Greetings, fellow Avilones.   Summer in Avila Beach rolls on as usual, even as turmoil both home and abroad dominates the conversation and lives of many.  Gasoline prices remain historically high, inflation is still not under control, mass shootings pepper the headlines, Russia is still the bully, politics could hardly get any worse, Covid just won’t go away, and airline travel has become a joke.  Dang, it’s difficult to find the proverbial silver lining, isn’t it?  Yet, we must carry on with our lives and do the best we can.

One item of particular interest to our community is recent discourse about the possibility of Diablo Canyon extending its permit to operate in spite of current decommissioning plans.  PG&E, over the past couple of years, has made clear their goals for closing down operations, but government leaders are now seeking a reversal over fears that without Diablo Canyon, there will not be sufficient electricity produced by alternate sources to meet the needs of our state.   As you might suspect, anti-nuclear environmental groups are firmly against continuation of the plant, so things will get interesting as this plays out.  The ramifications of closing Diablo Canyon are many, including the loss of a valuable tax base that supports the local economy, and a large employee base that provides financial aid and volunteers to numerous non-profits, including several in Avila Beach.  Stay tuned for more information from local news sources.

Next up, I am pleased to report that the “Foundation” is gearing up for what will be our third Avila Beach History event.  This is something that was originally on the planning docket for 2020, but the Pandemic came for a visit, thus halting progress.  Our event planning committee is meeting this summer to bounce around some ideas for this third iteration.  For longtime locals and “newbies” alike, there seems to be no shortage of interest in the history of our beachfront town.  We have some ideas to mull over, but would welcome any thoughts YOU readers may have as to the content or topics of the looming gathering.  Send your ideas to me at avilafoundation@gmail.com.

While participating in the July Avila Valley Advisory Council “Zoom” meeting, I was again reminded of the valuable information shared about events, activities, services and policies related to life in Avila Beach.  For those of you interested in staying abreast of what’s going on, I encourage you to visit the websites of:  the Avila Valley Advisory Council (www.avac-avila.org) to access meeting minutes to view reports from County agencies and Avila neighborhoods; Port San Luis Harbor District (www.portsanluis.com) to learn about what’s happening at the beach and piers; Pacific Gas and Electric Company (www.pge.com) to gain valuable information about community wildfire safety programs, public safety power shutoffs, etc.  Also, be reminded that SLO County District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg sets up shop at the Avila Beach Community Center the third Thursday of each month from 1:00-3:00p.m.  You are welcome to stop by and share with her your concerns about current matters.

Have you read about the recent decision by the SLO County Board of Supervisors to provide very generous compensation increases to staff in all county departments?  Evidently many employees have left the area for greater pay and greener pastures, resulting in considerable vacancies.  In the “old days”, the county was able to offer below industry wages because people were willing to sacrifice some income for quality of life.  Well, it appears those days are gone.  According to news sources, these wage increases will cost the county an additional $5 million this fiscal year and almost $10 million the next year.  Phew – that’s a lot of money.  But let’s face it, with exploding home prices and rents, how else can people afford to live here?  Have you seen real estate listings in Avila Beach/Valley? If you can spare a few million dollars, you might even get an ocean view.  And when it comes to other high prices, I had to shake my head at a recent television commercial advertising a new Jeep Grand Wagoneer for sale with a sticker price starting at $91,000.  Yes, that’s right!  $91,000 before extra features!  Heck, the first house my parents purchased cost only $11,000.  Of course, that was in 1954, but still, $91,000+ for a Jeep SUV? 

Oh well, that’s it for this month fellow Avilones.  Let’s all hang in there.  Better times will surely visit us before too long, but please don’t hold me to that prediction.  See you at the beach!
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Greetings, fellow Avilones.   “Saturday, in the park, I think it was the 4th of July.  People dancing, people laughing, a man selling ice cream, singing Italian songs.”  Yep, just like last month I begin this column with another musical reference to times past – this one the popular song released by the band Chicago in 1972.  There’s just something about summertime that takes me back to the days when I spent countless hours at the beach with my friends tanning, playing frisbee, listening to music and frolicking in the waves.  Kinda reminds me of what it looks like in Avila every summer.  Thanks for indulging me and my proclivity for looking back to the simpler days that are etched forever in my cherished memories.

