Posted: 10:48 PM - Mar 26, 2011
From The Winchester Star dated Saturday 26 Mar 2011.
WINCHESTER- After 12 years, the Kiwanis Club of Winchester's Community Pancake Day is returning to Jim Barnett Park.
It's a homecoming for the club, that served up stacks of pancakes and loads of sausage for more than 40 years at the park, club officials said recently.
Pancake Day, held each spring and fall, is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 9 at the Active Living and Recreation Center in the park.
The event in its 54th year left the park following its 1999 edition, when the War Memorial Building underwent renovations.
"I think we always thought we would go back," said Debbie Knotts of Clear Brook, a member of the event's publicity committee.
When the renovations were completed, Pancake Day didn't return, said past event chairman and current publicity committee member Archie McKay of Winchester, because the event grew too big for its original room. So it remained at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Activity Building on Opequon Avenue.
However, with the addition of the Active Living Center in 2009, more space was available and the Winchester Parks and Recreation officials contacted Kiwanis about a return, McKay said.
The community organization studied the idea for a while before making the shift, he added.
Pancake Day is a big operation. More than 6,000 people are usually served at each event, Knotts said.
In preparation, the club has ready 1,500 pounds of pancake mix, 16,000 butter portions, 240 gallons of milk, 2,800 pounds of Gore's sausage, 200 gallons of apple juice, and enough coffee to fill about 5,000 cups, according to McKay.
A few factors, all dealing with patron comfort, sealed the deal for Kiwanis.
The gym at the center can accommodate about 400 people, as opposed to the low 300s at the previous location, Knotts said.
People can eat in or take out their food.
If weather is bad, everyone should fit inside to wait, instead of lining up outside, McKay said.
Plenty of parking is also available, Knotts added.
And the site has better accessibility for people with disabilities, said Wayne Kagey, a publicity committee member.
The idea is to make patrons even more comfortable, so they will return for future pancake days, added John Conrad of Winchester, another publicity committee member.
Kiwanis is adding a new element with this Pancake Day, even as it returns to an old home.
For the first time, it will have a major beneficiary, which will receive most of the proceeds from the event, Knotts said. The beneficiary for the April 9 Pancake Day is the Winchester Day Nursery. The one for the fall event has not been announced.
Each Pancake Day nets from $28,000 to $30,000, Knotts and McKay said.
All the money received, according to the club bylaws, must benefit the community, McKay said.
The community pulls together for the event as well.
People buy tickets, even if they don't plan to attend, to help the fundraiser, McKay and Knotts said.
About 10,000 tickets are usually sold for each Pancake Day, Knotts said.
The event requires 163 adults to work and many volunteers from Kiwanis-sponsored clubs for young people help out, too, Knotts said.
By having a major beneficiary, people from the selected organization can help with the event and sell tickets while being highlighted by Pancake Day, Knotts said.
Tickets
Tickets cost $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Children under 7 will be admitted at the door for $3. For additional information, visit winchesterkiwanis.org or contact info@winchesterkiwanis.org.
- Contact Stephanie M. Mangino at smangino@winchesterstar.com
| By Stephanie M. Mangino The Winchester Star |
WINCHESTER- After 12 years, the Kiwanis Club of Winchester's Community Pancake Day is returning to Jim Barnett Park.
It's a homecoming for the club, that served up stacks of pancakes and loads of sausage for more than 40 years at the park, club officials said recently.
Pancake Day, held each spring and fall, is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 9 at the Active Living and Recreation Center in the park.
The event in its 54th year left the park following its 1999 edition, when the War Memorial Building underwent renovations.
"I think we always thought we would go back," said Debbie Knotts of Clear Brook, a member of the event's publicity committee.
When the renovations were completed, Pancake Day didn't return, said past event chairman and current publicity committee member Archie McKay of Winchester, because the event grew too big for its original room. So it remained at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Activity Building on Opequon Avenue.
However, with the addition of the Active Living Center in 2009, more space was available and the Winchester Parks and Recreation officials contacted Kiwanis about a return, McKay said.
The community organization studied the idea for a while before making the shift, he added.
Pancake Day is a big operation. More than 6,000 people are usually served at each event, Knotts said.
In preparation, the club has ready 1,500 pounds of pancake mix, 16,000 butter portions, 240 gallons of milk, 2,800 pounds of Gore's sausage, 200 gallons of apple juice, and enough coffee to fill about 5,000 cups, according to McKay.
A few factors, all dealing with patron comfort, sealed the deal for Kiwanis.
The gym at the center can accommodate about 400 people, as opposed to the low 300s at the previous location, Knotts said.
People can eat in or take out their food.
If weather is bad, everyone should fit inside to wait, instead of lining up outside, McKay said.
Plenty of parking is also available, Knotts added.
And the site has better accessibility for people with disabilities, said Wayne Kagey, a publicity committee member.
The idea is to make patrons even more comfortable, so they will return for future pancake days, added John Conrad of Winchester, another publicity committee member.
Kiwanis is adding a new element with this Pancake Day, even as it returns to an old home.
For the first time, it will have a major beneficiary, which will receive most of the proceeds from the event, Knotts said. The beneficiary for the April 9 Pancake Day is the Winchester Day Nursery. The one for the fall event has not been announced.
Each Pancake Day nets from $28,000 to $30,000, Knotts and McKay said.
All the money received, according to the club bylaws, must benefit the community, McKay said.
The community pulls together for the event as well.
People buy tickets, even if they don't plan to attend, to help the fundraiser, McKay and Knotts said.
About 10,000 tickets are usually sold for each Pancake Day, Knotts said.
The event requires 163 adults to work and many volunteers from Kiwanis-sponsored clubs for young people help out, too, Knotts said.
By having a major beneficiary, people from the selected organization can help with the event and sell tickets while being highlighted by Pancake Day, Knotts said.
Tickets
Tickets cost $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Children under 7 will be admitted at the door for $3. For additional information, visit winchesterkiwanis.org or contact info@winchesterkiwanis.org.
- Contact Stephanie M. Mangino at smangino@winchesterstar.com