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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 9/3/13

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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. NEW! Adopt-a-Piece-of-the-Park-and Landscaping Pilot Project!!!

2. Crime-Watch Updates

3. Whole Foods Market News: Next Drop-in Progress Meeting on October 31, 8-8:30 a.m.

4. Neighbor Offering Babysitting Services

5. Free City of Berkeley CERT (Disaster Prep) Classes

6. Save the Date: Saturday, November 16, Cultivating a Sense of Place and a Place for a Commons, A Walking Tour of the (New) Halcyon Neighborhood

Editor’s Introductory Note:

Many thanks to all who made National Night Out Against Crime’s Ice Cream Social at the beginning of August such a success. Over seventy-five neighbors attended during the course of the evening. After a visit from some of the Berkeley Police Department’s newest recruits at the beginning, and a stop from a fire engine and crew in the middle, one of our final guests was Chief of Police Meehan, who reaffirmed the respect our neighborhood has earned over the course of the years for our partnership-oriented approach to a safer, healthier community. Special thanks to Wheeler Street neighbor Tory Finn for coordinating the event, to our homemade frozen dessert makers -- Tory, Bruce Wicinas, and Mikel Delgado -- and to all who helped with setup, cleanup, and flyer distribution. And Whole Foods Market outdid itself with a generous donation of Middle Eastern appetizers, delicious sheet cake, and frozen nondairy offerings plus yummy sauces!

Getting to know our neighbors remains at the core of our neighborhood watch program, as does taking care of our common greenspace, Halcyon Commons and the three nearby planted islands. All of these precious landscapes were made possible through the hard work of our neighborhood volunteers, and their ongoing health and care depends on us. Please check out item 1 to find out about our new pilot project to keep our precious park and nearby public landscaping looking good in between work parties.

Here’s wishing you a great September!

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

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1. NEW! Adopt-a-Piece-of-the-Park-and Landscaping Pilot Project!!!

At the Ice Cream Social, we announced HNA Treasurer (and Friends of Halcyon Commons stalwart) Susan Hunter’s idea of a project to involve more neighbors -- some of whom can’t make our weekend work parties -- in the care of Halcyon Commons and the nearby planted landscaping islands (the nanopark at Prince and Deakin, the tree island at Halcyon and Webster, and the planted island on Webster near Whole Foods Market).

Here’s the idea: We’ve divided the park and landscaping into small, manageable chunks, and at your own leisure (perhaps when you’re there anyhow with your kids or dog), you can fit in five or ten minutes here and there to pull weeds in that area only. Susan and HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton will show you the area and point out what’s a weed and what’s a desired part of the Halcyon Commons plant palette (we don’t want to lose any more of our base natives accidentally during the weeding process, as has sometimes happened).

Our hope is that by making the areas small and manageable, and the task simple and focused, we can maintain better control over the weeds month by month, though we’ll still be having the two big work parties spring and fall, and smaller work parties as needed, to accomplish the larger tasks, including semiannual mulching. Our hope is to get more of our neighborhood engaged in caring for our common green space and to make sure that our common greenspace shows the TLC and respect it deserves in between work parties! As always, whether or not you’re part of the pilot project, when you’re passing through, please take the time to pick up stray trash or dog litter and direct it into appropriate bins! This is OUR common space; let’s take good care of it!

Below is the list of park subdivisions. Please email halcyon92@gmail.com if you’re willing to sign up for one. After you sign up, one of the project coordinators, Nancy Carleton or Susan Hunter, will meet with you for five minutes in the park to show you the outlines of your area and to point out the weeds and the desired plants so you’re clear on them, and to collect your signature on the annual liability waiver form the city requires.

Adopt-a-Piece of the Park & Nearby Landscaping

Nancy or Susan will contact you prior to your beginning; a liability waiver with the city is required, and there will be clear instructions about weeding and/or other tasks for particular areas. The request is that you spend at least a little time each month; work party volunteers will do the heavier work of deep weeding and mulching and trimming; this is meant primarily as a light supplement of weeding (and sometimes pulling dead leaves or watering), to keep things manageable. THANK YOU!

