Neighbors, join Halcyon Neighborhood Association’s Facebook group!

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 12/5/13

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Items appearing in the HNA E-News 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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Contents

1. HNA Planning Meeting for 2014: Sunday, 12/8/13, 5-6:30 p.m.

2. HNA Annual Fundraising Appeal

3. Fulton Neighbor’s Collection of Traditional Art of Java on Display, with Lecture 12/7 at 2 p.m.

4. Crime-Watch Updates & Links

5. Update on the Request for a Four-Way Stop Sign at Prince & Deakin

6. “The Saga of a Neighborhood Nanopark at Prince & Deakin” by Bruce Wicinas

7. Holiday Safety Tips from the BPD

8. News on BNA’s Appeal of Permit for Large Café at Telegraph/Ashby

9. Hosts Still Needed for Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, Sunday, January 26, 2014

Editor’s Introductory Note:

Last month, HNA Co-Chair John Steere led an informative and fun walking tour to share the history of Halcyon Neighborhood in an event sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and attended by around forty participants. It was a great way to get acquainted with some fascinating facets of our neighborhood! Thank you to John and the neighbors who shared history along the way -- Joanna Williams and Mike Vaughn of Webster Street, and the McCalebs and Fischers of Fulton Street, and Nancy Carleton of Halcyon Court -- as well as to neighbor and musician Laurie Miller, who launched the tour with a rousing song pertinent to the history of light rail in the neighborhood.

It seems to be the season of history gathering, and in light of the current efforts to get a four-way stop sign at Prince and Deakin (see item 5), Bruce Wicinas’s history of the nanopark at that corner is well worth a read to remind us of just how much effort has gone into greening our neighborhood (see item 6).

There are so many ways we can support one another in creating a safer, greener, and more convivial neighborhood. If you’re inspired to help hold the container for our neighborhood initiatives, see item 1 about our Steering Committee’s Planning Meeting for 2014 coming up on Sunday. And if you like what we’re doing and want us to continue, please respond to our annual fundraising appeal (see item 2). We depend on you to help us keep on keeping on.

—Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-News Editor, halcyon92@gmail.com

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1. HNA Planning Meeting for 2014: Sunday, 12/8/13, 5-6:30 p.m.

Editor’s note: Each year, the HNA Steering Committee meets in December to map out dates for neighborhood activities for the following year, including work parties to maintain Halcyon Commons, disaster preparedness drills, crime-watch meetings, and social events, such as our popular neighborhood potlucks, celebrations in the park, Halloween parade, and more. So much is possible, but we depend on new neighbors getting involved to help keep us keep moving forward. The HNA Steering Committee uses a Yahoo listserv group for most of its planning to spare us from too many meetings in our already commitment-full lives (we’ll likely have just two in all of 2014). We would very much welcome your participation!

Please email halcyon92@gmail.com if you want more information. All neighbors willing to work in the spirit of HNA’s Guiding Principles (see our website at http://halcyonneighborhood.org/) are welcome to join the Steering Committee. We’re very much open to new projects (for example, a couple of neighbors came forward to organize play dates for neighborhood children; another organized a neighborhood singalong some years back, etc.). So if you have an aspect of the neighborhood you’d like to see addressed, please step up! And if you have a special interest in crime watch or disaster preparedness, we especially need your help. For a modest investment of time, you can make a big difference right here where you live!

HNA Planning Meeting for 2014

Sunday, December 8, 5-6:30 p.m.

Meeting will take place at a home on Wheeler Street. Email halcyon92@gmail.com for details.

This meeting is open to Steering Committee members plus interested members of our Crime Watch and Disaster Preparedness groups, and others who are willing to work together in the spirit of HNA’s Guiding Principles.

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2. HNA Annual Fundraising Appeal

HNA doesn’t have a formal membership structure or require annual dues because we wanted to keep participation as broad as possible. At the same time, we incur various expenses during the course of a year: for flyer production; for supplies for events in the park, such as disaster preparedness drills and work parties; for in-fill and replacement plants for Halcyon Commons and nearby landscaped features; and for other miscellaneous costs. By year’s end our coffers are depleted. In addition, each year we raise funds to enable us to supplement and enhance the supplies in our neighborhood disaster preparedness supply shed (these items are intended to benefit the entire neighborhood in the event of disaster and include first aid, search & rescue, and communications tools plus items for command center setup in Halcyon Commons park; they are not intended to substitute for individual household preparedness, but they will help us save lives and minimize disruption after a large earthquake).

