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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 5/5/11

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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. Your Help Needed: Work Party in the Park, Sat. 5/14, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

2. Halcyon Neighborhood: Family Disaster Preparedness Discussion, Thurs. 5/26, 8–9 p.m.

3. Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Drill, Sunday 6/5, 3–5 p.m., Halcyon Commons

4. Halcyon Garden Potluck Party, Sunday 6/5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

5. Hiatus in Free Monthly Tai Chi Chih in the Park

6. Multi-Block Yard Sale on Saturday 6/11? RSVP if Interested

7. Take a Survey to Help UCB City Planning Researchers

8. Sign Up to Receive UCB’s Cal Neighbors Newsletter

9. Yellow Emperor Acupuncture Clinic Offering Qi Gong Class, Tuesdays, 7:15-8:15 p.m.

10. Drop-In Progress Meetings at Whole Foods Market, Weds. 5/11 & 5/25, 8:30–9 a.m.

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

12. Crime Watch Alert: Burglaries Targeting Daytime At-Home Seniors

13. Volunteers Needed: Someone to Photocopy Flyers; Flyer Distributors

14. Fitness Classes at Ed Roberts Campus: Link to Current Calendar

15. May Events Sponsored by Whole Foods Market

16. Link to Contribute to Toby Eagle’s Sons’ College Fund

17. Black Infant Health Program Open House, Fri. 5/13, 3:30-7 p.m.

 

 

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1. Your Help Needed: Work Party in the Park, Sat. 5/14, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

 

Work Party in the Park (and Surrounding Neighborhood): 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 & light mulching in Halcyon Commons and nearby landscaped barriers (rain or shine)

* Picking up litter from streets in the larger neighborhood (rain or shine)

* Graffiti removal in the larger neighborhood (if sunny & 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 don’t.

 

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2. Halcyon Neighborhood: Family Disaster Preparedness Discussion, Thurs. 5/26, 8–9 p.m.

 

Editor’s note: This is a great opportunity for families in the neighborhood to explore how to take the next step in disaster prep. Sponsored by Susan Snyder, co-founder of Halcyon Play Date and one of the coordinators of our Disaster Preparedness Committee.

 

Family Disaster Preparedness Discussion
Thursday, May 26th, 8–9 p.m.

Please join us for a discussion about the special issues involved in preparing yourself and your children for a major earthquake. We’ll brainstorm ideas, share resources, and also see if there is interest in holding a drill that gets children involved. Please contact Susan at halcyonplaydate@gmail.com for more information, including location.

 

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3. Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Drill, Sunday 6/5, 3–5 p.m., Halcyon Commons

 

Neighborhood Disaster Prep Event
Sunday, June 5, 3–5 pm.

Meet at Halcyon Commons (in the park on Halcyon Court across from the Supply Cache)

Join with your neighbors to increase our preparedness and to refresh our plans of response. This afternoon of information and training will include:

* an update on Berkeley’s and our neighborhood’s level of preparedness
* hands-on training for the cache supplies, including what’s in the cache which helps us to launch an organized response.
* (1) first-aid and (2) house hazards presentations
* brief community discussion

You won’t be bored!

Call for volunteers! Help us put on a successful event on June 5th. We need a few volunteers to help on the day of the drill. Help set up or clean up, lead groups from station to station, share your expertise in (1) first aid and (2) dwelling preparation issues, and help dramatize action roles like search and rescue. To help, please contact halcyon92@gmail.com, and your contact information will be forwarded to event organizers Bruce Wicinas and Susan Snyder.

 

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4. Halcyon Garden Potluck Party, Sunday 6/5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

 

Halcyon Garden Potluck Party

Sunday, June 5, 5:30–7:30 p.m., 2329 Webster (near Whole Foods)

 

Come appreciate the spirit of our community, share neighborhood news and delicious food, and enjoy the company of your neighbors in John & Michelle’s English Garden backyard.

 

Potluck suggestions: Appetizer: O–S * Salad: T–Z * Main Dish: H–N * Dessert: A–G

(If not obvious, kindly attach a label with ingredients for your dish to alert those with vegetarian and other diets. If so inspired, it's really helpful if you can also bring a beverage to share. Children welcome!)

 

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5. Hiatus in Free Monthly Tai Chi Chih in the Park

 

Editor’s note: Prince Street neighbor Judith Schwartz needs to take a break from offering free monthly Tai Chi Chih practice in Halcyon Commons due to travel and personal plans. Our last sponsored community practice was for the World Tai Chi/Qigong Day event on April 30, which was attended by 16 people who enjoyed treats from Whole Foods Market and green tea from Mokka Café. Thank you, Judith, for bringing the positive energy of Tai Chi Chih to the park and the community. We look forward to the possibility of practices resuming when you’re willing and able to lead us. (Keep an eye on the E-News for announcements of future practice in the park, and if you want to learn or refresh your Tai Chi Chih skills in the meantime, feel free to contact Judith at 510-843-2062 to find out about ongoing classes she offers in her Prince Street gardens).

