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

March, 2012

3/1/2012

0 Comments

 
Happy daylight savings, friends and neighbors!  I don’t know about you, but I very much look forward to enjoying the extra hours of sun for the next seven months or so.   By the time you read this column, the Foundation will have received feedback from our recently concluded community Town Hall Form, which I will share with you in the April issue of Avila Community News.  The input will likely have an influence on the Foundation’s focus in the coming year(s), and I cannot wait to see what the people say.

Speaking of the “people”, I am pleased to announce the upcoming first of the Foundation’s series on the History and Heritage of Avila Beach.  The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 26th at the Community Center.  Each chapter of the series will feature specific topics of our area’s past – the one upcoming includes presentations about the Chumash, energy and fishing industries, and historic Avila families.  This series comes to you because of earlier input the Foundation received when polling the locals on their interests.  Yes, we do listen and very much appreciate your ideas.  Seating will be quite limited, so be sure to visit our website to reserve your seats – www.avilabeachfoundation.org.

Further speaking of the “people”, an unexpected thing is happening with growing regularity.  Though not one of my original goals of the Foundation column appearing each month in the Avila Community News, it has happened nevertheless.  Readers are emailing me with personal stories about their family history in Avila, others simply say “thanks” for all the Foundation does, and more and more I’m hearing from individuals who seek our involvement in seeking resolve for specific Avila Beach-related matters.  I would be the last person to claim much influence when it comes to Avila problem solving, but I have to say it has been rewarding to help address and/or forward to the appropriate sources various concerns and suggestions brought forth by the public.  A few of the relevant examples of public driven action taken include the placement of a warning sign informing drivers of the sudden, traffic stopping left turn into the Avila Barn, along with the cutting back of roadside vegetation to improve visibility before arriving at the curve.  The new bike racks installed at various positions near the beach gained SLO County Planning Department priority once the Foundation received a complaint about bikes parked along the beachfront railings.  And our “Avila Alerts” service was the result of some residents suggesting it would be helpful for everyone to know when roadwork and special events that could impede daily routines are scheduled.

While I don’t consider the Foundation to be a “complaint department” when it comes to addressing issues out of our control, I am receptive to us being a conduit when possible.  As such, there are a few more concerns presently being addressed thanks in part to reader inquiries.  Before long you will see additional industrial strength trash bins along the beach front to help reduce litter found in those areas devoid of easy-access receptacles.  And thanks to ideas shared by beach resident Kristi Yegge, a misplaced stoplight intersection driver warning sign has been moved to a better location by the County – and the Planning Department is looking into turning the loop along San Juan, Front and San Francisco streets into a one-way access.  Plus, members of the Avila Business Association expressed dissatisfaction over the aforementioned stoplight/crosswalk timing cycle, which the County is also looking into.   I am pleased that the Foundation can at times serve as a pipeline, and equally pleased that County personnel often take action when it’s in everyone’s best interest. 

Keeping with the “people” theme, many of you are aware of the proposed Bob Jones Trail bridge over the 101 being championed by Cal Trans, in spite of strong opposition among Avila residents who believe a more user- friendly and less expense underpass is a better alternative.  Our friends on AVAC have established a committee to deal with this issue, and assigned Julia Hartzell its chairperson.  I offer the following summary as provided by Julia.  “SLO County Parks and Recreation has been working on plans for the extension of the Bob Jones Bike Trail from the Octagon Barn on South Higuera to the Ontario Road staging lot at Hwy. 101.  The County is in the process of developing the Environmental Impact Report to support a pedestrian overpass – the report is scheduled to be completed in the next few months.  It is believed by most in our community that insufficient discussion and investigation has been done regarding the option of a freeway pedestrian underpass, which would avert the decimation of the Hwy 101 scenic corridor through Avila Valley while enhancing the pedestrian/biking experience.  A Power Point presentation was given at the AVAC February meeting that included underpass methods employed by other cities, as well as some before and after, superimposed renderings of how this underpass could look and function.  This will be posted for online viewing in the near future.”  Julia encourages anyone with an interest in this project to contact her at Julhartz@aol.com.  Once again I’ve come to the end of my space allocation, thus I sign off with my usual “see you at the beach.”

                  

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Rick Cohen
    Executive Director


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    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