Fish Fry still in jeopardy

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- This year’s Fish Fry remains imperiled, but the Lions

Club and the city’s Special Events Committee have not yet given up hope.

“We’re optimistic,” Lions Club member Mike Scheafer said Thursday.

“They understand our concerns, we understand their concerns and hopefully

we can work this thing out.”

Between 10 and 12 Lions Club and Special Events Committee members met

for two hours Wednesday to brainstorm ways to keep the Fish Fry from

flopping this year.

If a location is found, this year’s Fish Fry -- the 58th annual -- is

scheduled for the first week of June.

Historically, Lions Park hosted the event, but the club has been using

Orange Coast College for the last two years because the construction of

the downtown community center has reduced space at the park.

The club last week announced that the Fish Fry is in jeopardy this

year because of a lawsuit filed against the college in October.

Arlene Wolff, a 53-year-old Irvine resident, fractured her left ankle

and suffered lower leg injuries when she tripped on a curb at the college

June 3, according to a claim filed by her attorney, Barry Binder.

Wolff attended the Apple Computer Exhibit at the college, stopped by

the Fish Fry and then walked toward her car, tripping over the curb

before she reached it, according to the claim.

The college in November requested that the Lions Club handle the

approximately $80,000 lawsuit. The Lions Club’s insurance company denied

the claim.

The unresolved lawsuit has led to a dispute about whether the Lions

Club should be responsible for any lawsuit sparked by an incident during

the Fish Fry, or whether or not the club is responsible for the incident.

“Our insurance carrier made it very clear,” Scheafer said. “She said,

‘Could the Lions Club alter the curb?’ We said, ‘No, because it is OCC

property.’ So they are responsible. It has nothing to do with us.”

Jim McIlwain, vice president of administrative services at Coast

Community College District, said he was unable to comment.

Scheafer said the Lions Club is focusing most of its hope on the

possibility of having the Fish Fry at Lions Park again.

“It really is our best and only alternative,” he said. “We know the

park and it affords us the comfort of being in a place we know. A school

site wouldn’t work and the city is not too keen on us using Fairview or

TeWinkle parks. It would be very hard for us to approach a private

business because we bring a liability hazard that a lot of private

businesses wouldn’t be likely to incur. We’re waiting to hear from the

Special Events Committee because I think once we hear its recommendation,

we’ll know whether to hold the event.”

Ann Shultz, Costa Mesa’s assistant city manager and a member of the

committee, said the committee has concerns about having the event at

Lions Park and is hoping to find an alternative site.

The neighborhood community center next to the park was booked in

advance with a dance and music recital and a workshop, she said.

“A couple of folks are beating the bushes to get a venue,” she said.

“Space in the park has shrunk considerably, construction compounds the

situation and we have booked some events at the neighborhood community

center that are going to be bringing in people and impact parking, and

that are frankly incompatible with the fish fry.

“I’m not saying it is absolutely not going to happen at Lions Park,

but there are other venues that would be better. It’s a great event and a

great group of guys and we’re doing everything we can to try to work with

them to come up with a resolution.”