There are three ways you can respond to this appeal:

(1) Make a financial contribution directly to HNA (not tax-deductible, but allows us maximum flexibility), by writing a check to “HNA” and mail or drop it off to HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter, 3044 Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705;

(2) Make a tax-deductible financial contribution with check made out to “Berkeley Partners for Parks” (BPFP, our nonprofit fiscal sponsor), earmarked Halcyon Commons, and mail or drop off to HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter, 3044 Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705; or

(3) Make a direct donation of any of the items listed in our Disaster Supply Cache Wish List found on our HNA website. Contact halcyon92@gmail.com to arrange to drop them off.

No contribution is too small (or too large!). Our neighborhood association’s health and vitality depend on your ongoing support! And in the event of a big earthquake, some of our lives may very well depend upon it. Please pitch in!

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3. Fulton Neighbor’s Collection of Traditional Art of Java on Display, with Lecture 12/7 at 2 p.m.

Editor’s note: Joe Fischer of Fulton Street has a display up at the Central Branch of the Public Library this month!

Traditional Art of Java: Batiks, Puppets & More

Art Display: Until December 26, 2nd Floor Reference Department, Central Branch of the Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck

An exhibition of Professor Joseph Fischer’s collection of traditional art of Java in the display cases on the 2nd floor

Lecture: Saturday, December 7 at 2 p.m.

3rd Floor Community Meeting Room, Central Branch of the Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck

Professor Joseph Fischer will explain the religious practices and sacred rituals and myths behind this art.

Professor Fischer is a former lecturer at UC. Berkeley, Rangoon University (Burma) and Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), and is the author of five books on Indonesian art, including Story Clothes of Bali, The Folk Art of Bali, and The Folk Art of Java.

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4. Crime-Watch Updates & Links

Editor’s note: Our HNA Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499 often shares breaking crime reports in between E-News editions (your home and email addresses are required to participate so we can be sure the group is kept safe for neighbors, and we require this information prior to accepting your request). Remember, we rely on neighbors to fill in the details of crimes in our neighborhood, so, in addition to filing a Police report (which can now be done online through the City of Berkeley website for some kinds of crimes: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/onlinereport/), please email halcyon92@gmail.com to pass the word on to your neighbors, or share it on our Facebook page, so we can all stay aware and vigilant!

HNA Steering Committee member Mikel Delgado submitted the following summary of recent crimes in or near the neighborhood. Thank you, Mikel!

10/24 vehicle stolen, Deakin at Prince

10/27 vehicle break-in, Telegraph at Woolsey

10/28 burglary, Shattuck at Fairview

10/29 car stolen, Ashby at Fulton

10/30 burglary, Whitney and Woolsey

10/31 larceny theft, Telegraph at Woolsey

11/2 car stolen, Prince at Halcyon

11/2 robbery, Shattuck at Woolsey

11/2 weapons, Telegraph and Howe

11/3 car stolen, Telegraph at Webster

11/14 robbery, Tremont at Woolsey

11/16 burglary, Woolsey and Whitney

11/19 vehicle break-in, Dana and Webster

11/20 vehicle break-in, Woolsey and Deakin

11/21 vehicle break-in, Ashby and Deakin

11/22 larceny theft, Woolsey and Deakin

11/23 robbery, Prince and Shattuck (8:30 a.m.)

11/23 theft, Ashby and Telegraph

11/22 robbery, Shattuck and Woolsey (6 p.m.)

11/25 vehicle break-in, Dana and Webster x 2

12/3 robbery with firearm, Dana and 66th (4 p.m.)

12/4 robbery with firearm, Telegraph and 66th (10:15 p.m.)

A Wheeler Street neighbor reported to our HNA Facebook group:

“I encourage residents to take advantage of Berkeley's graffiti abatement program. On Saturday I submitted an online request for removal of apparent gang tagging on wheelchair aprons at Wheeler and Essex and Wheeler and Prince. The tagging was removed this morning. I think this is a valuable service that helps keep the neighborhoods safer.”

Editor’s note: Here’s the link for making a graffiti removal request: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/CrmRequestIntake.aspx?requestTypeHandle_IN=REQUEST-TYPE-GRAFFITI

A Prince Street neighbor reported:

“Hello, Neighbors. Just a heads up that my truck was stolen out of my driveway last night, some time after 10 p.m. last night [November 3].”

