HNA E-News: Multi-Block Yard Sale 4/26 (sign up by 4/23); 3001 Telegraph at DRC Thurs. 4/16 and Claremont Library 4/22; 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. Sunday April 26th Multi-Block Yard Sale Sign-ups Due 4/23

2. 3001 Telegraph (at Ashby), Preliminary Design Review at DRC, Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m. and Neighborhood Meeting with the Architect at Claremont Library, Wednesday, April 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

3. Community Earth Day Clean-up in Bushrod Park, Sat. April 18, 9 a.m. (meet Shattuck side)

4. Prince Street Neighbor Offering Local Halcyon Hives Honey for Sale

5. Prince Street Neighbor Offering Free Tai Chi Chih Practice at Halcyon Commons Sunday, April 19 at 11 a.m. and Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.

6. Is There a Doctor in the Neighborhood?

7. Crime Watch Reports: Truck Stolen 2100 Block of Prince 4/13; Burglary on Webster 4/8

8. Hidden Gems Ride & Walk to Treasures of Central Berkeley, Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

9. City of Berkeley's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

10. Upcoming Earth Day Events at Whole Foods Market

* 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:

One of the things I find most important as editor of the HNA E-News is ensuring that I pass on good news in addition to the inevitable bad news of crime watch reports and the anxiety-producing news of the need to prepare for a major earthquake. I especially enjoy passing on good news related to neighbors' projects. So I'm happy in this issue to pass on information about fresh local honey (item 4),  T'ai Chi Chih practice in the park,and another Hidden Gems Ride & Walk tour (item 8), just as in past issues I've passed on word of gallery openings, book signings, film showings, holiday pies, and other offerings directly connected to our creative, talented, and engaged neighbors. So in addition to emailing me at <halcyon92@gmail.com> with details of any crime incidents, please send along your good news and word of your home-business endeavors to share with neighbors as well (see the note at the end of HNA E-News for submission guidelines).

Happy spring!

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

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1. Sunday April 26th Multi-Block Yard Sale Sign-ups Due 4/23

Neighborhood-Wide Multi-Block Yard Sale
Sunday, April 26, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (rain reschedules)
To participate, sign up by Thursday, April 23rd!!!

(email by reply to <halcyon92@gmail.com>

If spring cleaning has you motivated to reduce clutter (and the economy has you wanting to earn a little cash), consider participating in the HNA-sponsored multi-block yard sale being organized by a Wheeler Street neighbor. To sign up to be included on the map of participating households, email <halcyon92@gmail.com> by Thursday 4/23 and drop off a check to help cover expenses (in an envelope, please) for $5.00 made out to HNA c/o HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter, 3044 Halcyon Court. Include your address and contact information, which will be passed on to the yard sale coordinator.

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2. 3001 Telegraph (at Ashby), Preliminary Design Review at DRC, Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m. and Neighborhood Meeting with the Architect at Claremont Library, Wednesday, April 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Design Review Committee
Thursday, April 16, 7:00 p.m. on

North Berkeley Senior Center (1901 Hearst at MLK Jr.)

Hearing to consider preliminary design review for proposed development at 3001 Telegraph

Neighborhood Meeting with the Architect for 3001 Telegraph Project

Wednesday, April 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Meeting room at the Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library (at 2940 Benvenue in the Elmwood)

The application is to construct a 5-story mixed-use building with 38 dwelling units, 4,039 square feet of ground floor commercial space, and 42 parking spaces. (The application allows for a fifth story where only four would be otherwise permitted, and additional height, to accommodate the project's density bonus. It requests a use permit to provide 4,081 sq. ft. of open space where 7,6000 are otherwise required, and a use permit to provide 42 off-street parking spaces where 47 are otherwise required.)

The use permit application, which contains more details, may be downloaded at the following link (scroll down for this project):

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=360

[Editor's Note:  HNA has not yet taken a formal position on this project, and according to our Guiding Principles, reproduced at the end of each E-News, we only take positions on such issues when there is near-unanimity among neighbors. We are thus unlikely to take a position on height/density issues because of a range of opinions in the neighborhood, but we will pass on comments from neighbors and do our best to encourage a quality design and appropriate commercial uses, and we have requested that the developer/architect hold an informal meeting for neighbors in the surrounding areas: Halcyon, Bateman, Willard, and Le Conte neighborhoods all border this anchor corner (the April 22nd meeting with the architect was scheduled in response to our request as well as to inquiries from Councilmember Worthington's office).]

