Avila Beach News JUNE 2017
Stand Up Paddling with Avila Beach Paddlesports. Photo by Vincent Shay
Rick Cohen Reaches a Milestone By Mark A. Diaz
R
ick Cohen, executive director of the Avila Beach Community Foundation (ABCF) has moonlighted as a columnist for the Avila Beach News for nearly a decade. He recently reached the landmark of penning his hundredth column. That boils down to one column a month for more than 8 and half years. “I enjoy writing,” said Cohen. “I first started writing organizational newsletters, back when I was working for the YMCA. I enjoy writing much more so than public speaking.” Originally from the San Fernando Valley, Cohen made his way up the coast until he and his wife landed in Los Osos in 1989. Fortunately for Avila, the Baywood weather did not agree with them, and they made it their goal to live in Avila Beach, which they accomplished in 1995. After accepting the offer of be-
coming executive director of the ABCF in 2009, Cohen has worked on bringing the community together. Cohen said that he believes the ABCF has brought more cohesiveness to the community since he has come on board. “I would say that I am most proud of our community engagement,” he said. The ABCF held meetings where the community could voice its concerns and opinions on the direction of the beach town. “We’ve had a series of town hall meetings that have morphed into groups that get together and talk about ideas and frustrations.” There is a divide between the population that lives in the valley and those who live in Avila proper that is both geographical and social, but Cohen feels that gap has lessened with help from the ABCF. Another accomplishment the ABCF has made that Cohen is proud
of is the expansion of the grant program, “We have probably expanded by about 50% the amount of grants each year since I began,” said Cohen. Under his leadership, the foundation has seeded certain events like the Apple Festival that have grown over the years. Most recently, the ABCF celebrated the completion of the lifeguard towers public art project, and the next art project is well on its way to being funded. “We are establishing a $25,000 goal for the next round and we’re already halfway there,” said Cohen. “We’re just starting the community campaign to reach out to others to get to that goal.” Cohen said the next new project the ADCF is hosting is a storytelling event, where Avila locals can take the mic for a few minutes and share their favorite tales of the beach community from days long past. The
event recognizes that one of our most precious resources is each other and our shared history. “We want to capture some of those stories,” said Cohen, “while there’s still people here to tell those stories, and further bridge the gap between older and newer Avila.” There will be a meal as well as a showing of the history of Avila Beach film that was also shown at the SLO Film Fest earlier this year. Cohen said that the stories would be filmed for posterity. Cohen’s concerns for the future of Avila echoes the concerns of many who have lived there for a long time. “We have to rely upon ourselves and our representatives and our government to be considerate of the growth,” said Cohen,” and being smart growth rather than going after whatever is going to generate the most money.”