Halcyon Neighborhood Association • Berkeley, CA | |
Halcyon Neighborhood Association |
Neighbors, join Halcyon Neighborhood AssociationÕs Facebook group!
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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 6/1/13
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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 EditorÕs introductory comments express her personal viewpoint.
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Contents
1. HNA Steering Committee Meeting
Thursday 6/13, 7-8 p.m.
2. Halcyon Neighborhood AssociationÕs Guiding
Principles
3. Crime-Watch Updates
4. Local Honey
Available from Prince Street Neighbor
5. Deadline
Approaching for Comments on Removal of Trees in the East Bay Hills
6. Whole Foods
Market: Community Meeting on June 5, 9:15-9:45
7. Alameda County Public Health Emergency
Preparedness Event, June 19, 10-2
EditorÕs Introductory Note:
Thanks to those who helped out with our work party in Halcyon Commons and the surrounding neighborhood on May 11 — your efforts made a big difference, and thanks too for the coffee from Mokka CafŽ and treats from Whole Foods Market!
As often seems to happen as UC students leave town and the warmer weather arrives, it appears that thereÕs been an upswing in crime in our neighborhood (see item 3 for reports). I encourage everyone to be proactive (call the Police if you notice suspicious behavior) and stay safe!
—Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-News Editor, halcyon92@gmail.com
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1. HNA Steering
Committee Meeting Thursday 6/13, 7-8 p.m.
EditorÕs note: Midyear, the HNA Steering Committee meets to track our progress to date and to plan for the rest of the year. We welcome new neighbors getting involved! The HNA Steering Committee uses a Yahoo listserv group for most of its planning to spare us from too many meetings in our already commitment-full lives (weÕll likely have just two or three meetings in all of 2013). If youÕre interested in getting involved, especially in helping with neighborhood crime watch, please email halcyon92@gmail.com. All neighbors willing to work in the spirit of HNAÕs Guiding Principles (see item 2 below) are welcome to join the Steering Committee. WeÕre very much open to new projects (for example, a couple of neighbors came forward to organize play dates for neighborhood children; another organized a neighborhood singalong, etc.). So if you have an aspect of the neighborhood youÕd like to see addressed, please step up! For a modest investment of time, you can make a big difference right here where you live!
HNA Planning Meeting
for Second Half of 2013
Thursday, June 13,
7-8 p.m.
Will take place at a home on Webster Street. Email halcyon92@gmail.com and youÕll receive details a couple of days before.
This meeting is open to Steering Committee members plus
interested members of our Crime Watch and Disaster Preparedness groups, and
others who are willing to work together in the spirit of HNAÕs Guiding
Principles.
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2. Halcyon
Neighborhood AssociationÕs Guiding Principles
EditorÕs note: Given our upcoming Planning Meeting for the
second half of 2013 (see item 1) and many new neighbors, this seems like a good
time to highlight HNAÕs Guiding Principles (which can always be found on our
website).
HNA is a community
group dedicated to stewardship of the Halcyon Neighborhood in South Berkeley
(bounded by Telegraph, Ashby, Adeline, and Woolsey). We encourage positive,
proactive, partnership-oriented approaches to improving the well-being
of our neighborhood, with an emphasis on the following goals:
* Community building (such as regular potlucks, special events in the park,
mutual support among neighbors, and multiblock yard sales);
* Ongoing care of Halcyon Commons (a park conceived of and created by the
neighbors who founded HNA) under the nonprofit umbrella provided by Berkeley
Partners for Parks and in partnership with the City of Berkeley;
* Continued greening and care of the neighborhood (planting trees, cleaning
litter off streets, graffiti removal, and helping maintain public landscaped
features);
* Strengthening neighborhood watch (crime watch, community safety walks,
emergency preparedness, and disaster supply cache);
* Networking with the larger Berkeley community (nearby neighborhood groups,
neighborhood businesses, City staff, and elected officials);
* Sharing information and empowering residents to become proactive in
addressing neighborhood needs and in expressing individual viewpoints regarding
civic affairs (spreading news through meetings, flyers, and the HNA E-News, and
providing contact information).
