Greetings, fellow Avilones. Though it’s hard to believe the moment has already arrived, we Avila Beach citizens must begin to brace ourselves for the upcoming tourism season. Historical knowledge of what will be coming won’t necessarily soften the experience, but it should help us prepare. For the next several months we can count on surrendering most of the easy beach and town access that occurs for half the year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the bounties of our Central Coast jewel. I urge everyone to pay attention to the local publications that announce upcoming Avila events that will impact traffic flow and parking, so on any given day you can plan your routes accordingly. Also, if you have yet to do so, register for the “Foundation’s” AVILA ALERTS service. Some local event coordinators and County public services representatives are pretty good about informing the “Foundation” of upcoming activities that could disrupt the daily traffic and access patterns. When we receive news about these, we, in turn, send email notifications to AVILA ALERTS subscribers. Click on the link below to sign up for AVILA ALERTS.
I offer a special “shout-out” of appreciation to the people responsible for conducting the “Foundation’s” recent Internet Safety and Best Practices Workshop. Forty or so Avila residents attended the workshop and gained greatly from the information presented by Gary Maier and Dennis Royer – both PG&E employees working in cyber security. And a special thank you to Foundation Project Specialist Paula Dempsey for her role in coordinating the logistics. Feedback from those who attended the workshop was highly complimentary, and several attendees suggested that further such workshops that dive deeper into the technology would be helpful and welcome. The “Foundation” has made every effort to be responsive to requests and opportunities that come our way. This workshop was just one of the many activities we have supported or conducted as a result from community input. We thank you Avilones for letting us know what you want.
Speaking of input, I was recently visited by one of your neighbors – Becky Schenk – who is a retired horticulturalist. She stopped by my office to ask if the “Foundation” would help her reach out to our community to gauge interest a special project idea. Becky writes, “I am a retired horticulturist living in Avila Beach, and would like to know if there is sufficient interest in an organic community garden in Avila where families could grow their own organic food. Many communities around the country are installing organic gardens in suitable empty space that is available, like a corner park, a vacant lot, or a larger area adjacent to or on ranch, farm, or vineyard property. The garden is laid out in 5x5 and 10x10 square foot plots. The National Gardening Association and other groups say a 10x10 sq. ft. plot can grow enough vegetables to feed a family of four. This idea is fast catching on in communities around the country. Would you like to have a plot? To move forward will first require land. If you know of, or own, a plot of land that might welcome a community organic garden, or if you have any interest in participating in this project, please contact me at beckyschenk7@yahoo.com.”
Under the heading of “odds and ends” – I share the following tidbits. The “Foundation” and County Supervisor Adam Hill have teamed up to fund the long-needed audio equipment to improve communications at Avila Valley Advisory Council (AVAC) meetings. Discussions will flow much easier once people around the table and in the audience can actually hear what is going on. The “Foundation” is also helping out as an event sponsor for the Central Coast Aquarium’s upcoming Beach Clean-Up Day. For information on the event, visit www.centralcoastaquarium.com. Our congratulations to the staff of Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School in Avila Valley for achieving their goal to raise $4,500 in funds to match the “Foundation’s” grant of $4,500. The school can now purchase additional iPads and a charging station to improve student educational opportunities. Kudos to the donors Ken & Sue Karleskint, Molly Preston, Jeremy & Michele Engle, Tricia Hamachai, Kraig & Tina Crozier, and a generous contribution from one family wishing to remain anonymous. Well done, everyone! And one additional reminder from our friends at Cal Fire – with each of the two seasonal time changes, everyone should replace the batteries in their smoke detectors. Be safe, not sorry.
That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
I offer a special “shout-out” of appreciation to the people responsible for conducting the “Foundation’s” recent Internet Safety and Best Practices Workshop. Forty or so Avila residents attended the workshop and gained greatly from the information presented by Gary Maier and Dennis Royer – both PG&E employees working in cyber security. And a special thank you to Foundation Project Specialist Paula Dempsey for her role in coordinating the logistics. Feedback from those who attended the workshop was highly complimentary, and several attendees suggested that further such workshops that dive deeper into the technology would be helpful and welcome. The “Foundation” has made every effort to be responsive to requests and opportunities that come our way. This workshop was just one of the many activities we have supported or conducted as a result from community input. We thank you Avilones for letting us know what you want.
Speaking of input, I was recently visited by one of your neighbors – Becky Schenk – who is a retired horticulturalist. She stopped by my office to ask if the “Foundation” would help her reach out to our community to gauge interest a special project idea. Becky writes, “I am a retired horticulturist living in Avila Beach, and would like to know if there is sufficient interest in an organic community garden in Avila where families could grow their own organic food. Many communities around the country are installing organic gardens in suitable empty space that is available, like a corner park, a vacant lot, or a larger area adjacent to or on ranch, farm, or vineyard property. The garden is laid out in 5x5 and 10x10 square foot plots. The National Gardening Association and other groups say a 10x10 sq. ft. plot can grow enough vegetables to feed a family of four. This idea is fast catching on in communities around the country. Would you like to have a plot? To move forward will first require land. If you know of, or own, a plot of land that might welcome a community organic garden, or if you have any interest in participating in this project, please contact me at beckyschenk7@yahoo.com.”
Under the heading of “odds and ends” – I share the following tidbits. The “Foundation” and County Supervisor Adam Hill have teamed up to fund the long-needed audio equipment to improve communications at Avila Valley Advisory Council (AVAC) meetings. Discussions will flow much easier once people around the table and in the audience can actually hear what is going on. The “Foundation” is also helping out as an event sponsor for the Central Coast Aquarium’s upcoming Beach Clean-Up Day. For information on the event, visit www.centralcoastaquarium.com. Our congratulations to the staff of Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School in Avila Valley for achieving their goal to raise $4,500 in funds to match the “Foundation’s” grant of $4,500. The school can now purchase additional iPads and a charging station to improve student educational opportunities. Kudos to the donors Ken & Sue Karleskint, Molly Preston, Jeremy & Michele Engle, Tricia Hamachai, Kraig & Tina Crozier, and a generous contribution from one family wishing to remain anonymous. Well done, everyone! And one additional reminder from our friends at Cal Fire – with each of the two seasonal time changes, everyone should replace the batteries in their smoke detectors. Be safe, not sorry.
That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
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