Hello friends and neighbors. I would like to begin my column this month by giving a nice pat on the back to the board of directors and staff of the Avila Beach Community Services District (ABCSD). After reading about the myriad problems of several central coast CSDs, as reported in a recent story in the New Times, I cannot help but feel fortunate that the Avila Beach CSD seems to be functioning very well. Keep up the good work!!!
And speaking of functioning well, have you noticed that the Foundation’s newly created Avila Alerts program has been activated? We have already sent several alerts to those of you on the list of subscribers, including announcements of Avila Beach area road work, Bob Jones Trail repair work, and upcoming events restricting accessibility of the Avila Park basketball courts, staging and barbecue areas. Our current list of reporting agencies includes Port San Luis Harbor District, P.G.&E./Diablo Canyon, Cal Trans, Avila Beach Golf Resort, SLO County Environmental Health Dep’t., Cal Fire Avila Beach, SLO County Parks & Recreation Dep’t., SLO County Public Works, and the Avila Beach Community Services District. We at the Foundation hope you find these alerts to be helpful, and we welcome any feedback or suggestions. You can sign up for Avila Alerts at www.avilaalerts.com, or email your comments to avilafoundation@gmail.com.
Trustees for the Avila Beach Foundation are all in agreement that the favorite part of their job is when we award grants for the upcoming year. And, believe it or not, it’s just about time to launch the process for non-profit organizations and community project coordinators seeking grants for 2012 program support. Interested parties can view and download copies of the 2012 grant packet by visiting the Foundation’s website in mid July. Fully completed applications and attachments will be accepted through October 1st, and award announcements will be made in early November. The total amount of funds available has yet to be determined, but will likely be comparable to grant making levels of the past several years. If you have any questions or project ideas you wish to discuss before going through the grant application process, feel free to call me at 595-4095.
By the way, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our friends at the Avila Community News for doing such a nice job with their publication. Each issue features information on Avila Beach area activities, columns on better health and local industry, monthly tide charts, a platform for local businesses to showcase their wares, and more. Kudos to the Sorgenfreis (John, Michele and Heidi), Kelly Hayes, Keely Sanchez and Lauren Clark - I receive continuous words of gratitude from the locals who count on seeing the News in their mail boxes each month. Terrific work one and all!!
And speaking of local industry, it probably comes as no surprise to you that tourism is the fuel that keeps the Avila Beach engine humming along. I had a recent opportunity to observe the initial meeting of a group known as the “Avila Beach Local Fund Advisory Board”, which is a body charged with, primarily, developing a marketing plan to spend money generated by the 2% room rate assessment on Avila Beach lodging each year. According to the SLO County Tourism Business Improvement District administrator, there will be roughly $135,000 available for the express purpose of, as Noreen Martin from the Avila Lighthouse Suites says “put heads in beds”. The small local board consists of Charles Krellin (Sycamore Springs Resort), Kim Silverman (Avila Lighthouse Suites) and Katie Manley (Avila Beach Golf Resort/Avila Inn). It will be interesting to see just what creative ways they come up with to bring more folks to our beach community. While some may feel the town is already too crowded, few can question that benefits we locals enjoy by having a variety thriving businesses at our disposal.
Before signing off for this month I have to confess that my wife, dog and self escaped the cooler than usual central coast June gloom for a week in the hot Palm Desert sun. Breakfast on the patio each morning, playing golf or lying pool side each day, and wearing short sleeves every evening was simply too divine. While the vacation was wonderful, returning home continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. That’s about it for now - I hope you are having a pleasant summer.
And speaking of functioning well, have you noticed that the Foundation’s newly created Avila Alerts program has been activated? We have already sent several alerts to those of you on the list of subscribers, including announcements of Avila Beach area road work, Bob Jones Trail repair work, and upcoming events restricting accessibility of the Avila Park basketball courts, staging and barbecue areas. Our current list of reporting agencies includes Port San Luis Harbor District, P.G.&E./Diablo Canyon, Cal Trans, Avila Beach Golf Resort, SLO County Environmental Health Dep’t., Cal Fire Avila Beach, SLO County Parks & Recreation Dep’t., SLO County Public Works, and the Avila Beach Community Services District. We at the Foundation hope you find these alerts to be helpful, and we welcome any feedback or suggestions. You can sign up for Avila Alerts at www.avilaalerts.com, or email your comments to avilafoundation@gmail.com.
Trustees for the Avila Beach Foundation are all in agreement that the favorite part of their job is when we award grants for the upcoming year. And, believe it or not, it’s just about time to launch the process for non-profit organizations and community project coordinators seeking grants for 2012 program support. Interested parties can view and download copies of the 2012 grant packet by visiting the Foundation’s website in mid July. Fully completed applications and attachments will be accepted through October 1st, and award announcements will be made in early November. The total amount of funds available has yet to be determined, but will likely be comparable to grant making levels of the past several years. If you have any questions or project ideas you wish to discuss before going through the grant application process, feel free to call me at 595-4095.
By the way, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our friends at the Avila Community News for doing such a nice job with their publication. Each issue features information on Avila Beach area activities, columns on better health and local industry, monthly tide charts, a platform for local businesses to showcase their wares, and more. Kudos to the Sorgenfreis (John, Michele and Heidi), Kelly Hayes, Keely Sanchez and Lauren Clark - I receive continuous words of gratitude from the locals who count on seeing the News in their mail boxes each month. Terrific work one and all!!
And speaking of local industry, it probably comes as no surprise to you that tourism is the fuel that keeps the Avila Beach engine humming along. I had a recent opportunity to observe the initial meeting of a group known as the “Avila Beach Local Fund Advisory Board”, which is a body charged with, primarily, developing a marketing plan to spend money generated by the 2% room rate assessment on Avila Beach lodging each year. According to the SLO County Tourism Business Improvement District administrator, there will be roughly $135,000 available for the express purpose of, as Noreen Martin from the Avila Lighthouse Suites says “put heads in beds”. The small local board consists of Charles Krellin (Sycamore Springs Resort), Kim Silverman (Avila Lighthouse Suites) and Katie Manley (Avila Beach Golf Resort/Avila Inn). It will be interesting to see just what creative ways they come up with to bring more folks to our beach community. While some may feel the town is already too crowded, few can question that benefits we locals enjoy by having a variety thriving businesses at our disposal.
Before signing off for this month I have to confess that my wife, dog and self escaped the cooler than usual central coast June gloom for a week in the hot Palm Desert sun. Breakfast on the patio each morning, playing golf or lying pool side each day, and wearing short sleeves every evening was simply too divine. While the vacation was wonderful, returning home continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. That’s about it for now - I hope you are having a pleasant summer.
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