Volunteers ready for polar plunges at today's First Fridays in Adrian

ADRIAN — Partly cloudy skies and a high temperature of 13 degrees are in the forecast today, which sounds like ideal weather conditions for jumping into a pool full of icy water right in the heart of downtown Adrian.

That’s exactly what 12 Adrian-area individuals will be doing today at 5:30 p.m. as part of a fundraising campaign during the February edition of downtown Adrian’s First Fridays.

“Maple Frost” is the theme of today’s First Fridays in which those 12 community members have volunteered to participate in a new event, the Maple Frost Plunge, taking place at the intersection of Main and Maumee streets.

Participants in the Maple Frost Plunge have been fundraising for various organizations throughout Lenawee County since the event was announced in mid-January. If the participants reach the fundraising goal of $500 or more, they will take a plunge into “an icy cold pool of water" today, a news release from the city of Adrian said.

Half of all funds donated will go toward future downtown events, and the other half will benefit the organization each participant has chosen, the city said.

Maple Frost participants and the beneficiaries of their plunges are:

• Mayor Angie Sword Heath, Autism Grace of Lenawee.

• Adrian Police Chief Vince Emrick, Aawwesome Dance Troop.

• Adrian Parks and Recreation Director Jeremiah Davies, Lenawee Humane Society.

• Adrian Assessor Kristen Brown, Toby's Place Cat Rescue.

• Adrian Police Department administrative assistant Paula Ramirez, Dream Riders 4-H Club.

• Lenawee County Emergency Management Coordinator Craig Tanis, HOPE Community Center.

• Adrian Public Schools Superintendent Nate Parker, Adrian Schools Education Foundation.

• Adrian High School Principal Sam Skeels, students of Adrian High School.

• Culver’s of Adrian owner and DDA/Main Street board member David Thomas, Lenawee County Education Foundation.

• Catherine Cobb Safe House legal advocate Candy Gomez, Catherine Cobb Safe House.

• Greenjak owner Jack Still, Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee.

• City of Refuge Ministries meal assistance program director De'Angelo Boone, City of Refuge Ministries.

The public is still able to donate before today’s event, the release said. To donate, visit client.pointandpay.net/web/cityofadriandda and choose the individual to support from the drop-down menu.

A combined $8,000 has been raised so far, an announcement from the city said. A challenge is out to the public to raise the amount of funds to $10,000 or more by today’s plunge.

“I can’t wait to take the plunge for the (Adrian Schools) Education Foundation,” Parker said in a text message to The Daily Telegram.

The 100 blocks of Main and Maumee streets will be closed to motorists for today’s event beginning at noon, the city said. Streets are expected to be reopened to traffic by 10 p.m.

“There will be no parking on the streets during this time,” the city’s release said. “Public parking is available in the lots behind each downtown block.”

Another new initiative that will be introduced during “Maple Frost” is the Maple Frost Scavenger Hunt. At least 11 downtown businesses are participating in the hunt for a Maple Frost miniature statute. One of two gift baskets can be claimed as prizes for the person who first locates the sought-after statue. All scavenger hunt information can be found at the First Friday information tent beginning at 5 p.m., the release said.

Downtown businesses will have specials during the evening. Musgrove and Co., 110 W. Maumee St., is February’s First Fridays sponsor, and will be serving up hot chocolate, lattes and coffee. New flavors of drinks will be released today, too, including, a chocolate-covered strawberry latte and a rosemary vanilla latte.

Musgrove and Co. will also host a small business pop-up featuring hand-embroidered clothing from Tagged by Tuck, the release said.

Additional business features include:

• Live music with Noah Martis at Mammoth Distilling, 108 E. Maumee St. All cocktails and bottled spirits are marked 20% off.

• Passion 4 Fashion Boutique, 143 N. Main St., will have 15% off entire store products, excluding Brighton. All fall and winter apparel is 50-70% off, as are boots and fall shoes.

• Nutrition 365, 110 N. Main St., is offering buy-one-get-one free 16-ounce hot teas, mini candy cane shakes and Customer Day specials all day today.

• The Brick Wall Pub & Grill, 114 W. Maumee St., will serve a beef stew dinner special, served with dinner rolls and butter and salad. Jack Frost cocktails are a specialty drink. Meals are available for dine-in or takeout. The outdoor bar will feature regular or spiked hot chocolate, coffee, cocktails and beer. DJ STE will provide entertainment and music from 8 p.m. to midnight.

• All skin care products are 20% off at Bohmey Beauty, 128 N. Main St. Apparel is also available to check out.

• From 4 to 6 p.m. at Farver’s at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St., everything is a deal during golden hours happy hour. A night of vocal jazz music with Jonathon LaBelle is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m.

• Several deals on cigars and other items are featured at Chaloner’s Cigar House, 108 W. Maumee St. Be Mai Valen Tai’s are listed at $9, all Lenny’s & Larry’s cookies are 20% off and customers who buy any three cigars can receive a select fourth cigar for free, courtesy of vendors and while supplies last.

• Buy-one-get-one-free dips are available at The Marks Trading Co., 220 N. Main St.

• “Love Local” is the theme at The Buzz Café and Marketplace, 110 E. Maumee St. Customers who purchase items at The Buzz and show an additional receipt from another downtown Adrian business will be able to save up to 10% off their entire purchase.

• Loveland Insurance Agency LLC/Farmers, 136 E. Maumee St., will have agents available to talk with prospective customers and provide them with coverage quotes.

• Bella Blush Salon and Spa, inside the Gallery of Shops, 136 E. Maumee St., will host the gallery game “Winter Frost.” The winner will receive a winter basket with a $40 gift card to JR’s Hometown Grill and Pub and a wine basket. Prize giveaways will be featured in a spin the wheel game, with prizes consisting of services, beauty products, blush bucks and more. Spa package drawings and a Valentine’s discounted spa package are additional prizes up for grabs, the release said.

• Tarot readings, Reiki healing sessions and a free love spell satchel with a $20 purchase or more are some of the deals at Ghidrah’s Mystic She Ways, 120 E. Maumee St.

• Downtown Dempsey’s, inside the Gallery of Shops, will have $1 off beers and seltzers, and specialty sweet treats including chocolate-covered strawberries. Downtown Dempsey’s will also have a spinning wheel the public can spin to win prizes.

• Locally made artwork will be on display and available for purchase from Pat Cooper Studios inside the Joe Ann Steele Financial Center, 130 N. Main St. Refreshments will also be served.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Volunteers ready for polar plunges at Adrian's First Fridays