Fish Fry

Sixty-four years is a long time. That's how long Costa Mesa's annual Lions Fish Fry & Carnival has been around, and it is in full swing and full sizzle this weekend. But do not delay, dawdle or procrastinate, because Sunday is the last chance for fish fry fanatics to do their annual deep-fried, carnival ride, kewpie doll-stuffed panda thing. In addition to the extreme fun factor, the Fish Fry raises about $50,000 for the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, which supports a boatload of great organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Sea Scouts, various schools and the Home for Washed Up Italian-American Mayors.

Alicia Robinson If you stop by the annual Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club fish fry today and you're hungry, you might want hit the hot-buttered corn booth first. By midafternoon Saturday, the first of two fish-filled days at Lions Park, members of the Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club had gone through 12 of the 18 cases of corn they'd cleaned in preparation for the event, and they knew they'd have to buy more to last through Sunday. "We're doing really, really good this year.

Moving Costa Mesa's annual Lions Club fish fry out of Lions Park may spell the death of the event that has run for six decades, Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club board member Mike Scheafer said Tuesday. As Scheafer and other Lions try to plan for the 2008 fish fry, they'll discuss contingency plans in case they're displaced. And they could be, if the city builds a second skate park near Park Avenue and West 18th Street. The fish fry, which is always the weekend after Memorial Day, has taken place at Lions Park for 59 of its 61 years.

Costa Mesa's Lions Park, the longtime site of the annual Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club fish fry, could be closed to carnivals in the future because they damage the baseball field. City Council members today will talk about whether to continue allowing carnivals such as the fish fry, which includes rides and games, at the park in the future. Davis Field, one of only a few lighted baseball fields in the city, has to be shut down for several weeks because of the event. "It's an issue that we need to get resolved prior to the next Lions fish fry so we can address any similar requests," said City Finance Director Marc Puckett, who wrote a report for the council on the issue.

Longtime Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club member Mike Scheafer is known around town as “Mr. Fish Fry.” Scheafer has helped with the Lions annual fish fry and carnival at Lions Park since he was 8 years old, and his dad was a Lions Club member. “It’s the only event in Costa Mesa that is really a tradition,” Scheafer said. The Lions Club used the proceeds from the first fish fry to build the softball field at the park 60 years ago, Scheafer said.

As carnival rides and games take over the ball field at Lions Park this weekend, local Lions Club members will batter up the fish for the 60th annual fish fry. They've changed a few things this year — no more Miss Costa Mesa pageant, and musicians from local high schools will play instead of adult bands. And for the first time ever, the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions have some help from another service group, the Costa Mesa Kiwanis. "It's the 60th annual, so this year is really kind of special," said Lions treasurer Raul Jara.

Deirdre Newman Evening gowns and fried fish make strange bedfellows unless you're at the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry. Costa Mesa chose a new beauty queen out of a festive atmosphere of yummy fried cod and entertainment Saturday at the fry. Jordi Bradshaw, 16, a junior at Estancia High School, was chosen out of seven other girls to become Miss Costa Mesa. The event was the first Miss Costa Mesa Pageant in three years. Jordi, of Newport Beach, won a $500 gift certificate from South Coast Plaza and a $700 scholarship for college.

JIM DE BOOM The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will host a Fish Fry banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive in Costa Mesa. "The purpose of this event is to give our club an opportunity to give back to the community by handing out donations to various local organizations, and to give recognition to individuals and groups who took the time to assist us at some of the fundraising events we held this past year, and helped make the return of the fish fry possible," Lion Joe Coons said.

The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club will hold its 65th annual Fish Fry in a new location: Fairview Park. Admission to the two-day event to the park, 2525 Placentia Ave., on June 2 and 3 is free, while the delicious fish dinners will be served starting at noon for a cost of $10. There will be carnival rides for all ages. Vendors will be selling corn on the cob, hot dogs and burgers, delicious pies and games of chance. And there is a baby contest and entertainment on the stage.

The Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday approved a $1,514 stipend for Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Councilman Steve Mensinger, who plan to attend the annual International Council of Shopping Centers convention in Las Vegas later this month. The Costa Mesa Conference and Visitors Bureau will cover the other half of the cost. The trip is part of the city's effort to attract new commercial development, especially sit-down restaurants on Harbor Boulevard, council members said.

