Happy Thursday!
WITHINANUTSHELL – This past week could be defined by both its COLD temperatures and unexpected RAIN. The week started with a few inches of light and fluffy snow accumulation 4-6ish inches! The US Postal delivery driver said Watertown got more snow than us! It WAS a lake effect weather pattern, so it makes sense. -21 in Star Lake this past Saturday. TWO two-hour delays at CFCSD this past week because of the COLD Tuesday and ICE Thursday. Was there a Town Board Meeting Last night... DRIVING WOULD HAVE SUCKED or been downright impossible? The Snow Croquet course firmed up really good - games and grooming helped, too! Cross country skiing should be decent once you bust through the crusty ice layer, snow shoeing, too. Folks have been out there that's for sure. Snow mobile trails still closed though. Watch out for hanging limbs from last month's windstorm! Looks like some decent SNOW Sunday night into Monday. Blackwaters is back from Winter Hiatus. Coffee Fever closed for a month starting this past Monday. Dollar General is open. Ranger School Students home on break BACK MONDAY. ONLY ***2*** WANAKENA WEEKLYS LEFT UNTIL WW #104 (that would be TWO years’ worth of WANAKENA WEEKLY) Next Regular Town Board Meeting Feb 10th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Meetings: December 08, 2021: Town Board Meeting [Digital Towpath] Local COVID info HERE: COVID-19 Daily Update Center | St. Lawrence County (stlawco.org)
FORECAST - Temperature is going to DROP starting Thursday 13th evening. FOLLOWED BY SNOW! MONDAY SNOW AND FULL MOON!!!! 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: Wanakena, NY 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground (wunderground.com)
WHAT DO YA THINK? - Looking at a hiking map recently, it was noted: There are rules/suggestions for wilderness use such as "leave no trace" and "respect wildlife"... but is something missing? THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, MAYBE?!? Perhaps an addition to the list could be: Treat Adirondack Communities well" or "support Adirondack Businesses" Or "Bring peace".... or perhaps us folks who live out here ARE the wildlife!? GROWL!!!!! See below:
DOWN AT THE ABODE - Cartoon Contest Announced via Bargain Hunter! More info below. 2022 Lunar Calendars are FINALLY HERE! We're thinking ahead and looking to do a 3-5pm "THIRD SUNDAY FOLK JAM SESSION" down here at Otto's Abode - Stay tuned for more information. We're also cooking-up a Saturday NOON outdoor Roust, Feb 19th, more info to come as well. Produce rack STOCKED! Juniper Hill Farm was stocked on the shelves this past Saturday. FRESH MARTINS' PRETZELS arrived last Thursday! FARM FRESH eggs from Wintonbury Farms arrived this past THURSDAY! $3.59 a dozen. Wintonbury Farm is where we get shiitakes in the warmer months. Over SIXTY varieties of beer, cider, seltzers, etc... in the walk-in cooler. Bread, milk, cheese and many more grocery offerings HERE and NOW! Also: Wednesday 2/2/2022 is GROUNDHOG DAY and it is also the 104th edition of WANAKENA WEEKLY (#104 = two years). ALSO PLAN ON IT: Otto's 6TH BIRTHDAY BASH Friday night of 2022 Whiteout Weekend Festivities in Wanakena; Friday night of Presidents Day Weekend. WE'RE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS!
ON VIEW - Two POP-UP Exhibits: ONE OF A KIND QUILT made by Wanakena's own Primrose McVay and Carol Cassidy. $5 raffle tickets WHA Fund Raiser for chance to WIN IT! Drawing is Fourth of July. Also on view: WHATSYERPACKWEIGH. JUNK DRAWER also remains on view. Lots more to look at and think about, too - c'mon down! Otto's Abode is ALWAYS looking for new exhibitions to exhibit... give us a shout!
