Greetings, fellow Avilones.  The month of November has arrived, and is the jumping off point for the holiday season.  One of the most obvious signs was last month’s resurgence of crowds at the Avila Valley Barn, in particular at the pumpkin patch prior to Halloween.  This will likely continue through November leading up to Thanksgiving.  A word of caution to you all when driving along Avila Beach Drive that traffic will back up at the entrance to Avila Barn.

As I think about Thanksgiving this year, it takes on special meaning to me as this column is the second to last I will write as Executive Director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation.  My looming departure was shared last month, so you are aware that this will conclude 15 years at the helm.  As I reflect on that time, I have much to be thankful for.   There are so many individuals and businesses leaders that have supported the “Foundation’s” efforts that it would be impossible to share the names of all with you in this space.  That being said, I do want to identify some of the key folks to publicly recognize their impact.

Every non-profit organization is only as strong as its board President.  I have been fortunate to work with an outstanding lineup of “Foundation” leaders since 2009 that includes; Mike Ritter, Julian Varela, Rick Rowe, Lisa Ritterbuck, Mike Ginn, Cyndy Lakowske and Barbara Nicholson.  I thank each of you for your service to the organization and the people of Avila Beach.  I was also blessed to work side by side with some very talented support staff that included;  Penny Burciaga, Paula Dempsey, Stephanie Rowe and Kymberly Fazzio.  Each of you brought something special to the “Foundation”, and I appreciate the roles you played.

Also noteworthy, and key to some of our success, is a handful of local community/business leaders who provided financial support of the” Foundation’s” projects and activities that extended beyond the realm of the grants we make each year.  Said projects/activities are too numerous to fully state here, but a few of the most visible are the public art installations that bring beauty to the beach,  the public viewing telescope, the people and pet drinking fountain at “dog beach”, the beach boardwalk commercial trash receptacles, and the interpretive signs along the Bob Jones Trail.  My thanks to the following folks who, through their generosity, helped make the aforementioned projects, and others,  possible:  Chevron (Juliet Don and Jeff Moore), PG&E (Eric Daniels),   SLO County District 3 Supervisors (Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Adam Hill), the Richard and Kathleen Zacky Family Foundation, the Rossi Foundation (Rob Rossi), and Joan Sargen.  My apologies if I’ve left anyone out.

Odds and Ends:  What would one of my final columns be if lacking some of the witty (in my opinion) observations and personal experiences I’ve shared with you over the years?  My wife and I returned from our recent vacation to Palm Springs.  Remember the good old days when we could say the journey is equal in enjoyment to the destination?  Well, not so if you have to drive to Southern California.   Back in 1992 when I first began visiting my parents after they retired to Palm Desert, I could make the drive in 4+ hours.  The same journey now takes around 6 hours – more if you come upon an accident or freeway lane closures.  So, I’ve come up with a slogan that reminds me of a famous commercial from the past.  Remember the jingle, “the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup?”  My proposed entry into the jingles Hall of Fame is; “the best part of leaving Avila Beach for places to roam, is returning to Avila Beach, the place we call home.”  BTW – during the trip I came upon the most glaring/outrageous example of inflation, er, price gouging, at Stater Bros. grocery store in Cathedral City.  There, in a prime location near the check stand, was a Crispy Crème donuts display, featuring a 3-pack box of donuts for the pricey sum of $9.99.  My math says that’s $3.33 per donut.  That’s a lot of dough for a such a paltry hunk of dough!  Then, after dinner in Palm Springs we stumbled upon an ice cream parlor selling a 12 oz date shake for $10.99.  Twice what I used to pay just a few years ago!  Okay, I am through sharing my outrage, and will leave you with my usual closing.

That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach.

