Greetings, fellow Avilones. Here we go again. With Thanksgiving safely in the rearview mirror, we now focus our collective energies on the rapidly approaching Christmas and Hannukah celebrations. Or, some of you may honor “Festivus,” which is a secular holiday, normally celebrated on December 23rd, mainly meant as an alternative to the pressures and commercialization of the Christmas season. However, it has also become a day to celebrate the ever-lasting comedy of the 1990s television show Seinfeld. Originally created by author Daniel O'Keefe in the 1960’s/70’s, “Festivus” entered popular culture after it was made the focus of the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike", which O'Keefe's son, Dan O'Keefe, co-wrote.

Okay, now that you are officially updated on trivial matters, let me bring you up to speed on something more substantive.

The Avila Beach Community Foundation Board of Trustees met on November 10th to determine grant awards to be used for the coming year. The total amount we allocate each year is greatly affected by the current value of our investment portfolio, which is tied solely to the stock market. As you are likely aware, stocks have taken a huge hit this year, as has our portfolio (down more than 20%) so, unfortunately, we have had to reduce the total amount of funds available. For this round of funding, we have allocated a grand total of $50,000 (down roughly 10% from the last round).

Grants were awarded to: Avila Beach Civic Association, Avila Beach Junior Lifeguards Program, Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School, Cancer Well-Fit Program at the Avila Bay Club, Central Coast Aquarium, KCBX Public Radio, Noor Foundation of San Luis Obispo, Operation Surf, People’s Self Help Housing at Lachen Tara in Avila Beach, Pt. San Luis Lighthouse Keepers, Port San Luis Harbor District Doggy Doo Bags, Surfrider Foundation, Avila Beach Free Trolley, Avila Beach Life News Publication.

Having to cut grant allocations is painful for non-profit community foundations of all sizes. But in most cases the funds available are tied to portfolio values, the product of investments in the stock market. Lower risk strategies are common to reduce some of the gamble aspects of market investing. The Avila Beach Community Foundation portfolio is managed by a UBS affiliate who has guided through market ups and downs since 2006. Hopefully next year will be better, and we can return to greater funding capabilities.  That being said, we are proud to have been able to infuse more than $3 million in the greater Avila Beach community since grant-making was launched in 2001.

Preview of Coming Attractions: It’s in the works! If you like learning about the colorful history of Avila Beach, keep your eyes open for an event being planned for the spring of 2023. The “Foundation” has been in discussions with local historian Pete Kelley, who has in his possession an incredible treasure trove of old-time photos and stories about Avila in the early days. Pete will share these photos and his knowledge via a slide-show presentation sure to delight all who attend the event. Announcements and details will be released in the near future.
 
Coming to an Intersection Near You: In case you haven’t heard, plans are underway for construction of a “Roundabout” at the Avila Beach Drive/Hwy 101 intersection. SLO County Public Works and Cal Trans are overseeing the project, which comes with a $12,500,000 price tag. Now entering Phase III of the planning process, construction is estimated to begin mid-year 2023, and take two years for completion. The project also includes a Park & Ride car lot, and an Avila Trolley and bus stop. The “Roundabout” is designed to accommodate multi-safety features for vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian traffic.

As mentioned in our November newsletter, with Christmas and Hannukah fast approaching, I once again invite you to contribute to the Avila Beach Public Art Development & Preservation Fund by securing 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 consideration.  You can acquire this limited-edition License Plate Holder when you make a contribution in any amount to the “Avila Beach Public Art Development & Preservation Fund.” See details below.

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).

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 Cindy, Mary and Julie are greatly appreciated. 
 
That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. I wish you Very Happy Holidays! See you at the beach!
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Greetings, fellow Avilones.  How can it be???  The holiday season is already knocking on our door, but doesn’t it seem like just yesterday we were still winding down from summer?  I suppose it’s time to “talk turkey” and get down to the business of preparing for Thanksgiving.  Of course, that celebration won’t take place until after the November 8th general elections, the outcome of which will undoubtedly have a major impact on how our country is governed the next two years.  Speaking of turkeys (no, I’m not referring to political parties), wild ones sure seem to be in abundance these days, taking up residence at the Avila Beach Golf Resort and the rolling hills neighborhoods in the San Luis Bay Estates.  While the turkeys can be a nuisance, they are just one of the many wildlife species that regularly inhabit or visit our Avila Beach communities.
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As I have mentioned in recent newsletter columns, the “Foundation” has returned to its traditional grant-making procedures after two years of special pandemic-related assistance to local agencies.  In an effort to re-acquaint ourselves with our community partners, we hosted a “Meet the Grantees Social” at our board meeting on October 13th at the Avila Beach Community Center.  This was a wonderful opportunity to gather our community partners, let everyone learn more about their collective work, and meet some of the new agency leaders that weren’t around before the pandemic.  In case you are curious, the “Foundation” has awarded grants in excess of $3 million since 2001.  And since 2009 nearly $600,000 has been awarded collectively to the agencies in attendance at the 10/13 social gathering.