CARTOON EXHIBITION AND CONTEST - Attention all Earthly inhabitants of Deep Winter! Otto's Abode invites YOU to submit your original cartoon to our FIRST ANNUAL CARTOON CONTEST AND EXHIBITION. ----- The other day while mindlessly thumbing through social media, wasting away precious minutes of my short time here on earth, the following inspirational-meme-quote appeared: "Make decisions as if you were on your deathbed.". A couple of days later the surficial "you only live once" interpretation was challenged by a pot of coffee. You see, there was an old, unfinished pot of coffee perched and warming on the machine. It had been there since morning and had cooked down to a dark, burnt-smelling mud. Recalling the meme, I wondered: If I were on my death bed, what I would do? Would I dump-out the coffee-sludge for a new pot and live-up my last moments on earth with fresh coffee or would I poetically drink the old, toasty coffee soup? Had I been on my death bed in that moment perhaps I would embrace the undesired brew and gulp it down deep into my decaying physical form. Considering the fact that I was not on my literal death bed I dumped it and made a new pot. This existential conundrum seemed to me as well-suited for exploring though the cartoon-form. ----- Otto's Abode wants YOU to ponder your existence and translate it into the cartoon form. One panel, two, maybe three? Funny, deep, dull, political; black and white, full-color, photo-realistic, scribbled stick-figures, etc... ALL CARTOONS WELCOME! No prior cartoon-creating experience needed. ----- Otto's Abode MUST receive your original cartoon - dropped-off in-person or digitally emailed image file (we'll print it) - on or before Wednesday, February 16th. The collection of cartoons will remain displayed ON VIEW on the gallery wall of Otto's Abode for all to see from February 18th - March 28th. We will hang them simply with thumbtacks, tape or other hanging method of your choice. ----- Voting occurs in-person during regular operational hours of Otto's Abode February 18th - March 14th. Winners announced Wednesday, March 16th. CASH PRIZES awarded for "Funniest Cartoon", "Best Cartoon", and "Best Artwork". Winning cartoons will also be published in Clifton-Fine's Bargain Hunter the week of Tuesday, March 22nd. ----- Otto's Abode requests a $5 - $15 sliding scale entry fee for exhibition/contest participants. Noone will be turned away for lack of funds! Otto's Abode asks that the cartoons be no larger than 10" x 10". One cartoon entry per participant please. Otto's Abode reserves the right to reject any cartoons we deem too vulgar and/or inappropriate. Any questions, comments or concerns can be directed to otto@ottosabode.org or 3158483008 or in person at Otto's Abode, 6 Hamele Street, Wanakena, NY 136965. ----- Get thinking! Get writing! Get drawing! Tell a friend or few! Otto's Abode wants to see YOUR original cartoon here on the gallery wall!
WHAT'S WINTER LIKE? - All summer long we get asked questions like: "Are you from here?" and a whole lot of: "What's winter like?" So, in celebration of WINTER we're going to try and compile a list of WHAT'S WINTER LIKE? comments. #4: We'll share a recent thought-provoking headline below instead... #3: Lively! Wow! What a fun weekend seeing everyone! Quiet is nice, too. But, great party! Thanks for coming out, everyone! Happy New Year! #2: Sounds different... YES it SOUNDS different. One MAJOR sound difference is the earthy "DUNK" a croquet wicket makes when it's frozen solid in the ground. #1: COLD. Yes, it's COLD. 3 degrees this morning. There, got that one out of the way.
WANAKENA POST OFFICE 13695 - Open for business! Thanks, Mary for running the show!
BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST - Three AirBnBs next door in the ol' Pinecone Motel building listed here on BW's website: New owners next door! Legacy HomeStays (next door rooms rentable through Air BNB – 3 units, completely renovated! Click links below) – Black Waters Cafe (wordpress.com) Regular hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 8am-3pm & Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 8am - 7pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. "We added a DELI to out cafe and trading post! Daily meat & cheese discounts, veggies, dairy items, bread, specialty foods and gifts, dozens of teas, fishing supplies, local artisan pieces, books. We have two air purifiers, and we have an ONLINE take-out menu if you don't want to come inside. And YES, we still serve beer and wine with your meal!!! www.blackwaterscafe.com 3153094040 - closed the last two weeks of December and the last two weeks of April." CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM HERE: gotsnowcams.com - New York - paul@NorthernChateau@.com
PACKBASKET ADVENTURES – Website says: "We are OPEN FOR BUSINESS and following NYS DOH Guidelines. We are accepting reservations with proof of completed vaccination protocol OR proof of negative Covid test within 3 days of planned arrival. Come have a safe and relaxing stay!"
RANGER SCHOOL - STUDENTS BACK FROM VACATION MONDAY 17th FUL MOON. Student from class of 2021 in the new Adirondack Explorer. A Video as well, HERE: Tamara Jolly - YouTube. NEW Ranger School video on YouTube HERE: The Ranger School - YouTube OH NO! THEY FORGOT TO MENTION THE WALK-IN BEER COOLER DOWN AT OTTO'S! Campus hiking trails remain open to the public. Stay away from the buildings, though. Class of 2022 is IN SESSION! CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM HERE: Webcam | The Ranger School | SUNY ESF
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – QUILT RAFFLE Fund-Raiser down here at Otto's! Quilt by Carol Cassidy and Primrose McVay - $5 tickets - drawing on 4th of July. WHA Donation Jar down here at Otto's! The bottle and can cart is GONE for the winter. The Walking Tour around Wanakena is CLOSED for the cold-weather season! The History Center is CLOSED for the cold-weather season! WHA Picture Kiosks can still be seen around town, though.
WANAKENA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – Under a blanket of snow. 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.
WANAKENA CHURCH – Wanakena Church CLOSED for Fall, Winter and Spring. Service schedule September 12th - May 29, 2022: Star Lake 11:00am. ZOOM meeting # 666 365 4813.
