Light of Christ Parish will host a sauerkraut-and-sausage dinner from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Blissfield campus on South Lane Street. Dinner is $7 for adults, $5 for youth. Carry-out available. Funds go to the parish’s feeding programs.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
RIGA — The Riga Township Firefighters Association will present their annual Feather Party and Raffle Saturday night at the Riga Township Municipal Building. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first spin takes place at 7 p.m. Organizers are giving away $2,885 in cash prizes, 100 oven-ready turkeys and 20 hams plus lots of door prizes and more. The popular candy wheel will be part of the fun. All proceeds go to the Riga Firefighters Association Fund. For more information, please call 605-8254. Admission is free, but tickets are sold for various games.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
The Blissfield Community Schools Department of Fine Arts presents a Madrigal Dinner: The Jester Fest on Saturday, Dec. 1, in the BHS cafetorium. There will be a 3 p.m. concert with high tea, and the cost is $5 per person. This includes the performance and a buffet of cakes and pastries served with tea, coffee and wassail punch. There will be a concert with a full dinner at 7 p.m. The cost is $16 per person and $8 for children 10 and under. This includes the performance with a full dinner buffet of roasted pork loin, fried chicken, vegetarian alfredo pasta, potatoes au gratin, green beans, tossed salad, rolls, and choices of vanilla cake with raspberry filling and chocolate cake with fudge filling for dessert. Advance reservations are required, and can be made by calling Jolene Witt at 517-486-4420 ext. 218.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
The annual Lights of Love treelighting in the village of Blissfield, hosted by Hospice of Lenawee, will be at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, in the gazebo mini-park in downtown Blissfield. The public is invited to the ceremony where those lost are honored, the Hospice tree is lighted — this year by the Harold Loar family — and Pastor Bob Bidwell will share remarks. Larry and Denny Thompson will perform some musical selections appropriate to the annual memorial event. After the ceremony, people are invited to Cakes ‘N Shakes to warm up and have refreshments.
Copyright 2012 River Raisin Publications, Inc.
DEERFIELD – Scott Anthony Rau, 45, of Deerfield passed away suddenly on Sunday, November 25, 2012, at his home. He was born on May 11, 1967 in Flint, Michigan to Al and Elva (Blackburn) Rau.
Scott graduated from Deerfield High School in 1985. He attended college at Monroe County Community College and Siena Heights. On September 3, 1988, he was united in marriage to Nilda Torres in Lorain, Ohio. Scott was employed with Tecumseh Products for many years and most recently worked in Commercial Sales for Lowe’s in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was a member of the Light of Christ Catholic Parish, St. Alphonsus campus in Deerfield, the Deerfield Fire Department for ten years and a member of the Sons of the American Legion for about six years. Scott was an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan. He was not only a fixture and mentor known amongst the Dundee Wrestling Community, but was very involved with any activities his children were a part of.
Surviving is his wife, Nilda Rau of Deerfield; his parents, Al (Elva) Rau of Deerfield; two sons, Matthew and Christopher Rau, both of Deerfield; his sister, Stacey (Carl) Ulrich of Deerfield and his niece, Chelsea Zay of Adrian, MI; also surviving are numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Frederick (Katherine) Rau and his maternal grandparents, Robert (Pearl) Blackburn.
A funeral mass to celebrate the life of Scott Rau will be held on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Deerfield with Fr. Jack Loughran as celebrant. Burial will follow in Deerfield Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Adrian and also on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church in Deerfield. A prayer service will be held on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Those wishing to make memorial contributions may do so to the family of Scott Rau. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.
Goldie M. Knapp, 101, of Blissfield, went to be in the loving arms of God Friday, November 23, 2012, at Swanton Health Care.
She was born April 18, 1911, in Limestone Cove, Tennessee, the daughter of George and Mildred (Buchanan) Cochran, Sr.
On June 23, 1939, Goldie was married to Earl L. Knapp. They celebrated over 32 years of marriage prior to his death in 1972.
Goldie was a faithful member of the Element Church in Blissfield.
She is survived by her children, Deanna Fashbaugh of Swanton and David (Brenda) Knapp of Blissfield; grandchildren, Heidi Fashbaugh of Swanton and Laura (Matt) Bell of Adrian; great grandchildren, Morgan and Parker Bell; a brother, George Cochran, Jr. of Adrian; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by five sisters: Alta Ford, Jeannette Quigley, Norma Rothfuss, Gladys Gruel, and Betty Simpson; and four brothers: Earl, Fletcher, Fred and Edward Cochran.
The funeral service for Goldie is planned for Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield.
Contributions in memory of Goldie may be made to the Element Church or Hospice of Lenawee. Condolences are welcome at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.
It was a chilly, clear night Saturday, Nov. 24, as the annual Parade of Lights illuminated the village streets in Blissfield.
Lane Street and Giles Avenue were lined with people gathered for the lighted event which included everything from a lighted sousaphone in the Blissfield High School marching band, to a giant reindeer driving a float covered in Christmas lights.
