Hello fellow Avilones. Once again I am inspired to open my column with reference to the Central Coast weather. It is with great amusement that I recall the roughly one week lapse between seeing Steve McGrath’s photos of a storm that knocked some planks from the Avila Beach Pier, and a view of the summer-day-like crowds, traffic and parking along Avila Beach Drive that comes with sunshine and 80+ degrees. Mother Nature must be suffering from multiple personality disorders – but please don’t tell her I said that.
I have several bits of information to share with you this month, some from the “Foundation” and several from various members of the community. Let’s start first with our friends who proffered their thoughts and undertakings for inclusion in this publication. Several weeks back I heard from San Luis Bay Estates resident Bill Ziegler, who emailed to inform me of a recent kindness exhibited by Mary at the Avila Beach Post Office. Bill wrote “I recently had forgotten to renew my mail-order prescription drugs. At the last minute I placed the order and was told it would be sent out by express mail. Last Friday afternoon while walking to the beach I got a call from Mary at the post office, saying my order had arrived on the last truck (after business hours), but she would wait for me if I wanted to drop by to pick up the package. What a happy place.” This display of customer service and community spirit by Mary and Julie at the post office comes as no surprise to me. Being able to experience this type of small-town friendliness is just one of the things that make Avila so special.
Sherri Danoff, SLBE resident and member of the Avila Valley Advisory Council, is spearheading a campaign targeting billboards along the Highway 101 approaches to Avila Valley and other coastal areas in the County. The recently formed Protect Scenic 101 (PS101) is on a mission to “retire billboards within unincorporated SLO County’s Highway 101 view corridor, as they detract from otherwise highly scenic attributes, infringe on open space between communities……….” Anyone interested in learning more about the PS101 campaign, or in signing their endorsement form, can contact Sherri at sherri39@charter.net. Please take note that the Avila Beach Foundation as an organization does not have a position on the PS101 initiative at this time. The above information is provided solely as a community service. By the way, I encourage all members of our community to check out the new Avila Valley Advisory Council website – www.avac-avila.org. It is easy to navigate, informative and timely. Want to know about some of the issues in our community? AVAC is the place.
According to Aimee Wyatt of the SLO County Regional Transit Authority, weekend running of the Avila Trolley begins March 29th – including Friday nights once Fish and Farmers’ Market season is launched. Expanded 4 days/week summer service begins early June and continues through Labor Day. For those of you unaware of, or have yet to ride the Trolley, let it be known that rides are free and a great way to avoid the myriad traffic and parking difficulties during the Avila high season. In case you wonder why these rides are free, some of the credit goes to the Avila Beach Community Foundation for providing an annual grant to SLORTA that helps subsidize costs to operate the Trolley. Also helpful are the coins and currency placed in the donation “jar” from grateful Trolley-riders. To view the entire route schedule, visit http://slorta.org/avila.
Those of you served by the Avila Beach Community Services District (ABCSD) already know that longtime employee Kathy Richardson was recently promoted to the General Manager position. What you may not know is that new accounting clerk Kristi Dibbern joined the ABCSD staff in the middle of March. So, those who stop by for information or to pay their bill, it is Kristi’s face you will see at the counter each Monday through Friday from 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. By the way, those are the new office hours, so take note. Please stop by, say “hi” to Kristi, and offer a warm Avila welcome.
Last on my agenda for this month is to once again inform the Avila populace about opportunities to support the organizations and projects that help make Avila such a special place. During the Foundation’s last grant making cycle, $15,000 was set aside to match donations from community members who want to help ensure the fitness of our Community Center by building a capital reserve fund for future repairs and improvements. Each dollar donated over the next three years for this purpose will be matched by the Foundation, up to $15,000. It won’t be long before major costs such as roofing, HVAC, flooring, painting, decking, etc. will surface. A $30,000 reserve will go a long way towards covering those costs. If you wish to donate, send your check to Avila Beach Community Foundation, PO Box 297, Avila Beach, 93424. Include a note earmarking the donation for the Community Center capital reserve fund, and we will match your gift dollar for dollar. That’s if for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
I have several bits of information to share with you this month, some from the “Foundation” and several from various members of the community. Let’s start first with our friends who proffered their thoughts and undertakings for inclusion in this publication. Several weeks back I heard from San Luis Bay Estates resident Bill Ziegler, who emailed to inform me of a recent kindness exhibited by Mary at the Avila Beach Post Office. Bill wrote “I recently had forgotten to renew my mail-order prescription drugs. At the last minute I placed the order and was told it would be sent out by express mail. Last Friday afternoon while walking to the beach I got a call from Mary at the post office, saying my order had arrived on the last truck (after business hours), but she would wait for me if I wanted to drop by to pick up the package. What a happy place.” This display of customer service and community spirit by Mary and Julie at the post office comes as no surprise to me. Being able to experience this type of small-town friendliness is just one of the things that make Avila so special.
Sherri Danoff, SLBE resident and member of the Avila Valley Advisory Council, is spearheading a campaign targeting billboards along the Highway 101 approaches to Avila Valley and other coastal areas in the County. The recently formed Protect Scenic 101 (PS101) is on a mission to “retire billboards within unincorporated SLO County’s Highway 101 view corridor, as they detract from otherwise highly scenic attributes, infringe on open space between communities……….” Anyone interested in learning more about the PS101 campaign, or in signing their endorsement form, can contact Sherri at sherri39@charter.net. Please take note that the Avila Beach Foundation as an organization does not have a position on the PS101 initiative at this time. The above information is provided solely as a community service. By the way, I encourage all members of our community to check out the new Avila Valley Advisory Council website – www.avac-avila.org. It is easy to navigate, informative and timely. Want to know about some of the issues in our community? AVAC is the place.
According to Aimee Wyatt of the SLO County Regional Transit Authority, weekend running of the Avila Trolley begins March 29th – including Friday nights once Fish and Farmers’ Market season is launched. Expanded 4 days/week summer service begins early June and continues through Labor Day. For those of you unaware of, or have yet to ride the Trolley, let it be known that rides are free and a great way to avoid the myriad traffic and parking difficulties during the Avila high season. In case you wonder why these rides are free, some of the credit goes to the Avila Beach Community Foundation for providing an annual grant to SLORTA that helps subsidize costs to operate the Trolley. Also helpful are the coins and currency placed in the donation “jar” from grateful Trolley-riders. To view the entire route schedule, visit http://slorta.org/avila.
Those of you served by the Avila Beach Community Services District (ABCSD) already know that longtime employee Kathy Richardson was recently promoted to the General Manager position. What you may not know is that new accounting clerk Kristi Dibbern joined the ABCSD staff in the middle of March. So, those who stop by for information or to pay their bill, it is Kristi’s face you will see at the counter each Monday through Friday from 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. By the way, those are the new office hours, so take note. Please stop by, say “hi” to Kristi, and offer a warm Avila welcome.
Last on my agenda for this month is to once again inform the Avila populace about opportunities to support the organizations and projects that help make Avila such a special place. During the Foundation’s last grant making cycle, $15,000 was set aside to match donations from community members who want to help ensure the fitness of our Community Center by building a capital reserve fund for future repairs and improvements. Each dollar donated over the next three years for this purpose will be matched by the Foundation, up to $15,000. It won’t be long before major costs such as roofing, HVAC, flooring, painting, decking, etc. will surface. A $30,000 reserve will go a long way towards covering those costs. If you wish to donate, send your check to Avila Beach Community Foundation, PO Box 297, Avila Beach, 93424. Include a note earmarking the donation for the Community Center capital reserve fund, and we will match your gift dollar for dollar. That’s if for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
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