Something fishy, but tasty, going on

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Fish, fries, funnel cake, family and fun.

Those five things captured the essence of the Costa Mesa-Newport

Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry on Saturday.

The fry started at noon, and 30 minutes later the picnic tables

were full, and Vincent Lenbird had already cleaned up on carnival

game prizes. The Costa Mesa resident had racked up a large stuffed

donkey (a character from the hit movie “Shrek”), a Cat in the Hat

inflatable hammer, a toy rose and a Care Bear.

“I’m just good at everything I do,” he said, earning a nudge from

his wife.

Lenbird said he mastered his skills when he worked at the Orange

County Fair last summer, where he plans to work again this year, but

would not divulge the secret to winning the various games.

“You just throw it,” Lenbird said.

Donna Godwin of Irvine waited on a bench while her 14-year-old

daughter rode on the Orbiter ride, one of the more thrilling rides

Lions officials added this year. Her sister had told her about the

fish fry, so she decided to come down and check it out. She said the

rides were a bit pricey but she knew the money went for a good cause.

“It’s for charity, so that makes it OK,” Godwin said.

The annual event, which by 12:30 p.m. had attracted at least 100

people, raises money for schools and local organizations such as the

Boys and Girls Club and Little League. Last year, it raised $27,000

and this year, officials hope it will bring in more.

Although the rides had fancy lights and thumping music, it was

fish that garnered the most attention.

City Councilman Mike Scheafer, also a Lions Club member, was hard

at work in the kitchen area of the event. He wore a trucker hat with

a colorful fish attached to the sides, with the head hanging off one

side and the tail on the other. It was a treasured inheritance,

Scheafer said.

Scheafer said the Lions had 1,000 pounds of cod. The lightly

battered fillets came with coleslaw and French -- or freedom --

fries, much to the satisfaction of patrons.

Lisa Vissman and Kendra Craig had just finished their lunch. They

agreed the fish was tasty. Their favorite was the coleslaw, which

they described as “really good.”

Vissman and Craig, both first-timers, said they would let their

children tackle some more rides after lunch. The children were still

polishing off dessert, with the Vissman twins getting their first

taste of funnel cake -- drizzled batter, deep-fried to crisp

perfection and then sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Crews were setting up the acoustics on the large portable stage,

where entertainers were scheduled to play a mix of blues, swing, jazz

and Latino music, would begin their sets.

The Fish Fry will continue its weekend festival today from noon to

dusk at Lions Park in Costa Mesa on Park Avenue.

* LOLITA HARPER is the enterprise and investigative reporter for

the Daily Pilot. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by e-mail at

lolita.harper@latimes.com.