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   Okay, I’ll go ahead and admit it.  Now that summer is behind us, with the kids back in school and the number of visitors to our beach community subsiding, I am so delighted.  It was such a pleasure to take my sister and niece to Front Street on that first Friday evening after the season end to Farmer’s Market.  It was after dark and the setting was so quiet and serene.  The waves were crashing, the seagulls were squawking, and there was hardly anyone around.  I know it sounds selfish, but I kind of wish it was like this all year round.
​
You may recall that last month I announced my looming retirement from the Avila Beach Community Foundation, which becomes effective at the end of this year.  Quite a few of you readers emailed me offering kind words and well wishes.  Some mentioned how much they would miss my monthly newsletter columns.  Others I have run into at the Avila Bay Club or Avila Golf Resort also extended their congratulations.  I am deeply touched by the sentiment and most appreciative.  With only three newsletter columns left, counting this one, it will surely feel odd to not sit down at my computer each month trying to write something worthy of your time to read.   177 times over a period of 15 years I have opened my column with “Greetings, fellow Avilones”, and signed off with “See you at the beach”.  Lots of fond memories.  I have great confidence in my successor, Rick Rowe, who will take the helm beginning January 1, 2024 after spending the next three months acclimating him to the job.

Moving right along, I want to encourage you to attend the upcoming Avila Beach Children’s Business Fair, scheduled for October 14th from 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. at the Avila Community Center.  This the third year for this event, which was established and coordinated by Kristen McKiernan as a way for students to become young entrepreneurs and earn some money.  Each year the number of youth vendors has increased, as has the volume and quality of the goods they have created and sold.  If you are interested in doing some early holiday shopping, you will surely find some interesting items for sale.  The “Foundation” is pleased to be one of the event sponsors for the third consecutive year.

On a personal note, I want to offer a “shout-out” to SLO County Public Works Project Manager John Waddell.  Earlier this summer I noticed that there was an uneven and growing gap in the road connecting San Luis Bay Drive to the bridge that spans San Luis Creek near the Avila Beach Drive intersection.  Driving over that spot was becoming a jarring experience needing some attention.  So, I reached out to John who said he would add that to the long list of SLO County roads needing repair work following the rain and flooding that occurred earlier in the year.  Likewise, I mentioned the many dangerous potholes present on Avila Beach Drive between Sycamore Mineral Springs and the freeway.  I was pleased to see that County Public Works has indeed repaired the bridge connection and done some patching of the potholes.  Thanks, John, for being so responsive.

For those of you who have, over the years, inquired about the rusted and cordoned off stairway at the south/west end of Avila Beach, there MAY be some good news.  At the September 11th Avila Valley Advisory Council meeting, Port San Luis Harbor District Manager Suzy Watkins reported that an engineering study will be conducted as a first step toward replacing the old stairway.  Suzy did caution, however, that there are presently no funds available to build the new stairway, but the engineering study is a beginning.  It sure would be nice to see direct access to that end of the beach return – a sentiment shared by many.

The September 15th deadline to submit grant applications to be considered for funding in 2024 has passed.  The “Foundation” is now proceeding with the process to select grantees, which will be finalized when our Trustees meet in November.  I look forward to letting you know about the issuing of grants in the December news column.

That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   I know, I know.  Last month I told you that I would likely NOT be able to submit a column in time for the September issue of the Avila Beach Life newspaper because of my pending vacation.  But, lo and behold, I managed to carve out some time before heading to Alaska.  Of course, doing so several weeks in advance of the publication due date meant that the news would be rather dated when it comes to Avila happenings.  So, I decided to set aside the local news update with an announcement a little closer to home.  Are you curious?  Do I have your attention?  Then read on.

Earlier this summer I informed the Foundation Board of Trustees of my plan to retire as Executive Director at the end of 2023.  This will conclude 15 years of service in my role, and I have enjoyed every bit of it!  However, having turned 72 years of age this summer I decided it was time to pass the baton to someone new who could bring into the equation the type of fresh ideas and enthusiasm that I did in 2009.  I can look back and feel gratitude and pride in what the Foundation has accomplished during my turn at the helm.  Over these past 15 years I have been fortunate to work with so many wonderful board members and a few talented staff associates.  All have contributed to, and been extremely supportive of, my efforts, ideas and leadership. This afforded me a lot of freedom to be creative in our agency’s quest to enhance life in Avila Beach.
Looking back on my life, the past 15 years mark the final chapter of what has been a nearly 50-year career in the non-profit sector.  My gosh, where did the time go?  It all began the summer of 1973 when I was asked to be a substitute tennis instructor at the Mid Valley YMCA in Van Nuys, California. That stint led to further assignments with the “Y”, then to a career track as a YMCA professional.  In 1982 I took my experience to the YMCA in Newport Beach and further honed my management skills by heading several departments involving youth and families.  In 1985 I bid farewell to the YMCA after being hired by the American Red Cross of the San Fernando Valley, where I learned some new valuable skills in communications and fundraising.

