Hello fellow Avilones. Hopefully you are adjusting to your new collective title, because I sure get a kick out of saying the word "Avilone". There is much to report this month, so let me jump into the nitty gritty. First, I remind you to visit our website (or see flyer below) to learn about the upcoming Live Well Symposium, scheduled for April 6th at the Community Center. A full day of helpful tips on living a healthy life, a nutritious lunch, plus the opportunity to take advantage of some free health screenings await the first 75 people who register. Thanks to the generosity of our event partners Chevron and Dignity Health, the registration fee is a paltry $10 per person. Avila Bay Club will also be providing free chair massages and some great raffle prizes. For more details about the program, presenters and good health practices, please read Julian Varela's column in this month's issue of the "Avila Community News".
Next, if you have yet to see it, I invite you to visit the new public viewing telescope near the foot of the Avila Pier. Yes, it has finally arrived and is now available for all to enjoy. To my knowledge, this is the only such beachside free viewing telescope on the Central Coast - yet another feature unique to Avila Beach. I again offer my thanks to Richard and Kathy Zacky for donating the telescope, and to our friends at Port San Luis for helping to facilitate its placement and installation. Don't forget to read the dedication plaque honoring the departed Reed Smith, a friend of the Zackys and noted advocate for the coast and its inhabitants.
Remember a few months back when the threat of tsunami-like waves reached the Central Coast? Residents and businesses close to the beach received reverse 911 calls as part of the emergency evacuation procedures that day. The topic of reverse 911 surfaced at the February meeting of the Avila Valley Advisory Council, when the Sheriff's Department commented that such automated phone calls are only placed to landlines, not mobile phones, unless those numbers are registered. If you wish to register your mobile phone for the reverse 911 automated service, visit the SLO County Sheriff's website to do so, at www.slosheriff.org.
Here's some news for those of you who have been waiting for a progress report on the Pirates Cove Cave Landing trail project. According to County Parks representative Shaun Cooper, the first step is formal acceptance of parcel #5 from San Miguelito Partnters. Following that the plan is to improve the parking area, construct a trail consisting of decomposed granite, and place vault toilets on the premises. It appears that the new trail would start at the parking lot, extend to the bluffs at the lower tip, and provide a stairway to the beach. If all goes well, construction will begin this summer. So as not be confused with the other nearby development up at the old tank farm as presented by Chevron, you may want to visit the "Avila Point" website for updates - www.AvilaPoint.com. Now throw into the mix the proposed Wild Cherry Canyon trail project that could connect Montana de Oro to Avila Beach, and we envision a series of paths that would be nothing short of spectacular! Contrary to rumors that the Wild Cherry Canyon project is dead, P.G.&E. representative John Shoals tells us that things are still moving forward.
As for the biggest thing to hit Avila Beach since, perhaps, Diablo Canyon, get yourselves ready for the May 16th arrival of the Amgen California Tour bike race. County Supervisor Adam Hill reported at the February AVAC meeting that Avila will host the finish of stage 5 of the race, which begins that day in Santa Barbara at 11:00a.m., with riders expected to arrive in Avila around 3:30-4:00p.m. Amgen California consists of 16 teams of 8 riders each, making 128 in all. The impact on Avila will begin on Tuesday the 15th with the arrival of TV trucks, placement of street barriers and set-up of the finish line staging area. Crowd estimates range from 5,000-10,000 depending on who you talk to. While many locals still express concerns about that number of people descending upon Avila all at once, we are told by members of the planning committee - which seems to include every public safety agency in the County - that measures will be in effect to help ensure a controlled environment. A special meeting took place on February 20th - after the deadline for this issue of the "Avila Community News" - to gather further community input. Volunteer opportunities exist for those who want to be part of this international event. For more information about Amgen, visit www.amgentourcalifornia.com.
Speaking of volunteer opportunities, San Luis Bay Estates resident Saul Goldberg could use a few hands to help with his project to place plant identification markers along the Bob Jones Trail. For fans of foliage, these markers will enhance the experience of those who enjoy a casual and educational stroll along this wonderful trail. Plus, I'm told that with the simple wave of a Smart Phone over the sign scan box, you can be delivered to a website that further explains the plant identified. Let me know if you want to help Saul and his crew. And thank you, Saul, for bringing this opportunity to our attention. As always, I encourage you to stay informed of, and involved in, matters of Avila. I welcome your comments and ideas - avilafoundation@gmail.com.
