Month: December 2014

BLISSFIELD — Runners are invited to enjoy the Blissfield Village Christmas decorations and warm up with a hot beverage after the Third Annual Hot-Cha-Cha 5K Mug Run Friday, Dec. 12.
The Hot-Cha-Cha 5K Mug Run has grown to become one of the largest runs in Blissfield, and is punctuated by some runners in costumes ranging from elves to the award-winning running Christmas tree in 2013. The run will take off from the beautifully decorated downtown, wind through the village neighborhoods, then end up back downtown for either hot wassail or hot chocolate.
The Wassail Fest is presented by Blissfield Rotary and hosted by Blissfield DDA/Main Street Program. The Hot-Cha-Cha 5K Mug Run aspect is sponsored by the Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Program and co-sponsored by Borchardt Brothers Market.
The runners will actually receive a mug that will enter them into the Wassail Festival’s tour of sites in downtown businesses where competing versions of hot wassail, a wine-and-fruit based holiday beverage, will be sampled. For non-drinkers or runners who are younger than 21, an insulated cocoa mug will be provided for a mugful of hot chocolate or coffee. Water will also be provided to all runners.
There are a limited number of official Wassail mugs, which will be awarded on a first-come basis. Late-registering runners may receive an alternate mug if the Wassail mugs are sold out, which will be honored at the Wassail stops.
Runners are asked to wear reflective clothing for safety’s sake. Costumes of the season are welcome. The night run takes off at 6:30 p.m. Registration for the run begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Blissfield Township Office, 120 S. Lane St., in the heart of the downtown. Pre-registration is encouraged. Entries are available at The Advance, 121 Newspaper Street., Blissfield, or can be downloaded at www.blissfield.net. Online registration is available at active.com. To be emailed a form, please email advance@cass.net.
The Wassail Festival begins at 6 p.m.
The awards ceremony will follow the race with medals to the overall male and female winner and the top two finishers in each male and female age division: 6-12, 13-20, 21-35, 36-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus.
Those runners opting for Wassail mugs will be able to vote for their favorite beverage along the Wassail Trail in downtown Blissfield.
The Hot-Cha-Cha-Mug Run price is $25 for those 16 and older; $12 for kids 6-18; with a family rate of $60 (limit of two adults per family which must live in the same household; additional adults $25). Children 6-12 must run with an adult due to darkness.
Non-runners can register to participate in the Wassail festival for $12 at the Transcend Physical Therapy, corner of South Lane and Jefferson streets that night, or pre-register at the Blissfield Village Office, South Lane Street, or Historical Depot, North Lane Street, prior to the run.
For more information on the run, please email advance@cass.net or call 517-486-2400 during business hours.

The community has a busy week again starting with a Saturday benefit and a feather party and then the annual Lights of Love ceremony on Sunday.
Liv’s Diner will host a Mexican taco benefit dinner from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Diner’s location. PLEASE NOTE: The day was incorrect in the Dec. 3 Advance story. It is Saturday, Dec. 6, not Thursday as written in the story. The Advance apologizes for the error.
Owner Jamie Armstrong said employee of the diner, Cassy Cook, a 29-year old mother of three children ages 11, eight and five, has been diagnosed with stage-three cancer and is unable to work due to the aggressive regimen of chemotherapy and radiation treatment to combat the illness. Cook’s treatments take four days per week.
According to Armstrong the benefit will not only assist Cook during the period she is not working, but the benefit will also raise funds to help Cook with bills and through the remainder of the holidays.
The taco dinner will be $10 for adults and children five and under are $5. The total dinner includes tacos, refried beans, Mexican rice and drinks. Desserts are available for a donation price.
All proceeds from the dinner will be sent directly to Cook.
Those who would like to donate to the benefit but are unable to attend may send a mailed donation to the Diner’s address, 107 W. Adrian Street, or may deposit money in an account at Blissfield State Bank locations.
Unwrapped Christmas gifts and cards will be accepted as well.
Listed below are some events coming up this weekend as well as the following week:
• Riga Township Fire Dept Feather Party 6 p.m. doors open and first spin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Riga Township Municipal Building.
• Blissfield Community School’s Department of Fine Arts annual Madrigal Dinner. 2 p.m. concert with high tea followed by a full course dinner and concert, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 located at the high school.
• RitesReserved free Christmas concert 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Light of Christ Catholic Church, 222 Careyt, Deerfield.
• Hospice of Lenawee “Lights of Love” tree lightings, 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 located in the Blissfield mini-park on South lane Street with a reception to follow at Cakes ‘N’ Shakes.
• Blissfield Elementary School second and third grade musical concerts: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 second grade music concert followed by a 7 p.m. concert of the third grade class. The holiday concert is located in the elementary building’s cafeteria.
More details on these other events were featured in the Nov. 26 Advance.