The full newsletter (with a bit of formatting) is online at http://www.halcyonneighborhood.org

Neighbors, join Halcyon Neighborhood AssociationÕs Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499!

 

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-News 6/3/14

 

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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. Multiblock Yard Sale Sat. June 7, 10-2: Support Your Neighbors and Shop These Addresses!

2. Nickels for Nonprofits: Bring Your Own Bag When You Shop Whole Foods Market April 14 – July 6 and Benefit Halcyon Commons!

3. Crime-Watch Updates & Links

4. Whole Foods Market News: Next Drop-in Progress Meeting, July 16, 8:15-8:45 a.m.

5. Update on Plans for Starbucks at Ashby/Telegraph

6. Police Beat Analysis Meeting, Weds. June 4, 7-9 p.m., South Berkeley Senior Center

7. Public Forum: The Impact of Growth on Our NeighborhoodÕs Quality of Life, Saturday, June 7, 10-1 p.m., Art House Gallery

8. Free Disaster Preparedness Offerings from the City of Berkeley

 

EditorÕs Introductory Note:

 

Thanks to everyone who helped with SaturdayÕs work party in the park. We had a nice, steady flow of volunteers. Thanks to Mokka Cafe for starting us out with a coffee donation. Whole Foods Market not only donated breakfast and lunch; they also loaned us three team members for the full four hours, which was a great boost to this late spring work party. Because of that, we got the basics done, and we were also able to attend to some much-needed pruning. Check out the park -- itÕs looking good, even though the lawn is going to be getting browner as we adjust to drought water rations. Our next work party will be Sunday, August 3, 4-6 p.m., getting the park spiffed up for our big National Night Out Against Crime Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, August 5, 6:30-8, so please mark your calendars for both events!

 

HereÕs to a great summer in the neighborhood!

 

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

 

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1. Multiblock Yard Sale Sat. June 7, 10-2: Support Your Neighbors and Shop These Addresses!

 

EditorÕs note: HNA Treasurer and Halcyon neighbor Susan Hunter, who has organized many successful multiblock yard sales in the past has organized another one for this coming Saturday June 7. See her message below.

 

We have twelve households participating in our multi-block Yard Sale this Saturday June 7, starting at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wander around the neighborhood, say hello to your neighbors, and pick up bargains, treasures, and great deals at the following addresses:

 

3038 Halcyon

3044 Halcyon (two households)

2327 Prince (north side, at Halcyon)

2318 Prince (south side, at Halcyon)

2321 Webster (at Halcyon)

3043 Deakin (between Webster and Prince)

2218 Ashby (at Deakin)

2218 Russell (at Deakin, just north of Ashby)

3025 Fulton (between Ashby and Prince)

3031 Fulton (between Ashby and Prince)

2135 Prince (between Wheeler and Shattuck)

 

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2. Nickels for Nonprofits: Bring Your Own Bag When You Shop Whole Foods Market April 14 – July 6 and Benefit Halcyon Commons!

 

EditorÕs note: Another month-plus to go on this great opportunity to raise some funds for our beloved common green space! WeÕre thrilled that Whole Foods Market made Halcyon Commons a recipient of their Nickels for Nonprofits program. Bring your own bag(s) between April 14 and July 6, 2014, and tell the checkout team member that you want to donate your nickel refund(s) to Halcyon Commons. Cumulatively, the funds raised will be channeled to special projects in the park through our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, Berkeley Projects for Parks. The plan is to use the funds to pay for supplies to refurbish the pathway in the park using volunteer labor (with work party dates to take place either this fall or next summer). Please be sure to bring your own bags during this period, and make sure the team member at checkout is aware you want to donate your refund! Thanks to Whole Foods Market for making us a recipient of this program, and to all neighbors who help us out in this way.

 

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3. Crime-Watch Updates & Links

 

EditorÕs note: Our HNA Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=292160762499 often shares breaking crime reports in between E-News editions (your home and email addresses plus phone are required to participate so we can be sure the group is kept safe for neighbors, and we require this information prior to accepting your request). Remember, we rely on neighbors to fill in the details of crimes in our neighborhood, so, in addition to filing a police report (which can now be done online through the City of Berkeley website for some kinds of crimes: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/onlinereport/), please email halcyon92@gmail.com to pass the word on to your neighbors, or share it on our Facebook page, so we can all stay aware and vigilant!

 

HNA Steering Committee member Mikel Delgado submitted the following summary of recent crimes in or near the neighborhood from May. Thank you, Mikel, for your ongoing work collecting the information!

