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 2023

2/2/2023

0 Comments

 
Greetings, fellow Avilones.  February is upon us, and I bet you know what’s coming.  This is the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day and President’s Day holidays.  And, of course, my wife’s birthday.  For the past 13 years two of these dates were enjoyed with our now deceased, but not forgotten dog, “Dodger,” so it will be strange/sad not having him around to help shop for greeting cards and presents.  For some reason he always insisted on purchasing a supply of doggie treats for his “mom.”

By the time you receive this publication, about three weeks will have passed since the devastating January storms roiled Avila Beach and other parts of SLO County.  Avila was hit particularly hard with water rising above the creek, spilling onto the main roads into town, and swamping businesses at Avila Village, Avila Bay Athletic Club and Avila Beach Golf Resort.  Sadly, a life was lost during rampaging flooding on Avila Beach Drive near Sycamore Mineral Springs.  And if all that wasn’t bad enough, the greater Avila communities were without power for nearly two full days! 

While we cannot control all effects of Mother Nature, how we respond always leaves an impression.  And I have to say that I was NOT impressed with what my wife and I experienced on the evening of January 9th.  I share this debacle with you to vent my frustration.  After languishing without power the entire day, we ventured out to South County to pick up some prescription medication and grab some dinner since it wasn’t raining very hard at that time.  The “circus” began when we tried to drive back home on the 101 after entering the 4th Street onramp.  Things looked good as we headed northbound towards Avila.   We knew the Avila Beach Drive offramp was closed, thus planned on taking the San Luis Bay Drive offramp.  No such luck, the northbound freeway was closed, and all vehicles were forced to exit at Avila Beach Drive.  What!!!!

We quickly came upon a line of cars and freight trucks that exited before us, as well as the flashing lights of patrol cars ahead blocking further travel.  There we sat for several minutes, then inched closer to the front of the line, which we knew to be a dead end.  Drivers were being re-routed back onto the southbound onramp to head where?  Who knows?  Finally, as I began approaching a patrol car to get some information, word came via loud-speaker that in order to travel north into San Luis Obispo or beyond, drivers should head back to Price Canyon Road, take it to Hwy 227, then find their way back onto the 101.   Not one word about how we could get back home to Avila.  Did they close the San Luis Bay Drive exit as well?  Fortunately knowing our way around, we continued along HWY 227/Broad Street to South Street, to Higuera Street, to Madonna Road, onto southbound 101, then were able to exit on San Luis Bay Drive and make our way home.

 So, why the heck was San Luis Bay Drive exit closed coming from the south and not from the north?  From what we could view, no flooding reached that exit side.  Thus, what could have been a 5-minute drive home became a very circuitous 2-mile, one-half hour detour.  I suppose one could find a comical side to this story, but all in all it left a sour taste in my mouth.  Most striking was the lack of information or direction.  Some signage on the freeway forewarning drivers would have been helpful, but none was seen in either direction, at least not so on our routes. Likewise, patrol officers on the scene could have been more helpful than just sitting in their squad cars with lights flashing.  I worry what will happen when a greater disaster visits the area.  Are the responders we rely upon truly prepared to act?  I imagine that question won’t endear me to our friends in public service, but I feel it must be asked.  I do so not in my capacity with the Avila Beach Community Foundation, but as a citizen of San Luis Obispo County. 

​That’s all for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!
0 Comments
    Picture
    Rick Cohen
    Executive Director


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    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