Some late breaking news! The new Avila Beach Postmaster has arrived. Her name is Cindy Baker-Kobliska, and comes to us from the San Luis Obispo branch, where she worked for 7 ½ of her 15 years with the postal service. Cindy was raised in Portland, and is delighted to be here in Avila Beach. She invites you stop by and say "hello'. That's about it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
Next, if you have yet to see it, I invite you to visit the new public viewing telescope near the foot of the Avila Pier. Yes, it has finally arrived and is now available for all to enjoy. To my knowledge, this is the only such beachside free viewing telescope on the Central Coast - yet another feature unique to Avila Beach. I again offer my thanks to Richard and Kathy Zacky for donating the telescope, and to our friends at Port San Luis for helping to facilitate its placement and installation. Don't forget to read the dedication plaque honoring the departed Reed Smith, a friend of the Zackys and noted advocate for the coast and its inhabitants.
Remember a few months back when the threat of tsunami-like waves reached the Central Coast? Residents and businesses close to the beach received reverse 911 calls as part of the emergency evacuation procedures that day. The topic of reverse 911 surfaced at the February meeting of the Avila Valley Advisory Council, when the Sheriff's Department commented that such automated phone calls are only placed to landlines, not mobile phones, unless those numbers are registered. If you wish to register your mobile phone for the reverse 911 automated service, visit the SLO County Sheriff's website to do so, at www.slosheriff.org.
Here's some news for those of you who have been waiting for a progress report on the Pirates Cove Cave Landing trail project. According to County Parks representative Shaun Cooper, the first step is formal acceptance of parcel #5 from San Miguelito Partnters. Following that the plan is to improve the parking area, construct a trail consisting of decomposed granite, and place vault toilets on the premises. It appears that the new trail would start at the parking lot, extend to the bluffs at the lower tip, and provide a stairway to the beach. If all goes well, construction will begin this summer. So as not be confused with the other nearby development up at the old tank farm as presented by Chevron, you may want to visit the "Avila Point" website for updates - www.AvilaPoint.com. Now throw into the mix the proposed Wild Cherry Canyon trail project that could connect Montana de Oro to Avila Beach, and we envision a series of paths that would be nothing short of spectacular! Contrary to rumors that the Wild Cherry Canyon project is dead, P.G.&E. representative John Shoals tells us that things are still moving forward.
As for the biggest thing to hit Avila Beach since, perhaps, Diablo Canyon, get yourselves ready for the May 16th arrival of the Amgen California Tour bike race. County Supervisor Adam Hill reported at the February AVAC meeting that Avila will host the finish of stage 5 of the race, which begins that day in Santa Barbara at 11:00a.m., with riders expected to arrive in Avila around 3:30-4:00p.m. Amgen California consists of 16 teams of 8 riders each, making 128 in all. The impact on Avila will begin on Tuesday the 15th with the arrival of TV trucks, placement of street barriers and set-up of the finish line staging area. Crowd estimates range from 5,000-10,000 depending on who you talk to. While many locals still express concerns about that number of people descending upon Avila all at once, we are told by members of the planning committee - which seems to include every public safety agency in the County - that measures will be in effect to help ensure a controlled environment. A special meeting took place on February 20th - after the deadline for this issue of the "Avila Community News" - to gather further community input. Volunteer opportunities exist for those who want to be part of this international event. For more information about Amgen, visit www.amgentourcalifornia.com.
Speaking of volunteer opportunities, San Luis Bay Estates resident Saul Goldberg could use a few hands to help with his project to place plant identification markers along the Bob Jones Trail. For fans of foliage, these markers will enhance the experience of those who enjoy a casual and educational stroll along this wonderful trail. Plus, I'm told that with the simple wave of a Smart Phone over the sign scan box, you can be delivered to a website that further explains the plant identified. Let me know if you want to help Saul and his crew. And thank you, Saul, for bringing this opportunity to our attention. As always, I encourage you to stay informed of, and involved in, matters of Avila. I welcome your comments and ideas - avilafoundation@gmail.com.
Some late breaking news! The new Avila Beach Postmaster has arrived. Her name is Cindy Baker-Kobliska, and comes to us from the San Luis Obispo branch, where she worked for 7 ½ of her 15 years with the postal service. Cindy was raised in Portland, and is delighted to be here in Avila Beach. She invites you stop by and say "hello'. That's about it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!
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