HNA E-News: This Saturday, 9-2, Neighborhood Work Party; Special Adopt-a-Park Project; Lighting; Election Results: 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. Big Neighborhood Work Party: Volunteers Needed Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., meet at Halcyon Commons

2. Halcyon Neighbor Seeks a Few More Volunteers for Special Adopt-a-Park  Project

3. Enhancing Neighborhood Lighting: Order Deadline Extended to November 21st

4. Death of Thomas Eddie Cooper, Co-Owner of Bateau Ivre of Telegraph

5. Local Election Results

6. Ashby Flowers Seeks Neighborhood Support

* 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:

Saturday is our big neighborhood fall cleanup with help from Cal students with the Berkeley Project focused around Halcyon Commons. We'll get a lot done no matter what, but if you can pitch in you'll magnify our efforts many times over by allowing us to expand further into the surrounding neighborhood  (please see item 1). Please lend a hand!

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

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1. Big Neighborhood Work Party: Volunteers Needed Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., meet at Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Delicious breakfast and lunch food donated by Whole Foods Market.

Excellent Coffee courtesy of Mokka Cafe (Telegraph at Dowling).

Nice weather in the forecast!

Come join 30 Cal student volunteers from the Berkeley Project in helping Halcyon neighborhood volunteers weed and mulch Halcyon Commons and nearby landscaped features. This big work party day will also include sending crews out into the larger neighborhood to remove graffiti from signs, paint over graffiti on curbs, and pick up trash. We'll be fueled by delicious donated foods and beverages from Whole Foods Market and Mokka Cafe.

If you have a pet peeve concerning graffiti or trash in the larger neighborhood, this is your chance to do something about it. Please consider signing up to help by leading out a team of four to six students to the trouble spot you've identified. As little as an hour of your time leading out a crew will magnify your work many times over due to our volunteer labor of willing, strong Cal students. But to utilize these volunteers efficiently, we need some neighbors to take the crews out. This is a golden opportunity, but we will only be able to cover the larger neighborhood with your help. (Otherwise, the focus will inevitably stay centered on the park and immediate surroundings.)

Contact HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton at <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you can help on 11/15 by leading a crew out. (If you just want to stop by and help with weeding and mulching, there's no need to email back; just come on out. Even twenty minutes can help, and it makes for a much more satisfying event if there are neighbors there to work side by side with the student volunteers.)

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2. Halcyon Neighbor Seeks a Few More Volunteers for Special Adopt-a-Park Project

[Editor's Note: Susan Hunter has an innovative idea to help us give Halcyon Commons some ongoing TLC. This is especially appropriate for those who appreciate the park but aren't able to help out with big work parties. And in case you didn't know, Susan's generous offer to provide lunch to those who make this commitment comes from a chef who makes even simple meals a culinary treat. . . . Read on.]

Neighbors:

We have about four neighbors signed up for our "adopt a park" project and need at least four more to make it happen. It would be great  to get it started and get to meet everyone. So, please consider this very simple contribution and time commitment, and your part in creating some new friends along the way. Please reply directly to my personal email:  huntersec@gmail.com

Thank you,

Susan Hunter

And here's Susan's description of the project from the previous HNA E-News:

Dear Park, Nature, and Green Lovers:

I have been contemplating an idea for the park that I think would be an new way to have some monthly creative input into our common space. For me, I'm starting to practice T'ai Chi Chih in the park (Halcyon Commons, at Halcyon and Prince) and realized I needed to clean the space of cigarette butts, trash, etc. before starting my movements. Then I cleaned the area and surrounds that week. My plan is to keep that one area clean, swept, and free from the impacts of urban living.

I realized it would be great to have a core group of ten people who would each sign on to care for one very small section of the park (even if it is two by two feet square), to pick up butts and trash, or pull a weed or two. The idea is that people would do their share when they had time, with no structure except to agree to do it now and then. We could then change the list/add/delete/revise as needed. My personal plan is once every two weeks, but you could choose once a month. It may take all of ten minutes. My personal plan is a bit more involved, as it is a creative endeavor, but yours could be very simple.

So, if you are interested, I'd like to set up a one-time meeting if I get around ten volunteers. I'd provide a lunch, and we could divide the areas. We might even form a community in the process. . . . Before I set a meeting/lunch date, I want to see if there is interest in the idea.  I'm open to suggestions and hope there is some mutual interest in the idea.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Susan Hunter

contact: huntersec@gmail.com

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3. Enhancing Neighborhood Lighting: Order Deadline Extended to November 21st

[Editor's Note: LeConte neighbor Jill Finn has extended the order deadline for the neighborhood lighting project, which includes a great discount, as her note below indicates.]

