Hello fellow Avilones. I begin this month's column with a "tip of the hat" to Avila Beach resident Shirley Goetz, who some of you know is responsible for the successful campaign to have Avila Beach designated as an official bird sanctuary. Not satisfied to stop at that, Shirley organized a really cool event on Saturday, February 21st, titled "The First Annual Avila Beach Bird Sanctuary Day." The one-hour plus program featured live bird presentations by Pacific Wildlife Care. The 50 or so people who attended the event were introduced to three beautiful PWC rescued birds (called Ambassadors) now living in captivity due to prior injury or debilitation preventing them from returning to the wild. First up was "Morro," a charming and engaging brown pelican. Posing regally in his octagonal pen and surrounded by curious humans, "Morro" was constantly turning to check us out as if we were on display rather than he. Next up was a spectacular Red Tail Hawk (I didn't get the name) that was perched on the arm of a PWC volunteer. Mr. Hawk was a bit fidgety due to - we were told - the mating season now in progress. The third "Ambassador" was a real crowd pleaser named "Missy," who is a Russian Screech Owl. Cute as a bug and about half the size of the typical owl we see in the area, "Missy," and her dish-shaped face and big eyes, wooed us all.
While getting to meet these beautiful creatures was a heavenly treat, Shirley brought the audience back to earth with her educational demonstration about the hazards of discarded plastics to the environment. We were told about and shown examples of everyday items and packaging products that threaten and often kill birds of various feathers residing in abundance around our waters. Shirley placed on the demonstration table two boxes of littered plastics she and a friend personally picked up on and around Avila Beach just days before, while explaining the perils they pose. Those that do not decompose tend to present tangling dangers, and others that break apart often become confused as fish food, said Shirley, who showed us striking examples of each - including the clever opening of a blue berry muffin to prove that what we see on the outside isn't necessarily what appears on the inside. Great job all around, Shirley!
Next I write about an unexpected discovery that also occurred just last month. While spending hours in the waiting room at Sierra Vista Hospital as my wife was undergoing knee replacement surgery, I wiled the time away reading an autobiography written by longtime SLO County and Avila Beach resident Cliff Branch. Titled "American Made - a Boomer's Reflections" was loaned to me by Amy at the Avila Bay Club after I renewed my membership there following an eight-year hiatus from tennis. I don't know why Amy thought I would be interested in reading the book, but it turned out to be a fortuitous gesture after all. So, there I was in the waiting room, thinking maybe I'd kill a half-hour or so skimming through the pages. Shortly into it, the combination of casually knowing Cliff as prior owner of the Avila Bay Club (along with wife Lynette who I know a bit better) and my interest in "boomer" history began to capture my attention. While I had been somewhat aware of Cliff being a successful entrepreneur, I had no idea of the depth and range of his experiences and skills. Born into a family of both renown and accomplishment, Cliff was exposed to things most of us only see in the movies. To his credit, I believe, Cliff did not rest on the accomplishments of those before him. Rather, he creatively sought his own passions and paved his own paths to success. The book's first chapter, The Early Years-Stories from My Youth, begin with "when I started school in the mid-1950s, educators labeled a kid like me a "problem child." "Throughout my early years the school authorities said I was hyperactive, incessantly inquisitive, yet easily bored." Sound familiar? Cliff goes on to weave an entertaining tapestry of his life, coupled with some great old time photos and references to things anyone who grew up in that era will relate to. Cliff also shares his philosophical and political views, and comes off to me as someone who is pretty well grounded and concerned for the welfare of others. Many of his anecdotal stories are amusing and interestingly dotted with the familiar names of friends and business partners who are prominent in SLO County lore. I am far from being a book critic, but felt it would be okay to promote the reading of this fun autobiography written by one of Avila's own. Now undergoing its second publishing, I am told those interested in acquiring the book can email: cliff@ambook.com.
I truly enjoy sharing with you fellow Avilones stories about the people in our neighborhoods when they come to my attention. Do you know any Avilones we can feature in future issues of the Avila Community News? If so, please let me know. One final note - we bid a fond farewell to longtime Avila Community Services District employee/icon Kathy Richardson. After 29 years as the face of CSD, Kathy will be sorely missed by those who counted on her friendship and professionalism. Happy retirement, Kathy - don't be a stranger. That's it for now. See you at the beach!
While getting to meet these beautiful creatures was a heavenly treat, Shirley brought the audience back to earth with her educational demonstration about the hazards of discarded plastics to the environment. We were told about and shown examples of everyday items and packaging products that threaten and often kill birds of various feathers residing in abundance around our waters. Shirley placed on the demonstration table two boxes of littered plastics she and a friend personally picked up on and around Avila Beach just days before, while explaining the perils they pose. Those that do not decompose tend to present tangling dangers, and others that break apart often become confused as fish food, said Shirley, who showed us striking examples of each - including the clever opening of a blue berry muffin to prove that what we see on the outside isn't necessarily what appears on the inside. Great job all around, Shirley!
Next I write about an unexpected discovery that also occurred just last month. While spending hours in the waiting room at Sierra Vista Hospital as my wife was undergoing knee replacement surgery, I wiled the time away reading an autobiography written by longtime SLO County and Avila Beach resident Cliff Branch. Titled "American Made - a Boomer's Reflections" was loaned to me by Amy at the Avila Bay Club after I renewed my membership there following an eight-year hiatus from tennis. I don't know why Amy thought I would be interested in reading the book, but it turned out to be a fortuitous gesture after all. So, there I was in the waiting room, thinking maybe I'd kill a half-hour or so skimming through the pages. Shortly into it, the combination of casually knowing Cliff as prior owner of the Avila Bay Club (along with wife Lynette who I know a bit better) and my interest in "boomer" history began to capture my attention. While I had been somewhat aware of Cliff being a successful entrepreneur, I had no idea of the depth and range of his experiences and skills. Born into a family of both renown and accomplishment, Cliff was exposed to things most of us only see in the movies. To his credit, I believe, Cliff did not rest on the accomplishments of those before him. Rather, he creatively sought his own passions and paved his own paths to success. The book's first chapter, The Early Years-Stories from My Youth, begin with "when I started school in the mid-1950s, educators labeled a kid like me a "problem child." "Throughout my early years the school authorities said I was hyperactive, incessantly inquisitive, yet easily bored." Sound familiar? Cliff goes on to weave an entertaining tapestry of his life, coupled with some great old time photos and references to things anyone who grew up in that era will relate to. Cliff also shares his philosophical and political views, and comes off to me as someone who is pretty well grounded and concerned for the welfare of others. Many of his anecdotal stories are amusing and interestingly dotted with the familiar names of friends and business partners who are prominent in SLO County lore. I am far from being a book critic, but felt it would be okay to promote the reading of this fun autobiography written by one of Avila's own. Now undergoing its second publishing, I am told those interested in acquiring the book can email: cliff@ambook.com.
I truly enjoy sharing with you fellow Avilones stories about the people in our neighborhoods when they come to my attention. Do you know any Avilones we can feature in future issues of the Avila Community News? If so, please let me know. One final note - we bid a fond farewell to longtime Avila Community Services District employee/icon Kathy Richardson. After 29 years as the face of CSD, Kathy will be sorely missed by those who counted on her friendship and professionalism. Happy retirement, Kathy - don't be a stranger. That's it for now. See you at the beach!
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