I arrived in Seaside for the Miss America Scholarship Program as I have done for more than a decade, eager for breakfast at Patti’s Wicker Cafe. Imagine my surprise to find it under renovation and no longer serving dry wit and coffee at 6 a.m.! I just wanted to take a moment and pay tribute to a member of your community who was as original as the Oregon Coast itself and who worked through her life to bring happiness and homemade food to the community. She told me her real name once upon a time but it was never an issue to just call her by the name of the cafe she made a bright light in the gray dawn.

Thank you, Patti! You will be missed.

Clint Kaster

Portland