HNA E-News: Garden Potluck Party, Sunday, July 13; 4th of July Fireworks at Marina plus Reminder that ALL Personal Fireworks are Illegal; 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. Halcyon Garden Potluck Party and Neighborhood History Gathering, Sunday, July 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m.. 2329 Webster
2. HNA Summer Fundraising Appeal
3. Link to Daily Planet Article on Emerson Street Homicide
4. Independence Day: Fireworks at the Marina and Reminder that ALL Personal Fireworks Are Illegal
5. City of Berkeley Offering Online Digest
6. Crime Watch Notes from LeConte: Related Incidents with Same Suspicious Man
* 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've mentioned in at least one previous E-News that our Steering Committee members have been hard hit this year with challenges ranging from personal illnesses to terminal diagnoses and deaths of family members. While we hope that getting involved in making our shared neighborhood safer and more neighborly is its own reward, we very much need and appreciate your participation and support, especially now. So please consider ways you can pitch in, whether by attending our events (it can be discouraging when we work hard to put out the word about events and only a small number come; the times when lots of folks show up are much more fun for all!), by contributing to our fundraising appeal (see item 2), or by taking on a small task to help from time to time.
Our neighborhood group has achieved so much over the past sixteen years, but our ongoing viability as an organization will depend on broadening participation and sharing a bit more of the responsibility so that the same few folks don't shoulder quite so much of it. You'll be hearing more in future newsletters about simple ways you can help out. But number one is by showing up when you can! The garden potluck party on July 13 is a fun chance in the near future. Hope to see you there!
-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor
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1. Halcyon Garden Potluck Party and Neighborhood History Gathering, Sunday, July 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m.. 2329 Webster
Halcyon Garden Potluck Party and Neighborhood History Gathering at the home of John and Michelle Thelen Steere;, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 2329 Webster (2nd house west of Whole Foods Market).
Come and appreciate the fruits of the summer and the spirit of our community and hear stories of what our neighborhood was like years ago!
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.: Potluck in the Garden: Meet and enjoy the company of your neighbors in the English Garden backyard of John.
Potluck suggestions:
Appetizer: T-Z * Mail Dish: L-S * Salad: A-F * Dessert: G-K
(If not obvious, kindly attach a label with ingredients for your dish to alert those with vegetarian and other diets.)
If so inspired, it's really helpful if you can also bring a beverage to share.
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.: History of the 'Hood: The program moves indoors, where we'll share conversation and stories of where we live, whether we arrived last month or thirty years ago. Old timers are especially encouraged to show up and share their memories of what it used to be like here long ago. Come and hear how much has changed over the years and see images of the community efforts that created Halcyon Commons.
Please call HNA Co-Chair John Steere if you can help with preparations of this event: 849-1969
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2. HNA Summer Fundraising Appeal
A special thanks to the neighbors who have generously contributed to our summer fundraising appeal so far: Katherine Day; Chris Barrere, Martha Cain & Rio Barrere-Cain; Mary Stoker; Julia Charles; and Amy Kiser!
We hope some more of you will also chip in. As explained in a prior E-News, due to the need for additional sand and paving stones to cover the square footage involved, we had a cost overrun of several hundred dollars on the final phase of our Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project. Our $13,640 grant from the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund covered the vast majority of the costs for installing the metalwork entry at the north end of the park as well as the improvements at the southern end, but we ran a bit short in covering the expenses for installing the beautiful boulders and surrounding paving stones.
This would be a good opportunity for those of you who appreciate the difference that our community common space makes in the neighborhood, and who value our neighborhood association and all its efforts, to step up to the plate with a contribution. As you may be aware, we have decided over the years not to have formal membership dues for HNA, to keep participation and involvement at high levels. Of course, occasionally we have expenses, and we encourage donations from time to time to help us meet them. While we pass the hat at some of our community meetings, many neighbors have enjoyed the benefits of our neighborhood association over many years without ever contributing financially. Here's your chance!
There are two ways to contribute: Checks made out to BPFP (Berkeley Partners for Parks) and earmarked Halcyon in the lower left corner are fully tax-deductible and are channeled through our nonprofit sponsor (which withholds 5 percent to cover their administrative costs). Or checks can be made out to HNA directly (these are not tax-deductible, but they allow us to use 100% of the funds for Halcyon projects).
Whether you make out your check to BPFP or to HNA, please send it (or drop it off) to the same location:
Susan Hunter, Treasurer, HNA
3044 Halcyon Court
Berkeley, CA 94705
Or you can always bring your check to one of our upcoming neighborhood events. Please consider chipping in! Thank you!
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3. Link to Daily Planet Article on Emerson Street Homicide
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-06-26/article/30379?headline=South-Berkeley-Man-Fatally-Shot-in-Home
Note: Detectives are still seeking the community's help with this investigation. BPD is now a participant in Bay Area Crime Stoppers. (BACS) Calls to BACS are completely confidential. Callers with viable tips can receive up to $2,000 cash in reward money in any felony investigation. Anyone who knows anything about the Emerson Street homicide or any open homicide investigation is urged to call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Callers with information may also call the BPD Homicide Detail at (510) 981-5741 (office) or (510) 981-5900. (Non-emergency dispatch line) For crimes in progress call 911 or (510) 981-5911 from a cell phone.
