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Pizzico Italiano: Grab a Slice of Southern Italy in Avalon for the Summer

Summertime in the southern regions of Italy can be unforgettable with an abundance of tomatoes, fresh seafood, and gelato that you can enjoy al fresco. In Avalon, you can still relish a slice of Italy from the homestyle Italian dishes served at Pizzico Italiano.

This family-run restaurant has been around for more than five years in Avalon but it has recently moved to a new location a few steps away from its former site. In early 2021, Pizzico Italiano opened at 48 Old Barrenjoey Road and has been equipped with a new woodfire oven to allow them to serve more of those fantastic and tasty pizza choices that locals perpetually crave.

Pizzico Italiano is famous for its “slow dough” method, a carefully and meticulously prepared pizza crust with blends of imported Italian flours, which is then fermented and proofed for two days so it comes out crusty but light and easy to digest.

Pizza flavours range from Margherita, Marinara, Napoli, Siciliana, Capricciosa, Bianca, Diavola, Quattro Salumi, or Quattro Formaggi, using cured, fermented, and ethically grown Australian pork ingredients. Customers who order online can un-tick or add on the ingredients to customise their pizza orders.

Every dish from this restaurant is inspired by their grandmother’s cooking, who is originally from southern Italy, which may currently be picked up in-store or delivered. Nonna’s kitchen usually prepares on-site and changes seasonally, depending on the availability of the ingredients.

Whilst the lockdowns are still in place, Pizzico Italiano is also offering picnic boxes filled with antipasto and your choice of meals to take during your adventures around the beautiful green and breezy spaces of the Northern Beaches.

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Follow Pizzico Italiano on Facebook for updates on trading hours and other deals.

“Fabulous food, highly recommend. We ordered a variety of pizzas and pasta for takeaway, service was friendly and efficient. Tried to snap a photo before the family dived in. We’ll be back.”
Xyz Abc

“Pizzico!! Lucky enough to enjoy with the people closest to me. Amazing authentic pizza I can’t rate high enough! Will defiantly be going back regularly!”
Luca Simec

“Magical atmosphere, excellent food, amazing authentic pizza, great italian wine and friendly staff. Love, love love a little bit of Italy always makes for a great night out. Perfect takeaway service as well. What more could you want!!”
Cate Hagan

Darko Desic Fundraiser for Prison Escapee Who Hid in Avalon Gains Over 400 Donors

A fundraiser for Darko Desic, the elderly prison escapee who has hidden in Avalon since 1992, has gained over 400 donors and more than $26,000 in funds since its launch on 15 Sept 2021. Concerned locals have rallied behind the man who was forced to turn himself in after jobs have dried up due to the lockdowns.

Mr Desic, 64, escaped Grafton prison in the 1990s following a three-and-a-half-year sentence for selling cannabis. He settled in Avalon where he did odd jobs whilst undetected from the police for the last three decades.

Due to the pandemic, Mr Desic ran out of opportunities to render his services as a handyman and was evicted from his home. After weeks of sleeping on the beach in Avalon, he surrendered to the police station in Dee Why on 12 September so he could have a roof over his head.

“Although I have never met him, I believe everyone deserves a second chance,” Belle Higgins, the organiser of the fundraiser wrote.

Ms Higgins is a psychotherapist who wants to help Mr Desic get a lawyer who can permanently get him out of prison. The money raised will also help the prison escapee find a home where he could rebuild his life.

She and her husband, Peter, were able to find a solicitor for Mr Desic so he could receive legal advice. Paul McGirr will file for his immediate release after the Dee Why police charged him with an escape from lawful custody since he has no police record since his escape from prison.

Darko Desic, also more commonly known as Dougie among Avalon locals, has been refused bail by the Central Local Court in Surry Hills and will go back to court on 28 Sept.

Meanwhile, a long-lost cousin, Anthony Desic, 28, thought Dougie returned to Croatia after his prison sentence. Anthony’s father, Nikola, who died in 2019, was the prison escapee’s beloved uncle.

