Join Halcyon Neighborhood Association’s Facebook group!

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 3/4/11

* * * * * * * * * * * *

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.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Contents

1. Big Work Party in Park and Surrounding Neighborhood, Sat., 3/5, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

2. Tai Chi Practice in the Park, Sunday, 3/27, 10 a.m. (with optional training at 9:30 a.m.)

3. Upcoming Drop-In Progress Meetings at Whole Foods Market, Weds., 3/16 & 3/30, 8:30-9 a.m.

4. Do You Want Chair Massage to Continue at Whole Foods Market?

5. Email halcyon92@gmail to get on Our Disaster Preparedness and Crime Watch Listservs!

6. Ice Cream Social & Whole Planet Food Fair, Whole Foods market, Sunday, 3/20

7. Crime Watch Updates: Attempted Break-in on Woolsey; Possible Prowler on Essex; Graffiti Removal

8. Councilmember Kriss Worthington’s Office’s March News

9. Kickoff to Construction at Claremont Branch Library, Jazz & Art, Saturday, 3/19, 2-5 p.m.

10. Southside Planning Documents Available

11. Free Services from Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

12. California Youth Energy Services Offering Energy Retrofit Services This Summer

13. Links to Articles on Crime Dropping in Berkeley in 2010

14. Curbside Recycling by Ecology Center in Jeopardy

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Big Work Party in Park and Surrounding Neighborhood, Sat., 3/5, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

 

Location: Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Time Frame: Come anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sat. 3/5 (even twenty minutes helps!)

Goals: Weed and mulch in the park and nearby planted areas; remove graffiti & trash in larger neighborhood; enjoy the company of neighbors and student volunteers

Fuel: Refreshments & lunch courtesy of Whole Foods Market; fresh coffee courtesy of Mokka Café at Telegraph & Dowling

 

Once again we’ll enjoy the help of volunteers from the Berkeley Project as students from UC help us weed in the park and spread mulch. If you can help, just show up at Halcyon Commons. Bring your own weeding tools, or we’ll loan you some. Children welcome!

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

2. Tai Chi Practice in the Park, Sunday, 3/27, 10 a.m. (with optional training at 9:30 a.m.)

 

Free monthly Tai Chi Chih Practice

(fourth Sundays at 10 a.m., except in April for World Tai Chi Day on Sat. April 30)

Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince)

Facilitated by Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz, 510-843-2062

 

Optional free instruction in Tai Chi Chih basics at 9:30 a.m. before the practice!

Contact Judith if you’re a beginner who’d like to show up early to learn enough of the basics to practice along with the group at 10 a.m. (Judith will only show up early 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. Note that Judith sometimes has to change the date and/or time for the free community practice given other commitments in her busy life, so please check the HNA website at http://www.halcyonneighborhood.org/ to verify that month’s practice!

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

3. Upcoming Drop-In Progress Meetings at Whole Foods Market, Weds., 3/16 & 3/30, 8:30 - 9 a.m.

 

Editor’s note: Marketing Team Leader Jim Hallock at Whole Foods Market let us know that he and new Store Team Leader Melody Mestemacher will be continuing drop-in progress meetings with neighbors “to directly address noise levels, to brainstorm, and to keep interested neighbors apprised of our noise abatement action plan and any other issues that arise.” Neighbors interested in tracking noise abatement issues are especially encouraged to attend, though those with other issues are also welcome. Preliminary information about the interior store remodel planned to commence in August and to last 40 weeks will be available. Thanks again to Mel and Jim for offering this additional outreach to the neighborhood!

 

Progress Meetings

Mel [Melody Mestemacher, new Store Team Leader] has asked me to set up a few bi-weekly follow-up meetings for anyone who would like to attend. These meetings will be 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 later this year, street litter control, and progress on any of the ongoing issues we discuss [with HNA reps and nearby neighbors] quarterly. Mel 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. The upcoming meetings are scheduled from 8:30 - 9 a.m. on Wednesday 3/16 and 3/30.