Fast forward to 1989 when my wife and I decided to leave the madness of Southern California and set up stakes in Los Osos after having visited the Central Coast the previous year in search of a better quality of life.  After a brief stint working part time for the Cuesta College Foundation, I was hired in 1991 by HOTLINE of San Luis Obispo County in my first job as an executive director.  While I certainly had experience heading departments and supervising staff and volunteers, I had not before been responsible for an entire organization.  That first year was a challenge, but everything came together nicely and resulted in a 7-year term with HOTLINE that ended in 1998 after I was hired to be the first executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County.  What a terrific experience that was!  Wonderful staff, dedicated board of directors and volunteers, and no shortage of donors. 

Sparing you the boring details, I left BBBS after three years to help with two new start-ups, then returned to BBBS for another three years as their E.D. when the agency once again called upon me to help right the ship.  My journey took yet another turn when, just as was l retiring from BBBS at the end of 2008, the opportunity to become executive director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation surfaced.  Gladly, I was hired at the beginning of 2009, and you know the rest of the story, which brings me to the big news of the day.  The next four months will be spent working side by side with the person chosen to be my successor as he transitions into the role.  I am delighted to introduce you to Rick Rowe who, as of January 1, 2024 will be the Foundation’s new executive director.  Rick, you may recall, was on the Foundation Board of Directors from 2013-2017 – the last of those two years as Board President.  He also served on the boards of the Avila Beach Community Services District, Avila Valley Advisory Council and Avila Beach Civic Association.  Rick recently retired from teaching school, which followed his first career in the technology industry.  He possesses terrific workplace and people skills that should serve him well in this new capacity, and I know you will offer Rick a warm welcome. 

​That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  Summer is moving along as expected here in Avila as we head into the month of August.  The beaches are crowded with not only locals, but with throngs of visitors escaping the extreme temperatures in North SLO County and California’s Central Valleys.  So far, the weather in Avila this season has been unusually mild and cool.  Early morning fog giving way to afternoon sunshine has been pretty consistent, though that can change in a hurry.  I cannot help but recall the numerous hot, hot, hot days of last summer when finding relief was a challenge.

The “Foundation” has once again entered our grant-making season.  Funding requests from eligible organizations, programs or projects are being accepted through September 15th.  Grant applications can be found on our website: www.avilabeachfoundation.org.  The grant awards selection process begins in October when our board members determine how much money will be allocated for 2024 grants, and they receive copies of the applications.  They are tasked with reading and ranking the applicants, which collectively results in a list of priority funding based on the average scores.  In November the board meets to negotiate the selection of grants to be awarded and the sums of each.  This process is an interesting and rewarding exercise that has served us well for many years.

As you know, I often promote the work of the Avila Valley Advisory Council (AVAC) and encourage all Avilones to participate in their monthly Zoom meetings.  In my opinion there is no better way to stay informed of things happening in our community that affect our lives.  As an example, a few things I learned during the July AVAC meeting were; (1) The heavily used Bob Jones Trail, managed by SLO County Parks and Recreation, recently installed a new traffic counter to help monitor usage, and new signs along the Trail have been placed to remind all of a 15 mile per hour maximum speed limit.  Safety has become a major issue as the increasing number of people riding higher speed electric bikes and scooters has become a concern. (2) The Cave Landing parking area improvements project is underway, and is expected to be completed by the end of August. (3) Port San Luis Harbor District reported that repair work on the Avila Pier is about half way through a two-year process.  These are just a few of the topics shared during the AVAC meeting. Much more information can be gleaned, so I highly recommend visiting the AVAC website to review reports and minutes from previous meetings.  Log onto:  https://avac-avila.org.

Alaska here we come.  Yep, my wife and I will be heading out in August for a 10-day trip to Alaska.  It begins with a 3-day land tour of the Denali wilderness, followed by a 7-day cruise through Alaska’s inland-passage.  This is our first major trip since the Pandemic, and I admit to still being leery of travel in general.  The travel industry has certainly changed since Covid, kind of like it changed after the September 2001 attacks.  Airlines cannot seem to get their act together, and cruise ships get larger and larger to accommodate more passengers.  Nevertheless, I look forward to this getaway and hope it restores my faith and excitement in venturing about.  Because of the timing of this trip, it is likely that I will NOT be generating a column for the September issue of the Avila Beach Life news publication.  I know this will be a shock to your system as I have not missed one column during my nearly 15 years on the job.  Or, it may come as a relief to those of you who will welcome and relish a break from my ramblings…….LOL. 

