Avila Beach Life • February 2024

LOCAL NEWS ... BEACH VIEWS • FEBRUARY 2024

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KEVIN BROWN | PAGE 3

BOB JONES TRAILS

BUFFLEHEAD BIRDS | PAGE 4

POINT SAN LUIS

BEFORE FAT CATS | PAGE 5

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2 | Avila Beach Life — FEBRUARY 2024

Making Communities Better Through Print™

“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.” – George Bernardhaw Publishers

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ear Readers of Avila Beach Life, In the months ahead, we anticipate significant changes at Avila Beach Life. Over the past few years, we have been fortunate to enjoy unwavering support from two remarkable advertisers, Paine Financial and San Luis Bay Realty, in addition to the support from the Avila Beach Foundation.

However, as we navigate the current economic landscape, coupled with the challenge of escalating paper costs, we stand at a critical juncture.

The sustainability of Avila Beach Life now demands careful scrutiny, prompting us to engage in comprehensive discussions to chart our future course.

These pivotal conversations will take center stage in the weeks to come, culminating in a thorough exploration of our options in the upcoming March issue of Avila

Beach Life. We firmly believe in the importance of transparency throughout this process.

The outcome of these discussions will have a profound impact on our ability to continue delivering the newsletters and stories that have become an integral part of Avila Beach Life.

Throughout the challenges presented by the pandemic, our company has steadfastly supported Avila Beach Life, even in the face of monthly losses. Our unwavering commitment to the community and our profound appreciation for the dedicated contributors who provide valuable content without cost have been a driving force behind keeping it alive.

If you are interested in contributing and helping us preserve this publication, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Hayley@13stars.media.

Your support is invaluable to us, and we eagerly anticipate the journey ahead, regardless of the path it may take for Avila Beach Life.

We hope you enjoy these columns and stories that your friends and neighbors write and keep you informed on all things Avila Beach Life.

With sincere gratitude, Hayley Mattson Publisher, Avila Beach Life Photo by Anthony Atkins

Is This Really Happening Again?

24 years ago is a long time in the stock market world. Long enough to forget what happened back then.

In the late 90s there was a huge surge in the stock markets in 1999/early 2000, particularly the tech area (aka the “dot.com” boom). Everyone was projecting 15% returns into infinity. Of course, we know how that ended with the NASDAQ tech index eventually dropping by about 80% and the S&P 500 declining about 47%.* Could that happen again? Well, stocks are surging to heights unimaginable just a few months ago. As I type, the S&P 500 index is up over 19% since Oct 29th, 2023, which is in the 99th percentile of all market history for a 3 month period.^ In other words, “it’s déjà vu all over again.” This is the same type of market action that characterized the late 90’s. With a huge market loss in 2022, now it’s become a frenzy to get “easy” market gains. Of course, the old adage goes, “the market can remain irrational, longer than you can remain solvent.” So, stepping in front of the train is probably a bad idea. However, there are actions one can take to reduce risk.** Regardless of the recent market action, I believe the next 5-7 years are going to be challenging in the stock and bond markets due to the excesses of the past few years. We all know “there’s no free lunch” and, eventually, the bill is paid. Give yourself a New Year’s present and de-stress your investments so you are covered. To learn more, please visit our website, come to one of our Roundtable Dinners, and/ or call for a 15 minute no obligation, no fee discussion. *Source: Yahoo finance; ^https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/goldman-risk-pain-trades-rises-we-head-next-weeks-barrage **Buffered accounts may provide up to 20% protection from index declines while also allowing for 100% participation in the index chosen.

Please refer to a product prospectus for specific information on costs, crediting methods, current rates, limitations, and buffer protections.

A New Paradigm. A New Way of Investing.

Thomas B. Paine Paine Financial Services

www.PaineFinancialServices.com 6627-A Bay Laurel Place (Avila Village) Avila Beach, CA 93424 (805) 473-6679

Rules Based Investing for all stock market conditions Advisory Services and Securities offered through Centaurus Financial, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC, a registered broker/dealer and registered investment advisor.

