R. Roger Rowe campus ready for students

Renovations on the R. Roger Rowe School began a little over a year ago. Photos/Karen Billing

By Karen Billing

Move-in day finally arrived for the Rancho Santa Fe School District, a little over a year from when construction began last summer. Teachers and staff moved into their renovated new digs at the R. Roger Rowe School right on schedule on Monday, Aug. 30.
“There’s a lot of excitement in the air,” said district superintendent Lindy Delaney. “This is a dream come true for the community, staff and students. We all just relish the fact that we have a new facility. Soon it will be business as usual.”

Risk of oil spills exist in San Diego, experts say at forum

By Joe Tash

San Diego County may not be home to offshore oil drilling platforms, but it still faces a risk of oil spills from military and tanker ships, tanker-trucks and an oil pipeline from Los Angeles, said experts at a forum held locally last week.

In Loving Memory

Rancho Santa Fe philanthropist Kaye M. Woltman, an accomplished San Diego businesswoman, passed away on Aug. 27 after losing a courageous battle with cancer.

Solana Santa Fe First Day of School Above: (Left) Where did the summer go? Hard to believe it is that time of the year already, but Solana Santa Fe school students were back hitting the books on Aug. 30. (Left) Kindergartner John Guy with second graders Jordan Salter and Aidan Guy. See more inside. Photo/Karen Billing

‘Jungle Book’ comes to RSF Community Center Above:(Left) Community Theater Summer Camp participants shined in the RSF Community Center’s recent production of Disney’s “Jungle Book.” Led by Maureen Cassarino and Harriet Joslyn, cast members featured children entering grades K-9. Children entering grades K-2 performed in the chorus. All actors were responsible for their own costumes. See inside for more. Photo/Marcel Chambers

Profile Harry Leibowitz & Kay Isaacson-Leibowitz

Couple devotes retirement to global philanthropy through their prestigious World of Children Awards

By Arthur Lightbourn

When Harry Leibowitz was recovering from prostate cancer surgery 14 years ago, he had a life-changing realization.
“When you’ve had surgery, you’re home by yourself, living alone, you’re catheterized, on drugs, and feeling pretty low, so what do you do? You sit and watch TV.”
He turned on the news.
They were reporting on the winners of the 1996 Pulitzer Prizes.
“And I just had this epiphany that if they have Pulitzer Prizes for art and literature, and Nobel Prizes for science and economics, why was there no recognition system for people who devote their lives selflessly to children?”
Why not, indeed?

Local entrepreneurs help save lives with ‘Life+Gear’

(Above) Life+Gear specializes in creating emergency preparedness items.

By Marlena Chavira-Medford
Staff Writer

When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti last winter, Dennis Bertken and Nick Connor, like many, were glued to their TVs. As they watched those images of survivors in the aftermath, they saw something familiar: products manufactured by their company Life+Gear, which specializes in creating emergency preparedness items.

Nuptial News

Elise Christine Schraner and Neil Christopher Thornton

Neil Christopher Thornton and Elise Christine Schrane

Elise Christine Schraner, daughter of Robert and Vicki Schraner of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and Neil Christopher Thornton, son of Paul and Terry Thornton of Ottershaw, Surrey, United Kingdom, were married on May 29, 2010. The ceremony took place at the beautiful stone church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Albury Park. The church dates back to Saxon and Norman times and is located in Guildford, Surrey. Following the service, cocktails, dinner and dancing were held at Albury Park Mansion, which is one of Surrey’s major country manors and dates back to the turn of the 17th century. Despite the distinctly British setting, the couple brought together and celebrated the two cultures of the United States and the United Kingdom.

Art Jury candidates wanted

By Tom Lang, RSF Assoc-iation president

I just finished reading the very first Rancho Santa Fe newsletter printed in 1927. The newsletter mentioned that instead of a municipality, residents would be asked to vote on a new concept called a homeowners association.

Fear of 'becoming Los Angeles’ voiced at recent Caltrans freeway workshop

By Marlena Chavira-Medford
Staff Writer

It was another full house at the Aug. 24 Caltrans’ I-5 expansion project workshop held at Skyline Elementary School in Solana Beach. Hundreds showed up to get more information about the possible expansion of Interstate-5, which would widen the freeway from La Jolla to Oceanside. During the two-hour event, neighbors had a chance to chat one-on-one with about 25 representatives from Caltrans, SANDAG, and the consultants who have been working with them.

Bestselling author focuses on
ordinary people’s extraordinary tales

Above: two of her most recent books. Photos/Diane Welch

By Diane Y. Welch
Contributor

On Saturday, Aug. 28, local author, Lynn Vincent addressed an intimate audience at Earth Song Books and Gifts in Del Mar. Vincent is nationally known for her collaboration as ghostwriter for former Alaska governor and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Her memoir “Going Rogue” was an instant New York Times bestseller.

Michael S. Rosenberg guides the
La Jolla Playhouse to even higher level

Michael S. Rosenberg

Michael S. Rosenberg was appointed managing director of La Jolla Playhouse in April 2009. During his first season, he worked in partnership with Artistic Director Christopher Ashley to produce three world premieres, including two Playhouse commissions and the musical “Bonnie & Clyde.”

RSF Art Guild to host reception Sept. 9 for ‘Fresh and Playful’ exhibition

Please join the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild as it hosts a reception for the Rancho Santa Fe Art Walk and its “Fresh and Playful” exhibition Sept. 9 from 5 – 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The Art Walk will also include receptions at Wells Fargo Bank and the Rancho Santa Fe Library.
www.ranchosantafeartguild.org.