Hello fellow Avilones. Here we are once again, on the doorstep of another summer in Avila Beach. It's time to prepare ourselves for the inevitable deluge of visitors to our beach and the other attractions that make Avila the place to be. Ocean lovers, sun worshippers, concert-goers, paddle boarders, kayakers, sailors, cyclists, Bob Jones Pathway enthusiasts, golfers...........lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Undeniable is the fact that we live in a very special place. Also undeniable is the fact that Avila is no longer among the best-kept secrets in California. How we as residents deal with the reality varies from person to person. The Avila I remember when locating here in 1995 no longer exists, but then again the other two places I lived in Southern California bear little resemblance to what they were. Lots of people would gladly trade up to live in Avila - summer crowds and all - if they could. Thus I feel fortunate to call Avila my home.
As I mentioned in previous columns, the Avila Beach Foundation and the local apple growers are teaming up for a new signature event, the Avila Apple Festival, scheduled for October 4-5, 2014. Tickets to the October 4th "Farm to Table - Meet the Growers" dinner being hosted on the grounds of the Avila Valley Barn are now on sale. Only 400 seats are available, and if you act before August 15th you can even save $10 per person. And those of you unable to attend the Saturday dinner won't want to miss the next day "Everything Apples" Vendors Fair at the Avila Beach Promenade, with activities that will delight the entire family. For details on the Saturday night dinner and Sunday afternoon fair, 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.
Those of you who regularly read my columns online or in the monthly Avila Community News know that I often refer to information I've learned by attending meetings of the Avila Valley Advisory Council. I want to share with you reports provided at the May meeting by Commander Aaron Nix of the County Sheriff's Department, and Batallion Chief Paul Lee of CAL Fire. Commander Nix shared some disturbing news about a recent spike in car and home burglaries in the Avila communities. In most cases the burglars simply opened a door or window that was left unlocked and walked off with their ill-gotten goods. Commander Nix strongly urges everyone to keep their homes and vehicles locked, and to report any thefts or vandalism that occurs. Our sense of small-town safety and security is being threatened, thus it is important to be cautious and vigilant. CAL Fire Chief Lee reinforced what we all know - the high risk fire season is upon us even earlier than normal due to current drought conditions and warmer than usual temperatures. Everyone is asked to do their part in clearing brush that surrounds residential and commercial structures. For their part, CAL Fire is ramping up their efforts in the rural and unpopulated land throughout the county. Chief Lee also reported that the May 6th fire alongside the foothills next to the San Luis Bay Inn was the result of high winds that knocked trees into power lines and sparked the blaze. Fortunately the fire was quickly extinguished due to the response of 140 CAL Fire personnel. AVAC members expressed their appreciation to CAL Fire for their swift action and overall work to help keep Avila fire safe.
Please be reminded that it is almost time for the "Foundation" to launch our next grant making cycle. Requests for Proposals will be published in July, with grant applications due in mid-September. If you represent an organization or project in need of financial assistance, be sure to visit the "Foundation's" website at www.avilabeachfoundation.org in July to learn more about the process. We welcome the opportunity to consider requests that fall within our mission and geographic scope. To date, the "Foundation" has awarded more than $2 million dollars in grants since inception. Also, for those of you who have yet to register for AVILA ALERTS, now is a good time to do so. Through this online communication we do what we can to inform subscribers of reported upcoming activities such as roadwork, street closures, special events, etc. that could impact travel and traffic in the greater Avila communities. If we become aware of matters that could affect your day-to-day ability to navigate the area, we pass this information along to AVILA ALERT subscribers via email. It only takes a minute to register, so visit our website and get onboard. For those of you who prefer Facebook to email, you can also follow our Facebook page to stay informed of updates.
That's it for now, fellow Avilones. I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer, whether you are traveling or staying home. I'll see you at the beach!
As I mentioned in previous columns, the Avila Beach Foundation and the local apple growers are teaming up for a new signature event, the Avila Apple Festival, scheduled for October 4-5, 2014. Tickets to the October 4th "Farm to Table - Meet the Growers" dinner being hosted on the grounds of the Avila Valley Barn are now on sale. Only 400 seats are available, and if you act before August 15th you can even save $10 per person. And those of you unable to attend the Saturday dinner won't want to miss the next day "Everything Apples" Vendors Fair at the Avila Beach Promenade, with activities that will delight the entire family. For details on the Saturday night dinner and Sunday afternoon fair, 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.
Those of you who regularly read my columns online or in the monthly Avila Community News know that I often refer to information I've learned by attending meetings of the Avila Valley Advisory Council. I want to share with you reports provided at the May meeting by Commander Aaron Nix of the County Sheriff's Department, and Batallion Chief Paul Lee of CAL Fire. Commander Nix shared some disturbing news about a recent spike in car and home burglaries in the Avila communities. In most cases the burglars simply opened a door or window that was left unlocked and walked off with their ill-gotten goods. Commander Nix strongly urges everyone to keep their homes and vehicles locked, and to report any thefts or vandalism that occurs. Our sense of small-town safety and security is being threatened, thus it is important to be cautious and vigilant. CAL Fire Chief Lee reinforced what we all know - the high risk fire season is upon us even earlier than normal due to current drought conditions and warmer than usual temperatures. Everyone is asked to do their part in clearing brush that surrounds residential and commercial structures. For their part, CAL Fire is ramping up their efforts in the rural and unpopulated land throughout the county. Chief Lee also reported that the May 6th fire alongside the foothills next to the San Luis Bay Inn was the result of high winds that knocked trees into power lines and sparked the blaze. Fortunately the fire was quickly extinguished due to the response of 140 CAL Fire personnel. AVAC members expressed their appreciation to CAL Fire for their swift action and overall work to help keep Avila fire safe.
Please be reminded that it is almost time for the "Foundation" to launch our next grant making cycle. Requests for Proposals will be published in July, with grant applications due in mid-September. If you represent an organization or project in need of financial assistance, be sure to visit the "Foundation's" website at www.avilabeachfoundation.org in July to learn more about the process. We welcome the opportunity to consider requests that fall within our mission and geographic scope. To date, the "Foundation" has awarded more than $2 million dollars in grants since inception. Also, for those of you who have yet to register for AVILA ALERTS, now is a good time to do so. Through this online communication we do what we can to inform subscribers of reported upcoming activities such as roadwork, street closures, special events, etc. that could impact travel and traffic in the greater Avila communities. If we become aware of matters that could affect your day-to-day ability to navigate the area, we pass this information along to AVILA ALERT subscribers via email. It only takes a minute to register, so visit our website and get onboard. For those of you who prefer Facebook to email, you can also follow our Facebook page to stay informed of updates.
That's it for now, fellow Avilones. I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer, whether you are traveling or staying home. I'll see you at the beach!
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