Looking back on 2025 in Rancho Santa Fe, part one

Below is a review of the first six months of 2025 in Rancho Santa Fe.

January

• The Los Angeles wildfires that destroyed Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods kept fire at the top of everyone’s minds. Rancho Santa Fe Fire firefighters helped battle the fires as one of four San Diego County strike teams sent north. Back home, RSF Fire and the Santa Fe Irrigation District were part of a coalition of North County fire and water agencies that were ready to respond to high fire danger conditions experienced in San Diego.
• The Rancho Santa Fe Association did its part to keep the community safe through wildfire preparedness, including taking on a fire fuel modification project at the 24.7-acre Ewing Preserve open space, focused on invasive species removal and creating defensible space between nearby homes. The $52,651 work was funded by a grant provided by the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation.

  

• At R. Roger Rowe, the student leadership club helped organize a donation drive for those affected by the wildfires and the school community rallied by organizing meal trains for local fire stations and even welcoming displaced families into their homes.
• Outreach continued on the future of the Osuna Ranch as surrounding property owners were asked to respond to the Association’s proposed land use modification, which would change the zoning to allow for semi-public uses like the proposed dog park, a natural playground or a multi-use community barn. For several years, the Association has been discussing options to energize and improve the 25-acre property but the community conversation reached a critical peak in 2025.

  

• The RSF Association board gave the go-ahead for the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club clubhouse and restaurant renovation project.  The clubhouse was last renovated 18 years ago and will include both a restaurant refresh as well as structural repairs to the building.
• Mille Fleurs celebrated its “Ruby Jubilee,  40 years of world-class French dining and fond memories in the village. Owner Bertrand Hug opened the doors on Jan. 3, 1985 and while the cozy dining room has undergone about six rounds of renovations, the menu always reflects Hug’s preference for uncomplicated foods. “I don’t want to be on the cutting edge of the culinary world with incredibly weird ingredients. Too pretentious,” he told the Review. “If Chino’s doesn’t have it, I don’t want it.”

  

February

• La Valle Coastal Club debuted the first phase of its $25 million renovation, which includes upgrades to the golf course, racquet sports, spa, pool, fitness and dining facilities, as well as the 77-room hotel on site. La Valle’s transformation began after Meriwether Properties purchased the club formerly known as Morgan Run in 2023.
• Boulevard Men, a high-end consignment shop for men, opens in the village. complimenting the women’s resale boutique that opened last year.
•  The RSF Association board passed a resolution confirming that the proposed Silvergate senior living community complies with the current zoning, responding to community and Art Jury inquiries to determine if the land use designated by the Protective Covenant was being properly interpreted. Silvergate’s plans include a mix of rental cottages, apartments and memory care units and resident amenities across a 30-acre site on Calzada del Bosque that has been vacant for going on 30 years. The complex permitting project must go through the Art Jury, the Association board and the county for approval.
• The Crosby Women’s Golf Club launched a year-long philanthropic initiative to support local causes. Their first fundraising campaign raised $5,000 for the RSF Fire District Foundation. “We are excited to foster a stronger connection with our local firefighters and show our deep appreciation for their service,” said Pamela Marnell-McDevitt, Crosby Women’s Golf Club board member.

RSF firefighters hoist up M Bolyard, the Crosby Women’s Golf Club’s Ace of the Year. (Karen Billing)

• The RSF Golf Club made progress on its plans to update and improve its course snack bar, with its design approved by the Art Jury and the RSF Association approving a $300,000 expenduture request to proceed with engineering and design. The golf club’s ideal timeline would be for the project to start next spring.

March

• The Association board opted against holding an advisory vote on the Ranch Clubhouse restaurant renovation and its financing, a request made by a petition signed by 206 Covenant members.
• The proposed land use modification for the Osuna Ranch fails, marking the end of efforts to build a dog park on the property. Only six of the 37 surrounding homeowners gave consent to the zoning change that would allow for public and semi-public uses. RSF Association Vice President Jeff Simmons said he’s not yet giving up on the dog park effort, hoping to find another location in the community. A re-energized Osuna Committee continued to work on generating ideas for the site.
• Little Hidden Bakery opens in Fairbanks Village Plaza, serving up freshly-baked pastries, bread, coffee and cakes in the former 067 Eatery location. Treats go out the door in cute pink and white striped boxes.

  

• The RSF School District crafted a new mission and vision statement with the help of a guiding coalition composed of parents and teachers. The district’s last vision statement was developed more than 15 years ago and efforts for a refresh stalled since 2022 as the district underwent leadership changes. The coalition’s work resulted in the new board-approved vision statement, “Empower Leaders, Nurture Community, and Shape a Better Future Together,” and the new guiding mission, “We inspire Discovery, Learning, and Growth.”
• In local entrepreneurial news, Rancho Santa Fe’s Paige Hansen’s BAM Buckwheat Milk was featured on “Shark Tank” while resident Cecile Giraud launched Hugo Bleu, a line of cognac and cognac liqueurs.

April

• A pop-up art installation called  “This is Now” landed in the village. The show curated by the Rancho Santa Fe resident-owned Ryan Campbell Garrett Art Advisory activated a corner space that has been vacant for over 10 years. A few months later in July, the art advisor permanently took over the space long held by Carter Financial on La Granada.