Sixty-four years is a long time. That's how long Costa Mesa's annual Lions Fish Fry & Carnival has been around, and it is in full swing and full sizzle this weekend. But do not delay, dawdle or procrastinate, because Sunday is the last chance for fish fry fanatics to do their annual deep-fried, carnival ride, kewpie doll-stuffed panda thing. In addition to the extreme fun factor, the Fish Fry raises about $50,000 for the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, which supports a boatload of great organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Sea Scouts, various schools and the Home for Washed Up Italian-American Mayors.

Summer traditions from funnel cakes to carnival rides are in full swing this weekend at the 64th annual Lions Fish Fry & Carnival. Families filled Costa Mesa's Lions Park on Saturday for the fundraiser, which included the famous $10 fish dinner, raffles, live music and games. Mike Scheafer, Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club board member and Fish Fry chairman, said 10,000 to 15,000 people were expected over the course of the weekend event, which continues Sunday. "This is the biggest community event in Costa Mesa," Scheafer said.

Maybe it's the super-secret ingredient in the fish batter, but something keeps locals coming back year after year — 64 years to date. The annual Lions Fish Fry & Carnival is set for this weekend, so club members are busy wrangling thousands of pounds of potatoes, fish and cole slaw into place. Organizers try to walk a tightrope between tradition and change. "There are a lot of new carnival rides, and we've got a lot of really good entertainment on the stage," Costa Mesa native and Lions Club board member Mike Scheafer said.

COSTA MESA — Bruce Garlich had something in common with a famous cowboy. "Will Rogers said, 'I never met a man I didn't like,'" said longtime friend Dave Wensley, of Costa Mesa. "That could have been something Bruce Garlich said. " Garlich, a former Costa Mesa planning commissioner, died March 22 of cancer. He was 74. A private service was held for the community leader at the Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar on Friday. Afterward, family and friends met at the Costa Mesa Senior Center to snack on sandwiches, sip wine and laugh while telling old stories about Garlich, who served on the Costa Mesa Planning Commission for six years and ran for City Council twice.

The 63rd annual Fish Fry sponsored by the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will take place Saturday and Sunday at Lions Park, which is located on 18th Street between Park and Anaheim avenues.     The event, which features music, games, raffles and activities, raises money for schools, clubs and non-profit organizations. The schedule of events is as follows:   Today Noon to 1 p.m.: Opening and Davis Choir 1–2 p.m.: CMHS Jazz Band 2– 3 p.m.: SOY Youth Group 3-4 p.m.: Endeavor School of the Arts 4– 4:30 p.m.: Raffle 5– 8 p.m.: The Fabulous Nomads 8–8:30 p.m.: Raffle   Sunday Noon – 1:30 p.m.: Lou Larocco’s Music 1:30 – 2 p.m.: Cheer Groups 2-3 p.m. BABY CONTEST 3– 4 p.m.: Starlight Stage Group 4– 4:30 p.m.: Raffle 4– 6 p.m.: Avalon Highway 6– 8 p.m.: Latino Band 8– 8:30 p.m.: Raffle

A fter the baseball or soccer game this weekend, take the family to Lions Park for the 63rd Fish Fry sponsored by the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club. Besides deep-fried cod and fries, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, apple pie, popcorn, sodas and more. There will be a baby contest, a variety of music from the main stage and good old family fun carnival rides and games for kids of all ages. Saturday's activities begin at noon and go until 9 p.m., while Sunday's activities begin at noon and go until 6:30 p.m. or when all the fish are gone!

To Brady [Rhoades] and all of you so quick to judge, Your comment started out with “We’re getting hammered about running, front and center, a picture of girl dancers from Endeavor School of the Arts performing at the Fish Fry at Lions Park on Saturday” (“Is this photo too risque?” blog item published June 1). “Hammered” implies some wacky visions. Was your e-mail box getting overrun? Were your phones ringing off the hook? Is that why I have been getting nothing but busy signals when calling in?

Gloomy May weather couldn’t keep the crowds away from the deep-fried goodness at the Fish Fry in Lions Park on Saturday. “The secret is using fresh fish and fresh oil, and you can taste it,” said Raul Jara, secretary and incoming president of the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, which puts on the Fish Fry each year. The Lions club has raised about $2.5 million from the event over its 62-year history to benefit local charities and Lions Club causes, like preventing blindness, Jara said.