Mariner Café’s owner received a pleasant surprise from members of the Sequim Prairie Grange last week.

David McDaniels, master of the grange, presented Marie Dickinson the “Non-Granger of the Year” award on March 16. after a group of grangers ate lunch and pie before presenting the award

Grange member Loretta Bilow read the declaration about Dickinson, saying she has her “heart and hand on the pulse of the community” and “always a smiling face, a kind word, and a helping hand for whoever is in need of it.”

Dickinson, a Sequim native, also helped the grange with an event and brought her crew and helped deliver supplies the group was unable to find, Bilow said.

Dickinson has owned the café for about five years on West Washington Street after starting to work at its former location in January 1999 on East Washington Street.

“It’s a way to keep everyone flowing,” Dickinson said of her work with the restaurant.

“I hire kids and all types of people,” she said. “I want to just take care of people and give them a place to meet.”

Before and during the pandemic, Dickinson said her clientele has been “so amazing and supportive,” adding, “I hope everyone feels welcome here.”

One of her goals for staff is to encourage them to learn customers’ names, she said.

Grange members said they voted on Non-Granger of the Year at their February meeting, and will vote on the Grange Member of the Year at 7 p.m. April 14, at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road.

Mariner Café is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. seven days a week at 609 W. Washington St. Dickinson said her father John starts a coffee at 5:45 a.m., too.

For more information about the café, call 360-683-1055.