Happy Thursday! Happy March!
WITHIN NUTSHELL – March forth! Full Moon! Our FIRST TRUE THAW and rain continued! Lots of reports of structures collapsing under the weight of the snow. Lots of metal roofs that has been coated with feet of snow sloughed them off in the 40 thaw and sun. 27 inches of old crusty snow measured on a picnic table in the yard! Coffee Fever opened-back-up after being closed for the winter because of Covid. Ranger School students out and about – a big group of them on a field trip checking-out the future Wanakena History Center. It got WINDY too, internet knocked-out big-time. Ermine traipsed though the yard! Red squirrels frantically scamper atop snow. Chickadees and sparrows flutter about. Towards the end of this past week it got COLD again! Down below zero at night, teens or 20s by day. And it just keeps on snowing. This time last year Wanakena got 30 inches of the white stuff, remember? WANAKENA WINTER!!! Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes (02/10/21): https://townfine.digitaltowpath.org:10054/content/MinuteCategories/View/1:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/484
UP THE FROZEN RAPIDS – The thaw brought us some open water up the rapids! The river had been just about capped over with ice and snow. Places that are now open and rushing water would have been very thinly coated with ice/snow and therefore easily melted though. Still A LOT of ice and snow up the Rapids. If there is an ice jam – it could be trouble. Hopefully there is a slow and steady thaw through the spring. Currently the ICE JAM DANGER remains LOW.
FORTHCOMING – COLD right through the weekend! Teens by day single digits by night! WINTER REMAINS! Maybe some snow Friday – not much, though. Starts to warm-up into the 40s early next week! March on! 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
CRANBERRY LAKE 50 – A message from the CL50’s fearless leader, Jamie Savage: Did you complete the CL50 loop in 2020? If so, check the Cranberry lake 50 website (www.cranberrylake50.org) for your name under "2020 Finishers." If you do not see your name, message me with name, hometown, and finishing date. On or after March 15, 2021, we will finalize the finisher's list and assign numbers to all finishers in 2020. If we don't hear from you by March 15, you will be added next year (we compile a finisher's list every January). Thanks for reviewing the finisher's list ASAP. Btw, we only credit hikers with their first finish. So if you have done the CL50 3 times, for example, you are only assigned a number and listed the FIRST time. We love that some folks return to do the hike two or more times, but we can only give you 'credit' for your first time. And FYI, last year, 2020, saw record numbers hike and finish the CL50. We have documented over 280 finishers so far! As a reminder, you can register your hike completion on the CL50 website via an online form. You can also find directions at same website for requesting a patch. These are two different processes handled by different people.
CRANBERRY LAKE ICE-OUT CONTEST – REGISTRATION DOWN AT OTTO'S ABODE! A message from the CLBC’s fearless leader, Halsey Bagg: Every year Chuck and Deb Yartz, in support of the Lion’s Club, have been conducting an Ice-Out contest. This year The Lion’s Club has decided not to conduct the contest. So, the CLBC will take the ball (buoy) to keep this tradition ongoing. The date and time ice melts on Cranberry Lake is hard to predict. Every year the time can vary by many weeks. Guessing the closest date and time that a buoy comes out from under the ice is the Winner. A buoy has been submerged near the Yartz’s home on 635 Columbian Road. This is important as the ice can melt off the lake at different times at different locations. The official date and time for this contest is this particular buoy. Enter as many times as you want at $2.00 each guess. The attached form is designed for five guesses ($10). The winner will receive 50% of the total amount of entries. The remainder will be a donation to the CLFD. Please mail your completed entry and donation to: Halsey Bagg, PO Box 503, Cranberry Lake, NY 12927 or email your entry guesses to halseybagg@gmail.com and mail the donation to the above address. The ice is about 30 inches thick now. However, the ice could start melting soon, so get your guess in by March 17th.Give it your best shot, good luck! http://www.cranberrylakeboat.club/…/CL-ICE-OUT-CONTEST-FORM… (Please make checks out to Cranberry Lake Boat Club)
MARTIN’S PRETZELS – Have you heard? The Martin’s Pretzel factory in Moira, NY burned to the ground. Many hands make light work, as they say. We’re sharing a link to their GoFundMe page HERE.
