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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 7/8/10

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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. Work Party in the Park, Saturday, July 10, 9:30–12:30: Volunteers Needed!

2. Saving Willard Pool (an Item from Councilmember Worthington)

3. City of Berkeley Prepares for Ranked Choice Voting in This November’s Election

4. Crime Watch Update: Report on North Oakland Gang Injunction Meeting

5. Free Monthly Tai Chi Practice in the Park, Sunday, July 25, 11 a.m.

6. Halcyon Disaster Preparedness Listserv & Crime Watch/Night-time Safety Walk Listserv

7. One Small Step toward Greater Personal Disaster Preparedness

8. Committee Forms to Save Reel Video through Community-Focused Business Model

9. Update on the Claremont Branch Library Project, Wednesday, July 14, 6:30 p.m.

10. Crime Watch Report: Car Break-ins on Woolsey

11. National Night Out Event, Tuesday, August 3, 6:00–8:30 p.m.

12. Crime Watch Report: Vandalism to Bulletin Board in Halcyon Commons

13. A Plea to Parents: Preventing Broken Branches in Halcyon Commons

Editor’s Introductory Note:

This Saturday is our work party and cleanup in Halcyon Commons, and the surrounding neighborhood if we have enough help — there’s some graffiti out there that could use removal! (see item 1). We were a bit shorthanded in May, so if you can possibly make it, we could really use your help! As always, our local community-run café, Mokka at Telegraph and Dowling, will providing fresh coffee to get us started, and Whole Foods Market is once again generously providing snacks to fuel us.

And on the subject of our beloved community-designed park, also note the special need for some extra TLC (see items 12 and 13). Our neighborhood created this park to serve as our common space. Let’s take care of it!

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

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1. Work Party in the Park, Saturday, July 10, 9:30–12:30: Volunteers Needed!

Meet at Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Delicious refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market.

Fresh coffee courtesy of Mokka (cafe at Telegraph and Dowling).

* Weeding in Halcyon Commons and nearby landscaped barriers

* Graffiti removal & picking up litter from streets in the larger neighborhood

Halcyon Commons is a neighborhood-designed and created park. We have an ongoing agreement to help in its maintenance. Please come be a part of taking care of our community commons; even half an hour helps! You’ll get to enjoy good food and the company of your neighbors while we give the park a little TLC. Children especially welcome!

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2. Saving Willard Pool (an Item from Councilmember Worthington)

Editor’s note: Councilmember Kriss Worthington asked that we pass on the following information. Please note that in accordance with HNA’s Guiding Principles (which can be found at http://www.halcyonneighborhood.org ) HNA doesn’t take positions on issues where there may be a divergence of opinions among neighbors, but we do encourage neighbors to make their opinions known as individuals (a list of contact information for elected officials can also be found at the HNA website).

Form Councilmember Kriss Worthington:

I’m happy to report I was able to add Willard Pool to the July 13th City Council meeting. Councilmembers Wozniak and Wengraf also added an item seeking funding through the School Ballot measure. Below, please find some of the options we are asking the City Council to consider. In order to prevail, we need the largest turnout on this subject.

RECOMMENDATION

That the City Council initiate immediate consideration of short term, medium term, and possible long-term solutions to prevent the Willard Pool from closing.

Option #1. That the City Council reallocate funding from one street in District 7 or 8 which is scheduled to be repaved during this fiscal year.

Option #2. That the City Council reallocate funding from any other possible source designated by the City Manager from salary savings, unbudgeted interest earnings, retirements, or other accounting solutions.

Option #3. That the City provide transportation from Willard Pool to other pools to minimize loss of service to this area and to increase revenue streams for other city pools. This could take the form of bus passes or carpools or vanpools or any potential affordable transportation options.

Option #4. That the City Council and Mayor initiate immediate talks with the BUSD to explore any possibilities small or large that might mitigate or prevent the loss of Willard Pool and the Warm Water Pool.

BACKGROUND

Two out of four Pools face serious problems. Willard is currently closed, and the Warm Water Pool faces a threatened permanent closure. If both of these pools are lost there will be a significant number of upset people who may take out their frustration on School or City ballot measures. There are alternative ways that the City and School District could work together towards mutually beneficial solutions.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Unknown.

CONTACT PERSON

Councilmember Kriss Worthington 510-981-7170

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3. City of Berkeley Prepares for Ranked Choice Voting in This November’s Election

Editor’s note: Deputy City Clerk Mark Numainville asked us to share the following information:

Ranked Choice Voting

Berkeley voters will use Ranked Choice Voting for the first time this November. This method allows the voter to rank candidates in order of preference, and eliminates the need for run-off elections.

In Berkeley, RCV will only be used in races for Mayor, Council seats, and Auditor. In these races, voters can (but aren’t required to) indicate their first, second and third choice for an office.