• On Easter Sunday, Horizon Prep opened its new athletic complex, a $4 million undertaking funded entirely by donations from the church and school community. The new complex features two multi-sport fields on five acres of grass, three new tennis courts for a total of six, two new outdoor volleyball and basketball courts and four sand volleyball courts for beach volleyball, one of the fastest growing high school sports. A bonus for Lions athletes: a 3,500 square foot artificial turf short game golf area.

  

• Rancho Santa Fe native Lauren Fields opened Fieldswell, a wellness sanctuary in the Plaza de Santa Fe on Paseo Delicias, offering services like personal coaching, red light therapy, sound bowl healing and guided meditation among other science-backed techniques.  Later in the year, she expanded with Fieldswell Studios, featuring a full podcast and recording and recording studio, making room for clients to take a wellness-approach to media.
• The RSF Association board directed staff to explore a lot split and sale of the Osuna Ranch. The proposal pitched by board Treasurer Phil Trubey called for the Association to maintain and “forever preserve” the Osuna Adobe while spinning off the equestrian property so it could be well-maintained in private hands, with all Association members benefitting from the proceeds of the sale. “Normally the Association board would simply expend assessment money to upgrade the facility as it is doing with the clubhouse restaurant,” Trubey said. “However, the vast majority of our 4,000 adult members use the restaurant while only eight members currently board horses at Osuna. So, spending significant assessment money on this facility isn’t fiscally prudent.”
• Palma Boutique opened in Del Rayo Village Shopping Center. The new women’s luxury fashion spot took over the former longtime home of GSB Men’s Clothier.
• The RSF Rotary honored local firefighters and emergency personnel with the First Responders Appreciation Dinner at the Secret Garden.

  

• Solana Beach School District board member Tanya Koshy announced her intention to resign effective June 30, due to personal reasons. The longtime school volunteer had just had just been elected in November 2024 after running unopposed. “It has been an honor to serve on this board. I wish it could have been longer but sometimes life has other plans,” Koshy remarked. “I continue to be in awe of everything this district does.”

May

• “Save the Osuna” was the rallying call when the Osuna conversation came to a head at the May Association meeting where residents shared a lot of passion and emotions in response to the board’s direction the month before to explore a potential sale. “I know when people drive by Osuna Ranch they feel connected to the horses and the pasture. It’s a glimpse into the past and a dose of peace that I hope offsets the energy of the commuter traffic speeding through,” read a letter from resident Jeneva Bell. “I think whoever helped make the decision to purchase Osuna understood that we need these open spaces to preserve the Ranch and feel what the Ranch community is all about.” Two of the five board members, Vice President Jeff Simmons and Skip Atkins, stated they would not support a sale.  The board’s goal remained to determine the best path forward for the ranch, trying to get to a solution that would benefit the entire community. The Osuna Committee would continue its efforts to enhance member usage of the property, and the Association would work again toward a community survey.

  

• R. Roger Rowe School held its annual jogathon, for the third year in a row benefiting Honor Flight San Diego. The school had 20 World War II, Korea and Vietnam War veterans in attendance, their largest group ever. The kids connected with the veterans, thanking them for their service and listening to stories about their time at war. The veterans said it was touching to see how much the students cared. “I think it’s really cool and I appreciate veterans a lot because they fought for our freedom so we’re safe,” said fifth grader Asher Decallier.
• The Helen Woodward Education Center opened its new Sharron Lee MacDonald Humane Education Campus, named for MacDonald, a Rancho Santa Fe philanthropist. The campus is geared toward giving kids a place to cultivate love and care for all animals, featuring habitat-inspired classrooms, indoor and outdoor animal enclosures, increased space for staff and volunteers and two playgrounds.

  

• Ballots were mailed out for the 2025 RSF Association board election, with four candidates seeking three seats on the board. Candidates included incumbent Courtney LeBeau, Steve Games, Joanne Marks and Courtney Silberberg. Phil Trubey and Scott Thurman did not seek re-election at the conclusion of their terms.
• Giving back is good: The RSF Women’s Fund held its Grants Celebration Meeting and Awards Luncheon, granting $518,000 to 12 local organizations, while the RSF Garden Club awarded $137,000 to 19 organizations that support local horticulture education and conservation in San Diego County.

June

• Former RSF School District board member Rosemarie Rohatgi died on June 6 from colon cancer at the age of 53.  “Rose’s service left a lasting legacy and her contributions will not be forgotten,” said Superintendent Kim Pinkerton. “Her impact will be felt for years to come not only through the policies she helped shape but in the example she set as a leader who led with courage, heart and hope.”
• The votes were tallied in the 2025 RSF Association election and Covenant residents re-elected Courtney LeBeau and two new members to the board. In a year with slightly lower voter turnout from last year, Joanne Marks was the top vote-getter with 869 votes, followed by Courtney Silberberg with 800 and LeBeau with 736.
• The Solana Beach School District board appointed new member Jomi Richard to fill its board vacancy after a solo public interview session, as she was the only applicant.  As a provisional appointee, Richards will serve until the next regularly scheduled general election in November 2026 where she could opt to run for a shortened two-year term through 2028.
• The Osuna Committee’s Celebrate Osuna event pays homage to the Ranch’s rich history.