Hello fellow Avilones. Leading off my column this month I am pleased to let you know that planning of the Avila Apple Festival, scheduled for October 4-5, 2014, is moving along nicely. Tickets to the October 4th "Farm to Table, Meet the Growers" dinner, being hosted on secluded grounds at the Avila Valley Barn, have been selling nicely - even before the launch of our media marketing campaign - thanks primarily to word of mouth and Facebook postings. Only 400 seats are available, and if purchased before August 15th you can save $10 per person. Those of you unable to attend the Saturday dinner won't want to miss the next day's "Everything Apple" Vendor Fair at the Avila Beach Promenade, with activities and fun for people of all ages. For details on the Saturday night dinner and Sunday afternoon fair, or to purchase your tickets to the dinner, visit www.avilaapplefestival.com. Event sponsorship opportunities are still available, as is vendor booth space. For more information, contact event coordinator Penny Burciaga at info@avilaapplefestival.com.
Also upcoming is the "Foundation's" annual grant-making season, which begins with our July release of request for proposals (RFP). As in years past, local non-profit organizations, special interest groups and individuals are invited to apply for grants for funding of projects or services to be provided next year. Grant requests are due by September 19, 2014. Qualified applicants will be interviewed in October, and the Foundation's board of trustees will meet in November to finalize award allocations. Last year the "Foundation" invested in 12 programs/projects totaling $72,000. Since inception, the "Foundation" has invested more than $2 million in Avila Beach programs, enhancements and projects. For more information visit our website, www.avilabeachfoundation.org and look for the grants link, or feel free to contact me personally at 595-4095.
Now to a topic that remains sensitive, controversial, and sometimes divisive - that being the strain on Avila Beach resources each summer. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that summer activities are now in full swing. The beaches are filled with locals and visitors alike, the parking lots are packed, Avila Beach Drive is lined with cars, and the golf course is home to what seems to be a record number of concerts and special events. The month of May became very interesting as news of a huge, pending event at the golf course spread throughout the Avila communities. In many ways it was like reliving the Amgen discussions of 2013, but with more community action. Due to a concerted effort on the part of several community and neighborhood groups a letter and email writing campaign, coupled with presentations at a County Board of Supervisors hearing in June, resulted in the successful blocking of the proposed 10,000 person per day, two-day event at the golf course. While this action effectively reduced the attendance and impact of FOREVER NEVERLAND, it appears that a scaled down version of no more than 3,000 persons per day is still in the works.
Of perhaps greater, long-term impact is that County Supervisors have directed staff to revisit what has been a ten-year practice of the golf course being allowed to host special events without going through a permit process similar to that required at other cities in SLO County. Said practice has for quite some time rankled Avila residents who express discontent with both the ever-increasing amount of golf course special events, and the nature of some they view as alcohol-fueled gatherings that could and sometimes do create a degree of collateral damage. Also of great concern is the number of times these events lead to traffic gridlock both to and from Avila Beach, and fear of what that would mean in the event of an emergency that could block responders or result in the need to evacuate. Of course, this concern is always felt by an Avila Beach with only one road in and out, and the community's proximity to Diablo Canyon.
At the "end of the day" I was personally satisfied that the process played out as it should, via County requirements and procedures. Loyal readers of my column know that I rarely offer commentary, but in this case I am compelled to write that I was greatly disappointed in a handful of Avila residents I found to be rude and overly combative at a community informational presentation of the FOREVER NEVELAND event by its founder and organizer. While I agree that the proposed event was too large for Avila Beach, I heard a bit too much of a "now that I live here, let's close the gates behind us" attitude for my liking. Most of us moved to Avila from places afar and, thankfully, a majority doesn't share that attitude. Yes, let's try to preserve our surroundings as best we can. But let's do so with respect for others and an understanding that none of us "owns the beach". That being said, I encourage continued activism by the voices of reason. Standing together, the "people" can accomplish many positive things. That's it for now, fellow Avilones. I'll see you at the beach.
Also upcoming is the "Foundation's" annual grant-making season, which begins with our July release of request for proposals (RFP). As in years past, local non-profit organizations, special interest groups and individuals are invited to apply for grants for funding of projects or services to be provided next year. Grant requests are due by September 19, 2014. Qualified applicants will be interviewed in October, and the Foundation's board of trustees will meet in November to finalize award allocations. Last year the "Foundation" invested in 12 programs/projects totaling $72,000. Since inception, the "Foundation" has invested more than $2 million in Avila Beach programs, enhancements and projects. For more information visit our website, www.avilabeachfoundation.org and look for the grants link, or feel free to contact me personally at 595-4095.
Now to a topic that remains sensitive, controversial, and sometimes divisive - that being the strain on Avila Beach resources each summer. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that summer activities are now in full swing. The beaches are filled with locals and visitors alike, the parking lots are packed, Avila Beach Drive is lined with cars, and the golf course is home to what seems to be a record number of concerts and special events. The month of May became very interesting as news of a huge, pending event at the golf course spread throughout the Avila communities. In many ways it was like reliving the Amgen discussions of 2013, but with more community action. Due to a concerted effort on the part of several community and neighborhood groups a letter and email writing campaign, coupled with presentations at a County Board of Supervisors hearing in June, resulted in the successful blocking of the proposed 10,000 person per day, two-day event at the golf course. While this action effectively reduced the attendance and impact of FOREVER NEVERLAND, it appears that a scaled down version of no more than 3,000 persons per day is still in the works.
Of perhaps greater, long-term impact is that County Supervisors have directed staff to revisit what has been a ten-year practice of the golf course being allowed to host special events without going through a permit process similar to that required at other cities in SLO County. Said practice has for quite some time rankled Avila residents who express discontent with both the ever-increasing amount of golf course special events, and the nature of some they view as alcohol-fueled gatherings that could and sometimes do create a degree of collateral damage. Also of great concern is the number of times these events lead to traffic gridlock both to and from Avila Beach, and fear of what that would mean in the event of an emergency that could block responders or result in the need to evacuate. Of course, this concern is always felt by an Avila Beach with only one road in and out, and the community's proximity to Diablo Canyon.
At the "end of the day" I was personally satisfied that the process played out as it should, via County requirements and procedures. Loyal readers of my column know that I rarely offer commentary, but in this case I am compelled to write that I was greatly disappointed in a handful of Avila residents I found to be rude and overly combative at a community informational presentation of the FOREVER NEVELAND event by its founder and organizer. While I agree that the proposed event was too large for Avila Beach, I heard a bit too much of a "now that I live here, let's close the gates behind us" attitude for my liking. Most of us moved to Avila from places afar and, thankfully, a majority doesn't share that attitude. Yes, let's try to preserve our surroundings as best we can. But let's do so with respect for others and an understanding that none of us "owns the beach". That being said, I encourage continued activism by the voices of reason. Standing together, the "people" can accomplish many positive things. That's it for now, fellow Avilones. I'll see you at the beach.
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