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Halcyon
Neighborhood Association E-News 1/11/11
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Items appearing in the HNA
E-Update 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. Post-Holiday Progressive
Potluck, Sunday, January 23, 5:30-8:45 p.m.!
2. A Message from Retiring HNA
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin
3. Shattuck Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council (SNCPC) Meeting, Thursday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m.
4. More Flyer Distributors Needed for 2011
5. Free Monthly Tai Chi Practice in the Park, Sunday,
January 23, 11 a.m. (with optional training at 10:30 a.m.)
6. Crime Watch Updates: Burglary, Theft of Catalytic
Converter on Prince Street
7. Feedback Sought for 1/13 New Year’s Meeting with Reps of
Whole Foods Market Plus January Announcement from Whole Foods
8. A Note to People with Dogs: Please Be Diligent about
Picking Up after Them!
9. BORP Fitness Center Open House, Weds.,
Jan. 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
10. Community Announcements: Woman Seeks Rental; Neighbors
Seek Bicycle Tune-Up Person
11. UC Chancellor’s Community Partnership Grants:
Pre-Applications Due Feb. 9; Community Info Meeting, Weds.,
Jan. 12
12. Useful Emergency Preparedness Link: Video on Continuous
Chest Compression CPR (a Simpler Alternative to Standard CPR)
Editor’s Introductory Note:
Start the new year right by
attending HNA’s fabulous post-holiday progressive potluck (see item 1). This is
the same wonderful event that we’ve held in prior years, with the one added
request that you bring along a contribution to keep HNA funded for 2011. No
minimum required, but please bring some
kind of contribution unless you’re one of the six neighbors who already
answered our fundraising appeal in November/December. We very much appreciate
those six contributions, but it’s not enough to keep us doing our important
work; we need everyone to pitch in as your circumstances permit! If you aren’t
able to make it on January 23, you can send or drop off a check made out to HNA
(if you need your contribution to be tax-deductible, make it out to our
nonprofit sponsor BPFP, earmarked Halcyon)
to HNA Treasurer Susan Hunter, 3044
Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705.
Thank you and Happy 2011, all!
—Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-News Editor, halcyon92@gmail.com
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1. Post-Holiday
Progressive Potluck, Sunday, January 23, 5:30-8:45 p.m.!
One of the most popular Halcyon
events of the year! Join your neighbors as we progress from house to house for
a fabulous multi-course dinner; attend one course or all four.
Post-Holiday Progressive Potluck, Sunday, January 23, 2010,
5:30-8:45 p.m.
First Course: Appetizers,
5:30-6:20 p.m.
3020 Wheeler (at Emerson between
Prince & Ashby)
Second Course: Salads, 6:25-7:15
p.m.
3009 Wheeler (between Emerson and
Ashby)
Third & Fourth Courses: Main
Dishes and Desserts, 7:20-8:45 p.m.
2329 Webster Street (two doors
west of Whole Foods)
Potluck suggestions:
T-Z: Appetizer *
I-N: Salad * A-H: Main Dish
* O-S: Dessert
Please bring a festive dish for
10-12, and, if possible, a beverage to share as well (it really helps if enough
folks bring beverages too). Children welcome. If not obvious, kindly attach a
label with ingredients for your dish to alert those with vegetarian and other
diets. Bring the item assigned for your letter to the designated household, or
substitute another suggestion if you won't be attending the course for your
letter.
* In addition, PLEASE bring along
a check or cash contribution to HNA of whatever size (no amount is too small or
large; your contribution will help us upgrade our neighborhood disaster supply
cache plus continue to duplicate flyers in 2011)!
Volunteer(s) Sought to Help Set
Up at Final Hosts’ Household!
Request
for neighborly volunteers: John and Michelle Steere are happy to host dinner
and dessert courses at their home for the Halcyon Post-Holiday Progressive
Potluck, but both of us will have recently had operations on our arms that will
make it difficult for either of us to lift anything, so we’d like to ask a
couple neighbors to come by early (5 p.m.) to spend fifteen or twenty minutes
helping us set the house up for the event. Please call John at 849-1969 if you
can help in this way. Thanks!
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2. A Message from
Retiring HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin
Hello
Everyone,
Those of
you who came to the Fall Celebration in the Park know that I am retiring from
my volunteer position as Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for HNA. I am still
hoping others will step up to take over the work I did for both local crime
prevention/reporting and emergency preparedness. Anyone who is interested is
welcome to contact me (familyrubin@comcast.net,
510/843-3793). I will remain on the HNA Steering Committee and continue to help
as time allows. I will also remain active in the crime part of the work in two
ways:
1. I
will remain the sector representative for Halcyon Neighborhood for the Shattuck
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (SNCPC).
