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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 6/1/11

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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 EditorÕs introductory comments express her personal viewpoint.

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Contents

1. Multi-Block Yard Sale on Saturday 6/11, 9-3!

2. June 5 Garden Party Potluck Party Canceled; July 22 ŅMocktailÓ Party Planned

3. Hiatus in Free Monthly Tai Chi Chih in the Park

4. Fitness News & Classes from BORP

5. Neighborhood Fireblight and Our Recovering Neighborhood Pear Trees

6. District 7 Wins 2011 Internship Site of the Year

7. Drop-In Progress Meetings at Whole Foods Market, Weds. 6/22 & 7/6, 8:30–9 a.m.

 

 

EditorÕs Introductory Note:

 

Thanks to those who helped out at the 5/14 work party in the park, as well as to the City staff who arranged for mulch and to Whole Foods Market and Mokka Cafˇ for generous donations! If you missed out on the excellent treats, our next work party will be 7/9, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., so mark your calendars now! The Family Disaster Preparedness meeting hosted by Susan Snyder and Rose Lynn Abesamis-Bell on 5/26 was lightly attended but produced some great notes for future actions from the dynamic crew present. IÕm hoping theyÕll share the highlights from these notes with the E-News list in our July edition.

 

This coming Sunday 6/5 was going to be a big neighborhood day, with our Disaster Preparedness Drill set for 3-5 p.m. and Garden Potluck Party following at 5:30 p.m. For different reasons, both have had to be canceled.

 

In the case of the drill, despite considerable efforts drill organizer Bruce Wicinas was unable to locate volunteer speakers for two of the modules planned (House Hazards & Disaster First Aid). I was scheduled to help him with the main presentation and we were ready to make do, but I had a fall on Sunday (spent the day in the ER) and, though I thankfully escaped with no broken bones, my tailbone and wrist were sprained/bruised. ItÕs going to take a little while to heal fully, so it wasnÕt realistic for me to participate in the presentation either. It seemed unreasonable to go forward with the drill if Bruce was going to end up being the sole presenter (with perhaps some assists from his daughter). Our hope is to organize another, perhaps simpler, drill later on this year, and/or find some other way to take a significant step forward this year in our readiness. I highly encourage all neighbors who have an interest in disaster preparedness to get involved on our Yahoo group listserv (email halcyon92@gmail.com to get added to the list). WeÕre only going to be able to move forward if more folks get involved! Thanks go out to those who had offered to volunteer at the event itself.

 

In the case of SundayÕs Garden Party Potluck, our host had no choice but to travel out of town this weekend on work-related business, but as youÕll see in item 2 below, he and his wife will be hosting a modified event in July, which may well become a regular offering. And a multi-family, multi-block Yard Sale is going ahead on Saturday 6/11  (see item 1), so be sure to reply soon if youÕd like to participate!

 

Our apologies for the change in schedule this weekend. At least we no longer have to worry about the predicted 60% chance of rain! And with any luck the season will get the rain out of its system in time for the scheduled yard sale the following weekend!

 

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

 

 

 

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1. Multi-Block Yard Sale on Saturday 6/11, 9-3!

 

EditorÕs note: HNA Treasurer and past organizer of successful Multi-Block Yard Sales Susan Hunter submitted the following announcement. Multi-block, multi-family sales tend to draw a much larger crowd of potential customers, so if youÕre interested please be sure to reply soon so thereÕs time to plan.

 

Neighborhood Yard Sale: Saturday, June 11, 9-2 or 3. Please sign up now to join us (in your own block or home) at our annual multi-family, multi-block yard sale. I will be posting ads, and getting signage up with your help, to make it as successful as possible. In the past we've had good turnout, so if youÕre interested, please email halcyon92@gmail.com and sign up as soon as possible (your message will be forwarded to me). Cost is $5 to cover ads and make flyers. Participants are encouraged to help make and hang poster-sized signs. Thanks for your interest and hope you will join us.

