WANAKENA WEEKLY #116 - 04/21/22 - 04/27/22


Happy Thursday!

WITHINANUTSHELL
– Boats out on the lake, ice in coolers. That's right! Spring is HERE! Oswegatchie whispers, peepers peep. Moose muck The Setback and the call of loons in the afternoon. Daffodils popped open after lunch the other day, violets and mountain laurel, too. Melting snow dripping off the roof and onto your head. AND MORE COLD. AND MORE SNOW. Also, sand, sand, everywhere!!!! Wanakena Summer residents trickle back into town. OH YEAH... did you hear about the piliated woodpecker? It nearly tore someone's house apart! (photos below). It's spring.... the trails are wet but no black flies YET! The hikers are coming out of the woodwork. Still some old, "deep" snow out there in the woods! Andrew Love found a racing duck down the river near the narrows - #604! Close by to where Judy H. found hers a couple weeks ago - #662! Also, this years: $5 a duck. Don't forget: NEW Cranberry Library Drop Box installed at Otto's - lets fill it up - put 'em to work! The Wanakena Public Dock is IN! Pastor Pete retired! Golf Course and Scoops Ice Cream open in Star Lake this weekend! The Wanakena Historical Association Can Cart has returned, also! Remember: NO DOG POO BAGS! Regular Town Board Meeting May 11th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Minutes: April 13, 2022: Town Board meeting [Digital Towpath] Today's Ice Jam Danger remains LOW (two years in a row without an ice jam).


NYS BURN BAN
– A burn ban is in effect from March 16th through May 14th in St. Lawrence County and the rest of the state according to the DEC. Open burning is prohibited in NY, with several exceptions: Campfires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width and diameter are allowed; small cooking fires are allowed; fires cannot be left unattended and must be filly extinguished; only charcoal, or clean, untreated or unpainted wood can be burned; Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires are allowed. In towns with a total population less than 20,000 you may burn tree limbs with attached leaves. The limbs must be less than 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet in length (also referred to as brush). However, this is NOT allowed from March 16th – May 14th due to increased risk of wildfire.

SOME CALL IT MUD SEASON - Stay off the steep trails when hiking in the woods this spring. WALK THOUGH THE MUDDY PUDDLES and NOT around them. Keep it simple. IMPORTANT: Clomp the mud off your boots BEFORE you leave a wilderness area - as to prevent the spread of invasive species though plant fragment and seeds. Same applies for your watercrafts - clean off mud and plant fragments BEFORE you leave a waterway; "stop aquatic hitchhikers!". Practice Leave No Trace principles. Be prepared. All that good stuff.

FORECAST - Cooling down! 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)


BLACK FLY REPORT
- Not much to tell this week. The cooler then usual temperatures are slowing larvae development. That is giving us the opportunity to treat streams that we don’t usually do. If it ever warms up we will be able to see if it makes a difference. Did find the Bat cave. Black Fly Report and following photo by Clifton-Fine Black Fly Program mastermind Tim Nargi. Read Tim's VERY informative "North Country Black Fly Report" in WW #113 - pass it on!


DOWN AT THE ABODE
- Maple Syrup is IN! Howard Graham's 2022 liquid gold. COME AND GET IT! In other news... We had a FANTASTIC FOLK JAM this past Easter Sunday April 17th. It was our third jam. Next FOLK JAM is Sunday May 15th 3-5pm... and we can guarantee it will be outside (either on the Porch or in the Gazebo). COUNT ON IT! Get out here and share in the groove. Share the tidings! UP ON THE WALLS: NEW Lean-To oil paintings by Keene, NY's Judy James! Do NOT forget about the book drop box. The Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake has installed a fantastic Library Drop Box. Folks in town will be able to drop-off library items and also pick-up pre-ordered items! More info to come. CALL UP THE LIBRARY AND GET IT DONE! Perhaps visit their website, too. Local BTI guy Tim Nargi brought us down some BLACKFLY larvae - come on down and take a look - he'll also be providing some write-ups (see above) and perhaps some more specimens. Produce rack remains STOCKED. Nearly half of it comes from Juniper Hill Farm, an organic farm on the eastern edge of the Adirondacks. Bread, milk, eggs and many more dry, cold and frozen groceries. Candy, snacks, ice cream and soft drinks, too. HOT COFFEE and baked goods at the counter. Books, maps, music for your browsing pleasure. Camping/fishing/hiking knickknack patty-whacks. Over SIXTY varieties of beer/cider/etc... in the walk-in cooler. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube? 


ON VIEW
- New Lean-to paintings by Judy James (Keene, NY). On view 04/06/22 - 05/23/22 at Otto's Abode in Wanakena. She will visit and we will host a reception so you can meet the artist! More information to come! And LOTS more art to see around the shop, trust us! ART SHOWS ALL YEAR.