To fulfill these goals, HNA provides a sanctuary from partisan politics so that
neighbors with diverse viewpoints feel welcome to participate. Thus, HNA only
takes stands on larger issues when there is near-unanimity among neighbors. By
focusing on immediate local concerns, we find we can have a greater impact and
get better results from the time we invest. Guided by these principles, HNA
invites neighbors who are willing to work together in a spirit of partnership
to participate at whatever level makes sense for them. Opportunities for
serving on our volunteer Steering Committee and project-oriented committees are
available to neighbors who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work
together in a nonpartisan spirit. Neighbors are invited to step forward into
leadership positions defined by the work they do in accordance with HNAÕs
primary goals and guiding principles.
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3. Crime-Watch Updates
EditorÕs note: Please note that over the years we have noticed that there is sometimes an upswing in crime in the early summer as UC lets out, and then again when students return to town. So please take extra care, and report suspicious behavior to the Police! Our HNA Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499 often shares 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 recent crimes in or near the neighborhood. Thank you, Mikel!
Recent crimes in the neighborhood:
4/8 brandishing a weapon Webster & Telegraph
4/9 burglary Prince & Halcyon
4/9 vehicle break-in Halcyon
4/10 burglary Prince & Halcyon
4/11 burglary Prince & Halcyon
4/11 larceny theft Ashby & Telegraph
4/15 larceny theft Ashby & Telegraph
4/18 vehicle break-in Prince & Telegraph
5/4 vehicle break-in Dowling & Telegraph
5/6 robbery Webster & Telegraph
5/6 larceny theft Prince & Shattuck
5/7 vehicle break-in Dowling & Telegraph5/11 - burglary Emerson & Wheeler
5/13 - car break-in Telegraph & Ashby
robbery - Webster & Dana
also robberies outside the neighborhood 5/13 Shattuck & 60th and Colby & Webster
5/14 - burglary Essex & Wheeler
5/14 - robbery Prince & Shattuck
5/15 - theft from person Telegraph & Ashby
robbery Prince & Fulton
motor vehicle theft Prince & Shattuck
5/17 - felony theft Telegraph & Ashby
5/21 - theft Telegraph & Ashby
theft Telegraph & Woolsey
5/23 - burglary Essex & Tremont
Mikel also passed on the following link:
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2013/05/16/berkeley-crime-analysis-robberies-up-25-in-2013/
An Essex Street neighbor reported on Facebook:
ÒFYI We had a burglary at our home on Essex & Tremont at 11:30 today [May 23]. Someone came to the door and rang the doorbell repeatedly (our housemate did not answer as she was studying and thought it was a marketer), then 20 minutes later, he threw a large rock through the downstairs window (front of house) and grabbed a laptop that was in reach, and ran away.Ó
EditorÕs note: This experience illustrates why the Police recommend not opening the door to those who knock/ring if you donÕt know them, but letting them know someone is home (through lights or sounds or a deep voice demanding to know who's there). Often burglars ring or knock first to check if anyone is home.
A Prince Street neighbor reported on Facebook:
ÒFYI a locked bike was stolen from our fenced-in back yard last night [May 29-30], they cut through a cable to do so.Ó
A Prince Street neighbor reported on Facebook:
ÒEveryone, at 2:50 pm today [May 15] at Prince and Fulton, I was attacked by a man who was trying to rob me for my iPhone 5 and my purse [. . . BTW the reason I mention the model of my phone is because the police mentioned that robbers are specifically looking for the 5]. HE WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE. [Description:]
- Black male, about 28, dark skinned, about 5'11," fit
(so about 175 lbs), baggy jeans falling down, bright blue t-shirt.
- He was with an accomplice who was further down the block, baggy jeans, forest-green sweatshirt.
. . . If any of you were among the 11 people or so who came out to help me, thank you very much!!!! Good neighbors!Ó
A Prince Street neighbor reported on Facebook:
ÒThis morning [May 6], a bike was stolen from our multi-unit front yard. I happened to spot the guy taking it and, since he didn't look at all familiar, I contacted the non-emergency Berkeley Police number: 510-981-5900. Amazingly, within half an hour, the Police had found the guy and the bike nearby, and the bike was returned. Thank you, BPD!Ó
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4. Local Honey Available from Prince Street Neighbor
EditorÕs note: Received from Prince Street neighbor Douglas James.
