HNA E-News: Community Service Day Monday: neighborhood cleanup, 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Crime Watch; 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. Mini Neighborhood Cleanup (Day of Service - Monday, January 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m.)

2. Productive Meeting with Whole Foods This Week

3. Prince Street Neighbor Judith Schwartz Offering T'ai Chi Chih Intensive Weekend of January 17-18

4. Crime Watch Alert: Burglaries on Prince and Wheeler Streets

5. Community Labyrinth Walk, Sunday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

6. Flu Prevention: Cough into Your Sleeve! (video link)

* 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:

Our Progressive Post-Holiday Potluck last weekend was a great success, with many dozens of neighbors participating at one or all of the courses. Many thanks to hosts Lynn Sherrell, Tory Finn, Carolyn Hand & Paul Helliker, and John & Michelle Thelen-Steere, as well as an extra special thanks to Tory for organizing it all! Thanks too to all the HNA flyer distributors who helped us get the word out.

If you're looking for a simple way to volunteer in the neighborhood, we very much need several more flyer distributors, especially some willing to distribute on blocks on the west side of the neighborhood; most stretches take half an hour or less, and the flyers go out around five or six times a year. The flyers allow us to reach folks without email, those who haven't yet signed up for the E-News, and also new neighbors, plus serve as a reminder to everyone about our bigger events. Email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd be willing to help out by taking on a stretch on an ongoing basis (or serve as an occasional alternate).

Speaking of opportunities to volunteer in the neighborhood, many of you may have heard that President-Elect Obama has called on everyone to participate in some form of service on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Of course, opportunities abound, but if you're looking for something close to home HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter and I decided to enter a mini neighborhood cleanup into the mix (see Item 1). So if you're around Monday afternoon, stop by and pitch in! As they say, service begins where you live, and I I hope Obama's call this coming week will inspire our awareness throughout the year of the need to to be good stewards right here in our own neighborhood.

Have a great  MLK Jr. weekend!

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

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1. Mini Neighborhood Cleanup (Day of Service - Monday, January 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m.)

Our neighborhood has a small, impromptu service event scheduled for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, when President-Elect Obama has called upon all of us to pitch in to take care of and improve our local communities. Here's the link from the new website that will be serving as a way for citizens to network about service opportunities:

http://www.usaservice.org/page/event/detail/4v9p4

Event details:

We will pick up trash in the Halcyon neighborhood, starting at Halcyon Commons at 3:30, and covering as many of the surrounding blocks as we're able given how many folks show up. Please bring trash bags. (We'll also have graffiti-removing supplies available for those who'd like to take on that important task.)

Time:  Monday, January 19 from 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Host:  Nancy Carleton/HNA

Location:       Halcyon Commons (Berkeley, CA)
Halcyon Court at Prince Street

Berkeley, CA 94705

Directions:  Halcyon Commons is located in the center of Halcyon Court, one block west of Telegraph, between Prince and Webster Streets (a block from Whole Foods Market)

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2. Productive Meeting with Whole Foods This Week

HNA Steering Committee members John Steere, Caleb Dardick, and Nancy Carleton, along with neighbors Jody Hanson and Shael Barger, met with Whole Foods Market Store Team Leader Mike Howard and Community Relations Rep  Nick Heustis to convey neighborhood concerns and to network about improving the neighborhood we share. We conveyed all the feedback submitted by neighbors in response to the E-News announcement last week, including raising the issues of parking,  safety/security (particularly in light of the recent carjackings), noise, trash/litter, graffiti, employee smoking (including a request to move the smoking to a location away from the sidewalk thoroughfare), lighting in the back lot shining in a neighbor's window, aggressive panhandling, and many neighbors' support of keeping Ashby Flowers on the corner. We also talked about continued ways we could collaborate on issues such as work parties/cleanups in the neighborhood (to which Whole Foods Market donates food and beverages in support), crime watch, disaster preparedness, and improved communication with the neighborhood (including an invitation for Whole Foods to submit items to the E-News to keep neighbors informed).

