If youÕre a neighbor, join Halcyon Neighborhood AssociationÕs Facebook group!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Halcyon Neighborhood
Association E-News 4/16/12
* * * * * * * * * * * *
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.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Contents
1. Report on March Community Meeting
2. Disaster Preparedness Drill May 19 and
Pre-Drill Preparations
3. Crime Watch Update: Burglaries, Car
Break-ins, etc.
4. Steering Committee Meeting, Weds. May 2 or
9, 6:30-8 p.m.
5. Whole Foods Market News with e-Cycle Drive
April 22
6. Update on Tool Lending Library Relocation
7. News from Councilmember Kriss
WorthingtonÕs Office
8. Teen CERT info from FEMA
EditorÕs
Introductory Note:
This monthÕs E-News is late due to a variety of life circumstances. The
next one I plan to get out May 2 or 3, so please email halcyon92@gmail.com if you have news to
share. And please, please, be sure to mark your calendars for our very
important disaster preparedness drill on May 19 (see item 2)
Thanks to the 48 neighbors who turned out for the community meeting in
March. Since our meeting-intense early days (when planning the creation of
Halcyon Commons took many large meetings as well as committee and subcommittee
meetings), HNA has tended to keep nighttime meetings to a minimum while holding
many social and work-oriented gatherings during the course of the year. But
occasional community-wide meetings help us refine our focus, and it had been
too long since the last one, so many thanks are due those who put together the
March meeting and those who attended (see report in item 1)!
Thanks as well to the great team of neighbors who pitched in to help
alongside Cal student volunteers from the Berkeley Project for our March work
party. As always, we appreciated fresh coffee from Mokka CafŽ and delicious
refreshments from Whole Foods Market — both great community partners in
our efforts to keep Halcyon Commons and the surrounding neighborhood well cared
for!
Wishing all of you a happy, safe spring!
—Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-News Editor, halcyon92@gmail.com
* * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Report on March Community
Meeting
EditorÕs note: HereÕs a write-up on the March community
meeting from HNA Co-Chair John Steere. And many thanks to HNA
Steering Committee members John Steere, Scott Nesbit, Susan Snyder, and Mikel
Delgado for putting on a great meeting!
HNA held its first community meeting in
almost five years, hosted by the Model School (where HNA met for its first five
years, when we were planning and implementing Halcyon Commons). It was an inspiring gathering of almost 50
neighbors, and it was great to see many in attendance, including some who have
lived here for decades but who have not come out to HNAÕs events or work
parties before, as well as many new neighbors. To quote one of the participants
who came, Michelle Thelen Steere, ÒI felt proud to be an HNAÕer and am looking
forward to more general meetings in the future. The desire of the neighbors to
contribute more than in recent times past was palpable.Ó
The
meeting was facilitated by John Steere, HNA Co-Chair, and by Scott Nesbit, HNAÕs
new Crime Watch Team Coordinator. John gave a brief history of HNA and the creation and evolution of
the Halcyon Neighborhood from 1992 to the present. Then neighbors introduced
themselves to everyone, indicating who they were, where they lived, and for how
long, as well as what their community interest of
contribution would be. Quite a number signed up on the volunteer form under one
or more of HNAÕs teams.
Officer Kyle
White, one of our neighborhoodÕs beat cops, spoke about crime in our area,
noting that the most common type was car break-ins. He recommended that
residents leave nothing of value in their vehicles. He reinforced the value of
being observant of suspicious behavior that might lead to a break-in or theft
and to call the police whenever a crime is suspected. He said to call 911 or 981-5911,
the Berkeley PoliceÕs emergency line from cellphones, or 981-5900 if itÕs a nonemergency
situation.
