☀️🏡 Good Monday Morning, Coulee

☀️ Good morning, neighbors. And Happy Monday.

I missed writing to you fine folks over the weekend and I’m ready to get back to it.

Welcome to Week 7 of Good Morning, Coulee. What a journey so far.

If you’re new here—here’s what we do:

😎 good vibes

😀 positive news & updates

📆 local happenings & activities

❤️ show love for our neighbors, community members, and local businesses

This stuff matters. So—thank you for being here.

Alright—I’m so ready. LET’S GO! 👇

🎶 Song of the Day

Come and vibe with me.👇

*If you want to listen along as you read, scroll to the top right of this email and click “Read Online”.

💬 Today’s Thought

brick by brick, people. i am cheering for you. let’s get after it 😤

％💵 I (kinda) accidentally did something that you might like

Here’s a story. I’ve been chatting with lots of restaurants in the last few weeks to coordinate for #ThatLooksGood. And something amazing happened. We casually started talking about a discount card for our readers—and it sort of came together on its own. We’ve already got the support of enough restaurants to move forward with this—so there’s just one thing left to do. I want to know if you’re into it.

So—let me know. 👇

📰 Quick Hits

• Downtown Mainstreet, the heart of the city [Podcast Audio] (WIZM)

• More new housing, and a possible local sales tax are goals for La Crosse, set by departing Mayor Reynolds (WIZM)

• Airport offering motorcoach service to Minneapolis airport for Sun Country passengers (WXOW)

• UW-La Crosse picks up conference win over UWSP (News 8000)

• Snakes & Spiders: the Scaled Up Reptile Expo takes over the La Crosse Center (WXOW)

• Amy Jarecki and the can do spirit of one of La Crosse’s most accomplished authors (WIProud)

• La Crosse Common Council approves resolutions on homelessness and housing (News 8000)

• First of its kind gym opening soon in La Crosse (News 8000)

Join us for the 2025 La Crosse Wedding Expo from 10:00am - 2:00pm on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the La Crosse Center! The only wedding expo happening in January in the La Crosse area, with 50+ booths full of connections to make with vendors for your big day.

General Admission is free and for only $25 you can be a VIP with added perks to have an elevated Expo experience! This event allows engaged couples to get inspired and plan their big day. As an attendee, you can meet, connect, and book your wedding vendors in one day.

With everything from photography to venues, caterers to transportation, and beyond, you're sure to find everything on your list. We invite you to join us for this year's La Crosse Wedding Expo to connect with the best wedding professionals during our exhibit!

📆 What’s Happenin’

🕯 Candlelit Walk by Outdoor Recreation Alliance @ Chad Erickson Veterans Memorial Park // Today, 5pm

A crowd favorite! ORA will again host a series of candlelit walks when the moon is fullest each month. These are free, all-ages events that begin at 5pm, and last until 7pm, or until we run out of fire wood!

January 13, 2025 - Chad Erickson Park

February 12, 2025 - Lower Hixon Park

March 13, 2025 - Gateway Trails, Grandad Bluff

Each location chosen utilizes a path that is considered "easy to moderate" to navigate by foot, stroller or wheelchair. Candles will light the route, but if you'd like to see clearly where you're stepping, consider wearing a headlamp or bringing a flashlight.

Snacks and beverages will be on site, including fire pits with s'mores! Consider volunteering for this event!

🎨 Artist Reception: La Crosse Schools at Pump House // Tuesday, 5pm

Join us for an Artist Reception on Tuesday, January 14th from 5:00 to 7:00pm to celebrate and welcome the young artists of La Crosse Schools. All are welcome, free to attend.

Youth Art Exhibition
January 8th 2025- February 1, 2025
Pump House Regional Arts Center - Balcony Gallery

Featured Schools:
- Longfellow Middle
- Logan Middle
- Central High
- Logan High
- Emerson Elementary
- Hamilton/SOTA 1 Elementary
- Southern Bluffs Elementary
- Spence Elementary
- Northwoods Elementary

☕️ Coffee & Conversations @ JavaVino // Wednesday, 8am

Come by yourself or bring a friend and join us for a free morning beverage of your choice and conversation around living your best life at any age.

The event is FREE and open to all, but advance registration is required either through the link or by calling 877-926-8300.

🍽 Monthly FREE Community Dinner @ Onalaska United Methodist Church // Tuesday, 5pm

Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5 to 6 p.m. at Onalaska United Methodist Church for a free, homemade, community meal.

