Mike Massa first attended TES event with children in ‘93, then with grandchildren this month
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – While taking part in an event at Tomahawk Elementary School (TES), an area man recreated a one-of-a-kind photo published in the Tomahawk Leader more than 30 years ago.
Kari Massa said her father, Mike Massa, a lifetime Tomahawk resident, recently attended Family Night at TES for the “Uncle Pancake” event, which includes all-you-can-eat pancakes with a twist: those in line for flapjacks have the option to have them tossed into the air to be caught on their plate.
The accompanying black-and-white photo, showing Mike trying to reel in airborne pancakes, was taken in May 1993 and published in the Tomahawk Leader. On that day, Mike had taken his wife and Kari and her sisters to the event.
The color photo, captured on Tuesday, Feb. 20, depicts Mike once again attempting to catch aerial pancakes – but this time, his grandchildren, who are students at TES, were on hand.
“When I saw that TES was providing an opportunity to relive this experience, I knew that my family had to attend,” Kari stated. “It wasn’t until we were standing in line for pancakes that I told my dad that I was going to try and recreate the picture of him in the Leader files from ‘93.”
Kari noted that Mike was successful in catching his pancakes…in 2024.