While it was unseasonably warm outside on New Year’s Day, the even warmer vibes inside the UCC Parish House during the Pancake Breakfast were still welcome. Tables were filled with cheerful families and friends enjoying what should be described as the perfect pancakes – fluffy, flavorful, sized just right, and perfectly browned. Pat Blakey’s recipe has been passed on to new hands and every element of the event, pancakes and more, was executed flawlessly. The tables were already set, so finding an open spot to join others was easy, familiar faces or new ones. The next round of pancakes and sausage would soon arrive, along with coffee, orange juice, and as many refills as the morning mood required. It took about 20 volunteers to pull off the return of this beloved event, and about $1,500 was raised, most of which will go to the CVFD to support the new fire truck.
While I enjoyed a second round of pancakes with my daughter Maddie, visiting from New York, Kirk Van Tassel, who had been one of the volunteers at the griddles, sat down with a full plate and a releasing sigh. “Was that a little bit stressful?” I asked. Without replying yes or no he answered, “Well, I had my wife Mary next to me, and that always relaxes me.” Mary Van Tassel then joined us too. We thanked the hard-working early risers as they took a break to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
“It’s nice to see all the faces again,” said Nikolle Lizana, sitting at the next table with her husband Ronnie and their two daughters, Emma and Hailey. Ronnie shared that the last time they attended, in 2019, Emma volunteered as a server. Asked if she’d like to do that again, she offered a silent, agreeable nod and a soft smile between bites of pancakes. Looks like the next generation is ready to help keep this much-loved tradition alive.
—Mare Rubin
📷: The Lizana family enjoying their pancake breakfast
