Central Coast Aquarium:
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Happy June, everyone. Graduation ceremonies have begun, and school will be out for almost everyone in the coming weeks. It’s an exciting time for family and friends, and, of course, their teachers, to celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of their graduates as they take the next step in their life. Congratulations Class of 2024!

June is also filled with various holidays celebrating life, culture, and history. One notable observance is Father's Day, celebrated on Sunday, June 16th.  Another significant holiday is Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and celebrated on Wednesday, June 19th. The summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs on June 20th, marking the official start of summer. 

The Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to announce the special Community Impact Grant has been awarded to the SLO County Fire/Avila Community Services District Fire Department. The funds will be used to purchase a durable and efficient apparatus to streamline rolling up fire hoses after firefighting operations. Per Captain Danny Woodman, “Acquiring the Power Roller hose management system will enhance the effectiveness of our operations and improve the safety and well-being of our firefighters and the community we serve. This equipment will enable us to roll up fire hoses quickly and effectively, saving time and energy during emergencies and ensuring our team is always prepared for the next call.” 

A special shout-out to Foundation board member, Percy Jones, retired Battalion Chief from Los Angeles Fire Department, for his expertise and unbiased perspective during our grant selection process.

I want to take this opportunity to express gratitude to all our public safety workers who deserve immense gratitude for their unwavering dedication and courage. Whether it's responding to a fire, a medical crisis, or ensuring public order, these heroes work tirelessly and selflessly, often without sufficient recognition. Their efforts are the backbone of our society, ensuring that we can live our lives with a sense of security and peace. We extend our deepest thanks to all public safety workers for their service and sacrifice.
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Until next month, enjoy the beautiful weather and have a wonderful month of June!

April brings delightful weather to the Central Coast, making it an ideal time to explore our great outdoors.  We welcome an abundance of sunshine and mild temperatures during this time, creating perfect conditions for adventures such as beach outings, hiking along the coast, or cycling on the Bob Jones Trail. Additionally, April offers an array of spectacular wildlife viewings, a kaleidoscope of blooming wildflowers dotting the landscapes, and the Pacific Ocean shimmering in brilliant aquamarine. We’re all so very fortunate to live in an area filled with such amazing beauty and natural wonder.
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This month, the foundation is spotlighting 2024 grant recipient the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers. The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers (PSLHK) is a non-profit 501(c)3 formed in 1995. The Keepers’ mission is to restore, preserve, and operate the historic Point San Luis Light Station as a public park and museum. The Keepers have spent more than 80,000 hours since 1995 restoring the Lighthouse and its historic structures to their original condition circa 1890-1900.  With the first phase of improvements completed, the current focus has been on the maintenance of the historic site and the surrounding buildings and property. The Light Station operates as a historical destination site thanks to the participation of the Port San Luis Harbor Commission and PG&E. The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers offer docent-led interpretive tours to experience the rich history of the beautifully restored Lighthouse, the Hornhouse, and other structures.
 
The book, The Lighthouse at Point San Luis, by board member and lighthouse historian, Kathy Mastako is “a collection of short (true) stories”, that details the lives of the lightkeepers of Point San Luis from the late nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century. To mark the book's publication in 2023, the Keepers arranged a reunion of "Coasties" and their families last summer. Many of these former keepers had moved away and hadn't seen Avila Beach or the light station in fifty years.
 
Throughout the world, lighthouses and light stations are considered significant sites, worthy of protection and preservation. The Point San Luis Light Station, built to protect shipping traffic which grew rapidly with the construction of the Harford Pier, played an important part in the economic and cultural growth of Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo County. It is tied to the development of the county in the 1890’s, the protection of the coast during WWII, the safety of the fishing fleets and pleasure craft today, and even the launching of missiles at Vandenberg, as the site houses the range clearing radar for the base.

In 2024, Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to award funding to the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers in support of the historical preservation of their water cisterns.

As a reminder, the foundation is currently accepting applications from local organizations or individuals to apply for a single $8,500 Community Impact Grant. Interested parties are required to complete and submit an application and cover letter no later than April 30, 2024. To download an application and for additional information, please visit our website: www.avilabeachfoundation.org. 

Until next month, enjoy the great outdoors and have a wonderful April!

Things to look forward to in the coming month:  Sunday, March 10th, Daylight Saving Time where clocks are set to “spring forward” 1 hour.  Sunday, March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day,  remember to wear green.  Tuesday, March 19th, the first day of spring, and if you are a sports fan, the beginning of March Madness. 

The Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of a new grant opportunity. Beginning March 1st, the foundation will be accepting applications from local organizations or individuals to apply for a single $8,500 Community Impact Grant. Proposals for this one-time grant should focus on a new, innovative project, program, event, or service to benefit the greater Avila Beach communities, with special consideration given to applicants who would use the $8,500 sum to leverage a matching contribution.  Interested parties are required to complete and submit an application and cover letter no later than April 30, 2024. To download an application and for additional information, please visit our website: www.avilabeachfoundation.org. 

This month, the foundation is spotlighting 2024 grant recipient the SLO Noor Foundation (SLONF).  The SLO Noor Foundation (SLONF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-based, health and safety-net organization. In 2009, Dr. Ahmad Nooristani recognized the need to provide care to uninsured adults in SLO County.  The first SLO Noor Medical Clinic opened in October 2011.  The SLO Noor Foundation’s mission is to provide free medical, dental, and vision care to uninsured and underinsured adults in San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. SLONF works to mitigate the effect of the growing number of uninsured adults residing in our neighborhoods, and the increasing risk of poor health conditions impacted by the lack of insurance. SLONF is committed to helping ensure that all people across our communities feel valued and have equal access to resources, services, and opportunities. 

In 2024, the Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to award funding to the SLO Noor Foundation to support greater access to free healthcare for the uninsured residents of Avila Beach by increasing the capacity and availability of clinical programs, generating public awareness about SLO Noor Health Clinics, and offsetting a portion of the direct program expenses in providing free healthcare.
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Until next month, wishing all of you a wonderful March (Madness)!

February arrives with the promise of gradually lengthening days, marking the transition from winter's grasp to the hint of spring. As we bid farewell to January, the additional minutes of daylight are a welcome sight for all of us.

The Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to welcome back our Executive Board, bringing together a dedicated team of individuals to lead and guide the organization. Barbara Nicholson continues in the role of President, Saul Goldberg as Vice President, Ellen Pitrowski as Secretary, and Patrick Corrigan as our Treasurer. Together, this dynamic team, along with our board trustees will guide the Avila Beach Community Foundation towards continued success in its mission to enhance and support our local community.

As mentioned last month, I plan to share the good works and positive impact of each of our worthy 2024 grant recipients. This month, it is my pleasure to spotlight the Central Coast Aquarium whose mission is to cultivate a community dedicated to ocean stewardship through education, engagement, and action.

Central Coast Aquarium’s founders, Russ and Carol Kiessig, established the organization as the Port San Luis Marine Institute in 1994 in Avila Beach fueled by Russ’ dream to share the wonder of the ocean with local residents, students, and travelers. Officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in 1998, Russ specifically wanted to provide opportunities for local school children to learn about San Luis Obispo County’s marine habitats and estuarine environments.

In the beginning, Russ taught outdoors on the Harford Pier in Avila. At that time, he was also working on his first draft of a future aquarium facility. Thanks to a partnership with Leonard Cohen, the owner of The Olde Port Inn restaurant, Russ began to conduct lectures on ocean life in the restaurant’s second floor dining room, but he quickly outgrew the venue.

The vision of building an aquarium and education center under the new name, Avila Beach Sea Life Center, became a reality after the community of Avila Beach received mitigation funds from Union Oil/Unocal in response to underground oil contamination that occurred in Avila. These mitigation funds provided for the construction of a brand new marine science education center and aquarium, located adjacent to Avila Beach Park, on a parcel donated from Unocal.  Sadly, Russ passed away in 2005 and was not able to see the realization of his decades-long vision for a state-of-the-art aquarium and marine science education center which opened in 2006. The Avila Sea Life Center was rebranded as the Central Coast Aquarium in 2013 to expand its reach countywide as the authority on marine science education.

Today, the Central Coast Aquarium celebrates 25 years as a precious community resource with interactive exhibits, outdoor activities, and laboratory lessons for all ages, honoring Russ Kiessig’s original vision.

In 2024, Avila Beach Community Foundation is pleased to award funding to the Central Coast Aquarium to support its daily operational costs.
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Until next month, wishing you a wonderful February and enjoy those extra minutes of daylight!

I am thrilled to be embarking on my new role as the Executive Director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation. The opportunity to lead and serve this vibrant community is a great honor. I look forward to working with everyone to enhance and preserve our wonderful Central Coast paradise.