 

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6. Multi-Block Yard Sale on Saturday 6/11? RSVP if Interested

 

Editor’s note: HNA Treasurer and past organizer of successful Multi-Block Yard Sales Susan Hunter submitted the following announcement. Multiblock sales tend to draw a much larger crowd of potential customers, so if you’re interested please be sure to reply soon so there’s time to plan.

 

Spring Cleaning? Pre-Summer Sale? Anyone else out there up for another Multi-Block Yard Sale sponsored by HNA? We need to get at least a dozen households signed up if so (no matter what, a few of us will still do a smaller-scale multi-family sale on Webster at Halcyon that Saturday, June 11, so let us know if you’d want to participate in that as a backup). Cost to participate will be $5 toward ads and supplies for flyers, and we’ll need help creating signs and flyers and then posting them the week of the sale. Email halcyon92@gmail.com and your response will be forwarded to the event organizer, Susan Hunter.

 

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7. Take a Survey to Help UCB City Planning Researchers

 

Editor’s note: The survey in question is needed back as soon as possible; this is the final week for collecting responses. It just takes a few minutes to complete the survey online.

 

I am a Ph.D. student at UC-Berkeley working on a research study on neighborhood housing headed by Professor Karen Chapple. The study is examining the relationship between housing and parking in areas that are within a half mile of five East Bay BART stations, one of which is Ashby. We would welcome responses from homeowners in your neighborhood. The identities of all respondents will be kept strictly confidential. Respondents can choose to be enrolled in a raffle drawing for the following: 1st prize - $200 Apple card, 2nd prize - $150 BART card, 3rd prize - $100 BART card. To take the survey online in English, respondents should go to

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X6DRWZH

                                 

In Spanish: Para participar en la encuesta en Español, por favor haga click en el siguiente dirección de Internet: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X59G6ZG

 

Thank you!

Jake Wegmann
Ph.D. Student
Department of City and Regional Planning
University of California, Berkeley

 

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8. Sign Up to Receive UCB’s Cal Neighbors Newsletter

 

Editor’s note: The following press release was submitted by UCB’s Community Relations Director Caleb Dardick, who also happens to be a Halcyon neighbor. Signing up for the e-newsletter is a great way to stay informed about campus news and events.

 

Cal Neighbors Connects the Community to the Campus

 

UC Berkeley relaunched Cal Neighbors as an e-newsletter this year. For over a decade the campus delivered a printed copy to every household in Berkeley. Now the university has embraced a more timely, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective method of informing the community about campus news and events. “The primary goal of Cal Neighbors is to connect the surrounding Berkeley community to the campus by informing residents about construction updates, campus events, and other topics of interest,” said Caleb Dardick, director of community relations. “This is only our second edition so we’d like to hear what people think about it. I hope everyone will sign up to receive it quarterly, and then take our brief three-minute survey so that we can tailor it to meet the community’s interests,” said Dardick. For more information, please contact the Office of Government and Community Relations at (510) 643-5299 or calneighbors@berkeley.edu.

 

Caleb Dardick

Director, Local Government & Community Relations

Office of the Chancellor

2130 Center Street

Berkeley, CA 94720-4208

TEL: (510) 643-5296

FAX: (510) 643-0281

cdardick@berkeley.edu

http://communityrelations.berkeley.edu

 

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9. Yellow Emperor Acupuncture Clinic Offering Qi Gong Class, Tuesdays, 7:15-8:15 p.m.

 

Editor’s note: Our neighborhood’s own sliding-scale community acupuncture clinic, Yellow Emperor, on Shattuck just south of La Peña, is offering a drop-in class on Qi Gong basics, emphasizing conscious breathing.

 

What: Qi Gong for Health

When: Tuesdays, 7:15–8:15 p.m.

Where: Yellow Emperor Community Acupuncture Clinic, 3111 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

Details: Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese healing art. The term Qi Gong means to exercise with emphasis on the breathing. This class offers a series of easy-to-learn exercises that integrate a variety of movements with deep, full breaths. Practicing of Qi Gong provides an immediate boost of circulation, which can reduce stress and fatigue and bring about greater mental acuity. Regular practice of Qi Gong can have long-term benefits, such as regulating metabolism and strengthening the immune system.

Cost: $10 per class on a drop-in basis

Website: http://the-yellow-emperor.com/?p=328

Phone: 510-227-4028

 

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10. Drop-In Progress Meetings at Whole Foods Market, Weds. 5/11 & 5/25, 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 during May “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 and parking 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

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 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 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday 5/11 and 5/25.