Steering
Committee member Mikel Delgado gave a crime report synopsis following Officer
WhiteÕs. HereÕs a synopsis: She Informed neighbors of the resource http://www.crimemapping.com/map.aspx?loc=Berkeley%2C+Ca, which
allows visitors to view recent crimes in the area, and allows for searches
based on location, crime type, and date. She reviewed recent crimes in the area
since January 2012. Currently, Mikel shares crime reports regularly on the HNA Facebook
group page (another reason to join!). The HNA Facebook page is also a good
resource for immediate information as well as direct contact with neighbors to
organize events such as safety walks. She noted that nighttime safety walks in
the past were successful and a good way to connect with neighbors. The City of
Berkeley has resources on more organized neighborhood watches, if anyone would
like to pursue it:
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/contentdisplay.aspx?id=3988
HNA Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Susan Snyder gave a lively update
on disaster prep, providing an overview
of what disaster prep means for our neighborhood. Due to our unique size, the
importance of helping one another and being prepared to help others who end up
in our neighborhood (because of BART being down, etc) is crucial. Following a
major earthquake, all of our gifts and skills will be needed (neat handwriting,
first-aid skills, bikes to deliver messages, two-way radio skills, calm
demeanor to sit with injured folks, watch kids, organize messages, etc).
As a first
step, Susan asked everyone to commit to getting water and, if they have water,
getting more water — the most
important thing is to have a barrel of water available (or at least a weekÕs
worth of drinking water) and to store it for no more than a year before
replenishing. In terms of storing food, it was noted that storing food you
actually like in a safe place is a close second. Susan briefly discussed
and promoted CERT classes. She also went over the handout Five Ways to
Participate in the May 19th Citywide Drill. The full information is announced
in the Disaster Preparedness section of this E-News [see item 2].
Representatives
from the Yellow Emperor Community Acupuncture Clinic and the Self-Realization
Fellowship also attended and pledge their support and spoke of their willingness
to do their part (ten SRF members are CERT certified, and an acupuncturist at
the Yellow Emperor who lives nearby is willing to provide acupuncture following
a disaster). Michelle Thelen Steere asks us to remind neighbors that in the
event of a big earthquake, Halcyon Commons is our general meeting point (after
youÕve secured your own household). Michelle also signed up to head up a
membership drive among neighborhood businesses, spiritual centers, and
nonprofits. And she notes, ÒFive people at the HNA general
meeting signed up for a Neighborhood Levity committee. Hopefully, the neighbors
that laugh together . . . staff together.<#:-)Ó If youÕd like to help with any of the
areas mentioned, such as the membership drive, disaster prep or crime watch,
please email halcyon92@gmail.com.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
2. Disaster Preparedness Drill
May 19 and Pre-Drill Preparations
EditorÕs note: HNAÕs Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Susan
Snyder submitted the following notice about the upcoming drill on May 19 and
what you can do to participate. Please contact Susan at the email provided if
you willing to commit to attending one planning meeting prior to the drill!
Citywide Disaster Preparedness Drill with Halcyon Neighborhood
Participation
Saturday, May 19, 9-11:30 a.m.
Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)
Coffee courtesy of Mokka Cafe
Great meeting in March, neighbors! Thank you to
all of you who came out to connect and learn how we can make our neighborhood a
stronger community and safer place.
Here's a reminder about ways to participate in
the citywide disaster drill on May 19th:
* REGISTER to receive a message from the
Berkeley Emergency Notification System (BENS). To register to receive the
exercise message, send an email to Khin Chin at the Office of Emergency
Services at KChin@ci.berkeley.ca.us . Include your name and cellphone number, and indicate you
are part of the Halcyon neighborhood group. (This ONLY registers you to receive
the drill message.)
* On May 19th, after you receive the exercise
notification, CALL OR TEXT your out-of-state contact and request a response.
* TUNE IN to Berkeley's emergency information
radio broadcast on 1610 AM. If you canÕt hear the message,
try moving to a different part of the house or a different part of the
neighborhood.
* COME TO HALCYON COMMONS to participate in the
neighborhood response part of the drill on May 19. The Incident Command Center
will be set-up prior to the 9 a.m. drill start time. Sign-in and take on a role
that fits your skill set. We need people in teams with the two-way radios from
the HNA cache going out into the neighborhood to report back on specific set-up
scenarios. We need on-site folks to log radio communications and write up
messages to go to Berkeley OES. We need bike messengers to bring messages for
Berkeley OES to local fire stations and return with the responses. We need YOU
to make our drill a success!