My wife, Stephanie and I moved to Avila Beach in 2006 from the Bay Area to be closer to Stephanie’s parents. We enjoyed living in Avila for over 8 years and currently live in San Luis Obispo. I am a retired elementary school educator and finished my teaching career in Santa Maria, CA in 2022.  Prior to being an educator, I held various positions in the semiconductor equipment sector employed at Applied Materials and other Silicon Valley companies.  While living in Avila, I was active in the community serving on multiple boards including the Avila Beach Community Services District, Avila Beach Civic Association, and the Avila Beach Community Foundation. I had the pleasure of serving as President of the Foundation, so it is wonderful to return to such a great organization in my new role.

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to Rick Cohen for his exceptional leadership and guidance during his 15 years as Executive Director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation. His commitment to the community's well-being has been an inspiration to all. His vision has laid a strong foundation for our collective success, and I am honored to continue building upon it as we work together toward our shared goals.  Wishing Rick a joyous retirement, filled with many new adventures.

Additionally, I want to announce the retirement of another outstanding board member, Richard Zacky.  We thank him for his extraordinary decade of leadership and dedication to the Avila Beach community.  We are immensely grateful for the wisdom, expertise, and guidance he has shared with the foundation.  We thank Richard for his invaluable contributions and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Now for the best news of the month, the Avila Beach Community Foundation Board of Trustees met on December 5th to determine grant awards to be distributed for the coming year. For this annual round of funding in 2024, we awarded a grand total of $54,200 to our community partners. Grants were awarded to:  Avila Beach Civic Association, NatureTrack, Cancer Well-Fit Program at the Avila Bay Club, Central Coast Aquarium, KCBX Public Radio, Noor Foundation of San Luis Obispo, Operation Surf, People’s Self Help Housing at Lachen Tara in Avila Beach, Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers, Port San Luis Harbor District Doggy Waste Bags, Surfrider Foundation, Avila Beach Free Trolley, Avila Beach Life News Publication and Friends of the Avila Pier.

In the coming months, I will plan to spotlight each of these organizations to recognize all that they contribute to our wonderful community.
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Wishing each of you a New Year filled with peace, joy and good health in 2024.

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   Well, here we are, on the threshold of another Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve.  Let the chaos begin!  If you have driven by, or to, Costco, Target, Walmart, etc., it feels like holiday gift shopping has already switched into high gear.  Traffic is heavy, parking lots are filled and checkout lines are long.  I keep reading about the dire economy, but that sure doesn’t seem to be the case here in SLO County.  I’m already feeling the pressure that comes with selecting the right presents for family and friends.  Maybe I’ll just take a very long December nap and wake up in January when things have calmed down (haha).
 
You may recall some of my past columns where I shared with you the good deeds of organizations supported by the Avila Beach Community Foundation through our grant-making initiatives.  One of those organizations is Operation Surf, with its mission of empowering wounded veterans and active-duty military personnel through the healing power of the ocean, surfing and community here in Avila Beach.  Operation Surf has touched many lives, and often hears back from clients who have benefited from their services.  I recently received from Operation Surf Executive Director Amanda Curaza the copy of a letter of gratitude from a veteran participant of theirs, which I would like to share with you. 

Anonymous wrote, “I got out of the Navy 14 years ago with a dark stain of trauma.  Since then, I have been hiding and maneuvering to be invisible, due to the painful effects of PTSD and its compulsion to avoid being seen or noticed.  The resulting isolation and shame ultimately seduces the mind to think suicide seems to be the only solution.  So, finally, to be seen in a true way amongst the “OpSurfers” and now accepted as I am is freeing.  This witnessing allowed me to release the burden of the dark thoughts of isolation. Operation Surf created an environment where I felt that I mattered, and I came to know it.  The gift of 14 years of trauma being washed away by this experience is truly priceless!”

For me, the most fulfilling part of my job is knowing that the financial support we provide the community does indeed make a huge difference.  Operation Surf is just one example.  If you want to view for yourself the range of grants we’ve awarded in the past, check out the “Foundation’s” website:  www.avilabeachfoundation.org.  Click on the tab “Grant Info”, then” past grantees”.