Anthony, who lives in Coffs Harbour, said he was surprised to see in the news that Dougie was living in Sydney for the last 30 years. He has written his cousin a letter and sent some family photos. Anthony also expressed his gratitude for the Avalon community and hopes his cousin will get his second chance.

New Avalon Restaurant Offers Freshly Made Takeaway Pasta And Sauces

Photo credit: Spaghetti 75 Pastificio/Instagram

Avalon’s Spaghetti 75 Pastificio is a dine-in and takeaway restaurant perfect for those who are craving fresh handmade pasta and delicious sauces.

Read: Park’nPay App Now Servicing Avalon Beach, Joining 22 Sydney Suburbs

Located along Barrenjoey Road, Spaghetti 75 Pastificio originally started offering take-home pasta packs, including spaghetti, penne, casarecce, Conchiglie or “shells” type of pasta, tagliatelle, maccheroni, and fusilli, as well as specials, like their squid-ink spaghetti.

Photo credit: Spaghetti 75 Pastificio/Instagram

Now they are ready to serve lunch and dinner on-site by allowing dine-in. Top picks on the menu include ‘Ragu Bolognese,’ a slow-cooked pork and veal bolognese; ‘Gamberi’ or local tiger prawns in a light tomato sauce;and for dessert, tiramisu, which consists of layers of coffee and liquer-soaked sponge biscuits, mascarpone, chocolate.

Chef Josef Elias (Photo credit: Spaghetti 75 Pastificio/Instagram)

Aside from all the pasta made by Anna Nichols using organic Italian flour ( also available gluten-free), they also have a range of sauces, freshly prepared daily by Chef Josef Elias.

“Recently moved to the area and am obsessed with this place. The pasta is incredible,” said local guide Elle.

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Spaghetti 75 Pastificio is open daily except on Mondays, with options for takeaway and delivery via Uber Eats. They are also planning to open a new location soon in Northbridge. You can follow them on Instagram @spaghetti75pastificio or check out the website for trading hours and the menu.

Keeping Cats Safe at Home Program Launches in Avalon, 10 NSW LGAs

The RSPCA NSW has launched a new program to ensure that domesticated cats in Avalon, as well as 10 urban and regional sites in New South Wales, remain safe at home. The Keeping Cats Safe at Home initiative should help the experts understand how cats and wildlife can co-exist with the help of pet owners.

The new program will provide cat owners education and seek advice from communities on how to improve cat ownership. The Councils chosen for this initiative include Northern Beaches (Avalon), Blue Mountains City, Byron Shire, Campbelltown City, City of Parramatta, Hornsby Shire, Shoalhaven City, Tweed Shire and Kyogle, Walgett Shire, and Weddin Shire.

Environment Minister Matt Kean said that domesticated cats account for the deaths of millions of native mammals, birds, and reptiles across Australia every year.

“We all love living close to bushland and even though we love our pets, we know native species and domestic cats don’t co-exist well, so we need to make sure our native wildlife is protected,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said that Keeping Cats Safe at Home will be “tailored to each council’s needs” and will engage local representatives, veterinarians, companion animal groups, cat owners, the general community, and wildlife groups. In due time, resources for schools will also be developed.

RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said that the Keeping Cats Safe at Home program is expected to facilitate real change in the next four years.

“Our job is to help people help animals, and in doing that we can ensure our furry feline friends will live longer, happier, healthier lives and so too will our native birds and wildlife.”

Avalon and Northern Beaches residents may begin contributing by answering this short online survey.

Avalon Beach Next to Receive NBN Fibre Upgrade

Following a rollout spanning eight years, NBN has announced that 300,000 more businesses and homes, including those in Avalon Beach, will be upgraded from fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband connections.

The company stated that the NBN fibre upgrade expansion will increase the total number of eligible areas with NBN fibre speed of up to 1Gbps to 1.4 million across the country as part of its $3.5 billion network investment program.

Switching from fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) entails replacing the old copper wiring technology that delivers slower internet. FTTP is now the fastest internet connection in the country.

