Hello, friends and neighbors. By now, I hope you have completed a good deal of your holiday gift shopping, so as to beat the crowds that will soon clog big box store parking lots and other favorite spots. As usual, the "bah humbug" in me cannot wait for the season to arrive and depart so normalcy can return. Speaking of "departing", it is with a great deal of sadness that we say "goodbye" to Avila Beach Postmaster Kim Simpson, who transferred to the Arroyo Grande branch. After 9 ½ years on the job here in Avila, most of us came to know Kim as a friendly and helpful person - quick with a smile and hearty laugh. October 6th was Kim's final day, as he left Avila in the capable hands of Mary and Julie. With 30 years of postal service under his belt, Kim anticipates reaching retirement in another five years. Best wishes, Kim, you will be missed.
A few more words concerning the future of the Avila Beach Post Office......like many small branches throughout the country, ours teeters on the brink of remaining financially viable, reliant on the amount of business it generates. My understanding is that every two years smaller branches like ours are reviewed to determine whether business hours need to be reduced or eliminated altogether. To help avoid even further cuts to operating hours for the Avila Beach branch, I urge all area residents to buy their postage and mail their packages locally. The prospect of having to always drive to SLO or Five Cites to conduct postal business does not appeal to me......how about you?
With a glimpse into the future, Chevron hosted a community open house on November 8th. Representatives from both Chevron and RRM Design shared their vision for what has been a vacated Tank Farm since the end of the oil spill clean-up era. Roughly 75 residents from the Avila Beach and Valley areas attended the open house. We were introduced to a conceptual rendering of what could become of the property and project now called "Avila Point". Presenters spent a fair amount of time addressing in advance what they suspected would be concerns surrounding open space, community access, project vision and character, sensitivity to history and environment, etc. From my perspective, it looks like an attractive and practical use of some pristine land now just sitting there, being wasted. I invite you to visit the "Avila Point" website - www.AvilaPoint.com - to learn more about the project proposal. Chevron welcomes feedback and promises to keep the community informed as things progress.
Next, here is a preview of upcoming Avila Beach Community Foundation business. On December 10th our Board of Trustees will meet to determine recipients of grants for the coming year. The annual selection process is one of our most important tasks, as tens of thousands of dollars will be allocated towards projects that complement or enhance life here in Avila. At the same meeting, elections will take place to determine board officers and Trustees for 2013. A few positions are up for renewal, and a new candidate is up for election to an initial three-year term. I will announce the full board in the January issue of ACN. In an earlier edition I mentioned plans for the Foundation's Live Well Symposium II, which looks as though will take place in April. Our 2011 Symposium was well attended and drew rave reviews. Keep an eye out for registration details after the first of the year. Also, I am pleased to inform you that we are moving forward with the project to place a public viewing telescope on the Avila Pier, courtesy of Richard and Kathy Zacky. I suspect it will be installed by early spring - perhaps sooner.
Last but not least, please don't forget that it's not too late for you to invest in your favorite Avila Beach organizations and projects. Year-end donations ensure you tax credits and a feeling of fulfillment by supporting this special area in which you have chosen to live. As always, I am happy to speak with you about setting up a donor-advised fund at the Foundation, from which you can draw upon at any time to support local projects of your choice. This is a no-fee service provided by the Foundation because we want every dollar to count. That's it for now. I wish you a very joyous holiday season. Travel safely and cherish your time with friends and loved ones. I'll see you at the beach!
A few more words concerning the future of the Avila Beach Post Office......like many small branches throughout the country, ours teeters on the brink of remaining financially viable, reliant on the amount of business it generates. My understanding is that every two years smaller branches like ours are reviewed to determine whether business hours need to be reduced or eliminated altogether. To help avoid even further cuts to operating hours for the Avila Beach branch, I urge all area residents to buy their postage and mail their packages locally. The prospect of having to always drive to SLO or Five Cites to conduct postal business does not appeal to me......how about you?
With a glimpse into the future, Chevron hosted a community open house on November 8th. Representatives from both Chevron and RRM Design shared their vision for what has been a vacated Tank Farm since the end of the oil spill clean-up era. Roughly 75 residents from the Avila Beach and Valley areas attended the open house. We were introduced to a conceptual rendering of what could become of the property and project now called "Avila Point". Presenters spent a fair amount of time addressing in advance what they suspected would be concerns surrounding open space, community access, project vision and character, sensitivity to history and environment, etc. From my perspective, it looks like an attractive and practical use of some pristine land now just sitting there, being wasted. I invite you to visit the "Avila Point" website - www.AvilaPoint.com - to learn more about the project proposal. Chevron welcomes feedback and promises to keep the community informed as things progress.
Next, here is a preview of upcoming Avila Beach Community Foundation business. On December 10th our Board of Trustees will meet to determine recipients of grants for the coming year. The annual selection process is one of our most important tasks, as tens of thousands of dollars will be allocated towards projects that complement or enhance life here in Avila. At the same meeting, elections will take place to determine board officers and Trustees for 2013. A few positions are up for renewal, and a new candidate is up for election to an initial three-year term. I will announce the full board in the January issue of ACN. In an earlier edition I mentioned plans for the Foundation's Live Well Symposium II, which looks as though will take place in April. Our 2011 Symposium was well attended and drew rave reviews. Keep an eye out for registration details after the first of the year. Also, I am pleased to inform you that we are moving forward with the project to place a public viewing telescope on the Avila Pier, courtesy of Richard and Kathy Zacky. I suspect it will be installed by early spring - perhaps sooner.
Last but not least, please don't forget that it's not too late for you to invest in your favorite Avila Beach organizations and projects. Year-end donations ensure you tax credits and a feeling of fulfillment by supporting this special area in which you have chosen to live. As always, I am happy to speak with you about setting up a donor-advised fund at the Foundation, from which you can draw upon at any time to support local projects of your choice. This is a no-fee service provided by the Foundation because we want every dollar to count. That's it for now. I wish you a very joyous holiday season. Travel safely and cherish your time with friends and loved ones. I'll see you at the beach!
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