DOWN AT THE ABODE – THE SNOW SLID OFF THE ROOF! Holy cow - we saw it. It was nuts. Have you heard? We released a brand-new book ("zine")! This publication - debuting on Otto's Abode's fifth anniversary - seeks to provide a glimpse into the nuts and bolts of our process. Packed with writing, photography, illustration, mission statements, art exhibitions and descriptions, local information and more! Black and white, 34 pages, 5.5"x8.5". LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT ONE AND WE’LL MAIL ONE TO YOU!!!!! Or, c’mon down to the shop and pick one up for $5. Judy James paintings on view and for sale over by the coffee counter. Also, don’t forget to check out our grocery section! We’ve got plenty of groceries here in the shop to help you throw together breakfast lunch and or dinner. Also, books, maps, hiking-goods, knickknacks, snacks, drinks, gifts, necessities and more. Hot coffee, too!
ON VIEW – We’ll call it our JUNK DRAWER. Sometimes you need a place to put things. Uncategorical things. Things you don’t want to put in the trash. Important knickknacks you might need. They don’t really have a place, but now you know where to find them – usually. Five years ago, when Otto’s Abode first opened its doors to the public, we came into possession of some beautiful, old, glass & wood cases that had been used to display merchandise here in the store, some of which for nearly one hundred years. In a world where billion-dollar mega-media corporations hire folks like Marie Condo to tell you to get rid of everything, behold: a small “best-of” selection of GLORIOUS JUNK that has been collected and displayed in the (now) empty case behind you over the past five years.
CALL FOR ART-IFACTS - OTTO’S ABODE, an Adirondack Art-centric Inconvenience Store and Travel Agency, invites YOU to participate in a summer-long exhibition we’re calling THE JUNK DRAWER SHOW.
Five years ago, when Otto’s Abode first opened its doors to the public, we came into possession of some beautiful, old, glass & wood cases that had been used to display merchandise here at the old General Store – some of which for nearly one hundred years. Over the past five years, one of these cases became our JUNK DRAWER. It became a place to put uncategorical art-things. Previously exhibited Important art-knickknacks. A JUNK DRAWER for previously exhibited art. Well, we’ve emptied-out our JUNK DRAWER and are looking to fill this now empty, beautiful, wooden and glass case with YOUR submission.
What’s in your junk DRAWER? We invite you to practice your own form of junkology and nudge you to examine THE JUNK DRAWER as a content-rich cultural biome. We encourage you to share your findings with us! We’re looking for JUNK DRAWER goodies such as photographs, tools, oddities, hand-drawn diagrams, dust, poems, treasure, etc… this is just a small list of what we hope you’ll submit to be included in THE JUNK DRAWER SHOW. Please include a written description of WHY you submitted this object; its significance, its story. If the object came from your JUNK DRAWER it most likely fits in the beautiful, glass & wooden case we will exhibit the objects within. We’ve got a photograph of the empty case available for viewing at www.ottosabode.org.
You may drop your submission off to us directly or slap a stamp on it and mail it to: OTTO’S ABODE, PO Box 1, Wanakena, NY 13695. Please include your name, phone number, a brief project description, and any other supportive material. We ask all submissions to be received by us on or before Sunday, March 28th 2021. If applicable, please include compensation for return postage. Submissions will be mailed out or picked-back up by Labor Day Weekend. If you are able, we kindly ask participants to include a suggested $10 donation fee with each submission – thanks! No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Email (ottosabode@gmail.com) or phone us (315-848-3008) with any questions. Otto’s Abode reserves the right to refuse any submission we deem inappropriate or too vulgar. Through we promise to take great care, Otto’s Abode is not responsible for reimbursement of any form for any lost, stolen, or damaged submissions. JOIN US at OTTO’S ABODE, 6 Hamele street, Wanakena, ALL SUMMER-LONG for THE JUNK DRAWER SHOW!
SNOW CROQUET – The recent thaw did not really do much damage to the Croquet Court. If anything, the banked turns were reinforced! Unfortunately, the igloo did collapse – we built it too big! But, the tunnel still remains. There is a fresh coating of a few more inches of snow that is warming up in the sun and will therefore be difficult to scrape-away… but we should have it cleared out for play over the weekend. Still LOTS of snow croquet left to play. Massive snow banks surround the court, Ford Hill glow (around 5:30pm these days) in the background.
