Neighbors, join Halcyon Neighborhood AssociationÕs Facebook group!
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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News
7/3/12
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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. Your Help Needed: Mini Work Party in the Park, Thursday, 7/19, 9:30
a.m.–1:30 p.m.
2. National Night Out Against Crime: Ice Cream Social in the Park,
Tuesday, 8/7, 6:30-8 p.m.
3. Summary of June Crimes in the Neighborhood & Notice from Police
on Rent Crime Trends
4. Whole Foods Market News: Community Meeting Weds. 7/11, 8:30-9 a.m.
plus Fourth of July Barbecue/Jazz
5. Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina
6. Link to Interview with HNA Co-Chair John Steere
7. Use Your Berkeley Library Card for Free Tickets
8. RompinÕ with Ruby Summer Activity Camp
9. Easy Does It Emergency Services Available to Seniors and People with
Disabilities
EditorÕs
Introductory Note:
Many thanks to all who helped with the work party in early June, including Whole Foods Market and Mokka cafˇ for their generous donations. IÕd particularly like to thank Alyson Greenlee, a new member of our HNA Steering Committee, who has stepped forward to lead graffiti removal crews at the last two work parties; her efforts have made a big difference in staying on top of graffiti in the neighborhood. WeÕll be experimenting with a late-afternoon work party this month, to catch up with the late-spring growth spurt of weeds. If our Saturday or Sunday work parties donÕt typically work into your schedule, please consider coming out for all or part of our mini work party on Thursday, July 19 (see item 1); there will be delicious refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market as always.
The Multi-Block Yard Sale on Saturday, June 2, was very successful for the households involved. Thanks to HNA Treasurer and Steering Committee member Susan Hunter for organizing it!
Finally, IÕd like to call your attention to a very important neighborhood event in early August, so you can mark your calendars: HNAÕs annual participation in the nationwide National Night Out Against Crime (see item 2) on Tuesday, August 7. WeÕre changing the format a bit this year, with the hope of stimulating a larger turnout. Instead of a potluck, which doesnÕt seem to work well for many folks on a weeknight, weÕre having an ice cream social, and a few neighbors will be making homemade ice cream (plus a dairy-free alternative) to share with everyone. In addition, there will be generous Middle Eastern appetizer trays courtesy of Whole Foods Market. And, of course, members of the Police Department, firefighters, and City officials weÕll be stopping by, so itÕs a great chance to express your concerns, and give your kids a chance to meet police and see firefighting equipment up close.
Happy Independence Day, and have a great July!
—Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-News Editor, halcyon92@gmail.com
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1. Your Help Needed: Mini Work Party in the
Park, Thursday, 7/19, 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Mini Late-Afternoon Work
Party in the Park (and Surrounding Neighborhood
Meet at
Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince), THURSDAY, July 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Delicious
refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market.
* Weeding in Halcyon Commons and nearby
landscaped barriers
* Picking up litter from streets in the
larger neighborhood
* Graffiti
removal in the larger neighborhood (if we have sufficient help)
Many hands
make light work: Please lend yours! Even half an hour helps. Children welcome.
Bring your own tools if you have them, or use ours if you donÕt. We donÕt have
any student volunteers to help with this work party, so itÕs up to us
neighbors!
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2. National Night Out Against Crime: Ice
Cream Social in the Park, Tuesday, 8/7, 6:30-8 p.m.
Ice Cream Social in the
Park for National Night Out Against Crime
Halcyon
Commons (Halcyon at Prince)
Tuesday,
August 7, 6:30-8 p.m.
Delicious
Middle Eastern appetizers courtesy of Whole Foods Market.
Homemade Ice
Cream (and nondairy alternative) courtesy of neighborhood volunteers.
Children
welcome and encouraged to attend!
Please mark
your calendars. WeÕre anticipating a fun summer evening in the park, with
visits from police, firefighters, and city officials. This event is a
crucial part of our neighborhood watch program, so please support it with your
presence! If youÕre willing to
contribute some homemade ice cream, please email halcyon92@gmail.com.