Noise

Note that Mel has 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 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

 

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11. 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 to prevent crime and to get ready for a big earthquake. News reports of earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand and their aftermath are sobering for those of us who also live near active faults. HNA needs additional participation on the disaster preparedness listserv (planning our early summer neighborhood drill plus discussing ways to upgrade our neighborhood disaster supply cache so it will better serve us in the event of a large earthquake on the Hayward Fault). Your participation is also needed on 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); by joining this listserv, you can receive breaking crime-watch reports more quickly. 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!

 

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12. Crime Watch Alert: Burglaries Targeting Daytime At-Home Elderly

 

Editor’s note: This is an alert from Officer Nabozny in the Berkeley Police Department Community Services Bureau.

 

AREA 2 COMMUNITY ALERT

 

The following burglaries/suspicious activity have targeted elderly people at home during the day time hours. The suspects use a ruse of impersonating sewer workers/tree trimming services. All listed cases have similar suspects and similar vehicle. If you see any suspicious activities and/or see anyone or vehicles matching the description given below, please contact the Berkeley Police Department.

 

Burglary, approximately 5 p.m., 2700 Block of Belrose Ave., BPD CASE #11-17974

On 04/01/11 at around 5:00 p.m., suspect #1 knocked on the front door of a house in the 2700 block of Belrose Ave in regards to his tree trimming service. The victim spoke to suspect #1 in her backyard for over an hour. The victim went inside her house and saw suspect #2 crouched in her front yard with her pillow case filled with her belongings. The victim noticed suspect #1 and suspect #2 get into a large gold/grey pick-up truck parked in her driveway. The victim went upstairs to a locked room, noticed it was pried opened, and many personal belongings stolen. Officers conducted an area search for the suspects and the vehicle but were unable to locate the suspects or the vehicle.

 

SUSPECTS:

1.)   Hispanic/Gypsy male adult, 30-40 years old, 5’9”, thin build, light brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a white t-shirt.

2.)   Hispanic/Gypsy, male adult, 30-40 years old, 5’9”, heavy build, dark complexion, wearing a black shirt and carrying a pillow case.

VEHICLE:

Large, light-colored pick-up truck, possibly driven by suspect #1

 

Burglary, approximately 6 p.m., 100 Block of Tunnel Road, BPD CASE# 11-20323

On 04/13/11 at around 5:55 p.m., suspect #1 knocked on the front door of a house in the 50 block of Tunnel Rd in regards to a sewer problem. The victim went to the backyard with suspect #1 but remembered that he had to turn off his stove. The victim went inside his house and saw suspect #2/suspect #3 walking around the foyer of his house. Suspect #2/suspect #3 saw the victim and ran out of the house. The victim locked his doors and called the police.  Officers conducted an area search for the suspects but were unable to locate them.

SUSPECTS:

1.)   Hispanic/Gypsy male,30-40 yrs old, 5’10”, medium build, yellow hard hat, blue denim work shirt “Tony” name label, dark pants, holding a walkie-talkie 

            2.)  Hispanic/Gypsy male, 20-30 yrs old, reddish top

            3.)  Hispanic/Gypsy male, 20-30 yrs old, unknown clothing

 

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

 

Casing Activity, approximately 2 p.m., 900 Block of Virginia St.,  BPD CASE #11- 20279

On 04/13/11 at around 2:15 p.m., two suspects knocked on the front door of a house in the 900 block of Virginia St. The two suspects told the homeowner that they were doing work on the rear house of his property and that they had broken a sewer line. The two suspects asked the homeowner if they could walk through his house to the backyard to check the sewer line. The homeowner refused, locked the front door and went to the rear of the house with the two suspects. The homeowner did not see any damage in his backyard and asked the suspects for a business card. The homeowner stated that the suspects left in a vehicle and did not return. Officers conducted an area check for the suspects and the vehicle but were unable to locate the suspects or the vehicle.

 

SUSPECTS:

1.)   Hispanic male, 5’6” to 5’7”, light complexion, heavy, white t-shirt with the words HMF home repair 

2.)   Hispanic male, 5’6” to 5’7”, light complexion, thin, white t-shirt with the words HMF home repair  with possible gold front teeth

 

VEHICLE:

Large, white, newer pick-up truck

 

PREVENTION TIPS:  (FROM THE NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL WEBSITE):

( WWW.NCPC.ORG)

* Ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in. If you are the least bit worried, call the company to verify.

* Be aware of individuals claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations, or government  agencies that offer to recover lost money from fraudulent telemarketers for a fee.

* If you’re suspicious, check it out with the police, the better business bureau, or your local consumer  protection office. You can also call the National Consumers League Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7090.