Crime-related links:

Berkeley man shot at Ashby Flea Market:
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2013/12/02/berkeley-man-shot-sunday-night-at-ashby-flea-market/?utm_source=Daily+Briefing+subscribers&utm_campaign=525181c197-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_aad4b5ee64-525181c197-333184121

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2013/10/18/north-berkeley-sees-rash-of-catalytic-converter-thefts/

Berkeleyside also has regular crime summaries for Berkeley. Here’s a sample:

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2013/12/02/berkeleyside-police-blotter-crime-in-berkeley-nov-21-27/

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5. Update on the Request for a Four-Way Stop Sign at Prince & Deakin

Editor’s note: HNA has long advocated for a four-way stop sign at Prince & Deakin. In the mid-2000s when we repeated this request, the Traffic Engineering representative told us that the history of reported accidents wasn’t high enough to justify a four-way stop, but he did agree to have signs installed notifying drivers on Deakin that the drivers on Prince don’t have to stop. Neighbors’ experience, however, is that these signs are overlooked by drivers and haven’t mitigated the repeated near-misses at that intersection, nor have they prevented occurrences such as the recent very serious accident where a car hit a bicyclist, who flew through the air and could easily have ended up killed or paralyzed. Nevertheless, so far the “metrics” for the corner as examined by the Traffic Engineering Department don’t meet the usual requirements for installation of a four-way stop (i.e., not enough reported accidents and not a high enough volume of traffic). HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton and two neighbors met recently with Councilmember Kriss Worthington and Traffic Engineer Hamid Mostowfi for a site visit to follow up on the request by many neighbors on Deakin and Prince Streets for a four-way stop. Councilmember Worthington mentioned that according to the usual metrics, it’s unlikely that any intersection on interior neighborhood streets (as opposed to busy thoroughfares) would qualify for four-way stops, and yet some such intersections do have them, so it’s clear that other factors are sometimes taken into account. Given the unique configurations of the Prince/Deakin intersection, including the presence of the landscaped nanopark at that corner (see item 6 for its history), and given the dozens of neighbors who have sent in their testimony about the dangers posed by the lack of four-way stop signs, HNA has requested that the City review our request and install the two additional stop signs to prevent future accidents. While the Traffic Engineer didn’t make any promises about the outcome, he did graciously agree to discuss the matter further with his supervisor and get back to us.

If you haven’t yet submitted your account of any experiences you’ve had at that corner (all the time we hear verbally about near-misses, but many people choose not to file Police reports after accidents), it’s not too late! Councilmember Kriss Worthington is still open to receiving your account, short or long, and will pass any received on to the City Manager’s office and Traffic Engineering. His email is KWorthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us. Given that “metrics” alone likely won’t pass muster to allow us to achieve a four-way stop, your personal accounts can help tip the balance. So if you want the added stop signs installed, please take a few minutes and write in soon!

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6. “The Saga of a Neighborhood Nanopark at Prince & Deakin” by Bruce Wicinas

Editor’s note: In light of the reemergence of neighborhood efforts to secure a four-way stop at Prince and Deakin (something the neighborhood has supported for two decades now, even when the traffic bollard was located at Halcyon and Prince rather than Deakin at Prince), it seems important to share with everyone (perhaps for the first time for some), the story of all the work that went in to the creation of the nanopark at that corner, part of our larger efforts to green the neighborhood. Here’s the abbreviated history (yes, this is the short version!), courtesy of Prince Street neighbor Bruce Wicinas, who over the years has shouldered the lion’s share of the effort on the nanopark’s behalf. Thank you, Bruce!

The Saga of a Neighborhood Nanopark at Prince & Deakin

by Bruce Wicinas

The founders of Halcyon Commons -- the same neighbors who founded HNA -- did not limit their vision to a 42' x 280' rectangle in the middle of Halcyon Court. The full concept was a “greened neighborhood.” Toward this goal, the park construction in Fall ’95 and the first half of ’96 included the tree island at Halcyon and Webster and the triangular “micropark” at Webster and Whole Foods as well as the planting of dozens of street trees.

An additional “nanopark” was to be located at Halcyon and Prince, the primeval location of the Prince Street traffic bollard. The passion and funding were not sufficient to realize it in 1996. Modest funding had been banked for it since the dedication of Halcyon Commons -- $2500 from Alta Bates and $2000 from the Whole Foods "Brown Bag" fund -- raised by HNA Co-Chairs Steere and Carleton. Following a (long) hiatus and a succession of reminders by The Halcyon Founders, the Prince Street Friends of Halcyon Commons (Bruce Wicinas of 2311) steeled himself for the trials of nanopark birth.

Wicinas set down the necessary drawings and prose and ran a petition around, which everyone on the block signed, affirming that Prince Street Friends of Halcyon Commons wanted the nanopark and would “help” tend it. The application was submitted in June ’97. In November ’97, Mr. Wicinas was informed that the project had won funding of $1320 in response to HNA’s application to the City’s minigrant program. The total funding – now $5820 -- was still far short of the amount necessary to have the work done by a regular private contractor. In January ’99, a contractor working for the City installed a new storm sewer system under Prince Street. Wicinas stuck a deal with him to do the pavement cutting and removal at the City-approved site for a low price. That month, in the south lane of Prince Street at Halcyon, a large triangular hole appeared. 

