HNA E-News: Sunday Crime Watch/Self-Defense Workshop 2-4 p.m.; volunteers needed; crime watch report; 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. Free Training on Urban Self-Defense Strategies with Wendy Schlesinger on Sunday, May 31, 2-4 p.m., Halcyon Commons

2. Volunteers Needed: Photocopying, Distribution of Flyer Packets, Delivering Flyers

3. Crime Watch Report: Burglary on Wheeler During Landscaping/Construction Project

4. City of Berkeley Launches SmartSolar Program

5. Possible Laundry Mat to Go in at Telegraph/Dowling?

6. Neighbor Offering Tai Chi Chih Classes in Her Prince Street Garden

* 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:

With a view toward providing some variety in our neighborhood watch meetings and sharing practical information, HNA's Steering Committee arranged to have a guest presentation on self-defense strategies as this spring's offering (see item 1). As I've noted before, we often witness an upswing in crime as spring ends and summer begins. Fortunately, it has been some time since I have received a report of a direct assault or armed robbery against a neighbor, though there have been reports of burglaries and car break-ins. Of course, being directly confronted by a criminal is the scariest (and potentially most dangerous) form of crime, and a couple of years ago, a series of such crimes did take place in our neighborhood, with a wave of armed robberies. Similar crimes likely continue in the BART and Starry Plough areas, even if their victims aren't neighbors who report them to the E-News. In any case, we all live in a highly urban environment, and it makes sense to learn strategies to keep ourselves safer if we are ever confronted with potentially dangerous situations or even aggressive panhandling that feels intimidating. The presentation this Sunday is open to all -- men, women, children, and people of all ages and abilities. Please tell your friends, and come out this Sunday! I'm certain you will leave feeling empowered and better able to protect yourself!

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

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1. Free Training on Urban Self-Defense Strategies with Wendy Schlesinger on Sunday, May 31, 2-4 p.m., Halcyon Commons

Editor's Note: As many of you are aware, late spring leading into summer sadly and all too often brings an increase in crime. HNA timed this event to help you prepare yourself on a personal level. Be sure to save the date for this informative workshop being sponsored by HNA as part of our Neighborhood Watch efforts. Wendy Schlesinger is a smart, savvy, tough, and inspiring woman who during the course of her eventful life has navigated through all kinds of potentially dangerous situations. She'll share her personal blend of streetwise wisdom and practical knowledge. ADDED REQUEST: Is there a neighbor who would be willing to videotape the presentation using Wendy's SONY camcorder? Please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if so.

Tough Choices about Living as a Gentle Person in an Urban Environment:

Self-Defense Awareness: Neighborhood and Personal

A Training with Wendy Schlesinger sponsored by HNA

Sunday, May 31, 2-4 p.m.

Halcyon Commons (Halcyon Court at Prince Street, a block west of Telegraph)

Free!  (Donations to the nonprofit 401(c)3 Gardens on Wheels Association will gratefully be accepted.)

People of All Ages and Abilities welcome (including children accompanied by adults).

Feel free to bring a chair to sit on if it would make you more comfortable.

Wendy Schlesinger, Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame, Sports and Athletics, speaks about how self-defense begins in the mind. Topics will include: Awareness, Prevention, Presentation of Self, Threat Assessment, General Physical Conditioning (within your abilities), and Self-Defense Skills. There will be some pairing up of attendees to learn a few basic offensive and defensive techniques, but mostly this is an introductory, interactive chat sure to open your mind. Wendy has advised Karl Linn and the Peralta Gardens re personal safety for gardeners in the gardens next to Ohlone Path and has a long history teaching self-defense strategies to women. For those who may wish to further pursue self-defense, there will be a recommendation of Wendy's favorite local martial arts school. Wendy co-founded People's Park and spoke on Founder's Night, April 24th at Ashkenaz, celebrating the 40th Anniversary.

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2. Volunteers Needed: Photocopying, Distribution of Flyer Packets, Delivering Flyers

Many thanks to those who recently joined the flyer distribution team, as well as to the ongoing members who make possible the creation, duplication, and distribution of HNA flyers five or six times a year. Special thanks to Nancy Carleton, Dawn Trygstad Rubin, and Jay Migliaccio, who have taken on coordinating roles in this effort. The flyers are an important way of reaching out to new neighbors and to those who aren't receiving the HNA E-News (not everyone has email, even these days). The flyers also allow us to pass on special information (such as the lighting project offer, the excess-flow shutoff valve offer for disaster prep, and the 55-gallon water barrel order for disaster prep, and reminders of our neighborhood disaster preparedness plan in the event of a big earthquake) as well  as highlight upcoming events where we hope for a large turnout.

