Happy Thursday!
WITHINANUTSHELL – It’s been warm! Just about 90 degrees the other day. Stayed warm and muggy though the week. BIG wind gusts BLAST pollen like smoke clouds! Full Moon! Temperatures set to drop, though. Not soon enough! Black flys, mosquitos, and YES DEER FLY… are chomping on us. Peepers peepin’. Out of town folks are out doing The Fifty, canoeing up The River, out to the Lake, and more. Mergansers boppin’ down The Rapids. St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has developed a new “Great 8” hiking challenge; if it rhymes, it must be good, right? It has been pretty dry, though… we got some rain for only a few minutes this past Wednesday. We could really use a good soaking. Heard word Brandy Brook is stagnant. Catkins hanging from britches. Summer events popping up all over the place. Summer is here. SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU DRIVE THOUGH WANAKENA, PLEASE! Wear a life jacket AND DON’T SPREAD INVASIVE SPECIES! Carry it in carry it out, leave no trace. Also watch out for ticks! Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes. (05/12/21): HERE
FORECAST - Oh yes! A break from the heat – and maybe the bugs. Looks like dry weather continues, though. Down in the 30s at night through the weekend. 60s by day and warming up into next week – but not too much! We made it through our second summer. What’s next? We’ll see! 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 HERE: Also, always beautiful photography at the Wanakena Tracks facebook page
BRIDGEWORK – TWO MORE WEEKS? That’s what they say we have to wait for the trees to be planted. But, wait! What’s that? They are planting trees this Friday? Okay… we’ll see! THE BRIDGE CREW IS BACK AT IT! Work, work, work. Have you seen the Moore Trail Parking Lot? Wow! Topsoil is being piled and spread. The wetlands on the SW side of bridge appear to be scraped down to where it needs to be. Lots of green flagging on the SE and NE side of bridge. Re-planting will be soon! AS OF 11/25/20 THE NEW WANAKENA CAR BRIDGE WAS OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE!
ROADWORK – No new news… here’s the old news: Three culverts installed! Big bump on the curve: GONE! The shoulders have been scraped down alongside the road. Things in the way (fallen trees, boulders) are pushed out of the way. Could this be what we think it is? Is the County beginning to work on RT 62 leading into Wanakena? All the way from RT 3 down to Ranger School Road?! We’ll see! Seems like it. The Town of Fine Board meeting from 3/10/21 said RT 61 (Wanakena Road) will be replaced/resurfaced this summer. So… yeah.
2021 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ANNOUNCED – A post on their Facebook Page announced the launch of a NEW WEBSITE and the 2021 Concert Series Line-up. The Clifton Fine Summer Concert Series is organized by the Cultural Arts Committee of the Clifton Fine Economic Development Corporation. Say that ten times fast.
CALL FOR ART – WE'VE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR TWO MORE WEEKS! 1st ANNUAL BLACKFLY PLEIN AIR JAMBOREE. Artwork must be created en plein air during the periods of May 10th – May 30th. Drawing, painting, watercolor, sculpture, photography, video… all mediums welcome! $10 to enter. Artwork must be received by Otto’s Abode on or before Sunday, May 30thrd. Artwork will be on-view at Otto’s Abode. June 2nd – July 12th. Artist Meet-Up in Z-Park, Wanakena Saturday, June 26th to celebrate. Rain or shine! For more information visit Otto’s Abode in person at 6 Hamele st, Wankena or www.ottosabode.org
DOWN AT THE ABODE – BAKED GOODS BAKED GOOOD BAKED GOODS. You've asked, we've delivered: muffins, brownies, and sourdough bread this week. We've got NEW Otto's Abode swag in the shop! NO MASKS NEEDED IF YOU’RE VAX’d. Can’t drink beer inside, though. TAKE IT OUT TO ZPARK. Bill from Irish Hill stopped by last week with some lettuce and asparagus. LATER TODAY... Bill will being more asparagus, cucumbers and some herbs. More to come from Irish Hill, stay tuned! JUNK DRAWER SUBMISSIONS ON VIEW! CALL FOR ART – Wanakena Plein Air Fest. C’mon down. Maple Syrup is in!!!!! Worms in the walk-in cooler…. Along with…. WIIIIIIIIIIDE SELECTION of packaged beer in the walk-in cooler; light stuff, dark stuff, ales, porters, stouts, ciders, seltzers, cheap stuff, expensive stuff, bottles, ambers, lagers, cans, TO GO – c’mon down! NEW in the freezer: ground beef and tater tots. HOT coffee, coffee BEANS, ORGANIC groceries, REFRESHED HALF GALLON FLAVORS of ice cream, NEW books, NEW music, HIKING and PADDELING maps, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE supplies, EDUCATIONAL gifts and more!!!! WE’RE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS
ON VIEW – JUNK DRAWER SUBMISSIONS – JUNK DRAWER - 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. Allen Ditch – Notepad – Contents written when Doug Facey explained how to turn on and off water at home in Wanakena - kept in junk drawer ever since along with - Pinecone Drink Chip, Ring Sizer, Small Vile. Resa Eberhart – Plastic Egg Timer – The timer absorbs heat, just like the eggs do, and the redness darkens to indicate how cooked the eggs are getting. It shows you when the eggs are soft, medium, hard, and all the stages in-between. The egg timer: another way to measure time. Sometimes I like my eggs soft which takes three minutes. Sometimes I like a hard-boiled egg which takes ten minutes. What can you accomplish in three to ten minutes? Try a little self-care. STOP! Take several deep breaths, smell the flowers, look around at your surroundings, stretch, pet the dog, smile, make a call to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, think of someone special, pray. Brian Kirwin – Escargot Platter - Purchased at a rummage sale in New York City and used as a paint palate. Kitchen Utensil – Probably used for scooping food out of frying-oil. Kitchen Utensil – Serving spoon of some sort. Jean Szkotak – Photographs - Here are my random picture submissions for your display. 3 of the Prohibition era bottle opener. 1 Picture from the Labyrinth last spring. 2 “Gnome Home” pictures. Suzie Thaller – Keychain, Pinecone Drink Chip, Stone Manor Postcard, Mysterious Suction-Object - Found during some good-old spring cleaning. Susan Ziemba – Stack of Mimi’s Student Lessons – Mimi Keith did art lessons - $5 a lesson. All the kids in our house took lessons at one time or another. According to Mimi, they were all potentially great artists! “Don’t Quit!” She would say. Children’s art is so special to me. I can’t throw them away so they are kept in a drawer – Not exactly junk, but what are they? - Old Stained Bag – Just can’t bear to throw it away. Don’t want to use it. Who wants it? Blizzard of 1977. Dave was working in Rochester at Wegmans – training to open a new store in Buffalo. I was in my last semester of Alfred Tech. We were getting married in June. He left work and drank - I believe a six pack of Schlitz - on his way through the storm to come and visit me in Alfred.
BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST – Beginning Wednesday, May 19th: IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED, you may visit our establishment without a mask. ALL NON-VACCINATED PERSONS OVER 16 MUST STILL WEAR THEIR MASKS. Thank you for getting vaccinated - it helps us all move forward! Summer hours have begun! Open Sun, Tues, Wed 8-3pm & Thurs, Fri, Sat 8-7pm (closed Mondays). CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM HERE.
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – Walking Tour around Wanakena is OPEN for the warm-weather season! 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.
RANGER SCHOOL – Exciting news!!!! We’ve heard word that the Dubuar Forest will be open to the public again effective Tuesday June 1. The Ranger School does NOT want people to come up on Memorial Day weekend as they will be bringing the summer students. The 2021 Ranger School Class has graduated! GREAT JOB EVERYONE! Also, they are in dire straits for food service this summer. So if anyone wants to come in for some summer work, part time in Wanakena or at the Bio Station (they provide the boat rides daily), have them go here to put in an application: https://esf.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=94347 Every little bit helps! Minimum age 16. CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM HERE.
WANAKENA CHURCH - CLOSED FOR WINTER! Sounds like a congregation under the tent in ZPARK last weekend of July.
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.
HAREWOOD – ITS OFFICIAL! Carl and Maria have retired from Stone Manor Diner and Motel! Congratulations! Therefore, the diner is CLOSED until further notice! Lakeside General Store is OPEN! Clifton Community Library OPEN Mon + Wed 10-2pm also Wed 6-7pm and Saturdays 10-1pm. The Library has a Story Walk out-back May 15th – June 2nd. The Library has also announced: LIVE MUSIC with The Nelson Brothers 2pm August 29th. Cranberry Lake Dry Dock and Marine Services LLC (Billy’s Boat Shop) has a new phone number: 3156032108. 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 are up to on Facebook. Cranberry Lake Boat Club 5k Firecracker Race July 4th! We heard that the Cranberry Lake Art Show will be held Sat and Sun August 14th and 15th this summer. What ever happened to Grass River Railway? We spoke with someone who’s workin’ on it! Also, check this out: http://cranberrylake.com/defaults.asp
NEWTON FALLS - Recent article about NF development HERE. Robust discussion of Newton Falls on Facebook HERE
OUT WEST – Memorial Day Cemetery Salute organized by the Legion on Monday the 31st – meet at St. Michaels Cemetery in Fine at 9:00am, bop around Clifton-Fine cemeterys and finish at the Wanakena Cemetery at 11:40. Summer Yoga back at the Star Lake Community Center, call ‘em up! Lady Golf League forming at the Star Lake course now! Big news about Benson Mine solar farm HERE. There WAS a VIRTUAL MEETING may 25th at 6pm regarding the solar farm. https://tinyurl.com/BR-Benson. The Fitness Room at CFCS is OPEN to community members 6pm – 10pm M-F starting May 3rd (paperwork required). Also, volleyball at school Thuraday nights at 5:30pm, outside. Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines is open. Twin Lakes Hotel, Coffee Fever, American Legion (Chicken BBQ at American Legion May 22nd at noon), Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy (vaccines available!!), Community Bank and Circle K in Star Lake are OPEN! Alcoholics Anonymous Friday nights at 7pm in the SOS Building. UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics, Hillside Diner in Oswegatchie are OPEN! 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.
KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena. A local couple was thought to be missing but turned out to be at home having a quiet dinner alone…. Anyway…. Coyote has been prowling downtown ‘round dusk, though. ALSO!!! Town of Fine is doing a Dog Census this summer. All dogs over 4 months are required to be licensed in the Town of Fine.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR - http://www.ottosabode.org/2020/05/wanakena-weekly-16-052120-052720.html
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! Write “submission” in the subject line! Wanakena Weekly is brought to you by the folks at Otto's Abode.
“I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder while hoeing in a village garden, and I felt I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.” – Henry David Thoreau