The hole was soon noticed by the crew of the City's Vactor catch-basin maintenance truck. The crew informed Public Works that a landscaped island in that location would prevent the Vactor from dropping its hose into the newly installed catch basin. The City halted the nanopark project. Public Works proposed that the island be shrunk by 75 percent, allowing a truly “nano”-sized “park” of barely 5' on a side. The very large hole in the pavement remained, demarcated by folding barricades, until the City later repaved the area. Wicinas retired from the project in disgust.

In May ’99 Wicinas came back with a proposal to relocate the traffic diverter from Prince at Halcyon to Prince at Deakin. To the minds of most of us this seemed a minor adjustment. The diverters of Berkeley, however, are never altered. A change to any diverter opens the door to public challenges to all, a situation the City dreads. But Prince Street residents had always felt that the Halcyon and Prince location was silly as well as a hazard. It created a car trap for east-bound motorists who either violated it -- often at exaggerated speed -- or damaged their vehicles by turning around in an adjacent driveway. The crash and screech of car undercarriages slamming into the inadequately ramped sidewalk was part of the audible landscape of living on that block. Every household on the block between Halcyon and Deakin signed a petition approving the change. Another pile of paper was submitted to the City.

The City traffic engineer, the ever-attentive and practical Charles E. (Chuck) DeLeuw Jr., took note and probably pity. He reviewed the project history. Deploying his automatic counters to the corner of Deakin and Prince, he gathered traffic tallies he summarized with matrices. His staff drafted to City standards Wicinas’s proposed barrier relocation. Using proper “commission-speak,” Mr. DeLeuw authored a report to the Transportation Commission that reviewed the history and the traffic issues. On the night in October ’99 before the Transportation Commission, Mr. DeLeuw gave the “please-approve” recommendation. Wicinas joined him to pitch the project on behalf of the neighborhood. DeLeuw subsequently gave the thumbs-up when the request went before City Council and to whatever higher authority may have had to bless it.

The “impossible” came to pass: A Berkeley traffic diverted was relocated.

In spring of 2000 Mr. Wicinas had to update the project application and reappear before the Parks Commission to get the re-blessing of the project. By this point the accumulated paper on this project was one-inch thick. The project was nearly three years old. The Parks Commission pored over every detail, including Wicinas's vague mention of a “sculpture.” The commission finally declared the project “wonderful.” This was the final administrative hurdle. The next task was to get the work done for the money we had available. Depleted by the 1999 pavement cutting, the cash was about half of what a private contractor would ask for the job.

The chance for on-the-cheap job execution came along in spring of 2002. A contractor doing curbs and sidewalks in the neighborhood agreed to do the work for a good price.

The concrete was completed with good workmanship to City specifications. The contractor even furnished soil (which proved to be full of weed seeds). The nanopark was planted on October 20, 2002, with the aid of neighborhood residents, mostly not from Prince Street. Wicinas cordoned off the South lane from the corner of Deakin, got the planting done, set up folding tables, and deployed a “half-block” party to observe the occasion. A few more Prince Street residents showed up to help with the eating. 

All this preceded the sprouting of “traffic-calming” circles all over Berkeley. A sketch dated October 2000 shows the dimension of mid-crossroad traffic calming in Portland, Oregon. The history of the Berkeley traffic-calming circles can be found elsewhere. Those circles now prolific in Berkeley are designed, executed, and financed by the City (except the precursor at Regent and Woolsey, another minigrant recipient). A prize obtained only by resolve-depleting persistence before 2000 was later dispensed freely about the City.

Though a “plant palette” requiring little water was originally selected with the help of consulting landscape architect Michael Lamb, the park requires some water during the dry months. For a couple of years Wicinas neglected this, and the vegetation died back in each dry season. Neighbor Scott Parker gave Wicinas the idea of deploying drip irrigation, which could be periodically connected via a hose. Neighbor (and onetime heroine of the French Resistance) Ginette Hendry was happy to provide hose access and water. Wicinas placed a tube under her sidewalk around 2004, allowing the hose to remain permanently in place. After Ginette’s death in 2005 her son continued to provide hose access until he sold the property a few years later. Weeds happy with the new supply of water were kept under control by Wicinas, neighbor Mary Stoker, and the occasional work party with a large enough crew to divert from Halcyon Commons.