Lighted tractors, floats, cars, trucks, firetrucks – even a motor home – made their way along the parade route ahead of Santa and Mrs. Claus in horse-drawn cart. The parade was sponsored by Blissfield DDA/Main Street Program and presented by Blissfield Coney Island and B-Town Bar & Grill.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc. Photos by Melissa Burnor. For more from Melissa Burnor and Chad Hutchinson on the parade, please see the Nov. 28, 2012, edition of The Advance. To subscribe for weekly home delivery, please call 517-486-2400.
PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Jann Lyn Leverenz, age 54, died Monday, November 5, 2012, at the Ohio Northwestern Hospice Center. She is survived by her husband, John Leverenz of Toledo, her father, Norman (Bud) Peacock, step mother, Edna Peacock of Blissfield; a son Richard of Toledo; her brother, Jeffery, his wife, Tracy and their sons Cody, CJ Peacock of Elyria, Ohio; and John’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Leverenz. Both Jann and her brother, Jeffery, were adopted from the Methodist Children’s Home. The first 20 years of their life was parented by Joann Russell (1931-1981) of Kalamazoo, and Norman Peacock. Both the Russell and the Peacock families were ecstatic over the addition and the children brought the utmost love to their families. One of Jann’s favorite pastimes when she was young was fishing, always outdoing her father and brother and she loved talking about it. One of Jann’s greatest gifts was making hundreds of original, specialized and intricate cards for the holidays, birthdays or just for fun to her loved ones. Her work of handmade drawings of both formal and imaginary scenery is highly revered by her family and close friends. Jann’s family wishes to acknowledge the excellent care provided by the Toledo Hospital as well as Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Upon Jann’s request, cremation has taken place. Due to the age of her family and the distances involved, the immediate family felt graveside services would be appropriate at a later date. Arrangements were handled by Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel. Condolences are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com
By Melissa Burnor
Some new attractions will light up Lane Street when folks gather for the 13th annual Blissfield Parade of Lights Saturday evening. The event is organized by the Blissfield Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Program. This year leading the parade of floats decorated in holiday style and hopefully with bright Christmas lights, will be grand marshals Abe and Zamira Elmazi, owners of Blissfield Coney Island and the B-Town Bar & Grill. The Lane Street business is also this year’s parade sponsor. They will be traveling the parade route in a decorated float to lead the procession of holiday-themed floats and units through the downtown.
This year’s organizers have a goal of 50 entries in the parade.
“I think it is going to be nice. We have had a good response so far,” committee coordinator Gwen Dusa said of the entries that have signed up so far.
Friendly and familiar faces such as Miss River Raisin Festival Charlotte Squires and Britton Deerfield homecoming queen Anna Prielipp will both take part in the festivities. Members of the Blissfield High School Marching Band will be spending part of their holiday weekend performing holiday favorites for parade-goers to enjoy. While one expects to see fire trucks, tractors, combines and other farm machinery lit up and decorated in a Blissfield parade other new attractions and entrants will be a part of this year’s parade.
“This is the first year the Shriner Jeepster units are coming,” Dusa said. “I also have Paws coming down from the Detroit Tigers,” she said. Paws is the mascot of the major league baseball team.
Interested participants can find registration forms at www.blissfieldmainstreet.com or contact Dusa at 517-486-3671. Parade entries will be judged by Blissfield Village president Mike Gunter, DDA chairperson, Jeff Juby, and Noel Eisenmann representing Michigan Agricultural Commodities. M.A.C., The Andersons and D & P Communications are all trophy sponsors. Three awards will be given out, one for best use of lights, most festive and most creative.
And of course the grand finale will be Santa and Mrs. Claus bringing up the end of the parade. The parade begins at 7 p.m. Parade participants will begin lining up behind Blissfield High School at 6 p.m. The parade route will follow Lane Street through the downtown then turn east on U.S. 223 then back south on Giles Ave. and return to the school.
Copyright 2012, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For Melissa’s complete story and an array of holiday happenings in the annual Holiday Lifestyles section, please see the Nov. 21, 2012, edition of The ADVANCE. Or call 517-486-2400 to subscribe for weekly delivery.
By Chad Hutchinson
Blissfield High School students participated in their first Challenge Day on Nov. 14. Challenge Day is an event hosted in an effort to raise awareness and prevention of bullying among students, as well as to raise self-esteem and unity.
“It was a very different experience, but I really liked the way they got us to open up to each other,” BHS senior Dylan Thompson said.
“I was surprised at how many people are going through the exact same things,” senior Miranda Strack added.
BHS students participated in a variety of activities throughout the day that helped them to get to know themselves better, as well as their classmates. The students opened the day with plenty of team-building activities that encouraged plenty of fun and dancing, as well as discussing the life goals the students had set for themselves.
Event organizer and BHS faculty member Louise Keinath said the event really opened her eyes to the magnitude of issues with which the youths of today are faced. “These students are having to deal with some major issues, and often times we as adults don’t think about what’s going on with our young people,” Keinath said.
