Seal Beach has another claim to fame for this weekend’s 68th annual Fish Fry—an incredibly supportive group of youth, the Leos, who actually do a large amount of the work for the event.
The Leos are the youth arm of the Lions Club.
This will be the fifteenth year that Seal Beach Leo Club members will be helping at the annual Lions Fish Fry. The Leos take full responsibility for cooking and serving their famous bratwurst sandwiches and jumbo hot dogs, which are a great alternative for those who are not fish lovers. They will also be selling Fish Fry beads throughout the weekend to support their charitable causes. The Seal Beach Lions Club Fish Fry, said to be the longest running event in the seaside city, runs Saturday July 21 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 22 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The Seal Beach Leo Club has nearly 100 members ranging in age from 12 – 18 years old. They provide service to the community and help the less fortunate through projects and fundraisers. Lions Club leaders say that what has been remarkable about the growth of the Seal Beach Lions Club is how many of the new Lions were Leos who have grown up in the group and continue to follow the Lion’s moto of “We Serve.”
Leos have worked on planting trees, supporting park bench cleaning, assisting with graffiti removal, setting up and serving the grill for many local events including the Seal Beach Car Show. Leos have worked to develop youth leadership, health decision-making and positive self-image.
The Seal Beach Leo Club has provided service and funds to McGaugh School, the Animal Care Center, Oak and McAuliffe Middle schools, Seal Beach Pony Baseball, the Seal Beach Recreation Department, the Lions Youth Exchange Program, the “Safe Rides” program at the Los Alamitos Youth Center, the Blind Children’s Learning Center, the Lions Student Speaker Foundation, LAHS Grad Night, LAHS “Every-15-Minutes” Program, Braille Institute, CASA Youth Shelter, Save-our-Beach and more.
Leo advisors like Mike Haley, Scott Newton and Nicole Illingsworth feel that they are helping groom good citizens and active participants in the greater Seal Beach community. There is no charge for this Lions funded program. The Club meets on the third Monday of each month from 7 – 7:45 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at the corner of 10th and Central in Seal Beach
“We welcome any youth from the Los Alamitos school district to participate in our Leos,” Newton said. “Any advisor can take an application and they are available online at www.sealbeachlions.com “ Some come down to the Fish Fry and see your local Leos and Lions in action.
The Lions will also provide live music entertainment throughout the event on Saturday and Sunday.
The bands are as follows:
Saturday 11 a.m. – Noon: Playeros Flojos
12:15 – 2:15 p.m.: Cuzin Judy
2:30 – 5 p.m.: Robby Armstrong
5:15 – 7 p.m.: Persons of Interest
Sunday 11 a.m. to Noon: Ty G and the Firestorm
12:15 – 2:15 p.m.: Dangerous Stranger
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Danny Dean
5 – 6:30 p.m.: Jon Grillo Band
On Sunday the Lions will hold the annual drawing for a new car. This year it’s a 2012 Ford Edge. Tickets are sold out. Funds raised go toward Lions charities.