​That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   I begin this month’s column with the big local news some of you may have missed.  Following is a summary of the media release distributed by Eric Daniels, Senior Local Government and Public Affairs Representative for PG&E. “In an important step to continue operating Diablo Canyon Power Plant beyond 2024-25 by direction of the state, the California State Lands Commission voted to approve Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s lease extension application related to its intake and discharge structures until 2030.  While additional regulatory decisions remain ahead on the path to relicense the plant, today’s (6/5/2023) vote was a key milestone of Senate Bill 846.  The extension of the lease supports continued operation of the intake and discharge structures that are crucial to plant operations, including the generation of electricity and cooling for components”.
In other local news, the Central Coast Aquarium has hired a new Executive Director in the person of Christy Kasarjian, who was born and raised on the Central Coast, spending a lot of her time by the water.  After transferring from Cal Poly to Boise State University, she found solace in the mountains, just as she had with the sea. While she wanted to be closer to her family, it was not in the plans for her to move back to California until the Executive Director position with the Central Coast Aquarium came about. 
 
Christy has a dynamic background, always striving to work for organizations that coincide with her love for the outdoors and bringing people together to serve the community.  Working for the Forest Service in fire suppression and serving as a director for the non-profit organization Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation & Ski Resort in Idaho fueled her need to be proactive about sustainable practices in recreation and preserving our resources.  According to Christy, now that summer has arrived the Aquarium will increase its hours of operation, and is seeking more volunteers for this busy season. They do not need to be marine biologists, and not all volunteers are required to work in the exhibit hall.  Anyone interested should call the Central Coast Aquarium at (805) 457-5357.
 
In case you weren’t able to attend, there was a very informative gathering held on May 30th at the Avila Beach Community Center, hosted by SLO County District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg.  With about 90 folks in attendance, Supervisor Ortiz-Legg and representatives from the SLO County Planning Department provided some background and updates regarding projects and plans relevant to the Avila Beach communities.  Among the items shared were the Dunn Sailing Apartments (a new partnership has been established to determine its future), the McCarthy property project above Cave Landing (applicant has reduced the size of the proposed home and dedicated some public access space for a trail). Samara project behind the San Luis Bay Inn (originally designed to build 50 cottages, but developer now exploring other options).  The Chevron property development project (nothing new to report, still some mitigation taking place). 
 
Other items discussed included progress on the long-awaited Avila Community Plan (has been delayed once again due to staffing turnover and other long-term priorities of SLO County), Offshore Wind Industry on the Central Coast (Avila Beach unlikely to be a staging site due to limited infrastructure - Morro Bay more likely), Avila Beach Golf Resort proposed project (phased extension to include lodging, spa and larger events venue – draft EIR underway, first of 3 phases before final approval), Avila Barn (applying for a permit to host special events for up to 200 people).  Disclaimer: the above two paragraphs represent my note-taking (not my strong suit) and may not be completely accurate.  For full report contact SLO County Planning Department.
 
Summer for the Avila Beach Community Foundation means it’s time to launch our grant-making season.  Requests For Proposals (RFPs) will be announced around mid-July, and the application form will be available on our website:  www.avilabeachfoundation.org. The Foundation has awarded more than 200 grants to agencies, programs and projects, and has surpassed $3 million in monies distributed since 2001. 

​That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   Here we are, in the month of June, only days away from the official start of summer on the 21st.  I don’t know about you, but summer has always meant something special to me, mostly because harkening back to my youth it meant a break from school with many visits to the beach.  The aroma of salt water, cotton candy, hot dogs and tanning oil can transport me back to those wonderful times.  Back then I only dreamed of living at/near the beach, and here I am now, living the dream with you all in Avila Beach.  How lucky can a guy get?

