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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 13, N0. 28
Envelope Day event readied
Association announces town hall meeting By Christina Macone-Greene
By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — As the R. Roger Rowe school year is underway, the Rancho Santa Fe Education Foundation is readying for Red Envelope Day. This year the event is slated for Oct. 6. RSFEF Development Director Barbara Edwards explained that the school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. Red Envelope Day serves as a push to help jumpstart the fundraising. The fundraising goal for the 2017-2018 school year is $1 million. “We ask for contributions and pledges early in the year, because the Annual Grant from the Education Foundation helps fund small class sizes and enrichment programs for this academic year, so early payments help us track our progress to goal and make timely distributions to the district,” Edwards said. Red Envelope Day consists of contribution forms which come with red envelopes. “It is our symbol of committing to and supporting the Education Foundation financially,” she said. Edwards explained that every family received the contribution form and red envelope in their summer mailing packet. While the form can be dropped off at any time, the RSFEF created a day which centers around an annual giving campaign. “We basically decorate the school in a sea of red balloons, and we have doughnuts that we hand out to everyone at drop off,” she said. “We have a whole slew of volunteers lined up along with the balloons taking collections as parents drive up to the school.” Popcorn is served at pickup. The day culminates with a “Paint The Rowe Red” evening reception at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe on Oct. 6. The event is underwritten by the Inn. “Any Rancho Santa Fe parent who makes a contribution or pledge to be paid later in the year is eligible to attend,” she said, adding that they will update the list until 5 p.m. that day. The evening is an opportunity to have parents gather and enjoy the company of other parents who have also made contribuTURN TO RED ENVELOPE ON 12
SEPT. 15, 2017
Helen Woodward Animal Center rescues 64 animals after Hurricane Harvey strikes Houston. Courtesy photos
HWAC mobilizes to rescue shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FW— Animal rescue workers rallied into action following the wrath of Hurricane Harvey, which left overwhelming amounts of flood waters behind. One local organization lending a helping hand was Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe which rescued 64 animals after receiving a call from Operation Pets Alive! on Aug. 31. Four HWAC staff members, including vet techs, flew into Austin, Texas, since all flights into Houston were rerouted. Operations Pets Alive!, headquartered in Texas, raises awareness regarding the No-Kill movement. After Hurricane Harvey
lashed Houston, Operations Pets Alive! was in desperate need of help for shelter animals. “These were homeless animals, with no families when Hurricane Harvey hit,” Jessica Gercke, PR and communications director of HWAC said. “These shelters were suddenly underwater and the food was ruined. They had no electricity and their veterinary abilities were shut down.” Gercke said Montgomery County Animal Shelter utilized the Lone Star Convention Center as an emergency shelter for these orphan pets. And Operation Pets Alive! is working to turn Montgomery County into a No-Kill county. During the hurricane
HWAC’s Harvey Pets are getting the love and attention they need.
ruin and chaos, people who lost their homes turned to functioning animal shelters to house their pets until they settled into a new place. Concerns mounted over the safety of shelter animals — there was a fear that shelter animals would be euthanized due to the limited kennel space. Operation Pets Alive! reached out to HWAC asking if they could take some homeless animals. HWAC couldn’t get there fast enough. “Southwest Airlines, who is an amazing friend, gave us a plane free for us to use,” Gercke said. “Their crew donated their time.” HWAC stayed for a few days helping with the shelters in the area including the Lone Star Convention Center. “Many animals were in need,” Gercke said. “Our team helped take donations, stacked up food, provided veterinary care, walked the animals and did whatever they could to help out. She noted there were about 700 animals at the Lone Star Convention Center. On Sept. 5, HWAC team members returned home on a Southwest Airlines flight, bringing back 64 Harvey Pets ranging from dogs to cats, puppies and kittens. Gercke shared that SeaWorld San Antonio donated vans with air conditioning to transport the animals during a three-hour drive back to the Austin Airport. When HWAC touched ground in San Diego, Sea World San Diego provided animal transportation to Rancho Santa Fe. The journey these shelter animals went through
RANCHO SANTA FE — The Rancho Santa Fe Association wants Covenant residents to attend its RSF Connect Town Hall meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. RSF Connect is a fiber-optic network aimed at bringing high-speed 1-Gigabit-per-second internet service to the Covenant. Residents are asked to attend since the decision to bring high-speed internet to the area requires a community-wide vote. Ballots for the community advisory vote will be mailed on Sept. 11 and are due back to the RSFA on Oct. 4. A tabulated count is scheduled for Oct. 5. According to Association Assistant Manager Christy Whalen, RSF Connect meeting coverage will include the benefits of the fiber-optic network, project cost and financing, project timeline, costs and fees to Covenant residents and services offered.
Whalen also pointed out that this is a critical community project coming to a vote. “We encourage all our members to attend this Town Hall Meeting,” she said. “It’s a great chance for members to hear details about the project. It will be an opportunity for questions, and there will be a presentation.” Whalen wants people to know that the Association decided on a community advisory vote, meaning that it is not obligated to go to the community for the vote. “However, the board has indicated that they will abide by the community sentiments,” Whalen said. The estimated cost of RSF Connect is $13 to $14 million. The RSF Golf Club is located at 5827 Via de la Cumbre in Rancho Santa Fe. For more information about RSF Connect, visit RsfAssociation.org
Mike Licosati leaves Association board By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — Rancho Santa Fe Association board member Mike Licosati resigned on Aug. 23. Licosati and his family are leaving the Ranch and relocating to Solana Beach. Licosati became an Association board member in 2015 and was voted into a three-year term. Both he and current board President Fred Wasserman ran an uncontested race and filled the seats of outgoing directors Rochelle Putnam and Craig McAllister. “We will miss the place we have called home and raised our three children over the past 15 years. We have made many lifelong friends. As our kids are now all teenagers, it was a natural time for transition,” Licosati said in a statement. He added, “The RSFA has improved, in some areas dramatically, since we moved here, especially all the new, hardworking and professional staff. I feel confident the momentum we started will continue.” In addition to being an Association board member, Licosati also served in the position as co-chair of the Technology Committee. This committee has been championing RSF Connect, a fiber-optic network that will bring high-speed internet to the Covenant. According to Christy TURN TO HARVEY ON 8
Mike Licosati Courtesy photo Whalen, Association assistant manager, Licosati will move forward in that capacity. “Mike remains on the Technology Committee as he intends to continue ownership of his home in the Covenant, where he will stay from time to time,” she said. “Mike has been very involved with the RSF Connect 1-Gigabit project, so we are fortunate to continue to benefit from his knowledge of and experience with this important community project.” Whalen went on to say that the Association bylaws provide for the board of diTURN TO LICOSATI ON 3