UPDATE: 12 Noon 12/1
The 66th annual West Seattle Kiwanis club Pancake breakfast was marked by a huge turnout, with the parking lot and adjacent streets full, and people inside all chowing down on pancakes, juice, coffee and ham supplied by the Husky Deli. Councilmember and mayoral hopeful Tim Burgess showed up to work an hour on the pancake grill and Boy Scout Troop 284 was there helping serve the juice and coffee. Hi-Yu Royalty showed up to sell their very special Christmas ornament ($20 at www.hiyu.com) and the Marines were in attendance to get draw more attention to Toys for Tots.

Original post
Members of Kiwanis West Seattle are selling tickets for the 66th annual West Seattle Community Pancake Breakfast, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Alki Masonic Building, located at 4736 40th Ave. S.W. The pancakes will be hot off the griddle from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. accompanied by orange juice, coffee and a slice of the Husky Delicatessen’s premier Canadian ham. As always, the proceeds go toward funding the club’s community service activities, especially those focused on children and local teens.

It all started 66 years ago when the Kiwanis of West Seattle was seeking funding to support its roster of service projects. The building originally built as a Ford Dealership at 40th SW and Alaska Street was empty, and a grocery store owner from north Seattle moved in with his second market featuring a balcony cafeteria. A Kiwanian himself, he offered use of the cafeteria and its equipment to the local club for a one-morning pancake breakfast.

It was a generous location but had some downsides. The flight of stairs to reach it was a challenge for the handicapped and elderly and the seating capacity was quite limited. So, after two or three years, the breakfast was moved to the newly constructed YWCA building at 40th S.W. and S.W. Edmunds. It was more accessible, had a good kitchen and tableware, and three times more seating. Pancakes were served from a counter as patrons arrived through the front door. After several years the building’s use became limited to a pre-school facility and the kitchen, and other facilities, required some heavy cleaning prior to our use.

About that time, Kiwanis chartered its first Key Club at Seattle Lutheran High School and with the blessing of its administration and the principal who became a Kiwanian; the breakfast was moved into the school’s gym/auditorium, also the site of several Kiwanis dinner-auctions. The room was ample, kitchen well-equipped, but still a bit difficult to get into for wheel chairs, etc.

So, after a few December Breakfasts a couple of Kiwanis members who also were Masonic Lodge members suggested moving the breakfast to the Alki Masonic Lodge at 4736 40th Ave. S.W. for use of their ground-level banquet hall.

It proved to be a perfect fit; no steps required, real dishes, cups and silverware, great kitchen and refrigeration, dishwashing equipment and generous seating space. The breakfast event has been held there for over a dozen years on the first Saturday of December. Guests are served at the table.

The Kiwanis has sought each year to improve the event. Scouts of Troop 284, bolstered by an enthusiastic turnout of parents and leaders, are joined by Key Clubbers from local high schools to serve and buss tables and perform other tasks to make the event a success.

Added features include a raffle drawing, vendors selling holiday wares, collection site for new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps’ “Toys for Tots” and free photos with Santa for kids under 12.

“Best of all,” declared club president Mike LaFranchi, “This annual Community Breakfast is a prime opportunity to renew lifelong friendships and get to know newcomers to our historic neighborhood.”

Tickets for this long-standing community tradition are $3 for kids under 12, $6 for adults ($7 for adults at the door) and can be purchased on-line at http://kiwaniswestseattle.org/public/index.aspx , at the Kiwanis tent at the West Seattle Farmers Market, or by calling 206-938-8032.