The upgrade will mean no more buffering issues which will benefit households with at least four logged-on users simultaneously. This is especially significant to residents who are working from home whilst the kids are also learning online.

Apart from Avalon Beach, the following NSW areas will also receive upgrades:

Albion Park Rail, Alstonville, Ambarvale, Banora Point, Beaumont Hills, Berkeley, Brighton-Le-Sands, Broulee, Bundeena, Callala Bay, Callala Beach, Campbelltown, Currans Hill, Dalmeny, Farmborough Heights, Figtree, Glen Alpine, Glenmore Park, Glenwood, Goonellabah, Goulburn, Harrington Park, Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Keiraville, Lake Heights, Lennox Heads, Mollymook Beach, Mount Warrigal, North Nowra, Palm Beach, Pottsville, Rouse Hill, Ruse, Stanhope Gardens, Sussex Inlet, Sutherland, The Ponds, Tweed Heads, Tweed Heads South, Unanderra, Warrawong, Windang, and Yamba.

“We’re very pleased to announce the latest list of suburbs and towns across Australia – from Avalon Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches peninsula to Fremantle, Western Australia – that will ultimately see around 2 million FTTN premises become eligible to upgrade to Fibre to the Premises and gain access to NBN Home Ultrafast services, on demand,” NBN Co chief operating officer Katherine Dyer said.

“We will launch a small-scale pilot of the FTTN to FTTP upgrade program to enable the first eligible premises to access a higher speed NBN Home Fast, NBN Home Superfast or NBN Home Ultrafast service via their chosen internet retailer in November this year.”

Essentially, customers may opt for the FTTP plan with their internet service provider once the upgrades are done.

Bookoccino Avalon Does Click-and-Collect Delivery During the Lockdown

Tired of binge-watching Netflix shows during the lockdown? Whilst stay-at-home orders will remain in Sydney for at least another month, Bookoccino Avalon has offered a click-and-collect delivery service for those looking to catch up on their reading.

Online or phone orders at Bookoccino Avalon will be prepared by one or two workers, which could be picked up at their Barrenjoey site or delivered for free for residents from Narrabeen to Palm Beach. The bookstore will also ship across the country for free as well, for book orders above $50.

Thriving for three decades as one of the Northern Beaches’ cultural hubs, Bookoccino Avalon sustains trading in this pandemic by keeping patrons updated on their social media pages. The staff, who are also complying with the stay-at-home orders, have been sharing their own reading lists and book collections for booklovers who may be wondering what they should read next.

Among Bookoccino’s recent page-turners include Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson, and Double Blind by Edward St Aubyn. They also have some of the titles added in the 2021 Booker Longlist, such as Second Place by Rachel Cusk, The Promise by Damon Galgut, Circle by Maggie Shipstead, and Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford.

Check the shop’s latest inventory at their online store and follow the shop’s Instagram page for updates.

In Memoriam

Meanwhile, Bookoccino founder and longtime Avalon resident, Roger Hutchings, has passed away peacefully in late July following a lingering illness. He was 85 years old.

His daughter, Ellie, said that her father “breathed Bookoccino and the Avalon community” and invested his time tending to the independent bookshop he co-founded in 1992 until his retirement in 2017.

Mr Hutchings supported the work of many local authors and collaborated with publishers to develop the Northern Beaches’ creative industry. A pioneer of late-night shop hours and reusable bookstore bags, Mr Hutchings was also well-travelled. He yearned to constantly learn about the world and brought back ideas and concepts he discovered to his bookstore.

Calls Renewed to Remove Shark Nets Across Avalon, NSW Beaches

A new study has revealed that shark nets installed across the beaches in NSW, including Avalon, have harmed and killed more turtles, dolphins, fur seals, and even whales than the sharks that are its target species.