Noise

As an overview, in our last meeting Mel asked that anyone who had noise complaints to please call the store immediately, at 649-1333, and ask for the Shift Manager, so we can identify and stop the noise. Shift Managers are available from around 7:30 a.m. to midnight. If the noise is before 7:30 a.m., please ask for the Receiving Dock. If you can’t reach anyone, please make a note of the time and date, and call a Shift Manager after 7:30 a.m. You can also email Melody and me so we can follow up.

Jim Hallock
Marketing Team Leader

Whole Foods Market Berkeley

3000 Telegraph Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94705

510.649.1333 ext. 261

Jim.Hallock@wholefoods.com

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

4. Do You Want Chair Massage to Continue at Whole Foods Market?

 

Editor’s note: Shoshana Frumkin, CNC, CMT, of On the Spot Massage, which has employed eighteen people to staff various hours and provide chair massages at the Telegraph Avenue Whole Foods Market for the past seven years, called to our attention the recent hiatus in this service due to permitting issues with the City of Berkeley. These are in the process of being resolved (including an issue on next Tuesday’s City Council agenda to clarify the relevant passages in the Berkeley Municipal Code). In the meantime, if you’d like to see this service restored at the Telegraph Whole Foods Market, please read Shoshana’s message and take action. Note that HNA as an organization hasn’t yet taken a position on this issue. According to our Guiding Principles, we only take positions on land-use issues when there’s near-unanimity among neighbors. Let us know if you have strong feelings one way or the other on this issue by emailing halcyon92@gmail.com.

 

Dear Neighbors:

 

On the Spot Massage has been serving chair massage to the Whole Foods Berkeley community for seven years. We were shut down 2/15/2011 for not having a massage establishment permit, and we are also sorting out some zoning issues, which the City Council is reviewing to amend the ordinance for chair massage in retail stores as an accessory service in public view to be exempt from needing a massage establishment permit as has been accomplished in Oakland 2008 unanimously by the Oakland City Council.

 

Linda Maio, the Berkeley vice mayor, has said she did not intend to have the ordinance impact our type of setup and would like to see us in this sector of the massage industry flourish. If you have been enjoying our service, please let the store know, as your voice as a customer is gold.

 

Store Team Leader:

melody.mestemacher@wholefoods.com

 

Marketing Team Leader

jim.hallock@wholefoods.com

 

To all of you whose lives we have touched, we truly love taking care of your Kneads!

 

Cheers,

Shoshana Frumkin CNC, CMT

President / Founder

On the Spot Massage LLC

510-704-0359 ph

510-841-3404 fx

shoshana@onthespotmassage.com

http://www.onthespotmassage.com

http://www.facebook.com/otsmassage

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

5. Email halcyon92@gmail to get on Our Disaster Preparedness and Crime Watch Listservs!

 

Editor’s note: Your participation is what keeps our neighborhood safer and better prepared for a big earthquake. If you missed extensive coverage of the New Zealand quake, some of the links at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/26/950116/-Im-dying-Dad will prove sobering. HNA needs additional participation on both the disaster preparedness listserv (planning our next drill plus discussing ways to upgrade our neighborhood disaster supply cache so it will better serve us in the event of a Christchurch-level earthquake on the Hayward Fault) and the crime-watch listserv (originally started to plan night-time safety “dog” walks but now broadened to allow us to share breaking crime-watch news plus discuss other ways to improve neighborhood safety). Email halcyon92@gmail.com to request an invitation to join either or both of these Yahoo group listservs. For all our safety, please be sure to include your full name, address, and phone with your request (we need to know the neighbors we’re talking to when it comes to neighborhood watch — i.e., this isn’t the place for anonymity). Messages are kept on topic so your in-box will be treated gently. Please sign up!

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

6. Ice Cream Social & Whole Planet Food Fair, Whole Foods Market, Sunday, 3/20

 

Editor’s note: The following item is from Jim Hallock at Whole Foods Market.

 

This month is special for us because it is our time to raise funds to benefit women’s businesses in developing countries, through our Whole Planet Foundation. Last year we raised over $11,000, and we hope our customers and Team Members will contribute generously again this year. It’s a great way to help alleviate poverty while helping small business entrepreneurs establish their businesses through microloans. Join us on the first day of Spring, March 20, for an Ice Cream Social — your $5 donation will go to our campaign. And of course let’s not forget to celebrate Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday, March 8, and St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. Happy Spring!

