Business are jammin' in more ideas for Muskego celebration

Muskego - With the first series of Jammin' on Janesville block parties under their belts, business owners are bubbling with enthusiasm and creativity in their efforts to continue what they hope will become a yearly event.

No fewer than 130 Janesville Road area business owners from Moorland Road to Racine Avenue attended last week's kickoff session to share ideas about fun events each business can offer this summer.

For example, one roofer is thinking about holding a contest where kids don a tool belt and try their hands at putting shingles onto a tiny roof section.

Tina Weiss, executive director of the Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors Jammin' on Janesville, said there is increased enthusiasm this year among business owners because they saw how successful the first series was.

"They want to continue the event to be an annual thing, like the St. Martin's Fair," Weiss said.

Indeed, an annual event is what the chamber had been hoping for.

"It really highlights our businesses," she said. "We want people to know what's on Janesville Road and the only way to do it is by walking it."

Good business and fun

Each Jammin' on Janesville day effectively serves as a giant block party in which businesses up and down Janesville offer entertaining events and activities. The goal is to provide a lively and engaging event for the community.

Held the first Friday evening of June, July and August, the series is meant to put a human face on Janesville businesses in a fun atmosphere. The hope is that people will continue to remember the businesses while road work proceeds.

The chamber originated Jammin' on Janesville to help businesses survive the more than two-year Janesville Road widening project. Preliminary work started last year, but the road will really be torn up from May through November this year and then the project will be finished in 2013.

This year, Jammin' on Janesville will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. June 1, July 6 and Aug. 3.

Constructing new ideas

Business owner Scott LeMarr, owner of Honest Home Inspections, said ideas are rolling in for this summer's dates.

"Everybody's got some good ideas out there," he said.

One of the things he wants to do is a bit of a take-off on television's "World's Dumbest" series. LeMarr will show the dumbest things people do to fix their homes.

This year, the chamber also is encouraging businesses to offer dollar things, such as small food samples or doggie treats. Those businesses will be highlighted with dollar icons on a trolley map. The idea is to encourage crowds to go the entire length of the jam, Weiss said.

Trolleys will be provided to take jammers up and down the thoroughfare.

The chamber also is putting together a bingo coloring book for young jammers. Kids would color the pictures in the book and visit a participating business to obtain a bingo sticker. The winners would get a bouncy house at their home for a time, Weiss said.

The chamber will try to have the bingo coloring books available as early as May from sponsoring businesses, the Muskego Library, churches and day care centers.