May brings flowers, pancakes from Kiwanis Club

IRONWOOD - April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring Kiwanis pancakes? Well, maybe not, but the Ironwood Kiwanis Club has been hosting a Pancake Day fundraiser in May since at least the early 1950s, according to member Sue Murphy.

"No one around remembers before that," she said with a smile while sitting at a table selling tickets in the front hall of the Elk & Hound Thursday afternoon. "The Ironwood club dates back to 1925."

The event - planned for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. - was one of the club's four or five annual fundraisers, Murphy said.

The club uses the funds for its various causes, including many things for children, including a Coats or Kids program, Little League, Santa's Headquarters, Cub Scouts and a program for parents of newborns and young children. The club also supports scholarships at Gogebic Community College, Gogebic-Ontonagon Special Olympics and local park improvements.

Betsy Slabaugh, another member selling tickets, praised the members of the Bessemer High School Key Club for helping with Thursday's event. Eight members of the youth club sponsored by the Kiwanis had secured permission to leave school for part of the day and help at the fundraiser, busing tables and doing other tasks.

Manning the griddles at 1 p.m. were member Paul Mlasko of Ironwood and non-member Timothy Oliver of Marquette and formerly of Ironwood. Oliver said he grew up helping at the event with his family and comes back every year to help out. His father, Jim Oliver, stood nearby with apron on, ready to step back in.

Blueberries in the pancakes were a hot item, said Mlasko. Murphy said there's a secret recipe to the pancake batter and the sausages are prepared in a special way, too.

"There's lots special about the day," added Slabaugh with a smile. "We're happy people are coming out in support."

-Larry Holcombe