WANAKENA PUBLIC BATHROOM AND DOCK - Public Bathroom CLOSED for the season. Public dock CLOSED for the Season. Well, not "closed", rather, moved to its winter hiatus position down-river. Reason? Freezin'.
COVID - Our County has officially "flattened the curve".... but on the wrong axis.... COVID-19 Daily Update Center | St. Lawrence County (stlawco.org)
HAREWOOD – Ice is reported to be 6 inches thick LAST WEEK. We've had some COLD days and nights since then with more on the way! Reports from the Wanakena Narrows say the same. Cranberry Lake Fire Dept's First Strike FISHING DERBY on Cranberry Lake January 29th - sign-up here: Cranberry Lake Fire Department (profishingtournaments.com) Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake is OPEN Tuesday – Friday 10:00-2:00, Saturday 10:00-1:00, Wednesday Evening 6:00-7:00, ****CLOSED ON MONDAYS****. Library Board holds public meetings the 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6pm. Cranberry Lake Book Club first Mondays of the month in the basement. Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is OPEN!!!!!!! John Dragun NEON ARTWORK and MORE down in Windfall… OPEN! Cranberry Lake Boat Club's NEW boating navigation Map is OUT TO THE PUBLIC! Pick up your copy at OTTO'S ABODE in WANAKENA for $11.95. Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub has a new break wall, and the public docks are TAKEN OUT OF THE LAKE FOR THE SEASON - THANKS HUBBAS! Tilly's Stone Manor is CLOSED for the winter BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING THE OL' NEON SIGN FIXED-UP! Lakeside General Store CLOSED for the season.
CRANBERRY LAKE MOUNTAINEERS SNOWMOBILE CLUB - Trails are still closed. Locally produced Northern Adirondacks/Southern St. Lawrence County trail map is OUT to the public. WE HAVE THE NEW MAP HERE AT OTTO'S! They also recently featured Otto's Abode on their Facebook Page - thanks!!!!! Get the latest HERE: Cranberry Lake Mountaineers Snowmobile Club - Home | Facebook TRAILS ARE NOT OPEN YET!
OUT WEST - Rumor has it: Coffee Fever CLOSED for a month starting this past Monday the 10th. Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is open. A little further west Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy, Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are open! Still further west within Clifton-Fine, UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics in Oswegatchie are open! Hillside Diner CLOSING for winter.... will re-open someone in March 2022. Community Bank has different/random hours. What's The Scoop has CLOSED for the season. Jreck's too. They'll be back! CFEDC Fitness Room: TEMPORARILY CLOSED OPEN to community members 6pm – 8pm and 5pm - 10pm M-F and weekends 6-10am (paperwork required). GO EAGLES! Also, the school is ALWAYS hiring, various positions. Clifton Fine Hospital in Star Lake is rockin' and rollin'! Alcoholics Anonymous Friday nights at 7pm in the SOS Building.
STAR LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT - Dear Residents and Supporters, First and foremost, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support over the years and ask for some additional support. For those that may not be aware, on November 27, 2001, our fire station burned to the ground causing us to lose almost all our equipment at that time. Since that time we have replaced, upgraded as well as expanded the lost equipment that we use during an emergency response. Initially the focus was put on replacing the building and the safety equipment then came the time for upgrades and expansion to meet the ever-changing needs of the fire service. One area that has not yet been replaced is our Class A or dress uniforms. There are only a few remaining as the majority of them were lost during the fire. Those that remain are in excess of 20 years old. The decision has been made that it is time to replace the Class A uniforms, putting the last piece back together. These uniforms obviously are not used during emergency situations hence the reason they haven’t been at the top of the priority list. Class A’s are worn during special occasions such as parades, banquets and in the unfortunate times of a funeral/memorial service. Some of you may have seen firsthand that the lack of these uniforms has not hindered our participation in these special functions. Our department simply does what they do well: Think outside the box and adapt and overcome. We feel that purchasing the Class A uniforms demonstrates an investment in people who serve, protect and respond when we place a call for assistance. Our community is one of the best around when it comes to showing support for our members. This is why we are asking you to join us in supporting our members by considering a donation to help offset some of the cost associated with the purchase of the new Class A uniforms. Donations marked “Uniforms” may be sent to: Star Lake Fire Department, PO Box 22, Star Lake, NY 13690. Sincerely, Star Lake Fire District Commissioners, Star Lake Fire and Rescue Officers.
KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #49 - 01/07/21 - 01/13/21 (ottosabode.org)
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! Also, we probably wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to publish your submission! Write “submission” in the subject line if emailing! Wanakena Weekly archive here: http://www.ottosabode.org/p/wanakena-weekly.html Wanakena Weekly is brought to you by the folks at Otto's Abode.
"A journey of three thousand miles is begun by a single step." - Lao Tzu (6th Century B.C.)
ONLY ***2*** WANAKENA WEEKLYS LEFT UNTIL WW #104 (that would be TWO years’ worth of WANAKENA WEEKLY)