Of the 375 marine animals caught on the shark nets from 2020 to 2021, 62 percent have died and 89 percent of these deaths were non-targets, as per the data released by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The nets caught just 40 of the intended species (bull, tiger, white sharks) but it was more common to see southern eagle rays (95), smooth hammerheads (60), and bronze whalers (38) trapped in the mesh. Twelve of 18 turtles caught on the nets also died within the said period.

This has renewed calls from the Humane Society International Australia (HSI) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) to end the state’s Shark Meshing Program. Representatives of groups said that this strategy, developed over 100 years ago, has to be replaced with new technology to make the beaches safe for both marine life and swimmers.

The HSI and AMCS are hoping that DPI will come up with a modern and sophisticated bather protection program that will be more effective at deterring targetted species.

Lawrence Chlebeck of the HSI said that it’s heartbreaking to see marine animals dying every year due to the “false sense of security provided by shark nets.” He said that NSW needs to end these “indiscriminate deaths” as it contributes to the reduction of marine wildlife.

For years, advocates for marine life have been saying that shark nets do not work. Two high-profile shark bite incidents within this decade, which took place in Bondi and Avalon, occurred when the shark nets were in place in the water. The majority of the sharks caught on the net on the swimmers or shore’s side were also trying to get out and swim back to safety.

Shark nets are usually deployed from 1 September and 30 April each year at NSW beaches stretching from Newcastle to Wollongong. To date, just six local councils have revoked the program and established non-lethal solutions like SMART drumlines.

Top 3 Places Around Avalon to Call for Health Food Deliveries to Your Home

Although staying at home reduces your risk of contracting COVID-19, the disruption in your daily activities due to the lockdown could lead to unhealthy eating habits. To maintain a healthy diet, you’ll need a regular supply of greens, sprouts and fruits. Here are three shops to conveniently order nutritious food from if you live in Avalon.

Omsai Ayurveda

Website: https://www.omsaiayurveda.com.au/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/omsai.ayurveda/

This specialty kitchen is managed by Nettie who took courses on Ayurvedic Medicine at Nature Care College. She also trained under Ayurvedic chef Hale Pule and Dr Adjit, Australasia’s most experienced Ayurvedic doctor.

The food from Omsai Ayurveda makes use of wholesome medicinal herbs and spices. Nettie’s meal plans are often customised for her client’s dietary needs and will benefit new mums, people living or working at high-stress levels, as well as those with digestive issues, and fatigue conditions. Inquire about her meal plan here.

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The Fruitful Boxes

Website: https://thefruitfulboxes.com.au/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/thefruitfulboxes/

Avalon locals Tony and his wife Gloria are behind The Fruitful Boxes and as the name implies, their business is anchored on delivering boxes of fruits and vegetables for families who love to eat healthily. The idea for their business started years ago at their children’s soccer matches, where many parents kept asking for fruit boxes for their kids as well.

Today, the store delivers a variety of fruit boxes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday around the Northern Beaches. Some of the packages include yogurt, freshly squeezed juices, or bread. Order online and secure a delivery schedule.

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Forage Gourmet Edibles

Website: https://www.foragegourmetedibles.com.au/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/foragegourmetedibles/

Another family-owned business, Forage Gourmet Edibles has partnered with Urban Green Sydney to supply fresh edible plants to restaurants, cafes, and the Sydney Market from its own sprawling farm in Terrey Hills.

If you need a steady supply of herbs and flowers for your homecooked meals, the shop has a regular pick-up schedule every Thursday and Friday at The Deli Bilgola on Plateau Road. You may place your order online or email info@foragegourmetedibles.com.au for enquiries.

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Power Up with Immune-Boosting Meals from Girdlers Avalon Beach

Good nutrition ties with good health and in these challenging times, people need a strong immune system to fight back against the virus. Whilst the lockdowns might limit people’s options for nutritious meals, Girdlers in Avalon Beach remains open for takeaway, pick-up, and delivery.

For health-conscious locals who want tasty food, Girdlers has wide-ranging choices of immune-boosting meals made with wholesome and natural ingredients. Preferred by people with food sensitivities, vegans, and vegetarians, the shop on Hilltop Road can cater to pre-ordered meals to stock up at home.