* VOLUNTEER! Whether you can commit to attending
one planning meeting in April OR take on a preassigned role the day of the
exercise OR volunteer your home to have a scenario posted on it, we need YOU!
Contact Susan at HNAprepared@gmail.com
to volunteer or with questions. Thank you!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
3. Crime Watch Update: Burglaries,
Car Break-ins, etc.
EditorÕs
note: A reminder to join the HNA Facebook group at Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499
to receive breaking crime reports in between E-News editions!
HNA
Steering Committee member Mikel Delgado submitted the following summary of
crimes in or near the neighborhood:
3/1 theft Ashby and Fulton
3/3 assault Woolsey & Shattuck
3/7 burglary Tremont & Woolsey
3/23 Essex/Shattuck burglary
Woolsey/Shattuck burglary
3/25 Ashby/Telegraph theft
4/3 Ashby/Telegraph vehicle break-in
A neighbor west of Shattuck submitted the following report of multiple
incidents.
ÒI
want to report an instance of someone breaking and entering into the foreclosed
and vacant property at 2022 Woolsey Street, on Woolsey just west of Shattuck. This
property is for sale by a realty company but is in poor condition. On Thursday
3/22 at about 11:15 p.m., I heard the sound of breaking glass and went out to
investigate. Other neighbors heard it too and were out looking around. One of
them saw a person on the back porch of this property, and saw a broken window
there. I went around to the front of this property, and encountered a woman who
said she had just bought this house for $600K (the house is for sale for $399K)
and said that Òsomeone is in the house.Ó The woman
seemed spacey and made other doubtful claims. We called the Police. The Police
came and arrested her, and also an ambulance was summoned since the woman
claimed to have a heart condition. Since no one had clearly seen that the
woman was the one who broke the window, Police cited her for trespassing
and released her. The next morning, 3/23, at 8:45 a.m., I observed the
same woman arrive and go around to the back of the house, and
remove glass from the window. I called police, who arrived just as
she was climbing through the window and entering the house. They arrested
her again, and this time sent her to John George psychiatric hospital
as she was clearly mentally ill. Since John
George will probably only hold her for a few days, the woman may be back again
if she doesnÕt have someone to care for her. Description: slender black
woman with attractive features, subdued and nonthreatening manner, blue jeans,
orange top, light brown jeans type jacket, long black straight hair, blue
sweater, black high-heeled shoes.
ÒThere
was also a burglary on the same day, 3/22, at a house two doors down on Whitney
Street, where the perpetrator kicked in the back door. Police do not believe
this was the same person. In that instance, a neighbor observed a young black
man with a bicycle and a large messenger-type bag, emerging from the backyard
of the house that was burglarized, claiming he was looking for his dog, at
about 3 p.m. Police say many burglaries are happening in this area between 2
and 4 p.m., so be on the lookout regarding this same MO and call police if you
see such a person trespassing on othersÕ property claiming to be Ôlooking for
my dog.Õ
After
what already had seemed too much criminal activity in my immediate area this
week, I witnessed another incident the morning of 3/29/12. At 10:20 a.m., I
heard loud yelling outside, and went to investigate. I witnessed a man standing
on the street very loudly yelling at someone in a car, at the intersection of
Woolsey and Tremont. He stood very close to the car, and gestured and yelled,
continually using the N-word. At one point I observed him punch the person in
the car. He was a black male, about 35 years old, about 6 feet tall, fairly
bald, medium build, wearing a black t-shirt, faded blue jeans, brown work-type
boots. The individual in the car was a black male—I think only one
person. The car was a white Jeep Cherokee or similar, license plate starting 4KZ.
The man in the car stayed in the car and did not seem to do anything to fight
back. Soon, the car left, heading up Woolsey to Shattuck. The individual walked
away. I called Berkeley Police and reported this incident as I observed it. I
also saw other neighbors had come outside and were observing, and perhaps also
calling Police.Ó
A
Wheeler Street neighbor reported the following theft of a doormat.
