April in La Jolla means it’s time for the community’s signature La Jolla Half Marathon. The 33rd running of the annual race, set to begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, April 27, will feature thousands of runners negotiating the grueling, partly uphill 13-mile trek from Del Mar Fairgrounds to La Jolla Cove. Begun in 1981 as a fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla, the race has grown into one of the more prestigious in the country, with scores of runners descending on La Jolla the last Sunday in April to participate.  Contestants will enjoy unparalleled coastal vistas throughout the course, perhaps a reward for climbing the challenging hills, including the steep, harrowing trudge through Torrey Pines State Park. The half marathon has also evolved into the largest annual fundraising event for the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla. Proceeds come back to the community in the form of scholarships, grants to school music programs, support for veterans programs and supplementary funding for the Meals-on-Wheels program, to name a few. “It is through these activities that the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla embraces and acts upon the tenets of community, family and fellowship,” Kiwanis spokesman Henry Chiu said.  “All this is made possible by you, our generous neighbors in La Jolla, and we thank you.” For those seeking a less demanding Sunday morning, the La Jolla Shores 5K offers similarly picturesque vistas en route from La Jolla Shores Beach to Scripps Park. Although registration for the half marathon is closed, last-minute participants can still register for the 5K. Medals will be awarded to the top five finishers in each age class, with championship trophies awarded to the first open-division male and female finishers overall. The awards ceremony will take place at the finish line at Scripps Park at 10 a.m. To add to the celebratory atmosphere, a beer garden will also be open at 10 a.m. for guests and participants 21 and older. As with all public sports events, the half-marathon will bring a certain level of inconvenience to the community. On race morning, some streets will be closed off from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  “We do appreciate all the help and understanding afforded us by our neighbors,” said Chiu. “This year at the finish area (Ellen Browning Scripps Park) at the Cove we will feature some rather interesting vendors.” Kiwanis is a non-denominational, non-sectarian service organization with the mission to serve the children of the world. For more information about the Half Marathon, visit lajollahalfmarathon.com or call (858) 454-0777. For more information about the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla, or to arrange for a visit to the club’s weekly meeting on Friday at La Jolla Presbyterian Church, email Henry@ljpb.biz or call (858) 454-1239.

Like the passing of an old friend, La Jolla residents who’ve treasured mom-and-pop Burns Drugs for the past 62 years are mourning the loss of yet another Village bedrock business. The family-owned pharmacy, at 7824 Girard Ave., announced recently it would be shuttering for good May 31 due to owner Wayne Woods’ pending retirement and declining business following the 2008 recession. April 15 was the last day of operation for the pharmacy, which will be transferring its business — and some of its employees — to CVS Pharmacy, at 7525 Eads Ave. The rest of the store will remain open to sell off inventory. “It’s a huge loss for our community, another end of an era,” said Tim Lucas, president of La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) at the group’s April meeting. Noting Burns has been far more than just another business, Lucas added, “It’s been a huge institution, a great place in our community that started in 1952 and was so important to a lot of us, not only for getting our prescriptions filled but for (medical) advice and other things.” A colleague of Lucas' on LJSA, Janie Emerson, said it will be impossible to replace the homespun store’s “personal” touch, citing her own example. “My husband had an emergency appendectomy last summer, and he got an abscess (the doctors didn’t pay any attention), and if it hadn’t have been for Wayne (Woods) and one of the other pharmacists working with me … I don’t think he would have made it. It’s a huge loss to the community. No other pharmacy would have done what we needed last summer. I feel like people are ripping pieces of La Jolla out of me by inches. It’s so sad.” Claude-Anthony Marengo, president of La Jolla Village Merchants Association (LJVMA), the community's Business Improvement District (BID) concurred that news of Burns demise was "very sad for all of us." Marengo recalled that Burns and nearby Rexall pharmacies were part of his and others' childhoods. "We'd get candy in one, and as soon as we got kicked out, we went to the other one. Then later, we would go down to Children's Pool (for a swim)," he said. "For a long time Burns was a part of the fabric of La Jolla," Marengo said. "We're going to miss that." Cindy Greatrex, immediate past president of La Jolla Town Council, agreed that Burns was like family and, once gone, can never be replaced. "Burns Drugs was a true classic with every trace of local character,” she said, adding that the pharmacy was “personality-driven and always kind and caring to residents and visitors alike.” She said she’ll always remember the pharmacy for how its presence “flavored” the town, recalling, “It was a welcome respite on a warm day of strolling the Village, especially for pet owners, who always received such a kind welcome and a little treat. We will miss our long-term staff friends at Burns and hope to see them again.” Diver and longtime La Jollan Bill Robbins said Burns was especially good with seniors. “When my mother retired, they gook great care of her prescriptions,” he said. “It even got to the point where Burns would know when she needed a refill (they kept such good records) and faithfully deliver them to her. There’s simply no way any other pharmacy would have taken care of it like that.” Robbins also expressed concern for the future welfare of Burns’ staff of more than 30 workers, some of whom are seniors working part-time.

