WANAKENA WEEKLY #15 - 05/14/20 - 05/20/20

Happy Thursday! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

After TEN weeks of helping to “FLATTEN THE CURVE” Otto’s Abode will reopen tomorrow, Friday, May 22nd at 9am!




This past week’s weather in a nutshell: Let’s just say the weather's been so nice that we didn’t have time to keep track of it. It's gone up into the 70s after being down in the 20s last week. Also, it appeard the snow floating though the air has turned into BLACK FLYS - THEY ARE OUT AND ABOUT! After last weeks cold and snow Spring sprung in like an old friend returning and feeling like they never left - that's a good thing! Greens and whites, and pinks. and blues, and yellows and more... colors and shapes of fresh plant growth popped and keep popping (and will continue to do so for months, now, right?) - you can really see it when you look up at Ford Hill's green glow. Some heavy rain last Friday and less-than-forecasted rain Sunday evening. Fisher-folk seeking monster pike have reported pulling lots of bass out of the Oswegatchie here in Wanakena just below the rapids. Fiddleheads stand tall and proud while they unfurl along the riverside. Rose Breasted Gross Beak back at the feeder. Snowshoe hair scamper though the village. Peas popping up in the garden. A not-so-wet-spring (as compared to last spring) means not-so-wet-trails. Happy hiking! Startled the beaver that swims under the footbridge.
BRIDGEWORK. The span has been spanned. River crossed. The Bridge has been brudged! Word on the street last week was for a Monday afternoon operation. The footings were prepped, the bridge was totally erected - It just needed to be put into place. So, Monday morning, 11am: Bridgework crew member seen spray painting orange makers on the freshly completed north-shore footing. The large yellow crane was rigged-up with a specific HEAVY-looking pulley system. Workers rigged it all up. And suddenly.... squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. THE BRIDGE MOVED. And it kept moving, and before you know it it was done. The next day the derivable surface was put in place. Too easy.

Someone spray painted a bunch of stuff on the roads around Wanakena. Letters, numbers, symbols; all tasteful content from DSNY (Dig Safe New York). Rumor has it that Wanakena will have its first-ever TRAFFIC LIGHT.

Over the past couple of weeks, the local woman-only book club - The Green Bough Browsers - have been abuzz with conversation, material manipulation and exchange – working as a group to complete the construction of a large number of homemade face masks to be donated to the Clifton-Fine Central School’s Backpack Food Pantry Program. Just a couple of days ago the GBB announced they had reached their goal and together created 166 masks! Great Job! (image from Clifton-Fine Central School's Facebook page -  GO EAGLES!)





































The Downtown Wanakena Privy is NOW OPEN. It would probably be a good idea to wash/sanatize your hands before you enter (and after). Also, wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose while you are in the bathroom would be a great idea.
A new structure can be seen at Wanakena’s Santa Rosa Labyrinth up on the old leech field. Rumor has it that historically aliens have been seen hovering over Ford Hill. That is all.
On view 05/22/20 - 6/22/20 at Otto's Abode! Eight miles to Harewood. Seven new drawings by Nolan Fedorow.
A Message from the Cranberry Boat Club Facebook Page:
Due to the Pandemic, the following CLBC events for this summer are cancelled.
Saturday, July 4- Firecracker, Saturday, July 18- Annual Mtg & Banquet and Saturday, August 15- Boat Race. A social distancing version of the Poker Paddle is in planning. Look for details about the Poker Paddle in upcoming notices.

Blackwaters Café and Trading Post in Wanakena is open for pick-up/take-out Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat 11-6pm. The best way to order is through their website www.blackwaterscafe.com

Maria says that the Stone Manor Diner in Cranberry Lake went back to seven days a week this past Tuesday -woohoo! Also, Their ice cream window is open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until 8pm.

UB’s Mercantile in Oswegatchie, Adirondack Pharmacy and Circle K in Star Lake, Todd Hardware in Star Lake, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines and Sevey Point remain open for business in one way or another (open, take out, pick up, drop off, etc…). Post Offices are open too (Thanks, Mary!) Lakeside General Store in Cranberry lake had a big Coke-a-cola truck parked out front yesterday – might be opening up this weekend.

The Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake hosts via Facebook Live bedtime stories most nights read aloud by Ms. Kate the Librarian! https://www.facebook.com/cliftoncommunitylibrary/

Hillside Diner in Oswegatchie, Twin Lakes and Coffee Fever in Star Lake remain temporarily closed. No news on The Hub in Cranberry Lake – the website/facebook have not been updated since February.

Kim’s Lost Dog Report: There are currently NO lost dogs in Wanakena.

The St. Lawrence County spring outdoor burn ban that was in effect March 16th – May 14th IS OVER. BURN, BABY, BURN! Though, as mentioned earlier, it has not been too rainy. One might say: "it is dry." So be extra careful (always) with your fires.

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! Wanakena Weekly archive here: http://www.ottosabode.org/p/wanakena-weekly.html

There is a time to fish and a time to dry nets – Chinese Proverbs

Here are a few shots of some Wanakeners checking out the Carbridge being moved via cantilever and crane. Cantilever and Crane, isn't that a boutique clothes shop in Lake Placid?



Tomorrow is Sun Ra's birthday. All for now!




























^^^Can you find the bug spray can hiding in this photo?^^^