Paine Financial Services, Jackson National Life, and Centaurus Financial Inc. are not affiliated.

Supervisory branch office: 1186 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420; (805) 473-6670

Join Us For a Private Dinner Please join me and a special guest at our next Roundtable event at Ventana Grill in late Feb for an excellent dinner and beverage on us while we discuss current stock/bond/real estate markets and avoiding taxes. Questions and comments welcome. Some possible topics: • The new paradigm of high interest rates.

• Investing to reduce or eliminate stock market risk.

• Critical questions to ask one’s advisor, even if the advisor is you.

• Ideas to reduce taxes and avoid taxation when selling rentals.

• How I invest my and my clients’ money now.

Not a seminar.

Reservations are Required.

Private event exclusive to 8 guests.

Investing not allowed at this event. Only for those with investable assets over $250,000.

Certain Investments require one to be an accredited investor.

We reserve the right to refuse attendance.

FEBRUARY 2024 — Avila Beach Life | 3

Making Communities Better Through Print™

Foundation News and Views

Rick Rowe

avila beach foundation

F

ebruary 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 501(c)3 nonprofit orga-

nization 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

A View From the Beach

Mary Foppiano

Avila Beach Civic Association

O

ver the New Year’s holiday, I received a call from a community member who said that she was trying to get COVID-19 test kits from local pharmacies, but the ones that she contacted had none.

Luckily, she remembered reading that we had them from the San Luis Obispo Public Health Department and wondered if I could

meet them at the center to give them the number they needed. I was happy that I could help them and, of course, happy to know that someone was reading my column. If you are interested in picking up any of these test kits, please let me know so you can get them in our office.

As I stated in last month’s column, we are in the process of planning our calendar for 2024 and would welcome your suggestions and assistance. You can help us by becoming a member, purchasing a Healing Garden Commemorative Paver, renting the Community Center for your special event, enrolling in the Ralphs Community Rewards Program to benefit the ABCA, and/or becoming a volunteer to help with our events or maintaining the Community Center.

I am sure all of you know how much I love dogs. Recently, I was reading an article by Dr. Marcus Dela Cruz (aka @thefriendlyvet)

about dog-friendly places on the Central Coast where you can hike/play with your dog.

The list included: El Chorro Dog Park, a large, fenced-in, and well-shaded dog park located off Highway 1 in the El Chorro Regional Park across from Cuesta College. The dog park includes picnic tables, barbecue pits, several water stations, and large tubs for dogs who like to get wet.

Pismo Preserve, consists over 11 miles of hiking trails that cut through beautiful oak trees offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Look out points are equipped with benches and picnic tables but your dogs must be on leash.

Avila Beach, dogs are allowed on our downtown beach before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

They are also allowed at dog-friendly Olde Port Beach across from the Port San Luis Harbor District campground. After your dog is tired out, you can stop at one of our

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-theart 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.

Until next month, wishing you a wonderful February and enjoy those extra minutes of daylight!

dog-friendly restaurant patios.

Pismo Dunes, (also known as the Oceano Dunes) is a great place to take your dog to run around without worrying about cars, people, or other dogs. Sand can get too hot for your dog’s paws so morning or early evening walks are best.

Betty Woody, who has been taking care of so many of our little landscaped areas along Front Street and other downtown streets, called me the other day to compliment Jose Ramos and his nephew Mark Anthony Ramos for improving our landscaped areas. The Avila Beach Civic Association has been fortunate to receive a grant from the Vintage Traditions Foundation to hire these hardworking landscapers to plan and carry out the work necessary for the beautification. Betty continues pulling weeds, painting rocks, and working in these areas for many years out of love for Avila Beach and she just celebrated her 98th birthday on Jan. 17!

Avila Community Spotlight: Kevin Brown

By MARY FOPPIANO For Avila Beach Life

K

evin Brown is currently the voice of the Cal Poly Mustangs men’s and women’s basketball programs.

