Well… it’s not what we WANT to do… but we feel it’s what we SHOULD do… DO THE RIGHT THING! We’ve decided to postpone this Monday’s Celtic Ceilidh until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic. Had it not been cancelled, this weeks’ Wanakena Weekly would have read as such:
THIS MONDAY! OTTO’S ABODE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE: A CELTIC CEILIDH. Monday, March 16th 6:30-9pm, Rick Kovaks and friends will perform LIVE Irish and Scottish tunes and keep the crowd fed with scones and corned beef and cabbage. Refreshments – beer, tea, etc… - will be served! Sound excellent, Rick! So, grab a friend and head on down to Otto’s Abode the Monday evening before St. Patricks’ Day. Event donations accepted ($).
A walk up the Moore Trail to check on the condition of the ice on the Oswegatchie River reveal any danger of a major ice jam have passed us by this year. Wanakena did experience a minor jam this past January. Last winter we did not have a jam at all. The water level is low enough that when warm/rain does occur the river simply cuts its way through and below the frozen rapids. Below freezing temperatures allowed for snowshoe-less walking on top of frozen, rotten snow and still a decent amount of snow in the forest and thick ice chunks along the shore of the river as well as precariously balanced glaciers on good sized boulder isolated in the middle of the river. Occasionally, a large KA-THUNK could be heard resonating from the falls, shortly thereafter a bobbing chunk of ice surfaces, tumbling in the rapids like a misplaced refrigerator. Below is a picture taken at Little Falls (one mile upriver) where water was rushing through frozen shelves of ice.
A walk up the Moore Trail to check on the condition of the ice on the Oswegatchie River reveal any danger of a major ice jam have passed us by this year. Wanakena did experience a minor jam this past January. Last winter we did not have a jam at all. The water level is low enough that when warm/rain does occur the river simply cuts its way through and below the frozen rapids. Below freezing temperatures allowed for snowshoe-less walking on top of frozen, rotten snow and still a decent amount of snow in the forest and thick ice chunks along the shore of the river as well as precariously balanced glaciers on good sized boulder isolated in the middle of the river. Occasionally, a large KA-THUNK could be heard resonating from the falls, shortly thereafter a bobbing chunk of ice surfaces, tumbling in the rapids like a misplaced refrigerator. Below is a picture taken at Little Falls (one mile upriver) where water was rushing through frozen shelves of ice.
Telephone poles throughout the village who have positioned themselves too close to the road bare similar scarification as trees growing too close to the rapids. Mini, annual ice events leaving their mark-though-movement – either by snowblow or Oswegatchie ice cascade – accumulate through the years and in number. 
Good friends and Otto’s Abode Alumni ADRIAN AARDVARK just snail-mailed us a wonderful care package which included a stack of recent ZINES made through collaboration. THANKS!!!! C'mon down to the shop to check one out or take one home. Support your local artists/musicians/etc..!
Kim’s Lost Dog Report: There are currently NO lost dogs in Wanakena.
St. Lawrence County spring outdoor burn ban in effect March 16th – May 14th.
Any questions, comments, concerns, trail condition inquiries, legends, jokes, animal sightings, etc… feel free to email otto@ottosabode.org or call 3158483008 or pop-in the shop!
All for now!