ÒI
had a strange crime occur at my place on Wheeler St. Between Prince and Essex
sometime between 9 p.m. Friday March 30 and 3 a.m. Sat. March 31. I was
awakened at 3 a.m. by the continual slamming of my front gate due to the heavy
winds we were experiencing. I went out my front door to secure the gate and saw
that my front doormat was missing. It was too heavy to have blown away. Nothing
else on my front porch was missing or looked like it was moved. The mat would
not have been visible from the sidewalk so someone had to have come to my front
door to find it and take it. I have walked around the area looking for it, but
no success. While not a high-value item, I liked it, so if any one finds it, I
wouldnÕt mind having it back. It was a brown and tan woven mat approximately 2
x 3 ft. It was made of plastic but looked like jute. I was wondering if anyone
else experienced a case of mat pilfering?Ó
A Telegraph Avenue neighbor reported the following act of
car vandalism to our HNA Facebook group.
ÒJust came out to my car (a dark blue Toyota
Scion) to find it vandalized. Had it parked in its usual spot on Telegraph,
between Prince and Webster. Someone bashed in the back
windshield with a 2x4, for no apparent reason. DidnÕt take anything. Go
figure.Ó
Another neighbor, this one on Prince Street,
also had her carÕs windshield smashed that same night.
ÒSame 2x4 sticking out of your car was used to
bash my windshield. I heard a guy raging at 3:00 in the morning, heard a funny
sound, and his morning I saw your car first and then mine.Ó
A Halcyon neighbor reported the following bike
theft.
Ò
* * * * * * * * * * *
4. Steering Committee Meeting,
Weds. May 2 or 9, 6:30-8 p.m.
EditorÕs note: The Steering
Committee meeting originally planned for April 18 is being rescheduled to the
first or second Wednesday in May (we are currently polling Steering Committee
members to decide which). If youÕre interested in getting more involved with
crime watch, disaster preparedness, community building, neighborhood work
parties, family-friendly activities, or outreach to neighborhood businesses and
spiritual centers, please email halcyon92@gmail.com
for more information. We welcome your participation!
HNA Steering
Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May
2 or 9, 6:30-8 p.m. (starts & ends promptly)
Email halcyon92@gmail.com
for location.
* * * * * * * * * * *
5. Whole Foods Market News with
e-Cycle Drive April 22
EditorÕs
note: News from Whole Foods Market courtesy of Jim Hallock.
Earth Day e-Cycle Drive
Sunday, April 22, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Time for Spring Cleaning! To celebrate Earth Day, bring in
your old TVs, monitors, and laptops for free, responsible recycling. (Please,
no microwaves!) There will be a $5 donation requested for some items, such as
CRTs, large speakers, and most household electrics and electronics. Please see
our Customer Service Desk for a complete list. All proceeds go to the Berkeley
High School Green Academy.
Drop-In Progress Meeting (first Wednesday of
each month)
Wednesday, May 2,
8:30-9:00 a.m.
Whole Foods Market
(check in at Customer Service)
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 2012], street litter
control, and progress on any of the ongoing issues we discuss [with HNA reps
and nearby neighbors]. Mel [Store Team Leader] 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.
Jim Hallock
Community Relations Team Leader
Whole Foods Market Berkeley
3000 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705
F: 510-649-1474
* * * * * * * * * * *
6.
Update on Tool Lending Library Relocation
EditorÕs note: The
following press release was received from the Berkeley Public Library.
Tool
Lending Library Now Open
Beginning Tuesday, March 20, Berkeley Public LibraryÕs
Tool Lending Library will be open to the public at its temporary location 2525
8th Street, at Dwight Way. The Tool Library will operate out of this temporary
location while the South Branch Library is closed for approximately 15 months
to allow for the construction of a new 8,700 square foot library. The South
Branch is closed as of Saturday, March 17, 2012.
The Tool Lending Library hours of service are Tuesday
& Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday 12 noon to
7:30 p.m. and Friday 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed on Sunday and Monday.