One of the historically cherished landmarks in Avila Beach is the famed Avila Pier, which has been closed for several years following damage to the pilings and structure during repeated storms of recent years.  Repair work is underway, and the Port San Luis Harbor District and its fundraising arm, “Friends of Avila Pier” continue to seek funds to complete the job.  I am pleased to report that our “Foundation” Trustees recently voted to approve a $5,000 contribution towards this effort.  If you are interested in donating to the cause, visit www.AvilaPier.org and click on the “donate” tab.

Speaking of the Avila Pier, I am also pleased to report that we are working with the Harbor District to replace the current drinking foundation at the restrooms near the foot of the pier with a more environmentally sensitive alternative.  Thanks to the generosity of one of our “Foundation’s” donor-advised funds, the Richard and Kathleen Zacky Family Fund, a new hydration system that includes a water bottle refilling station will soon be installed.  Hopefully this will result in fewer disposable water bottles making their way into the trash heap.
Many folks in our community like to stay abreast of what’s happening with the Diablo Canyon Power Plant operational extension plans.  We recently received the following update from Eric Daniels, PG&E Public Policy and External Affairs for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties:
 
“In September of last year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 846 (Dodd) into law, which directed PG&E to pursue the extended operations of the clean energy facility that generates 2,200 megawatts of baseline electricity, providing approximately 17% of California’s zero-carbon electricity supply and 8.6% of the state’s total electricity supply.  Lawmakers took this step to ensure statewide electrical reliability and to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The NRC will now determine whether our application is sufficient. If the NRC staff finds the LRA acceptable, we would be approved to continue operating past our current operating licenses while the NRC reviews the application.  The federal review of our license renewal application is a multi-year review process with opportunities for public involvement.”
 
Well, the time has come for a final farewell.  My 15-year tenure as the Avila Beach Community Foundation Executive Director ends on December 31st, and this is my last column. 

​So, I leave you with my usual closing, “that’s it for now, fellow Avilones, see you at the beach.”  I know you will welcome my able successor, Rick Rowe, as he leads the “Foundation” towards the future.

Greetings, fellow Avilones.  The month of November has arrived, and is the jumping off point for the holiday season.  One of the most obvious signs was last month’s resurgence of crowds at the Avila Valley Barn, in particular at the pumpkin patch prior to Halloween.  This will likely continue through November leading up to Thanksgiving.  A word of caution to you all when driving along Avila Beach Drive that traffic will back up at the entrance to Avila Barn.

As I think about Thanksgiving this year, it takes on special meaning to me as this column is the second to last I will write as Executive Director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation.  My looming departure was shared last month, so you are aware that this will conclude 15 years at the helm.  As I reflect on that time, I have much to be thankful for.   There are so many individuals and businesses leaders that have supported the “Foundation’s” efforts that it would be impossible to share the names of all with you in this space.  That being said, I do want to identify some of the key folks to publicly recognize their impact.

Every non-profit organization is only as strong as its board President.  I have been fortunate to work with an outstanding lineup of “Foundation” leaders since 2009 that includes; Mike Ritter, Julian Varela, Rick Rowe, Lisa Ritterbuck, Mike Ginn, Cyndy Lakowske and Barbara Nicholson.  I thank each of you for your service to the organization and the people of Avila Beach.  I was also blessed to work side by side with some very talented support staff that included;  Penny Burciaga, Paula Dempsey, Stephanie Rowe and Kymberly Fazzio.  Each of you brought something special to the “Foundation”, and I appreciate the roles you played.

Also noteworthy, and key to some of our success, is a handful of local community/business leaders who provided financial support of the” Foundation’s” projects and activities that extended beyond the realm of the grants we make each year.  Said projects/activities are too numerous to fully state here, but a few of the most visible are the public art installations that bring beauty to the beach,  the public viewing telescope, the people and pet drinking fountain at “dog beach”, the beach boardwalk commercial trash receptacles, and the interpretive signs along the Bob Jones Trail.  My thanks to the following folks who, through their generosity, helped make the aforementioned projects, and others,  possible:  Chevron (Juliet Don and Jeff Moore), PG&E (Eric Daniels),   SLO County District 3 Supervisors (Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Adam Hill), the Richard and Kathleen Zacky Family Foundation, the Rossi Foundation (Rob Rossi), and Joan Sargen.  My apologies if I’ve left anyone out.

