PRSRT PRSRT STD STD U.S. U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE PAID PAID Southern Southern Lakes Lakes Newspapers Newspapers
**ecrwss **ecrwss POSTAL POSTAL CUSTOMER CUSTOMER
QA
NEIGHBORS
A Publication of the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce
EASTTROY.ORG EASTTROY.ORG
MAY 2022 MARCH 2021
VOLUME 333, VOLUME 32,EDITION EDITION21
We’re Back! Memorial Day festivities
You Asked, We Answered
& SUMMER
kick off full slate of events
Our First Q&A Issue
101
Our first Q&A issue combines two vital things: the real-life concerns of our readers and the knowledge and expertise of our community members.
Community = Magic 101Troy Ways to Have East Lights: Here’s How WeFun Did It this Summer
Here’s yourEast official for like fun never in the Downtown Troymanual twinkled sun in East Troy… thanks to the debut of before this December, East Troy Lights – an all new holiday light H Picnic at East Troy Village Square Park attraction. The interactive and imaginative If you’ve ever wanted to feel thelight display experience visitors proverbial heartbeattransported of East Troy, checktoout aour dazzling displaylandmark, of lights utilizing theVillage most notable East Troy backdrop of the historic Village Square Park, which has aEast longTroy history as Square. the backdrop for community events like the All month, people flocked to the square to walk through the lights or see the show from their vehicles. Not only could attendees watch the shows - on the hour, every hour - but, with the help of a mobile phone, they were able to try to make their own light shows.
Q:
How did the light show come to be?
Jamie Rohrer: We finished a proof-of-concept light show in 2019, and although it was not publicly announced, thousands of people either saw the show live, on Instagram/Facebook, or
28ththe annual East Bluegrass Festival, had chance to Troy interact with it at www. Brewfest, Memorial Day Weekend Corn and easttroylights.com. Brat Roast and East Troy Lights. When the weather warms up, outdoor Vanessa Lenz: picnic and big Aftertables unveiling thistrees betaprovide versionthe in perfect 2019, backdrop for aArea picnic with friends or family. the East Troy Chamber of Commerce Packour a basket home or carryout and entire from community has workedfrom one of the surrounding a sunny day together in 2020 to restaurants give peoplefor a unique activity youincan do overhistoric and overdowntown again. experience beautiful, East Troy this holiday season. The foundation of the project was collaboration with the East Troy Community School District (from 4K to 12), our businesses, attractions and residents coming together to make it happen.
Mark your calendars for an assortment of special events to take place at East Troy Village Square Park with the return of East Troy’s First Fridays series this summer. Annual favorites like Food Truck Fest and Family Fun Night will return in 2022, along with a host of new events. Each First Friday will feature a showcase event at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St., with surrounding local businesses collaborating to bring an afternoon and evening of fun. (See more on Page 5.) For more information, visit easttroy.org. • CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Jamie Rohrer: Quite simply, community: each control box was hand crafted by local businesses and kids, the custom software running on • CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
VANESSA LENZ Good Neighbors
East Troy’s First Fridays transforms the heart of downtown into an exciting fusion of all the community has to offer – a one-of-a-kind, free, outdoor event featuring live music, various food, farmers market In celebration of its 75th for all ages. The series returns on the First Friday of the month, and artisan vendors and activities anniversary, Elegant from 5 to The 8 p.m., May 6,Farmer, June 3, 1545 Aug. 5 and Sept. 2 at East Troy Village Square Park.
Ring in summer the old-fashioned way with a trip to Booth Lake Memorial Park. Season passes are available for residents/property owners in the Village of East Troy, Town of East Troy and Town of Troy.
The Lowdown
DAN JOERRES PHOTOGRAPHY Good Neighbors
The Elegant Farmer is open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information, call (262) 363-6770 or visit www.elegantfarmer.com.
The race is on • CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Tour of America’s Dairyland returns to East Troy June 17
The largest competitive cycling event in the United States, the Tour of America’s Dairyland, will make its eighth stop in East Troy on Friday, June 17. The East Troy Cycling Classic begins at 11:10 a.m. with nearly nine hours of highenergy professional cycling around the East Troy Village Square and nearby streets. “ToAD has differentiated itself by evolving into a community-wide festival that • CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
See the newly released Behind the Scenes East Troy Lights video on EastTroy Lights.com!
Porter Atkinson gets his first ever buttery taste of sweet corn –a common summer delight– at the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s Corn & Brat Roast and Community-wide This beautiful photo, submitted by Dogs and Dreams, rummage. instantly captured both furryMemorial friend and The event willour return Day photography loving hearts, winning second place (and $100 to East Troy Brewery) in the East Troy Weekend, May 27-30, featuring live music, Lights Photo Contest. See additional photos at easttroy.org. food, Brewfest & more. For more information, DOGS AND DREAMS Good Neighbors visit easttroy.org.
Elegant Farmer celebrates 75 years
Main St., Mukwonago, will host aVANESSA LENZ Good Neighbors yearlong celebration featuring family fun events and a variety of delicious food specials.
• CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
H Celebrate East Troy on First Fridays
Q.
What makes East Troy Lights so special?
The East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce is looking ahead to a summer season filled with events. Things will kick off on Memorial Day weekend with the Chamber’s 45th annual Corn & Brat Roast and 30th annual East Troy Community-wide Rummage, May 2730, at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St. “We are so excited to kick off a full summer of programming at East Troy Village Square Park for the first time in two years. Not only will the Corn & Brat Roast and Community-wide Rummage be back but also all the other events you’ve known
The Tour of America’s Dairyland, the largest competitive cycling event in the United States, will kick off day 2 of 11 consecutive days of racing June 17 at the East Troy Cycling Classic. The event, hosted by the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and title sponsor the Klumb Family Foundation, will return to East Troy for the first time in two years. JP NINMER Good Neighbors
April 6 election Residents Ride Free May 27 heats up
Celebrate 50 Years with the East Troy Electric Railroad
The first electric tourist trolleys left from East Troy on May 27, 1972. Fifty years later, the first trains of the East Troy Electric Railroad’s 2022 regular season are ready to roll in East Troy. To celebrate, the railroad is offering free We’ve been toldresidents since elementary rides forallEast Troy all of May 27 school that voting is our from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. civic on theduty. hour. While elections The high trainsprofile travel national along a 7-mile railroad draw numbers voters, linelarge between East of Troy and Mukwonago, participation elections are along with a stopinatlocal the Elegant Farmer traditionally low. the way. If you care about Troy, casting “This year will East be special for our a vote in local elections on April is a to volunteers and a great time for6people must. come out to ride our trains,” said Ryan Villagepresident of East Troy, of East Jonas, of theTown East Troy Railroad Troy, Town of Troy and East Troy Museum. “When you take a ride on our Community School races trains, you’ll hearDistrict about the history of the areelectric startingrailroad to heat line, up aswhich several hasnew been in candidates throw into the ring. continuous use their sincehats 1907. You will be deciding who is “This year you’ll also hear about the responsible many of the government hundreds for of volunteers and what they have functions impactthis your daily and life. restore done tothat maintain railroad East Troy Community School District its trolleys, streetcars and interurban cars residents will see two referendum for 50 years. It really is an amazing story.” questions thatfor will a major role Tickets theplay regular trains arein theavailable future ofinEast Troy schools. advance at easttroyrr.org. Walk-up tickets can be purchased on
Why should I vote?
• CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 • CONTINUED ON PAGE 3