Fast forward to the here and now, I am pleased to report that proposals from eligible agencies/organizations are now being accepted by the “Foundation” for programs, projects or events to take place in 2023.  Grant applications in Word format can be acquired by logging onto our website – www.avilabeachfoundation.org.  Or, you can email me at avilafoundation@gmail.com to request one.  The application due date is September 11, 2022.  If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 805-234-0855.

You may recall the “Foundation’s” recent Community Impact Fund Initiative, whereby we were seeking proposals for projects that could greatly impact Avila Beach.  The winning project was selected in April, with details finalized in May, but not in time to be published in the June newsletter edition.  So, I am now delighted to report that the I Must be a Mermaid Project was chosen for its creative approach to a growing problem.  Local artist Patricia Martin is the project coordinator, and describes it as follows: “The I Must be a Mermaid Project is a program to promote public awareness of our beach and the ocean through a community participation art installation that showcases the volume of plastic children’s toys left behind on our beach each week”.  Starting the week before Memorial Day and ending the week of Labor Day, selected groups and individuals will be invited to create a mermaid purse inspired by swell shark egg sacks.  This I Must be a Mermaid Project showcases material ecology, and everything used can be re-used in another way.   If you would like to participate, stop by the Friday night Avila Farmers’ Market.  You can also view the project display on the fence along San Francisco Street in Avila Beach.  Our thanks again to the Rossi Foundation for generously making this project possible.

More news comes by way of Chevron and PG&E, both of whom recently awarded grants to the “Foundation” to help cover the costs of our PathPoint summer beach area clean-up project.  They join SLO County District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, who previously contributed to the project.   Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning through October 4th, a crew from PathPoint will be working to remove sand and debris from designated sidewalks, gutters and planters along the beach front, making the areas safer and cleaner.  The concentration of work is on areas not maintained by the County or Harbor District.  The amount of sand and hazardous debris transferred from those departing the beach is immense, and builds up as the prevailing winds blow.  Having Chevron, PG&E, and Supervisor Ortiz-Legg as funding partners enables us to continue this project.  We appreciate your support!

Speaking of PG&E, you are likely painfully aware that we have moved into the season when power outages due to high winds and wildfire danger looms large.  This has already occurred a few times.  I suspect not many of you receive the PG&E online newsletter published by local representative Eric Daniels, but the most recent edition addresses this problem, so I share with you the following from Eric: “As wildfire season nears, emergency preparedness is becoming even more critical. We continue to provide portable battery solutions to customers as part of the Portable Battery Program and have expanded funding and eligibility for the Generator and Battery Rebate Program. The availability of Backup Power Transfer Meters, which makes it easier and safer to connect a generator, has also been expanded.”

He continues; “PG&E has activated its Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) on circuits throughout our service territory that include high fire threat areas, as designated by Cal Fire. EPSS technology helps prevent wildfires by automatically turning off power within one-tenth of a second if an object, like a tree branch, strikes the line.  While EPPS improves wildfire safety, customers may experience outages more often and those outages may be longer in duration as crews must inspect the entire circuit to ensure it is clear of debris before we restore the power.  We acknowledge the toll these types of unplanned outages have on residents, businesses, and visitors.  Please know, we are taking additional steps to help mitigate these impacts, including improving our communication with customers, adjusting the sensitivity on the settings, replacing equipment to improve functionality, installing additional technology to help identify outage sources more quickly, and adapting patrol methods to shorten restorations”. 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   “In the summertime, when the weather is hot, you can stretch right up and touch the sky,
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when the weather's right you got women, you got women on your mind.  Have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find.”  If you recognize the opening lyrics to the song made famous by musician Mungo Jerry, you qualify as a 60s music aficionado.  Quite a catchy tune and peppy kickoff to the coming of summer, which officially begins on June 21st.  Two days before that, of course, is Father’s Day.

 In case you didn’t know, the name June is of Latin origin and means "young." It is derived from the name of the Roman goddess Juno. Other popular uses of the word June includes:  June Gloom; a California term for a weather pattern that results in cloudy, overcast skies with cool temperatures during the late spring and early summer.  June Swoon; a baseball phrase, something that every team has to hear when they go on a losing streak in June.   June Bug; refers to any of the 100 species of beetles that are related to the scarabs familiar from ancient Egyptian iconography.   And my favorite is June Cleaver; a principal character in the popular American television sitcom of the 1950s, Leave It to Beaver.