 

4/26 car theft Emerson & Shattuck

4/27 vehicle break-in Deakin (b/w Ashby & Prince)

4/28 commercial burglary Telegraph & Prince


4/28 vehicle break-in Telegraph & Prince

5/7 vehicle break-in Emerson & Tremont

5/10 vehicle break-in Shattuck & Ashby

5/10 car theft Webster & Telegraph


5/12 vehicle break-in Fulton & Ashby

5/17 five commercial burglaries at Russell & Telegraph (not far from our neighborhood)

5/17 car stolen Wheeler at Ashby


5/17 larceny theft Woolsey at Deakin

5/19 home burglary Deakin & Ashby

5/19 larceny theft Woolsey at Deakin

5/23 home burglary Deakin at Ashby

5/25 home burglary Russell & Ellsworth (just outside our neighborhood)

5/25 home burglary Russell & Fulton (just outside our neighborhood)

5/27 home burglary Wheeler b/w Ashby & Russell (just outside our neighborhood)

5/27 car stolen Woolsey

5/28 car stolen Woolsey

 

From May posts to our Facebook group:

 

ÒMy beautiful wind chimes hanging on my front porch have disappeared [on Halcyon Court]. Not a huge expense but uncomfortable because it means someone came onto my porch and took them.Ó

 

ÒPolice towed away what I assume was a ditched, stolen vehicle (white Honda Civic) in from of our house at Deakin/Ashby last night [May 30/31]. I called them cause car was there all day -- and pretty beat-up --busted window and car keys were left hanging out of the trunk lock.Ó

 

ÒOur car was stolen at some point last weekend [May 17/18] from in front of our house (middle of the block on Fulton between Prince and Ashby). It was an old Honda. (Police say this is common: old cars are easy to steal, Hondas are a perennial target). It was recovered this morning, pretty much intact, in Oakland, where it was abandoned once they ran out of gas.Ó

 

Crime-Related Link

 

EditorÕs note: Link on the new Nixle Public Notification Service available from the BPD.

 

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/05/15/berkeley-police-crime-alert-experiment-underway/

 

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4. Whole Foods Market News: Nickels for Halcyon; Next Drop-in Progress Meeting, July 16, 8:15-8:45 a.m.

 

EditorÕs note: News from Whole Foods Market. If youÕd like to be added to the neighbor notification list that Lizzie Brimhall maintains for the neighborhood-WFM meetings (and to notify neighbors when work is being done at the store), please email her at lizzie.brimhall@wholefoods.com.

 

Nickels for Halcyon Commons! Bring Your Own Bag April 14-July 6 and Donate Your Nickel Refund to Refurbishment Projects in Halcyon Commons!

 

EditorÕs note: See item 2 above, and be sure to bring your own bags during this time period and ask that your refund be donated to Halcyon Commons!

 

Free Events

 

Ongoing: Final Fridays at Oakland Museum of California.

 

Contact Lizzie.Brimhall@wholefoods.com for information about free events.

 

Next Drop-in Progress Meeting, Wednesday, July 16, 8:15-8:45 a.m.

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

 

As always, if there are ever any urgent issues, please call the store at 510-649-1333 and ask for the shift manager on duty. If itÕs between 7: 30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Melody, Carlisle, or Curt will be in the store, so always feel free to swing by, too, if youÕd like to have a word with us. Call the store during business hours (8 a.m.-10 p.m.) at 649-1333 and ask for a Shift Manager:

Melody.Mestemacher@wholefoods.com

Curt.Sundin@wholefoods.com
Carlisle.Crumley@wholefoods.com

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5. Update on Plans for Starbucks at Ashby/Telegraph

 

EditorÕs note: A scaled-back Starbucks appears to be in the works for Ashby and Telegraph according to this article from Berkeleyside.

 

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/05/14/starbucks-plans-to-open-fourth-berkeley-store-after-all/

 

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6. Police Beat Analysis Meeting, Weds. June 4, 7-9 p.m., South Berkeley Senior Center

 

EditorÕs note: The following announcement was received from Councilmember Max AndersonÕs office.

 

HELLO DISTRICT 3 CONSTITUENTS:

 

Councilmember Max Anderson will host a community meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2014,
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,
South Berkeley Senior Center, Ashby and Ellis Streets at which Matrix Consulting Group and Berkeley Police Department (BPD) staff will present information about, and seek community into, the beat analysis.

 

BPD is currently undertaking a review of its beat structure and reevaluating that system to ensure that the most efficient and effective police service is being provided to those who live, work and visit the City of Berkeley. To that end, the Matrix Consulting Group has been retained to conduct a study of the Berkeley Police patrol deployment strategy and make recommendations to optimize deployment of field personnel based on current data.

 

Background: In May of 1993, the Berkeley Police Department adopted a system
whereby the City was divided into 18 police patrol beats. This beat system was based
primarily on crime trends, calls for service, crime statistics, and staffing levels. While
there have been changes over the last 20 years related to crime trends, calls for
service, and staffing levels, the Department continues to operate with the same beat
system designed in 1993. In light of the changes that the Department and the City
have undergone since that time, the Department retained the Matrix Consulting Group
to analyze its beat deployment strategy.

 

Matrix will analyze population, geography, patrol deployment, staffing levels, officer
workload, calls for service, proactive patrol time, response times, crime data, industry
standards, and best practices and the need for flexible units to respond to identified
crime trends, as well as the costs associated with service delivery. Additionally, Matrix
will assess community perceptions and priorities through the use of surveys and
community meetings. Any recommended changes to the geographic beat areas will take into consideration an
even distribution of workload across beats, boundaries which utilize efficient routes of
travel, the minimization of natural barriers and the minimization of neighborhood
divisions. Any proposed changes will be brought to the City Council for review and
discussion.

