HNA E-News: Carjacking Today Near Whole Foods; Post-Holiday Potluck Jan. 11; 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 Alert: Carjacking Attempts and Carjacking Today in Vicinity of Whole Foods/Webster Street

2. Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, Sunday, January 11, 5:30-8:45 p.m.

3. Prince Street Neighbor Nina Lyons Signing Books at Party at Leslie Ceramics, Thursday, January 15, 6-9 p.m.

4. Crime Watch Report: Suicide/Body Found in Wall 2200 Block of Ashby Avenue

5. Crime Watch Alert: Series of Burglaries in North Berkeley involving Open WIndows

* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2009

* Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List

* City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information

* Halcyon Neighborhood Association's Guiding Principles

Editor's Introductory Note:

I'm sorry that there's a carjacking to report (see item 1) as we end the year, but better that we all be realistic about the need to stay aware and alert in our heavily impacted urban neighborhood. On the other hand, as this year comes to a close and the new one's about to begin, I feel grateful that we live in a neighborhood where folks genuinely look out for and care about one another and where we join together in so many ways to create community (see item 2 for just one example).

Stay safe, and best wishes for a happy new year to all!

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

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1. Crime Watch Alert: Carjacking Attempts and Carjacking Today in Vicinity of Whole Foods/Webster Street

       

[Editor's Note:  The details in the MSNBC report below differ slightly from what I heard from neighbors and from staff at Whole Foods, but the account provides the gist of what happened this morning around 10:30 a.m. near and across from the Whole Foods Parking lot on Webster (where a Webster Street neighbor had his Subaru carjacked). At 4 p.m., two employees of Whole Foods told me they had heard that the perpetrator had been caught, but I haven't yet received verification of that.]

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28438185/

"I'm Gonna Blow Your B!*#* Off!"

A woman in Berkeley is telling quite a tale about a carjacking attempt Tuesday.

According to reports, the woman had been shopping at the Berkeley Whole Foods and was returning to her car when a man approached her.

The man told her to give him all of her money. According to a Berkeley Police Department statement, a "physical and verbal altercation ensued." That is when she went into her van to get the money.

When he got into her van, she said she grabbed his gun while it was still in his hand and said, "I'm gonna blow your balls off."

She said the robber then punched her before attempting to get behind the wheel of her van in order to drive it away. That is when she began stabbing him in the leg, shoulder and neck area with scissors she had in the center console. He then got out of the van and ran away.

The carjacker fled westbound on Webster Street. He still had a handgun at that point. Officers said he encountered a man in his car, pulled the gun on him, but was unable to carjack the vehicle from the man.

Officers said the man proceeded to flee further westbound on Webster to Halcyon Street. That is when he encountered someone outside of their house, pulled the gun on the person and was successful in stealing the car from the home.

The car that he stole is a 2008 Black Subaru Outback Wagon, license number 5ZTN502. The carjacker was last seen driving southbound on Telegraph Avenue into Oakland.

The carjacker was still on the loose as of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches and 200 lbs., 40 to 50 years old, wearing a blue plaid shirt, black pants with hair on his chest.

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2. Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, Sunday, January 11, 5:30-8:45 p.m.

[Editor's Note: Seems like a good time to remind everyone we have something to look forward to in the new year: connecting with neighbors, which is one of the best ways to increase our level of neighborhood safety, in addition to just being fun.]

Join your neighbors as we progress from house to house for a fabulous multi-course dinner!

"Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck"
Sunday, January 11, 2009, 5:30-8:45 p.m.

First Course: Appetizers, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
2141 Emerson Street (between Wheeler & Shattuck, south of Ashby)

Second Course: Salads, 6:20-6:55 p.m.
3009 Wheeler Street (just south of Ashby)

Third Course: Main Dishes, 7:00-7:45 p.m.
3041 Fulton Street (between Prince & Ashby)

Fourth Course: Desserts, 7:50-8:45 p.m.
2329 Webster Street (two doors west of Whole Foods)

Potluck suggestions:

G-L: Appetizer *  M-R: Salad *  S-Z: Main Dish *  A-F: Dessert

Please bring a festive dish to share, and, if so inspired, a beverage to share as well (it really helps if enough folks bring beverages too). Children welcome. If not obvious, kindly attach a label with ingredients for your dish to alert those with vegetarian and other diets. Feel free to attend one course or all four! Bring the item assigned for your letter to the designated household, or substitute another suggestion if you won't be attending the course for your letter.