 

Susan Hunter

HNA Treasurer and Halcyon neighbor

 

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2. June 5 Garden Party Potluck Party Canceled; July 22 ŅMocktailÓ Party Planned

 

EditorÕs note: As I indicated in my introductory notes, our hosts had to cancel this weekendÕs planned Garden Party Potluck since one of them was unavoidably called out of town on work. As an alternative form of community building to complement our quarterly potlucks, John and Michelle Thelen-Steere intend to start holding regular ŅMocktailÓ parties every couple of months at their gracious home on Webster (near Whole Foods Market). The first will take place Friday, June 22, with an anticipated time from of 6-7:30 p.m. ŅMocktails,Ó for those unfamiliar with the term, are nonalcoholic mixed beverages. See the July E-News for more details on what to bring!

 

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3. Hiatus in Free Monthly Tai Chi Chih in the Park

 

EditorÕs note: Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz needs to take a break from offering free monthly Tai Chi Chih practice in Halcyon Commons due to travel and personal plans. Our last sponsored community practice was for the World Tai Chi/Qigong Day event on April 30, which was attended by 16 people who enjoyed treats from Whole Foods Market and green tea from Mokka Cafˇ. Thank you, Judith, for bringing the positive energy of Tai Chi Chih to the park and the community. We look forward to the possibility of practices resuming when youÕre willing and able to lead us. (Keep an eye on the E-News for announcements of future practice in the park, and if you want to learn or refresh your Tai Chi Chih skills in the meantime, feel free to contact Judith at 510-843-2062 to find out about ongoing classes she offers in her Prince Street gardens).

 

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4. Fitness News & Classes from BORP

 

EditorÕs note: The following announcement was submitted by BORP, our new neighborhood fitness center for people of all abilities located in the new Ed Roberts Campus.

 

Good Morning Fitness Folks,

More addditions are on their way to Every Body's Fitness Center! Yoga for Seniors, Beg/Int/Adv Vinyasa, Restorative Flow Yoga, Vinyasa/Power Yoga, and a Community Yoga Class.

 

The Yoga for Seniors class is taught by Nancy Yates who is currently our Chair Yoga and Basic Yoga Postures Instructor. Yoga for Seniors is on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-10 a.m. It starts this Thursday May 26th. Nancy is also offering another Chair Yoga Class on Mondays and Thursdays as well from 10-11a.m.

 

Starting in June we will offer a Beginning Vinyasa Class as well as an Intermediate/Advanced Vinyasa Class. Beginning Vinyasa will be on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:45 p.m., and the Int/Adv Vinyasa Class will be offered on Mondays from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Jennifer Martin will be teaching both classes for the month of June and then Jill Schinberg will take over Beginning Vinyasa in July.

 

Our Vinyasa/Power Yoga Class starts on Friday June 17th from 6:15-7:30 p.m. This class will be taught by Sara Liberatore Lopez.

 

Our Restorative Flow will start in July. This class will be offered on Mondays from 12:00-1:15 p.m. Please join yoga teacher and therapist Traci Joy (TJ) Burleigh for this sweet, satisfying lunchtime class. A slow, balanced and powerful class combining yoga movements, breathing and stress reduction focused on unlocking chronic tension and restoring health and vitality. Props are used. Open to all levels, modifications given.  TJ Burleigh is certified at the highest level with Yoga Alliance and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She teaches locally and nationally, specializing in using yoga to heal body, mind and heart.

 

The graduates of the Accessible Yoga Teacher Training Class will be offering a Community Yoga Class. SF integral Yoga Institute and the BORP Fitness Center have partnered to offer this teacher training in order to give people with disabilities an opportunity to become Certified Yoga Instructors. They offer this donation based class as an opportunity to practice their newly found skills and to bring yoga to the people. This class will be offered on Tuesdays mornings from 9-10:15 a.m., and Thursday evenings from 7-8:15 p.m. It is expected to start on Thursday June 2nd.

 

Unfortunately the Core Conditoning/Balance Class has been cancelled until further notice. Katie Mayers is not able to continue teaching that class. She will continue to teach the Upper Body Strengthening Class. I am currently in search of another Core Conditioning Instructor to take over that spot. Stay tuned for more info.

 

Of course for the most up-to-date info please always check the BORP site at:

http://www.borp.org/programs/fitness-program/fitness-center-calendar

 

Or our online scheduler at:

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=13882

 

or feel free to email or call Reba anytime.