The asterisks indicate relative levels of difficulty, with one easiest, three more demanding. A) North End of A) Park & Entry***

1. Nancy C.

2. Susan H.

B) Tire Swing Interior*

1. Martha U.

C) Lilies & Star of Madeira area (opposite tire swing, west side)**

1. Volunteer needed!

D) Redwood area, west side of park*

1. Susan H.

E) Redwood area, east side of park**

1. Volunteer needed!

F) Bulletin Board area**

1. Melody M. (WFM Team Leader)

G) Lily Circle (near bulletin board)*

1. Leslie S.

H) Tea Tree & Mahonia Area (east side opposite lawn)**

1. Volunteer needed!

I) Planted Corner, west side of main lawn**

1. Volunteer needed!

J) Planted Area south of smaller lawn*** (TWO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!)

1. Anitra G.

2. John H.

K) Western side of slate circle (easy to do with kids)*

1. Susan S.

L) Eastern side of slate circle (easy to do with kids)**

1. Volunteer needed!

M) Southeast entry area**

1. Volunteer needed!

N) Ceanothus area, south end of park**

1. Volunteer needed!

O) Northeast entry area**

1. Volunteer needed!

P) Cherry tree watering, south end**

1. Nancy C.

Q) Cherry tree weeding, south end, two squares*

1. Nancy C.

R) West of arbor / park entry***

1. Volunteer needed!

S) East of arbor / park entry**

1. Volunteer needed!

T) Chestnut tree & rosemary area*

1. Volunteer needed!

U) Grandfather Sun Bench & surrounding, incl. oval circle**

1. John & Michelle T-S.

V) Planted Island Halcyon at Webster, weeding & watering 1x per week, dry season***

1. Joanna & Scott P.

2. Matthew S.

W) Nanopark Prince at Deakin, watering 1x per week, dry season***

1. Bruce W.

X) Nanopark Prince at Deakin, weeding**

1. Mary S.

Y) Planted Island Webster near Whole Foods, watering***

1. Whole Foods Market Landscape Crew

Z) Planted Island Webster near Whole Foods, weeding**

1. Volunteer needed!

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2. Crime-Watch Updates

Editor’s note: Please note that in our neighborhood we do our best to keep neighbors updated on crime trends as well as to share personal reports when submitted. The hope is that by being informed, we can all be proactive in safeguarding our families and our property. I’d like to assure everyone that the patterns we report here are similar to those in other Berkeley neighborhoods; the difference is that we make sure you know about them! Any crime represents a violation, and we’ll continue to do our best to let you know what’s happening so you can take appropriate action. Our HNA Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499 often shares breaking crime reports in between E-News editions. If you’re a neighbor who isn’t yet part of this closed Facebook group, you’re missing out (your home and email addresses are required to participate so we can be sure the group is kept safe for neighbors, and we must have your information on file prior to accepting your request). 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 (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!

8/5 Arson, Telegraph & Webster
8/6, 8/12, 8/19 Car break-ins, Telegraph and Ashby
8/9 Burglary, Essex b/w Wheeler and Shattuck
8/11, 8/12 Larceny theft, Telegraph and Ashby
8/15 Burglary, Woolsey and Whitney (near Tremont)
8/17 Felony theft, Ashby and Shattuck
8/20 Robbery, Shattuck and Woolsey (note: 8:30 p.m.)
8/22 Brandishing a weapon, Telegraph and Ashby

A neighbor reported the following to our Facebook group:

“Somebody broke into our car last night on Woolsey and Deakin.” [Further comments revealed that neighbor reported this to the police, and that the car had nothing of value in it.] “Also came to know that a neighbor’s bike was stolen on one day and the second bike tires were stolen the second day which were kept in their porch.”

Editor’s note: I highly recommend the Berkeley Police Department’s monthly newsletter: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Police/Home/BPD_Newsletter.aspxThe August edition (labeled July on the newsletter home page) is full of useful information!

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3. Whole Foods Market News: Next Drop-in Progress Meeting on October 31, 8-8:30 a.m.

Editor’s note: We very much appreciate the ongoing support our neighborhood receives from our business neighbor Whole Foods Market. Special thanks to Community Relations Team Leader Lizzie Brimhall for attending our National Night Out Against Crime Ice Cream Social and for arranging the delicious donations for the event!

Drop-in Progress Meeting, Thursday, October 31, 8-8:30 a.m.

