Lake Country This Month

By Katherine Michalets Freeman Staff OCONOMOWOC — When Pat Fox saw the grocery shopping carts created to carry special needs children and adults, he knew he want- ed to add them to his Piggly Wiggly stores because they would help to fulfill the busi- ness's mission statement of providing "superior ser- vice." The specialized carts were implemented about six months ago in the Oconomowoc and Hartland stores, and Fox said those using them have provided positive feedback. Fox said he first learned of Caroline's Carts while attending the Food Market- ing Institute in Chicago with his wife, Lori. "As we talked with the manufacturer and they told us the story of how it evolved, we were impressed and decided at some point in the future we would commit to buying them for our Hart- land and Oconomowoc loca- tions," Fox said via email. "In our mission statement we use the words 'Superior Service' and we felt that get- ting these carts was part of fulfilling that part of our mission statement for those with this need." Caroline's Cart was creat- ed by Drew Ann and David Long, who wanted to include their middle child with spe- cial needs in regular family activities such as grocery shopping. According to the website for Caroline's Cart, "It provides parents and caregivers a viable option to transport a child through a store while grocery shop- ping, without having the impossible task of having to maneuver a wheelchair and a traditional grocery cart at the same time." Fox said the Caroline's Carts at two of his stores have only been used a little, so he wants more people to know about them so they can be utilized. The handles of Caroline's Cart swing up to provide easy access to the seat for the rider and its contoured seat is comfortable for individu- als with low muscle tone, according to the manufactur- er's website. It can also har- ness a person who weighs up to 250 pounds. There is a locking brake in back to pro- vide additional stability when loading and unloading occupants. "This shopping cart will make it possible for kids with disabilities to be part of a family shopping outing. More than this, when fami- lies use Caroline's Cart in neighborhood stores, it sends an important message to everyone who sees them that kids with disabilities are kids first and need to be included," reads a comment from Sara Brewster, vice president of marketing com- munications for National Easter Seals. www.foxbrospigglywiggly.com www.carolinescart.com Email: kmichalets@conleynet.com By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman There is cultural fun and silly fun to be had in equal amounts in Lake Country. One can rent a bouncy house or take piano lessons within a 20-minute drive. It is unfair to call Hart- land Music a music store. The facility is located at 1125 James Drive in Hart- land, and is a landmark for those devoted to music. It started, in its current for m, in 1975. Ironically, Larry McDonald decided against education after fin- ishing his degree in music and going through student teaching. "I really could not see myself teaching children that didn't want to lear n how to be musicians," McDonald said. "It wasn't for me." McDonald and Tony Cor- rao dined at what is now Palmer's Steakhouse in Hartland. McDonald lamented his career trajec- tory. Corrao, owner of Cor- rao's Music and McDonald's boss, lamented that his chil- dren did not want his busi- ness. "I bought a business," McDonald said. "I bought a job, frankly. That's what I did." What a job it's become. Hartland Music is one of the nation's finest music stores and music education facilities, and is nearly without peer. About 2,300 students, by McDonald's count, current- ly take lessons at Hartland Music. That's what someone who wanted to avoid educa- tion built in 40 years. There is no secret. Hart- land Music employs experts. "These are all profession- al musicians, with the exception of one or two peo- ple," McDonald said. "Everyone who works here, these are working profes- sionals. They know what it takes to earn a living in the music industry." Retail is a fickle beast. McDonald said he is sur- prised that Hartland Music sells about 25 or 30 ukuleles per month, and admits he did not see the trend com- ing. Teaching will remain the hallmark of Hartland Music. "I don't see the teaching to be any different," McDonald said. "People are still look- ing for expert teachers and we have some of the best around, maybe the best around." Fun for rent Jenny Markham-Gehl's North Prairie-based Fun Rental, 130 E. Morey Road, peddles a more innocent, child-like brand of fun. "You might say we're the fun providers, or the official providers of fun," Markham-Gehl said. Markham-Gehl shows up with a party. Tables, chairs, tents, DJs, bouncy houses, concession machines — you name it and you can rent if from Fun Rental. Markham-Gehl said the business owns about 35 inflatables. A bouncy house goes up in about two min- utes, and draws a crowd. "When we set up on-site, at the location, the kids are ready to bounce," Markham-Gehl said. "They want to help. They're right there, and they're ready." Bouncy houses and inflat- able attractions really went mainstream over the last 20 to 25 years. Markham-Gehl said she receives numerous calls for inflatable attrac- tions at parties for young adults. "We're starting to see, in our market, tons of requests for graduation parties," Markham-Gehl said. "These kids grew up with those houses. They want one last shot at their childhood." Bouncy nostalgia aside, the bulk of business for Markham-Gehl is in corpo- rate events. She provides the planning services and physical items necessary to accommodate people at cor- porate parties and func- tions. "Over the years we've been lucky enough to be able to offer event planning services, and offer and pro- vide services for large com- pany picnics and events," Markham-Gehl said. "We provide staff and equip- ment and all the entertain- ment." Markham-Gehl said Fun Rental will celebrate 15 years in 2016, and said the business grew faster than expected. An endeavor that grew out of a husband and wife deciding they could rent to others the same items they rented for them- selves is going strong. "The future is definitely bright," Markham-Gehl said. "We're seeing more and more company events, year after year. I definitely think there is a lot of growth and opportunity." There are many ways to spell 'fun' in Lake Country FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 3A November 2015 247109001 Awesome Leather Values + Special Fur Beauties + Lots to Choose From = Christmas @ Lieblang Leather! 247109001 262-646-8917 607 Main St., Delafield • lieblangleather.com Stop in to see our new showroom 700 A Genesee St., Delafield 262.646.3310 stevenpauldesigns.com 241110002 What's under your tree? ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ 247163004 Oliva di Vita Open Mon. - Fri. 10am-6pm • Sat. 10am-5pm • Sun. 10am-2pm 623 Genesee St., Delafield 262-303-4292 • OlivadiVita.com Ultra-Premium Olive Oils and Aged Balsamic Vinegars Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars make Perfect Holiday Gifts! Individual and Corporate Gift Packs 247187002 Shop Delafield Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly offers customized carts Submitted photo Jamie Liss pushes Kassidy Horack in a Caroline's Cart at Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly. Local stores feature carts for special needs kids NOVEMBER FOCUS: SMALL BUSINESS

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