item 1) and about our second annual 55-gallon water barrel order (see item 2).

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

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1. Check Out the Newly Installed Entryway at the North End of Halcyon Commons!

Today the long-awaited metalwork archway crafted by talented artist Amy Blackstone was installed at the north entry of Halcyon Commons. Come by and check it out! The animal cut-outs in the archway were all inspired by the wild and domestic animals that share our neighborhood, including Emma, the neighborhood dog who used to lie in the middle of Halcyon Court when the space used to be a parking lot -- as if she knew if would be a park some day. You'll also see the bee hive and bees in honor of the swarm that stopped by the park and now lives in a neighbor's backyard, along with cats, hummingbirds, squirrels, an opossum, spider with web, the barn owl we hope will one day take up residence in the vicinity, and more. The archway was designed with community input at charrettes conducted by neighbor Michael Lamb and UC grad student volunteers.

Special thanks to:

* The UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Grant, which provided funding

* Artist Amy Blackstone, who generously offered a reduced rate

* Landscape contractor and neighbor Scott Parker, who once again gave of his services at a reduced rate to install the archway (he was the contractor who originally built the park infrastructure) and his crew

* Neighbor and landscape architect Michael Lamb, who facilitated the community design charrettes and drew the plans

* HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton, who coordinated the project and got it through the City permit process

* HNA Co-Chairs John Steere and Nancy Carleton for shepherding the project through the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Civic Arts Commission and the City Council

* All who participated in the design charrettes -- both as facilitators and attendees

* Structural engineer Mark Gilligan of Tipping Mar Structural Engineers for providing pro bono engineering of the footing to the City's specifications (so the structure is securely and safely anchored to withstand 80 mph winds)

* Structural engineer George Greenwood who provided early input on the footing design

* Dave Blake, formerly of Berkeley's Zoning Board, who found the pro bono structural engineers for us

* And all our UC and community partners who made winning the grant possible

We'll be celebrating this installation along with the other parts of the Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation at a big party with music in the park in September, when the other pieces of the project will also be complete.

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2. The 2008 Neighborhood Disaster Prep Water Barrel Order: Orders Due by March 20

If you missed out on ordering a 55-gallon water barrel last year, or if you've realized you'd like to store even more water, here's your chance!

Halcyon Neighborhood Association is coordinating a joint neighborhood order of water barrels to enable households to easily store 55 gallons of water for disaster preparedness. In the event of a major quake on the Hayward Fault, it will take time for government help to reach us. Even if the main water supply through the Caldecott Tunnel area escapes damage, EBMUD predicts at least 5,000 breaks in its system! And when government trucks finally arrive with water, there will be long lines and frustrating waits to get limited supplies. Water is essential for survival! The recommendation is to store a MINIMUM of 1 gallon per person per day (2 gallons per person per day preferable, to allow for cleaning and other needs), to last for at least 5 to 14 days

 By ordering at least 70 water barrels at a time, we can obtain a substantial discount of approximately 35%. Willard Neighborhood Association and LeConte Neighborhood Association are joining with HNA so we can place this minimum order and get more water stored in our South Berkeley neighborhoods! The water barrels cost $50; the manual pumps $10; and optional bung wrenches $10. (This is an all-volunteer effort; prices reflect actual costs.) Orders are due Thursday, March 20. To obtain a pdf of an order form for yourself or to copy and distribute to your neighbors, email HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton at halcyon92@gmail.com. Within the Halcyon neighborhood (bordered by Telegraph, Ashby, Adeline, and Woolsey), we will also be passing out the order forms door to door over in the next week or so.

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3. Please Leave Your Front Porch Lights On at Night!

Another reminder to please leave your front porch lights on at night. Increasing the percentage of households with good lighting at night will make our neighborhood safer and friendlier. There are now many low-energy alternatives available as well for spot lighting, so if there's a dark corner by your front yard, consider installing a simple low-wattage light to eliminate the shadows. And remind your neighbors to do the same.

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4. North Oakland Community Meeting on Crime, Saturday, February 9, 10 a.m. to Noon

[Editor's Note: We received the following invitation to this community meeting being sponsored by Oakalnd City Councilmember Jane Brunner; since crime along the Shattuck corridor heavily affects our neighborhood, I'm passing it on in the hopes some of you may be able to attend.]