He is the color analyst for home games, which are televised on ESPN+. In addition to Cal Poly, Kevin works freelance as a radio color analyst for the Big West Conference Basketball Tournament and recently worked at a college basketball tournament in the Bahamas during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kevin has ties with the Central Coast dating back to 1990. when his parents, Bob and Sondra Brown, owned and operated Browns’ Bed and Breakfast in Cambria from 1990-2010. “I remember serving wine and mini artichoke and olive sandwiches for our guests at 4 p.m.,” he said.

Starting in 1994, Kevin was the boys’ varsity basketball coach, history teacher, principal, and athletic director at Beverly Hills and Inglewood high schools. He was men’s basketball coach at Cal Poly from 2001 to 2004 and went on to coach at various universities across the country in Kentucky, Texas, Missouri, California, and internationally on the continents of Australia and Africa.

Kevin met his wife Jitka when a friend introduced them while he was athletic director at Beverly Hills High. Jitka has a Ph.D. in public health and is a consultant with an emphasis on women’s cardiac health.

family in Avila Beach.

“Living next door to the Avila Bay Athletic Club is amazing,” Kevin said.

“It’s a built-in backyard with a pool, tennis courts, pickleball, and a great social life with entertainment and wonderful friends.”

Kevin gives back to our community. He volunteers as a coach for the SLO YMCA and is a university supervisor for the Cal Poly School of Education Department.

“It’s truly rewarding to help future teachers,” he said. “My role as a university supervisor is to be a supportive coach and mentor for teacher candidates and assist with their development as an educator.”

He also volunteers with the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) by running No In addition to his broadcast work on Cal Poly basketball games, Kevin Brown has also done the Battle 4 Atlantis tournaPlace for Hate workshops with community ment in the Bahamas (shown here) and the Big West Conference tournament. Contributed Photo members in Avila Beach. He volunteered for the American Cancer Association in the late 1990s to early 2000s, raising money for the Coaches vs Cancer 3-point Attack.

Kevin has said that there is no better place to live than Avila Beach: great people, beautiful outdoor activities, hiking the Bob Jones Trail, listening to music on Wednesdays at the Bay Club, and catching a sunset on the beach!

Next time you see him announcing a Cal Poly game courtside, playing pickleball with his two boys, or swimming his daily mile in the Bay Club pool, say Cal Poly University Supervisor and basketball announcer Kevin Brown spends quality time with family: wife Jitka, and hello; he will be delighted to meet a new sons Clayton and Tommy. friend and he may be our very own Avila Kevin and Jitka live in Mallard Green grade, and Tommy is in kindergarten at Beach local celebrity when he works his with their two sons. Clayton is in the first Bellevue School. They love raising their way up to ESPN!

4 | Avila Beach Life — FEBRUARY 2024

Making Communities Better Through Print™ A male and female bufflehead duck are spotted in the water at Avila Beach’s estuary area. Bufflehead mates tend to stay together for years.

Photos by Vicki Morrow

Bob Jones Trail: Buffleheads on the creek

By BETTY HARTIG For Avila Beach Life

stylishly accented with a bright white oval cheek patch. The bufflehead couples gracefully enjoy the peaceful protected coastal environment that the estuary provides.

Bufflehead ducks, which are easy to identify, will assemble in limited numbers during early morning hours alertly swimming amongst mallards and coots near the estuary bridge on the Bob Jones Trail. Usually, one duck will serve

as a sentry on post while the other buffleheads dine. They are seldom spotted on land; in fact, the female only walks when she leads her ducklings from nest to water. Buffleheads are one of the fastest sea ducks, achieving flight speeds of up to 48 miles per hour with their rapid wing beat. An interesting characteristic of a bufflehead is the ability to take flight almost directly from the water without having to run across its

surface to build up take-off speed. When landing their feet take a position as if skiing.

The typical bufflehead diet consists of aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans, water plants, and will occasionally include small fish. Rarely feeding with only a submerged head like most ducks do a bufflehead skillfully dives then vanishes into the water, remaining totally submerged while foraging. Buffleheads do have several predators, such as hawks, falcons, and eagles, plus greathorned owls. Employing this tactic of keeping one bufflehead watching out for predators is quite helpful, along with their quick speed.

