Well, winter is here and the Central Coast is firmly ensconced in the season of shorter days, longer nights, and cooler temperatures. I am aware that many folks enjoy this time of year, but count me among those already anxious for the next few months to hurry along. It’s not that I don’t enjoy all the hoopla surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and New Years – but wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirts is more my style than donning corduroy pants, sweaters and jackets.
Okay, enough about ME and more about the Foundation and our Avila neighbors. I am very pleased to report that the Foundation recently completed its annual grant making processes, and our Trustees have awarded eight grants totaling $60,935 for the year 2011. We are delighted to continue funding support for the Avila Beach Community Center operations ($20,000), the Sea Life Center’s Scientist for a Day Scholarships Program ($8,000), the Avila Jr. Lifeguards Program ($12,000), the Free Avila Trolley ($5,000) and the Achievement House Summer Beach Clean-up Service ($5,130). We are equally excited to provide first-time funding support for three other projects beneficial to the area – those being the Port San Luis “Mutt Mitts” program ($3,425) that will furnish a year’s worth of doggie poop bags for the nine stations situated along the entire beach area; the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s “Avila Beach Movie in a Day Marathon” ($2,500) that will bring the Festival’s ever popular program to our beach town; and the South County Area Transit and RTA ($4,880) for a marketing campaign to increase the Avila Trolley rider population and generate advertising support. Congratulations to our worthy recipients.
Next, I would like to provide some feedback on the topic brought forth in my column last month – that seeking public interest and input in the possible creation of a community alerts program. More than a dozen locals emailed me with a variety of suggestions, though the one common theme was their belief in the value of such a service. Some recommended going the route of Facebook or Blogs, others thought sending everyone email updates would work best, and a few liked the idea of piggy-backing on an existing website by simply adding a new web page. Along the way we pondered just which area agencies and entities would be most likely to engage in activities that might cause a disruption in the daily lives of Avila residents and employees. Those that came to mind are Diablo Canyon, Port San Luis, the Avila Beach Golf Resort, Cal Fire, County Parks and Recreation and Cal Trans. Ideally, we can find a way to have those mentioned provide regular alerts when something of a possibly disruptive nature is coming down the pike, and those alerts can be updated and posted for public consumption. Work continues on this project, so if anyone has more to contribute to the process, please let me know – avilafoundation@gmail.com .
Last, but not least, I am pleased to inform you that the Foundation will be hosting the “Live Well – Keys to Health, Fitness & Vitality Symposium” this coming February – likely on the 26th. Not all the details are set in stone, so this is just a “heads up” for the time being. We all know the greater Avila area is highly populated by retirees – some more elderly than others – and that how well we live our lives can be immensely influenced by how well we take care of ourselves. The half-day symposium will cover a number of pertinent topics and include a specially prepared lunch and preparation demonstration. We anticipate this being a free event at the Community Center, with attendance restricted to Avila Beach area residents aged 55+. We only have room for about 75 participants, so if you want to tentatively reserve a seat now please send me an email with all your contact information. Final details will be available shortly, and will appear in the January issue of the Avila Community News and on the Foundation website. Special thanks go to District 3 County Supervisor Adam Hill for designating some funds from the County Community Projects budget to co-sponsor this upcoming symposium.
That’s about if for now. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah. May the coming year bring you good health and prosperity.
Okay, enough about ME and more about the Foundation and our Avila neighbors. I am very pleased to report that the Foundation recently completed its annual grant making processes, and our Trustees have awarded eight grants totaling $60,935 for the year 2011. We are delighted to continue funding support for the Avila Beach Community Center operations ($20,000), the Sea Life Center’s Scientist for a Day Scholarships Program ($8,000), the Avila Jr. Lifeguards Program ($12,000), the Free Avila Trolley ($5,000) and the Achievement House Summer Beach Clean-up Service ($5,130). We are equally excited to provide first-time funding support for three other projects beneficial to the area – those being the Port San Luis “Mutt Mitts” program ($3,425) that will furnish a year’s worth of doggie poop bags for the nine stations situated along the entire beach area; the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s “Avila Beach Movie in a Day Marathon” ($2,500) that will bring the Festival’s ever popular program to our beach town; and the South County Area Transit and RTA ($4,880) for a marketing campaign to increase the Avila Trolley rider population and generate advertising support. Congratulations to our worthy recipients.
Next, I would like to provide some feedback on the topic brought forth in my column last month – that seeking public interest and input in the possible creation of a community alerts program. More than a dozen locals emailed me with a variety of suggestions, though the one common theme was their belief in the value of such a service. Some recommended going the route of Facebook or Blogs, others thought sending everyone email updates would work best, and a few liked the idea of piggy-backing on an existing website by simply adding a new web page. Along the way we pondered just which area agencies and entities would be most likely to engage in activities that might cause a disruption in the daily lives of Avila residents and employees. Those that came to mind are Diablo Canyon, Port San Luis, the Avila Beach Golf Resort, Cal Fire, County Parks and Recreation and Cal Trans. Ideally, we can find a way to have those mentioned provide regular alerts when something of a possibly disruptive nature is coming down the pike, and those alerts can be updated and posted for public consumption. Work continues on this project, so if anyone has more to contribute to the process, please let me know – avilafoundation@gmail.com .
Last, but not least, I am pleased to inform you that the Foundation will be hosting the “Live Well – Keys to Health, Fitness & Vitality Symposium” this coming February – likely on the 26th. Not all the details are set in stone, so this is just a “heads up” for the time being. We all know the greater Avila area is highly populated by retirees – some more elderly than others – and that how well we live our lives can be immensely influenced by how well we take care of ourselves. The half-day symposium will cover a number of pertinent topics and include a specially prepared lunch and preparation demonstration. We anticipate this being a free event at the Community Center, with attendance restricted to Avila Beach area residents aged 55+. We only have room for about 75 participants, so if you want to tentatively reserve a seat now please send me an email with all your contact information. Final details will be available shortly, and will appear in the January issue of the Avila Community News and on the Foundation website. Special thanks go to District 3 County Supervisor Adam Hill for designating some funds from the County Community Projects budget to co-sponsor this upcoming symposium.
That’s about if for now. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah. May the coming year bring you good health and prosperity.
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