Editorial

Pasadena has the Tournament of Roses. Newport Beach has the Christmas

Boat Parade. Park City, Utah, has the Sundance Film Festival. And Costa

Mesa, well, it had the Fish Fry.

But all good things must come to an end, or do they? After all, the

other traditions will continue while the Fish Fry will pass on, if only

temporarily. Lions Club members who organize the annual event are already

making an effort to resurrect the tradition in 2002.

But, in the meanwhile, did the Fish Fry have to meet its demise?

After 55 years of going strong, there was no good reason the Fish Fry

should fall by the wayside. An annual tradition that residents, as well

as past and present city leaders, have enjoyed should continue. After

all, that’s what traditions are all about.

When the parade died in 1995 because of a lack of funding from the

city, efforts came forth to create a new tradition in the form of the

unparade. That pseudo-parade was held again in 1996, but was unnecessary

in 1997, as the traditional parade returned. It was a short-lived return,

however, as it was again discontinued in 1998.

While no one resurrected the unparade in 1998, it’s still worthy to

note that people made the effort to create it when the parade first

succumbed. Where are those same people and others who have enjoyed the

Fish Fry now?

Lions Club members did practically everything within their power to

continue the tradition.

They hoped to continue holding the festival at Orange Coast College,

as they have for the last two years, but a legal dispute prevented that

from happening. They then looked into returning the event to Lions Park,

its original home, but park construction caused city officials to nix

that idea.

Earlier this month, the event’s organizers announced that the Fish Fry

was in jeopardy. Two weeks later -- with less than two months until the

event date -- the Fish Fry remained without a site and the organizers

opted to cancel it.

Why didn’t anyone try to save the Fish Fry within those two weeks? Did

the organizers’ initial announcement not sound dire enough for anyone to

step forward with ideas? Where were city leaders? Where were those who

won the Miss Mermaid and cute baby contests many years ago? Where were

those Icelandic cod lovers?

Never in our wildest dreams did we think the Fish Fry would go under

without someone stepping forward to try to save it. It is a great shame,

and it would only be appropriate that the first week of June this year be

a time of mourning.

We can only hope it returns in 2002, whether it’s the 56th annual

event or the all-new Fish Fry. Bring on that Icelandic cod.