Beachcombing

The adage “change is inevitable” is prominent in the newspaper business as it is in life. On Jan. 4 cancer claimed reporter Bill Pearl, who founded lbreport.com in August 2000, one month after we started publishing the Beachcomber. For the past two years, Bill provided us with local news stories that also appeared on his website.

In December, columnist Al Jacobs was hospitalized following a serious automobile accident and he sent us a note saying he was unable to continue with his well-researched and well-written columns. We recently learned that Al passed away from his injuries on Jan. 15.

Al was 91 years old and was an amazing person who wrote on a variety of topics, most often on investing and education as well as state and national affairs.

The good news is that Al wrote his columns weekly for the Dana Point Times and we can go back alternating weeks to run those columns that were skipped in the past seven years that are still relevant. Meanwhile we will look for someone to fill Al’s page four space with words of wisdom acquired over a stellar lifetime.

We are also looking for a freelance reporter to cover local government and business topics to fill the shoes of Bill Pearl.

Change is inevitable … embrace it.

Research is an important tool for anyone engaged in marketing and communications, which is why we regularly poll our readers to learn their likes and dislikes. Our current website poll asks “Which is worth saving, Community Hospital or Queen Mary? Results, thus far, are Community Hospital 29%, Queen Mary 8%, Neither One 50% and Both of Them 13%.

Another active poll has been asking “Which Garcia would you vote for in the 47th Congressional District?” Those results are Cristina Garcia (Bell Gardens Assemblywoman) 74% and Robert Garcia (Mayor of Long Beach) 26%.

What is your opinion? Go to www.beachcomber.news and vote at the bottom of page 1. Select “older polls” to vote on the Garcia contest. It’s an election year, so you can anticipate a constant sampling of political races in the next few months.

Six undeniable facts of life:

• Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things not the price.
• Best awarded words: “Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food.”
• The one who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he or she will find one reason to hold on.
• There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it.
• You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, You have to manage.
• If you just want to walk fast, walk alone! But if you want to walk far, walk together.

publisher@beachcomber.news