🌱 Lake Sonoma Race Results + Remembering Police Chief + Easter Events

Hey, everybody! I'm back in your inbox today with a special Eastertime edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, full of everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Keep reading for updates on:

• The big trail races out at Lake Sonoma yesterday
• The one-year anniversary of former Healdsburg police chief Kevin Burke's death
• A couple of other beloved local women who died recently
• A new manager for the Summit Bank branch here in town
• And more...

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Now, today's weather:

• Sunday: Sunny and beautiful. High: 73 Low: 45.
• Monday: Mostly sunny. High: 71 Low: 47.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny again, with a breeze. High: 66 Low: 39.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 4 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. April 5 marked one year since the sudden passing of Healdsburg’s former police chief, Kevin Burke — an event that seriously rattled the community he loved. Burke was found dead in his home from an apparent suicide after abruptly ending his campaign to become Sonoma County Sheriff. "The City of Healdsburg continues to remember and honor his legacy and all that he did for not only our Police Department but our community," city officials wrote on social media last week. "To continue remembering his life and contributions to the community, the Chief Kevin Burke Law Enforcement Scholarship Fund was created to support Santa Rosa Junior College Police Academy students with the greatest need." Councilmember Evelyn Mitchell also went on local news radio recently to talk about the fund and encourage people to donate. You can do so on the JC website. (Santa Rosa JC & KSRO & City of Healdsburg via Instagram & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. There were a couple of big annual running events up at Lake Sonoma yesterday: a 50-mile trail race and a 26-mile marathon. The winners of the 50-miler were 30-year-old Boulder native Drew Holmen in the men's race and 28-year-old Erin Clark of Missoula in the women's. And for the 26-miler, the winners were 33-year-old Chattanooga native Coree Woltering and 26-year-old Jennifer Lichter, also of Missoula — coming in only a few minutes behind the men's winner. Running blogger Bryon Powell writes of the 50-mile race: "The 2023 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile saw the race return to its former prominence as one of the most competitive ultramarathons in the U.S. this year. Kicking off at 6:30 a.m. local time on the shores of Lake Sonoma outside Healdsburg, California, both the women’s and men’s races saw large packs whittled down over the first 20 or so miles of the race, before an eventual leader emerged, who’d later be overtaken before the finish line. ... This year sees the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile run on a new course, with the biggest change being a move of the start/finish to the park’s visitor center. The current course features nearly 10,000 feet (9,915 feet/3,302 meters) of climb and an equal amount of descent over its relentlessly rolling 50.8 miles (81.8 kilometers). The previous course had a reported 10,500 feet (3,200 meters) of climb, but that’s well within the margin of error. Still, it’s best to consider this an entirely new course and only roughly compare this year’s times with those of the past. For 2023, the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile served as a qualifier for the 2023 Trail World Championships 80-kilometer race, which will be held in June, in Austria. The men’s and women’s podium finishers earned spots on Team USA." You can see a full roster here of race participants and their times — including for a third race held on Friday, a women's half marathon started just this year by the Healdsburg Running Company. (UltraLive.net & iRunFar)
3. Longtime resident Luisa De La O passed away "peacefully in her Healdsburg home" late last month at the age of 87, according to her obituary. She came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 10 years old, and later moved to Healdsburg with her husband Sergio De La O circa 1967. They raised three kids here. "Luisa had a wonderful way of interacting with children and parents," her obituary says. "For 10 years, she worked as a teacher's aide at Head Start preschool in Healdsburg. She had a passion for crafting, making piñatas and handmade handbags, knitting and crocheting. Later she worked for Sprouse-Reitz where she enjoyed communicating with customers, some of whom she had known for many years. Luisa also loved singing and dancing with her family and friends. She was known for her generosity, compassionate spirit and fierce love of her immediate and extended families." Luisa's family and friends will hold a service for her at St. John's Catholic Church on April 27, followed by a mass and burial the next day. (Legacy.com)
4. I also just learned that beloved Healdsburg community member Dorothy Studer died last April at 80 years old. There will be a celebration of life for her at the Healdsburg golf course this coming April 22. Dorothy reportedly worked for years as a bookkeeper for local businesses like Stroco Paving, Raymond Burr Vineyards, A. Rafanelli Winery and many others. And after retirement, she became well known for her volunteering efforts around town. "She was a founding Board Member and longtime Treasurer of the Healdsburg Greyhound Booster Club," her obit says. "Dorothy ran the clock for over twenty years at the Healdsburg High Girls and Boys Basketball games. In addition, she volunteered her time with the Food Pantry, Graduation Celebration, and the Senior Center. Lastly, she weekly volunteered in Ms. Sanderson's class at Fitch Mountain School. For her efforts, Dorothy was awarded the Marie Sparks Memorial Volunteer award in 2009 given by the community of Healdsburg." At the award ceremony, according to a Patch news story at the time, "Karen Tappin, 2003 Marie Sparks award recipient, said Studer was the volunteer clock person at basketball games for 30 years — among many other volunteer activities. 'There are a lot of people who are behind the scenes running things in this community, and they don't get on the front page,' Tappin said. Tappin said Studer also visits people in their homes to help them recover after surgeries." (Legacy.com & Redding.com & Healdsburg Patch & Marie Sparks Award)