Our menu changes monthly, but the love and care that is put into the meals is always the same. We offer an in-person dining option in our Fellowship Hall, as well as a drive-thru option under our covered drop-off. You do not have to be part of Onalaska UMC or any church to come to the dinner!

🌤 Weather

🤝☀️ Help Good Morning, Coulee Grow

If you get value from this newsletter, please consider sharing it with friends, family, business owners, or other community members.

The first milestone in our referral program is a birthday shoutout—pretty sweet, right? Play your cards right and there might be a bumper sticker in it for you somewhere down the line. 😉

❤️ Kindness & Connection

What possible better way could there be to start out your week than by providing some of our fellow humans with kindness & connection?

If you’re feeling like doing something nice today, you could send a Valentine’s Day card to Stevens Point Health Services Nursing Home. They are asking for anyone who feels so inclined to send in Valentine’s Day cards to their residents:

Here’s a link to their Facebook page if you want to follow the progress.

🏡 In The Community

This week, I am very excited to highlight an organization in our community that is doing incredible work: Sleep in Heavenly Peace of La Crosse.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is an organization that builds and delivers beds to children in need in our community. In 5 years of operating in our area, they have built and delivered over 550 beds.

If that wasn’t enough, they’ve recently teamed up with the quilters at St. Patrick’s Church to craft and deliver quilts and sets of sheets to children in need.

To Mike, Jeff, and the rest of the volunteers and collaborators that make this organization possible in our community: thank you. You are part of what makes our community, a community. ❤️

If you want to sponsor a bed, apply for a bed, contribute, or volunteer, click here.

☕️ mmm…caffeine

Today’s coffee discount comes from the fine folks at The Grind Coffee House in Holmen.

The Grind uses Wonderstate Coffee roasts for all coffee-related drinks, including fresh brewed, cold brew, espresso drinks & pour overs. Plus—they love our readers.

That’s why they’ve agreed to offer $1.00 off any order when you mention Good Morning, Coulee. ☀️

🏈🏀 Local Sports

Friday 1/10

Luther Girls Basketball vs. West Salem // L 31-46

Central Girls Basketball vs. Aquinas // L 32-69

Logan Boys Basketball vs. Holmen // L 59-91

Logan Girls Basketball @ Holmen // L 16-58

Onalaska Girls Basketball vs. Tomah // W 51-34

La Crescent Boys Basketball @ Zumbrota // L 48-58

Onalaska Boys Basketball @ Tomah // W 75-67

Luther Boys Basketball @ West Salem // L 58-88

La Crescent Girls Basketball @ Zumbrota // L 35-58

Saturday 1/11

Central Girls Basketball vs. Fall Creek // W 49-44

Winona Girls Basketball vs. Red Wing // L 29-73

Onalaska Girls Basketball vs. Menomonie // L 45-55

Aquinas Boys Basketball @ St. Croix Central // W 56-47

Winona Boys Basketball @ Red Wing // W 63-61

La Crescent Boys Hockey vs. Becker // T 5-5

Winona Girls Hockey vs. Rochester Century // L 2-3

Winona Boys Hockey @ St. Paul Academy // W 6-0

Monday 1/13

Holmen Boys Basketball @ New Richmond // 7:15pm

Tuesday 1/14

Central Girls Basketball vs. Logan // 5:45pm

Winona Girls Basketball @ Austin // 7:30pm

Logan Boys Basketball vs. Central // 7:15pm

Aquinas Girls Basketball vs. Onalaska // 5:45pm

Holmen Girls Basketball vs. Sparta // 7:15pm

West Salem Boys Basketball vs. Westby // 7:00pm

Luther Boys Basketball @ Black River Falls // 7:00pm

Holmen Boys Basketball vs. Sparta // 7:15pm

Onalaska Boys Basketball vs. Aquinas // 7:15pm

Winona Boys Basketball vs. Austin // 7:30pm

Winona Girls Hockey @ Hudson // 5:30pm

🎶 Live Music

Tuesday 1/14

9:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Open Mic

Wednesday 1/15

9:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Open Jam

Thursday 1/16

6:30pm // Schmidty’s Bar & Restaurant // Quenten Brown (acoustic rhythm & roll)

7:00pm // Bodega Brew Pub // The Wrecks

Saturday 1/18

6:00pm // Winona Athletic Club // Don Harvey Solo Show

Wow, packed newsletter today. This week, we will be launching new segments, making new friends, and growing our community.

Thank you for joining me along the way! ❤️

Have a wonderful Monday, neighbors 💪

Have something to say? You know what to do.

📥 👇

caleb@gmcoulee.com