 

Ice Cream Social & Whole Planet Food Fair

Sunday, March 20, 3 -6 p.m.,

Coconut, tofu, low fat, or premium? We’ll have all kinds of ice cream to taste and try at our Ice Cream Social. We’ll also scoop up a sundae for you with your choice of toppings! In our outdoor café on the first day of Spring, March 20, from 3 to 6 p.m. Recommended $5 donation benefits the Whole Planet Foundation.

 

Jim Hallock

Marketing Team Leader

Whole Foods Market Berkeley

3000 Telegraph Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94705

510.649.1333 ext. 261

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

7. Crime Watch Updates: Attempted Break-in on Woolsey; Possible Prowler on Essex; Graffiti Removal

 

Editor’s note: Please take note of the m.o. used in the attempted break-in described by a Woolsey Street neighbor below. Groups of teenagers have been involved in recent break-ins, and if you notice teenagers obviously casing the neighborhood, please call the police immediately (the nonemergency number is 981-5900 for suspicious behavior; 911 from a landline or 981-5911 from a cellphone for a crime in progress). Someone asked me how to know when to follow an uncomfortable feeling and call the police. Behavior is the key ingredient I follow: If someone is giving you an obviously phony story at your door or when you run into them on your property, it’s quite possible that they’re casing the place. Please report it! Similarly, if you notice someone looking in the windows of your neighbor’s house or of cars parked on the street, report it! Remember that Halcyon Commons park closes at 10 p.m. So if you notice anyone hanging out there after that hour, you can also report that (though obviously if it’s just a neighbor passing through the park with a dog, no need to report).

 

A Woolsey Street neighbor in the 2100 block between Shattuck and Wheeler reports:

 

“I caught some kids breaking into my house around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11. I was able to detain one of them and get his information, but I was home alone so I had to let him go in order to go inside and call the police. It turns out the police know this kid and his crew from past brushes with the law, and they’ve been hitting houses in our neighborhood for the past several weeks. After the attempted break-in, I also made the connection to another strange visit. About a week before, my doorbell rang at around 3 in the afternoon. I walked up from the back of the house and saw a young kid looking through my windows. I asked what he wanted and he said, ‘Oh, is Patrick here?’ When I told him he had the wrong house, he walked off — down the street and around the corner. He didn’t try any of my neighbors or even any other house on the block. The police agreed that he was probably casing the property. They said to be sure to tell you/HNA to look out for this sort of behavior. Please let everybody know. Also, all of the perpetrators are young. The kid who came to my door was 14 or 15 years old, and the kid I caught was a ‘student’ at Berkeley High (although I went through his backpack when I was looking for ID, and I didn’t see any books or school supplies). The kids were all African-American, between the ages of 14 and18. The only one I got a real close look at was the one I physically caught. He had close-cropped hair, a medium-dark complexion, and stood about 6' tall. He had an earring in his left ear (a small diamond stud), and was skinny — I would say around 140-150 pounds. He was also with a girl claiming to be his sister. She looked to be in the same age range. Both of them were wearing dark jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. He had on a black members-only-style jacket. She was wearing a pink zip-up hoodie. They both said they were students at Berkeley High, but as I mentioned before, I doubt they went to class very often. The police said being this age gives them a convenient excuse for carrying a backpack, which they are able to load with laptops, jewelry, etc. if/when they successfully break in. Anyway, BPD said this was the m.o. for most of the recent break-ins in the neighborhood. They said to alert them if anybody saw groups of teenagers roaming around during school hours or if anyone in this age/demographic comes snooping around or knocking on your door under obviously false pretenses, like they did to me. Also, if it’s of any consequence, they were trying to break in by using a screwdriver to pry open a window at the back of my house. The window is at ground level, but they didn’t seem to notice that it was vinyl, double-paned and blocked by interior security bars. Needless to say, I would not call them professionals. I would say this was a crime of opportunity — albeit a poorly identified one.”