Whole Foods Market (check in at Customer Service)

At our meeting in August, we decided to switch to meeting every two months rather than monthly given that the store remodel is complete, meeting attendance has been small, and things are generally going smoothly. The October 31 meeting will allow neighbors a chance to coordinate with Whole Foods Market prior to the busy holiday season in November and December (since it’s Halloween, feel free to attend in costume!).

“These meetings are held at the Community Table at the front of the store, and the purpose is to share our plans for ongoing changes in the store, street litter control, and progress on any of the ongoing issues we discuss [with HNA reps and nearby neighbors]. The Store Team Leader is usually present, 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.”

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4. Neighbor Offering Babysitting Services

Editor’s note: When timing and space align, I’m happy to pass on occasional announcements about services offered by neighbors.

Dear parents in the neighborhood:

Would you like a reliable and experienced babysitter for occasional or regular babysitting/nannying during the day or for nights out? Do you like the idea of someone who lives close by and with whom you can establish a closer connection?

My name is Monika and I am 29 years old, Swedish, and have lived in the Bay Area for two years now while studying to be a marriage and family therapist. I’ve just started my clinical practicum as a trainee psychotherapist, which has shifted my schedule around and so I need to fill up with some more hours of nannying and babysitting. I live in a communal house on Prince Street (at Fulton) and I’d LOVE to connect with one or a few families in the neighborhood who would like some regular hours or are interested in occasional babysitting. Living close by has several great benefits like increasing my availability if you for example needed childcare unexpectedly. But it’s also just nice to get to know people in the neighborhood and be able to walk over. As for days, Thursdays, Fridays and weekends are especially good for me, but I may have some additional availability during the week, depending on how my schedule with clients unfolds.

I’ve babysat regularly in the last two years (plenty of references to provide) and also have lots of prior experience working in nurseries and schools in Sweden with children from about 14 months to 15 years old. I am really interested in children’s development, including attachment parenting, value empathy, listening, creativity, and good boundaries. I am warm, compassionate and with a playful and reflective mind, and I also like being practical and organized. In my spare time I love being in nature, spend time with friends, play the guitar, meditate, sing, dance, and do yoga. I have lived and traveled in many different countries and can speak Swedish, Polish, Spanish, or English with your kids.

Send me an email if you are interested!

Monika monika.m.misiowiec@gmail.com

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5. Free City of Berkeley CERT (Disaster Prep) Classes

Editor’s note: Some of the disaster prep trainings listed are already full, but others still have space. Sign up soon! There will be a three-day CERT Academy in mid-October, and it would be great if some of our Halcyon neighbors could attend!

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=57314

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6. Save the Date: Saturday, November 16, Cultivating a Sense of Place and a Place for a Commons,
A Walking Tour of the (New) Halcyon Neighborhood

Editor’s note: HNA Co-Chair John Steere will be leading this upcoming Berkeley Historical Society tour (tickets are $8.00 for BHS members or $10 for the general public).

Saturday, November 16

Cultivating a Sense of Place and a Place for a Commons: A Walking Tour of the (New) Halcyon Neighborhood.

Led by John Steere

Join us on a walking tour of one of Berkeley’s oldest neighborhoods and one of its newest as well. Learn how the Halcyon Neighborhood was born, in bringing neighbors together to create a commons out of a parking lot, in building micro-parks, and in planting over a 100 street trees. Find out about other hidden gems of artful houses and gardens and the fascinating residential lore of neighbors who’ve experienced the changes in Halcyon across five decades. Halcyon is a quiet, quirky, and paradoxical unknown neighborhood, tucked away between some of Berkeley’s best known and busiest streets of Ashby, Telegraph, and Shattuck. The tour will be led by John Steere, the co-chair of Halcyon Neighborhood Association, and a couple of long-time residents who will share intriguing stories of its human and natural history -- a place with a unique fabric, even by Berkeley standards.

BHS Note: Tours start at 10:00 a.m. and end at approximately 12:00 noon. Sometimes they are slightly longer, so some extra time should be allowed in case the walk meets an informative passerby or dwells at an interesting site. Tours are limited to 30 paying participants unless noted otherwise. Pre-paid reservations are required and tickets are not refundable. Tours are conducted in rain, shine, or Berkeley fog and are wheelchair accessible unless otherwise noted. See http://www.berkeleyhistoricalsociety.org/walks/WOF-2012_Spr.html to order a ticket.

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