For 20 years the Palmyra Masonic Lodge has prepared a free Christmas dinner in Blissfield for anyone who wants to join in the meal.
This year the dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas day at the American Legion Post 325. The Masons serve more than 100 people — sometimes closer to 200 — annually.
Anyone who may be alone, who doesn’t want to cook dinner is invited to attend or who wants to join in the tradition is welcome to partake of this complimentary meal of turkey and all the trimmings.
River Raisin Publications, Inc. For Melissa Burnor’s story on this Blissfield community tradition, please see the top story in the Dec. 19, 2012, edition of The Advance. To subscribe for home delivery, please call 517-486-2400.
An electrical issue contained to the mechanical room at Blissfield Elementary School required the evacuation of students from the school later Monday morning, Dec. 17.
Blissfield Fire Chief Gary Crist said the department was dispatched to the school just before 11:40 a.m. for a suspected electrical fire.
“There was no sign of fire,” Crist said when fire crews investigated. He said the main breakers were already off.
School resumed as usual Tuesday, Dec. 18.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For Melissa Burnor’s complete story, please see the Dec. 12, 2012, edition of The Advance.
The Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Program hosted its first-ever night race — the Hot-Cha-Cha 5K Mug Run — on Friday in Blissfield. Despite chilly temperatures, 104 runners signed up to brave the brisk, but clear night air to compete in the five-kilometer trek.
Runners from abroad and of all ages participated, from the ages of six to 80.
Alex and Cassie Williams of Caro, traveled three hours and completed the run to make it their 156th race of the year.
“It was a great race and you can’t beat having hot chocolate waiting for you at the finish line on a chilly night like this,” Alex said.
“We had a lot of fun. The race was very well-organized and the volunteers were excellent and they were all very nice,” Cassie added.
For some of the runners it was their first race, but for 80-year-old veteran racer Harrison Hensley, it was his 2,128th career race, and his 87th five-kilometer run of the year. Hensley’s friend and fellow racer Randy Fielder marked his 1,698th with the completion of the run.
The overall winner in the men’s division was local runner Justin Bateson with a time of 16:07. He also was first across the finish line. The top overall runner for the women’s division was Karen Killian with a time of 19:27.
In the men’s division the first- and second-place winners were: ages 6-12, Zebedee Swager finished at a time of 28:34 and Leo Swager with a time of 28:46; ages 13-15, Tommy Brandys 20:59, Jonah Schmucker 21:40; ages 16-20, Justin Bateson 16:07, Tyler Schmidt was the second runner to cross the finish line, with a time of 17:21; ages 21-35, Max Mcllroy 17:26, Aaron Al-Sorgali 18:23; ages 36-49, Mike Holik 17:47, Eric Swager 19:44; ages 50-59, Bob Bridges 19:16, Ed Carmichael 21:57; ages 60-69, David Sliwinski 25:33, Randy Fielder 27:38; age 70 and up, Harrison Hensley 39:47. In the women’s divisions, ages 6-12 Sarah Weidmayer finished with a time of 26:14, and Annabelle Smith finished at 29:22; ages 13-15, Sydney Coe 22:41, Olivia Bockey 27:35; ages 16-20, Sydne McMullen 24:57, Ashlee Lewis 27:42; ages 21-35, Karen Killian 19:27, Cassie Williams 21:41; ages 36-49, Mindy Goetz 23:37, Vicky Oliver 24:57; ages 50-59, Jane Okoroafo 24:06, Melody Carmichael 27:03; ages 60-69, Cheryll Leonard 46:14; ages 70 and up, Gretchen Warwick 35:47, Dorothy Steedle 54:01.
Runners chose either to receive a Wassail mug which allowed them to sample wassail in the Blissfield Wassail Festival to a hot-chocolate mug for hot chocolate after the race.
Sponsors of the event included Blissfield Coney Island, Royal Nutrition and Borchardt Brothers Market, the pageant’s general sponsor.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc. From the Dec. 19, 2012, edition of The Advance.
Hot-Cha-Cha 5K Mug runners line up in Blissfield as they prepare to get their own green light. Copyright River Raisin Publications, Inc. Photo by Chad Hutchinson
Readers of The Advance will find a new 2013 Blissfield area calendar featuring photos of the places they love, the people they know and the events they enjoy featured in collages of Advance photographs for each month of the year.
On each page is also a listing of phone numbers of all businesses which participated in the 2013 calendar as well as websites for most of them – always handy if displayed near the telephone.
Pick up the Dec. 19, 2012, edition of The Advance for special warm holiday greetings from area businesses, the 2013 calendar, township reports from Blissfield and Riga townships, Blissfield Village Council action, all the local sports news including the new Blissfield varsity sport of bowling, shopping information to help people through the final days before Christmas and much more.
Deadline for the Dec. 26, ,2012, edition is at 5 p.m. Thursday for news and display advertising; 2 p.m. Friday for classified advertising. The early deadlines are due to the holidays and will also be in place for the Jan. 2, 2013, edition.
When Rudy Mirelez was 10 years old, the company his father worked for in Adrian closed up shop and moved south close to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Just two weeks later, the Mirelez family grew in size with the birth of a younger sister. Someone must have thought the young, growing family could use a little boost during the holiday season. Mirelez said the family received a Christmas basket.
“I never forgot that,” he said.
Fast-forward a couple of decades and Mirelez was one of the founding members of what was then the St. Peter’s Catholic Church Knights of Columbus in June 1981.