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4. Independence Day: Fireworks at the Marina and Reminder that ALL Personal Fireworks Are Illegal
Editor's Note: The City of Berkeley sent out the following press release regarding Independence Day celebrations:
July 4th Celebration in The City of Berkeley
Berkeley, California (Monday, June 30, 2008) - The City of Berkeley will be hosting a FREE Pyrotechnics display in the Marina on July 4th at 9:30 p.m. The City will close the Marina to vehicular traffic as parking lots fill up. This usually occurs around 7:00 p.m.
o University Avenue will be closed from West Frontage Road to the Marina at this time. Pedestrians will have access to these roadways throughout the event.
o Access from I-80 into the City of Berkeley will be closed from University Avenue and from Gilman Street during the fireworks display.
o Access to the fishing pier will be closed to pedestrians at approximately 5:00 p.m. in preparation for the show.
o Marina vehicular traffic will be held approximately forty-five minutes to an hour and a half following the fireworks display in order to allow pedestrians to safely leave the event.
In light of one of the worst fire seasons on record, the Berkeley Police Department (BPD) and Berkeley Fire Department (BFD) wish to remind the community that ALL fireworks are illegal in the City of Berkeley. The Police Department has already started receiving calls regarding the illegal use of fireworks in our City. "Safe and Sane" type fireworks including "Sparklers" are also prohibited and pose a potential dangerous fire hazard. An average of 7 people are killed annually directly related to fireworks in California.
You can help keep our community safe by:
o Not using any type of fireworks
o Calling the police to report use of fireworks by others
o Reducing fuel sources - keep grass and vegetation maintained
o Have fire extinguishers and garden hoses ready
BPD will have extra officers working on the 4th of July, and will be arresting and citing violators. Possession of M-80s, M-1000s and rocket type fireworks is a felony. BPD is continuing its annual education campaign on the dangers of fireworks and is targeting the neighborhoods that have been consistently violating the law.
To notify BPD about illegal fireworks use, call 981-5900, or 981-5911 via cell phone. If you have questions concerning the possession or use of fireworks, please call our Community Services Bureau at 981-5806.
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5. City of Berkeley Offering Online Digest
[Editor's Note: The following notice was received by the City of Berkeley's Mary Kay Clunies-Ross.]
Greetings, Berkeley Neighbors!
You are receiving this email because you are on an email list of Berkeley neighbors. We would like to occasionally update you on current events and emergency preparedness issues by sending you current versions of Berkeley News.
Berkeley News is a new online digest for readers to get tidbits about programs and services offered by the City, as well as navigate to other sources of information on the City of Berkeley's web page. You can also see this online at www.CityofBerkeley.info/news. Feel free to bookmark the page, as it gets updated throughout the week and includes links to other sources of news, including:
www.CityofBerkeley.info The City of Berkeley's Home Page
NewsScan (coverage of Berkeley city government from local, regional and national media)
Thank you for caring about Berkeley; we look forward to hearing from you!
Mary Kay Clunies-Ross <MClunies-Ross@ci.berkeley.ca.us>
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6. Crime Watch Notes from LeConte: Related Incidents with Same Suspicious Man
[Editor's Note: A LeConte neighbor forwarded the following notice; while the HNA E-News does not include attachments, if you'd like to receive a copy of the photos this neighbor took, please reply to <halcyon92@gmail.com>, and I will forward them.]
Neighbors (sort of long and sorted, but you should read),
Today [6/24/08] at 3:05 p.m., an African-American male, in his 20's attempted to open my screen door. When I heard the noise, I jumped up and then he started to knock. I asked him what he wanted and he gave me a long, slow, drawn-out story about wanting to raise money for his school and could they use the street to set up a basketball court. (I thought, what???. . . we have a school right next to us.) I said he could not and he picked up his bike and left.
I was terribly uncomfortable with this event and went outside with my camera. My neighbor, Brad on Fulton, saw me and we talked about the suspicious character - he told me which direction he went and said he had a white bike. I hopped in my car and went searching. I ended up seeing a bike on Telegraph near Prince, so I turned around. When I got back, the bike was gone, but I saw a man that looked like the guy head back toward Ashby. I pulled up to the light and THERE HE WAS at the Ashby Flower stand. I snapped a picture - of course I missed his face, but I got a good body shot. I maneuvered my way back to the parking lot of Whole Foods, but by then he was gone. I asked the Flower shop owner if she saw the man I photographed, she said she did and had asked him if he needed help, he said no. I warned her to keep an eye out.
I started to head back home, but saw another bike and went around the block. I ended up on Telegraph again, but at Oregon. Just as I was going to turn down my street I saw a police car -- what luck, I can report it to them, I thought. So I pulled over to ask the officer to take my report, but she scurried off to the doctor's offices there. . . then another cop, then a cop on a bike. Something was going on, but I didn't know what, so I waited. Then I heard a man say "I called the police, the man was in Dr.?? office, and then left." I quickly asked the police officer if they were looking for an African-American man. . . she said yes. I showed her the photo, "is this him?". . . she said yes. We confirmed the man in my photo was the same man the nurses saw.
What are the odds we're all looking for the same guy?!?!?
I find out from the police, this man "Lonny" has been targeting our neighborhood for weeks. His MO is to get money quick. A few weeks ago, he stopped at a store on Telegraph and asked the clerk to get something, and as they went to the back, he grabbed the cash and fled.
Neighbors, please be on the lookout for this man and call IMMEDIATELY if you see him (BPD Emergency: 510.981.5911). All the events I described in today's incident happened within about 45 minutes, so he is being aggressive in his search for cash -- and he may be on drugs or just not very smart.
Here are the stats.
African-American, male
in late 20s, maybe 30s
6'-1 range
large build
hair - buzz cut and not neat
rough complexion
slow-rambling speech
white sneakers with thick, black soles
baggy clothes
white, old-style, 10-speed bike with black tape (either on the bar between the legs or over the seat area)
Thanks for reading, and be safe!!
Jill
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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008
Dates set as of July 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, Sunday afternoon, 4-5:30 p.m., Steering Committee & Disaster Prep 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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