Moving forward to matters of more importance, the “Foundation” Board of Trustees recently met and decided to resume the organization’s competitive application and grant-making processes of the past.  More than once, I informed our readers that due to the 2020 pandemic that stressed the financial fitness of local non-profit agencies over the past two years, we relaxed the usual annual process for those we historically support and simply rolled over the same amount of funding given them in 2019.   Additionally, these funds could be used by the agencies in whichever ways they needed to keep the doors open, instead of being tied to specific programs or projects.  From what I’ve been told, this was extremely helpful.  Now that these agencies have begun to recover financially, those seeking funding for 2023 will be invited to apply later this year.  Announcements will be forthcoming in July.

Some folks have asked me how the “Foundation” determines the amount of money allotted for grants.  The answer is that each year we visit the value of our investment portfolio on October 1st, as well as the amount on that date the prior two years, then we calculate the three-year rolling average.  The board then determines what percentage of that three-year rolling average (usually around 3%) will be used to fund grants for the coming year.  Using this method enables us to maintain a somewhat stable funding rate, regardless of any spikes that may occur in the stock market in any given year.

Giving Now and Later: An Overview of Donor Advised Fund Rules

Donor advised funds have been around for almost a century. The first donor advised fund (DAF) emerged in the early 1930s. DAFs became more popular and commercialized in the 1990's with the creation of charitable arms of large financial institutions. Tax law evolved over the years to distinguish public charities from private foundations, without codifying DAFs until 2006. Congress passed the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006, which introduced DAFs formally into the tax code and defined the rules related to DAFs. Since the passage of the PPA, the rules regarding DAFs have remained relatively unchanged.

A DAF is a separately identified account that a donor establishes with a sponsoring 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This DAF allows the donor to irrevocably dedicate assets for charitable purposes and generate an immediate charitable income tax deduction, while retaining flexibility to later recommend which charitable entities should receive grants from the DAF. Many donors gravitate to DAFs due to the flexibility and advisory control they offer.  If you are interested in establishing a DAF of your own to benefit the communities of Avila Beach, please contact Rick Cohen at: avilafoundation@gmail.com.
 
Last but not least, this alert comes from Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Lee.  “As the weather warms, please get in front of all weed abatement projects and complete them before the grass is cured. Any burning should be done using caution. Feel free to reach out to the fire department before burning if you have any questions.”  I think we all appreciate the hard work of Chief Lee and his colleagues at the Avila Beach fire station to help keep our community, with its concentrations of vegetation, safe. 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   Get ready - here we go!  The holiday/summer season is rapidly approaching, which means Avila Beach will soon be inundated with beachgoers and vacationers.  We’ve already had a taste of the human tsunami coming our way, as was experienced during the April Easter school break, along with some unseasonably warm days early in the month.  A friendly reminder from me to you that May 8th is Mother’s Day, and May 30th is Memorial Day.  We can expect crowded beaches and lots of traffic over both weekends.  And, as reported in the previous issue of this publication, we are set to welcome back the Avila Friday Farmer’s Market after its two-year pandemic-imposed hiatus.  I imagine the opening day of May 6th will generate a rousing and enthusiastic crowd. 

As time passes, and the world as we knew it continues to throw us curveballs, I find myself being more introspective and pensive than usual.  The Ukraine/Russia conflict aside, I find myself stunned at the fundamental life changes our world is now experiencing.  In comparison, it has been 20+ years since the 9/11 attack, and still the extreme security measures that affected the way we travel and the places we go remain intact.  Most of us would agree that much of the fun of going from here to there has vanished.   And now, due mostly to the pandemic, we are becoming a more reclusive society, reliant upon technology that keeps us tethered to our homes.  Work from home, meal and grocery deliveries to our doorstep, Amazon shopping, movie streaming, Zoom gatherings, online learning – OMG!  How many generations into the future are we away from having literally no in-person human contact?

