The 2024 Driftless Wedding series continues this week!
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | Vol. 6 Issue 7
Cache of a lifetime W
How an avid geocacher found his greatest treasure By Denise Lana
Matt and Abby (Panoch) Cahalan are pictured on their wedding day with their boys, Muri and Alfie, on the banks of the Turkey River. The couple held their wedding and reception at the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville Oct. 14, 2023. (Photos by samurrayDesigns)
hen Matt Cahalan moved from Decorah to Ridgeway in 2015, he had no idea his future bride worked less than a block away from him. Matt moved in with good friend and schoolmate, Chris Zidlicky, and joined by fellow friends, they went out to local hangouts, drank beer, enjoyed Friday and Saturday night dirt track races and the like. One rainy Friday night the races were cancelled, and Matt and Chris settled on staying close to home and chose to grab a beer at The Fireman’s Inn, Ridgeway’s answer to pub fare and libations. Unbeknownst to him, this was a night that would change Matt’s life forever. “I walked into Fireman’s, and as soon as I saw her, I said to myself, ‘that girl’,” Matt emphasized. “I asked Chris, ‘Who’s that girl back there making pizzas?’ And Chris said, ‘Oh, don’t worry about her! You’ll never get her!” “That girl” was Cresco native, 19-year-old Abby Panoch, who had been working at Fireman’s since she was 16. Super-shy Matt didn’t talk to her that night, or for weeks afterward. Finally, after several months of thinking about Abby and wanting to reach out to her, Matt messaged her on Facebook. “It took some liquid courage!” he laughed, recalling how hard it was to compose a simple “Hello” to send to Abby. Abby, who had never paid any attention to Matt before then, began conversing with him via messenger, and with several friends in common, they all began hanging out together on weekends. Abby was “one of the gang” as they
Panoch/Cahalan
continued on page 6
A toast to Kanpai New soda shop debuts in Decorah By Roz Weis Kanpai Soda Shop made its debut on Water Street in downtown Decorah last month. Owners Lori and Kevin Gossling, of the Calmar/Spillville area, opened the business in January with a “soft opening”. The manager at Kanpai is their son, Chad Gossling, who revealed that the name means “cheers” in Japanese. Located at 404 West Water Street (in the familiar building with the rock façade), Kanpai’s menu includes scores of bottled and canned craft sodas, local Spring Grove pop, a wide variety of teas, coffee, snacks and root beer on tap. Some of Gossling’s favorites are the Ramune, a Japanese soda, and Sprecher’s brand sodas from Milwaukee, Wis.
Moving to a NEW NOW HIRING! center in FULL TIME LEADS June 2024! ASSISTANT TEACHERS PART TIME ASSOCIATES Benefits available for full & part time employees
NO
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PAID
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CHILDCARE RATES
Age groups/ classrooms we’re hiring for: 6 weeks-1 year 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years 4-5 years 5-12 years
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APPLY ONLINE
sunflowerchildcare.org/careers or send application or resume to holly.benda@ sunflowerchildcare.org
Kanpai Manager Chad Gossling pictured in the interior of the new soda shop in downtown Decorah. INSET ABOVE- Kanpai offers a variety of Pinter’s popcorn and fudge. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Roz Weis) Patrons are greeted with fresh-popped popcorn as they sip their favorite beverages, while enjoying the free WiFi connection in the comfortable seating areas at the shop. Also available is a variety of tasty Pinter’s homemade fudge and popcorn varieties. The owners said they are putting the finishing touches on a new “candyland” area
Kanpai
continued on page 15
Comfortable seating areas are set up for folks wanting to enjoy some free fresh-popped popcorn and Wi-Fi while visiting the soda shop.
Now Open!
Scan for info!
901 Montgomery Street, Decorah | P: 563-387-3000 | winnmed.org