Valpo Parks Department Receives Check from Jano Concerts on the Square

On Tuesday, November 24th, at the Parks Department planning meeting, Jim Jano, Tim Daly and Steve Antonetti gave a check to the Valparaiso Parks Department, on behalf of Jano Concerts On The Square, to the sum of $691.99 to go towards the building of more sidewalks and bike lanes. The money was raised from this past summers event. This was the third of three charities including Cafe Manna and Opportunity Enterprises.

Jano, speaking on the events said:

"It was an effort to try and create win-win situations in the community. It all started with the question: How can we do good things and get people together? So we thought if we can put together a music festival and have free food for a couple of hours and let people understand that its a great community, it'll create obligations for people to want to support the downtown businesses but also make people want to help our causes."

Steve Antonetti, district manager of Wal-Mart, was there to show his company's ongoing support of the festivals:

"This was just one little way that we could try to interact with the community and help out the community that we serve in."

The events typically include: live music, dancing, free food sampling (provided by many fine downtown restaurants and cafes), socializing, and children's events.

Past participants and sponsors included: Centier Bank, The Valparaiso Parks Department, Don Quijote, Pikk's Tavern, South Bend Chocolate Company, Wal-Mart, ValpoLife, Porter County Commissioner Melissa Hartig, Mayor Jon Costas, Paparazzi's, Family Express, Valpo Velvet, Bon Femme Cafe, North Coast Distributors, David's Clothier, BRQ Printing, Air One Aerial Photography, Isabella Bean, Opportunity Enterprises, Bistro 157, Lifestyles, Black Bird Cafe, Jano Bicycles, The Unit, C4 and Cafe Manna.

Although summertime seems far away, things are already being planned for next summer's Jano Concerts on the Square.

"Last year's success widely surpassed our expectations and with the things we've learned from our experiences, we think next year's events are going to be even better" said Jano. "Next year's charities will include the Valparaiso Parks Department Junior Triathlon and Cafe Manna. We also plan to increase the amount of children's activities."

The concerts are tentatively scheduled for the third Saturday of June and July of 2010