Many come together for Sea Glass Festival
Before they professed friendship, they’d bump into each other while strolling Cayucos beaches collecting sea glass.
Then someone suggested a sea glass festival. They called a meeting. Everyone came.
Their idea had significant potential. A national network of sea glass collectors existed, including a social network, www.seaglass association.org, where they could promote their community event to vendors looking for festivals to sell their creations.
Kiki Kornreich was drafted as chairwoman. The Cayucos Chamber of Commerce agreed March 5 was a date traditionally scant for hotel bookings.
The festival concept received the first funding from the Cayucos Business Improvement District.
Volunteering her graphic arts skills, Korn-reich created a logo, posters and letterhead.
Her committee of co-collectors — Kathy Wrenn, Lilah Kollman, Donna Halliday, Carol Kramer, Debbie Black, Nadine Lilly and Kathi Slabodnir — met weekly all year finalizing the details.
Vendor sites sold out instantly. Merchants embraced the all-day event beginning at 10 a.m. A Friday evening chamber social will welcome visitors during setup.
“Once they visit our beautiful community, they’ll be back,” Kornreich said. “We want them to think we’re awesome and spread the word for 2012.”
Merchants donated silent auction items such as whale watching, magnums of wine and “bliss” massages.
Every restaurant and caterer intends to create a signature menu item to sell in the gourmet food tent adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Lions Hall near Cayucos Pier.
Cayucos Ale is brewing and Cayucos Cellars has bottled two unique festival wines. The cost is only $2 for the public to view the sea glass displays from all over the world.
“Sea glass pieces can sell for $10 to $350 depending on size, shape, color, where it was found,” Wrenn said. “Jewelry will sell from $5 to very expensive.”
Notable photographer Josie Iselin will display with works by jewelry and art vendors from Maine to California.
“Friends met recycling trash the ocean makes beautiful,” Slabodnir said. “Now we’re working together to showcase our Cayucos community.”
The Cayucos Citizens Advisory Council election is March 8 at the veterans hall.
Voters elect two representatives to meet monthly and recommend best practices to the San Luis Obispo County supervisors.
Candidates include: Precinct 1: Carol Baptiste and John Carsel; Precinct 2: Paul Choucalas and Bill Shea; Precinct 3: David Dabritz; Precinct 4: Roland Hutchinson; Precinct 5: Steven Beightler and Margaret Ambrosavage; Precinct 6: Marie Jaqua and DeAnne Harland; Precinct 7: Gregg Bettencourt and Chris Pope; Precinct 8: Current Chairman Larry Fishman and Clay Selkirk.
“The council serves the people of Cayucos. Participation and communication guides each representative to better serve community needs,” elections Chairwoman Lynn Schoennauer said.
This story was originally published February 27, 2011 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Many come together for Sea Glass Festival."