For more of my “Negative Nelly” rantings, let’s talk about the global supply shortages and business staffing challenges that have driven up the cost of everything – groceries, cars, appliances, gasoline, airfare, dining out, etc.  And have you been following the real estate market?  For a mere pittance of about $1 million, you can score an 800 square foot two-bedroom, one bath, one-car garage Shell Beach home with no ocean views built in the 1950s.  Yowzah!   I am not just picking on our next-door neighbors to the south, because what’s happening in Avila is also beyond belief.  Just last month a Pelican Point condo inside the San Luis Bay Estates went on the market for $995,000.  A bidding war ensued, and within days the home sold for $1,500,000.  I kid you not!  What remains to be seen is if we are going to see the “bubble” burst across the board with prices returning to pre-pandemic levels, or if new thresholds are here for good.

Okay, how about some “Positive Paul” offerings?  I am doing cartwheels over the fact that the “Foundation” Board of Trustees has resumed in-person meetings.  We’ve had only one of those since January, 2020.  Truth be told, I am “Zoomed-Out” and so happy to get back to the type of gatherings more conducive to fruitful dialogue and energetic interactions.  Getting back to business as usual will require some doing, since I seem to have forgotten a bit these past two years.  What was once repetitive and reflexive for me now requires more forethought.  Now, how did I do that???  Coming up for our board is an important decision.  Do we return to our former grant-making processes now that the local agencies and organizations we fund are getting back to business as usual?  Or do we repeat yet again what occurred the past two years when the “Foundation” put a pause on our traditional grant-making process and simply rolled over recipient funding levels from what grantees received in the year 2020, and allowed these sums to be used for whatever was necessary to keep things afloat for the time being.  I know that funding relief was helpful during a most difficult period, but It’s likely time to get back to past practices.

Here’s some news for those of you on the lookout for ways to distribute your charitable contributions.  The US House of Representatives recently approved HR 2954, the "Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022," which could make significant changes to a popular charitable giving vehicle, the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).  A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and can be counted toward satisfying a donor’s required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year, if certain rules are met.   The proposed law as currently written could provide a boost to this popular giving option – including permitting the donor to use the distribution to create a charitable gift annuity.  Consult with your CPA or Tax Attorney for details. 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   As it has been said before “spring has sprung”, bringing with it warmer weather and more daylight.  Easter and Passover holidays are coming our way this April, and many of you will be celebrating with family and friends.  By the time you read this news column, my hope is that the turmoil with Russia has been peacefully resolved, and that we continue to see a reduction in Covid cases in spite of the relaxed rules on vaccinations and masking.  And if we are really lucky, gasoline prices will have dropped down to less than $5 per gallon.  These are extraordinary times, and will find a place in historical accounts as one of the most challenging periods.

ODDS AND ENDS Part I:   Some good news coming our way is the return of the popular Avila Beach Farmers’ Market, celebrating its 20th anniversary on Friday nights from 4:00-8:00p.m., beginning on May 6 and running through August 26, according to coordinator Julie Andrews-Scott.  Likewise, the free Avila Trolley will be up and running during the busy tourist season.  You will soon be able to find route schedules on the SLORTA website.  Also, the “Foundation” will once again be contracting with the PathPoint agency to provide sand and debris removal along the beach boardwalk, curbs and planters on both side of the Promenade that are not maintained by the County.  PathPoint crews will be on the job Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings beginning early May through early October.  Special thanks to SLO County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Chevron, for partnering with us to help finance the beach area cleaning project.

ODDS AND ENDS Part II:   As most of you know, the “Foundation” has since its inception promoted and honored the history of Avila Beach.  Not to be overlooked is the historical schoolhouse that played such a prominent role during the early days of our town.  In fact, not that long ago a local group called – Save Our Schoolhouse - formed with a mission to preserve the original building as Avila was going through a transformation that is still ongoing. Circumstances have altered their mission, and according to one of their original organizers, Pete Kelley…

“The Save Our Schoolhouse group of Avila Beach has changed its name to the Avila Beach History and Preservation Project.  The reason for the change is to be more inclusive of all issues relating to Avila Beach history while not losing sight of the preservation of our historic schoolhouse, which was its founding and enduring goal.  It has been a long and winding road as residential/commercial developments have been proposed for the school property.  Some plans have called for incorporating the school into various developments or to move it to another location. 

The Save Our Schoolhouse movement grew out of the rebuilding of the town of Avila Beach after the UNOCAL cleanup.  At that time the school was slated for removal or incorporation into a larger townhouse project, but some in the community felt the school had historical significance and organized to preserve it. Eventually, the building was granted historical status.  Donations flowed-in from members of the community and were incorporated into the Avila Beach Community Foundation financial structure for investment and safe-keeping.  The group is very thankful for the support of the Foundation.”