Neighbors,

 

Realizing the deadline for the Lighting order was Halloween, and many folks were gearing up for that event with their little ones, I extended the deadline from Oct. 31st to Nov. 21st.  Also there aren't enough lights ordered (minimum 1 dozen lights) to call in the order.  With that said, if you are planning to get a light, please fill out your form, mail me the correct amount in the form of a check (address on form), and get on the list.  (I do not deposit the checks until I have the full order amount and I will email you when that is.)

Jill Finn

From the last HNA E-News: Jill Finn, the Block Captain of  2100 Oregon in the LeConte neighborhood, has launched a project to help residents obtain motion-sensitive lights for the front of their homes. She has gotten a quantity discount at $30 for a flexible two bulb unit, plus an estimate for installation (or you can install yourself). Her goal is to have such lights installed throughout LeConte [including Halcyon south of Ahsby] with the result that the sidewalks and driveways will "light up" when people walk by. (The Police Department confirms that "street lights" are not intended to prevent all dark spots on sidewalks, so our additions will make a difference. ) If you didn't receive a copy of the order form, or have misplaced it, you can get a pdf  of it by emailing jcf2525@gmail.com. Jill is collecting orders for a October 31st deadline, so act now!

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4. Death of Thomas Eddie Cooper, Co-Owner of Bateau Ivre of Telegraph

Editor's Note: In case you missed the sad news, the Berkeley Daily Planet article linked below tells of the death of Thomas Eddie Cooper (known to many of us as Cooper or simply Coop), who with his wife, Arlene, has made Le Bateau Ivre on Telegraph such a special community gathering spot for over thirty-five years. In these tough economic times, I'm sure Arlene would appreciate all of us stopping in more often to enjoy a hot beverage or a meal so she can keep the business going.

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-10-23/article/31396?headline=Remembering-Thomas-Eddie-Cooper

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5. Local Election Results

Several neighbors have asked me to fill them in on local election results, which not everyone heard about with so much attention going to national and state results. So in case others of you also missed this news:

In brief, Councilmembers Anderson, Capitelli, and Moore won reelection. Susan Wengraf was elected to retiring Councilmember Betty Olds' seat, and Jesse Arreguin was elected to the remaining two years of Dona Spring's term. Mayor Tom Bates was reelected. (The terms of Councilmembers Worthington, Wozniak, and Maio won't be up until 2010, when Arreguin will also face reelection.) The newly elected and reelected councilmembers will be sworn in at the December 8th Council meeting.

For the School Board, Beatriz Levya-Cutler and John Selawsky were elected. Nicole Drake, Igor Tregub, Judy Shelton, Jack Harrison, and Jesse Townley were elected to the Rent Stabilization Board.     

On local measures, the results were as follows:

Measure FF (library branch renovation funds): Yes (2/3 supermajority required)

Measure GG (fire and disaster prep funds): Yes (2/3 supermajority required)

Measure HH (Gann reauthorization of existing taxes for parks, libraries, and emergency medical services): Yes

Measure JJ (medical cannabis revote): Yes

Measure KK (requiring vote for lane change for transit):  No

Measure LL (revision of landmarks ordinance):  No

County Measure WW (reauthorization of East Bay Regional Parks District acquisition funds) and VV (transit funding) received Yes Votes (2/3 supermajority required for both).

You can look up specific results of these and other Alameda County races at http://www.acgov.org/rov_app/current_election/customindex.jsp

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6. Ashby Flowers Seeks Neighborhood Support

Peter Shelton of Bateman Neighborhood Association forwarded the following notice from Ashby Flowers, which is hoping that some neighbors might choose to get involved in supporting their continued presence at the corner of Ashby and Telegraph. {Editor's Note: HNA itself does not have a position on this issue at this point; given our Guiding Principles (see the end of the E-News), we rarely take stands on potentially controversial issues, unless there's an overwhelming consensus among neighbors; however, the E-News exists to keep neighbors informed so they may choose when or if they wish to get involved in matters affecting our neighborhood, so feel free to pass on such news.]

Hi Peter,

 

. .  . . I understand that you are a neighborhood representative in our area. We are the owners of Ashby Flowers, a family-owned and operated shop for nearly 60 years. We have owned the shop since 1995 and are tenants to Whole Foods. Our lease is going to expire next summer and they do not want to renew our lease. We are hoping to meet with you to discuss the possibility of getting neighborhood support.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Marcy Simon

ashbyflowers@yahoo.com

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For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2008/2009

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

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;  District 4's newly elected councilmember, Jesse Arreguin, won't be sworn in until December 8th, but Dona's existing staff is still tracking concerns sent their way, so I have not deleted her address from the list. Also note that Councilmember Betty Olds is retiring, and the newly elected councilmember, Susan Wengraf, will also be sworn in on at the December 8th Council meeting. I will update the email list in December.]

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 please!) 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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