On the solemn occasion of a community memorial for Rob Hildt, Bird Rock neighbor and friend Steve Dowdy recalled a political “battle” between the diehard conservative Republican and his liberal daughter. “I’m a professor, and I lean a little to the left. Rob was a Ronald Reagan Republican,” said Dowdy, noting Rob and his daughter, an Obama supporter, got into a campaign sign war during the McCain-Obama race in 2008. “He got McCain campaign signs for his lawn,” Dowdy said, “and she got an Obama sticker that was half an inch bigger that she easily slipped over the McCain signs. So it was solid Democrats going up his driveway. He realized, ‘This girl has to go.’ So not to be outdone, he got two more McCain signs, which she now matched with five Obama signs. Finally, they each called for a truce and agreed to go back to having just three signs each. “But she gave the other two to the next-door neighbor,” Dowdy said. “Rob was just glad the election was over—no matter who won.” Hildt’s public remembrance was held April 12 at La Jolla Community Center. He died March 25 after a long bout with cancer. He was 56. A Los Angeles native and a career banker, Hildt formed two community banks for which he served as president and CEO. He was a longtime trustee and first vice president of La Jolla Town Council and a member of the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Committee, the La Jolla Christmas Parade Committee and the La Jolla Community Center. A Vietnam veteran, Hildt was awarded the Army commendation for meritorious service and was buried at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. At his public memorial, Hildt’s pastor, Walt Dilge of La Jolla United Methodist Church, said, “We’re all here to celebrate the gift that Rob was to all of us, remembering how his special qualities added to our community and personal lives.” “Rob has finished his race,” said his sister. “He has fought the good fight, and he did it courageously. Rob's loving spirit moves us.” Hildt’s wife, Deborah, recalled she was “impressed by him in his suit” at their first meeting, noting “he seemed older than the other men in the room.” Deborah said Hildt tore off the end of a sheet of paper to write her phone number down. She found the memorabilia recently, while “going through his effects in a safe deposit box. “He was always the romantic, and the rest is a very happy history,” Deborah said. Hildt’s daughter, Natalie, read poignant personal cards she sent him on his birthday and on Veterans and Valentine’s days. “There aren’t enough hours in the day to express my admiration for my father,” she said. “I’m so lucky to have had such a great, supportive, loving father.” Bob Veres said that Hildt was a true friend and that they’d known each other a long time. “The most remarkable thing about Rob was that everybody he talked with — there was a connection between him and them,” he said. Ruth Yansick, La Jolla Community Center CEO, said, “Rob had a purpose in life,” adding that “every day he made it like his last day, opening up his heart to his family, his church and his community.” Yansick said Hildt was a “gentle soul” with a “great sense of humor.” La Jolla Town Council immediate past president Cindy Greatrex said she was lucky to have had Hildt as a colleague. ”How does the scenario happen where you have someone on your board who was once a CEO and a banker handling the operations of Walmart?” Greatrex asked. “Never.” Greatrex pointed out Hildt took the annual La Jolla Christmas parade to a higher level. “For 53 years, the parade was simply a parade,” she said. “Rob and Ann Kerr had the great idea of forming a foundation and turning the La Jolla Christmas parade into the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival.” Greatex noted that, thanks to Hildt and Kerr, the festival, at the La Jolla Recreation Center following the parade, now has a whole new dimension children's bands onstage, art and music classes and former council treasurer Sonia Olivas teaching kids the harp. “Each year, the class offerings grow,” she said. “Everything is free, paid by the foundation.” The uplifting remembrance ended with closing remarks and a toast by Hildt friend Javier Lorenzo.