​One of my favorite summertime songs was released in 1964 by the duo Chad and Jeremy.  Titled “A Summer Song”, the poetic lyrics so aptly captured the feeling of the day, especially for young lovers.  Here are the opening stanzas: “Trees, swaying’ in the summer breeze, showin’ off their silver leaves, as we walked by.  Soft kisses on a summer’s day, laughing all our cares away, just you and I.  Sweet sleepy warmth of summer nights, gazing at the distant lights, in the starry sky.” It’s a song worth listening to, so take a few minutes to Google or YouTube it and take a ride back in time.

While I’m sure these dates are on your calendar, I nevertheless remind you of Fathers’ Day on Sunday, June 18th, a day honoring all fathers, grandfathers and father figures for their contributions.  And let us not forget Juneteenth on the 17th,  a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”  The 2023 June solstice happens on June 21 at 14:58 UTC. That's June 21 9:58 a.m. CDT in North America. This solstice – the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere – marks the sun's most northerly point in Earth's sky.
 
Moving along, in the spirit of sharing my sometimes-rambling thoughts and opinions, I wonder how many of you "elder adults" resort to comparing life as it is today with life as it was "back in the day".  I must admit to being guilty of this more and more as the older I get.  I recall both my grandparents and parents falling back on this habit, and how I shook my head and laughed at them.  I owe them all an apology, since I now get the same type of response when speaking to those of a younger generation.  But experience counts, and it seems that we wise old folks have a responsibility to express to those younger than us our complaints and lessons learned, even though we rarely change their minds.
 
In that regard, I share with you a trip my wife and I took in May to Angel's Camp, which is located up in Gold Country, southwest of Sacramento.  We drove the usual and most direct route up Hwy 5, which turned out to be a mistake.  Unfortunately, a considerable portion of the road was in horrible condition.  I found myself dodging potholes large enough to force vehicle wheels out of alignment, particularly in the slow lane.  It was a bit better in the fast lane, but even that came with perils.  Driving up Hwy 5, with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, you better be ready to ramp it up to 85 mph in the fast lane, or become the victim of tailgaters in a great hurry that force you back into the slow lane.  So, the choice was to use the fast lane like a race car driver, or use the slow lane and dodge potholes while stuck behind freight trucks kicking up pebbles that always seem to find your windshields.  Bottom line is that road conditions were deplorable.
 
Okay, so we finally reached the Hwy 4 intersection at Stockton, and for 50 or so miles of eastbound travel found smooth, recently repaved roads.  Most of this portion of the trip was truly in the middle of nowhere.  I was humming the John Denver tune lyrics, "Country roads, take me home, etc."  We didn't see many cars in either direction while traversing the sometimes-winding narrow stretch.  During the trip we also took a ride south on Hwy 49 to Sonora, another 16 or so miles of country road in perfect condition that was also lightly traveled.  My point being that somehow these out of the way roads shined, while the highly traveled and important portion of Hwy 5 described earlier was dangerously terrible. Is it Cal Trans that decides which roads need attention, or do counties have a say in the matter?  Then, it was time to head home, and I vowed to not use Hwy 5 again, instead opting for Hwy 99 south. Meh!  99 was better than 5, but the work being done to add lanes in certain areas resulted in some harrowing driving as concrete barriers, non- existent medians and shoulders bring you just inches from the vehicles next to you.  Needless to say, it was another “white-knuckle” drive on the way home.  But we arrived safely, a bit worse for the wear.  Perhaps I’ll just stay here in Avila Beach and enjoy listening to “A Summer Song.” 

That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!

Greetings, Fellow Avilones.  It’s time to gear up for the month of May, with two notable, and one not so notable, dates on the calendar.  First, of course, is the one we all know better than to forget – MOTHER’S DAY on May 14th!  Get your shopping done early before all the best greetings cards, candy, flowers or whatever you want to gift are still in stock.  Later this month we celebrate Memorial Day on May 29th, a three-day weekend that also signals the opening of the floodgates for visitors who each summer commandeer our beloved Avila Beach.  Lesser known and enjoyed in America is “May Day”, a public holiday celebrated on May 1 in many different cultures around the world. It is a day of unity, togetherness, and rebirth; a day for everyone to come together and celebrate life as we know it.  All in all, lots of fun in store this month.