In the summer of 2011 the nanopark suffered near destruction. PG&E worked on underground gas pipes on our Prince Street block throughout most of 2011. With the aid of a wondrous machine they drove their new pipe under the nanopark without digging it up. Believing the threat to the nanopark had passed, Wicinas was shocked to come home from work and find a four-foot deep crater in place of the western half of the nanopark. The oak still stood, but many major roots had been cut. The City had not thought to notify neighbors so that plants in the path could be saved. After PG&E dug the hole, an anonymous neighbor half-filled the hole with lifeless clay debris. PG&E eventually made good on repairs and provided new topsoil and plants after a couple cycles of complaints to the City, city manager, and City Council. The park had to be replanted by a crew of neighborhood volunteers. The oak has not yet fully recovered, but we are hopeful that it will.

The City reality is that pipes, pavement, cars, and garbage tend to win over plants. The nanopark needs our sustained commitment to thrive and be green.

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7. Holiday Safety Tips from the BPD

Editor’s note: The following tips come from the Berkeley Police Department.

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season is always a special time of year. Unfortunately, many communities experience some increases in crimes during the holiday season. The Berkeley Police Department would like to offer a few holiday safety tips to ensure you have a safe and happy holiday season.

Driving

- Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device.

- Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car.

- Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area.

- Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your car.

- Park as close as you can to your destination.

- Park in well-lit areas.

Shopping

- Try to shop during daylight hours when possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

- Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

- Stay alert to your surroundings.

- Avoid overloading yourself with packages.

- Walk with a sense of purpose -- show you are calm, confident and know where you are going.

- Don’t store packages in your vehicle while you continue to shop, thieves watch for this kind of activity.

At Home

- Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave, even if it is for a few minutes.

- Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows/doors of your home.

- If you leave for an extended period of time, have a friend or family member watch your house and pick up newspaper and mail.

- Consider having packages delivered to a trusted neighbor if you are not home to receive them. Packages left on doorsteps can be easily stolen.

- Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.

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8. News on BNA’s Appeal of Permit for Large Café at Telegraph/Ashby

Editor’s note: As reported previously, Bateman Neighborhood Association (east of Telegraph) filed an appeal of the use permit to allow a large café (reportedly a Starbucks) at the corner of Telegraph and Ashby. Because of the high threshold of unanimity required for HNA to take stands on land-use issues, and given that there’s a range of views among neighbors, HNA does not have a position on the use permit, but, as always, we encourage neighbors to make their individual opinions known to decision makers. Below is an update.

The City Council agreed to hold a public hearing on BNA’s appeal of the use permit for the Starbucks. According to reports, there was a huge turnout in favor of denying the use permit, so this was an interim victory for the BNA appeal. The public hearing will likely be held in early 2014.

From Michael and Susan Iida of Mokka Café: “Tonight the City Council granted the Bateman Neighborhood Association's appeal for a public hearing on the Starbucks permit! 9 to 0! It was unexpectedly unanimous!!!!! Our thanks to all of you for your fantastic support!!! Those that came to the hearings and held a sign, spoke eloquently before the ZAB and City Council, signed petitions, sent letters to the Zoning Board and City Council, and spread the word about our long fight. Next up, the final hearing before the City Council, probably early next year. This is the final step in the process. Thank you again for your kind words and great support throughout this lengthy ordeal!!!”

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9. Hosts Still Needed for Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, Sunday, January 26, 2014

Editor’s note: HNA Potluck organizer and Steering Committee member Tory Finn sent the following announcement. (And please be sure to mark your calendars for this fun annual event, which takes place on Sunday, January 26, 2014!)

Dear neighbors:

Our January Post-Holiday “Progressive Potluck” is one of my favorite neighborhood events; there’s always a great turnout, and it’s a great way to meet our neighbors and enjoy the community we so value in the Halcyon neighborhood.

If you haven’t hosted before or if you’ve enjoyed hosting in the past, please consider being a host for one course in January. We need a total of THREE or possibly FOUR hosts for Appetizers, Salad, and Main Course; dessert is traditionally at John and Michelle’s house unless someone else would really like to do it. 

Hosts usually provide paper plates, cups, napkins, etc. They are not expected to provide food for the whole course; it’s a potluck, with last names determining which dish neighbors bring. For hosts, course assignments are made based on the routing that makes most sense; we usually start further west and move eastward to end up at Webster/Halcyon. (Please note that our city councilmembers and members of our Police Department are always on our invitation list and may show up at your home if you’re one of the hosts.)

Please contact me if you are interested in hosting one of the courses on January 26 — even if you’re not sure whether you can or if you want more info. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2014!

Tory Finn at halcyon92@gmail.com

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