 

An Essex Street neighbor reports:

 

“On Essex Street Saturday, Feb. 12, I noticed that someone may have been on our back deck, as two decorative items hung on the wall were knocked down. It’s possible someone was climbing up there to try the upper windows — nothing taken.”

 

A neighbor reports:

 

“The last edition of the HNA E-News mentioned graffiti on Telegraph. Usually I just patrol my block to remove graffiti, but I was inspired by this post to take a closer look at Telegraph. Yesterday evening I took my handy cans of spray paint (one brown, one silver) and painted over the graffiti on Telegraph between Prince and 66th Street (including the bench at the bus stop in front of the church at Prince). I encourage others to partake in this activity. When the weather clears I will go again, hopefully all the way to Ashby. I only spray on public property. There is a particularly large amount on the dumpster behind the Smokehouse, and I will speak to the manager about that.” [Editor’s note: The work party on March 5 (see item 1) is a great opportunity to help with graffiti removal, and we have more colors of paint and authorization from the City, so we can match the background color whether on sidewalks, signs, or poles. Thanks to the anonymous neighbor who wrote this note and is being proactive about helping to keep graffiti under control!]

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

8. Councilmember Kriss Worthington’s Office’s March News

 

Editor’s note: Councilmember Kriss Worthington’s office sent us the following news.

 

Dear Halcyon folks:

 

Our office has proposed these upcoming City Council items for Tuesday March 8, 2011 (hyperlinks below):

1.    Creation of a BPD permanent WALK THE BEAT officer position for Telegraph Avenue

2.    Seeking grant funds to install PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING on Telegraph

3.    Establishing a City-wide PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION

4.    Increasing public access to campaign finance reports by requiring electronic submission

5.    Starting Public Hearings at a SET TIME

Priority Project:

6.    Rats have appeared in larger quantities and more places this year. The City has required abatement actions in multiple locations.  If you know of additional locations needing attention, please let us know.

7.    COMING SOON: License Plate Recognition PARKING ENFORCEMENT will be put in place soon in the Willard and Bateman areas. [Editor’s note: Inclusion of the eastern edge of Halcyon neighborhood has been requested.] This trial program is intended to reduce the number of parked cars with chalk marks wiped off so they can exceed the allowed time limits.

8.    Illegal Construction Reported at 3016 Hillegass Avenue. . . .

9.    On March 22 we will be attempting to convince the City Council to modify the extreme decision allowing 100% of Warehouse and Wholesale space in West Berkeley to be converted to Research and Development. This was adopted by a 5 to 4 vote last month, so we just need to persuade one vote to change to get a more practical policy. Dozens of West Berkeley businesses and residents testified overwhelmingly against such an extreme change, so it is likely the whole issue will be put to a referendum if common sense does not bring about a compromise.

10.    Berkeley Food and Housing Project needs TOILETRIES & COATS. Please bring them to 2362 Bancroft Way, 2nd floor. Call Joanna Lavenberg, 809-8512 or Paul Cwynar, 809-8515

 

1.    WALK THE BEAT

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Council_7/Level_3_-_General/Telegraph%20Walk%20the%20Beat.pdf

 

2.    PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Council_7/Level_3_-_General/Pedestrian%20Lights%20on%20Telegraph.pdf

 

3.    PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION http://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Council_7/Level_3_-_General/Establishing%20a%20Public%20Safety%20Commission.pdf

 

4.    CAMPAIGN FINANCE

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Council_7/Level_3_-_General/Public%20Access%20to%20Campaign%20Statements.pdf

 

5.    PUBLIC HEARINGS SET TIME http://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Council_7/Level_3_-_General/Set%20time%20for%20Public%20Hearings.pdf

 

Kriss Worthington

Councilmember

City of Berkeley, District 7

2180 Milvia Street, 5th Floor

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 981-7170 phone

(510) 981-7177 fax

kworthington@cityofberkeley.info

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/council7/

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

9. Kickoff to Construction at Claremont Branch Library, Jazz & Art, Saturday, 3/19, 2-5 p.m.

 

Editor’s note: The City of Berkeley sent the following announcement.

 

You’re invited! Please join us in celebrating the start of construction for the Claremont Branch Library. Listen to music and make fabulous art!