2. I am
going to work with the Berkeley Safe Neighborhood Committee and the Berkeley
Police Department and residents and merchants to help create and run a pilot
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) in Berkeley, very likely in Beat
10, which includes the western side of Halcyon Neighborhood.
Knowing
that we had trouble scheduling specific dates for neighborhood watch meetings
and emergency preparedness drills for Halcyon Neighborhood for 2011 due to lack
of volunteer support, I want to make sure everyone is invited to a joint
meeting of interested neighbors from Oakland and Berkeley [see item 3 below]. Please do make an effort to attend; the
information is very relevant to us, here and now, given recent gunfire related
to these shrines.
Dawn Trygstad
Rubin
Editor’s note: A warm round of thanks is due to Dawn for her outstanding
work over many years to strengthen HNA’s crime watch and our relationship with
the police, as well as to improve our level of disaster preparedness (including
hard work on an excellent emergency drill last year). Thank you so much, Dawn!
I know you’ll continue to participate in many ways, and I hope that a number of
neighbors will step up to the plate to take on some of the tasks you were
doing, as well as to support you in your work to set up a pilot NCPC in
Berkeley.
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3. Shattuck
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (SNCPC) Meeting, Thurs., Jan. 27, 7 p.m.
Editor’s note: See retiring Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin’s
note in item 2 for some context. Attending this meeting would be a great way to
get a sense of how SNCPC works.
WHAT: SNCPC Public Meeting
WHERE: North Oakland Senior Center
(58th & Martin Luther King Jr. Way) (park and enter through parking lot on
58th St. side)
WHEN: Thursday, January 27, 7:00 p.m.
(the public meetings usually last about an hour)
TOPIC: Street Memorials and
Shrines and Law Enforcement's policies regarding them.
- Historically, what effect have
they had on a neighborhood and the surrounding city?
- Are they legal on public
property?
- How long will they be allowed to
remain?
- How are they removed and by
whom?
- Advice to the public regarding
these shrines and the people who erect them.
Representatives of OPD, BPD, and
the Oakland Housing Authority PD will be at the meeting to discuss their
agencies’ formal policies and practices for dealing with these shrines and to answer
questions from those attending.
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4. More Flyer Distributors Needed for 2011
Editor’s note: The neighborhood volunteers who agree to drop off HNA
flyers four or five times during the course of the year make it possible for us
to highlight important events, share disaster preparedness information, and
reach out to new neighbors and those who don’t have email. Our flyer
distribution network allows us to reach over 860 households, but only takes
each volunteer 20 or 30 minutes to do a designated stretch. Some of our
distributors need to take a break after several years of service, so we have a
few gaps that need coverage. This is a great way to give back to the
neighborhood with a relatively small commitment of time. Please email halcyon92@gmail.com if you’d be willing
to take on a stretch for 2011 (or if you’d be willing to act as an alternate
when a regular distributor is out of town), and I’ll pass your contact
information on to our Flyer Distribution Coordinator, Jay Migliaccio. This is
also a good time to once again say thank-you to the entire team, including Jay
Migliaccio, Dawn Rubin, Mark Foy, and Nancy Carleton, as well as all the
distributors!
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5. Free Monthly Tai Chi Practice in the Park,
Sunday, January 23, 11 a.m. (with optional training at 10:30 a.m.)
Free monthly Tai Chi Chih Practice (fourth Sundays at 11
a.m.)
Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at
Prince)
Facilitated by Prince Street
neighbor Judith Schwartz, 510-843-2062;
http://www.judithschwartz.com/
Optional free instruction in Tai Chi Chih basics at 10:30
a.m. before the January 23 practice!
Contact Judith if you’re a
beginner who’d like to learn enough of the basics to practice along with the
group at 11 a.m. (Judith will only show up at 10:30 to offer this free
instruction if some folks contact her in advance to say they’ll be there, so be
sure to call if you’re interested; see contact information above.)
Editor’s note: Judith also offers ongoing classes to teach the Tai Chi
forms in her peaceful Prince Street gardens; you can contact her for more
information.
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6. Crime Watch Updates: Burglary, Theft of
Catalytic Converter on Prince Street
Editor’s note: A Prince Street neighbor reported the following incidents
affecting a new neighbor on his block (this neighbor is now joining the E-News
list — but let’s hope he won’t have anything else to report anytime soon!).