The Tool lending library carries a wide range of hand
and power tools available for loan to Berkeley residents and property owners at
no cost. A full list of the tools available for checkout with a valid Berkeley
library card is available at: http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about_the_library/neighborhood_branches/tool_lending_library/index.php
We extend our thanks and appreciation to everyone for
their support of Measure FF and, since that time, participation in the public
design and approval process which has brought us to
this milestone. The new library will be built following the demolition of the
current facility. The replacement Library, designed by the San Francisco firm
of Field Paoli Architects, will meet all current codes, provide adequate space
for users of all ages and is designed to be warm and inviting; creating a
welcoming civic presence and enhanced services to the community. The Tool
Lending Library will be part of the new space, with increased room for storage
and an improved layout.
During the closure, patrons are encouraged to visit the
remaining open library facilities. In addition, Library BranchVan service will
begin on Monday, March 26 on Oregon Street, just west of Grant Street. Check
out the LibraryÕs Branch Construction Projects webpage or pick up a South
Branch Temporary Closure Guide for more service information during the
temporary closure that includes the BranchVan and childrenÕs storytime
schedules.
The Library will continue to post project information
and updates on its website at: berkeleypubliclibrary.org/branchimprovements
and hopes to see you at the South Branch Library grand re-opening, anticipated
in Spring 2013. For more information call 510-981-6101.
* * * * * * * * * * *
7. News from Councilmember
Kriss WorthingtonÕs Office
EditorÕs note: HereÕs part of
a recent newsletter from Councilmember Kriss WorthingtonÕs office. If you want to
get on his direct recipient list, contact KWorthington@ci.berkeley.ca.
(I pass on items when I receive them close enough to an E-News publication, but
they often come on a different cycle.)
Cesar
Chavez ÒState of Latinos in BerkeleyÓ
Thursday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m.
1701 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley Adult School Auditorium
Panels: Health, Education, and Empowerment Opportunities
Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, Jesse Arreguin, Father Rigoberto
Caloca-Rivas, Tanya Moore, Jose Ducos
Tenth
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Only in Berkeley do we have an official City annual
recognition program
Sunday, April 22, at 12 noon
2121 Allston Way, Magnes Museum of Jewish Life and Art
Performance by Linda Hirschhorn, Isaac Pastor-Chermak,
Kol Hadov
Marta Fuchs, author of Legacy of Rescue: A DaughterÕs Tribute
Cinco
de Mayo in Berkeley
Sunday, May 6, at 1 p.m.
2506 Haste St, RemyÕs Mexican Restaurant
Food and Entertainment Provided
City
Commissioners Needed
Alice Lin and Sydney Fang conducted a
study of diversity in City Commissions, which showed
Asians and Latinos very underrepresented, African
Americans somewhat underrepresented,
and
students dramatically underrepresented. One noteworthy, surprising fact is
there are 58 vacancies that need volunteers! You can volunteer at sfang@asuc.org
or email us directly at KWorthington@ci.berkeley.ca.
* * * * * * * * * * *
8. Teen CERT Info from FEMA
EditorÕs note: The following
item appeared in the Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network
listserv.
The New Teen CERT Materials are here!
Based on the success of the Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) Program and the demand to create tools to support the nationwide
effort to train teenagers on CERT, FEMA is pleased to announce the following
NEW resources:
* Teen CERT web page, which includes a new Public
Service Announcement and Teen CERT Annexes to the CERT Basic Training and
Train-the-Trainer Instructor Guides. To see the new Teen Cert web page, sign
into the new CERT Online Discussion Forum!
http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm/view?objectId=166042&exp=e2
* Free National CERT Online Discussion Forum for
exchanging information and ideas among CERT members across the country (same
link)
By training teens in emergency preparedness and
response, you have the ability to empower our nation's future with the skills
necessary to protect themselves and assist others in the event of an emergency.
Students learn basic disaster response skills including fire suppression, light
search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness,
and disaster medical operations. Participation in CERT is an excellent
opportunity for teenagers to learn preparedness and leadership skills that last
a lifetime!
If you are interested in starting a Teen CERT in your
school or community, contact your local CERT Program today to learn more about
getting started. Additionally, if you are considering integrating youth
preparedness into an existing program or want to learn more about sustaining an
existing youth preparedness program, the Youth How-To-Guide serves as a great
resource for guiding you through the process.
Download these materials today and share your best
practices via the CERT Online Discussion Forum on the National Preparedness
Coalition website.
* * * * * * * * * * *