Happy Thursday!
WITHINANUTSHELL – Hot and muggy this past week. It was frosty the weekend before that, 90 degrees the weekend prior to that; roller coaster of weather! We did get a little bit of rain but still pretty dry. Looks like someone re-worked the mulch around the new trees by the car bridge; gave ‘em a drink. The Bridge Crew/ Tree People came back also to water them. Black fly not so bad, mosquito fly bad, deer fly bad. Reports of CL50 folks going in like a circus with flip-flops and lawn chairs. Another group said they saw a BIG black bear run away from them out by Cowhorn Pond. Fort Drum sent seven groups of 9 to hike the 50 in two days (Saturday and Sunday) they were seen marching through town. Turtles around town, too! Laying eggs along the road and grazing in the grass (the front yard) for breakfast. Ranger School Summer Class doing the dendro walk down around town. First Church Service in Wanakena since pre-covid held this past Sunday. The Ranger School re-opened its campus to the public – happy trails. SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU DRIVE THOUGH WANAKENA, PLEASE! Wear a life jacket AND DON’T SPREAD INVASIVE SPECIES! Carry it in carry it out, too. And 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… The weather will become cooler! Looks like clear skies though the weekend with some showers Sunday into Tuesday, possibly scattered thunderstorms Tuesday. 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.
INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK – It is national Invasive Species Awareness Week. Educate yourself on how to NOT spread invasive species. Invasive, non-native species - like zebra mussels and ash borer beetles - cause harm to ecosystems by throwing-off the balance of thousands of years of development. Once an invasive, non-native species gets introduced into a new place it is very difficult to eradicate and/or manage. It is best NOT to introduce invasive species in the first place. Clean off your boat, clean off your boots, don’t move firewood. The following photograph is NOT a photograph of invasive species, rather it is a photograph of the foam on the surface of The Oswegatchie submitted by Susan Z. The lines in the foam were formed by ducks swimming though. Thanks, Sue!
ROADWORK – Someone told us that the rt. 61 project will begin June 23rd. 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 61 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. And we got the front of the Abode sealed-up.
DOWN AT THE ABODE – We had the Air Conditioner going all week. Did you know we rent bear cans? $5 a night for your chance to see a bear juggling a big yellow plastic pill. We also sell beer cans... 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.New art on the wall: “Black Fly Jamboree”!!!!! Junk Drawer Submissions on view still, too. Muffins and granola by Hannah and Swickamillo’s Sourdough by Susan Saturday morning. Bill from Irish Hill stopped by with some cucumbers, tomatoes and asparagus – more produce arrives every Thursday. Milk, eggs, and more groceries in the cooler. Candy, snacks, music, books, maps, t-shirts, hiking, fishing, and MORE! WE’RE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS.
ON VIEW – 1st Annual Black Fly Jamboree – June 2nd – July 12th - 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 – Open Sun, Tues, Wed 8-3pm & Thurs, Fri, Sat 8-7pm (closed Mondays). 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! 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 - The Dubuar Forest will be open to the public again effective Tuesday June 1. This was found on News Channel 7: CLIFTON, NY Forest rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation last week responded to a report of a woman lost in the woods near the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Ranger School in Wanakena. The call for a wilderness search came in at about 6:05 p.m. June 3 from the Ranger School reporting a missing student, according to the DEC. Two forest rangers assisted school staff, who together located the 30-year-old student using cell phone coordinates. Guided by her phone compass, the student was then able to find her way, and the incident concluded by 8 p.m. CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM HERE.
WANAKENA CHURCH – OPEN FOR SUMMER SUNDAY SERVICES STARTING JUNE 6th at 9:15 AM!!! Here's a shot from this past Sunday (first service in Wanakena Church since Covid).
WANAKENA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – Got yer raffle tickets? 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.. The Library has also announced: LIVE MUSIC with The Nelson Brothers 2pm August 29th. Cranberry Lake Book Club first Mondays of the month in community room below the library. 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 – SOS announced an August 14th-15th South Woods Historical Society event. 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. Golf course is open. Twin Lakes Hotel, Coffee Fever, American Legion, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy (vaccines available!!), Community Bank and Circle J’s in Star Lake are OPEN! Alcoholics Anonymous Friday nights at 7pm in the SOS Building. UB’s (!!NEW FACE HOLES!!), 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-18-050420-061020.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.
“No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” -Epictetus (about A.D. 60)