Avila Beach Community Foundation

805.595.4095

  • About Us
    • Foundation History
    • Foundation Mission
    • Board of Trustees & Staff
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Monthly News & Views
    • Foundation Past & Current Projects
    • Avila Community Surveys
    • Foundation 990 Tax Filings
  • Grant Info
    • How to Apply
    • Current Grantees
    • Past Grantees
  • Charitable Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Donor Advised & Special Project Funds
  • Community Links
  • Avila History
    • Avila Historical Film & Photo Gallery
    • Avila Storytelling Event
  • Contact Us

February, 2015

2/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Hello fellow Avilones.  It's February, the days are finally getting longer, and we baseball fans anxiously await the beginning of spring training come early March.  The Avila Beach Community Foundation is gearing up for another busy year - one that includes the return of the Live Well Symposium, which we anticipate will occur in early May.  The "Symposium", headed up by Avila Beach healthy living expert Julian Varela, will feature a number of local presenters on a variety of topics geared toward things we can do to live healthier, happier and perhaps longer.  Details will be forthcoming in the March edition of this publication.

I would like to share with you an experience that occurred during a recent vacation in Hawaii, on the lovely island of Maui.  My wife and I have been there numerous times over the past two decades, and haven't seen very many changes - at least on the south and west ends of the island.  The area closest to the airport, on the other hand, very much reminds me of the commercial growth experienced in San Luis Obispo.  It seems that ALL of the box stores have arrived, along with franchise eateries and other retailers recognizable to everyone.  Fortunately for visitors to Maui, this congregated area is away from the myriad visitor highlights that remain an attraction. 

The "recent experience" I refer to above took place in Lahaina Town, which is a hospitality, retailer and water activities hub that draws tons of tourists each day.  Lahaina somewhat reminds me of a larger scale Avila Beach during our summer high season, and on other unseasonably warm days such as that occurred on Martin Luther King Day just past when the temperature was close to 80 degrees. What happened to us in Lahaina somewhat shocked the senses.  On this particular day, four of us headed into town excited to enjoy a whale watching excursion, and were greatly challenged to find a place to park near the harbor.  Circling and circling but seeing none, we had to venture into the adjoining residential neighborhood in hopes of finding something along the streets.  About three blocks in, we found a spot in front of an apartment building, behind another car and well clear of the driveway.  Easy in and easy out, so we thought.  The whale watch trip was delightful on a perfect day replete with calm waters and abundant ocean mammals.  Upon return to the harbor, we jumped off the boat and headed back to our car.  Much to our dismay, strategically placed against the vehicle's back bumper was a huge boulder that had to weigh at least 200 lbs.  And in front of our car was another parked about three inches tight.  Clearly, a message was being sent by some local(s) attempting to discourage public parking on "their" street.  They even left some visible scratches on our back bumper to add insult to injury.  Stunned more than annoyed, two of us with great effort managed to roll the boulder back far enough to allow sufficient space to leave the curb. 

Driving away, I thought about the parking difficulties in Avila Beach - particularly on the residential streets that become an alternative to scouring the commercial zones or pay-to-park lot.  While I have not heard any stories of boulders being used to send a message, I am aware of orange cones or other blockades being employed by some to prevent legal parking in front of their homes.  I know it's a touchy subject, and one with no apparent easy answers.  But our Lahaina experience makes me wonder what if the car parked was not ours, but that of a more elderly and frail couple lacking the strength to move two hundred pounds.  I believe that we here in Avila are more civil and thoughtful than our counterparts in Lahaina.  Avila parking issues continue to be a topic of great debate and will surface again come the looming tourist season. I hope fruitful discussions and viable solutions arise in the very near future.

Those of you who regularly read this column know that I strive to be informative of things going on in Avila, and of other issues that may be of interest.  With the vast number of seniors who call Avila Beach their home in mind, I attended for the first time a meeting of the SLO County Commission on Aging.  This Commission serves as a networking opportunity for area senior services providers and is open to the public.  The "keynote" speaker that day was Morro Bay resident Gari Cave, who is a Senior Assembly member of the California State Senior Legislature.  At January's meeting I learned things that both worry and comfort me - worried about the overwhelming number of issues faced by the elderly, and comforted by the fact that resources and help are available.  I don't have the space to summarize all that was shared at the meeting, but I do encourage you to "google" SLO County Commission on Aging to read about the local organization, and visit www.4csl.org to read about the state agency.  Both serve as valuable advocates for the aging population and their caregivers.  That's it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!

0 Comments
    Picture
    Rick Cohen
    Executive Director


    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

    RSS Feed

About Us
Our History
Historical Photo Gallery
Our Mission
Board of Trustees & Staff
Monthly News & Views
Foundation Projects
990 Tax Filings
Grant Information
How to Apply - Annual Grants
Current Grantees
Past Grantees

Charitable Giving
Ways to Give
Donor Advised Funds

Community Links

"Like us"

Picture
Stay informed on Facebook

Sign Up For Newsletter
For Email Newsletters you can trust.
Avila Beach Community Foundation | PO Box 297 |191 San Miguel Street  Avila Beach, CA 93424-0297 |
Ph: 805.595.4095
avilafoundation@gmail.com|
Contact Us | Trustee Portal

BACK TO TOP

© DivTag Templates Ltd | All Rights Reserved