WANAKENA WEEKLY #30 - 08/27/20 - 09/02/20


Happy Thursday! Happy September!


This past weekish in a nutshell… Friday was gorgeous! HEAVY RAIN Friday night LATE. More rain on and off heavy at times Saturday. Sun, rain and wind with some humidity though the week. The American Legion in Star Lake had a big ol’ chicken BBQ and car show Saturday. Sunday turned out to be a pretty nice day – sunny and breezy. Cool and wet. Monday was a beauty. On and off rain and sun for the remainder of the week. Some humidity, too though the rest of the week. Red maples showing their color. Mountain ash berries out, too. Lots of food scraps reportedly left at a Black Duck Hole campsite. Bees! Freshly retired Bernie C. said a crawfish was smack dab in the middle of the Truck Trail- he said he reared up on its hind legs and threw its claws in the air. A Cranberry Lake 50 hiker that they had seen a mama bear with three cubs up around the Brandy Brook section of the trail. Downtown Racoon Quartet continues to perform their trash shenanigans act. Geese and hares eat apples too. River still low.


WEATHER FORECAST: Cool and clear weekend with daytime temps in the 60s. As it stands, looks like there won’t be any rain until NEXT Thursday. This would be the longest stretch without rain for quite some time now. That’s not to say we’d consider things to be WET around here. In fact, it’s still quite dry and dusty. Mushrooms in the woods, though. This weather forecast is brought to you by Wanakena’s own PATTIJACKNAN weather team – a Wanakener garage pole mounted weather station and crew. THANKS, TEAM! This weather station can be found at: https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ny/wanakena/KNYWANAK8 


Bridgework continues! Water from river and rain cascaded into the newly excavated pit-for-pier. The water pump had some trouble keeping up with the heavy rain. All day and all night for the past few weeks a water pump could be heard and felt…. A low frequency HMMMMMmmm MMHMMmmm HMmmmmm…… Word on the street is a BIG concrete pour will occur Thursday. We’ll see! Once it’s poured and dry the pump will probably not have to keep running. Once those abutments are set and the pier is done, we will soon say that crossing the bridge will have begun.


TOWN OF FINE ROADWORK AT THE BEACH. The other day some Town of Fine workers were seen laying some fresh asphalt down by the beach. Thanks!!! Bill Gleason said it’s to help prevent sand at the beach from eroding and washing down into the mighty Oswegatch’. Last week’s Wanakena Weekly reported the LOG and CONES that suddenly appeared at the beach. No new news about that. Still there.


Down at The Abode. Labor Day weekend approaches! With children and families beginning to return to school, things could start to slow down around here as we enter one of the the “shoulder” seasons. ART ON VIEW: JACK WILLIAMS PHOTO EXHIBITION ON VIEW until Sept. 20th. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS Microburst exhibition also remains on view. Covid-Meter remains at Phase 4. Some fragments of the Gateway to Wilderness Project are on view as well. Fresh cheese curd every friday afternoon from 1000 Island River Rat Cheese. Now that summer is officially winding down you may perhaps be looking back and thinking to yourself.... my gosh! I haven't been to Otto's Abode ONCE! If this is the case - you're not too late! Afterall, we are the ONLY YEAR-ROUND STORE ON CRANBERRY LAKE. C'mon down! We'd love to see ya.


Word on the street is that starting Monday Ranger School Students will be allowed to leave campus for the first time since arriving at Wanakena. Perhaps we'll see 'em around town! RANGER SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, BUT THE CAMPUS IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC!!! Here’s a message from the Ranger School: The Ranger School's James F. Dubuar Memorial Forest will be closed to the public for an indefinite amount of time beginning Saturday, August 15, 2020. The Cranberry Lake 50 trail, which passes in front of the school, will remain open. This action is necessary to protect students and staff as they begin a new academic year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but it is a critical precaution as we work to ensure the health and success of the Class of 2021. Thank you for your cooperation.


HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION’s facebook page reports the Wanakena History Center is a work-in-progress. They included a shot of an old rocking chair in the midst of remodeling-work. Make no mistakes: the Wanakena Historical Association’s Walking Tour is still up and running. A great way to learn about the history of Wanakena through writing and imagery – out and about around the town.



After Thursday, September 3rd the Cranberry Lake Boat Hub’s VILLAGE POKER RAMBLE fundraiser for the CLIFTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY will END! The Village Poker Ramble was created to *temporarily* replace the famous POKER PADDLE due to Covid-constrictions. Essentially the POKER RAMBLE functioned as a scavenger hunt. And once completed, the scavenger hunter is dealt a hand of poker (just like in the Poker Paddle). The player with the best poker hand WINS. Pretty simple, eh? Participants have described it as a great way to get out and about and uncover what might have been hiding under your nose right in your own community! PROCEEDS OF THE POKER RAMBLE WILL BE DONATED TO THE CLIFTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY.


Blackwaters CafĂ© and Trading Post in Wanakena is open for pick-up/take-out Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat 11-6:30 pm. Grilled Chicken Parm Sandwich is on the menu. Picnic tables and port-o-john out front! Picnic tables out back by the river, too. Order though their take-out window or better yet do it online at their website www.blackwaterscafe.com 

Cranberry Lake State Campground – closes **early** after Labor Day Weekend. UPDATE: because of construction project, NOT Covid.

Regional Notes: Someone said Packbasket Adventures is renting rooms. Stone Manor Diner and Motel in Cranberry Lake, Lakeside General Store in Cranberry Lake, UB’s Mercantile & Adirondack Rustics in Oswegatchie, Coffee Fever, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy and Circle K 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…). The Clifton-Fine Municipal Golf Course is open seven days a week. Post Offices are open too (Thanks, Mary!) Duck Decoy and MORE showroom open for pop-ins. “Showroom FILLED” 481 Tooly Pond Rd, Cranberry Lake – 315-848-4223. Always beautiful photography at the Wanakena Tracks facebook page. The Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake is open for curbside ONLY! Thirsty Moose in Childwold and Mahogany Ridge in South Colton are the closest watering holes.

Hillside Diner in Oswegatchie, Twin Lakes and SOS in Star Lake remain temporarily closed.

Kim’s Lost Dog Report: As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena. A date has been set for the annual Campsite Cleanup, though! Check it out!


All for now!

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 


The bees and wasps have no time to not, gathering food from the warm goldenrod.