COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Lions plan for fish fry

Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club members are working on plans for the 2007 Lions Club Fish Fry being held June 2 and 3 at Lions Park in Costa Mesa. It’s a wonderful family event with carnival rides, homemade pies, corn dogs, deep fried fish and chips, and a baby contest.

Visiting the Fish Fry website, www.cmnhlions.com/fishfry , this week, I came across the story of the balloon caper.

“The Fish Fry has its roots in the Scarecrow Festival, which was held from 1941 to 1945.

“In 1945, Lion Bob Skiles suggested serving fish, and Lion Heinz Kaiser created the fish batter that is still used today. The club raised $1,200, which was used to build the bleachers and backstop along with a snack bar at Lions Park baseball field with the labor donated by club members.

“The next year, the club secured a weather balloon human dummy and some fuel from the Tustin blimp base. The balloon was launched with a celebration from Lions Park and flew out of sight toward Newport Back Bay.

“Two weeks later, the club received a letter, postmarked in Kansas, from an angry farmer who wrote [that] the balloon fell on his property and scared his milking cows and they wouldn’t produce milk. He demanded to be paid for the loss or [he would] sue. At that time, the club didn’t have insurance, and [club members] didn’t know what to do. It panicked the club and the community after the local paper reported the incident.

“It then leaked out that the balloon never made it to Kansas but landed in the Back Bay. Four Lions had paid a couple of kids $5 to hide the balloon and keep quiet about it. The letter was from a friend of a Lion, and they cooked up the story about the cows.”

O.C.’S LARGEST MIXER

Orange County’s Largest Mixer IV will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on March 8, indoors at the Orange County Fairgrounds, according to Ed Fawcett, president of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Join the 28 Orange County chambers and business organizations for the ultimate business networking event, and you will have a chance to mix and mingle with business leaders representing hundreds of industries and companies in and around Orange County.

Attendees can help create a literate workforce by supporting the Reading by 9 book drive by donating a new children’s book. For every book donated, you are entered in a contest to win two round-trip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies. Mixer admission is $15 per person. For information, call (949) 222-6600 or go to www.ocmixer.com .

BIRTHDAY AND BOOK SALE

The Friends of the Costa Mesa Library Bookstore will hold a used-book sale from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Mesa Verde Branch Library to celebrate the first full year of operation of the store. For more information on the Friends of the Library, call (714) 438-0517.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

How are you giving back to your community? Help your community and the world through a service club. You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

MONDAYThe 35-member Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club meets at the Costa Mesa Country Club.

6 p.m.:

TUESDAYThe 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns to hear Boris Kostandinov on coming to America. For information, visit www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org .

7:30 a.m.:

Noon: The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites to hear Bob Heinman. He will talk about Habitat for Humanity.

WEDNESDAYThe 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

7:30 a.m.:

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Russell Brammer of the RAISE Foundation.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club with their spouses for a special Valentines Dinner prepared by Chef Rod Lewis. For more information, go to www.newportbalboa.org .

THURSDAYThe 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe.

7 a.m.:

9 a.m. The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear historian Adam Colling discuss the founding of California as an outpost of Western civilization. For more information, go to members.cox.net/nhexchangeclub/index.htm .

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn. For details, go to www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa . The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club and the 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson for Craft Talks. For details, go to www.nirotary.org .