Hello friends and neighbors. “Ho, ho, ho” and all the trappings are just around the corner, so what better time to take a look back at the year about to conclude? But first, let me announce the addition of three Avila residents newly elected to the Avila Beach Foundation Board of Trustees, whose terms begin in January, 2012. We are so very pleased to welcome Jim Becker, who lives in Skylark Meadow and works for P.G. & E. as a Vice President and Plant Manager at Diablo Canyon; Justin Hodges, a SLO County Behavioral Health Specialist who lives in “downtown” Avila Beach; and Chris DeWeese, a media and public relations consultant living part time near the beach in Avila. The Foundation now has thirteen Trustees who bring a collective well-rounded background and affection for this community. Visit our website at www.avilabeachfoundation.org to learn more about each of the Foundation Trustees.
Now, getting back to an overview of the year about to end, let’s start with announcing the recipients of grants just awarded to local organizations or projects for 2012 funding. The Avila Beach Community Center was awarded $18,000 to partially pay for the salary of their executive director. The Avila Sea Life Center was awarded $10,000 for their “Scientists for a Day” program scholarships, and $8,000 towards their new “See the Sea” community programs. The Avila Jr. Lifeguard program was awarded $11,000 for their popular summer program. Port San Luis Harbor District was awarded $3,235 to continue the “Mutt Mitts” project. People’s Self Help Housing was awarded $4,000 to help provide supportive housing counseling services for residents of the Lachen Tara subsidized apartments in Avila Beach. The Achievement House summer beach clean-up project continues with a $5,775 grant, as does the Free Avila Beach Trolley route with a $5,000 grant. Altogether that totals $65,010 awarded by the Foundation to enhance life in Avila Beach.
While I’m in the process of “back pats” for the Foundation, let’s take a further look at the year in review. Among our accomplishments I surely include the Live Well Symposium we hosted in February, which was organized by Foundation Trustee Julian Varela, owner of Equilibrium Fitness in SLO. The Symposium featured an impressive lineup of presenters on topics such as wellness, nutrition, fitness and caring, and included a delicious healthy lunch prepared by Julie Andrews Scott of Central Coast Green Cuisine. Another highlight accomplishment in 2011 was the creation of the Foundation’s Matching Community Contributions Initiative. Thanks to $5,000 donations by each of four Initiative partners – P.G.& E., Old Custom House, Chevron and the Avila Beach Foundation – a $20,000 fund was established to match dollar for dollar individual gifts between the amount of $50-$200 to Avila based organizations and projects. To date, nearly $12,000 has been received from local donors in support of Initiative-eligible projects. Another noteworthy Foundation creation is the Avila Alerts blog, though we are still ironing out some of the kinks. The “Alert” was established as a way to pass along timely information about upcoming roadwork, street closures, high-traffic events, and other activities or situations that could possibly be disruptive to the daily comings and goings of Avila residents. Subscribers to Avila Alerts are notified by email of the aforementioned once we are informed by “reporters” from the various entities who oversee relevant projects. Visit our website to become an Avila Alerts subscriber.
Another idea that was spawned by the Foundation this year, and delivered by South County Area Transit, was the expansion of the Free Weekend Avila Trolley route to include Fridays during Fish and Farmers Market season – plus an expanded route into Pismo Beach. We just received SCAT’s quarterly report, which shows Fridays were a huge success. While overall ridership between the months of April through September in 2010 totaled 4,730 passengers - ridership during that same period in 2011 totaled 8,010. That’s quite a jump, and further justifies the Foundation’s financial investment to help keep the Avila Trolley rolling along. High season beach traffic will always be a concern, and mitigating the flow via mass transit is a good thing.