“We were a new group and we thought we should do something,” Mirelez said.
He, Doug Winkler and Ron Coopshaw were largely responsible for the idea of having the fraternal service organization lend a helping hand to community members at Christmas.
“The first year we helped 12 families here in Blissfield,” Mirelez said.
In those early years it was more of a concerted effort of the members of the organization and parishioners of the church. Now more than three decades later the effort not only reaches out to families in Blissfield but to several in the southeastern part of Lenawee County. This year the Knights of Columbus helped 87 families, Mirelez said.
This past weekend, a large volunteer effort that worked like a well-oiled machine created bountiful Christmas baskets for these families. To read the inspirational story of this effort, please see Melissa Burnor’s story in the Dec. 19, 2012, edition of The Advance. Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
Hot wassail and Christmas spirit were a’plenty during the second annual Wassail Festival in Blissfield last Friday, Dec. 15.
Eleven businesses brewed up batches of hot wassail for the tasting pleasure of approximately 400 wassailers on the evening. The event was hosted by Blissfield DDA/Main Street Program and sponsored by Blissfield Rotary.
Wassail is a hot or mulled cider beverage that originated in the south and west regions of England in the middle ages. Blissfield businesses were encouraged to create their own custom formula for the holiday beverage.
Dan and Ashley Bailey of Bailey’s Chiropractic said they conducted some online recipe research for their wassail, which consisted of pineapple and orange juice, red wine, apple cider and various spices. “We wanted to mix it up, and used a completely different recipe from last year,” Ashley said.
The winning recipe was voted on by the wassail-goers, and the top-ranking recipe went to B-Town Bar and Grill, followed by Cakes n’ Shakes in second place.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For the complete story on the Wassail Festival, please see the Dec. 19, 2012, edition of The Advance. More photos can be found on our Photo Galleries.
Ashley and Dan Bailey serve a sample of their wassail brew.
PALMYRA — Hugh H. Driggs, age 76, of Palmyra, died December 12, 2012 at Tecumseh Place II, under the care of Hospice of Lenawee.
Hugh was born in Toledo, Ohio on December 16, 1935, to Howard Hugh and Lucille (Dittman) Driggs. Hugh graduated from Blissfield High School and attended Bowling Green State University and Ohio State University.
Hugh was a member of the Palmyra Community Presbyterian Church; and the Palmyra Township zoning board and Palmyra Township Cemetery Association.
Hugh enjoyed trap shooting which earned him many awards. He was a life member of the National Trapshooting Association and was inducted into the National Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 1992. He was also a life member of the Michigan Trapshooting Association and was inducted into the Michigan Trapshooting Association Hall of Fame in 1990. Hugh was also a member of the N.R.A. and of the Palmyra #184 Lodge of Masons, holding the position of Master.
He was preceded in death by his parents. His survivors include his loving wife, Lee Ellen, three step children, Tami (Brian) Buschmann of Ogden; Todd (Reyna) Knierim of Adrian; and Keith Knierim, co-owner and operator of H.H. Driggs Farms of Palmyra. He was exceptionally close to four of his grandchildren, Nikki Lee Welever, Ashley Ann Fowler, Blade Hastings Knierim, Breann Lee Knierim and great grandson, Joel Anthony. He is also survived by his brother, Howard H. (Jeannie) Driggs of Toledo and his children, Holly, Hale, Hunter and Heather.
Besides his family, Hugh will be greatly missed by his “fab” five classmates of 1954 from B.H.S., who have remained in close contact throughout the years; his brother Howard, Ken Mitchell, Jim Siering, DeArle Stucker and Loraine Bell (who passed in October of this year). He will also be missed by his good friend and longtime shooting partner, Dave Berlet.
Funeral services for Hugh were at 1 p.m. Monday, December 17, 2012, at the Tagsold Chapel, Wagley Funeral Home, Blissfield with the Rev. Bob Bidwell officiating. Visitation was Sunday, December 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., with a Masonic Service which started at 7 p.m. Burial was private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Palmyra Community Presbyterian Church, Palmyra Masons #184, Palmyra Fire Department or to the Hospice of Lenawee. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Arrangements were entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home where on line condolences may be made to the family at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com
The Britton Deerfield Lady Patriots notched up another win Friday night, extending their win streak to five by defeating the Summerfield Bulldogs easily 68-45.
Despite a little shooting difficulty, their offense once again proved to be too tough to beat. Morgan Tanis had a season-high 18 points to lead the team and Cambria Handy had her second consecutive double-double including 17 points.
When the Light of Christ Knights of Columbus organization first formed in Blissfield in 1981, a trio of men – Ron Coopshaw, Rudy Mirelez (pictured center) and Doug Winkler – were looking for something to do to contribute to the community.
Through shared faith, personal history, a desire to serve the community and a need in the community, the fledgling group decided to help those who might need a little extra during the holidays.
Mirelez said an event in his own life as a young boy is present in his mind during the holiday season as the Knights prepare the baskets for hundreds of people in the area.
What started out as an effort that helped just a handful of households in the Blissfield community the first year has grown into a remarkable endeavor that has helped in some years more than 100 families in southeastern Lenawee County and has the support of many other community service organizations and community members in the area. Food, household and toiletry items have been purchased or donated and organized and are ready to go to at least 87 households on Sunday afternoon.
Read more about how this Knights of Columbus food drive has unfolded throughout the years in the Dec. 19, 2012, big Christmas edition of The Advance.