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3. Summary of June Crimes in the
Neighborhood & Notice from Police on Rent Crime Trends
EditorÕs note: A reminder to join the HNA Facebook group at Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499 for breaking crime reports in between E-News editions. If youÕre a neighbor who isnÕt yet part of this closed Facebook group, youÕre missing out! Remember, we rely on neighbors to fill in the details of crimes in our neighborhood, so, in addition to being sure to file a Police report, 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 crimes in or near the neighborhood. Thank you, Mikel!
Recent crimes, fresh from CrimeView Cyberwatch notification (you
can have them sent to your email!):
6/2 Larceny Theft Misc. (Under $950), 2500 Block Prince St
6/5 Halcyon & Webster, motor vehicle theft
6/9 Motor Vehicle Theft Vehicle Stolen, 3000 block Telegraph Ave
6/13 Larceny Theft Felony (Over $950), Prince St / Telegraph
6/15 Larceny Theft Felony (Over $950), 3000 Block Telegraph
ŅOur car was broken into Tuesday night [June 12], FYI. We live near Ashby and Fulton.Ó
EditorÕs
note: Some
important and useful information from Officer Byron White of the Berkeley
Police Department.
Catalytic
Converter Thefts
Over time, the City of Berkeley Police Department has noticed a pattern of theft of catalytic converters throughout the city — much as in other parts of country. A catalytic converter is a piece of the vehicleÕs exhaust system (made of precious metals) that converts toxic emissions to less toxic substances. Because of the rising values of precious metals over time, catalytic converter thefts (as well as the theft of other items containing precious metals — such as brass railings, auto gates, etc.) have become a cost-effective means for suspects to turn a quick buck. From what I understand, a person who steals a catalytic converter can get up to $200 per device.
The typical Modus Operandi of the catalytic converter suspect in the City of Berkeley is a suspect operating during the nighttime hours — taking advantage of shadows and darkness of the night. The suspect will most likely be equipped with a reciprocating saw (aka: saber saw, sawzall) and some form of bag or backpack to carry the saw and stolen catalytic converters. Catalytic converter theft suspects may be walking on foot, riding a bicycle, or driving a vehicle. When the suspect identifies a vehicle to steal the catalytic converter from, the suspect lies down underneath the rear of the vehicle at the tail pipe. The suspect then utilizes their reciprocating saw to simply cut the catalytic converter from the tail pipe. According to Edmunds.com, a suspect can steal your catalytic converter in under two minutes. The most commonly hit vehicles are SUVs and trucks, especially late-model Toyotas, because they sit higher off the ground — making for easier access.
Auto Burglary
Smash & Grabs
Much like catalytic converter theft suspects, smash & grab auto burglary suspects also operate during darkness. Instead of taking the time to actually break a window, open the door, and get into a vehicle, these snatch & grab auto burglary suspects will simply break a window, reach inside the vehicle, and take whatever is visible within armÕs reach. One might think that the breaking of a window would cause lots of noise for persons in the area to notice, but these snatch & grab auto burglary suspects are much more clever than that. Suspects today are resorting to using tricks to muffle the noise — like putting a towel against the window or using spark plugs to break the window (there is a type of reaction between the materials found in spark plugs and the vehicle windows — causing the window to break). Because of methods like these, auto burglary suspects can burglarize your vehicle in moments. To combat this, make sure you do not leave any valuables visible in your vehicle.
Auto Thefts
Over time, the County of Alameda has noticed a countywide increase of auto thefts. According to the Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force (www.acratt.org), late 80Õs model Honda Accords, Honda Civics, and Toyota Camrys top the list of most stolen vehicles.
In addition to making sure your possessions are secured, parking in well-lit areas, and using anti-theft devices (steering wheel locks, etc.) one of the best methods for preventing crimes such as these, is to promptly report suspicious activity to the police department.
What Is a
Suspicious Person?
į When someone is paying an unusual amount of attention to the
people or places around himself/herself. The persons may be preparing to commit
a criminal act when no one is watching.
į Someone lingering in dark or obscured areas. Criminals want to
be unseen and anonymous.
į When someone flees or runs away from a car or home when they
notice you are watching or have seen them.