ÒThe spring harvest of Baja Berkeley Honey is available. It is from bees that reside in my backyard on Prince Street. The honey is light and floral. Its taste comes from the flowers in our neighborhood garden. I am selling the honey for $12 per 1 pint jar ~ 1.3 lbs. Please contact me at 510-849-1772 or djames@microprop.com. Thanks!Ó
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5. Deadline Approaching for Comments on Removal of Trees in the East
Bay Hills
EditorÕs note: A number of neighbors asked that I pass on information on plans to remove tens of thousands of trees in the East Bay hills, including in Claremont and Strawberry Canyons for the purposes of fire mitigation. Many are opposed to what they call Òclear cutting.Ó Others feel that preventing another catastrophic fire, and restoring natives, should be the priority. Since this is definitely not an issue on which HNA will be taking a position (I already know thereÕs a range of opinions among neighbors from the discussion on our Facebook page), IÕll simply pass on the link to this article in the Berkeley Daily Planet, which outlines the issue and passes on links to opinions and information on all sides of this issue! If you feel strongly, please pass your opinions on to relevant decision makers before the deadline in mid-June!
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6. Whole Foods Market: Community Meeting on June 5, 9:15-9:45
Drop-In Progress Meeting, Wednesday, June 5, 9:15-9:45 a.m.
(community meetings are typically held on the first or second Wednesday of each month)
Whole Foods Market (check in at Customer Service)
ÒThese 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.Ó
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7. Alameda County Public Health
Emergency Preparedness Event, June 19, 10-2
*Alameda County Public Health Department*
*Public Health Emergency Preparedness*
*Date: **June 19th, 2013 10:00am -- 2:00pm*
*Location: **Oakland Coliseum East Side Club, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland*
Come join us at our annual event and learn how you can become more independent! Participate in preparedness activities and free trainings. Everyone is welcome! There will be a special focus on seniors, persons with disabilities, individuals with access and functional needs and the organizations that serve these groups.
Trainings and classes are for suitable for everyone with a special focus on seniors, persons with disabilities, homebound nonambulatory individuals and underserved populations. Some classes will be available in Spanish and for the Hearing Impaired/Deaf.
Please visit our website for more information: http://www.acphd.org/phep/upcoming-events.aspx
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Sunday,
January 27, 2013 |
5:30-8:45
p.m. |
Post-Holiday
Progressive Potluck (four courses at four households:
see E-News for addresses). |
Early
February, 2013 |
TBD |
Mini Work
Party to Plant/Weed in Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at
Prince). Refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods Market. |
Saturday in
March TBD by Berkeley Project (possibly 3/16?), 2013 |
9:30 a.m.
-2:30 p.m. |
Work Party
in Halcyon Commons & Surrounding Neighborhood with
Cal students from Berkeley Project, Halcyon Commons
(Halcyon at Prince). |
Saturday,
April 27, 2013 |
9:00-11:30
a.m. |
HNA
Participation in Citywide Disaster Prep Drill, Halcyon
Commons (Halcyon at Prince) [committee to set up half an
hour early]. |
Thursday,
June 13, 2013 |
7:00-8:00
p.m. |
HNA Steering
Committee Meeting to track progress & plan for
second half of 2013, location TBA. |
Saturday,
May 11, 2013 |
9:30 a.m. - |
Work Party
in Halcyon Commons & surrounding neighborhood,
Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince). |
Thursday,
July 25, 2013 |
4:30-6:30
p.m. |
Mini Work
Party in Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince). |
Tuesday,
August 6, 2013 |
6:30- |
National
Night Out Against Crime: Ice Cream Social in the Park! |
Weekday
afternoon in late August 2013 TBD by SPH (likely 8/21) |
1:30- |
Weeding in
Halcyon Commons & Graffiti Removal in Surrounding
Neighborhood with student volunteers from UC School of
Public Health, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince). |
Evening in
Fall 2013 TBD |
7:00-8:30
p.m. |
?Community
meeting with crime watch focus? (Depends on Crime Watch
Committee deciding to organize it.) |
Thursday,
October 31, 2013 |
5:45-6:30
p.m. |
Costume
Parade around Park for Kids, Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at
Prince). |
Saturday in
Oct/Nov 2013 TBD by Berkeley Project (possibly 11/2?) |
9:00 a.m.- |
Big Mulching
Work Party & Graffiti Removal in surrounding
neighborhood with Cal students from Berkeley Project,
Halcyon Commons (Halcyon at Prince). |
Sunday,
December 8, 2013 |
5:00 - |
HNA Steering
Committee Meeting to set dates for 2013, location TBA. |
Sunday,
January 26, 2014 |
5:30 - |
Post-Holiday
Progressive Potluck (four courses at four households:
see E-News for addresses TBD). |
