Hello friends and neighbors – or should I say “greetings, fellow Avilones”? You may recall that last month I queried you about coming up with a definitive title for our band of Avila Beach and Avila Valley residents. Of the several possibilities I shared, “Avilones” (pronounced like abalone) was the most popular, with “Avilites” a distant second. Local icon Archie McLaren emailed to let me know that we were once known as the “Avilons” (not to be confused with Avalon in Catalina) – though I’ve never heard that moniker in my 17 years as a local. So, unless another wave of votes or ideas surface, heretofore I will greet you as “fellow Avilones”.
Okay, now for the serious and more informative matters upcoming. You won’t want to miss the Foundation’s Live Well Symposium II, scheduled for April 6, 2013 at the Avila Beach Community Center. Once again being organized by Foundation Board President Julian Varela, this year’s lineup of presenters will educate those in attendance about healthy living, with topics to include The Art of Wellness, The Psychology of Health, Nutrition/The New Age of Healthy Eating, Personal Fitness, and Advances in Medicine & Prevention. Thanks to corporate sponsor Chevron, those in attendance will benefit from a full day of education and a healthy lunch provided by Julie Scott of Central Coast Green Cuisine for a mere $10 per person. Optional health screenings are available for a small fee. Seats to Live Well are limited, so if you want to register online please visit www.avilabeachfoundation.org and look for the link on our homepage.
A quick “shout-out” to you movie buffs about a locally produced full feature flick coming our way. “Mind Scans” is the product of Ben Chiu and Alliance Digital Studios in San Luis Obispo. Ben is married to Avila’s very own postal employee favorite Mary Chiu, known to everyone who does business at the local Post Office. Scheduled for pre-release screenings beginning February 25th, “Mind Scans” viewers will recognize scenes shot in Avila Beach, San Luis Bay Estates, the Post Office parking lot, La Fonda Hotel, Alapay Cellars and more. Stop by the Post Office and ask Mary about this futuristic drama film with the tagline “Where Virtual blurs Reality”, or log onto http://mindscans.com.
I recently received a copy of the memo prepared by SLO County Deputy Director of Parks Curtis Black concerning the water feature located on the Avila Promenade. Yes, I’m referring to that deteriorating hunk of fake rock that will finally get some long-needed attention. The area is now deemed “unsafe”, and is slated to be removed. According to Curtis, “a project was created to remove the feature and provide additional patterned concrete to match existing flatwork of the Plaza”. The memo suggests that work will be completed by mid-April, which in my estimation will certainly open things up for the Avila Fish & Farmers’ Market season and help mitigate the congestion. I thank Curtis Black and County Parks for once again stepping up to the plate to address an Avila Beach concern.
Another memo that came across my desk was from SLO County Public Works, visiting a subject that surfaced about a year ago or so. Options were being reviewed that would create a pair of one-way, traffic loops adjacent to the Avila Beach Promenade. According to Traffic Engineer Ryan Chapman, “these would have the benefit of reducing congestion, especially along Front Street”. Option A would involve one-way on San Juan Street (from 1st Street to Front Street), Front Street (from San Juan to San Francisco Street) and San Francisco (from Front Street to 1st Street). The direction of travel would be counter clockwise. Option B would be one-way on San Luis Street (from 1st Street to Front Street) Front Street (from San Luis Street to San Miguel Street), and San Miguel Street (from Front Street to 1st Street). The direction of travel would be clockwise. In both options, 1st Street would remain a two-way street. Whew! Who’s on first, what’s on second??? A survey was mailed to Avila Beach property owners or residents seeking their input. Turns out that the locals were strongly opposed to the alterations (70% of the respondents), thus the idea has been dropped. It was nice to view democracy in action, and to see the County once again involve those who would have been most affected before making a decision.
Good news for those of you who have followed the partnership between Richard and Kathy Zacky, the Avila Beach Foundation, and Port San Luis Harbor District to place a public viewing telescope at the foot of the Avila Pier. Thanks to the generosity of the Zackys the “scope” has been ordered and should arrive in a month or so. And with the help of PSLHD staff should be installed and ready to use sometime in March. The telescope will be a wonderful addition for locals and visitors alike, and further establishes ours as the best beach along the central coast. As always, I encourage you to stay informed of, and involved in, matters of Avila concern. I welcome your comments and ideas – [email protected]. That’s about it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach.