Birds are not solely linked to their own kind.

Interaction occurs with varied species as well as other animals, plants, geological formations, and weather systems. Take time to connect with nature by simply watching a bufflehead duck while on the Bob Jones Pathway vicinity. By paying closer attention to the living world, we can learn a wealth of information. Enjoy the waterfowl that take advantage of winter in Avila.

grains, and nuts?

The fermentation of bacteria in our guts breaks down these products to produce hydrogen gas, which forms methane that we also burp, fart, and dump. There are billions of us.

Fact: Vegans fart seven times more than meat eaters, and their stools are bigger than meat eaters (meaning more full of it!), so are they also a more significant part of the problem?

Look, I am not anti-vegan. If people choose to be non-meat eaters, more power to them, but don’t force me to give up what I think is best for my body (kind of like the women with their abortion reasoning). As a lifelong farmer, I love to eat my vegetables and fruits. I have sustainably farmed many of these crops, but moderation in all things is my motto.

The forces against meat and dairy propose that countries, based on what carbon emissions are emitted, should be taxed and regulated into oblivion, making your steak so expensive you have little choice but to go vegan. New Zealand and the Netherlands are already trying to tax farmers extra for their livestock, overall production, and use of nitrogen fertilizers in line with the European Union’s extreme emission regulations, which other European countries are also having to deal with. California, not to be left behind, requires dairy and livestock producers to cut methane pollution in just six years to 40 percent below 2013 levels. This will put many of them out of business.

Have you found good deals on baby-backed ribs and other pork products since New Year’s?

Thanks to Proposition 12 a few years ago, which took effect on Jan. 1, 63 percent of you voted to require pork and egg producers to make more room for pigs and chickens to move around, which was not unreasonably sounding but requires all other U.S. producers to do the same, and if not, they can’t deliver pork and eggs to us. So now, California only produces 1 percent of the nation’s pork but

eats 13 percent of it. This was upheld by the Supreme Court, even though you would think it would interfere with federal restraint of trade laws. Get used to higher prices and scarcity, or start to eat bugs, weeds, and meat grown in a petri dish, which the UN wants you to convert to, and they also say, especially for bugs, because they “consume fewer resources than traditional livestock.”

The climate-warming cult knows that they can’t come right out in the open and restrict consumption of dairy and meat produce because it would be so unpopular. So, they are taking a page out of their playbook of what they are doing to us by pushing us into unpopular electric vehicles and using regulations, mandates, taxes, and subsidies to reduce supplies and increase the cost of meat and dairy.

So, you have governments pushing a non-dairy and meat diet on one hand, but on the other, they recommend these products in your daily meals. The recommended Daily Intake of Essential Nutrients Guideline calls for red meat, fish, poultry, greens, and fortified cereals for iron. Vitamin D — eat egg yolks, fortified milk, sardines, and cheese. Zinc comes from beef and eggs. Vitamin A — oranges and yellow produce, fish, carrots, liver, milk, sweet potatoes. Vitamin C from citrus, potatoes, greens, strawberries, yellow produce. Recommended top foods that benefit our health are proteins from grass-fed beef and other animals, fish, eggs, poultry, and cheese, all of which contain the most Omega-3s. Throw in a bunch of nuts while at it. Who is right? I will take a balanced diet any day.

A

vila Beach is a frequented location for birders to observe and note sightings in their well-kept journals. There is a particularly glamourous feathered winter visitor that can be seen in Avila’s estuary area. The bufflehead duck, whose name is derived from the male’s odd puffy buffalo head shape, is beautiful to see with strikingly painted black and white plumage. The sunlight perfectly defines the brilliant contrasting colors of the compact sea waterfowl. Buffleheads are one of the smallest diving birds. Often bufflehead males float bobbing along the water path with its long-lasting mate.

Pairs remain together for numerous years.

Typically, females follow behind males as an indication they are together. As with most species the female has muted markings of mostly grayish brown feathers. However, she is

Buffleheads are one of the fastest sea ducks, achieving flight speeds of up to 48 miles per hour with their rapid wing beat.