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3. Prince Street Neighbor Nina Lyons Signing Books at Party at Leslie Ceramics, Thursday, January 15, 6-9 p.m.

[Editor's Note: Prince Street neighbor, sculptor, and author forwarded information about the following event.]

A Party at Leslie Ceramics, "Celebrate the Ceramic Arts of Berkeley"

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 6-9 Pp.m.

Leslie Ceramic Supply Co. Inc. 1212 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, CA 94706, 510-524-7363

The event includes:

book signing with authors: Nina Lyons The Poetry of Form, Dean Schwarz, Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus, An Eyewitness Anthology, Andrew Martin, The Essential Guide to Mold Making, and Dana Gardner, A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Our very special guest, Stephen DeStaebler, will be honored for his contribution to the ceramic arts locally and internationally. Music by The Jennifer Lee Trio featuring Robin Lewis on 7-string guitar & Raul Ramirez on percussion

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4. Crime Watch Report: Suicide/Body Found in Wall 2200 Block of Ashby Avenue

[Editor: The events described in the link below received wide coverage in the Chronicle and Berkeley Daily Planet, but since this happened so close by, here are some links for those who may have missed it.]

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/PressReleaseMain.aspx?id=31592

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-12-23/article/31855?headline=Buried-Body-in-Wall-Identified-by-Police

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/24/BA1E14U6A4.DTL&hw=suicide+Ashby+body&sn=001&sc=1000

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5. Crime Watch Alert: Series of Burglaries in North Berkeley involving Open Windows

[Editor's Note: Although this series of burglaries happened across town, the cautionary note about open windows bears attention.]

Fellow Community Members,

There were six residential burglaries on Monday December 22nd, four in Beat 18 of north-central Berkeley and two in Beat 1 of the northeast hills, that may be connected to the north-central daytime burglary series that began earlier this month.  Below are the locations of the burglaries, the approximate times they occurred, and the method of entry the burglar(s) used:

        500 block of Santa Rosa Ave., occurred between 10:00 am and 2:30 pm, via open window

        400 block of Vermont Ave., occurred between 8:45 am and 3:45 pm, via open window

        800 block of Hearst Ave., occurred between 6:30 am and 5:00 pm, via unlocked window

        1200 block of Curtis St., occurred between 10:30 am and 7:30 pm, via unlocked window

        1400 block of Acton St., occurred between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, via door kick

        a second on the 1400 block of Acton St., occurred between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, via window pry

The burglar(s) are targeting mostly laptop computers, small electronics, and jewelry.

As mentioned in an earlier alert, there are descriptions of a woman and a vehicle that may be related to the burglary series.  The descriptions are: a white female, 30-36 years old, "weathered" looking, 5'06" tall, long straight black or dark brown hair last seen wearing a trench coat, associated with a Grey, GMC style van with a bicycle rack on the back.  If you see a woman or a van matching these descriptions, or any suspicious activity or "casing" in your neighborhood, immediately report it to the Berkeley Police.

Please notice that four of the six burglaries were via open windows. I ask you to always close and lock your windows when you leave home.  I also ask that when you are home,  you secure windows in rooms that you can not visually monitor. I know these are basic crime prevention tips, but when we have four burglaries that may have been prevented by closing and locking a window, I feel compelled to stress their importance.

Even though I will try to keep you updated on this burglary series and any future crime developments, I want to remind you to check the Berkeley Police Daily Bulletin available at this link http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=30434 .  The Daily Bulletin has the most timely information available on crimes, including all burglaries, that occur in Berkeley.  Please familiarize yourself with the information available on the bulletin, and if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

                          

Ofc. Casimiro Pierantoni #96

Area Coordinator -  Area 1

Berkeley Police Department

Office: (510) 981-5773

Fax: (510) 981-5819

<mailto:cpierantoni@ci.berkeley.ca.us>

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police

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* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2009

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

Sunday, January 11, 2009, 5:30-8:45 p.m., Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, four locations (see E-News notice)

Sunday, February, 8, 2009, 4-5:30, Joint Steering Committee/Disaster Prep Committee meeting to plan dates/events for 2009 (email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd like to participate)

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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:  http://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 Jesse Arreguin <JArreguin@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Laurie Capitelli <LCapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us>,

Councilmember Susan Wengraf <SWengraf@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 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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