 

Saturday, March 19th

2-5 p.m.

Claremont Branch Library

2940 Benvenue Avenue

Program begins at 3:00 p.m.

Music & Poetry with Jazz Art at 3:30

Lisa di Prima’s Jazz, Art, With Violinist India Cooke and Special Guest Musician

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, go to http://berkeleypubliclibrary.org

or call 510-981-6195.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library

 

Wheelchair accessible. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public meetings. To request a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, materials in large print or Braille, or other accommodations, call 510-981-6107 or 510-548-1240 (TDD) at least three days before the program.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

10. Southside Planning Documents Available

 

Editor’s note: From the City of Berkeley:

 

The Southside Plan and the Southside Design Guidelines are now available for review. Copies are available for viewing at the Main Library, the South Branch Library, and the Planning Counter at the Permit Service Center (2120 Milvia Street). These documents are also available online: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=420 The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Southside Plan will be released in the next two weeks. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to take action on the Southside Plan and its associated documents on Wednesday, April 6.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

11. Free Services from Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

 

Editor’s note: From the City of Berkeley:

 

Dear Halcyon Neighborhood Association Members,

 

 I would like to inform you of free services available to you and your neighborhood association offered by the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

 

If you are a property owner, you pay an annual $10 property tax assessment fee; perhaps unbeknownst to you, this payment is already woven into your other fees. That’s why it is highly encouraged that you take advantage of these services that your $10 assessment fee covers. Such services include:

      

In-home consultation

Lead-safe home renovation classes

Garden soil lead sampling kit

Financial assistance

Property owner awareness events

“Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home” pamphlets

 

We also educate community members on how to prevent exposure to lead — whether in the home or in consumer products — so that they can be empowered and informed to keep their families safe. Our city’s public health mission is that every person in Berkeley has the right to good health, and we want to help the Neighborhood be lead-free.

 

For more info, please call Zandra Lee at (510) 981-5356 or visit our website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=11244.

 

Sincerely,

 

Zandra Lee, MPH, CHES

Program Manager, Lead Poisoning Prevention and Health Housing Berkeley Project

City of Berkeley, Division of Public Health

1947 Center St., 2nd Floor

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 981-5356

fax (510) 981-5395

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

12. California Youth Energy Services Offering Energy Retrofit Services This Summer

 

Editor’s note: HNA received the following announcement. I’ve taken advantage of this free service in the past, and it was very helpful.

 

“Hi, my name is Adriana Haro and I work for California Youth Energy Services. We are a nonprofit organization program that hires and trains local youth ages 15-22 to perform Green House Calls, which are free energy efficient retrofits on homes. We install energy efficiency measures like CFLs, showerheads, aerators, and clotheslines, as well as providing information on how to go green. This program will run in Berkeley this summer. If any questions arise and/ or are interested in our services, please feel free to contact me at (510) 665-1501 ext. 16. Thanks.”

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

13. Links to Articles on Crime Dropping in Berkeley in 2010

 

Editor’s note: Crime was down overall in 2010 in Berkeley — significantly. Here are links to article’s on the Berkeley Police Department’s report. Worth keeping such statistics in mind at election time, when candidates sometimes overreach to find issues to run on. But also worth noting that it would be unwise to get complacent. Among other tidbits, burglary and aggravated assault were the two categories where there was a slight increase, and burglaries and car break-ins continue to be reported in our neighborhood. So let’s keep our neighborhood watch strong! (See item 4 about joining the crime-watch listserv.)

 

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/02/28/crime-in-berkeley-was-down-in-2010/

 

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_17512652

 

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentPrint.aspx?id=65552

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

14. Curbside Recycling by Ecology Center in Jeopardy

 

Editor’s note: From the Ecology Center:

 

Dear Berkeley Residents and Ecology Center Supporters,

 

The City of Berkeley is considering terminating our curbside recycling program based on an incomplete and inaccurate consultant report. We urgently need your help to save this community-based program. Please attend the Berkeley City Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 8th to voice your support for the Ecology Center. The future of our organization is at stake.

 

Read more:

http://ecologycenter.org/terrain/blog/ecology-center-recycling-contract-in-danger/

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *