EDITORIAL

It’s a sad fact of life in Southern California that there is not much

history or tradition to be found among us. On the East Coast, where so

much happened to shape this country in its earliest days, buildings from

hundreds of years ago are still in use.

Symbols of our country -- from the Liberty Bell to the Declaration of

Independence -- are on display. In cities such as Boston, New York or

Savannah, Ga., a walk can become a historical tour.

Not so here. History is not everywhere you look. Our few pieces of

history, such as the California missions or the remnants of the ranchos

that dotted the land, remain as out-of-the-way tourist attractions.

For the past year, Costa Mesa officials have been working to change

that, at least within our city limits. Led by Mayor Linda Dixon, they

have worked to save what arguably amounts to a piece of Southern

California history: the Huscroft House. It’s been a divisive, at times

nasty, battle, with opponents of the plan pointing out that the 1915

Crasftman-style house was built in Santa Ana and moved to Costa Mesa in

the 1950s. Not exactly a piece of Costa Mesa history, they argue.

The whole debate has degenerated into familiar city politics, and not

much has gotten done as a result. That wouldn’t be terribly noteworthy

if, during the same months, a central piece of Costa Mesa’s history

hadn’t died away.

The Fish Fry, which for more than 50 years was held at Lions Park

before moving to Orange Coast College, did not take place last year.

Because of a lawsuit filed against the college by a woman injured during

the event and the Lions Club’s inability to find another venue, a beloved

annual tradition died.

This year, there are plans for a much smaller event. While that is

happy news, it won’t be the same community gathering.

It should be. The Fish Fry needs to be. And the city should be working

with much more enthusiasm (and dare we imagine unanimity?) to save the

Fish Fry than it has to salvage the Huscroft House.

Our city officials should be helping the Lions Club find a large

enough place to hold a fish fry instead of a fish picnic. They should be

working to provide insurance -- which so sadly has played a role in the

Fish Fry’s demise -- so the event can go on without worries about another

lawsuit. They should be encouraging members of the community to become

involved so the Fish Fry will grow and thrive as it once did.

Lacking much in the way of history here, it’s up to us to make our

own. And the Fish Fry was it, without a doubt and without an argument.