*HNA’s Disaster Prep Supply Cache Wish List
HNA’s Halcyon Commons Disaster Prep Supply Cache contains items
intended to benefit the entire neighborhood in the event of
disaster (primarily first aid, search & rescue, and
communications supplies plus items for command center setup in
Halcyon Commons). You can help us have what we need on hand in two
ways: (1) Make a financial contribution for purchasing additional
supplies to HNA (not tax deductible) or to Berkeley Partners for
Parks, earmarked Halcyon (BPFP
is our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, so a check through them is tax
deductible); mail or drop off your check to HNA Treasurer Susan
Hunter, 3044 Halcyon Court, Berkeley, CA 94705. (2) Contribute any
of the following items in-kind (supplies MUST be new or in
EXCELLENT condition):
Police Emergency Number:
911 (from landline);
981-5911(from cell; preprogram with this number to reach Berkeley
emergency from a cell)
Police Nonemergency Number: 981-5900
Link to beat maps and a list of beat officers:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BerkeleyPartnersforP/602147a249/9a00c7ec5d/0b15b20282
In the Halcyon neighborhood: west of Fulton is Beat 10; east of Fulton is Beat 9.
Link to crime stats, Berkeley:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BerkeleyPartnersforP/602147a249/9a00c7ec5d/42f61d76dd
Link to police bulletins:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BerkeleyPartnersforP/602147a249/9a00c7ec5d/d1559b4b0f
Other City of Berkeley Departments:
City Manager’s Office: Jim Hynes jhynes@ci.berkeley.ca.us 981-2493
Nonemergency Call Center for Public Services:
Dial 311 (you will be
directed to the appropriate department) to report problems with
street
lights (get the tag number off the pole), blocked storm drains,
tree
branches down, etc.
Public Works Customer Service: 981-6620
(streets, sidewalks, graffiti,
sewers, litter, storm drains, street lights)
Tree Trimming/Planting (Forestry)/Parks: 981-6660
Written Communication with City Council
To comment to the City Council, use following email addresses:
“City Clerk” clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Mayor Tom Bates” Mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Linda Maio” LMaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Darryl Moore” DMoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Max Anderson” MAnderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Jesse Arreguin” JArreguin@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Laurie Capitelli” LCapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Susan Wengraf” SWengraf@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Kriss Worthington” KWorthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us,
“Councilmember Gordon Wozniak” GWozniak@ci.berkeley.ca.us
Representatives for Our Neighborhood
Councilmember Max Anderson (District 3) 981-7130
MAnderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us
West side of Wheeler Street to the west (except for Woolsey
between
Wheeler and Shattuck)
Councilmember Kriss Worthington (District 7) 981-7170
KWorthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us
East side of Wheeler to the east (includes block of Woolsey from
Wheeler to Shattuck)
Mayor Tom Bates 981-7100 Mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us
Zoning Adjustments Board
To comment to the Zoning Adjustments Board regarding projects on
their calendar, email:
Zoning Adjustments Board zab@ci.berkeley.ca.us
(It’s best if at all possible to submit your comments 10 days
prior to meeting for inclusion in the advance packet to board
members, but late submissions will be distributed the evening of
the meeting.)
HNA is a community group dedicated to stewardship of the Halcyon
Neighborhood in South Berkeley (bounded by Telegraph, Ashby,
Adeline, and Woolsey). We encourage positive, proactive,
partnership-oriented approaches to improving the well-being of our
neighborhood, with an emphasis on the following goals:
* Community building (such as regular potlucks, special events in
the park, mutual support among neighbors, and multiblock yard
sales);
* Ongoing care of Halcyon Commons (a park conceived of and created
by the neighbors who founded HNA) under the nonprofit umbrella
provided by Berkeley Partners for Parks and in partnership with
the City of Berkeley;
* Continued greening and care of the neighborhood (planting trees,
cleaning litter off streets, graffiti removal, and helping
maintain public landscaped features);
* Strengthening neighborhood watch (crime watch, community safety
walks, emergency preparedness, and disaster supply cache);
* Networking with the larger Berkeley community (nearby
neighborhood groups, neighborhood businesses, City staff, and
elected officials);
* Sharing information and empowering residents to become proactive
in addressing neighborhood needs and in expressing individual
viewpoints regarding civic affairs (spreading news through
meetings, flyers, and the HNA E-News, and providing contact
information).
