North Hills Community Association

Neighbors Share Their Service Providers

In the olden days, you might have turned to neighbors to ask about the most humane bee remover or least intrusive roof repairer.  Nowadays you likely start by searching online, at places like Angie’s List, Service Magic, or even the Berkeley Parents Network.

But there’s nothing like asking a trusted someone.  The North Hills Community Association (NCHA) has an open forum, where locals share all kinds of topics, ask for advice and get responses quickly.  With so many recommendations, the group recently decided to issue their handy service providers list.

Check out the wide range of service providers:

Air Conditioning (Portable), Appliances, Arborist, Auto Repair, Awnings, Bees, Bookkeeping, Cable & Wiring, Carpet Cleaning, Caterer, Chair Caning, Chimney Sweep, Chiropractor, Contractor, Dentist, Dog Trainer or Walker, Drain Cleaning, Drainage, Dryer Duct Cleaning, Elderly Living, Electrician, Elevator Repair, Energy Audit, Exterminator, Fence Builder, Furnace, Garage Doors, Gardener, Gutters, Handyman, Hardwood Floors, House Cleaner, Insurance Broker, Internet, Landscaper, Leak Specialist, Mailboxes, Movers, OB/GYN, Painter, Paving, PC Repair, Pest Control, Pet Care, Plumber, Roofer, Sewing Machine Repair, Shingles, Skylight Repair, Solar Heating or Panels, Structural Pest Inspector, Tile, Transportation (Airport), Upholstery, Veterinarian, Welder, Window Cleaning, Window Replacement and Windshields.

While this service provider list isn’t comprehensive, it seems very useful.  These recommendations have been made by your neighbors, who also offer color commentary about their experiences.  We like the altrustic and ever-changing nature of this list, too.

If you have any requests, then please join the Open Forum here — and trust the answers.

Merger Planned In The North Hills

Who said jurisdictional changes can’t be made?  At least two Oakland neighborhood councils noticed they shared interests and territories.  If all proceeds smoothly, then a peaceful merger will take place under the newly-created North Hills Community Association (NHCA) banner.

One of the groups, the North Hills Phoenix Association, formed after the 1991 Oakland Hills fire and initially helped locals re-build from the ashes.  Since then, Phoenix volunteers have focused on ensuring a safe environment for residents living between Claremont Avenue and just beyond Highway 24.

Meanwhile, the North Hills Neighborhood Council launched as a more typical Oakland crime prevention group and wanted to expand into other quality-of-life concerns.  Their larger territory mirrored all of Police Beat 13Y, ranging from the Berkeley border through Thornhill Drive.

With the new North Hills Community Association, volunteers will join forces.  Four representatives from each group are drawing up the structure and by-laws of their combination, and have already drafted a unified mission:

We strive to realize a cohesive community that is environmentally healthy, safe and secure in the hills area north of Thornhill Drive.  Our organization coordinates with the Cities of Oakland and Berkeley, especially the Fire and Police departments and City Council members, and with other government, neighborhood and volunteer organizations to accomplish these goals.

The organization represents the interests of the residents of the North Hills to the cities and beyond on matters addressed by the group with a particular focus on preparedness, safety, and security.  Our goal is to keep our community safe, beautiful and a pleasure to live in.

The new association seeks to help northern Montclarions with “emergency preparedness, vegetation control, erosion control or construction management” as well as crime-related matters.  Are there other priorities that concern you as well?  Please reach either the North Hills Neighborhood Council (at info@northhillsnc.org) or the North Hills Phoenix Association (at executive@nhphoenix.org) with your thoughts.