Okay, now for the serious and more informative matters upcoming. You won’t want to miss the Foundation’s Live Well Symposium II, scheduled for April 6, 2013 at the Avila Beach Community Center. Once again being organized by Foundation Board President Julian Varela, this year’s lineup of presenters will educate those in attendance about healthy living, with topics to include The Art of Wellness, The Psychology of Health, Nutrition/The New Age of Healthy Eating, Personal Fitness, and Advances in Medicine & Prevention. Thanks to corporate sponsor Chevron, those in attendance will benefit from a full day of education and a healthy lunch provided by Julie Scott of Central Coast Green Cuisine for a mere $10 per person. Optional health screenings are available for a small fee. Seats to Live Well are limited, so if you want to register online please visit www.avilabeachfoundation.org and look for the link on our homepage.
A quick “shout-out” to you movie buffs about a locally produced full feature flick coming our way. “Mind Scans” is the product of Ben Chiu and Alliance Digital Studios in San Luis Obispo. Ben is married to Avila’s very own postal employee favorite Mary Chiu, known to everyone who does business at the local Post Office. Scheduled for pre-release screenings beginning February 25th, “Mind Scans” viewers will recognize scenes shot in Avila Beach, San Luis Bay Estates, the Post Office parking lot, La Fonda Hotel, Alapay Cellars and more. Stop by the Post Office and ask Mary about this futuristic drama film with the tagline “Where Virtual blurs Reality”, or log onto http://mindscans.com.
I recently received a copy of the memo prepared by SLO County Deputy Director of Parks Curtis Black concerning the water feature located on the Avila Promenade. Yes, I’m referring to that deteriorating hunk of fake rock that will finally get some long-needed attention. The area is now deemed “unsafe”, and is slated to be removed. According to Curtis, “a project was created to remove the feature and provide additional patterned concrete to match existing flatwork of the Plaza”. The memo suggests that work will be completed by mid-April, which in my estimation will certainly open things up for the Avila Fish & Farmers’ Market season and help mitigate the congestion. I thank Curtis Black and County Parks for once again stepping up to the plate to address an Avila Beach concern.
Another memo that came across my desk was from SLO County Public Works, visiting a subject that surfaced about a year ago or so. Options were being reviewed that would create a pair of one-way, traffic loops adjacent to the Avila Beach Promenade. According to Traffic Engineer Ryan Chapman, “these would have the benefit of reducing congestion, especially along Front Street”. Option A would involve one-way on San Juan Street (from 1st Street to Front Street), Front Street (from San Juan to San Francisco Street) and San Francisco (from Front Street to 1st Street). The direction of travel would be counter clockwise. Option B would be one-way on San Luis Street (from 1st Street to Front Street) Front Street (from San Luis Street to San Miguel Street), and San Miguel Street (from Front Street to 1st Street). The direction of travel would be clockwise. In both options, 1st Street would remain a two-way street. Whew! Who’s on first, what’s on second??? A survey was mailed to Avila Beach property owners or residents seeking their input. Turns out that the locals were strongly opposed to the alterations (70% of the respondents), thus the idea has been dropped. It was nice to view democracy in action, and to see the County once again involve those who would have been most affected before making a decision.
Good news for those of you who have followed the partnership between Richard and Kathy Zacky, the Avila Beach Foundation, and Port San Luis Harbor District to place a public viewing telescope at the foot of the Avila Pier. Thanks to the generosity of the Zackys the “scope” has been ordered and should arrive in a month or so. And with the help of PSLHD staff should be installed and ready to use sometime in March. The telescope will be a wonderful addition for locals and visitors alike, and further establishes ours as the best beach along the central coast. As always, I encourage you to stay informed of, and involved in, matters of Avila concern. I welcome your comments and ideas – [email protected]. That’s about it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach.
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