HNA E-News: Yard Sale Sunday 4/26; meeting re 3001 Telegraph Weds. 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, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Sign-ups Due by Thursday 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. Prince Street Neighbor Facilitating Free Tai Chi Chih Practice at Halcyon Commons This Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. for World Tai Chi/Qi Gong Day

4. Earth Day Events at Whole Foods Market This Wednesday and Thursday

5. Crime Watch Reports: Another Truck Stolen 2100 Block of Prince 4/13; Plus Follow-Up

6. Step Confidently Ahead: A Walk to Support the Families of the Four Fallen OPD Officers: Sunday, April 26

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

* 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:

There are two great community-building events HNA is sponsoring this weekend: First, on Saturday, consider coming over to Halcyon Commons for World Tai Chi/Qi Gong Day (item 3). Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz has generously offered to lead a group Tai Chi Chih practice, but it would also be great to have others engaged in their preferred practices (whether Qi Gong, other forms of Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, swinging on the tire swing, or just sitting on one of the benches watching it all go by). The purpose is to bring positive energy (aka "Chi" or "Qi") to our park and neighborhood, as people will be doing all around the world.

The second great community-building event is a multi-block yard sale this Sunday (item 1), organized this year by Wheeler Street neighbor Rosalind Harder. While spring cleaning and a desire to raise some cash are prime motivators for participating households, there are other benefits to our neighborhood. So whether you plan to sell items yourself or not, be sure to wander around the neighborhood from Telegraph west toward Adeline, and from Ashby south toward Woolsey to check out the sales. You're bound to meet new folks who live nearby as well as renew acquaintances with neighbors you haven't seen in a while.

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

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1. Sunday April 26th Multi-Block Yard Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Sign-ups Due by Thursday 4/23)

Neighborhood-Wide Multi-Block Yard Sale
Sunday, April 26, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (rain reschedules)
To participate, sign up and pay by end of day, 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 Wheeler Street neighbor Rosalind Harder (Ros). To sign up to be included on the map of participating households, email <halcyon92@gmail.com> by the end of the day on 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, Ros.

Note: Essex Street neighbor Lisa Romo is in training with Team in Training to run a half marathon on 5/3 to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Rather than a yard sale, she'll be having a bake sale on Essex near Wheeler, so be sure to stop by to purchase something tasty!

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2. 3001 Telegraph: Neighborhood Meeting with the Architect at Claremont Library, Wednesday, April 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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. Prince Street Neighbor Facilitating Free Tai Chi Chih Practice at Halcyon Commons This Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. for World Tai Chi/Qi Gong Day

Editor's Note: Judith Schwartz of Prince Street will be guiding a free Tai Chi Chih Practice in the park as part of World Tai Chi/Qi Gong Day this Saturday.

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

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

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

Practice will take place even with light rain (but heavy rain cancels)

On Saturday, April 25th, participants in all 50 states and over 60 countries around the world will be doing their T'ai Chi or Qi Gong 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. Contact Judith Schwartz at 510-843-2062 for more information.

Note:  While the Tai Chi Chih practice has a facilitator, and all are welcome to join, others are also welcome to come out to the park at 10 a.m. to engage in other practices, such as Qi Gong, other forms of Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, etc.

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4. Earth Day Events at Whole Foods Market This Wednesday and Thursday

[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 ]

Wednesday, April 22nd

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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5. Crime Watch Reports: Another Truck Stolen 2100 Block of Prince 4/13; Plus Follow-Up

[Editor's Note:  The report of the 1993 white Nissan Truck stolen on Monday, April 13, turned out to be part of a pattern. See the reports below for news of another truck stolen around the same time, as well as good news about recovery of the first truck, plus some cautionary advice to owners of Japanese cars from the late 1980s and '90s.]

A Woolsey Street neighbor reported the following:

"Thank you very much for your e-news updates.  It is always helpful to have an idea of what is going on in the neighborhood.  Unfortunately, I have a crime update to submit.  Our 1989 black Nissan pickup truck was stolen from in front of our house (on Woolsey between Shattuck and Wheeler) on Monday 4/13 between 10 am and 12 noon.  The cab was locked and luckily had nothing of value in it.  In reading today's e-news, I see that another Nissan pickup was stolen at almost exactly the same time just a few blocks away!  How very interesting!"

The neighbor on Prince Street who reported a white 1993 Nissan truck stolen (also on April 13) submitted the following update:

"Good news! Last night [4/15] at about 2 a.m. our beat officer knocked on our door to tell us that my '93 Nissan truck had been found. She drove me over to Emerson at Tremont. Officers on patrol spotted it and apparently it had been parked there earlier last night because they didn't see it on earlier patrols.  I called the auto theft dept. of the BPD this morning to thank them for their thorough work. The truck is in good condition. The exhaust system is really loud indicating that the thieves took the catalytic converter to sell for scrap. These things contain precious metals (Platinum or Palladium). Anyway, the officer recommended that I get a club for my steering wheel because the locks on Japanese cars from the late '80s and early '90s are a joke. They can be easily opened with a screwdriver. You might want to pass the information along to our Halcyon neighbors."

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6. Step Confidently Ahead: A Walk to Support the Families of the Four Fallen OPD Officers: Sunday, April 26

[The following announcement was forwarded by Dawn Trygstad Rubin, HNA's Neighborhood Watch Coordinator.]

On April 26th, join Berkeley Firefighters and Police Officers as they escort members of the Vacaville Police and Fire Department through Berkeley on their fundraising journey from Vacaville to Oakland. All interested parties should be prepared to meet at the intersection of San Pablo and Harrison at approximately 173 0hrs on April 26th and then to walk as far as you feel comfortable. To get to the end of the walk from our starting point is 2.5 miles (67th and San Pablo).

For more information:

http://stepconfidentlyahead.com

Any questions or RSVPs can be sent to info@bffa1227.org

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7. 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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* 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 25,  2009, 10 a.m., T'ai Chi Chih Practice in the Park with Judith Schwartz on World Tai Chi and Qi Gong 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

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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