Beachcombing -- Best of Long Beach

Geoffrey Chaucer is credited with the saying “All good things must come to an end.” So now, after 25 years of our “Best of Long Beach” contest, we’ve decided to discontinue this public service, following this edition.

Advertiser support has been dwindling in recent years, so we are going to channel the many days devoted to the “Best of Long Beach” contest to another program that offers advertisers free editorial content along with their discounted paid ad space.

Less than ten percent of the contest winners changed from year to year. We know that several victors credited their business’ success on winning each year. It was always a treat to visit Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway and see a few dozen of our winner certificates posted on their wall.

We will continue with the Long Beach Treasures contest that appears in each issue along with awarding prizes for the best decorated homes at Halloween and Christmas. Additional contests will be added as we plan for 2027.

About 20 years ago we instituted a seasonal theme for each issue of the Beachcomber, offering advertisers discounted rates along with free editorial space to promote their newsworthy events. Themes were typically related to healthcare, education, finance, dining, arts, entertainment, home services, holidays, senior living, real estate, transportation, fitness, etc.

A few of the above categories will be repeated throughout 2027, in addition to our regular local news and feature story content.

So, as we plan on themes for our 2027 Beachcomber issues, we invite your topic and date suggestions. In addition to editorial content provided by advertisers, we’ll encourage our staff writers to provide feature stories relating to that issue’s topic.

We’ll publish our 2027 calendar with seasonal themes early in November. It will also appear online at www.beachcomber.news, probably under the “Information” section at the bottom of page one.

Finally some words of wisdom called Rules to Teach Your Son, written by some experienced old folks:

• Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.
• Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.
• The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.
• In a negotiation, never make the first offer.
• Request the late check-out.
• When entrusted with a secret, keep it.
• Hold your heroes to a higher standard.
• Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.
• Play with passion or don’t play at all.
• When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.
• Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.
• If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point.
• Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.
• You marry the girl, you marry her family.
• Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.
• Experience the serenity of traveling alone.
• Never be afraid to ask out the best-looking girl in the room.
• Never turn down a breath mint.
• A sport coat is worth 1,000 words.
• Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.
• Thank a veteran. Then make it up to them.
• Eat lunch with the new kid.
• After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.
• Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.
• Manners maketh the man.
• Give credit. Take the blame.
• Stand up to bullies. Protect those bullied.

publisher@beachcomber.news