Happy Thursday! Happy June!
WITHINANUTSHELL – Memorial Day Weekend (last weekend) brought us a itty-bitty frosty morning; basil burnt at the tips in the garden. Outstanding Ford Hill Glow, too. It had been 90 degrees the weekend prior. Been pretty darn dry. We could really use a good soaking. Hope all those trees they planted down by the car bridge survive. People are pulling some BIG OL' pike out of the water between The Rapids and Dead Creek Flow. Overall, happy fisher-folk all'round. Black fly, mosquito fly, deer fly. Yes, a flesh nibbling trio. Beaver swimming down around the footbridge. Folks have been swimming in the river - water was 68 degrees! Multiple reports of swallowtail butterfly clusters up Wanakena Road. A Wanakener saw a MOOSE while driving out on rt 3 near Sevey – they even snapped a picture. Hikers report fairly flooded trail conditions up between High Rock and High Falls, which is the norm. Seagulls hanging around up near the foot of The Rapids through the weekend. Bittern at The Setback? 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: The forecast says RAIN! That would be fantastic. Looks like it could rain all day Thursday into Friday. Weekend looks pretty good – 70s into the 80s by day and 60 at night. Dry and warming-up into next week. Perhaps some rain mid week next week. 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 Summer Concert Series information HERE.
BRIDGEWORK – The trees have been planted. The bridge crew is gone. It is done. The bridge is here. Here are a couple photos Brian Szkotek sent us. Thanks Brian!
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.
DOWN AT THE ABODE – The front pavement got resurfaced on Wednesday and therefore everyone who wanted/needed to get into the post office had to come in through our back door, through the shop and out the front door. It was fun! And only ONE person didn't read the signs, see the bright pink flagging, etc... and they walked on the wet-ish blacktop. New art on the wall: “Black Fly Jamboree”!!!!! Junk Drawer Submissions on view still, too! Brownies and granola by Hannah and Swickamillo’s Sourdough Saturday. Bill from Irish Hill stopped by with some lettuce, tomatoes and asparagus – more produce arrives every Thursday. Milk, eggs, and more groceries popping up around the shop. WIDE 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. Candy, snacks, books, maps, t-shirts, hiking, fishing, and MORE! WE’RE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS.
ON VIEW – 1st Annual Black Fly Jamboree - WELCOME TO THE FIRST ANNUAL BLACK FLY PLEIN AIR JAMBOREE HELD RIGHT HERE AT OTTO’S ABODE IN WANAKENA. LOCAL ARTISTS WERE INVITED TO MAKE ART EN PLEIN AIR DURRING THE INFAMOUS ADIRONDACK BLACK FLY SEASON. FOR ONE PARTICIPATING ARTISTS IT MEANT HIKING HALWAY ACROSS THE WILDERNESS TO CAPTURE A PERFECT PHOTO. FOR ANOTHER IT MEANT CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE ACTUAL BLACK FLYS ON THE SURFACE OF THE PAINTING. WHILE THE BLACK FLYS ARE MOST LIKLEY OUT AND BITING, WE HOPE YOU ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH THIS COLLECTION OF RECENTLY CREATED ARTWORKS. AN ARTIST MEET-UP WILL BE HELD IN Z-PARK SATURDAY, JUNE 26TH AT 2PM – ALL ARE WELCOME. DON’T FORGET THE BUG SPRAY. Featuring the works of: Annette Swartz, Jack Williams, Jack LaQuay, Carol Cassidy, Deb Roberts, Sara Cibelli, Bernie Siskavich, Bev McKeown, Holly Woodworth, Maria Ortega.
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 – Spring Meeting June 12th at the Wanakena Church at 10:15am. Walking Tour around Wanakena is OPEN for the warm-weather season!
RANGER SCHOOL – Exciting news!!!! We’ve heard word that the Dubuar Forest will be open to the public again effective Tuesday June 1. 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 – OPEN FOR SUMMER SUNDAY SERVICES STARTING JUNE 6th at 9:15 AM!!!
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 – Carl and Maria have retired from Stone Manor Diner and Motel! Congratulations! Therefore, the diner is CLOSED until further notice! New owners say they will re-open ASAP. Clifton Community Library OPEN 6 days a week: Mon-Fri 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. Lakeside General Store is OPEN! 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 – Clifton-Fine Arena meeting Tuesday, June 8th 6pm at arena. Summer Yoga back at the Star Lake Community Center on Wednesdays, call ‘em up! Big news about Benson Mine solar farm HERE. The Fitness Room at CFCS is OPEN to community members 6pm – 10pm M-F starting May 3rd (paperwork required). Also, volleyball at school Thursday nights at 5:30pm, outside. Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines is open. Twin Lakes Hotel is temporarily closed while they repair the building (a car crashed into it!). Coffee Fever, American Legion, 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. 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/2020/06/wanakena-weekly-17-052820-060320.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.
"About the seasons or the year; astrologers may make a fuss: but this I know, that Spring is here when I cut asparagus.” – Poor Robin’s Almanac (1808)