Hello, friends and neighbors. A new year is upon us, which typically launches well-meaning personal resolutions and belief that the next twelve months will be better than the last. We recover from the celebrations of the recently concluded holiday season and look forward to a return to normalcy. From me to you - may 2013 be a truly magnificent year!
The Avila Beach Community Foundation Board of Trustees is pleased to report that we are once again supporting a variety of local organizations and projects that won grant awards during our recent cycle. For the coming year the "Foundation" is investing a grand total of nearly $57,000 in organizations and activities such as the Avila Beach Community Center, People's Self Help Housing's Lachen Tara Apartments supportive housing services, the Achievement House Avila Beach summer clean-up program, the Port San Luis Mutt Mitts project, the San Luis Obispo Film Festival's Avila Beach venue, development of a new website for the Save Our Schoolhouse project, the Avila Beach Junior Lifeguard's summer program, free rides on the Avila Beach Trolley, the Cancer Well-Fit program at the Avila Bay Club, and continued home delivery of the Avila Community News. Our Trustees believe financial assistance of this nature helps the 'Foundation" meet its mission to enhance life in Avila Beach.
Before I get much deeper into this column, let me introduce you to the "Foundation's" Board of Trustees for 2013. Our incoming President is Julian Varela, who steps into the role that outgoing President Mike Ritter so effectively filled the past six years. Michael Ginn is our new Vice-President, Boyd Horne steps into the Treasurer position, and Maridel Salisbury is our new Secretary. Rounding our board for 2013 are Immediate Past President Mike Ritter, Bill Gerrish, Carolyn Morton, Lucinda Borchard, Chris DeWeese, Percy Jones, Justin Hodges, and we welcome Stephen May, newly elected for a three-year. These folks are YOUR friends and neighbors, so please thank them for being involved, and share with them any ideas you may have to improve our community.
I have to say that the past couple months have been chock-full of a dizzying array of activity and information. Chevron is moving forward with efforts to develop the old Tank Farm (now referred to as Avila Point), Port San Luis is inching ever closer to turning Harbor Terrace into a must-see destination, the proposed and long-awaited Wild Cherry Canyon project to connect Avila Beach with Montana de Oro is once again gaining steam..............and oh, have you heard about the famous Amgen Tour of California bike race possibly concluding right here in town!! The latter was the premier topic of interest at December's meeting of the Avila Valley Advisory Council. The house was full and, in my estimation, pretty much evenly divided on loving/hating the idea. Proponents are elated about the prospect of Avila gaining attention for hosting an event of international acclaim, and opponents wonder just how - in some estimates - up to 20,000 people will fit in our town that can become gridlocked on the average summer holiday weekend. County Supervisor Adam Hill is heading up the committee of representatives from public agencies that will ultimately determine the feasibility and ability to accommodate the Amgen event. Stay tuned - better yet learn more for yourself about each of the aforementioned Avila Beach topics by visiting websites and talking to organizers.
Those of you who know me recognize that my mind sometimes works in mysterious ways - typically how I amuse myself, if not others, with my "play on words". My most recent veer off the path of the straight and narrow was pondering possible nicknames for us Avila Beach inhabitants. Residents of our state are often referred to as "Californians", in Los Angeles you have the "Angelinos", further south we have the "San Diegans", etc. For us, I'm thinking........"Avilites, Avilones (like abalone), Aviliniens, or Avilucions. Anyone out there have a beach town nickname idea of your own? Send me an email at avilafoundation@gmail.com and we'll try to get something going. Perhaps even in time to make some souvenir tee-shirts for the 20,000 Amgen Bike tour visitors. Here's one for you. Is the person at Amgen responsible for public relations known as their "spokesperson?" That's it for now. I'll see you at the beach.
The Avila Beach Community Foundation Board of Trustees is pleased to report that we are once again supporting a variety of local organizations and projects that won grant awards during our recent cycle. For the coming year the "Foundation" is investing a grand total of nearly $57,000 in organizations and activities such as the Avila Beach Community Center, People's Self Help Housing's Lachen Tara Apartments supportive housing services, the Achievement House Avila Beach summer clean-up program, the Port San Luis Mutt Mitts project, the San Luis Obispo Film Festival's Avila Beach venue, development of a new website for the Save Our Schoolhouse project, the Avila Beach Junior Lifeguard's summer program, free rides on the Avila Beach Trolley, the Cancer Well-Fit program at the Avila Bay Club, and continued home delivery of the Avila Community News. Our Trustees believe financial assistance of this nature helps the 'Foundation" meet its mission to enhance life in Avila Beach.
Before I get much deeper into this column, let me introduce you to the "Foundation's" Board of Trustees for 2013. Our incoming President is Julian Varela, who steps into the role that outgoing President Mike Ritter so effectively filled the past six years. Michael Ginn is our new Vice-President, Boyd Horne steps into the Treasurer position, and Maridel Salisbury is our new Secretary. Rounding our board for 2013 are Immediate Past President Mike Ritter, Bill Gerrish, Carolyn Morton, Lucinda Borchard, Chris DeWeese, Percy Jones, Justin Hodges, and we welcome Stephen May, newly elected for a three-year. These folks are YOUR friends and neighbors, so please thank them for being involved, and share with them any ideas you may have to improve our community.
I have to say that the past couple months have been chock-full of a dizzying array of activity and information. Chevron is moving forward with efforts to develop the old Tank Farm (now referred to as Avila Point), Port San Luis is inching ever closer to turning Harbor Terrace into a must-see destination, the proposed and long-awaited Wild Cherry Canyon project to connect Avila Beach with Montana de Oro is once again gaining steam..............and oh, have you heard about the famous Amgen Tour of California bike race possibly concluding right here in town!! The latter was the premier topic of interest at December's meeting of the Avila Valley Advisory Council. The house was full and, in my estimation, pretty much evenly divided on loving/hating the idea. Proponents are elated about the prospect of Avila gaining attention for hosting an event of international acclaim, and opponents wonder just how - in some estimates - up to 20,000 people will fit in our town that can become gridlocked on the average summer holiday weekend. County Supervisor Adam Hill is heading up the committee of representatives from public agencies that will ultimately determine the feasibility and ability to accommodate the Amgen event. Stay tuned - better yet learn more for yourself about each of the aforementioned Avila Beach topics by visiting websites and talking to organizers.
Those of you who know me recognize that my mind sometimes works in mysterious ways - typically how I amuse myself, if not others, with my "play on words". My most recent veer off the path of the straight and narrow was pondering possible nicknames for us Avila Beach inhabitants. Residents of our state are often referred to as "Californians", in Los Angeles you have the "Angelinos", further south we have the "San Diegans", etc. For us, I'm thinking........"Avilites, Avilones (like abalone), Aviliniens, or Avilucions. Anyone out there have a beach town nickname idea of your own? Send me an email at avilafoundation@gmail.com and we'll try to get something going. Perhaps even in time to make some souvenir tee-shirts for the 20,000 Amgen Bike tour visitors. Here's one for you. Is the person at Amgen responsible for public relations known as their "spokesperson?" That's it for now. I'll see you at the beach.
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