Through The Grapevine: The forces against meat and dairy

John Salisbury

“H

contributor

ere you come again, just when I’ve begun to get myself together,” sung by Dolly Parton, can be about what the veganism cult did at the United Nation’s COP28 in Dubai recently.

Those who came for our combustion engine vehicles before, are now coming for our meat.

Allysia Finley, reporting for the Wall Street Journal, said the UN’s call for drastically reducing worldwide meat consumption is because getting rid of fossil fuels isn’t enough to get to their net zero Utopia.

A United Nations report stated that the equivalent of the emissions of worldwide natural gas (7 gigatons) elimination would have to come from you giving up meat and dairy products. Livestock production is estimated to be responsible for over 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. I guess we have to keep the cows from burping and dumping their manure, which creates 28 times more potent methane than carbon dioxide. The UN wants to eliminate cows and push the population into plant-based food or artificial meat products. Would that include similar ruminants, animals that rechew their food, like deer, buffalo, sheep, giraffes, camels, goats, reindeer, musk ox, and many others, wiping them out, as well as climate polluters? How about us humans who eat carbohydrates found in plant-based foods with fruits, vegetables,

Making Communities Better Through Print™

FEBRUARY 2024 — Avila Beach Life | 5

Before Fat Cats Café kathy mastako

Growing Up in Port San Luis

Board Of Directors Point San Luis Lighthouse Keeper

I

n January 1968, when she was 14 years old, Kathy Jenkins moved to Port San Luis with her brother Maury and their parents Nancy and Douglas Kendall “Ken” Jenkins. Ken had accepted the position of Harbor Manager, and the job required him to live on-site. Kathy recalled that, at the time of their move, the road between Avila and the Port was unpaved. “It was a muddy mess, due to the winter rains.”

Housing was provided, such as it was — a 10’ x 70’ two-bedroom mobile home. At first, the whole family wedged themselves into the trailer. But the following summer, Kathy “adopted” a small, drafty shed adjacent to the mobile home, and used the shed as her bedroom. “What it lacked in amenities, it made up for in privacy,” she said, “allowing me to have my own little kingdom.”

By the following winter, Ken had finished a large addition on the seaward side of the trailer. It included a living room, a bedroom, and a sleeping loft over the living room, constructed using discarded timbers from the pier. “There were places on the open beam ceiling where you could see the marks from the narrow-gauge railroad that used to run out to the end of Harford pier.” At some point after Kathy’s parents moved to Santa Maria and a new Harbor Manager took over, that house became Fat Cats Café. The indoor seating area was their old living room and her parents’ bedroom.

When we lived at Port San Luis, we had various animals. Always a cat or two; they hunted mice and other rodents from the hill behind our house. We had a couple of peacocks who roamed free. One day one of the male peacocks attacked a shiny VW Bug in the Port San Luis parking lot. He had seen his reflection in the shiny car and he attacked his “rival” with extended talons.

The car’s owner was not happy about the scratches. And my mom did not appreciate the peacock poop on our front porch.

The family also kept a pony, named Daisy, in a small paddock near the house. Kathy’s brother bought the pony, along with a pony cart that he would drive up and down Front Street in Avila Beach, selling rides to the tourists for 25 cents.

Kathy and Maury went to school in San Luis Obispo, and both of them graduated from San Luis High. The school bus came all the way out to Port San Luis to pick them up in front of their house. It’s doubtful the school bus would have made the trip all the way from San Luis Obispo to the Port every school day just for Kathy and her brother, but the officer-in-charge at the Point San Luis Lighthouse, James Allen “Buck” Taylor, had four sons who also needed to get to school. So picking up six kids made the trip something the school district could justify. Until the road closed, the bus used to take the kids on a treacherous route from Avila to Pismo Beach via a narrow road over Pirate’s Cove.

“I’m not sure what the school district transportation dispatchers were thinking,” said

Circa 1970 photo of the house at Port San Luis where Kathy Jenkins and her family lived. It was built by her father, Harbor Manager Kendall “Ken” Jenkins. It’s now Fat Cats Café.