 

Thanks to everyone,

Reba

 

Reba Knickerbocker

Fitness Coordinator

Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP)

3075 Adeline St. Suite 155

Berkeley, CA 94703

510-849-4663 x1319

510-849-4616 fax

email: reba@borp.org

www.borp.org

 

 

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5. Neighborhood Fireblight and Our Recovering Neighborhood Pear Trees

 

EditorÕs note: Webster Street neighbor Jeanne Panek had a fruitful exchange with the City Forestry Division regarding our recovering neighborhood flowering pear trees, which many of you will remember were severely pruned last year to help eradicate infestation with Fireblight. Most of the trees have been leafing out nicely. Below are some steps neighbors could take to help the trees recover and stay healthy, which Jeanne has summarized from her correspondence with the City. If you have questions or want the tree in front of your home or apartment inspected, the City Forestry Division can be reached at 981-6660. Thank you for checking on this, Jeanne, and thank you to neighbors who give your flowering pear trees a bit of extra TLC during the dry months (which are bound to come along one of these days!).

 

To protect our ornamental pear trees from Fireblight, the City arborists had to severely cut back diseased branches last fall. That treatment, as well as the Fireblight, left them stressed and in need of special care.  To the degree that neighbors are willing and able, the trees should be moderately fertilized and watered, to help them recover.

 

The city arborist recommends: ŅFertilizer and supplemental water can both benefit trees. However, too much of either can cause additional problems. Excessive fertilizer, especially nitrogen, will promote rapid twig growth which tends to be weak and more susceptible to insect infestation. Bay-friendly principles advocate the use of compost, naturally derived fertilizers or slow-release synthetic fertilizers as a last resort. Water should be applied slowly over the area where roots exist; not applied at the base of the treeÕs trunk (root crown).  Biweekly deep watering should be beneficial during the warmer summer months.Ó

 

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6. District 7 Wins 2011 Internship Site of the Year

 

EditorÕs note: Councilmember Kriss WorthingtonÕs office passed on the following news (those who wish to subscribe to the list to receive updates can contact the councilmemberÕs office (see contact info below). There is interesting news that comes out in between E-News editions, so IÕm not always able to include it.

 

District 7 wins 2011 Internship Site of the Year
Cal in Local Government
Internship Program

Many thanks to Alejandro Soto-Vigil and our wonderful interns! June, July, and August 2011. Summer and Fall internships are available NOW!

Kriss Worthington

CouncilmemberCity of Berkeley, District 7

2180 Milvia Street, 5th FloorBerkeley, CA 94704

(510) 981-7170 kworthington@cityofberkeley.info

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/council7/

 

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7. Drop-In Progress Meetings at Whole Foods Market, Weds. 6/22 & 7/6, 8:30–9 a.m.

 

EditorÕs note: Marketing Team Leader Jim Hallock at Whole Foods Market let us know that Whole Foods Market will be holding one drop-in progress meeting open to the community this month, on Wednesday 6/22 (and then again on 7/6; note that thereÕs no meeting 6/8).

 

Progress Meetings

These meetings are held at the Community Table at the front of the store, and the purpose is to share our plans for noise abatement, the store remodel project scheduled for later this year, street litter control, and progress on any of the ongoing issues we discuss [with HNA reps and nearby neighbors] quarterly. Mel and I will meet, and anyone is welcome to join us. Of course there will be complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks. Our goal is to follow up immediately on any issues that we hear about, and to hear how the store can be a better neighbor. The upcoming meetings are scheduled from 8:30 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday 6/22 and 7/6.

Noise

Note that Mel has asked that anyone who had noise complaints to please call the store immediately, at 649-1333, and ask for the Shift Manager, so we can identify and stop the noise. Shift Managers are available from around 7:30 a.m. to midnight. If the noise is before 7:30 a.m., please ask for the Receiving Dock. If you canÕt reach anyone, please make a note of the time and date, and call a Shift Manager after 7:30 a.m. You can also email me so we can follow up.

Jim Hallock
Marketing Team Leader

Whole Foods Market Berkeley

3000 Telegraph Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94705

510.649.1333 ext. 261

Jim.Hallock@wholefoods.com

 

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