It was a positive, productive meeting, and we agreed to meet at least twice more this year, to revisit the various issues, which Nick is tracking, and so we can keep the lines of communication open. In advance of the next meeting in early April, an E-News item will once again solicit feedback from neighbors, so that we can pass that information on. In the meantime, both Nick and Mike made it clear that they encourage neighbors to stop by the store or call if there are immediate concerns so that they can address them.

Nick's contact information is as follows:

Nick Heustis / Marketing and Community Relations

Nick Heustis \(NC BRK\) <Nick.Heustis@wholefoods.com>

Whole Foods Market / 3000 Telegraph Ave. Berkeley CA 94705

(510) 649-1333 ext 261

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3. Prince Street Neighbor Judith Schwartz Offering T'ai Chi Chih Intensive Weekend of January 17-18

[Editor's Note: Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz will occasionally be offering T'ai Chi Chih trainings in the neighborhood, with the hope that by this spring we'll have enough folks who know the basic movements to hold free ongoing neighborhood practice in Halcyon Commons; see her notice at the end of the announcement about the April 25th kickoff for the park practice and keep the date free!]

T'ai Chi Chih Intensive

Learn all 19 movements and one stance of this simple, easy-to-learn Taiji/QiGong Practice.

T'ai Chi Chih helps reduce stress, boost the immune system, alleviate or prevent symptoms of arthritis, increase range of motion and balance, regulate blood pressure, create calm and serenity, and much more.

Join Judith for this weekend Intensive, January 17th and 18th from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday

Location: Prince Street near Shattuck and Wheeler Streets in Berkeley

Cost: $100.00; or $90.00 if registered before January 12th Start the New Year off with enhancing your internal Chi, your vital energy. A learning DVD may be purchased for $32.00 to assist in your continual practice.

To register contact:

Judith Schwartz, M.A.  510-843-2062

http://www.JudithSchwartz.com

On the last Saturday in April, April 25th, at 10 a.m, we will join thousands of people throughout the world, on World Tai Chi and QiGong Day. It will be the beginning of our free ongoing neighborhood practice. The location will be Halcyon Commons, between Prince St and Webster St, one block west of Telegraph Ave, near Whole Foods Market Place. Everyone is welcome.

http://www.WorldTaichiandQigongDay

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4. Crime Watch Alert: Burglaries on Prince and Wheeler Streets

Editor's Note: At the Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck Sunday, I was informed of two recent burglaries, one on the 2200 block of Prince in late December, and the other last week on Wheeler Street. Laptops were stolen in both cases. On Wheeler Street, entry was through  the open backyard and then through an unlocked door. Since this was second- or third-hand information, the details I have are sketchy. (Remember, if neighbors tell you about a crime, please be sure to remind them to write a brief notice for the E-News and submit it to <halcyon92@gmail.com> so we can all be informed. Of course that's in addition to making a police report.)

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5. Community Labyrinth Walk, Sunday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m., Willard Middle School

Come walk the Willard labyrinth this Sunday. Celebrate the beauty of  the winter weather. Bring troubles, hopes, gratitude to the labyrinth and share the experience in our wonderful community. When: Sunday January 18, 3 p.m. @ Willard Middle School, Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley. Hope to see you there.

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6. Flu Prevention: Cough into Your Sleeve! (video link)

A humorous and seasonally apt reminder of the importance of coughing into your sleeve (as opposed to your hands):

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=125

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* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2009

Dates set as of  January 2009 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-News; more dates will be added after the 2/8 planning meeting):

Monday, January 19, 2009, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Community Service: Mini Neighborhood Cleanup (meet at Halcyon Commons, Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, February, 8, 2009, 4-5:30, Joint Steering Committee/Disaster Prep Committee meeting to plan dates/events for 2009, 3044-B Halcyon Court (back unit) (email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd like to participate)

Saturday, April 25,  2009, 10 a.m., T'ai Chi Chih Practice in the Park with Juditth Schwartz on World Tai Chi and QiGong Day, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon Court at Prince Street); this will be the beginning of free ongoing neighborhood practice (days/times 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:  http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police

Link to police bulletins:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/crimestats/policebulletins.html

Other City Departments:

City Manager's Office: 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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