HNA E-News: Solstice Labyrinth Walk Friday 7 p.m., Emerson St. Homicide, Aerial Moth Spray Halted, 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. Crime Watch: Emerson Street Homicide Thursday, 6/19

2. Solstice Walk at Willard Labyrinth, Tonight, Friday 6/20, 7 p.m.

3. Aerial Moth Spray Cancelled for Urban Areas

4. East Bay Community Town Hall to Stop the Spray, Monday, 6/23, 7-9 p.m.

5. Public Hearing Thursday, June 26 re Proposed Two-Story Addition at 2214-16 Ashby Ave.

6. Crime Watch: BART Area: Suspicious Person Casing Windows; Drug Arrest Tremont Near Essex

7. Crime Watch:  Sexual Assault at Dwight Near College

* 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:

Berkeley's eighth homicide of the year took place on the western edge of our neighborhood (the 2000 block of Emerson) yesterday; see item  1. Also note other crime watch items (6 & 7), and keep alert this summer. Please be proactive like the neighbors in item 6 and report anyone suspicious so we can all stay safer!

In better news, there's a solstice labyrinth walk taking place this evening (see item 2), and East Bay communities helped stop the aerial spraying plans (see items 3 and 4).

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

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1. Crime Watch: Emerson Street Homicide Thursday, 6/19

The Berkeley Police issued the following press release:

Emerson St. Victim Marks City's 8th Homicide

Berkeley, California (Thursday, June 19, 2008) - At 12:18 p.m. on June 19, 2008, the City of Berkeley Fire Department responded to a call of an unresponsive adult male from inside a residence on the 2000 block of Emerson St. in South Berkeley. Upon their arrival they determined that the victim a black, male, adult had died as a result of his injuries.
Detectives are currently investigating all possibilities with regard to this case but are asking for the community's help with this investigation. Anyone who may have any information regarding this crime is urged to call the BPD Homicide Detail at (510) 981-5741 (office) or (510) 981-5900 (non-emergency dispatch line).

Though the police are not releasing much information, "word on the street" seems to be that this is potentially a drug-related homicide. Dawn Trygstad Rubin, HNA's Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, was told by police that the area will likely see some additional police presence in the area over the weekend, but "please let everyone know to call [the police immediately] if they see anything, just in case.

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2. Solstice Walk at Willard Labyrinth, Tonight, Friday 6/20, 7 p.m.

Special Solstice Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m., Willard Middle School (Telegraph Ave. between Derby & Stuart, Berkeley). Everyone welcome. Light refreshments. Wheelchair accessible.  For more information, contact info@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org, 510-526-7377.

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3. Aerial Moth Spray Cancelled for Urban Areas

Editor's Note: Since many neighbors have been following the issue, note that today's SF Chronicle reports that officials have cancelled plans for spraying urban areas to control the brown apple moth:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/20/MNIV11C587.DTL

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4. East Bay Community Town Hall to Stop the Spray, Monday, 6/23, 7-9 p.m.

[Editor's Note: In light of the news reported in item 3, the event below may be more celebratory than otherwise would have been the case.]

East Bay Community Town Hall to Stop the Spray

Monday June 23, 2008, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Lakeside Park Garden Center at Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue Avenue, (off Grand Avenue) Oakland. 

Directions: http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/rental_facilities/gardencenter_directions.asp

 Stop the Spray-East Bay and Pesticide Watch are sponsoring a free East Bay Community Town Hall to Stop the Spray. It will be held on Monday June 23, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Lakeside Park Garden Center at Lake Merritt, located at 666 Bellevue Avenue, (off Grand Avenue) Oakland. Directions: http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/rental_facilities/gardencenter_directions.asp

Learn about the latest legal and legislative strategies to protect our communities from the spraying program for the Light Brown Apple Moth. Hear the most up-to-date science and health information. Learn how to get involved in the local movement to stop the spray.

Speakers will include:

John Russo - Oakland City Attorney ~ providing the most current information on legal strategies to stop the spray in the Bay Area

Douglas MacLean, Communications Director, Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, reporting on legislative strategies to stop the spray

Daniel Harder, Ph.D., Executive Director, Arboretum UC Santa Cruz,  providing scientific evidence the moth is not a threat

Lawrence Rose, MD, MPH, former Senior Public Medical Officer for Cal-OSHA and part of the UCSF Occupational/Environmental Medicine Department, discussing toxicity of the spray and health effects

For more information, please visit: www.stopthespray.org or email eastbayinfo@stopthespray.org

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5. Public Hearing Thursday, June 26 re Proposed Two-Story Addition at 2214-16 Ashby Ave.

A Zoning Adjustments Board hearing will be held on Thursday, June 26 (meeting starts at 7 p.m.) on a proposed use permit for a 350 sq. ft. two-story addition to an existing four-unit apartment building that is nonconforming to residential density (property has six units where four are allowed).

For more information, contact the project planner, Nathan Dahl, at 981-7410 or <ndahl@ci.berkeley.ca.us>.

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6. Crime Watch: BART Area: Suspicious Person Casing Windows; Drug Arrest Tremont Near Essex

A neighbor reports:

"Just wanted to let you know that I saw someone who was looking into the windows of people's homes this morning [June 12] on my walk to BART.  He was near the intersection of Essex and Tremont and I saw him duck between two houses and start looking underneath some tarps.  I called the police and they went out to investigate.  I hope this helps head off some crime for the summer!"

Another neighbor reports:

"On June 10th at 7 p.m., as I drove by Tremont between Prince and Essex, I witnessed Berkeley Police Officers arrest a man who I recognize as someone frequently loitering in that vicinity, and who lives at or is connected with a house on Tremont Street there where I was told (by someone who lives in that immediate area) that there is drug dealing going on.  This is a young black man, thin, 18 to 25 years old, who often wears a baseball cap backwards and is often loitering at or directly in front of one of the residences there, or is sitting on a car, or standing on a street corner.  To assist in ridding our neighborhood of drug dealing, please be especially alert to suspicious activity occurring on Tremont Street in the block between Prince and Essex (just next to Ashby BART). Thank you, Berkeley Police!"

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7. Crime Watch:  Sexual Assault at Dwight Near College

[Editor's Note: Though this assault took place outside our immediate neighborhood, it's close enough by to remind us all to pay special attention. The note was sent by Officer Stephen Burcham of the Berkeley Police Dept.]

Hello all,

I wanted to alert you to an attempted sexual assault that happened [on Sunday, June 15].  I know UCPD is sending a similar alert to their email alert list, but I wanted to make sure you all got it also.

On Sunday, June 15, 2008 at about 8:25 p.m. a female was attacked by a male in an alley off of Dwight Way near College Avenue.  The victim screamed and managed to fight off the assailant who fled the scene.  BPD and UCPD searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.  The investigation is on going and more information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

The suspect was described as:

A Hispanic male, in his 20s, 6'0" in height, with a medium to muscular build, a medium complexion, glazed gray eyes, black hair and wearing a gray t-shirt with a colored emblem.
   

If you have any information about this crime, please contact:
Berkeley Police Department
(510) 981-5900 / 24 Hours

Officer Stephen Burcham #138

Area 2 Coordinator

sburcham@ci.berkeley.ca.us
(510)981-5778

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008

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

Sunday, July 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Summer Community Potluck, 2329 Webster (in the garden, then indoors for some neighborhood history)

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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