I imagine a good number of you who spend time at the beach during the summer have noticed the activities of the Avila Beach Junior Lifeguards Program.  We recently heard from director Russ Edwards that this year was another one of high energy and great success.  According to Russ, over 300 kids were able to participate during this summer’s two sessions, the most ever for the program.  In addition to the educational components of the JG program is a series of skills competitions against other JG programs.  This summer the Avila Beach team came in second place at the Carpinteria JG Competition behind their arch rival Santa Barbara JG program.  The next week at the Santa Barbara competition the Avila team finished in first place, beating Santa Barbara on their home turf.  Says Russ, “with thousands of points out there and thousands of kids competing, first place was decided in the final event of the day and Avila Beach came out on top, and we once again sent a large number of JGs to the State Regional Championships and represented very well there with several of our JGs as state champions!”   The Avila Beach Community Foundation is a proud sponsor of our local team, and we congratulate Russ, his staff and the entire team for their great success this year!
 
The Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens is conducting a survey to assess the needs of seniors on the central coast. The preferred method of completion would be online.  The online survey can be accessed through the home page of our website or at:   https://centralcoastseniors.org/needsurvey2022/. Hand written forms can be emailed to: surveys@centralcoastseniors.org or mailed to 528 S. Broadway, Santa Maria, CA  93454.
 
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there is an increasing amount of graffiti appearing at our beach town.  Some under the bridge crossing the creek that flows to the ocean, and some on our marquee public art lifeguard tower murals.  It is defacing and disturbing, to say the least.  I realize no community is immune to vandalism of this sort, but for the most part Avila Beach has been relatively untouched.  There is a cost associated with the ongoing removal of graffiti, and the “Foundation” has established a special fund for this purpose.  So, with Christmas and Hannukah fast approaching, I once again invite you to contribute to this fund by securing 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 consideration.   You can 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!

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  With summer safely in the rearview mirror, we can now set our sights on the upcoming fourth quarter of the year, filled with activities and holidays.   October is a month when we typically see some of our best weather here in Avila Beach, though it is not uncommon to have a few exceptionally hot days, which for the most part we avoided this past summer.  With a return to normal fourth quarter functions after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the “Foundation” enters its busiest season.  Our focus the next couple of months will be on evaluating applications from local agencies seeking grants for programs/projects to take place in 2023, and choosing those we can support.  Come December, I will publicly announce the grantee recipients.

By now, I imagine most of you have been informed about the future of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  Previously on a track toward de-commissioning, things have changed, mostly due to concerns about potential power deficiencies without the plant.  Circulated in early September by Eric Daniels, PG&E Public Policy and External Fairs representative for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, was the following communication…….
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 “Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 846 into law today.  The law directs all relevant state agencies and PG&E to act quickly and coordinate on the necessary and prudent actions to extend Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) operations for an additional five years beyond 2025.  SB 846 ensures energy reliability as the state accelerates its transition to renewable sources.  The bill was supported by local representatives Senator John Laird and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham.  The Legislature showed overwhelming support for the bill in its final votes:  Assembly Floor 69-3 and Senate Floor 31-1.  PG&E is committed to California’s clean energy future and as a regulated utility, we are required to follow the energy policies of the state.” 

“As part of SB 846, the state will authorize a loan of up to $1.4 billion to PG&E to support extending operations at DCPP.  The law also directs PG&E to take steps to secure funds from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and any other potentially available federal funding, which would be used to pay back the loan and lower costs for customers.  To that end, today PG&E filed an application for federal funding through the DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit program.”

“While the state has changed policy regarding operating DCPP beyond the current expiration date of the licenses, it has also directed continued work on decommissioning planning activities.  Consequently, PG&E intends to continue on a parallel path towards ultimate decommissioning, including maintaining the Decommissioning Engagement Panel.”