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3. Community Earth Day Clean-up in Bushrod Park, Sat. April 18, 9 a.m. (meet Shattuck side)

[Editor's Note: HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin has been participating with the Shattuck Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (SNCPC)  to strengthen our crime-watch efforts along the Shattuck corridor. What happens in North Oakland, especially along the Shattuck corridor, has a huge impact on our South Berkeley neighborhood, so please consider pitching in to help out at this clean-up event at Bushrod Park. It's just a few blocks from here!]

Oakland EarthDay 2009

Community Clean-up

Bushrod Park and Sankofa School

Meet at 9 a.m. at Bushrod, Shattuck side (Shattuck Ave. at 60th St.)

Wear sturdy shoes, bring work gloves, and dress in layers that you can shed as the morning becomes warmer. Mineral water, snacks, and commemorative T-Shirts will be provided.

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4. Prince Street Neighbor Offering Local Halcyon Hives Honey for Sale

A fresh honey harvest is just in. Organic, raw honey made from the flowers of your gardens. For sale while it lasts: $6 for pints, $3.50 for half-pints. $.50 credit for returned jars. Limit: 3 pints per customer. The "Honey Store" is open every weekday 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. or all day Friday-Sunday. Phone before coming to get the address and to make certain we have not run out:  848-1797.

Bruce Wicinas & Noriko Nishizawa

Halcyon Hives "beekeepers"

bwicinas@pacbell.net

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5. Prince Street Neighbor Offering Free Tai Chi Chih Practice at Halcyon Commons Sunday, April 19 at 11 a.m. and Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.

On World T'ai Chi/QiGong Day, Practice in the Park!

Saturday, April 25, 10-11 a.m.

Featuring T'ai Chi Chih at Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

(and Refresher Practice the weekend before on Sunday, April 19, 11 a.m.)

On Saturday, April 25th, participants in all 50 states and over 60 countries around the world will be doing their T'ai Chi or QiGong practice beginning at 10 a.m. From New Zealand and Australia, to Asia, to Africa, to Europe, to the U.S. and Canada and South America, a wave of Chi will flow over the planet. Join us at Halcyon Commons in Berkeley at 10 a.m. to participate in this worldwide event, where we'll do our T'ai Chi Chih practice. For students new (or returning) to T'ai Chi Chih, there is a free refresher practice on Sunday, April 19, at Halcyon Commons at 11 a.m. These free events are facilitated by Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz; contact 510-843-2062 for more information.

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6. Is There a Doctor in the Neighborhood?

Editor's Note:  Tory Finn and Eric Roberts, members of HNA's Disaster Prep team, are working on an order to flesh out supplies in our neighborhood emergency supply cache using funds raised during last year's 55-gallon water barrel order. They're making good progress but need an M.D. with an active physician's license to help with purchase of additional sterile saline. Please reply to <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you can help in this way.

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7. Crime Watch Reports: Truck Stolen 2100 Block of Prince 4/13; Burglary on Webster 4/8

[Editor's Note: As warmer weather arrives and as summer approaches, the pattern of past years suggests that we may see an increase in crimes reported. So please pay watch out for your neighbors and report anything or anyone suspicious to the police nonemergency number (981-5900) given toward the end of each E-News. Of course, use the emergency number if there's a crime in progress (911 from a landline; 981-5911 from a cell).]

A neighbor on Prince Street reported the following:

"Thought I'd let you know that my 1993 white Nissan truck with a white camper top was stolen from in front of our house on the 2100 Block of Prince [on Monday, April 13]. I walked down to the post office about noon, and it was gone when I returned. Cab was locked. Nothing of value was in it."

A neighbor on Webster Street reported that his house was broken into (through a window he thought was "painted shut") on Wednesday, April 8 sometime between the late morning and early afternoon. Laptop and digital camera were stolen, and the burglary was reported to the police.

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8. Hidden Gems Ride & Walk to Treasures of Central Berkeley, Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

[Editor's Note: The bicycle portion of the Hidden Gems tour is led by HNA's own Co-Chair John Steere of Webster Street! This annual event continues to draw raves year after year. Check it out!]

Hidden Gems of Berkeley Ride & Walk - Treasures of Central Berkeley

Saturday May 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

 

Ride and walk begins at Civic Center Fountain (Allston between Milvia and Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and concludes at the meadow by the No. branch of Strawberry Creek (in front of the Life Sciences Building on Campus).

 

The 7th annual Hidden Gems of Berkeley Ride & Walk will feature the unique and vernacular treasures and grassroots' greening initiatives around Central Berkeley. As in the past, we'll have vivid interpretive tours - by bike and by foot. This year we'll explore the fabric of gardens, paths, strange and familiar culture and natural features and buildings of Central Berkeley (by bike) and Downtown (by foot). Ride and walk start will be at Civic Center Fountain. Bring lunch and water. The event is family friendly (over the age of 10). Undated Hidden Gems of Berkeley maps will be available for a nominal fee.

