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Susan + grandson
Susan with new grandson


Councilmember Susan Wengraf


District 6
 
Newsletter #22 

                   

September 2012 

Dear Neighbors,

    City Council has been on recess since the end of July, and will resume meetings on September 11th.  Many of us on the council have been busy during this time, working on and crafting the local measures.  The ballot this year is very long with 12 measures from the state and 10 from the city.  My next newsletter will include a summary of some of the ballot measures, which you can take into consideration as you try to figure out how you will vote.

 

      I urge you to vote the entire ballot and make your vote count.  If you vote by mail, your ballots should be arriving in early October.

    Berkeley will be using instant run-off voting in this election, so I will also help to clarify how run-off voting works.

 

    If you have any questions or concerns about your voting status, you can contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters or call 267-8683.   You can register to vote up to 15 days before the election on November 6, 2012.

 

    I am delighted that I will represent District 6 on the City Council for the next four years, as I am unopposed.

 
Please have a safe and relaxing Labor Day.

 

Regards, 

SW Sig  

 

 

 

Susan Wengraf  

 

list  

helicopterLow-flying Helicopter 

 

Bell 412   Late on the afternoon of August 29th, after enduring several hours of very loud noise and vibrations, I received this press release from the National Nuclear Security Administration via the Berkeley Police Department.  The helicopter was flying directly over my home at about 300 feet above the ground all afternoon.  I know that many of you had a similar experience.  I apologize for the lack of information that you were given regarding these maneuvers.  I am personally not satisfied with the information and intend to pursue it further.

 

Press Release

 

Aerial Survey of Bay Area Planned Aug. 27 - Sept. 1

 

    Beginning Aug. 27, a helicopter may be seen flying at a low-level altitude over portions of San Francisco, Pacifica and Oakland, Calif.  The helicopter will be taking measurements of naturally-occurring background radiation.  The helicopter will make daily flights between Aug. 27 and Sept. 1, 2012.


     The flyovers are a part of a joint research project between the Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to assess natural background radiation levels.  The survey will cover approximately 69 square miles over the selected locations.  NNSA's twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter, operated by the Remote Sensing Laboratory Aerial Measuring System in Las Vegas, Nev., will perform the survey.  The helicopter will fly in a grid pattern over the locations about 300 feet above the ground. The flights will be limited to daylight hours and the survey is estimated to take about five days to complete.

 

    The background data will be used by DNDO and NNSA to improve aerial radiation measurement capabilities used by local, state and federal entities.

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RoseGardenRose Garden 75th Anniversary 

 

Rose_Garden
 

Join us for the 75th anniversary celebration of the  

Berkeley Rose Garden

September 23rd

 

    The Berkeley Rose Garden is considered by many, to be the finest rose garden in Northern California with its 3,000 rose bushes and 250 varieties of roses.

 

    The Rose Garden was one of the first Civil Works Progress Projects under the Works Project Administration (WPA).  It was conceived in 1933 and completed and dedicated for public use in September 1937.  East Bay rose societies and community members donated hundreds of hours of volunteer time.  The terraced amphitheater and 220-foot long redwood pergola were suggested by architect Bernard Maybeck;  the final design and execution were the work of landscape architect Vernon M. Dean and rose specialist C. V. Covell.

 

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CO_DetectorsCarbon Monoxide Detectors  

CO Alarm Carbon Monoxide Detectors Are Now Required

 

    Most homeowners are unaware that California enacted a law in 2012 that now requires carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in every single and two family dwelling throughout the state.

 

    In order to make your home safer, please follow the following regulations:

  • If your home has any gas appliances or heaters or an attached garage, the law applies.
  • At least one carbon monoxide detector is required on every floor, including the basement. Installation is required outside of all bedrooms.

    Carbon Monoxide detectors are not the same as smoke detectors.  However, you can purchase combination detectors that can be used in locations where both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are required.

 

    Carbon Monoxide is deadly! It has no smell, cannot be seen and has neither color nor taste.  If your carbon monoxide detector activates, call 911 and go outside immediately.

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CharlieVote for Charlie!

Charlie Bowen  

    Berkeley Path Wanderers' Association path-building head Charlie Bowen is one of three finalists in the 2012 Bay Area Cox Conserves Heroes contest, sponsored by the Trust for Public Land and KTVI Channel 2.

 

    The finalist that receives the most on-line votes by Sept. 24 will get $10,000 for their chosen nonprofit.  Click here  to see short videos on the finalists and vote! You only vote once, and you won't get spam!

 

    For 10 years, Charlie has worked tirelessly to restore and expand Berkeley's historic network of public pathways in our community for all of us to enjoy and use in the event of an emergency.  Voting for Charlie is a simple way to say thanks and to help raise money to make the paths better.

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CraigslistBeware of Craigslist Scam 

BPD Patch  

COMMUNITY CRIME ALERT ABOUT CRAIGSLIST

 

    The Berkeley Police Department is alerting the public to a series of armed robberies that have involved victims responding to Craigslist advertisements regarding the sale of vehicles.

 

    Since June of 2012, the Berkeley Police Department has received four reports of victims being robbed via gun after responding to a Craigslist advertisement. They are working with neighboring agencies on potentially similar crimes.

 

    The Berkeley Police Department would like to remind and encourage community members to employ a few crime prevention measures that may help reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

  • Use extra caution when conducting business with unknown individuals or in unfamiliar locations.  
  • Keep all electronics and other valuables out of view and secured.
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash on your person.
  • Be alert to your surroundings and people around you.
  • Be aware of locations and situations, which make you more vulnerable to crime such as alleys, doorways, parking lots, stairwells and unfamiliar areas.
  • Call BPD to report suspicious persons or activity.

    If you are the victim of a robbery, immediately call the police. Be sure to provide the suspect description, direction of flight, any associated vehicles and vehicle license plate number.

 

    BPD is urging anyone who has information about the Craigslist robberies to contact the BPD Investigations Division - Robbery Detail at 981-5742 or the 24-hour BPD Non Emergency number of 981-5900.

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HillsideHillside School up and running...Welcome GIS!

Hillside School    

    Built in 1925 and designed by Walter Ratciff, the Hillside School is nestled into the hill at Buena Vista and Le Roy.  The Tudor Revival style building housed an active public elementary school until 1983, when the Berkeley School District decided to close it. Since the closure, the building has been sporadically occupied by private schools, camps and The Chess School.  The building and grounds have suffered over the years from lack of maintenance and care.  Every time I walked by the site and saw the deterioration, my heart ached.

 

    Now fast forward to the Summer of 2012 when The German International School decided to lease the property with the possibility of a purchase, and breathe new life into the site.  In July, work began on the restoration of Hillside.  The old concrete pavement on the upper portion of the playground, which had buckled and cracked, was removed and new concrete was poured. The brick steps of the old Kindergarten entrance were replaced with concrete.  A temporary building which had been situated on the old Kindergarten playground since the early 1970's was removed. Things are happening and improvements are being made.  It is wonderful!

 

    The new school held its first classes at Hillside August 13, 2012.  Please join me in welcoming the German International School to Berkeley!

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Susan Wengraf
Berkeley City Council District 6
510-981-7160
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