WANAKENA POST OFFICE 13695
- Open for business six days a week! Thanks, Mary for running the show!

BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST - "MUD SEASON" hours: Open Friday and Saturdays 8am - 7pm. www.blackwaterscafe.com - CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM OF THE AIRBNB NEXT DOOR!

RANGER SCHOOL - Winding down.... just a few weeks left. The Ranger School is HIRING a food service worker at the Bio Station this summer! Will there be a RS Reunion this summer? YES, THERE WILL BE! 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.

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!"

WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – The Wanakena Historical Association Can Cart has returned... remember... NO DOG POO BAGS! We know the new summer hours but won't tell! We'll let the WHA let you know.... hehehheehhe! "NEW summer hours at the History Center announced SOON." WHA Donation Jar down here at Otto's! 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. Quilt by Carol Cassidy and Primrose McVay - $5 tickets - drawing on 4th of July.


WANAKENA CHURCH
– Big news: Pastor Pete is retiring! Perhaps they'll need guest pastors this summer!?!?! Hallelujah! 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 - The dock is in place, but the bathroom remains closed. The dock was set into place this past week by Mr. Dave Ziemba!

WANAKENA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – 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.

WANAKENACCOMODATIONS - Local cleaning company looking to hire experienced cleaner! Besides that... Lots of primitive camping!!!!!! All free and open to the public!!!!!! Looking for more? Besides Packbasket Adventures Lodge, Wanakena has a number of "vacation" rental homes available. They are all of ADKbyOWNER/AirBnB/VrBo variety. It's someone else's place that YOU stay at. In other words: you can't just show up in Wanakena and expect to get a hotel roof under your head. You need to plan accordingly with your fancy pants smart phone. Do an internet search for Wanakena ADKbyOWNER/AirBnB/VrBo rentals and stuff will pop-up. WELCOME TO WANAKENA & CRANBERRY LAKE, NY.... no bars and no hotels! Also, does anyone have dock space for rent? Asking for a friend.


HAREWOOD
– The Cranberry Lake Mountaineers Snowmobile Club was awarded BEST CLUB in the state! Boom! That's great! Town of Clifton is hiring a CLERK! Get on it! NEW LIBRARY DROP BOX DOWN AT OTTO'S! The library is OPEN Tuesday – Friday 10:00-2:00, Saturday 10:00-1:00, Wednesday Evening 6:00-7:00, ****CLOSED ON MONDAYS****. Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub OPEN HOUSE July 24th - stay tuned! 2022 CLBC Schedule of Events: Firecracker - Monday July 4th, 2022, Poker Paddle - Saturday July 23rd, 2022, Community Picnic - July 30th, 2022, Canoe/Kayak Race - Saturday August 13th, 2022, Sailboat Races - TBD. Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is OPEN! John Dragun NEON ARTWORK and MORE down in Windfall is OPEN! 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. State Campground CLOSED for the season. Snowmobile trails CLOSED FOR THE SEASON!

NEWTON FALLS - Recently the Paper Mill was featured on local public radio: North Country at Work: Running rolls at the Newton Falls Paper Mill | NCPR News (northcountrypublicradio.org)

OUT WEST - What's The Scoop Ice Cream shop opening this weekend in Star Lake. Star Lake Golf Course opens this weekend! Chicken BBQ at the Legion Saturday, May 7th @ noon. SOS has MANY free ART events coming up! Stay Tuned at their FACEBOOK. SOS, The Adirondack Exhibit Center - Home | Facebook. One of the classes is hosted by Wanakena's own! Home | Bird Haven Quilting and Fiber Arts. Bargain Hunter experiencing SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES and will be forced to print at 8.5 x 11 for the time being. Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is open. A little further west Coffee Fever, Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy, Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are open! CF Community Center, too! Still further west, Hillside Diner, UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics in Oswegatchie are open! Community Bank has different/random hours. They'll be back! CFCSD Fitness Room: OPEN to community members 6pm – 8pm and 5pm - 10pm M-F and weekends 6-10am (paperwork required) - open gym available, too - give them a call. GO EAGLES! Also, the school is ALWAYS hiring, various positions. Clifton Fine Hospital in Star Lake is open. Alcoholics Anonymous Friday nights at 7pm in the SOS Building. Ice Rink has closed down for the season. Snowmobile trails CLOSED for the season.


KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT
- As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR HEREOtto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #64 – 04/22/21 - 04/28/21 (ottosabode.org) AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE: Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #12 - 04/23/20 - 04/29/20 (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 is archived on our website. Wanakena Weekly is brought to you by the folks at Otto's Abode


"Ah! The crocus, the frogs, and the Dutchman's breeches, all proliferate in Spring's warm reaches." - Berkshire Travellers Press