Happy Thursday! Happy December!
This past week in a nutshell… It rained a lot and it was warm but we lost track of it… Warm and foggy Thanksgiving on the Oswegatchie. The Ranger School students have all gone home for the LONG two-month holiday break. Will the Dubar Forest be back open to the public now that the students have left? Who knows!?!? Perhaps someone will call them up and find out. IF YOU DO, LET US KNOW WHAT THEY SAY! We heard some stuff… but you wont hear it from us! Decent Wanakena weather weekend. Temps cooled down and the sun was out and about Saturday! A handful of cars at the CL50 parking lot over the weekend. Hunters pullin' up stakes at the woodland camps. Big ol’ full moon rising up over the Oswegatchie, which is flowing real good with all the rain we’ve had here and there; the rapids filling the quiet night sky with a thick and gargled hush. Scott, the UPS guy’s growing a beard and working Saturdays through Christmas. Kevin, one of the USPS guys (BEARD), will be doing the mail on Sundays leading up until Christmas – if there’s enough stuff in the truck to make it worthwhile – testing out a new BIG box truck, too. Busy busy!!! A persistent snow occurrence Wedneday – ALL DAY! A couple inches of velvety white stuff. Quite heavy at times. WEAR ORANGE IN THE WOODS… Regular hunting season began Oct 24th and continues through most of December!! Community Bank closed-up the lobby for in-person banking; ATM or night depost ONLY! Covid’s-a-lurkin gwoing strong up around these parts!!!!! First case reported in Clifton, NY. A message from The St. Lawrence County public health department: Sunday it will no longer issue potential exposure notices. Public health director Dana McGuire said residents should assume if they are out in public, "a COVID-19 exposure is likely.” YIKES!!!! Also, the St. Lawrence County Public Transportation Bus will not be running until January 4th! Why? Lack of drivers. Wanakena Black Kitty prints in the village snow.
Upcoming… Weather forecast says… Daytime temps in the 30s through the weekend dropping down into the 20s Sunday and into next week. MORE SNOW… a little bit at least… over the weekend. A couple inches Friday, a couple inches Saturday. VOTE FOR THE CRANBERRY LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER ON DECEMBER 8th!!! 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 - Also, always beautiful photography at the Wanakena Tracks facebook page.
Bridgework continues… AS OF 11/25/20 THE NEW WANAKENA CAR BRIDGE IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE!!!! Bridge done, but the crew was RIGHT BACK AT IT! Next step is to get that temporary bridge OUT OF THERE!!! The crew was DIGGIN’ IT OUT!!!! Scraping it right down and scoopin. it out. THE TEMP-BRIDGE DECKING IS GONE! Roller are out. Most likely the BIG CRANE will be back in town to re-roll the bridge right back off of there. ****here’s a link to WW # 15 where we featured the temp-bridge getting craned out and OVER the river. http://www.ottosabode.org/2020/05/wanakena-weekly-15-051420-052020.html - Spring-time flashback in Wanakena! It’s also the week we re-opened lockdown. And to think, covid/cases are worse and more widespread than ever. Anyhoo… Suppose we’ll see what weather permits the bridge crew to do next. Possibly scoop-out the fill on the South Shore temp. bridge abutment. Wonder what they’ll do with the North Shore abutment considering the Moore Trail parking lot situation. And as they’ve been saying around Wanakena: WE’LL BE DRIVING OVER THAT NEW BRIDGE IN NO TIME!!!!! And ALAS! WE DO! Now that the bridge is WIDE OPEN, watch out for speedsters!!!
ON VIEW AT OTTO’S ABODE: Northern Vermont in Late November, Oil Paintings by Judy James, Keene Valley, NY… Friends and Neighbors, Wanakena was once again adorned by a hiker- and happily, she paused here. In November we were visited by through-hiker Judy James. Who stumbled in here to Otto’s Abode for plenty of snacks, talk about Indians, the Path, and such. Soon she was back, crossing our suspension bridge with some paintings… The focus is scenes of Northern Vermont in late November. Judy feels that Wanakena people appreciate these late November colors: dusky reds; purples; spotted with melting snow over shades of brown leaves; low light on blue hills; plus, late-in-the-year river and lake scenes. Embraced within the dense air, feeling part of the environment- even the air has a texture to it. It is like through-hiking, all-around, being enveloped by nature. You are already in it. Look out from there. The “Hogback Road” painting may seem like a painting of “nothing” -- the barn is pushed over to the side and the viewer simply looks out with some periphery. It is a painting of being in the environment, late November. The outlook is from there. Enjoy this time of year. On view at Otto’s Abode 11/25/20 – 01/31/21
GIFT CIRFICATES!!!...... Perhaps you can purchase a gift certificate NOW… If you don’t want to or can’t stop-in in-person to purchase a gift certificate let us know and we’ll mail one out to you! If you ARE around in-person and happen to pop-in to check-out whats going on… cool! We’re being careful with COVID. The coffee bar remains open and has – thus-far – proved to be an enjoyable experiment with positive results! There’s LOTS MORE to look at; art, maps, historical displays, and MORE! Perhaps you’ll go home with something you did not realize you needed. Perhaps you’d find a perfect gift for someone. Perhaps you’ll go home with ingredients for a DELICIOUS dinner – or desert! Or snack! Or coffee! Your purchases down here at Otto’s Abode help keep us open and going all year long. Take some time out of your day, to go out of the way. Support local year-round businesses! Why wouldn’t you want to purchase healthy, organic ingredients for delicious *whatever* and at the same time support a local, year-round business that showcases EVER-ROTATING art/history/interest exhibitions, creations by local artists and musicians , trail goods and local information, books, maps, groceries, DANG FINE COFFEE and LOTS MORE! Come see why we call ourselves an ART-CENTRIC ADIRODNACK TRAVEL AGENCY AND INCONVENICNE STORE! Curbside pickup available. Whatever you want – let’s do it.