One of the really neat things about this time of year is the re-positioning of the Avila Beach Lifeguard Towers, featuring the touted public art murals created and installed by local artist icon Colleen Gnos back in 2017.  Over the years these murals have generated lots of positive response and, unfortunately, some unwanted attention by people who enjoy defacing public structures.  Yes, I am referring to the graffiti outlaws who, on two occasions, left their marks on the towers.  Fortunately, Colleen and her team have been able to repair the damage both times.  Most recently she removed the markings and applied a coat of anti-graffiti varnish that should last 15 years, and enable about 160 acetone treatments of graffiti removal without affecting the original artwork.  While the lifeguard towers and murals are now owned by the Port San Luis Harbor District, the project was spearheaded by the Avila Beach Community Foundation.  In shifting ownership to PSLHD, the “Foundation” agreed to help with ongoing maintenance of the murals by raising funds to help pay for cleaning every two months, and graffiti removal as needed.  A special Avila Beach Public Art Preservation Fund was formed for this purpose.  If you would like to donate to this fund, for a contribution in any amount we will gladly give you one of our limited-edition Proud Avilone license plate frames.  Donations can be sent to PO Box 297, Avila Beach, CA  93424.

For those of you who spend time along the beach boardwalk and overlooks, you may have noticed a crew of adults doing some sweeping up of sand and debris several mornings each week between May and September.  The crew comes from an agency known as PathPoint, a non-profit organization that offers a wide variety of services to help individuals with developmental disabilities overcome barriers to employment, to place them in jobs, and to provide them with the training and support they need to keep jobs. While gaining these valuable work/life skills, client/employees are entitled to wages equal to California’s minimum wage regulations.  You might be surprised at the amount of sand that finds its way from the beach, up the stairs, and onto the walkways and gutters.  Likewise, debris such as cigarette butts, bottle caps and can pull tabs.  All this produces potentially dangerous and harmful conditions, so removal is good for the environment and good for the public.  The “Foundation” contracts with PathPoint each year to provide this service, thanks to the generosity of our project funding partners; SLO County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Chevron and PG&E.

As a special treat for those of you who missed out on the “Foundation’s” History of Front Street presentation, or for even those who did attend and want another look, you’re in luck!  If you visit the home page of our website, you will see an introduction and link to the several dozen old time photos shown by Pete Kelley at the March event.  Front Street is depicted from many different angles and during various periods of time.  One of the common threads over Avila’s history is that the beach was always popular and crowded. 

Last but not least is one more reminder that the Avila Beach Farmers’ Market launches its season this coming Friday, May 5th.  That also marks the first date you can grab a free ride on the Avila Beach Trolley if you want to avoid crowded parking conditions.   You should be able to find the Trolley route and schedule by visiting the SLORTA website. 

​That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. Have a great month, and we’ll see you at the beach!

​Greetings, Fellow Avilones. As the saying goes, “spring has sprung,” and we have headed into a new season. Winter was sort of a lost cause due to colder, windier and wetter than usual weather, though a strong case can be made that the rain was badly needed to replenish our lakes and reservoirs. It’s just a shame that so much damage occurred throughout SLO County. Some of the breaking news for this month’s column comes from Julie Andrews-Scott, who has informed me that this year’s Avila Farmers’ Market will operate each Friday from May 5th through August 25th. This activity has become quite popular, and was first launched by Julie as a senior project while attending Cal Poly. Congratulations, Julie! And, we also received word from South County Transit that the Free Avila Trolley will run from May 5th through September 2nd. Rides remain free as the “Foundation” continues to help subsidize Trolley operating costs.

Just a few days ago, the “Foundation” successfully hosted the latest rendition of our Avila History series. This time local historian Pete Kelley took us through a slide show tour of Avila’s Front Street in the old days. It was stunning to see how the area has evolved, and that even way back then the crowds visiting our beach were enormous. We knew this free event would be popular when it “sold out” within 8 hours of being posted, so we added a repeat performance for the following night, which also sold out. In addition to the slide show, the “Foundation” treated attendees to a tasty dessert, and the Civic Association set up a no host bar to help raise funds for the Community Center. Rounding out the evening was a drawing for some door prizes, including three framed old-time photos donated by Richard and Kathy Zacky, along with a few items of Avilone “swag.”