As time has passed, members of the community realized there were other issues and historical documents worthy of preservation. Avila citizen, Pete Kelley, has taken the lead and has offered to curate historical items relating to the history of Avila and the school.  It has been a labor of love and he has been supported by the community and the Avila Beach Community Service District (ABCSD).  So, not only did the group get a new name, but they now have a temporary location in the ABCSD building at 100 San Luis Street in Avila Beach.  Updates on the preservation of the school are ongoing, and donations to support our effort are welcome and encouraged.  Please contact Pete Kelley at pedrokelley@gmail.com for more information. 

Last but not least, please remember the April 15 deadline to submit applications for the Foundation’s $5,000 Community Impact Grant.  Additional information can be found in the March Newsletter, or you can email avilafoundation@gmail.com.

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   With winter just about in the rearview mirror, spring looms one week after the March 13th return of daylight savings.  Time to once again re-set our clocks, and re-set our hopes for a speedy end to the two-plus years long pandemic.  While two years lost may not seem like much of a big deal to the younger generations with decades left to live, for those senior citizens with far less future ahead two years is quite a chunk of time.  Lately I find myself pondering just how different things have become since early 2020.  Remember when the most common litter we found on the ground consisted of cigarette butts, bottle caps and beer tabs instead of discarded masks/face coverings.  Remember when you could go to the grocery store and find all the items you normally purchase abundantly in stock?  Remember when UPS and FedEx trucks made stops in your neighborhood only once a day instead of all day and evening long?  Remember buffet restaurants?  Remember daily housekeeping service at hotels?  Remember not having to stay six feet away from people, or wondering whether they were vaccinated. There is so much more that has changed, but let’s move on.

What would you do if you were given $5,000 to spend in Avila Beach?  Do I have your attention?  The Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to announce that it is presently accepting applications from local organizations or individuals to compete for a single $5,000 Community Impact Grant, made available in conjunction with a generous contribution by The Rossi Foundation.  Proposals for this one-time grant should focus on a new, innovative project, program, event or service to benefit the greater Avila Beach communities, with special consideration given to applicants that would use the $5,000 sum to leverage a matching contribution.  Interested parties are required to complete and submit an application and cover letter no later than April 15, 2022. To request an application, please send an email to avilafoundation@gmail.com.  Or call 805-595-4095 for more information.

In case you haven’t heard the news, the Port San Luis Harbor District Board of Commissioners has appointed Suzanne Watkins as their new Harbor Director.  Suzanne’s background includes nineteen years of work experience with the County of Ventura, including the last sixteen years as Deputy Director of the Harbor Department, Channel Islands Harbor.  She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California at Riverside, a Master of Business Administration Degree from California Lutheran University, has worked on private/public harbor capital improvement projects and managed the lease sites within Channel Islands Harbor. Suzanne lives in San Luis Obispo and took the helm at Port San Luis Harbor District on February 1, 2022.
 
On a personal note, I share with you the sadness I feel after the recent passing of a long-time Avilone friend, whose name I won’t divulge in respect for his wife, now in her grieving period.  My friend – who in some ways I considered a surrogate father to me after mine passed away in 2009 - lived a robust life for most of his 95+ years, though the last handful presented a host of medical challenges. Our initial bond was a mutual love for tennis, and more so for baseball, especially when I learned that he had once faced the legendary Negro Leagues pitcher, Satchel Paige, in a minor league exhibition game.  How cool that must have been.   Particularly difficult were the last two years when, due to vulnerability to Covid, he remained isolated in his home.  During this period there were so many times I wanted to stop by for a visit, but felt it best to keep a safe distance, which I now regret because of lost opportunities to enjoy each other’s company.  Early on in the pandemic, I was honored to be the one asked to pick up his medications at the drug store, but lost that role as pharmacies began to offer home delivery.  Little did I know that the deliveries I made would constitute the last times I got to see my friend.  Rest in peace, old pal.  You will be missed. 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  It’s February, and we remain stuck in the Pandemic hamster wheel.  Fortunately, there are some holidays coming up this month to act as diversions from the drudgery of the times.  Not counting my wife’s birthday, also looming are Valentine’s Day, Ground Hog Day, and President’s Day.  How many of us know the history of these three days?  Or once knew but have forgotten over the years?  Well, let’s take a stroll down memory lane. 
According to Wikipedia, Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, “ was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honor of Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on that date in AD 269. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion in which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. In Italy, Saint Valentine's Keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver's heart", as well as to children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine's Malady). “

Groundhog Day “is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks. If it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather. The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger (German: Dachs) is the forecasting animal. This appears to be an enhanced version of the lore that clear weather on the Christian festival of Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.”

Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday, “is a holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor all persons who served in the office of president of the United States. The federal holiday specifically honors George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and was the first president of the United States. The day is a state holiday in most states, with official names including Washington's Birthday, Presidents' Day, President's Day, Presidents Day, and Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday. Washington's Birthday was celebrated on February 22 from 1879 until 1971, when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the third Monday in February, which can occur from February 15 to the 21st. The day eventually also became known as Presidents' Day (though the placement of the apostrophe, if any, varies) and is most often an occasion to remember all U.S. presidents, or to honor Abraham Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays together.”

Okay, now that I’ve dazzled you with my widespread knowledge, er, ability to call upon Wikipedia, here’s something you may find more useful.  Though I rarely speak out to promote specific businesses, I make exceptions when it comes to making life a bit easier for us. I recently needed a document to be notarized, and through the magic of Google found a Notary Public right here in Avila Beach.  Her name is Gabriela Florence, she lives in the San Luis Bay Estates, and conveniently comes right to your door to provide her notary services.  Available mostly in the evenings and weekends, Gabriela can be reached at 831-320-0979.  It sure beats having to drive into SLO or South County! 

On a side note, winter weekdays – especially evenings - are the best time of year for us locals to more tranquilly enjoy the downtown area and shores of Avila before the invasion of tourists descend upon us come spring. It’s a brief but welcome window. 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  Happy New Year one and all!  Yep, we made through 2021 and now it’s time to venture into the unknown of 2022.  Unlike so many Januarys of the past where we looked forward to a fresh start for the coming year, here we are again, for the third consecutive January, with so much uncertainty and concern for what the future holds.  The pandemic lingers as we are visited by new variants of Covid, inflation is upon us, employers are having difficulty filling staff positions, and the goods supply chain backlog has left us with shortages of all kinds.  On the bright side, we seem to be a resilient society that ultimately bounces back.  So, I guardedly chant “woohoo it’s 2022!”
 
The Foundation Board of Trustees has been shuffled a bit for the new year.  Stepping aside from the Presidency is Mike Ginn after three years in that seat.  Mike has done a great job, and will remain on the board as Immediate Past President.  Moving into the Presidency is Cyndy Lakowske after three years as Vice-President. Our new Vice-President is Barbara Nicholson.  Ellen Pitrowski enters her third term as Secretary, and Patrick Corrigan begins his first term as Treasurer, replacing Richard Zacky who served in that capacity for six years.  Richard becomes a Trustee At Large, along with other returnees Bev Aho, Lucinda Borchard, Joe Caradonna, Saul Goldberg, Percy Jones, Paul Prather and Debra Pritchard.  This delightful group is a pleasure to work with and feels like family to me.
 
Newsflash!  The County of San Luis Department of Public Works recently announced that they are installing new flashing crosswalk lights – also known as beacon systems – in Avila Beach on Ontario Road at the Bob Jones Bike Trail crossing.  Work was scheduled to start on December 1, 2021 and conclude by April 2022, dependent upon weather.  The beacon system includes warning lights and overhead flashing lights activated by new pedestrian push buttons.  If you have any questions, contact Ryan Monie, Project Manager (805) 781-5523 or Jimmy Tomac, Resident Engineer (805) 781-4476.
 
Some of you may have noticed a few weeks ago a plume of smoke coming from a small fire that ignited just above the Heron Crest Development inside the San Luis Bay Estates.  Fortunately, the flames were extinguished before any structural damage occurred, thanks to the rapid response by our local fire department.  One of our neighbors playing golf that day captured some neat photos of the planes deployed to drop retardant that effectively doused the fire.  How fortunate we are to have a fully staffed fire department right outside the gates of SLBE.  There is lots of vegetation on our hillsides, leaving us in constant danger of wildfires.  Let’s all be careful and vigilant.
 
Avilones can be an outspoken group that likes to be heard on any number of local issues.  For those of you who don’t know, our SLO County District 3 Supervisor, Dawn Ortiz-Legg, takes time from her busy schedule each month to host a drop-in session right here at the Avila Beach Community Center.  She invites residents of our community to stop by, ask questions, share concerns, and learn about what is happening at the county level and how it effects Avila Beach.  For information on Supervisor Legg’s scheduled visits, call the Avila Beach Community Center at 805-627-1997.
 
Every so often someone asks me how much money the Foundation has allocated for grants and special projects since its inception in 1998.  And every so often I report this information via our newsletter, which I am happy to do again in this issue.  Though it’s possible my numbers are slightly off due to 21 years of grant-making that began in the year 2000 and the two different bookkeeping systems used – first by the prior administration, then the newer model after I took the reins, I feel confident that the total is pretty darn close.  So, are you curious?  Do I hear a drum-roll?  According to my calculations, to date the Avila Beach Community Foundation has distributed just over $3.3 million in grants, special project support and sponsorships.  Not too bad, eh, for such a small organization with a humble endowment.  For the newbie Avilones who are not familiar with the Foundation, it was formed in the aftermath of the infamous oil contamination discovered in the 1990s.  UNOCAL, owner at that time of the property housing the storage tanks, was successfully sued for damages to the once sleepy beach town.  The remediation settlement included the creation of a $3.2 million endowment, which was ultimately placed into management by the Foundation, which was established for that purpose.  Funds from the endowment were to be invested and used to help the local area recover while supporting projects and programs to benefit and enhance life in Avila Beach in perpetuity.  If you want to learn more about the Foundation, visit our website at www.avilabeachfoundation.org and take a look. 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  While contemplating the content for this December’s newsletter, I decided to first look back at last December’s content.  In it, my first paragraph kicked off with this, ”Another December has arrived, and the year is coming to a challenging end.   What a strange journey it has been”.  Well, at the time I never imagined that this “strange journey” would still exist a full year later, but here we are, somewhat running in place.  The country as a whole has haltingly re-opened with businesses and schools functioning better than they were twelve months ago.  But we are still dealing with the pandemic and politics of vaccinations, masking, etc.  I hope that my December 2022 column will not require another visit to this situation. 
 
I’m sure you are aware of the current real estate market, which has been booming for months.  Home prices have exploded, especially here in Avila Beach, where many properties have sold within days (sometime hours), and often for considerably more than the listing prices.  One home in the Pelican Point development inside San Luis Bay Estates went on the market for $950,000 and sold shortly thereafter for $1.2 million!  Crazy, huh?  In spite of escalating prices, there have been many new folks moving into the Avila Beach neighborhoods.  Seeing all those moving vans brought me back to when my wife and I first arrived here in 1995.  We were so excited back then, though over the course of time I have forgotten just how special that moment was.  Sleeping bags on the floor that first night while waiting for the furniture to arrive. The distant sound of the lighthouse fog horn serenading us.  Seeing all these newly arriving, elated Avilones has served as a refresher for me.  I cannot imagine living anywhere else!
 
Two columns ago I put out an appeal seeking stories from readers about how they came to arrive in Avila Beach.  I heard back from John and Robin Kirby, who wrote, “We ended up in Avila Beach in 2010 after having lived in Long Beach, CA for 36 years, and came here because we were looking to leave the Southern Calif. crush.  We have friends who have been living in SLO since 1975 who we would see occasionally.  Those visits, along with more frequent wine country exploration and retirement in 2004, sparked an interest in exploring the Central Coast with the idea of possibly “dropping anchor” here permanently.  As far as Avila Beach is concerned, we are truly “the blind squirrels who found the nut”!  Our friends tipped us to the town, its microclimate and outdoor activities, and we were then on a mission to find a home here. Mission accomplished………and still pinching ourselves!”  Thank you, John and Robin, for sharing your story.
 
