E-News: Big Celebration/Potluck with Music Sunday at Halcyon Commons, 4-6:30; 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 Commons Rejuvenation Celebration & Potluck (with Live Music), This Sunday, Sept. 28, 4-6:30 p.m.

2. Crime Watch Report: Prowler on Halcyon Court

3. City Extends Emergency Alert Service to Cell Phones

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008/2009

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

* Halcyon Neighborhood Association's Guiding Principles

Editor's Introductory Note:

This Sunday we'll be celebrating the installation of new features in our neighborhood park, Halcyon Commons, over the past two years (the beautiful metal archway by artist Amy Blackstone; dozens of infill plants; and the installation of boulders and flagstone at the southeast corner of the park) as funded by the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Grant. So come on out for a fun afternoon featuring live music, a potluck, and a chance to enjoy the company of your neighbors (see item 1)! The Halcyon event starts at 4 p.m., but feel free to come at 3 p.m. if you'd also like to support the wonderful citywide nonprofit Berkeley Partners for Parks, whose annual Membership Picnic and Funraiser will overlap with our event (BPFP was the fiscal sponsor for our grant application and has played a significant role in the development of Halcyon Commons since the beginning).

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

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1. Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Celebration & Potluck (with Live Music), This Sunday, Sept. 28, 4-6:30 p.m.

Come one and all to the

Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Celebration & Potluck!

featuring Live Music by Singer/Songwriter Evelie Posch & Friends
Sunday, September 28, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Halcyon Commons (Halcyon Court at Prince Street)

Come join in the dedication of new improvements funded by the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Grant to our grassroots-designed and -built neighborhood park, Halcyon Commons.

4-5 p.m.: Food, music, and conversation; meet your neighbors and more!

5-5:20: Brief Program celebrating the completion of the Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project, with recognition of project partners and brief statements by  Mayor Tom Bates, Councilmember Kriss Worthington, Artist Amy Blackstone, and HNA Co-Chairs Nancy Carleton and John Steere

5:30-6:30: More food and music: Acoustic Folk and Torch Songs by the talented singer/songwriter Evelie Posch & Friends

Please bring quality food and/or drink to share for at least 8.

Potluck suggestions: Appetizer: T-Z  * Main 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.) Children welcome!

This event will overlap with the Annual Membership Picnic and Fun Raiser of Berkeley Partners for Parks (http://www.bpfp.org) from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., which will also offer music, food, and fellowship. So come early if you'd also like to support BPFP! Donations appreciated for BPFP (suggested contribution $30); the HNA event is no charge.

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2. Crime Watch Report: Prowler on Halcyon Court

A Halcyon Court neighbor reports:

"On the night of September 14, at 11 p.m., a prowler was in our backyard. I heard him open the gate and when I yelled he ran off in a hurry. My next-door neighbor heard it too. I called the BPD nonemergency number and reported it."

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3. City Extends Emergency Alert Service to Cell Phones

The City of Berkeley has an existing system to alert land phone lines in Berkeley in the case of disaster. It has now added an opportunity to register your cellphone. You can also register your email address, PDA, or pager. Go to:

http://www.alertregistration.com/berkeley/

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008/2009

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

Sunday, September 28, 4-6:30 p.m., Party in the Park to Celebrate Completion of Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project (with potluck and live music), Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Cal's Berkeley Project Day;  Big Work Party in Halcyon Commons and surrounding neighborhood (weeding, mulching, picking up trash, removing graffiti); meet at Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

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>

[Editor's Note: While Councilmember Dona Spring is, sadly, no longer with us, her Council office is still operating and receiving emails at the above address;  although District 4 won't have a vote at Council meetings until a new councilmember is elected in November, then sworn in, Dona's existing staff is still tracking concerns sent their way, so I have not deleted her address from the list.]

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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