Pancake tradition unites Valley on Shrove Tuesday

The annual event serves as a fundraiser for Belle Vernon Area Rotary.

Hot griddles, stacks of pancakes and a steady line of guests marked another year of service as Belle Vernon Area Rotary hosted its 62nd annual Shrove Tuesday dinner at St. Sebastian Church Social Hall in North Belle Vernon.

Chace Petrosky, Preston Rathway and Michael Parzynski watch as Dan Mochnaly flips a pancake. Jenn Codeluppi / Mon Valley Independent

The annual event, held from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., welcomed community members for a meal while raising funds to support Rotary programs and local initiatives throughout the Belle Vernon area.

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday, is observed the day before Ash Wednesday. It has traditionally been associated with using up rich foods such as eggs, butter and sugar before the start of the Lenten season, making pancakes a customary meal for the occasion.

Jim Monahan, pancake breakfast chairman and longtime Rotary member, said the tradition dates back to 1962, though two years were missed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is really a community event that people look forward to,” he said.

Monahan, who has been a Rotary member for 49 years, said he has attended nearly every breakfast. He estimated the event typically serves about 600 people and is one of the organization’s largest fundraisers outside of the annual Regatta on the Yough.

Belle Vernon Area Rotary serves communities within the Belle Vernon Area and Frazier school districts.

“Our biggest use of funds is scholarships,” Monahan said, noting the organization distributes about $15,000 annually to Belle Vernon Area and Frazier high school students. “The breakfast shows everything good about what a small town has to offer. This type of thing is part of small-town life. You connect with people. It brings people together.”

About 60% of Rotary funds remain local, with additional portions supporting regional efforts across the greater Pittsburgh area and international Rotary projects.

Volunteers worked throughout the day preparing traditional buttermilk and buckwheat pancakes and sausage links.

Dan Mochnaly, a longtime Rotary member, described himself as the “head pancake flipper.”

“I’ve been doing this for a long time — I’ve gotten my flip down pretty good,” Mochnaly said. “For me, it’s nice being involved in something that raises money that actually makes a difference in the community. The best part is serving people, meeting new people and catching up with old friends. It’s a good time, and almost everyone is always smiling.”

Students greeted and served guests as they sat at tables, bringing juice, water or coffee and making sure there was plenty of butter and syrup.

Lily Crawford, a Belle Vernon Area senior, has volunteered at the breakfast for four years.

“When I first heard about it, it sounded fun — and it is,” Crawford said. “It’s nice to see the community come together.”

Paisley Hidner, a Belle Vernon Area sophomore, said joining Interact Club initially helped her meet extracurricular goals but quickly became more meaningful.

“It feels good to give back, and it’s nice to get out of the classroom to be more involved with the community,” Hidner said.

Many attendees said the event has become an annual tradition.

Sharon Mochnaly, who attends each year with her grandchildren, said the breakfast offers an opportunity to reconnect with friends and neighbors.

“We come every year, and it’s nice to catch up with old friends and see people you might not have seen for a while,” she said. “It’s almost like a reunion. Bringing the grandkids has become a tradition for us.”

North Belle Vernon business owner Keith Peer tries to attend annually to support Rotary and enjoy time with friends.

“I enjoy coming to have some fun with my friends, have a good breakfast and have a few laughs,” Peer said. “Supporting Rotary is a great cause, and you get to meet new people and be part of helping to give back to the community. It’s also nice seeing so many young people here volunteering. That’s not something you see too much of anymore.”

Peer attended with his friend Ralph Jennings, whose grandson volunteered with the Interact Club while Jennings’ wife helped in the kitchen.

“We’re just happy to be here,” Jennings said.

From longtime volunteers to firsttime helpers, the annual breakfast once again showed that a simple meal can bring a community together — and that some of the best laughs happen around a table.