Fish Fry Fun In The Sun

ANOTHER GOOD YEAR!
I don't have any final attendance numbers for the 66th annual Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry yet, but informed sources tell me that it looked pretty darn good again this year.  Reports are that they hoped to raise somewhere in the area of $30,000 for local organizations again this year.

KIDS LEARNING TO SAVE LIVES
My lovely and patient wife and I stopped by Fairview Park Saturday afternoon and, while the crowd was sparse at that time, I understand attendance really picked up in the evening.  She wanted to learn the "Hands Only CPR" technique, so we found Fire Protection Specialist Brenda Emrick of the Costa Mesa Fire Department instructing two young ladies on the procedure.

AND OLDER FOLKS, TOO...
Then she taught my wife the procedure in about a minute.  Everyone should learn about this and, as I mentioned in an earlier post, Diane Hill will be at the City Council meeting Tuesday to make a presentation In Honor Of Paul and will also have a table outside council chambers for interested parties to learn about this life-saving CPR method.

S.W.A.T. TRAINING
Of course, now that she knows how to save lives, my wife immediately skipped over to the Costa Mesa Police Department Swat booth and had a chance to fondle an AR-15.  She seemed to be having way too much fun with that assault weapon!

HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Lions Club President Mike Scheafer seemed to be everywhere Saturday afternoon.  We caught up with him here, near the fish frying venue, looking very dapper in his Fish Fry t-shirt and his hat.  I think he was telling us that the fish dinners cost ten bucks...

FRYING UP SOME LOVELY GRUB
Lions Club stalwarts were tending to the job at hand.

 

KIRK AND SANDY SERVING, AS USUAL 

And were joined by Councilwoman Sandra Genis and Estancia High School Principal Kirk Bauermeister.

THEY'LL LET ANYONE BEHIND THAT TABLE! 

Volunteer Bruce Krochman was also seen behind that table, although I'm not quite sure what his job was - maybe performing magic tricks, because he was hiding something behind his back.  Or, maybe he was guarding that bucket.  Thanks to him and all the volunteers for a job well-done.

60TH CELEBRATION BOOTH 

There were lots of booths operated by many organizations this year again.  Here is one being tended by folks promoting the 60th Anniversary Celebration, which is coming up the last weekend of June.  More on that in the coming weeks.

 

HOPING FOR A LONG TRIP DOWN UNDER 

And here's a booth peddling cookies and other sweet stuff by the bright young Estancia High School kids who are hoping to make a trip to Australia later this year.

SOMEHOW APPROPRIATE 

I saw uber-booster Greg Ridge "supervising" the corn-on-the-cob roasting, too.  He was watching while that young woman did the roasting.

CONVENIENT PLACEMENT 

And, of course, there were many folks penned-up in the Beer Garden, sitting and sipping in the shade and enjoying the day.  I did notice the convenient location of the portable outhouses - good planning.

STAYING IN TOUCH 

I'm not sure what these three fellas were up to, but they sure were focused... a sign of the changing times, I guess.

CMTV ON THE SCENE 

Brad Long (behind the camera) and Dane Bora (with the mic) from Costa Mesa Television are shown here interviewing another volunteer fish server, former Mayor and current Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director, Arlene Schafer.  Bora and Long were omnipresent during the day, capturing the fun all over the venue for later viewing.

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC... 

One of the great bands that played throughout the day and evening, keeping toes tapping and people smiling and singing along.

STAND-UP AND PRIZES, TOO 

Just before we left President Mike jumped up on the stage - well, maybe "jumped" is a generous term -  and held a drawing for some pretty darn cool prizes.  He did a great job, but is going to have to work on his repertoire of jokes.. don't quit that day job, Mike.

IN MEMORY OF ROLLO... 

Before I close, please note that this edition of the Fish Fry was dedicated to the memory of long, long time Lions Club member Rollo McClellan, who passed away not too long ago.  For more than six decades the members of the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club have served our community and Rollo was a big part of that effort -  manning the fry tanks and doing whatever was needed to make the Fish Fry a success.  He set the bar high for all those hard-working volunteers who have followed him.  Thanks to them all...