WANAKENA’S BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST FALL/WINTER hours/menu/etc. announced! Breakfast at B-Dubs returns! Dinner on Fri and Sat night. Hours are: Tues+Wed+Thus: 8am-3pm and Fri+Sat 8am-7pm. Call to make DINE-IN RESERVATIONS! 3153094040!!!! Open for pick-up/take-out too. Gifts and groceries galore via The Trading Post.
RANGER SCHOOL!!! As of 10/25 the Ranger School Class of 2021 completed their in person learning for the fall semester. We’ll wait and see and update about campus reopening to the public. Previously: RANGER SCHOOL IS IN SESSION FOR THE 2020/21 SCHOOLYEAR, BUT THE CAMPUS IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC!!! That means no hunting. 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. Here’s a story about it all: https://www.nny360.com/news/stlawrencecounty/property-sales/article_eeec3094-901a-531a-8a18-ab1b991b3a79.html
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION is hard at work actualizing the WANAKENA HISTORY CENTER. Here is a message from their website: Five equal partners (made up of groups of families and friends) are forming an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) each pledging $25,000 for a total of $125,000 to own, renovate and restore one of the original Rich Lumber Company houses at 21 Second Street to its original facade. Their dream and intent are to provide a location for a Wanakena History Center where the WHA can continue its mission to encourage greater knowledge of the history and to display and make available for study: artifacts, relics, books, manuscripts, papers, photographs, and other records and materials relating to the history of the State of New York and particularly of Wanakena and the surrounding area.
WANAKENA CHURCH CLOSED FOR WINTER! WESTERN ADIRONDACK PRESBATYRIAN CHUCH zoom-zooms every Sunday at 10:45 using meeting #6663654813 and every morning at 9am for a Morning Prayer. WANAKENA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION announced that Cremation Remains burial has gone up from $150 to $250. Also, there is no longer a backhoe charge for cremation burial because they don’t use a backhoe for cremation burials any longer.
DOCK AND PUBLIC RESTROOM CLOSED FOR THE SEASON MID NOVEMBER… REASON: FREEZIN’!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, that’s right folks you heard it here! The dock at Wanakena’s public beach has been unhooked from it’s summer resting place. Where many a family and friend basked in the sun, picnicked and swam. This summer was particularly interesting considering the fact that the local Wanakena population was downright floored at the sheer number of out-of-towners day-tripping at the Wanakena Beach. The public restroom saw RECORD NUMBER OF DEPOSITS this summer as well. Folks were out and about during the pandemic and Bo’s State Park was packed to the gills all the season though! Many a joyous experience this past warm-weather season via the Wanakena Public Dock and Wanakena Public Restroom. Cheers to many more years!!!!
Important information from the other end of CRANBERRY LAKE: Stone Manor Diner and Motel ARE BACK OPEN DECEMBER 2ND AFTER A VACATION… THE LUNCH SPECIAL ON WEDNESDAY WAS BACON CHEESEBURGER AND CHIPS FOR $7.75!, The Clifton Community Library returns to curbside service ONLY. This is in response to the state of emergency declared in St. Lawrence County, as well as conditions in neighboring counties, due to the Covid 19 virus. Patrons may still pick up books five days per week at the library. Order online, or call or email your order in and our staff will get your books and arrange a time for pick up. Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is open!!!!!!! LAKESIDE GENERAL STORE IN CRANBERRY LAKE IS CLOSED FOR THE LONG WINTER SEASON. Check out the Cranberry Lake Boat Club and The North Shore Hub online.
News from the CLIFTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY! Announced via Facebook is the release of the Page Turner Publication. Visit their facebook to find a link to the PDF… or click this link here https://www.cliftoncomlib.org/sites/cliftoncomlib.org/files/November%202020.pdf . Give it a read! There is lots of information about the goings-on at the Library. We’ve got a printed version here at Otto’s Abode, also. We also have a house-copy of the Bargain Hunter which has an ad that reads: "The Clifton Community Library is currently accepting resumes and seeing qualified applicants for the position of LIBRARY DIRECTOR." Information on how to apply follows."
OUT WEST: Coffee Fever, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy and Circle K in Star Lake are open! Community Bank in Star Lake re-covid-closed-up the lobby for in-person banking; ATM or night depots ONLY! Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines is open FOR PORCH SERVICE ONLY. Hillside Diner, UB’s, Green Pinkly Farm and Adirondack Rustics in Oswegatchie are open! Both Twin Lakes and SOS in Star Lake got a fresh paint job but remain temporarily closed since March 2020. Word on the street is Twin Lakes is re-opening SOON! Harrisville Lanes and Lounge open, munchin’, rollin’ and strikin’. Clifton-Fine central schools is ALWAYS looking for school bus drivers! Clifton-Fine Arena Committee Meeting Tyuesday, December 8th, 2020 6pm at the Clifton-Fine Arena. Meeting open to public. MASKS REQUIRED!
Kim’s Lost Dog Report: As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena!
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 Also, we probably wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to publish your submission!
"What a beautiful thing God has made winter to be, by stripping the trees, and letting us see their shapes and forms. What a freedom does it seem to give to the storms!” – Dorthy Wordsworth (1802)
ONLY **9*** WANAKENA WEEKLYS LEFT UNTIL WW #52 (that would be a whole year’s worth of WANAKENA WEEKLY)