As we prepared for the Avila History event, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own time in the area. My wife, our cat and I moved from Irvine in 1989 and initially landed in Los Osos. The two of us having met as Irvine tennis players, it didn’t take long after our move to learn that the best competition in the area was at the Avila Bay Athletic Club. It was sometime in early 1990 that we ventured out to the Club, liked what we saw, and joined. Come that first summer in 1990, we also discovered that while Los Osos was shrouded in fog, the summer sun was always shining in Avila. "Let’s move there!!! Easier said than done. Back then San Luis Bay Estates had only two residential developments, and one was for people aged 55+ years. We were too young. Homes in downtown Avila were rarely seen on the market, and sales seemed to occur only via word of mouth. So, in 1995 we ended up in Pelican Point, stretching our budget for the slightly more than $200k price tag. I’m not complaining, but homes in PP have been selling recently in the $1m range. Sheesh!

Looking back, so much has changed. Many of the people in our neighborhood back then have since passed away. Same with the pets we grew so fond of. The Avila Bay Club back in the 90s was truly an adult sanctuary. It was a serene place to hang out after tennis, with very few kids around. As the area developed and began attracting families, the Bay Club transitioned to become family oriented.   No more quiet days around the pool. Back then the Avila Beach Golf Resort was just a golf course, but has since become more of an event venue and less oriented to the golfing community. Downtown Avila lost its “funky” vibe, having been rebuilt after the ”Big Dig.” While the beach town is certainly prettier, the local’s culture has been largely replaced by second home owners and vacation rental condos. Remember Custom House when it had two dining sections, with the outdoor area that included a neat aviary? I also recall Fat Cats being open 24-hours to accommodate the fishing industry workers coming in at all hours. Back then you could get a HUGE breakfast for 5 bucks!

I am reminded of the song lyrics “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on” as recorded by the Beatles in 1968. Long after we are gone, the next generation will look back on its own memories. They will refer to the good old days of the mid-21st century. It will likely become even more digital. I suspect currency will become a product of the past. I imagine movie theaters will be ancient history. I believe that brick and mortar stores will have all but vanished and most purchases will be online. Life will be lived by how advanced mobile devices become, experienced through six-inch screens in the palm of the hand. Gas vehicles will be no more, and when power outages occur there will be so many stranded electric vehicles. Progress will always prevail, for better or for worse. All in all, I’m actually pretty glad that I’ve lived when I have. I’m just not well suited to what tomorrow may bring. 

Last, but not least, please see the announcement below from Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School for a free community event on Saturday, April 15. They are also accepting donations beginning April 10.

Oh well, that's it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
​

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   As most of you know, the main function of the Avila Beach Community Foundation is to issue grants that improve the quality of life in Avila Beach.  This includes support to local non-profit and public agencies that offer services or provide community enhancement projects.   Each of our grantees is required to report back to the Foundation at the end of the year the results of their work related to our funding.  This month I will share with you some feedback from one of our 2022 grantees that I think you will find interesting.  But first, here’s some news about an upcoming special event I have been telling you about for the last few months.

Mark your calendar for our “History of Front Street” presentation, scheduled for March 30th.  Local historian Pete Kelley will be sharing some wonderful old-time slides along with a narrative of life in Avila Beach going back many decades.  This event – which is free and by invitation only, is being held at the Avila Beach Community Center, from 6:30-8:00p.m.  No dinner is being served, but dessert is on us.   The Civic Association will offer beer and wine for those wishing to purchase an adult beverage.  Those of you who presently subscribe to the Foundation’s e-newsletter will receive electronic invitations to the event.  Attendance will be limited to the first 70 people who respond to the invitation.  Those of you who only receive the Avila Beach Life print news publication can request an invitation by sending an email to: avilabeachcf@gmail.com.  We look forward to seeing you on the 30th!

Now, getting back to my opening paragraph, I am pleased to tell you a little about one of our grantees, the Cancer Well-Fit program, held at the Avila Bay Athletic Club.  CWF provides its no-cost wellness program to men and women in our community in varying stages of cancer.  Over the years CWF staff has shared with the Foundation some of the comments they receive from grateful program participants.  This feedback tells the story of just how important the program has been in enabling their ability to resume a healthy life.  Following are just some of the comments included in the last CWF year-end grant report…..

“I did not know what to expect from the program but really wanted to transition from fatigue, weakness and fragility of treatment’s side effects to a more “normal” life.  The program helped me meet these desires very well/excellently. I increased my stamina, endurance and strength. Under supervision, I was able to return, physically and emotionally, to better fitness and to re-enter society.” 