Looking forward to 2012, I applaud the Foundation Trustees for taking steps to expand our board and become even more proactive with community outreach efforts. The coming year will include the second edition of the Avila Beach Town Hall Forum, scheduled for February 24th and underwritten by County Supervisor Adam Hill. Later in the spring we hope to host some sort of Avila History and Heritage event, the planning of which is now getting under way. Additionally, the Foundation’s website will undergo a facelift, courtesy of our Project Specialist Penny Burciaga. Oops, I’m out of space and out of time, so goodbye for now. Remember, we always welcome your comments and suggestions, via email – avilafoundation@gmail.com – or phone: 595-4095. Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. See you at the beach.
Now, getting back to an overview of the year about to end, let’s start with announcing the recipients of grants just awarded to local organizations or projects for 2012 funding. The Avila Beach Community Center was awarded $18,000 to partially pay for the salary of their executive director. The Avila Sea Life Center was awarded $10,000 for their “Scientists for a Day” program scholarships, and $8,000 towards their new “See the Sea” community programs. The Avila Jr. Lifeguard program was awarded $11,000 for their popular summer program. Port San Luis Harbor District was awarded $3,235 to continue the “Mutt Mitts” project. People’s Self Help Housing was awarded $4,000 to help provide supportive housing counseling services for residents of the Lachen Tara subsidized apartments in Avila Beach. The Achievement House summer beach clean-up project continues with a $5,775 grant, as does the Free Avila Beach Trolley route with a $5,000 grant. Altogether that totals $65,010 awarded by the Foundation to enhance life in Avila Beach.
While I’m in the process of “back pats” for the Foundation, let’s take a further look at the year in review. Among our accomplishments I surely include the Live Well Symposium we hosted in February, which was organized by Foundation Trustee Julian Varela, owner of Equilibrium Fitness in SLO. The Symposium featured an impressive lineup of presenters on topics such as wellness, nutrition, fitness and caring, and included a delicious healthy lunch prepared by Julie Andrews Scott of Central Coast Green Cuisine. Another highlight accomplishment in 2011 was the creation of the Foundation’s Matching Community Contributions Initiative. Thanks to $5,000 donations by each of four Initiative partners – P.G.& E., Old Custom House, Chevron and the Avila Beach Foundation – a $20,000 fund was established to match dollar for dollar individual gifts between the amount of $50-$200 to Avila based organizations and projects. To date, nearly $12,000 has been received from local donors in support of Initiative-eligible projects. Another noteworthy Foundation creation is the Avila Alerts blog, though we are still ironing out some of the kinks. The “Alert” was established as a way to pass along timely information about upcoming roadwork, street closures, high-traffic events, and other activities or situations that could possibly be disruptive to the daily comings and goings of Avila residents. Subscribers to Avila Alerts are notified by email of the aforementioned once we are informed by “reporters” from the various entities who oversee relevant projects. Visit our website to become an Avila Alerts subscriber.
Another idea that was spawned by the Foundation this year, and delivered by South County Area Transit, was the expansion of the Free Weekend Avila Trolley route to include Fridays during Fish and Farmers Market season – plus an expanded route into Pismo Beach. We just received SCAT’s quarterly report, which shows Fridays were a huge success. While overall ridership between the months of April through September in 2010 totaled 4,730 passengers - ridership during that same period in 2011 totaled 8,010. That’s quite a jump, and further justifies the Foundation’s financial investment to help keep the Avila Trolley rolling along. High season beach traffic will always be a concern, and mitigating the flow via mass transit is a good thing.
Looking forward to 2012, I applaud the Foundation Trustees for taking steps to expand our board and become even more proactive with community outreach efforts. The coming year will include the second edition of the Avila Beach Town Hall Forum, scheduled for February 24th and underwritten by County Supervisor Adam Hill. Later in the spring we hope to host some sort of Avila History and Heritage event, the planning of which is now getting under way. Additionally, the Foundation’s website will undergo a facelift, courtesy of our Project Specialist Penny Burciaga. Oops, I’m out of space and out of time, so goodbye for now. Remember, we always welcome your comments and suggestions, via email – avilafoundation@gmail.com – or phone: 595-4095. Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. See you at the beach.
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