Hello fellow Avilones. As usual, there is much going on at this time of year here in Avila Beach. Inconsistent and unusual weather has been a part of the landscape for several months now, and I imagine many of us wonder if this is the new normal or just a fleeting aberration. Time will tell. First up on the docket, I invite all of you who own a smart phone or tablet to take advantage of a new and free App, recently made available through the completion of a grant funded by the “Foundation”. The App consists of a pictorial and narrative historical tour of Avila Beach, which will surely be enjoyed by longtime Avila residents and visitors alike. The instructions are simple – even for a technology challenged person like me. For iPhone users, go to the iTunes Store and search for Avila Beach Historical Tour. Android device users can go to the Google Play Store and search for the same thing. This App should also work on all tablets. Kudos go to project creators Jack San Filippo and Penny Burciaga for coming up with the idea and employing their considerable skills. I welcome feedback after you’ve taken the “tour.”
Under the category “nothing is ever as easy as it seems”, the “Foundation’s” public art initiative is becoming quite educational for us. There is much more to it than I ever imagined, but we have found an able and qualified partner that is helping our Project Specialist Paula Dempsey move things along. Arts Obispo - well known for facilitating the installation of numerous public art pieces throughout the County - is now onboard and holding our hand during the processes. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to take advantage of their expertise, which will enable us to do everything the right way. It is anticipated that local artists will be notified of the Request for Proposals (RFPs) in early October, and be collectively invited to meet at the Avila Beach Promenade to look at the possible “canvasses” on which they can use their artistic imaginations. Our thanks go to Arts Obispo, as well as to funding partners Chevron and PG&E.
Monthly meetings of AVAC (Avila Valley Advisory Council) continue to be the place to learn of many things going on in our community. At the September meeting, we were told of contractual discussions taking place between SLO County and PG&E concerning the further development of the Diablo Canyon desalination plant. Both parties believe this to be an opportunity to address future and potentially ongoing water shortages the result of drought conditions. Also at this meeting, we heard a farewell from Port San Luis District Manager Steve McGrath, who will be leaving his position shortly after his contract expires this fall since it was not renewed by Harbor commissioners. Speaking for myself and likely many others, I will miss Steve and I applaud the many improvements made by the “Port” during his tenure. Good luck wherever you land, Steve! We also heard reports from Steve that the Harbor Terrace project is being offered to Red Tail Acquisitions after developer HomeFed dropped out of the project. And, we were told that an engineer’s report on the condition of the Avila Pier has been completed. The amount of repair work needed and related costs will be discussed at the District’s meeting on September 22nd. Lastly, Supervisor Adam Hill informed us that the SLO County Board of Supervisors will be meeting on October 13th to set planning priorities. While there are certain funding mandates, there are also discretionary funds available that could be designated to an area plan update of the general plan for Avila. If you wish to have a say in the matter, be sure to attend the meeting.
Odds and Ends Part I: Did any of you Facebook users see the flurry of comments following Paula’s posting of a 1950’s photo of Front St. in Avila? It resulted in hundreds of “comments” and “likes”, and brought up memories of places such as Barbara’s by the Sea, The Top of the Hill Motel, Dun Sailing, Miss Grady’s Lighthouse, Cool Shots, the Green Bus from SLO to Avila, and conjured up the tastes of snow cones and grilled cheese sandwiches, the smell of baby oil, playing on the swings and running in the sand. Ah, the memories. Avila Beach was and is a very special place for so many who live here now, did so in the past, or were just passing through. Odds and Ends Part II: Continuing my quest to bring forth information available to Avila seniors and their caregivers, I’d like to pass along the name of a program called “HiCap”, aka “Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program.” What with the complexities of Medicare and related supplemental insurance alternatives, there may be no better place to consult when needing assistance on which programs and benefits fit you best. If you want help from a neutral source, call Scott Smith-Cooke at 805-928-5663, or visit www.CentralCoastSeniors.org and look for the HiCap tab.
That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. I’ll see you at the beach!
Under the category “nothing is ever as easy as it seems”, the “Foundation’s” public art initiative is becoming quite educational for us. There is much more to it than I ever imagined, but we have found an able and qualified partner that is helping our Project Specialist Paula Dempsey move things along. Arts Obispo - well known for facilitating the installation of numerous public art pieces throughout the County - is now onboard and holding our hand during the processes. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to take advantage of their expertise, which will enable us to do everything the right way. It is anticipated that local artists will be notified of the Request for Proposals (RFPs) in early October, and be collectively invited to meet at the Avila Beach Promenade to look at the possible “canvasses” on which they can use their artistic imaginations. Our thanks go to Arts Obispo, as well as to funding partners Chevron and PG&E.
Monthly meetings of AVAC (Avila Valley Advisory Council) continue to be the place to learn of many things going on in our community. At the September meeting, we were told of contractual discussions taking place between SLO County and PG&E concerning the further development of the Diablo Canyon desalination plant. Both parties believe this to be an opportunity to address future and potentially ongoing water shortages the result of drought conditions. Also at this meeting, we heard a farewell from Port San Luis District Manager Steve McGrath, who will be leaving his position shortly after his contract expires this fall since it was not renewed by Harbor commissioners. Speaking for myself and likely many others, I will miss Steve and I applaud the many improvements made by the “Port” during his tenure. Good luck wherever you land, Steve! We also heard reports from Steve that the Harbor Terrace project is being offered to Red Tail Acquisitions after developer HomeFed dropped out of the project. And, we were told that an engineer’s report on the condition of the Avila Pier has been completed. The amount of repair work needed and related costs will be discussed at the District’s meeting on September 22nd. Lastly, Supervisor Adam Hill informed us that the SLO County Board of Supervisors will be meeting on October 13th to set planning priorities. While there are certain funding mandates, there are also discretionary funds available that could be designated to an area plan update of the general plan for Avila. If you wish to have a say in the matter, be sure to attend the meeting.
Odds and Ends Part I: Did any of you Facebook users see the flurry of comments following Paula’s posting of a 1950’s photo of Front St. in Avila? It resulted in hundreds of “comments” and “likes”, and brought up memories of places such as Barbara’s by the Sea, The Top of the Hill Motel, Dun Sailing, Miss Grady’s Lighthouse, Cool Shots, the Green Bus from SLO to Avila, and conjured up the tastes of snow cones and grilled cheese sandwiches, the smell of baby oil, playing on the swings and running in the sand. Ah, the memories. Avila Beach was and is a very special place for so many who live here now, did so in the past, or were just passing through. Odds and Ends Part II: Continuing my quest to bring forth information available to Avila seniors and their caregivers, I’d like to pass along the name of a program called “HiCap”, aka “Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program.” What with the complexities of Medicare and related supplemental insurance alternatives, there may be no better place to consult when needing assistance on which programs and benefits fit you best. If you want help from a neutral source, call Scott Smith-Cooke at 805-928-5663, or visit www.CentralCoastSeniors.org and look for the HiCap tab.
That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. I’ll see you at the beach!
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