Choices include a flavourful helping of Bacon & Egg Roll Gone Healthy (organic bacon and organic fried eggs topped with baby spinach and homemade vegan mayo with organic bun or a gluten-free roll), the Goodness Bowl (avocado, kale, organic boiled egg, grilled halloumi, chives & pomegranate quinoa, homemade purple kraut with Green Goddess Dressing), or a variety of sweet and savoury crepes, including plant-based choices.

Every Friday and Saturday, the cafe serves Mexican takeaways like jack fruit burritos or tacos paired with loaded nachos using organic corn chips, smashed avo, and vegan sour creme. These dishes are perfect for a guilt-free binge when winding down on the weekend.

Girdlers is also known for its filling super smoothies that promote a healthy gut. Even the kids will love their variety of healthy but delicious drinks.

*Photo Credit: GirdlersAvalonBeach/Facebook*

“At Girdlers we are all about staying in harmony with the seasons and our dishes contain the freshest seasonal fruit & vegetables that are beaming with antioxidants, phytonutrients and vitamins, magnesium, potassium, iodine and fiber,” the team said.

“Healthy eating should never be a punish or deprivation but instead a celebration of the freshest food available, a treat for your palate and nourishment for your whole being. We are deeply honoured to play a small part in your personal health journey – now more than ever!”

Aside from Avalon, Girdlers has shops in Dee Why, Manly, and Warringah Mall. If the name sounds familiar to NRL fans, it’s because the restaurant is from Ryan Girdler, the former football player, and his partner, Katja. Mr Girdler said that they review their business model every week to adjust to the lockdown orders.

Follow their Facebook page for the opening hours, delivery arrangements, latest menu, and other deals.

We are returning customers, I bring my blind client every couple of weeks and we love it. Friendly helpful staff, food amazing, Coffee,Tea and smoothies etc yummy also very good access ramp for getting my client with her walker to the tables.
Maria J

Amazing food. So healthy but still tastes so good!!! Well priced and amazing service. We drive an hour to come here!!
Melisa Yilmaz

Avalon AVPals Digital Classes for Seniors Shifts Online

Did you know that there is a non-profit organisation helping senior residents in Northern Beaches learn and improve their computer skills? The Avalon Computer Pals (AVPALS) has helped thousands of locals get on board with the digital landscape with heaps of free courses but this year’s Term 3 classes will run online via the Zoom platform.

AVPALS normally holds Monday to Friday classes at the Maria Regina Church Hall on Central Road in Avalon Beach. Due to the COVID situation in the Northern Beaches, Term 3 sessions will have to be suspended.

However, Zoom (online) sessions will be underway every Tuesday afternoon for five weeks. These classes have been originally planned for the Newport attendees but AVPALS is now offering slots to Northern Beaches residents who might want to have an enriching time during the lockdown.

Each of the Zoom sessions is estimated to last 30 minutes. Here’s what participants can expect if they sign up for AVPALS’ Zoom courses:

CLASS	WHEN
Covid Digital Vaccination Certificate	20 July 2021 1:30 p.m.	Learn how to add your Covid vaccination certificate on your mobile devices. Discussions will also cover preparations needed when travel opens once the virus has been defeated.
Bring your old laptop to life!	3 Aug 2021 1:30 p.m.	Learn how to install a free operating system on your laptop.
Don’t lose your identity!	17 Aug 2021 1:30 p.m.	Learn how to wise up against cybercriminals
Password Protection	31 Aug 2021 1:30 p.m.	Pick out the best passwords and learn why this is important for your protection
What is new with iOS15?	14 Sept 2021 1:30 p.m.	The latest Apple gadgets will be released in September, including the new Apple software. The topic will circle around the latest changes for Apple devices, as well as tricks to make the gadgets more user-friendly.

Interested participants can register for a slot online. A stable internet access is required for the Zoom classes.

Incidentally, AVPALS is also hosting one-on-one computer training sessions for more customised learning. Phone 80643574 for enquiries.