To fulfill these goals, HNA provides a sanctuary from partisan
politics so that neighbors with diverse viewpoints feel welcome to
participate. Thus, HNA only takes stands on larger issues when
there is near-unanimity among neighbors. By focusing on immediate
local concerns, we find we can have a greater impact and get
better results from the time we invest. Guided by these
principles, HNA invites neighbors who are willing to work together
in a spirit of partnership to participate at whatever level makes
sense for them. Opportunities for serving on our volunteer
Steering Committee and project-oriented committees are available
to neighbors who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work
together in a nonpartisan spirit. Neighbors are invited to step
forward into leadership positions defined by the work they do in
accordance with HNA’s primary goals and guiding principles.
The Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News: The HNA E-News forwards items of general interest to neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area of south Berkeley (HNA’s borders), including announcements about community-building potlucks, greening projects, crime watch, disaster preparedness, and work parties in Halcyon Commons park. If you’re receiving this email, you probably either signed up at a neighborhood event or a neighbor forwarded it to you. Please note that to prevent spam, HNA does not share your email address with third parties. If you wish to be removed from this list, please contact HNA Co-Chair Nancy Carleton/Halcyon Neighborhood Association at halcyon92@gmail.com. Feel free to pass the HNA E-News on to other neighbors you think might be interested.
To submit items for the newsletter: Email brief, unformatted
content or links (no graphics or attachments please!) to HNA
E-News Editor Nancy Carleton at halcyon92@gmail.com. Crime-watch
reports and news about neighbors (births, new jobs, announcements
about home businesses or creative projects) are especially
welcome. Please note that due to the volunteer nature of the
endeavor, the E-News does not include “letters to the editor” or
“commentary,” but will gladly include links to such items written
by neighbors in the Ashby/Telegraph/Woolsey/Adeline area and
published elsewhere (the
Berkeley Daily Planet has a large section devoted to opinion).
Also, please note that the E-News is typically published the
second week of each month; submit your item early if it relates to
a future event, and there’s a greater chance it will be included.
HNA Halcyon Safety Walk & Neighborhood Watch Listserv: For those interested in getting breaking crime-watch news, discussing ways to make our neighborhood safer, and perhaps participating in night-time and daytime safety “dog” walks (dogs not required!) to build community and serve as eyes on the street, please contact halcyon92@gmail.com indicating your interest in this listserv, and you’ll receive an invitation to join. For everyone’s safety, be sure to include your full name, address, email, and phone.
HNA Disaster Preparedness Listserv: If you’re interested in helping out with neighborhood disaster preparedness, please contact halcyon92@gmail.com indicating your interest, and you’ll receive an invitation to join. For everyone’s safety, be sure to include your full name, address, email, and phone.
HNA Steering Committee Listserv: If you’re interested in serving on HNA’s Steering Committee in alignment with HNA’s Guiding Principles, email halcyon92@gmail.com to indicate your interest. The Steering Committee conducts most of its business via listserv (with one or two in-person meetings annually); members agree to assist with at least one or two HNA events during the course of the year and to answer Yahoo group polls to aid in planning.
Halcyon Neighborhood Association Facebook Group: Our HNA Facebook group (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BerkeleyPartnersforP/602147a249/9a00c7ec5d/36acb93edf/gid=292160762499) gives neighbors fresh opportunities to network, build community, and share ideas about issues of mutual concern. Open to immediate neighbors, friends from nearby neighborhoods, and former neighbors who want to stay in touch.
HNA Blog: If you would like to view previous newsletters online (and comment via a blog format, though this is a low activity blog), please visit http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BerkeleyPartnersforP/602147a249/9a00c7ec5d/8af94d44a8.
HNA is an adopt-a-park affiliate with the nonprofit Berkeley Partners for Parks (BPFP). Thanks to VerticalResponse for the donation of email services for sending the HNA E-News!