į Someone going door-to-door in the neighborhood or wandering with
no purpose. Anyone can walk on our streets, but looking into cars, home
windows, or down a driveway is known as Ņcasing.Ó
į Someone wandering or loitering in the halls of a business
complex or office complex and you do not recognize the person, or they do not
appear to have legitimate business — know your neighbors and neighboring
businesses/employees.
į Slow moving cars, cars driving without headlights, or someone
conducting business from a car.
į Persons walking or bicycling down the street carrying property
or household items in an awkward manner.
į When someone screams and you cannot determine why the person is
screaming.
į You see someone removing property or materials from a closed
business or at unusual hours.
į A stranger entering a neighborÕs home or business when your
neighbor appears away from home or work.
į If you hear unusual noises that you cannot explain — like
breaking glass or pounding noises.
When and How to
Report Suspicious Events
The
police need accurate information as quickly as possible about suspicious
activity or crimes in progress. Call the police immediately. If a criminal
activity has occurred, the police can only catch the criminal when we are
notified in a timely manner.
In
Berkeley, dial
911 or 981-5911 from your cell for emergencies and/or crimes in progress. Dial 981-5900
to make a delayed or after-the-fact report. Reports can be made anonymously
if you wish. Give the dispatcher as much information as you can, including the
following:
į Briefly describe what you saw and why you think the event is
suspicious.
į Location where you saw the event (address, building description,
direction they were going, etc.)
į Describe the person(s) involved from top to bottom (sex, race,
height, weight, age, hair, clothing, etc.)
į Describe any cars involved or if you heard a car, including the license plate number.
Officer Byron White #17
Operations Division Area
Coordinator–Area 1
BPD Webmail Administrator
Berkeley Police Department
2100 MLK Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA, 94704
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4. Whole Foods Market News: Community
Meeting Weds. 7/11, 8:30-9 a.m. plus Fourth of July Barbecue/Jazz
EditorÕs note: News from Whole Foods Market courtesy of Jim Hallock.
Drop-In Progress Meeting
(usually on the first Wednesday of each month; rescheduled this month due to the Fourth of July)
Wednesday, July 11, 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.
Fourth of July Bar-b-Que with
Live Jazz
Celebrate the Fourth with something off the grill! Join us for a Bar-b-Que featuring burgers, sausages, hot dogs and vegan options, along with side dishes, drinks and ice cream. ItÕs all a fundraiser for the Sprouts Cooking Club, teaching kids the art of good food. And back by popular demand, MB Hanif and the Sound Voyagers, a local combo offering some very cool jazz for the afternoon. May the fourth be with you!
KidÕs Club Coloring Contest
July 1 through July 31
Hey kids, get your crayons out! WeÕre having a coloring contest, and you can win a nice gift bag from popchips, including a $10 gift card, popchips, and lots of other goodies. Just stop by the Customer Service Desk and ask for your free popchips treat and coloring page. Turn in your masterpiece by July 31, and youÕll be entered to win. No purchase necessary of course, so good luck!
Music Events This Summer and
Fall
A jazz group that
performed on Memorial Day will be back on July 4 and Labor Day. Here are the
remaining music events we have scheduled. All music will be between 1 p.m. and
5 p.m. Please join us!
July 4
August 18
September 3
October 31
Jim Hallock
Community Relations
Team Leader
Whole Foods Market
Berkeley
3000 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705
F: 510-649-1474
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5. Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina
EditorÕs note: Please enjoy the fireworks at the Berkeley Marina, and keep them out
of our neighborhood, where theyÕre illegal and they traumatize many dogs and
cats! The information below is from the City of BerkeleyÕs website. (A recent
posting on the Facebook event page for the Marina fireworks notes that as of
this point, the forecast for Wednesday night is for clear weather and good
viewing.)
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=20060
Fourth
of July and the Berkeley Marina! The Fourth of July is a great day to have a lot of fun. The biggest
party is at the Berkeley Marina & Cesar Chavez Activity Park from noon-10
p.m. with all kinds of free fun! Adventure Playground, always a favorite, is
open 11am-8pm. Get your face painted, try the giant slide, or splash in the
water at the beach! Cesar Chavez Activity Park on the north side of the marina
holds a day of physical fun with clear Zorbing balls that you step inside of to
roll down the hill; a Slackline Stunt Show by artists who were in the Superbowl
Half-time Show; a climbing wall, bungee run, jousting, a bungee trampoline, and
lots more. Additional food booths and a preview of the Giant Show Kites from
the Berkeley Kite Festival make it a super fun area.
