Letters to the Editor: Thank you for reading my comments on these pages and my blog for 15 years

It’s been more than a week since, after a dozen years of publication, I announced the “retirement” of my blog, A Bubbling Cauldron, and the outpouring of praise and gratitude has been overwhelming. The page view counter on the blog has been spinning at record levels.

Comments posted on my blog, on many Facebook threads, via email, telephone calls and in person have made my head spin, for which I’m very grateful. I’ve heard from editors of other blogs and publications, some of whom have offered me space on their pages over the years, wishing me well and congratulating me on my retirement.

I am very grateful and humbled by all this attention. When I began writing letters and commentaries to the Daily Pilot, it was because I was provoked by something that appeared on these pages — a clever commentary or thorough news story, for example.

This is the place where the history of our region is recorded, as it has been for more than a century. In these times of beleaguered print press outlets — today we have fewer than half the newspapers that existed a decade ago — I’m very happy to see the Daily Pilot managing to stick around to continue to provide us with timely, accurate reporting of our local events and treasured images and memories.

The transition from being a fully immersed constant commenter to that of a casual observer, standing on the sidelines simply watching local events unfold, has been challenging — and not totally successful. I suspect it will be easier to detach myself from the tentacles of local politics as we move forward, but right now I still feel that reflex to reach out and grab a piece of the action as it happens and to let my readers know what I think about it.

I feel like an addict in need of a 12-step program. I do want to thank those folks running the Daily Pilot for allowing it to be my launch pad 15 years ago, and to express my gratitude to Luke Money and the editors for the lovely article they produced following my announcement (“Costa Mesa blogger Geoff West opts to extinguish ‘A Bubbling Cauldron’,” May 9).

And, of course, I want to thank all those kind folks who have communicated with me about my retirement, and their very positive opinions about the value of my blog over these many years. My goal of provoking broader community involvement has been achieved. I’m happy to have been of service to you all. So long, for now.

Geoff West

Costa Mesa

’80s concert was, like, too loud for neighbors

How many readers have had their weekends ruined by insensitive producers of public events? Case-in-point: an 11-hour concert took place May 13 at Huntington State Beach — the witlessly named Like Totally 80s Festival. That’s 11 hours of noise and disruption that ruined the day for me, my family and most of the neighboring community.

Produced by (the aptly named) Sellout Productions, this event took no notice of simple, common decency.

We recognize public performances and events are good for the economy and boost the reputation of Huntington Beach. However, so-called producers are renting public land and making a buck at the expense of the peace and quiet, health and happiness, and weekend time of residents.

We are all in favor of public spaces being used by venues that bring business to our city, but we have no use for businesses that behave as if their business is more important than respecting residents and ruin the quiet time that weekends provide.

It’s time the Parks Department and our elected officials held the right of peace and quiet of residents in higher regard than the money of these talent-less shills.

Bob Madison

Huntington Beach

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