Everyone, please remember to email halcyon92@gmail.com
when you experience thefts or burglaries so we can keep the neighborhood
informed (and of course be sure to make a report to the Berkeley Police as
well).
“When my neighbor and all his
guests were at the park for about fifteen minutes, someone entered his house
and methodically went though all their backpacks, stealing money. My neighbor
had, during that time, not locked the front door in case someone needed to go
back. He figured an absence of such a short time did not warrant careful
locking. But apparently this thief was closely watching, and precisely chose
those fifteen minutes to enter. This happened about a month ago, I think. In a
different incident, someone recently cut out and stole the catalytic converter
from this same neighbor’s pickup truck. He had it parked in the driveway in
front of his house. The thief managed to do this without waking him. About two
weeks ago, I think he said.”
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7. Feedback Sought for 1/13 New Year’s
Meeting with Reps of Whole Foods Market Plus January Announcement from Whole
Foods
Editor’s note: As most of you know,
a few members of our Steering Committee have been meeting several times a year
with the Community Relations Liaison for Whole Foods Market to pass along
neighbors’ concerns and track progress on a variety of issues. Please let us
know if you have feedback — positive or negative — that you’d like
us bring up at our meeting Thursday morning, 1/13, by emailing halcyon92@gmail.com by Wednesday night
1/12 (please indicate whether it’s okay to pass on your name and contact
information or if you’d prefer to remain anonymous). In addition, I’d like to again
thank Whole Foods Market for supporting our HNA work parties and special events
in the park in past years with generous donations of food and beverages. We
very much appreciate it! This is also a good time to point out progress made as
a result of our past meetings to resolve issues of mutual concern. In
particular, we’re thrilled that at long last that there’s a stop sign at the
exit from the parking lot on Webster, which we hope will contribute to
pedestrian safety, as well as a “No Smoking” sign along the Webster Street
frontage. We look forward to continuing to work in the coming year to
facilitate communication and resolve issues as they arise.
Announcement
from Whole Foods Market
Every January we commit ourselves to try something new, to
break a bad habit, or renew a commitment to staying healthy. To help in this
noble endeavor Whole Foods Market has created all kinds of delicious recipes,
the latest information on nutrition and special dietary needs, as well as some
good old friendly encouragement. Be sure to ask the experts for motivation,
information, and advice at our Health Starts Here Fair, Monday, January 24, 3:30-7:30
p.m. As we welcome 2011, we renew our pledge to serve the Berkeley community as
we have for the last 20 years . . . in the best way we know how. Happy New
Year!
Health
Starts Here Fair
3:30-7:30
p.m.
Monday,
January 24
Ask our vendors and in-house experts on cleansing, healthy
diets, skin and body care, and all things health. Free
samples and workshops. See store signage or our Facebook
page (http://www.facebook.com/WFMBerkeley?v=app_4949752878)
for more details.
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8. A Note to People with Dogs: Please Be
Diligent about Picking Up after Them!
Editor’s note: A Halcyon neighbor recently approached me to voice his
upset over the increasing incidence of poop in the park where children play as
well as in the larger neighborhood. I invited him to write something for the
E-News, but he hasn’t had a chance yet. When he does, I’ll publish it, but in
the meantime it certainly won’t hurt to start getting the message out there
that the problem of poop that hasn’t been picked up has been getting worse over
the past year. Perhaps this is because not all dog guardians have adapted to
the reduced availability of free plastic bags (not as many people subscribe to
newspapers, and fewer papers come wrapped consistently in plastic, etc.). And
there are likely going to be even fewer free plastic bags given environmental
concerns. So it appears that we dog guardians need to add biodegradable bags to
our list of dog food and other essential supplies for our dogs! A few neighbors
try to stock free bags in the park when they’re able, but you can’t count on this
(again, because they’re becoming harder to come by); the bags that are there
are really there primarily for emergencies (we can all slip up from time to
time). Many years ago, HNA experimented with stocking Mutt Mitts in the park,
but the costs were prohibitive, especially since few folks chipped in. In
addition to the observations made by my neighbor about the poop problem, I’ve
also seen new notices in people’s yards reminding us to pick up after our dogs,
and when I’m walking my dog I often find myself having to pick up after other
people’s dogs. Come on, dog people! We have to do better! Please pick up after
your dogs! That means no matter where they go — in the bushes, on the
grass, in the park, on the sidewalk, in the gutter, etc. Let’s be good neighbors!
