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

November 2021

11/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  Now that October is behind us, and the “kiddies” are loaded up with candy from Halloween, we shift our lives in preparation for November Thanksgiving festivities.   This means lavish turkey meals with all the fixings for many of us, and perhaps ham or family favorites for others.  Out of curiosity, I visited the internet to acquire some history about the origins of Thanksgiving, and found endless online representations.  But for the sake of brevity, I copied the following description from the History Channel website, which informs us that “Thanksgiving became an annual custom throughout New England in the 17th century, and in 1777 the Continental Congress declared the first national American Thanksgiving following the Patriot victory at Saratoga. In 1789, President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday, when, at the request of Congress, he proclaimed November 26, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the U.S. Constitution. However, it was not until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to officially fall on the last Thursday of November, that the modern holiday was celebrated nationally.”  There is soooo much more online on this topic, but I leave that for you to research.

Let’s face it.  Nearly two full years into the Pandemic it is not always easy to think of the things for which we are thankful, but mental health professionals tell us that doing so is one of the best ways to deal with the “funk” looming over the lives of many.  While our freedoms have been re-defined, at least temporarily, we are again able to enjoy a lot of the things we took for granted in the past, though with a tweak here and there.  Perhaps we never fully appreciated those things until they were taken away from us.  One day this health crisis will be behind us, and I hope we will have learned some valuable lessons that can be filed away for future benefit.

Turning to something more uplifting, have you stopped by for a visit to the Central Coast Aquarium lately?  In addition to other exciting things going on there, a new occupant arrived and set up home in the Octopus tank.  According to the newsletter I received from the Aquarium, “Octopuses are highly intelligent invertebrates, and we are lucky enough to have a very special Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens), named Ruby, right here at CCA! Small octopuses, like Ruby, are believed to have the intelligence level of a house cat while others, like the Giant Pacific Octopus, can be even more intelligent!”  This tank was vacant for quite a while, even though the Avila Beach Community Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Aquarium in 2019 to complete the habitat.  Unforeseen circumstances – including the Pandemic – caused a delay in the acquisition of a new resident, but no longer.  Stop by and meet “Ruby”.  Do you know how many tentacles “Ruby” has?

In case you are wondering about the latest news regarding progress on the Avila Community Plan, a communication was recently sent by SLO County Planning Manager Arlin Singelwald.  We are told that due to the many comments, questions and concerns about the draft Avila Plan since it was released in May 2021, the matter is being put on pause until the County can conduct another round of in-person workshops.  The recommendation to take this action will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on November 16th.  So, the clock continues to run while this long-awaited project plods forward.  The reason for the delay is not necessarily a bad thing, but it would be nice to see more forward progress.

With the December holidays fast approaching, I once again invite you to consider a special gift for one or more of your Avila Beach family members or friends.  Yes, this is an unabashed “commercial moment”, but worth your attention. Acquire this limited-edition License Plate Holder when you make a contribution in any amount to the “Avila Beach Public Art Development & Preservation Fund.”
​
Send your check to: Avila Beach Community Foundation
P.O. Box 297, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Be sure to include your contact information so we can arrange delivery of your frame(s).
 

​That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  I wish you an enjoyable Thanksgiving celebration. 
​See you at the beach!



0 Comments
    Picture
    Rick Cohen
    Executive Director


    Archives

    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