This is sometimes called “instant run-off voting” but don’t be confused—it’s not instant, and all ballots get counted before a race is decided. Under RCV, a candidate must receive a majority of votes to be declared the winner. For more information, call 981-6900, or email elections@cityofberkeley.info.

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4. Crime Watch Update: Report on North Oakland Gang Injunction Meeting

Editor’s note: This item, from HNA Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Dawn Trygstad Rubin, is a repeat from a June E-Update in case any of you missed it.

The Shattuck Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (in which HNA participates in monthly meetings as the unofficial “sector 8”) held a meeting on Wednesday evening, 6/24, about the recently approved gang injunction covering an area of about 100 blocks in North Oakland, just across the border from Halcyon Neighborhood. Senior members of the Oakland City Attorney’s office and the Oakland Police Department presented background and facts, then answered questions from the community. More information, including a map, descriptions, and history is available online at: http://www.oaklandcityattorney.org/Notable/Gang Injunction.html

In summary, the preliminary injunction applies to only fifteen proven gang members, all adults over eighteen, who have all been convicted of multiple prior crimes and shown to have a long history of gang-related activities (e.g. drug dealing, robberies, gang recruitment, witness intimidation). It only provides for additional penalties if they choose to engage in additional illegal activities. While some people have presented the gang injunction as a civil rights issue, I think it is more appropriately viewed as a human rights issue of the 30,000 law-abiding residents of the 100-block area to live safely in peace without threat from the approximately 250 gang members of the North-side Oakland (NSO) gang and its various subgroups (AKA cliques). Over time, many of us residents hope it will disrupt the recruiting of our youth into activities that endanger their and our lives. I commend the Oakland Police Department and City Attorney’s Office for recognizing the issue and working proactively with the community to curb the problems.

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5. Free Monthly Tai Chi Practice in the Park, Sunday, July 25, 11 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/

[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. Halcyon Disaster Preparedness Listserv & Crime Watch/Night-time Safety Walk Listserv

HNA has two focused, low-traffic Yahoo group listservs for neighbors who want to communicate with one another directly around either a disaster preparedness focus or a crime watch focus (this is the place to plan night-time safety “dog” walks — dogs optional — if any of you would like to revive the frequency of our walks; plus it’s also a place to share breaking crime watch alerts). Email halcyon92@gmail.com to be added to either list. Note that for everyone’s safety, your name, address, and phone number are required to participate.

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7. One Small Step toward Greater Personal Disaster Preparedness

Members of the Disaster Preparedness Committee put together a handout for the disaster preparedness drill entitled “12 Easy Steps to Increase Your Disaster Preparedness.” In order to keep reminding everyone of these steps, each HNA E-News will include one or two of these simple steps. Here another! Let’s see if we can encourage a high percentage of our neighborhood to make this one a priority in July.

Make (or update) a Grab & Go bag: Assemble a Grab & Go bag and keep it where you can grab it quickly if you need to evacuate your home. Some basic things to include are flashlights, water, energy bars, first aid kit, emergency crank radio, and shows. You can also purchase ready-made bags. Include GREEN & RED pieces of paper or markers to mark your door after a major earthquake (Green = we’re okay; RED = need help).

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8. Committee Forms to Save Reel Video through Community-Focused Business Model

Editor’s note: From the press release about attempts to save the video store in our larger neighborhood.

East Bay nonprofit seeks to support the purchase of Reel Video with donations from the community, angel investors.

Faced with an unnecessary closing prompted by the bankruptcy of its parent corporation, patrons and employees of Reel Video in Berkeley have met to discuss its future. After preliminary discussions, they believe that, with the organizational support of the nonprofit East Bay Media Center, and the financial support of the community, they will be able to purchase Reel Video’s assets, including 81,000 dvds and the lease for the 8,000 square-foot store at 2655 Shattuck Ave, and continue to operate as a video rental outlet while they develop a new community-focused business model. This plan preserves the video collection while simultaneously restoring the autonomy and independent spirit that has defined the store, even after its purchase by a large corporation more than a decade ago.

The new, community focused vision for Reel includes partnering with local educators, film and art centers, filmmakers, and nonprofit organizations to cultivate an environment of shared filmic discovery, creativity, and lifelong learning. Free public screenings, discussion groups, and on-site film classes would provide a gathering space for the Bay Area’s movie-lovers. Plans are also afoot to help diversify the local film community by improving Reel Video's accessibility for varied sections of the population that may ordinarily have limited resources. 

Reel Video’s champions are looking for angel investors and devoted community members who can donate or loan the money needed to save the store before it disappears forever. To learn more about how to help, send an email to savereelvideo@gmail.com or visit http://savereelvideo.com

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9. Update on the Claremont Branch Library Project, Wednesday, July 14, 6:30 p.m.

Editor’s note: Received from the City of Berkeley.

Planning Your Claremont Branch Library Project, July 2010

Update on the Claremont Branch Project at a regular Board of Library Trustees Meeting

Wednesday, July 14, 6:30 p.m.

Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Street

Join us for a project update as the Board reviews and finalizes plans.

For accessibility information or other questions, call 510-981-6195.

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10. Crime Watch Report: Car Break-ins on Woolsey

A Woolsey Street neighbor submitted the following report:

“FYI, there gave have been three car break-ins on the block of Woolsey between Shattuck and Wheeler within the last month. Some broken windows, stolen iPods, sunglasses and spare change. The most recent break-in occurred in broad daylight right in front of our house. Thanks for keeping us all informed. Also, we just spoke to the police. As you are probably aware, there is A LOT of this going on right now. They are trying to be proactive about fighting it, but the crooks have become really brazen and the cops can't be everywhere at once. They said to keep an eye out for anyone walking up and down both sides of the street, anyone looking at cars and/or anyone with tools (i.e., screwdrivers, flat bars, hammers) hanging out of their bags or pockets. And of course, to call the police right away if you see anything suspicious.”

And another neighbor from Woolsey wrote:

“Just a note about an event the night of Friday, June 25. On Woolsey Street my car parked in the driveway, and the car parked in front of my house were somehow burgled. My car was locked and alarmed. There were no signs of breaking into it, no windows broken or locks picked. Contents of compartments were all over the floor and seats, but nothing was taken. Probably looking for money. This suggests someone has a magic way of opening cars without damage, maybe some master electric key?”

Editor’s note: To break the car break-in cycle, it’s crucial that we make a point of never leaving any valuables visible in our cars. As long as they get valuable items, thieves will keep coming back! Since we’re experiencing what appears to a particularly brazen wave, we can also make a difference, as the first report suggests, by calling the police at signs of any suspicious behavior. The nonemergency number for general “suspicion” reports is 981-5900. In an emergency, it’s 911 from a landline; program your cell with 981-5911 for acts in progress.

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11. National Night Out Against Crime, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

HNA is once again participating in National Night Out Against Crime! Mark your calendars now!

Tuesday, August 3, Halcyon Commons Park (Halcyon at Prince)

6:00-7:30 p.m.: Community Potluck in the park, with visits from the Police Department, Fire Department, and City officials

7:30-8:30 p.m.: Neighborhood Safety Walk to include the Oakland border and Ed Roberts campus area and identify any problem spots or issues

Appetizers courtesy of Whole Foods Market!

Neighbors: Please bring a food item (and possibly beverage) to share:

Main Dish: P-Z * Salad: A-H * Dessert: I-O

[If not obvious, kindly attach a label with ingredients for your dish to alert those with vegetarian and other diets. It’s helpful if many of you can also bring a beverage to share.]

This event is a great chance to ask questions and introduce yourselves and your children to police officers and firefighters. It’s also an opportunity to show representatives from the City that we’re concerned about crime and are willing to work in partnership to help address it.

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12: Crime Watch Report: Vandalism to Bulletin Board in Halcyon Commons

The week of 6/21, someone smashed the safety glass on the left side of our community bulletin board in Halcyon Commons park. This lovingly designed and crafted bulletin board (design and construction by Prince Street neighbor Bruce Wicinas, special copper roof by Prince Street neighbor Hisa Ishikawa) has largely been spared major acts of vandalism over the years, though it gets occasional graffiti. Many thanks to Bruce for promptly boarding up the damaged side and doing the painstaking work of removing the glass and reconstructing the door. It’s up to all of us to protect our community commons, so if you notice any suspicious or potentially antisocial behavior, please do not hesitate to make a report to the Police Department so they can notify our beat officer!

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13. A Plea to Parents: Preventing Broken Branches in Halcyon Commons

A note from Nancy and Susan: There have been many broken branches in Halcyon Commons park in the past two months. This season alone, we’ve lost at least six branches off the South African bushes (the bushes with the tall, spiky purple flowers in the spring) across from the tire swing area, three of them major. These bushes had become a favored place for toddlers to climb. We’ve put up a sign to alert parents that these bushes aren’t safe for climbing; it hurts the bushes, and it could end up hurting your child when a branch breaks! The branches may look appealing for climbing, but they’re very brittle and fragile. And if very small children get used to climbing on them, they may want to keep on climbing on them as they get bigger, increasing the chances of breakage. We’re making a special plea to parents to help your children understand and to keep them from climbing on these bushes. We know they look tempting.

And for parents of older, more ambitious climbers: The lovely chestnut at the south end of the lawn has also become a favorite for children to climb. Ordinarily, it seems to work out. But in the past six weeks, five branches on this tree have been broken, three of them fairly sizable (but apparently not sizable enough to withstand the weight put on them). Please be sure that your tree-climbing children know not only their own limits but those of the tree; many of these branches look tempting but are still slender and cannot bear much weight. We address this request to parents, because it’s up to you to model to your children appropriate care for our shared common space. And we love those trees, which we helped plant fourteen years ago! We want them to thrive for many to enjoy for decades to come. Thanks for listening!

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