The event is sponsored by the City of Berkeley and produced by http://www.AnotherBullwinkelShow.com.
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6. Link to Interview with HNA Co-Chair John
Steere
EditorÕs note: HNA Co-Chair John Steere, who co-founded
Halcyon Neighborhood Association along with me, Susan Hunter, Bruce Wicinas,
and various other neighbors twenty years ago this fall, is featured in an
interview to be found at the link below. Congratulations, John!
Submitted by Willi Paul on Mon, 07/02/2012 – 08:30
http://planetshifter.com/node/2030
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7. Use Your Berkeley Library Card for Free
Tickets
EditorÕs note: The following information is from the
Berkeley Public Library.
Starting from the
LibraryÕs website (http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/),
patrons can access the Discover & GO link using their Berkeley Public
Library card number. From there, itÕs easy to locate available passes,
searching by location or by date. Then reserve, print, and go! Passes are
available for a wide range of venues, ranging from large well-known museums
like the Asian Art Museum and the California Academy of Sciences to smaller
niche locations, including the Cartoon Art Museum and the Pacific Pinball
Museum. Family favorites like the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Exploratorium,
Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Oakland Zoo are included as well.
Things to
Remember
į Passes are valid only for a specific
date. Passes can be identified by venue or by date.
į Only two passes can be reserved/checked out
at a time. There is no limit on total passes checked out.
į Some venues allow only one pass per
cardholder per year.
į Most passes provide admission for 2, many provide
a family pass, but a few have more restricted offerings, so itÕs important to
read the full offer.
Current list of
participating institutions (more offerings are being added all the time):
California Academy of Sciences
California Shakespeare Theatre (select
plays only)
Charles M. Schulz Museum (child pass only)
GLBT History Museum (1
person/pass)
The Marine Mammal Center
(free tours)
Museum of ChildrenÕs Art (2 children/pass)
Museum of the African Diaspora
Peralta Hacienda
Historical Park
Saint MaryÕs
College Museum of Art
The Tech Museum of Innovation (discount)
Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Eve Franklin, Administrative Secretary
City of
Berkeley, Berkeley Public Library / Administration
2090 Kittredge
Street Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510)
981-6102 Fax: (510) 981-6111
Website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org Email: efranklin@ci.berkeley.ca.us
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8. RompinÕ with Ruby Summer Activity Camp
EditorÕs note: A nearby sixteen-year-old neighbor submitted the following announcement.
RompinÕ With
Ruby
A
different kind of summer activity — one small group of kids, one fun
leader, and lots of adventures!
During
our fun-filled weeklong sessions for kids ages 7-10, weÕll do everything
from visiting the Little Farm, to tie-dying shirts, to running a lemonade
stand, to flying kites at the Marina! In a small group of four kids we
will use public transportation to get around — I live one block away from
both the bus stop and Ashby BART — and when weÕre not on the go, weÕll be
enjoying our large, sunny yard in South Berkeley.
I
am:
į
An incoming High-school senior
į
National Safety Council First Aid and CPR certified
į
An experienced babysitter
į
Bilingual in Spanish
One-week
sessions at $125 per child per session
Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
August 6-10 (room for 3 kids, preferably 5-8 years old, either gender)
Contact
me for more information or to sign up for a session! References available.
Ruby Moore-Bloom
(510) 908-1397
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9. Easy Does It Emergency Services Available
to Seniors and People with Disabilities
EditorÕs note: A neighbor who makes use of their services asked me to remind people that low-cost help is available to seniors and people with disabilities through Easy Does It Emergency Services, which is subsidized by the City of Berkeley.
Easy Does It Emergency Services
Attendants & Wheelchair Repair: 510-704-2111
Office: 510-845-5513
Need an emergency attendance? Transportation? [Wheelchair] Repair? Did your attendant call in sick? Did your wheelchair break down in the rain? Need a ride to your doctorÕs appointment. Easy Does It Emergency Services provides assistance to the elderly and individuals with disabilities living independently in the City of Berkeley.
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