Courtesy of Kathy Jenkins Haynie.

Kathy, “although apparently there were no poor man’s legs. The accident happened mishaps.” when the ship was near Cayucos, so they attempted a helicopter rescue there, but the When we first moved to Port San Luis, seas were too rough. They thought the water the foundation of the old Hotel Marre was might be calm enough inside the breakwastill visible near our house. I set up a hay ter at Port San Luis, so they brought the bale with a target on it for an archery range ship south, but in the storm it took several on the hotel foundation one summer. By the hours. The sailor died aboard the ship before time I was graduating high school, that area they were able to rescue him. I remember had been turned into a dry dock. standing with my Dad at the edge of the Port’s parking lot watching for the ship’s Kathy’s father oversaw a lot of develop- lights through the storm. I stayed up with ment at the Port, such as construction of my Dad for most of that night, and I have the harbor office, major reconstruction of always felt so badly for that sailor.

Harford Pier, cranes for putting boats into the water (the large one next to the floating She also recalled another major storm that gas dock, and a smaller one at the base of the tore up quite a bit of the Avila and Union Oil pier), and construction of the concessions piers. Her father helped with a boat rescue (gas, a small store). He oversaw an upgrade of some Union Oil employees who were in the moorage, and coordinated with PG&E stranded out at the end of the pier with no on the huge project of bringing in giant way back to shore because the pier had been equipment for the Diablo Canyon nuclear so badly damaged. power plant. PG&E built a landing site on One of Kathy’s happiest memories of the little beach closest to the road leading living at Port San Luis was using the smaller out to the power plant. boat launch in the summers to launch a little rowboat and go rowing in the harbor.

The landing site was huge metal slides Several times she and her brother rowed out that extended out to the water. The equip- to Smith Island, and one night they camped ment would come in on big barges, be trans- there overnight. ferred to the slides, and from there it was The family also had a 14’ sailboat, which moved up the slides onto oversize-load her Dad, with her and/or her brother, often trucks with many, many wheels. I remember took out for a sail in the harbor or over to the huge trucks traveled only a few miles Avila Beach on Ken’s days off. an hour all the way out to Diablo Canyon.

I was always intrigued by the sailKathy recalled a terrible winter storm that boats sailing up and down the coast, and occurred during her junior or senior year at I appointed myself the Port San Luis welcoming committee for visiting boats.

San Luis High: Since all the boats were tied up to moorI stayed up with my Dad a good part of ings rather than to any kind of dock with the night. He was coordinating a sea/heli- access to shore, the visitors seemed happy to copter rescue for a sailor who had been connect with a local who could answer some badly injured on an oil tanker. Somehow of their questions. Occasionally they would a taut cable had come loose on the ship, invite me aboard, and I always relished the whipped across the deck, and cut off the times I could learn more about sailing the

large sailboats out in the ocean.

Kathy and her parents spent a night or two at the Point San Luis lighthouse in December 1973, her Dad serving as a relief keeper for the two Coast Guardsmen assigned there at the time—most likely Mike Gardner and Greg Scott: My clearest memory is walking around outside when it was dark. I had seen the light from lighthouses before, when out on the ocean at night. For the sailor, the light always appears as a distinct pattern of flashes to help mariners identify their location. That Christmas Eve, I was mesmerized by the lights raying out over my head.

The lighthouse wasn’t sending out flashes of light; it was sending out streams of light that appeared to be coming from a rotating star.

It was beautiful and I have never forgotten that experience.

At the time, the large evergreen behind the light tower had a blighted side closest to the lighthouse. My Dad explained to me that the tree needed to be able to rest at night. But because the tree was constantly lit up at night by the rotating light, made more intense by the Fresnel lens, the poor thing struggled to grow and put out very little greenery on the side that faced the lighthouse.

Note: These memories were shared with me by Kathleen Jenkins Haynie, who now lives in Oregon and is the true author of this article. Maury, who now lives in Florida, collaborated. Ken passed away in 2013; Nancy in 2022.

