Madison Avenue Merchant's Association (Mama) is a group of dedicated and passionate Madison Avenue businesses owners who are working together to build a vibrant and thriving shopping/dining experience in Lakewood. Each owner is a hard-working visionary committed to bettering this unique city with their family owned business. While they each value the uniqueness and charm of small city shopping, they recognize the enormous benefits of working together to beautify Madison Avenue and energize the entire area.

MAMA will be offering special sales as well as events such as a Summer Kick Off, Art Walk, and Festival to coincide with the Car Show in August. Their first official event is the Summer Kick-Off on June 16th 12-5 pm and will include a cash raffle and incentives at each participating business. Some of the businesses include Goddess Blessed, Class Act Resale, Fuzion Martial Arts, Lakewood Hardware, Omega Salon, Carabel Beauty Salon, Turnstyle, Lakewood Home Furnishings, and Silhouette Dance Studios. The entire list will be published in the next issue and the shops and pubs will be marked with a locally designed flag out front.

The Summer Kick Off is a walk that encourages people to walk as many blocks as possible, with some locations handing out free bottled water. This is child-friendly and includes great features such as a cash prize as well as the opportunity to meet neighbors along the way. Kathy from Goddess Blessed will be offering a $20 gas card raffle for stopping in, Omega Cuts (located off Madison on Franklin and Newman) will be generously offering ten gift certificates to teenagers for a man's hair cut to give as a father's day gift. Fuzion Martial Arts will have demonstrations for the family to enjoy. All incentives will be listed in next issue with participating businesses.

Please check out the full event on the Observation Deck in two weeks or next issue of the LO. Remember to shop locally and keep Lakewood alive!