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – THIS PAST WEEK WE RETURNED THE CLOCK TO THE WHA – THEY HAD LOANED IT TO US TO EXHIBIT! WE’LL MISS THE CHIMES! THANKS FOR TRUSTING US WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL OBJECT! Below is a pic from summertime with CLOCK ON-VIEW. The Wanakena Walking Tour is “closed” for the winter… but deep in the bowels somewhere, some folks are 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.
BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST - IS OPEN AND HAS ANNOUNCED: Due to C19 and warm winter trends, we will have 2 separate schedules. #1 IF THE SNOWMOBILE TRAILS ARE DECENTLY RIDABLE: we will be open regular days and hours (T, W, Th 8am-3pm. Fri & Sat 8am-7pm. Closed Sunday & Monday). #2 IF THE TRAILS ARE NOT DECENTLY RIDABLE, we will only be open Th 8am-3pm. Fri & Sat 8am-7pm. ***Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we encourage take-out - and WILL NOT let in more than we are allowed. If the door is locked, we are at capacity. But if you’d still like a meal to go, order online and it will be prepared in the order received - or - think ahead and schedule a pickup time. Come in smaller groups. CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM: https://www.gotsnowcams.com/gotsnowcams.htm
RANGER SCHOOL - RANGER SCHOOL IS IN SESSION FOR THE 2020/21 SCHOOLYEAR, 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. Here’s a story about it all: https://www.nny360.com/news/stlawrencecounty/property-sales/article_eeec3094-901a-531a-8a18-ab1b991b3a79.html CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM: https://www.esf.edu/rangerschool/webcam.htm
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.
NEW CAR BRIDGE - AS OF 11/25/20 THE NEW WANAKENA CAR BRIDGE IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE!!!! AS OF 12/22/20 THE TEMPORARY BRIDGE IS FULLY DISMANTLED!!! 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!!!
DOCK AND PUBLIC RESTROOM - CLOSED FOR THE SEASON MID NOVEMBER… REASON: FREEZIN’!
HAREWOOD: Stone Manor Diner and Motel is OPEN! The Clifton Community Library will return to curbside service on WEDNESDAY'S ONLY. Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is OPEN (call first)!!!!!!! John Dragun NEON ARTWORK and MORE down in Windfall… OPEN! Check out the Cranberry Lake Boat Club and The North Shore Hub on Facebook. The Cranberry Lake Fire Department will NOT be checking and facebook-reporting the ice thickness as in years prior: FISH AT YOUR OWN RISK! LAKESIDE GENERAL STORE IN CRANBERRY LAKE IS CLOSED FOR THE LONG WINTER SEASON.
OUT WEST: Coffee Fever is back open after Covid/Winter hiatus. AMERICAN LEGION has been WIDE OPEN! Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy and Circle K in Star Lake are OPEN! Though we heard Circle K no longer sells beer! YIKES! UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics in Oswegatchie are OPEN! Community Bank in Star open! Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines is open FOR PORCH SERVICE ONLY. There will be NO ICE SKATING AT THE AREANA this winter – cause, ya know: covid. Bargain Hunter says The Town of Fine Offices are CLOSED to the public ‘cause of COVID-19. Both Twin Lakes and SOS in Star Lake got a fresh paint job but remain temporarily closed since March 2020. The following is copy-pasted from the Fine Town Board Meeting hours from Wednesday 11/11/2020: Jeremy wanted the board to be aware that the Dollar General is looking into putting a store at the former Great American site. This would not be required to go to site plan review since it is not a change of use. HERE IS A RECENT ADIRONDACK ENTERPRISE ARTICLE ABOUT A DOLLAR GENERAL IN WILLMINGTON, NY (NEAR WHITEFACE MOUNTAIN) https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2021/02/plans-submitted-for-wilmington-dollar-general/
KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT: As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena.
ALL FOR NOW!!!!!!
Any questions, comments, concerns, trail condition inquiries, legends, jokes, animal sightings, cartoons, 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!
"A tree that it takes both arms to encircle grew from a tiny rootlet" -Lao Tzu (6th Century BC)