Author’s note: “The Lighthouse at Point San Luis,” published by the United States Lighthouse Society, is now available on Amazon and at pointsanluislighthouse.org. All proceeds benefit the United States Lighthouse Society and the Point San Luis Light Station, two nonprofits dedicated to preserving lighthouse history.

6 | Avila Beach Life — FEBRUARY 2024

Making Communities Better Through Print™

Valentines Day: Saying ‘I love you’ with chocolate

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By BARBIE BUTZ for Morro Bay Life

fter all of that “sweet baking” in December, wasn’t it nice to have a break in January? Now it’s time to come up with special treats for the Valentines in our family, and something “chocolate” is the perfect way to say “I love you.”

Remember that chocolate tends to burn easily if subjected to high heat when melting. The water in a double boiler should be at a gentle simmer. Stir the chocolate frequently to aid the melting. Cool the chocolate before it is combined with other ingredients.

This soufflé can be made and refrigerated for several hours or a day ahead. Just before serving, garnish with whipped cream or a few fresh berries (or both!).

CHILLED CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ Ingredients: • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate • 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or brandy • 1 tablespoon water • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips • 2 large egg yolks at room temperature, • 1 cup miniature marshmallows lightly beaten in a small bowl.

• 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 large egg whites, beaten with a pinch of cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon sugar, Directions: to a medium-stiff consistency Place all ingredients in double boiler. Stir • Whipped cream or fresh berries for over medium heat until melted and thickgarnish ened. Cool to room temperature.

Directions: Break the chocolate into several small pieces, and place in a medium bowl or in the top part of a double boiler with the Grand Marnier or brandy, and the water.

Set bowl or top part of double boiler over two inches of gently simmering water and stir several times until chocolate has melted.

Set aside to cool. Whisk lightly beaten egg yolks gently into chocolate mixture. Thoroughly fold 1/3 of the beaten egg whites into the cool chocolate to soften it, then fold in remaining egg whites. Pour into two 6-ounce soufflé bowls and refrigerate until ready to use. Just before serving, garnish with whipped cream or a few fresh berries (or both!)

Note: When using raw eggs in a no-bake recipe such as this soufflé, be sure you use pasteurized egg products.

FUDGE PIE Ingredients: • 1 cup evaporated milk

Crust Ingredients: • vanilla wafers • 1 quart French vanilla ice cream • Pecan halves Directions: Line a 9-inch pie pan with whole vanilla wafers; spoon half of the ice cream over cookies. Top ice cream with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat, ending with chocolate mixture. Place pecan halves on top. Freeze.

In the ‘60s our Las Aletas Auxiliary to the Assistance League of Santa Barbara produced a cookbook titled “Victuals.” It has always been one of my “go-to” cookbooks since then.

This next recipe, Blum’s Coffee Toffee Pie, is a winner and as the member who submitted the recipe put it, “If you want a spectacular dessert, here’s the one that meets all your qualifications. Not only does it taste superb, and look scrumptious, but you can make it three or four days ahead to keep in

the refrigerator, or you can freeze it.”

The history of the pie actually goes back Directions: to the ‘60s when it was served at the historic In small bowl, with electric mixer at San Francisco Blum’s Bakery and Restau- medium speed, beat butter until it is creamy. rant located on Union Square.

Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until light. Blend in cool, melted chocoBLUM’S COFFEE TOFFEE PIE late and 2 teaspoons instant coffee. Add 1 Pastry Shell egg; beat 5 minutes. Add remaining egg and beat 5 minutes longer. Don’t skimp on Ingredients: • 1/2 package pie crust mix or pastry time; it makes the pie fluffy. Turn filling into ingredients for 1-crust pie baked pie shell. Refrigerate pie overnight, • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed for several days, or freeze at this point. Add • 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts topping when thawed.

• 1 square unsweetened chocolate, grated • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Topping • 1 tablespoon water Ingredients: • 2 cups heavy cream Directions: • 2 tablespoons instant coffee In medium bowl, combine pie crust mix • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar with brown sugar, walnuts and grated choc- • chocolate curls or mini-chocolate chips olate. Add 1 tablespoon water and vanilla; or shaved chocolate using a fork, mix until well blended. Turn into well-greased 9-inch pie plate; bake for Directions: 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool pastry shell.