In order to encourage as broad participation as possible, HNA does not have a formal membership/dues structure, but we do have ongoing small expenses. One of the largest of these expenses is the duplication of flyers. For several years, Chochmat HaLev generously donated the use of their photocopy machine (we supplied paper and a volunteer to do the copying). They are no longer in the position to continue this service. We are hoping there's a neighbor out there with an employer who would be willing five or six times a year to allow approximately 900 double-sided copies to be produced on their machine (again, HNA would supply the paper). Is there anyone out there who could volunteer to take on the photocopying five or six times a year (the next time would be mid-July)? Please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you could help in this way, which would represent a small contribution on the part of an employer but a large savings to HNA's modest budget.

Two other simple volunteer opportunities are ongoing coverage needs for a few more blocks of flyer distribution (most on the west side of the neighborhood). Please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd be willing to join the list of regular flyer distributors (the task takes half an hour five or six times a year, and substitutes are available if the timing ever doesn't work out for you). We are also looking for someone to take on dropping off the flyer distribution packets to the approximately two dozen flyer distributors -- a task which takes about an hour on foot, or less by bike. Again, email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you could do this.

Our neighborhood association -- and our neighborhood -- thrives because a small but growing group of neighbors have stepped forward to volunteer with simple ongoing tasks. Please consider lending a hand! THANK YOU!!!

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3. Crime Watch Report: Burglary on Wheeler During Landscaping/Construction Project

A Wheeler Street neighbor reported the following:

"We had a burglary Weds. night [5/6] (between 9 p.m. Weds. and 9 a.m. on Thursday). They did not break into our house, but instead into our detached garage. We are having some landscaping done near the garage, and there was a temporary gap in the bottom of the garage -- we believe that the burglars were able to crawl through this small gap, and then unlock the garage door from the inside.  They took 3 bikes and some power tools. We are taking note that during construction, you have to keep a constant eye out for places that could provide temporary access points for burglars.  Also, our motion sensor light was disconnect at this point, but we are fixing that."

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4. City of Berkeley Launches SmartSolar Program

[Editor's Note: The following item is from the Bates Update from the Mayor's office.]

Berkeley Gets Smart: Launches SmartSolar Program

 Berkeley residents and businesses can now get free solar energy consulting services from the City of Berkeley and Community Energy Services Corporation. 

The new program, SmartSolar, will help consumers understand and adopt energy efficiency and solar technologies by providing information on available technology, project planning, cost, and financing; an online solar mapping tool to estimate their building's solar potential; and free project-specific advice on how to best utilize that potential.

City residents and businesses interested in learning more about SmartSolar resources and services should contact Community Energy Services Corporation (510-981-7750 or smartsolar@ebenergy.org).

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5. Possible Laundry Mat to Go in at Telegraph/Dowling?

Editor's Note: HNA was notified that a laundry mat has been proposed by property management to go in a vacant spot at the Telegraph/Dowling building (the building with Mokka cafe on the corner).  Some residents of the building and some neighboring residents on Dowling have expressed safety and health concerns about a laundry mat at the site, including concerns about fire and about chemicals vented near where people are living. Other neighbors eagerly welcome the return of a laundry mat where one burned down to once again serve neighbors who don't have private laundry facilities. Because there is clearly a range of views among neighbors, and given that HNA's Guiding Principles (see placeholder toward the end of each E-News) preclude us from taking positions on land-use issues unless there is near-unanimity among neighbors, HNA will not be taking a position on this issue. As E-News editor, I will pass on notifications about Zoning Adjustment Board meetings relating to the use permit application (presuming we receive such notification), or any other community meetings relating to it. If you have strong opinions about the matter, pro or con, you may wish to contact ZAB (see City of Berkeley: Useful Contact Information placeholder at the end of each E-News) to ask to be put on their notification list regarding this use permit.

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6. Neighbor Offering Tai Chi Chih Classes in Her Prince Street Garden

Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz announces the following:

"I'm offering two 5-week beginning classes teaching the 19 movements and 1 stance of Tai Chi Chih. The schedule will be throughout the month of June, Monday mornings at 11 a.m., and Monday evenings at 6 p.m. The cost will be $75.00 for the five classes; they will be in my garden and will depend upon minimum enrollment of 4 people. For more information, contact Judith Schwartz, 510-843-2062; www.JudithSchwartz.com "

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* For Your Calendar: HNA Dates Scheduled for 2009

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

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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