“I looked forward to being with others in like situations, and this program provides camaraderie with other cancer patients.  I experienced openness, support and the generosity of our local community through this helpful program.” 

“I needed structure and motivation to get moving again after surgery and six weeks of radiation.  This program was excellent!  I loved the introduction to TRX training.  Both trainers were kind, patient and supportive/flexible.  I looked forward to seeing the other participants.”

“I was clueless about what to expect when we started the program.  My desire was to increase my energy, strength and endurance.  My desires were met 100%!  I looked forward to swimming after our group workouts and having muscle fatigue.  I would like to suggest that receiving nutrition information as part of this program would be very helpful.”

This from CWF Executive Director Jan Secord and Program Director Danielle Lien. “On behalf of our Cancer Well-fit team of compassionate and caring instructors, we thank all of you at the Avila Beach Community Foundation for your continued support!  Your vote of confidence in us and the funding you provide allow us to continue to provide this helpful program for our neighbors”.  The Foundation is proud to help make such a huge difference through our support. 

That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!
​

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  February is upon us, and I bet you know what’s coming.  This is the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day and President’s Day holidays.  And, of course, my wife’s birthday.  For the past 13 years two of these dates were enjoyed with our now deceased, but not forgotten dog, “Dodger,” so it will be strange/sad not having him around to help shop for greeting cards and presents.  For some reason he always insisted on purchasing a supply of doggie treats for his “mom.”

By the time you receive this publication, about three weeks will have passed since the devastating January storms roiled Avila Beach and other parts of SLO County.  Avila was hit particularly hard with water rising above the creek, spilling onto the main roads into town, and swamping businesses at Avila Village, Avila Bay Athletic Club and Avila Beach Golf Resort.  Sadly, a life was lost during rampaging flooding on Avila Beach Drive near Sycamore Mineral Springs.  And if all that wasn’t bad enough, the greater Avila communities were without power for nearly two full days! 

While we cannot control all effects of Mother Nature, how we respond always leaves an impression.  And I have to say that I was NOT impressed with what my wife and I experienced on the evening of January 9th.  I share this debacle with you to vent my frustration.  After languishing without power the entire day, we ventured out to South County to pick up some prescription medication and grab some dinner since it wasn’t raining very hard at that time.  The “circus” began when we tried to drive back home on the 101 after entering the 4th Street onramp.  Things looked good as we headed northbound towards Avila.   We knew the Avila Beach Drive offramp was closed, thus planned on taking the San Luis Bay Drive offramp.  No such luck, the northbound freeway was closed, and all vehicles were forced to exit at Avila Beach Drive.  What!!!!

We quickly came upon a line of cars and freight trucks that exited before us, as well as the flashing lights of patrol cars ahead blocking further travel.  There we sat for several minutes, then inched closer to the front of the line, which we knew to be a dead end.  Drivers were being re-routed back onto the southbound onramp to head where?  Who knows?  Finally, as I began approaching a patrol car to get some information, word came via loud-speaker that in order to travel north into San Luis Obispo or beyond, drivers should head back to Price Canyon Road, take it to Hwy 227, then find their way back onto the 101.   Not one word about how we could get back home to Avila.  Did they close the San Luis Bay Drive exit as well?  Fortunately knowing our way around, we continued along HWY 227/Broad Street to South Street, to Higuera Street, to Madonna Road, onto southbound 101, then were able to exit on San Luis Bay Drive and make our way home.

 So, why the heck was San Luis Bay Drive exit closed coming from the south and not from the north?  From what we could view, no flooding reached that exit side.  Thus, what could have been a 5-minute drive home became a very circuitous 2-mile, one-half hour detour.  I suppose one could find a comical side to this story, but all in all it left a sour taste in my mouth.  Most striking was the lack of information or direction.  Some signage on the freeway forewarning drivers would have been helpful, but none was seen in either direction, at least not so on our routes. Likewise, patrol officers on the scene could have been more helpful than just sitting in their squad cars with lights flashing.  I worry what will happen when a greater disaster visits the area.  Are the responders we rely upon truly prepared to act?  I imagine that question won’t endear me to our friends in public service, but I feel it must be asked.  I do so not in my capacity with the Avila Beach Community Foundation, but as a citizen of San Luis Obispo County. 

​That’s all for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!