In large bowl, combine cream with 2 tablespoons instant coffee and the confectionFilling ers’ sugar. Refrigerate the mixture, covered, Ingredients: 1/2 hour minimum to dissolve coffee. Beat cream mixture until stiff. Decorate pie with • 1/2 cup butter, softened topping, using pastry bag with number 6 • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 1 square unsweetened chocolate, melted decorating tip. Garnish with chocolate curls, and cooled mini-chips or shaved chocolate. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

• 2 teaspoons instant coffee Happy Valentine’s Day, Cheers!

• 2 eggs

L of the

Month

By MARY FOPPIANO

ucy came to Denise and Rich Knauss from a breeder in Atascadero. She is a very smart, energetic 8-month-old with quite a personality. She loves to meet people and, especially other dogs. Her favorite past times were going for walks and sunning herself on their deck while watching what the neighbors were doing. In the evening, she enjoys watching sports on TV. Denise and Rich say that she is a wonderful addition to their family.

NEXT MONTH’S PET OF THE MONTH

Please send your pictures and a short paragraph about your pet to avilabeachcc@gmail.com Thanks, and introduce us to your furry friend next month!

FEBRUARY 2024 — Avila Beach Life | 7

Making Communities Better Through Print™

FEBRUARY Calendar of Events FEBRUARY 1-3, 7-10, 14-18

FOR THE BIRDS EXHIBIT ART CENTER MORRO BAY

835 Main Street 5 p.m.

This exhibit is a collection of fine art paintings and photography depicting Morro Bay’s vast array of indigenous species of birds, birds seen around the world and all things bird-related.

Father-Daughter Dance at the Pavilion on the Lake for a semiformal evening of music, dancing, refreshments, & more! A professional photographer will be on-site with picture packages.

FEBRUARY 3

FATHER & DAUGHTER SWEETHEART DANCE (AGES OVER 12)

Colony Park Community Center FEBRUARY 2 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero FATHER & DAUGHTER 7-10pm SWEETHEART DANCE (AGES 12 Bring your special girl to the Father& UNDER) Daughter Dance at the Pavilion on Colony Park Community Center the Lake for a semi-formal evening 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero of music, dancing, refreshments, & 6:30-9:30pm more! A professional photographer Bring your special girl to the will be on-site with affordable

picture packages.

FEBRUARY 9-11

CAMBRIA FILM FESTIVAL CAMBRIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS THEATRE

The 7th annual Cambria Film Festival celebrates love and its many complexities — in its many forms of expression: the love of comedy, the love of drama, the love of filmmaking, the love of community.

FEBRUARY 16

for goodies at local businesses. Visit: atascaderochamberofcommerce.org

FEBRUARY 18

VALENTINE MOVIE NIGHT PARK CINEMAS 1100 PINE STREET, PASO ROBLES 7pm

Watch “Ziegfeld Girl” (1941). Tickets are $12 and include chocolate, popcorn, and soda. For more information visit parkcinemas.com

SIP & SHOP: SWEETHEART STROLL

FEBRUARY 22-25

Downtown Atascadero 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Over 15 businesses will host a variety of breweries and wineries where you can taste their beverages and browse

San Simeon and Cambria

BLENDFEST ON THE COAST Daily

Experience a taste of Paso Robles Wine Country on the beautiful California coast. Paso Robles

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BlendFest on the Coast will take place Feb. 22-25 in San Simeon and Cambria with a selection of exciting events.

FEBRUARY 24

COASTAL OCEAN LITERACY WORKSHOP 20 STATE PARK ROAD, MORRO BAY 9am-3pm

This is a series of three educator trainings hosted by the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, in partnership with Cal Poly SLO, California State Parks, and SWMEA (Southwest Marine Educators Association). Educators will learn about how to teach coastal ocean literacy, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship.

8 | Avila Beach Life — FEBRUARY 2024

Making Communities Better Through Print™

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