THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

2011 has been a good year for the Avila Beach Civic Association.  We have been fortunate to have received the following donations:

• Avila Beach Community Foundation:  Mike Ritter and the Board of Directors have been supportive again with a grant of $18,000 for ABCA and $5,775 for Achievement House to clean up the beach/Promenade from Memborial Day through Labor Day.  In addition, we are grateful for the Foundation's support, in cooperation with its partners Chevron, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and the Old Custom House, through its 2011 Matching Gifts Initiative.
• Supervisor Adam Hill:  We are very appreciative of the $1,000 that Supervisor Hill was able to give us to conduct our Annual Membership Campaign.  These funds enabled us to communicate with ABCA members and our community and to join the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has 1,400 business members with over 33,000 employees.
• Pacific Gas & Electric Company:  The grant award that we have received from Pacific Gas & Electric Company will enable us to purchase an AED unit for the Community Center and fund several other projects.  We are especially grateful for the funds for the AED which could save a live one day.  In addition, we are happy to announce their commitment made by Tom Jones to install steps and a sidewalk along the north side of the Community Center this spring.
• 2011 Central Coast Wine Classic:  Archie McLaren and the Board were very generous in naming ABCA as one of its beneficiaries of the funds generated from the 2011 Central Coast Wine Classic.  We are in the beginning stages of designing a healing garden on the empty lot adjacent to the Community Center.

WINE TASTING CLUB

We had our first Wine Tasting Club Event on Thursday, December 15, at the Avila Wine and Roasting Co.. which was a lot of fun and very informative.  I hope that you will join us for our next wine tasting on Friday, January 20, from 7 - 9:30 pm again at the Avila Wine and Roasting Co. 53 San Miguel Street.  Please reserve your place by calling the Civic Association at 805-627-1997 or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We look forward to seeing you on the 20th.

SPAGHETTI DINNER/BINGO NIGHT 

The Civic Association is hosting another fun event on Friday, February 10, from 6 - 9 pm, at the Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel Street.  The Spaghetti Dinner will be delicious and the Bingo will be lots of fun.  There will be a variety of prizes and everyone will have a great time so join your neighbors for a great way to end the work week.  Tickets are $10/adult and $5/child 10 and under.  Please contact me to purchase your tickets at 805-627-1997 or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

BEACH WHEELCHAIR PROGRAM

A little known benefit available at Avila Beach is the Motorized Beach Wheelchair Program.  This wheelchair, which is called Beach Cruzr, features a joystick control that allows the rider to independently propel the chair all over Avila Beach.  It can be checked out for FREE by anyone who uses a wheelchair or has difficulty walking on the beach.  To make a reservation for the Beach Cruzr, pleae call John Lee at 805-748-2434 at least 24 hours in advance.  He will make arrangements with a Civic Association volunteer, board member, or me to meet the individual at the storage locker.  I have received letters of appreciation from current users who have said that their mom and dad had not been able to walk on the beach together in many years and the use of the wheelchair gave them back a feeing of being young again.  Without access to our "moon rover", the person in a wheelchair can be isolated from family and friends by being restricted to the sidewalk.  We are so grateful to being able to participate in this program and hope that you will rercommend it to anyone who may need it.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or want to make a donation to underwrite the maintenance of the wheelchair, please call me at 805-627-1997