 

If you have any questions about the evaluation process, please feel free to contact, Richard Brady Matrix Project Manager at 650 858-0507 or rbrady@matrixcg.net

 

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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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7. Public Forum: The Impact of Growth on Our NeighborhoodÕs Quality of Life, Saturday, June 7, 10-1 p.m., Art House Gallery

 

EditorÕs note: The following announcement was received from the Berkeley Neighborhoods Council. IÕm passing this on since it may be of interest to some neighbors. This does not imply endorsement by me or by HNA of the viewpoints represented.

 

Berkeley Neighborhoods Council Public Forum

The Impact of Growth on Our NeighborhoodsÕ Quality of Life

 

Saturday, 7 June 2014

Art House Gallery, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705

 

9:30 a.m. Coffee and Agenda Review

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Forum and Round Table discussions

 

Panel Moderator: Steve Finacom, former President, Berkeley Historical Society

 

Speakers and Topics for Discussion include:

 

Density: How is it calculated, how much is enough, what is the anticipated growth in Berkeley, and how much of that demand is currently being met or planned?

         

       Panelist: David Shiver, Analyst

 

Access to Sun Energy and Open Space – how valuable are views of the Bay and Hills, what is the human impact of diminished light in your backyard, how does residential solar energy fit into Berkeley's Climate Action Plan, what neighborhoods lack adequate open space, what is usable open space in an apartment building, does an apartment building roof top garden qualify as common open space?

      

       Panelist: Patrick Sheahan, Planning Commissioner

 

Detriment: What is it and why is it important? How it's supposed to be used and how it is being used or not.

           

       Panelist: Sophie Hahn, Member , Zoning Adjustments Board

 

Landmarks: How do we preserve our most important historic heritage? Should efforts be focused on the Downtown because itÕs the area most at risk?

 

       Panelist: Austene Hall, President, Landmarks Preservation Commission

 

Revenue Needs: How do we preserve our neighborhoods, meet our housing needs, and provide the revenues to pay for necessary City services?

 

       Panelist: Shirley Dean, former Mayor

 

The panelist presentations will be followed by questions, comments, and discussion by attendees, so that all participants will have input into what will become our next steps in our mission to unite and protect our neighborhoods.

 

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8. Free Disaster Preparedness Offerings from the City of Berkeley

 

EditorÕs note: Received from the Office of Emergency Services.

 

Upcoming classes: Visit our website for complete schedule and registration

 

Wednesday, June 11, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. CERT FRS Radio Communications

Learn the basics of Family Radio Service (FRS) radio communications and how it can help in your neighborhood.

 

Thursday, June 19, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. CERT ICS Table Top Exercise

Practice the Incident Command System principles through participation in a table0-top exercise. Teams will simulate a neighborhood command post managing information after a disaster event. The exercise is a timed event (60 mins) after which there will be a review and discussion of decisions made and concepts implemented.

 

Saturday, June 21, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CERT Animal Response

Emergency preparedness for animal owners and how to recognize specific animal behaviors. Prepare for situations involving animals that you may encounter in emergencies or disasters. (Held at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, 1 Bolivar Dr.)

 

Sunday, June 29, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Light Search and Rescue

Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety.

 

Saturday, July 26, 2014, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CERT PG&E Responder

The CERT Workshops are designed to provide safety-related community organizations with the information needed to educate community members about emergencies involving natural gas and electric utility equipment and services.

 

August 1 through 3 CERT Academy

Participants will complete the full 20 hours of CERT training from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Instruction will be both didactic and skill manipulative; in other words, be prepared to learn from the book as well as on the Fire Department training grounds

 

 

Events:

 

June 21, 930 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hayward City Hall, 777 B St, Hayward - Operation Independence 2014, Emergency Preparedness Expo –Information call: (510) 208-5943

 

Saturday, October 18, 2014 – Save the Date! Berkeley CERT Citywide Exercise www.cityofberkley.info/quake

The Berkeley CERT Citywide Exercise is an opportunity for participants to practice disaster response in their own neighborhoods. All individuals or community groups are encouraged to participate regardless of their level of CERT training or previous participation in City disaster preparedness activities.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

June 12 , 7pm-9pm, 997 Cedar Street – Monthly CERT Volunteer Meeting

Come to the monthly CERT volunteer meeting to find out about signing up to become an official volunteer with Berkeley CERT and to join other volunteers working on disaster preparedness throughout our community.

 

Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, in the South Bay - Urban Shield Exercise

If you are interested in participating in the 2014 Urban Shield Exercise and available to commit to a full day (12-hour operational period), please contact Nick Zubel by email at nick.zubel@acgov.org or by phone at 925-833-3473 x1720. Let him know youÕre from Berkeley CERT.

What: 2014 Urban Shield Exercise

When: Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7, 2014

Where: South Bay (Location TBA)

 

Khin Chin

CERT Program Manager

Berkeley Fire Department

Office of Emergency Services

510.981.5506

 

2014 CERT Citywide Exercise

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/quake/

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