 

CONTACT NUMBERS:

Berkeley Police Non-Emergency:                                                       510-981-5900

Berkeley Police Emergency number for cell phones:                          510-981-5911

Anonymous Drug Tip Line: “THE-COPS”                                       510-843-2677

Ofc Nabozny #118, Area 2 Coordinator                                            510-981-5778

 

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13. Volunteers Needed: Someone to Photocopy Flyers; Flyer Distributors

 

Editor’s note: Here are two simple ways to help the neighborhood. Please email halcyon92@gmail.com if you’re willing to help.

 

Photocopy volunteer needed: From time to time, longtime volunteers need to move on to other endeavors, or even move out of the neighborhood altogether. We need to find a replacement volunteer or two to take on the task of photocopying our neighborhood flyers four or five times a year (or a couple of people to share the responsibility). What would be ideal would be someone whose home business or place of employment would be willing to donate the photocopying (around 860 double-sided copies; HNA will supply the paper), but we have some funds available for reimbursing you if the only way to get it done is via a photocopy store. The job also includes dividing the copies into a couple of dozen packets (which then go to an existing volunteer, who drops them off to flyer distributors). Even if you can only do this once, it would help relieve existing volunteers who already are doing multiple tasks for the neighborhood!

 

Flyer distributors and alternates: We could use a few more regular flyer distributors (task is to cover a stretch within the larger neighborhood around five times a year — typically takes a half hour or less), plus some alternates (alternates fill in occasionally when one of our regular distributors is out of town when the flyer comes out).

 

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14. Fitness Classes at Ed Roberts Campus: Link to Current Calendar

 

Editor’s note: Wouldn’t it be great if there were wonderful health and fitness classes available within easy walking distance? Turns out there are, at the new Ed Roberts Campus. Check out their calendar, with includes classes on Yoga, Tai Chi/Qi Gong, Upper Body Strengthening, and more for people of all abilities.

 

http://www.borp.org/programs/fitness-program/fitness-center-calendar

 

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15. May Events Sponsored by Whole Foods Market

 

Editor’s note: The following list was forwarded to us by Jim Hallock at Whole Foods Market.

 

May 5, Whole Foods Market Supports BUSD

On May 5, it's a day of "5's" to benefit the Berkeley Unified School District. That day, 5/5, Whole Foods Market on Telegraph and Ashby will donate 5% of all sales to the school district. This is a great way for the schools to earn much-needed funds at the end of the year. The more you shop, the more the district gets — and this year we're trying to top $5000 as the donation. So support your schools and shop at Whole Foods Market in Berkeley on Thursday, 5/5. Pick up their specially decorated “BUSD cupcakes — 5 for $5,” and get a free cup of coffee. 5% donation on 5/5. A great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

 

May 30, Memorial Day Music

We’ll be kicking off our summer music series on Memorial Day, May 30. Stop by between 11 a.m. and 3p.m. for free treats, music, and a great kickoff to summer!

  

Jim Hallock

Marketing Team Leader

Whole Foods Market Berkeley

 

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16. Link to Contribute to Toby Eagle’s Sons’ College Fund

 

Editor’s note: In March, we learned the sad news that Ann Strong’s son, Toby Eagle, who grew up in our neighborhood, was shot to death at his home in central Berkeley (see http://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/03/10/family-wonders-why-toby-eagle-was-slain/#comments). A college fund for Toby’s sons, Tobias, 10, and Julian, 7, has been set up by one of Ann Strong’s co-workers. Visit http://www.tobiasandjulian.blogspot.com/ if you’d like to contribute. Any amount helps!

 

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17. Black Infant Health Program Open House, Fri. 5/13, 3:30-7 p.m.

 

Editor’s note: The following announcement was submitted by Councilmember Max Anderson’s office.

 

The City of Berkeley Black Infant Health Program invites you to attend our Open House

Friday, May 13, 2011 3:30–7 p.m.

Black Infant Health, 1645 Oregon St. Berkeley

Full BBQ Meal and Refreshments Served

 

RSVP by Tuesday, May 10^th to Sandra or Ramona 510 981-2390

Guest Speaker: Dr. Vicky Alexander, BIH Board Chair

 

The City of Berkeley Black Infant Health Program has been in existence since 2001. The program serves African American women through group intervention and case management, with a goal of improving health and social conditions for African American women and their families. The primary goal is to reduce the risk of the number of African American women having low birth weight babies and to reduce the rate of babies born with infant mortality and morbidity. Meet the BIH staff, hear from some of our participants, and see our new facility. Please bring your business cards and program brochures to share.

 

Charlene Washington, Legislative Aide, District 3
Councilmember Max Anderson
2180 Milvia Street, 5th Floor , Berkeley, CA  94704
Tel: 510.981.7130/Fax: 510.981.7133
cwashington@CityofBerkeley.info

 

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