On another matter, a question was directed to me last month about the Bob Jones Pathway, so I reached out to Nick Franco from SLO County Recreation and Parks for a clarification about the issue of motorized bikes allowed on the Pathway.  Nick responded thusly………….“electric bikes are a frequent topic of discussion on the Bob Jones Pathway.  The Pathway is extremely popular (which is a great thing) and that can sometimes lead to conflicts with so many users on the trail and some not displaying appropriate consideration for others.  Whether on a pedal bike or an
​e-bike, the laws require people to travel at a speed that is safe for the conditions.  When the trail is crowded, that safe speed may only be 5mph, 2mph or less.  California law prohibits class 3
e-bikes from trails, but permits class 1 and 2 e-bikes on trails.  For the purposes of this law, the Bob Jones Pathway falls under the trail category and class 3 e-bikes are prohibited, (a class 3
e-bike features Pedal Assist only and tops off at 28mph), but all other bikes are allowed.”

Last but not least, I offer a heart-felt thank you, but sad farewell to longtime San Luis Bay Estates resident Sherry Danoff, who recently sold her home and is moving to San Diego to be closer to family.  Sherry served diligently for many years on SLBE and AVAC boards and committees.  She will be difficult to replace, but always remembered as a valued Avilone.  Good luck, Sherry! 

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

Greetings, fellow Avilones. "See You in September" - that's the name of a clearly mournful recording by the "The Happenings" in 1966.  It's one of those oldies songs that speak to young love and the pains that often come with it.  In it, the school year is coming to a close and the young man is preparing for his girl to leave for the summer.  He croons, "l’ll be alone each and every night, while you're away don't forget to write", then asks, "will I see you in September, or lose you to a summer love"?  It's songs from the 60s such as this that so many of us senior citizens nostalgically recall and make us long for the good old days.
 
While we are on the path down memory lane, I was thinking about the 14+ years that I have been penning this monthly column.  It came to be back in early 2009 as a way for the "Foundation" to help make the community aware of our existence, even though the agency had been doing its thing since 1998, which consisted of issuing lots of grants totaling more than a million dollars to benefit Avila Beach as it recovered from the "Big Dig".  During the first 11 years, not many locals were aware of the "Foundation", in spite of its good work.  Upon my hire in January of 2009, I was tasked by the Board of Trustees to find ways to better promote our work in the community.  Thus, among other outreach efforts, came the birth of the Avila Community News, which became available in both digital form and print publication.  Shortly thereafter, came the birth of the Avilone - a term since fondly used by me to address all Avila Beach residents. I’ll bet you’ve seen at least one of those “I’m a Proud Avilone” license plate frames attached to the vehicle of a friend or neighbor.
 
You might imagine that I at times strain to write something you readers might care about.  This became more acute over the past two plus years when so many non-profit activities came to a screeching halt, and have yet to return full force.  For a few years prior to the Pandemic, I was a member of the SLO County Commission on Aging, and shared with you via this newsletter some of what I learned about the issues facing the elderly, as well as the programs and agencies that deal with the aging population.  The Commission was shut down for more than two years, beginning early 2020, and just got back together in July for the first time since then.  The group is re-organizing and re-visiting its mission and goals moving forward.  They meet once a month and are looking for more volunteers to serve as "members at large."  If you have any interest in serving on the Commission, in attending any meetings as a guest, or just want to learn more about senior issues, I encourage you to visit:  http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/coa.htm.

The following information comes from Eric Daniels of PG&E about Public Safety Power Shutoffs Address Alerts:  There is now an option for PG&E customers and non-account holders to sign up for notifications for any address they care about to stay informed about Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Address Alerts might be helpful if:

• You want to know about a PSPS at your home, work, school or other important location
• You are a tenant and do not have a PG&E account
• You need to stay informed about a PSPS affecting a friend or loved one
• Multiple members of your household want to be notified

It is important to remember that if you signed up to receive these alerts prior to June 2022, you will need to re-enroll for each address, to continue receiving these notifications through June 2023. To sign up for alerts for any address that is important to you or a loved one, visit www.pge.com/addressalert.

One of the bright spots in 2021 was a new community event the “Foundation” helped support, which was developed by local Avilone Kristen McKiernan and friends.  Titled the Children’s Business Fair, the event welcomed more than 30 craft booths manned by entrepreneurial youth in various age categories hoping to sell their goods to the public, and to compete for cash prizes for creativity and presentation.  The event was very well attended, so much so that it is taking place again this year.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 15th from 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. at the Avila Beach Community Center.  If you are looking to do some early shopping for end of the year holiday gifts, this event is the place to be!  Well, I have used up my allotted space, so let me end with my usual closing.

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

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,
​
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!