Nancy Kuta and the original pancake breakfast poster by Bob Cram.
We have a world famous ski trail system here in Mazama and athletes who have an international presence. But, did you know that we also have a world famous Pancake Breakfast? It’s back after a two-year pandemic hiatus and will be held Saturday (May 28), at the Mazama Community Club.
Many years ago, Mazama was a small, tight-knit community and residents depended on each other, socialized together, and concocted ideas to support the Mazama Community Club (MCC). MCC had grown beyond the scope of the 1950s “How To Do Club” for homemakers and the 1970s Mazama Ladies (pinochle) Club to become a community-minded club, utilizing the little red schoolhouse for community functions and providing the building at low cost for other events.
Sometime in the early 1980s, Gloria Spiwak believes that John Hayes, Forey Watkins and Vera Tawlks came up with the idea of a pancake breakfast as a fundraiser. They bought a grill at a Boeing Surplus store and got it up and running. Sue Roberts (who with her husband, Dick, owned what is now Bush School Basecamp property) recalls, “I’m not quite sure how I got to be in charge, but I ended up the Pancake Queen for years.”
Mary Rea remembers the first breakfast was advertised as a “fishermen’s breakfast.” A talented Mazama homeowner, Bob Cram, designed the original poster announcing the 1st Annual Fishermen’s Breakfast for a cost of $3.50. Since the poster does not give the year, but does name the day and date — Saturday, May 28 — the year that coincides is 1983.
Bob Cram started something that eventually made him a Seattle icon in the 1960s when he was hired as the weatherman for KING 5 TV and began creating cartoon characters that depicted the weather. His characters with names such as Milli Bar, Onshore Flo, and Big Hi became well known and loved. His cartoon depictions of the pancake breakfast are still used today by the club and offer a special piece of Mazama history. Bob and Martha Cram bought their cabin in Mazama in 1974 and spent many years skiing the Methow trails with their children.
Methow Trails started a Fun Run to coincide with the breakfast in the mid-1980s. Adding hungry runners to the event boosted the numbers partaking of all-you-can-eat pancakes. So much so, that Jay Lucas remembers, “On more than one occasion, someone would be needed to run over to the Mazama Store to beg or borrow more eggs, milk, or ham to feed the hungry masses.”
This year’s event will include some of the old traditions and some new. Nancy Kuta, board president, and Don Davidson and Karen Nichols, co-chairs of the event, are preparing to offer all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with ham, eggs, juice, fresh fruit, coffee and tea from 8-11:30 a.m. Cost is $10 (cash or check) and kids 6 and under eat for free. Seating is indoors, outdoors, and under Red’s Shed (the new picnic shelter).
Midge Cross, a board member, is organizing a Fun Run that will start at 9 a.m. for children (1K course) and, after the course is cleared, an adult 5-mile course. No registration is required. In addition, this year Nancy Leland and Dave Ford will offer Learn to Play Pickleball instruction on the club’s pickleball court at 9 a.m. followed by intermediate pickleball drills and strategies for success at 10 a.m. Then, pickleball games are on.
Bring the kids! The playground swings received new seats courtesy of Harry and Therese Grant and John Harter. Methow Trails will have “Ginger,” the Pisten bully trail groomer on the grounds for inspection and Okanogan County Fire District No. 6 will have a fire truck on site.
This World Famous Pancake Breakfast is the major fundraiser for MCC and helps pay for maintenance, utilities, snowplowing, and repairs on the little red schoolhouse.
Take in the breakfast and the Methow Valley Senior Center Western Sale where former Mazama resident Mary Anne Sitts’ watercolor “Mare and Foal” will be up for silent auction.
My bad for the misspelling of Kumm Road (I knew better) in last week’s column. Apologies to the Kumm family and residents of the road.