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Healdsburg pics of the day, library edition:

Note from Simone: I love when you guys send me local pics for the newsletter! If you have one to share, you can submit it here for consideration. Pics of community members are especially appreciated. Please just confirm in your email that you took any photos you're sending, and that Patch has permission to republish them. 📸

Coming up in Healdsburg:

Sunday, April 9 🐣

• Easter Egg Hunt at Oakville Grocery (10AM-12PM)
• Meet the Easter Bunny at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (11AM-2PM)
• Easter Event at West Wines, Featuring Vineyard Quiz Walk & Wine Tasting (11AM-4PM)
• Final Day of Young Artists' Show at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts: "The Art of Food" (11AM-5PM)
• Final Showing of Play at the Raven Theater About School Shootings: "If I Don't Make It, I Love You" (2PM)

Monday, April 10

• Tween Hangout for Kids in Grades 4-6 at the Healdsburg Library: "Forest & Fairy Houses" (3:30PM)
• "Colectivo de Artes y Cultura" at Corazón Healdsburg (5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Community Services Dept. Hosts Bellydance Class: Learn the Basics of Traditional Egyptian & Arabic Bellydance (Weekly, April 10-May 15, 7-8PM)

Tuesday, April 11

• Healdsburg Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Hosts Spring Forum Lecture Series: "The Use & Misuse of American Military” (Weekly, April 11-May 16, 10:45AM-12:30PM)
• Healdsburg High School Swim Team Hosts Home Meet Vs. Windsor (4PM)
• Healdsburg City Planning Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Trail Sisters" Host Dry Creek Run Out to 31 Winds Winery, Followed by Yoga (6PM)
• Healdsburg High School Baseball Team Plays at Home Vs. St. Vincent (7PM)

From my notebook:

• There was a small, 3.1-magnitude earthquake yesterday afternoon just to the northeast of us. It reportedly "hit at 2:25 p.m. about five miles northwest of The Geysers geothermal field in the Mayacamas Mountains in eastern Sonoma County" and "had a depth of less than half a mile below ground." (The Mercury News)
• The Summit Bank in the Safeway shopping center just got a new branch manager named Don Cliver. “We are fortunate to have his 30 years of industry experience and strong leadership skills as we continue to serve businesses and nonprofits in Healdsburg,” says Brian Reed, head of the Sonoma County bank chain. (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
• The Healdsburg Elementary schoolyard on University was transformed into a bustling mid-19th-century scene late last week as students dressed up to celebrate "Pioneer Day." According to the Press Democrat, "there was period dress, a butter-making race, a gold panning demonstration and an homage to Coquille tribal traditions" — an attempt to "introduce students to life in California in the 1840s, a formative period in the history of the Golden State." (Healdsburg Elementary School/Fitch Mountain Campus via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• How Can I Keep From Singing? (April 15)
• Passport to Dry Creek Valley - Sonoma County's Premier Wine & Food Festival (April 29)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop for the weekend. And I'll be back in your inbox before you know it!

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Patch newsletter? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com