Odds and Ends:  What would one of my final columns be if lacking some of the witty (in my opinion) observations and personal experiences I’ve shared with you over the years?  My wife and I returned from our recent vacation to Palm Springs.  Remember the good old days when we could say the journey is equal in enjoyment to the destination?  Well, not so if you have to drive to Southern California.   Back in 1992 when I first began visiting my parents after they retired to Palm Desert, I could make the drive in 4+ hours.  The same journey now takes around 6 hours – more if you come upon an accident or freeway lane closures.  So, I’ve come up with a slogan that reminds me of a famous commercial from the past.  Remember the jingle, “the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup?”  My proposed entry into the jingles Hall of Fame is; “the best part of leaving Avila Beach for places to roam, is returning to Avila Beach, the place we call home.”  BTW – during the trip I came upon the most glaring/outrageous example of inflation, er, price gouging, at Stater Bros. grocery store in Cathedral City.  There, in a prime location near the check stand, was a Crispy Crème donuts display, featuring a 3-pack box of donuts for the pricey sum of $9.99.  My math says that’s $3.33 per donut.  That’s a lot of dough for a such a paltry hunk of dough!  Then, after dinner in Palm Springs we stumbled upon an ice cream parlor selling a 12 oz date shake for $10.99.  Twice what I used to pay just a few years ago!  Okay, I am through sharing my outrage, and will leave you with my usual closing.

That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach.

Greetings, fellow Avilones.   Okay, I’ll go ahead and admit it.  Now that summer is behind us, with the kids back in school and the number of visitors to our beach community subsiding, I am so delighted.  It was such a pleasure to take my sister and niece to Front Street on that first Friday evening after the season end to Farmer’s Market.  It was after dark and the setting was so quiet and serene.  The waves were crashing, the seagulls were squawking, and there was hardly anyone around.  I know it sounds selfish, but I kind of wish it was like this all year round.
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You may recall that last month I announced my looming retirement from the Avila Beach Community Foundation, which becomes effective at the end of this year.  Quite a few of you readers emailed me offering kind words and well wishes.  Some mentioned how much they would miss my monthly newsletter columns.  Others I have run into at the Avila Bay Club or Avila Golf Resort also extended their congratulations.  I am deeply touched by the sentiment and most appreciative.  With only three newsletter columns left, counting this one, it will surely feel odd to not sit down at my computer each month trying to write something worthy of your time to read.   177 times over a period of 15 years I have opened my column with “Greetings, fellow Avilones”, and signed off with “See you at the beach”.  Lots of fond memories.  I have great confidence in my successor, Rick Rowe, who will take the helm beginning January 1, 2024 after spending the next three months acclimating him to the job.

Moving right along, I want to encourage you to attend the upcoming Avila Beach Children’s Business Fair, scheduled for October 14th from 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. at the Avila Community Center.  This the third year for this event, which was established and coordinated by Kristen McKiernan as a way for students to become young entrepreneurs and earn some money.  Each year the number of youth vendors has increased, as has the volume and quality of the goods they have created and sold.  If you are interested in doing some early holiday shopping, you will surely find some interesting items for sale.  The “Foundation” is pleased to be one of the event sponsors for the third consecutive year.

On a personal note, I want to offer a “shout-out” to SLO County Public Works Project Manager John Waddell.  Earlier this summer I noticed that there was an uneven and growing gap in the road connecting San Luis Bay Drive to the bridge that spans San Luis Creek near the Avila Beach Drive intersection.  Driving over that spot was becoming a jarring experience needing some attention.  So, I reached out to John who said he would add that to the long list of SLO County roads needing repair work following the rain and flooding that occurred earlier in the year.  Likewise, I mentioned the many dangerous potholes present on Avila Beach Drive between Sycamore Mineral Springs and the freeway.  I was pleased to see that County Public Works has indeed repaired the bridge connection and done some patching of the potholes.  Thanks, John, for being so responsive.

For those of you who have, over the years, inquired about the rusted and cordoned off stairway at the south/west end of Avila Beach, there MAY be some good news.  At the September 11th Avila Valley Advisory Council meeting, Port San Luis Harbor District Manager Suzy Watkins reported that an engineering study will be conducted as a first step toward replacing the old stairway.  Suzy did caution, however, that there are presently no funds available to build the new stairway, but the engineering study is a beginning.  It sure would be nice to see direct access to that end of the beach return – a sentiment shared by many.

The September 15th deadline to submit grant applications to be considered for funding in 2024 has passed.  The “Foundation” is now proceeding with the process to select grantees, which will be finalized when our Trustees meet in November.  I look forward to letting you know about the issuing of grants in the December news column.

That’s it for now, fellow Avilones.  See you at the beach!