You are invited to City Councilmember Jane Brunner's February Community Advisory Meeting:

February's Topic:   Crime in Oakland

 

Speakers:

Police Chief Wayne Tucker

     Lenore Anderson, Mayor's Public Safety Director

     Tom Rogers, Alameda DA's Office

     Captain Anthony Toribio, OPD

     Andrea Youngdahl, Human Services, Oakland

When:  Saturday, February 9, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

Where:  Peralta Elementary School, 460 63rd Street (Parking on Alcatraz , just east of Telegraph Avenue)

 

To learn more, please view this month's Brunner Report online or call 238-7001.

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5. Link to Article on Community Disaster Preparedness in Berkeley, Featuring Halcyon Efforts among Others

Andrea V. Bramblia, a student in UC Berkeley's School of Journalism, interviewed HNA Co-Chair  and Disaster Supply Cache Coordinator Nancy Carleton along with other Berkeley neighbors and City officials and wrote the following article (which was also published in the Contra Costa Times):

"Berkeley Neighborhoods See Disparity in City Earthquake Supplies"

http://journalism.berkeley.edu/ngno/reports/oilquakefire/QUAKE.html

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6. Councilmember Kriss Worthington's Proposal on Addressing Violent Crime Returning to Council Tuesday, February 12

[Editor's Note: Councilmember Kriss Worthington's office forwarded the following announcement.]

Since there has been so much discussion about the increase in assaults and other forms of violent crime, I wanted to bring to your attention the fact that the City Council will soon be considering whether to increase funding and establish new programs to promote violence prevention and response. On December 18, 2007, I introduced a Council item to refer of a Violence Prevention and Response Plan to the mid-year budget process. The text of my item is below. This proposal will ensure that we have the resources to address this important problem now, rather than wait until a measure is placed on the November 2008 ballot. At the December 18th meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to refer the plan to the mid-year budget process and the proposal will be coming back to the Council on February 12th. I welcome any comments, suggestions or proposals in addition to those included in the Council item. Thanks, Kriss W

CONSENT CALENDAR

December 18, 2007

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

From: Councilmember Kriss Worthington

Subject: Referral to mid-year budget process: Violence Prevention and Response Plan

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Berkeley City Council refer the Violence Prevention and Response Plan to the mid-year budget process.

BACKGROUND:

Recently there has been an increase violent crime throughout the city, including in the south campus neighborhoods. This has created fear and concern regarding the overall level of safety and has led to suggestions that the city take more proactive action to promote violence prevention.

Some individuals who have read the recent City Annual Report interpreted the reference to a November 2008 ballot measure for public safety as an indication that the City would wait until then to deal with these problems. Given the uncertainty of taxpayer support for new measures and the long time before a new measure would translate into actual implementation, it is important that the City send a loud and clear message that it will seek solutions expeditiously.

It is important that the Council refer the Violence Prevention and Response Plan to the mid-year budget process. Such a plan would look at restructuring resources and considering what surrounding jurisdictions are attempting or are currently doing, including the possibility of cooperation with or copying of other successful efforts.

It would also include:

* Consideration of micro-grants for low-income neighborhoods to provide newsletters and help initiate organization of neighborhood watch groups.

* Consideration of moving towards a community involved policing focus, including having police officers walking the beats in commercial districts and communicating directly with businesses and residents.

* Evaluation of a dedicated, direct, rapid response contact number for direct communication with the beat officer.

* Conduct a well-advertised community meeting, to invite all members of the community to share their experiences and to offer their suggestions.

* Consideration of what targeted increase in youth programs or job programs could most help prevent the city's prevention efforts.

* The possibility of an increase of 2 additional police officers to be funded within 6 months. An additional 2 officers to be funded within one year if the City does not have in place community health and safety teams or a welcoming presence working on the street.

Given the community's concerns about violence, as well as the increasing demands on existing resources to promote violence prevention and response efforts, it is important that this item be considered as part of the mid-year budget process.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unknown.

CONTACT PERSON:
Councilmember Kriss Worthington, 981-7170.

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008

Dates set as of  February 2008 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-Newsletter):

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

March 15, 2008,  9  a.m.-2:30 p.m., Big Work Party in Halcyon Commons and surrounding neighborhood, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince) with Cal volunteers from the Berkeley Project

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;  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 to reach Berkeley emergency from a cell)

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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