Chief Nick Pavone of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department, and Fire Marshal Cliff Hunter gave an in-depth presentation recently covering lessons learned from last year’s Witch Creek Fire. On Aug. 19, more than 100 concerned residents attended the lecture at Morgan’s Run, which was sponsored by the Whispering Palms Community Council.

A 19-year-old man accused of a violent attack during a midnight gathering pleaded not guilty Aug. 21.

While the nation was in the grips of the Beijing Olympics, families in the Ranch were racing to prepare for the new school year, which began Aug. 21. There were pool events, picnics, gymnasium activities and a slew of other events leading up to the opening ceremony — the first day of school.

On Sept. 18 a special meeting will take place at the Garden Club to determine whether members of the Association want to vote to modify the Association Bylaws. The issue at hand concerns future attempts to study incorporation of the Ranch. A change in the bylaws would require the membership to vote to authorize money and staff time spent to pursue the study of incorporation.

In a semiannual report given to the Association board Aug. 7, Rancho Santa Fe Patrol Chief Matt Wellhouser stated that there were 1,658 calls for assistance in the first six months of the year, down 5.42 percent from the same period in 2007.

On Aug. 7, the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society received approval from the Association board to install cast iron bells in several locations in the Ranch to commemorate the historic route of El Camino Real. The route is now 102 years old and the first bell was installed at Pueblo de Los Angeles, near Olvera Street, in downtown Los Angeles in 1906. The commemorative bells run throughout the state and their inclusion in Rancho Santa Fe will be the result of two years worth of work.

By David Wiemers

The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club is currently undergoing major work to repair 30 years worth of cracking and upheaval. All walkways and patio decks are being replaced with interlocking pavers. The old walkways were cracked from old age and were unlevel, as much as an inch, due to tree roots.

“The Association is always looking to purchase more open space,” said Tim Moore, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, during an update to the Association board at the meeting July 17.

For the past six years, the California Highway Patrol has sought to increase its level of service and enforcement in Rancho Santa Fe. The Senior Volunteer and Explorers programs have stepped up to the plate to help achieve these goals.

Dozens of art lovers and artists gathered recently to celebrate “Summer in the Ranch,” the new show on display at the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild.

New Association President Lois Jones began the first meeting of the new administrative year by welcoming new board directors Tom Lang and Deb Plummer. Then it was time to get to work with returning Directors Tim Sullivan, Kim Higgins and Bill Beckman. Only Director Steve Schillington was not present.

Once again residents of Rancho Santa Fe stepped up to support the sale of bonds for the renovation of the R. Roger Rowe campus. In February, the community overwhelmingly passed Proposition E, which approved $34 million in funding for the renovation.

On July 3, the Association board approved patrol Chief Matt Wellhouser’s request to purchase two new Ford Explorers to add to the patrol fleet.

The architecture of Lilian Jenette Rice was celebrated at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club on July 13. Cultural landscape specialist Vonn Marie May gave an enthusiastic presentation to approximately 100 Ranch residents and history buffs from the San Diego area. The Rancho Santa Fe and San Diego historical societies and the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club sponsored the event.