LOCAL NEWS ... BEACH VIEWS • APRIL 2024
S e e Yo u a t t h e B e a c h
Avila Beach Foundation News & Views
Rick Rowe
avila beach foundation
A
pril 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 land-
scapes, 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. This month, the foundation is spotlighting 2024 grant recipient the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers. The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers (PSLHK) is a nonprofit 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 19th century to the mid-20th 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 50 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.
Avila Community Spotlight: Christy Kasarjian
A View From the Beach
Mary Foppiano
Avila Beach Civic Association
Hi All …
Several months ago, Avila Beach Postmaster Cindy Baker-Kobliska lost her son. A number of community members donated to the Josh Brown Memorial Youth Soccer Scholarship in Portland, Oregon. Josh was an amazing supporter of youth sports through his career as a soccer coach at the club level and in high schools …and he is missed by so many. The donation will give kids a chance to play soccer at the club level who otherwise might not be able to afford the opportunity. An engraved Commemorative Paver will be placed in the Community Center’s Healing Garden in Josh’s honor. Cindy and her brother Marc Baker asked me to thank the Avila Beach community for your generous support. The Avila Beach Civic Association is hosting its annual Spring Spaghetti Dinner/
Bingo Night on Friday, April 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. The dinner will consist of delicious spaghetti with meatballs/meat sauce or marinara sauce, salad, bread, and dessert. Popcorn is served during bingo, and beer and wine are available for sale. Tickets are $10 per person and $5 for kids 6 and under. If you are interested in getting involved with this event or any of our other upcoming events, please contact me at avilabeachcc@gmail.com or (805) 627-1997. Sue Butzow will again offer a Posture Class on Wednesday, April 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. You can pre-register and/or get more information at schedulicity.com/scheduling/ SB4EQQ or call her at (408) 888-4405. She will be charging $20 for -1/2 the class and will be available on Zoom for future classes when not in our area. As I am sure you have already heard, the Avila Beach Life will no longer be published after this issue. We are all very sorry to lose this wonderful opportunity to keep our community up to date on activities and events in Avila Beach. I have enjoyed highlighting the Pet of the Month, Community Spotlight, and all the fun things being planned at the Community Center, but hope that you will continue to follow us at avilabeachcc.com. You can contact me at avilabeachcc@gmail.com or (805) 627-1997. I want to thank Hayley and Nicholas Mattson and their staff for all that they have contributed to our community.
It is tied to the development of the county in the 1890s, the protection of the coast during World War II, 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 at avilabeachfoundation.org. Until next time, enjoy the great outdoors and have a wonderful April!
By MARY FOPPIANO For Avila Beach Life
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rowing up on the Central Coast, Christy Kasarjian’s love for the water and the outdoors influenced both her personal and professional life. After graduating high school in San Luis Obispo, she attended Boise State University. The friendly residents and vast outdoor recreation opportunities captured her heart and kept her in Boise for almost 20 years. Fighting fire for the U.S. Forest Service while at BSU opened her eyes to many land and environmental issues. After earning her degree in business administration and management, she became a director at Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation and Ski Area (a nonprofit local in Boise), where she was challenged in all aspects of business. Managing large groups of employees, coordinating with other entities, fundraising, and increasing the scope of the department were just a few of her responsibilities.
Christy Kasarjian
Returning to her roots as the executive director of the Central Coast Aquarium brings Christy a lot of joy. Serving the Avila Beach community and being in closer proximity to her family and an integral part of the CCA team contributes to a fun and supportive environment. The Central Coast Aquarium is a small nonprofit
Turtles along the path
Pet of the month
AVILA BEACH LIFE COMES TO AN END AFTER 20 YEARS | PAGE 2
IS THE ONLY ONE NATIVE TO CALIFORNIA | PAGE 3
BUDDY THE MINI AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD | PAGE 3
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Goodbye for now
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ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
organization dedicated to marine science education. Their Exhibit Hall features 15 exhibits representing marine life on the Central Coast. If you would like to learn more about the CCA, please check out their website CentralCoastAquarium.org or contact them at info@ CentralCoastAquarium.com or (805) 457-5357.