I have mentioned many times the value of participating in meetings of the Avila Valley Advisory Council, which takes place on a monthly basis – usually the second Monday at 7:00p.m.  There is much to be learned about our community at those gatherings, along with opportunities to share concerns and ask questions.  One alarming thing I learned at the November AVAC meeting came in the form of warnings about rising cases of crime occurring in Avila Beach and Avila Valley.  Several residents reported incidents of mailbox and package delivery theft, vehicle break-ins and vandalism.  Local postal employee Mary Chiu suggested that those in the Avila Valley neighborhoods with free-standing mail boxes should consider installing receptacles with locking mechanisms, or make an effort to pick up their mail early in the day.  The Sheriff’s Department reminds us to keep our vehicles locked and to not leave valuables inside.  Avila Beach has for so long seemed like a sanctuary from some of life’s evils, and still is in comparison to most places.  But we must take precautions and be on the lookout for those wishing to do us harm.
Last but not least are two things I remind you of each December.  Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Lee says it’s time to replace the batteries in our smoke alarms and check our carbon monoxide detectors.  The seasonal changes in daylight savings each year are the perfect periods to complete these tasks.  Also, I urge you to always purchase your postage and ship your packages at our local Avila Beach Post Office to keep it financially viable.  We are so fortunate to be able to avoid the long lines at busier post offices in SLO County, and the friendly and helpful services of Mary, Julie and Cindy are greatly appreciated. 

​That being said, let me wish you Avilones a joyous Christmas and Hanukkah holiday season.  See you at the beach!

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  Now that October is behind us, and the “kiddies” are loaded up with candy from Halloween, we shift our lives in preparation for November Thanksgiving festivities.   This means lavish turkey meals with all the fixings for many of us, and perhaps ham or family favorites for others.  Out of curiosity, I visited the internet to acquire some history about the origins of Thanksgiving, and found endless online representations.  But for the sake of brevity, I copied the following description from the History Channel website, which informs us that “Thanksgiving became an annual custom throughout New England in the 17th century, and in 1777 the Continental Congress declared the first national American Thanksgiving following the Patriot victory at Saratoga. In 1789, President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday, when, at the request of Congress, he proclaimed November 26, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the U.S. Constitution. However, it was not until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to officially fall on the last Thursday of November, that the modern holiday was celebrated nationally.”  There is soooo much more online on this topic, but I leave that for you to research.

Let’s face it.  Nearly two full years into the Pandemic it is not always easy to think of the things for which we are thankful, but mental health professionals tell us that doing so is one of the best ways to deal with the “funk” looming over the lives of many.  While our freedoms have been re-defined, at least temporarily, we are again able to enjoy a lot of the things we took for granted in the past, though with a tweak here and there.  Perhaps we never fully appreciated those things until they were taken away from us.  One day this health crisis will be behind us, and I hope we will have learned some valuable lessons that can be filed away for future benefit.

Turning to something more uplifting, have you stopped by for a visit to the Central Coast Aquarium lately?  In addition to other exciting things going on there, a new occupant arrived and set up home in the Octopus tank.  According to the newsletter I received from the Aquarium, “Octopuses are highly intelligent invertebrates, and we are lucky enough to have a very special Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens), named Ruby, right here at CCA! Small octopuses, like Ruby, are believed to have the intelligence level of a house cat while others, like the Giant Pacific Octopus, can be even more intelligent!”  This tank was vacant for quite a while, even though the Avila Beach Community Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Aquarium in 2019 to complete the habitat.  Unforeseen circumstances – including the Pandemic – caused a delay in the acquisition of a new resident, but no longer.  Stop by and meet “Ruby”.  Do you know how many tentacles “Ruby” has?

In case you are wondering about the latest news regarding progress on the Avila Community Plan, a communication was recently sent by SLO County Planning Manager Arlin Singelwald.  We are told that due to the many comments, questions and concerns about the draft Avila Plan since it was released in May 2021, the matter is being put on pause until the County can conduct another round of in-person workshops.  The recommendation to take this action will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on November 16th.  So, the clock continues to run while this long-awaited project plods forward.  The reason for the delay is not necessarily a bad thing, but it would be nice to see more forward progress.

With the December holidays fast approaching, I once again invite you to consider a special gift for one or more of your Avila Beach family members or friends.  Yes, this is an unabashed “commercial moment”, but worth your attention. Acquire this limited-edition License Plate Holder when you make a contribution in any amount to the “Avila Beach Public Art Development & Preservation Fund.”
​
Send your check to: Avila Beach Community Foundation
P.O. Box 297, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Be sure to include your contact information so we can arrange delivery of your frame(s).
 

​That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  I wish you an enjoyable Thanksgiving celebration. 
​See you at the beach!