 

Bike tour to be led by John Steere and John Coveney; Walking tour to be led by Jen English and Georgia Silvera. Check out www.bpfp.org for more information. Cosponsored by Berkeley Partners for Parks (BPFP), Livable Berkeley, and the Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition.

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9. City of Berkeley's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

[Editor's Note: The following message was sent out by City of Berkeley's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Coordinator.]

My name is Katherine Brown and I am the program coordinator for the City of Berkeley Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. I just wanted to share a bit about our program and offer lead poisoning prevention resources that may be helpful to you. We are located to 1947 Center St. 2nd Floor and Berkeley and can be reached at 510-981-5289. We provides services to Berkeley residents as they relate to reducing lead exposure in children. Services range from case management for children with blood lead levels above 10 ug/dL and health education for children with levels between 5-9.5 ug/dL.

We also provide information and linkages to resources for property owners on lead-safe practices that are offered through the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (such as free lead-testing kits  and In-Home Consultations for property owners, HEPA-Vac lending service, free lead-safe painting/remodeling classes, etc.). Lead poisoning prevention presentations and trainings for your group are available upon request. For more information on our program, or to refer a client to our services, please feel free to contact us or visit our website at http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=11244

Katherine Brown, MPH
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Coordinator

City of Berkeley Public Health Division

Tel: 510-981-5289

E-mail: kbrown@ci.berkeley.ca.us

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/publichealth

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10. Upcoming Earth Day Events at Whole Foods Market

[Editor's Note: Here are some upcoming events at Whole Foods Market during "earthweek." You can find the full calendar at  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/berkeley/storecalendar.php]

Organic Earth Day Celebration!

11 a.m.-7 p.m. FREE

This Earth Day celebrate Organics with Whole Foods Market in Berkeley. All day long we will have educational classes and tastings of organic foods that are good for you and the planet. Our main event will be our Organic Product Exchange!!  Bring us any conventional product, and we will exchange it for a FREE 365 organic product! (Organic product value must be under $5. While supplies last. Limit 1 per customer.)  Our goal is to get more people eating affordable organics! All conventional goods will be donated to the Alameda County Food Bank.

Thursday, April 23rd

Green Cleaning Event

3-7 p.m.  FREE

Join the Green Cleaning Revolution! Discover why choosing all natural chemical-free cleaners is better for you and the environment. Learn from our amazing vendors about the benefits of cleaning products free of toxic chemicals. We will have information, education, samples and more. Join us as we continue our Earthweek Celebration! 

     

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* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2009

Dates set as of  April 2009 (verify a couple weeks before event by checking HNA E-News):

Saturday, April 18 , 2009, 9 a.m. Earth Day Clean-up at Bushrod Park,  Shattuck Avenue at 60th (Shattuck side)

Saturday, April 25,  2009, 10 a.m., T'ai Chi Chih Practice in the Park with Judith 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)

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Multi-Block Yard Sale (if enough households sign up)

Saturday, May 9, 2009, 9:30  a.m. - 1 p.m., Work Party in Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, May 31, 2009, 2-4 p.m., Training in Urban Self-Defense Strategies with Wendy Schlesinger, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Sunday, June 14, 5:30-8 p.m., Community Potluck, 3052 Wheeler Street (on patio)

Sunday, July 26, 2009, 10 a.m. - 12:30, Work Party in Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Tuesday, August 4, 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, August 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. SNCPC Garage Sale at Bushrod Park, Shattuck side between 60th and 59th Streets (Neighborhood Rummage Sale to raise money for  Crime Prevention Council, with HNA's participation)

Sunday, September 13, 4-6 p.m., Neighborhood Celebration with Live Music and Potluck in Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Saturday, October 10,  9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Big Work Party in Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince) and surrounding neighborhood in coordination with Cal student volunteers from the Berkeley Project

Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m., SNCPC Annual Meeting (elect sector representatives to Crime Prevention Council), North Oakland Sr. Center, 58th St. and MLK Jr. Way (with HNA's participation)

Sunday, December 6, 4-5:30 p.m., HNA Steering Committee meeting to set dates for 2010, John Steere's house, 2329 Webster

Sunday, January 24, 2010, 5:00-8:45 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:  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 at <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 at <halcyon92@gmail.com>. Crime-watch reports and news about neighbors (births, new jobs, announcements about home businesses or creative projects) is especially welcome. Please note that due to the volunteer nature of the endeavor, the E-News 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). Also, please note that the E-News is published as items accumulate and as the editor's time permits rather than on a regular schedule; submit your item early if it relates to a future event, and there's a greater chance it will be included.

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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