A huge and enthusiastic crowd celebrated Labor Day on Monday at Conejo Community Park. They obviously had a great time while being entertained by Queen Nation.

Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) estimated the crowd at 6,700.

It was, without a doubt, the largest and the most exuberant crowd seen at a Labor Day concert by Steve Holt, editor of the Thousand Oaks Acorn. I’ve been writing almost all the editorials you’ve been reading for quite a few years on page 4. I’ve also attended many of the annual Labor Day concerts because the Thousand Oaks Acorn sponsors them.

The audience on Monday deserves the Acorn’s gratitude because we genuinely appreciate them. Anyone who sponsors an event wants maximum attendance. The rock ’n’ roll group that performed on Monday is an outstanding tribute band for Queen, and the huge turnout tells us that it’s time to present more music from the ’70s and ’80s and maybe a little less from the ’50s and ’60s.

As Bob Dylan said, “The Times They are a-Changin’.”

They’re changing, too, for your faithful editor because I’m retiring at the end of September. When I mentioned this before the concert on Monday to John Short, one of the directors of CRPD, he said, “But you love your job.”

He’s right, I do.

A person can love his job and still want to retire.

I’ve been working, with just a few breaks for college, since I entered high school 48 years ago. Unlike some people, I look forward to going to bed on Sunday night and realizing that I don’t have to go to work tomorrow.

I expect to work on some projects at home and spend more time with the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks. I also hope to write a column for the T.O. Acorn, assuming I can find things interesting enough to write about.

I wish to also say “thank you” to all of the wonderful people I’ve worked with, especially Jim and Lisa Rule, and to you, our loyal readers. It was you who motivated us to keep improving your community newspaper.

I loved working here most of all because of you, the people who read the Acorn. Thanks for letting me be a part of your life.