The right tone for Costa Mesa

Only in a city that is home to an enormous house with a happy face

stained glass window would you find a tribute luncheon that involved

the arrests of four major local players, a physical assault (or

vandalism) and grown men in plastic bibs.

Only in a city with a hotel modeled after an Arabian palace along

one of its major thoroughfares would you find an event such as

Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame function.

Those who attended are probably nursing sore abdominal muscles

today from laughing so hard.

If you were there, you also heard Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave

Snowden’s overly gracious comments about the Pilot, but that is not

what motivated me to write this column.

I write this because I love how Costa Mesa can infuse fun and

eclecticism into everything it does (City Council meetings aside, but

they do have their moments).

I am usually leery of awards banquet and the like, not because I

don’t like to see people, but just because I’m not quite sure how to

act in such a formal and schmoozie environment.

This luncheon was different.

From the Ursini supporters wearing plastic “I Love Ribs” bibs to

the hilarious video in tribute to Snowden, the event lost its stuffy

“banquet” title and became more of a community picnic of sorts.

This is not to put down Newport Beach officials, whose events are

beautiful and well organized, with good food and great company.

Thursday’s Hall of Fame luncheon just had something special about it.

Perhaps it is because I am literally a neighbor to many of those

in attendance, or because I know them well from 18 months of covering

the Costa Mesa beat. Or perhaps it was because the spirit of this

miscellaneous city cannot be confined in a stiff awards ceremony.

Whatever it was, it made for a wonderful afternoon of big belly

laughs and emotional thank yous, as Snowden and City Manager Allan

Roeder briefly allowed choking emotion to infect the humor.

But they were not self-conscious or embarrassed. They were in the

company of their community -- also known as the Costa Mesa family.

Two of the tribute videos for the three honorees -- Experian

(given the Community Spirit through Corporate Leadership Award),

Newport Rib Co. owners the Ursini family (given the Community Spirit

Award) and Snowden -- were the usual fare, with great quotes from

friends and employees who can personally attest to how wonderful the

winners are.

Great.

Snowden’s video, however, was a masterpiece. It captured the

essence of the esteemed lawman and prankster.

Snowden’s official picture on the city Web site shows him in his

formal police regalia, properly posed as the leader of Costa Mesa’s

finest. His title suggests he is your stereotypical lawman:

unbending, authoritarian and stern. And while he is all of these

things when needed, that smile in his picture on the city Web site

speaks volumes about the man behind the uniform.

That smile is what you see before the chief breaks out in

laughter, which is often, considering he is a man with a great sense

of humor. And laughter is what filled the banquet room at the Hilton

Costa Mesa during the chief’s tribute.

Snowden, who will retire after 16 years of service in June, was

awarded the Individual Achievement Award at the Hall of Fame event

Thursday afternoon sponsored by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce

and the South Coast Metro Alliance.

The video starred Peter Buffa, former mayor and current emcee for

nearly everything; Del, Heintz, AT&T; Broadband’s director of local

government affairs for Southern California; Ron Guziak, executive

director of the Hoag Hospital Foundation; and our very own Daily

Pilot publisher, Tom Johnson.

While “Bad Boys” (you know, the song they use for the TV show

“Cops”) played in the background, the four friends and colleagues of

Snowden played out a pretty funny skit to honor Snowden. The men were

arrested, finger printed and jailed while giving “shout outs” to

Snowden.

I can’t do it justice with words, but just imagine the quick wit

of Buffa coupled with the inherent humor in watching four grown men

try their hand at acting, all the while struggling not to acknowledge

the camera. (I doubt any of them will be taking off to Hollywood any

time soon.)

I know I missed out on more than a few knee-slappers because

roaring laughter filled the room and muffled various portions of the

script. It was great fun -- this coming from a girl who dreads

scripted awards ceremonies.

Snowden was not the only one who had creative cohorts.

A representative from Kiwanis Club had quite a humorous award for

Fran Ursini, aside from the chamber honors. He presented Ursini with

a comical proclamation and then cut off his tie. That’s right.

Chopped it off. With scissors. On the podium. In front of everyone.

“That just cost me $40,” joked Ursini, who is known for his love

of dressing down.

Not to suggest that Experian was at all stuffy. But they are new

to the city, so I expect they were on their best behavior. They’ll

know better next year.

So there you have it. One of Costa Mesa’s biggest events involved

the roasting of the police chief, “arrests” of four major local

figures, a personal assault (or vandalism) and grown men in plastic

bibs.

Now, that is my kind of luncheon.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

and covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275

or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.