And, remember, if your dog’s off leash, your responsibility just goes up to
keep an eye on your dog and where your dog’s poop ends up. And perhaps we can
all consider it good karma to pick up poop some of your neighbors (hopefully
inadvertently) overlooked! I recognize I may be preaching to the choir here,
and the human offenders may not be reading the E-News, so we may all need to
give friendly reminders from time to time to those who don’t seem to fulfilling
one of the most basic responsibilities of having a dog in an urban area. Thanks
for listening!
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9. BORP Fitness Center Open House, Weds., Jan. 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Editor’s note: The
Ed Roberts Campus is open at last! The invitation below is from the BORP
Fitness Center housed there.
Howdy
Neighborhood Folks,
Please
join us for the BORP Fitness Center Open House on Wed, January 26 from 4:30 to 6:30
p.m.. There will be refreshments and a raffle to win
free classes. The grand prize winner will receive a 10
class pass! Instructors will also be present to answer any questions you have
regarding the classes they teach. Everyone is welcome, and please pass the word
that the BORP Fitness Center is open to the public and has some great classes
and extraordinary instructors.
Thanks
and I look forward to seeing you there!
Reba
Knickerbocker, Fitness Coordinator
Bay Area
Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP)
3075
Adeline St. Suite 155, Berkeley, CA 94703
510-849-4663
x1319; reba@borp.org
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10. Community Announcements: Woman Seeks
Rental; Neighbors Seek Bicycle Tune-Up Person
Editor’s note: When space and scheduling
permits, I’m happy to pass on one-time requests and announcements from
neighbors. Here are a couple submitted this time.
Friend of Neighbor Seeks Rental
Single
woman in early 40s seeks shared housing or cottage/in-law unit. Looking for a
small community-minded household of 2-3 people with a quiet, drug-free,
emotionally healthy environment. Laundry, private bathroom, and storage for
several bikes preferred. Price range is $750-900/month. Please contact Susan, susanemily2010@gmail.com, 510-594-7704.
Thanks!
Neighbors Seek Bicycle Tune-Up Person
Hello
Folks,
We
recently bought a used bike. It works pretty well, but could use a tune-up (some
gears rattle a little, chain could use oiling, brakes work, wheels seems fairly
true). There used to be a guy who took his cart to the farmer's market and did
a good job for a very reasonable price. Does anyone know how to contact
him or someone like him?
If so, please contact Neal and Dawn Trygstad Rubin, familyrubin@comcast.net,
510-843-3793. Thanks!
Dawn
& Neal
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11. UC Chancellor’s Community Partnership
Grants: Pre-Applications Due Feb. 9; Community Info Meeting, Weds.,
Jan. 12
Editor’s note: HNA/Friends of Halcyon Commons is an affiliate group under
the nonprofit umbrella of Berkeley Partners for Parks, whose Chair sent this
note to remind us of the upcoming grant cycle for the UC Chancellor’s Community
Partnership Grants. If any neighbors have a great idea for a project to improve
the neighborhood, consider attending the meeting this Wednesday, and/or
checking on the pre-application format the web link given. HNA Co-Chairs Nancy
Carleton and John Steere (who together wrote HNA’s successful grant application
for the Halcyon Commons Rejuvenation Project, which funded the archway at the
park as well as improvements at the park’s south end a few years back) would be
glad to provide advice and help with HNA and/or BPFP sponsorship if
appropriate.
Hi BPFP Partners:
UC has just announced some major
changes to the application process for this next round of UC Chancellor’s
Grants. We in BPFP hope some of the projects this year are for improvements to
our public green spaces in Berkeley and we would love to help anyone who has an
idea for a project. Tell everyone you know.
Highlights are:
1. Community information meeting
is Wednesday,
Jan. 12, 5:30-7:30 at North Berkeley Senior Center
2. This year they have an initial
"pre-application" phase, where a thumbnail outline of your proposed
project is submitted (i.e. 250 words max for Project Summary, 250 words max for
Partnership Summary). You do not necessarily have to
have a commitment from your proposed UC partner at this stage.
3. Pre-applications are due Weds., Feb. 9.
4. From those pre-applications,
they will select 20 or 25 projects and ask for full applications. They will
also help with finding UC partners for those projects that need them.
5. Not all of those 20-25 projects
who submit the full application will get grants.
For more info and to get the pre-application
form, click on:
http://office.chancellor.berkeley.edu/gcr/ccpf.shtml
Thx.
Charlie
Charlie Bowen (Ms), Chair
Berkeley Partners for Parks (BPFP)
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12. Useful Emergency Preparedness Link: Video
on Continuous Chest Compression CPR (a Simpler Alternative to Standard CPR)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcbgpiKyUbs&feature=player_embedded
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