Happy Thursday
WITHINANUTSHELL – It is pretty darn dry out there - be careful with fire. It's been a breezy week with winds from the east blowing the waves right up past the footbridge at the base of the rapids in Wanakena. Big lake reported to be quite whitecap choppy! Cold mornings with frost and frozen puddles. HOT and sunny days. Lawn mowers fired up chewing the cud. Albino robin at the Ranger School. Tamarack, trout lily, trillium and much, much more. Friendly snowshoe hare floppin'round the fiddleheads. Residents of The Setback report bittern sounds. New local theory on the woodpecker mayhem: it saw its reflection and went after that (and not bugs in the wood). Recent report of a LARGE cat, black with long tail up above the old hotel... yikes! There seems to be a real need for boat taxis on Cranberry Lake. Anyone? Scuba divers out last week goin' under and looking for good spots to dunk. Trails are reported to be in fine shape with some occasional blowdown. Outdoor recreationalists this past week would have been right on the cusp of perfect, bugless conditions to perfect black-fly-biting conditions. The season is picking-up for sure. We've arrived! Lots of local blowdown has been cleared by local volunteers as well as state officials - thanks! Jerry C. wants pickle ball Saturday mornings 9am - be there. Ranger School Graduation Saturday. The dock is in place, but the bathroom remains closed. The bathroom remains closed due to technical difficulties with flushing system. It will be up and running as soon as possible assures Dock and Privy Master Dave Ziemba. Town of Fine clean-up crew should be in town pretty soon! Wanakena History Center summer hours announced below. Walking Tour open this past week, also. Wanakena Murder Mystery Books Signing at Otto's Abode on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, more info below. Beginning Quilt Class at SOS this Weekend, more info below. Quilt Fest being organized by folks in town for Labor Day Weekend - more info to come! Cranberry Lake Art Show second weekend of August - write it down. Friendly reminder: 4th of July Ducks are only on sale the week before 4th of July - $5 a duck. What else? LOTS! All for now... See you around! Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday June 8th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Minutes: Town Board Meetings [Digital Towpath] Today's Ice Jam Danger remains LOW (two years in a row without an ice jam).
NYS BURN BAN – THE BURN BAN IS ALMOST OVER BUT CONDITIONS REMAIN DRY AND THEREFORE AT RISK - 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.
FORECAST - Rain on the way! 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)
DOWN AT THE ABODE - As the "busy" season rapidly descends upon us we want to take this time to give a special thanks to our local Clifton-Fine (and non-local, year-round) customers who take the time out of their day to go out of their way to shop in the store and help keep us going all year long. We love that you love what we do. In other news: The plastic is OFF the porch and gazebo! FRESH spring air. Next FOLK JAM is Sunday May 15th 3-5pm. C'MON DOWN! We'll get a campfire going. CHECK IT OUT: Book Signing Event Memorial Day Weekend Saturday. This NEW Wanakena murder mystery is available for purchase NOW at Otto's Abode. Otto's featured in the new Garden Share issue: pick one up at the shop. UP ON THE WALLS: NEW Lean-To oil paintings by Keene, NY's Judy James! 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 and pupa samples in jars - come on down and take a look - he'll also be providing some write-ups (see above) and perhaps some more specimens. Maple Syrup is IN! Howard Graham's 2022 liquid gold. COME AND GET IT! Gallons, half-gallons, quarts, pints and half-pints! Produce rack remains STOCKED. Eat the fresh stuff and maybe some "misfits" too. 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. TAKE A PEEK. 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. COLD BEER SOLD HERE! Over SIXTY varieties of beer/cider/etc... in the walk-in cooler. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube?
BOOK TALK - J.E. Irvin, a career educator and the award-winning author of five mystery novels, will visit Wanakena at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022, for a book talk about her latest novel – BROKEN – which is set in the hamlet. Irvin will speak about her writing process as well as the local activities and events that inspired the novel. Hosted by Ottos’ Abode, the presentation will take place in the gazebo (weather permitting) or inside the store. Books will be available for purchase and signing, and each attendee will receive a goody bag of book-related items.
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. 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 - Open Tuesdays and Wednsdays 8am - 3pm and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 8am - 7pm. www.blackwaterscafe.com
RANGER SCHOOL - Class of 2022 winding down.... just a couple of days left. Will there be a RS Reunion this summer? YES, THERE WILL BE! First weekend of August. Campus hiking trails remain open to the public. Stay away from the buildings, though. Park way up in the student parking lot if you must. CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM. Webcam | The Ranger School | SUNY ESF
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 – THEY'RE BACK! From the facebook: "Wanakena History Center - Starting June 18, 2022 regular operating hours: Saturday and Sunday 11AM - 4 PM. Also, June 18th Music Event! With local musicians and reception. Details will follow." The Walking Tour around Wanakena has opened for the season this past week, 5/9!
WANAKENA CHURCH – Did you know this song was performed and recorded via the Wanakena Church Organ? Cranberry Lake | Z Plan (bandcamp.com) Pastor Pete is retired. 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 bathroom remains closed due to technical difficulties with flushing system. It will be up and running as soon as possible assures Dock and Privy Master 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 - "Where do people stay?" is the question... 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.
HAREWOOD – Cranberry Lake State Campground opens May 20th - Oct. 9th. Lakeside General Store remains closed for the season but should be opening up soon. NEW Motel in town! It's called Coyote Den. Right by the Oswegatchie on Rt. 3. More info to come. The Cranberry Lake Mountaineers Snowmobile Club was awarded BEST CLUB in the state! CRANBERRY LAKE BOAT CLUB t-shirt contest happening now. The library is OPEN Tuesday – Friday 10:00-2:00, Saturday 10:00-1:00, Wednesday Evening 6:00-7:00, ****CLOSED ON MONDAYS****. NEW LIBRARY DROP BOX DOWN AT OTTO'S! Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub OPEN HOUSE July 24th - stay tuned! 2022 Cranberry Lake Boat ClubcSchedule 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! Snowmobile trails CLOSED FOR THE SEASON! Don't forget about Sevey's Point and Thirsty Moose!
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)
BEGINNING QUILT CLASS - On May 14 at 10:00am - at the SOS - instructor Annette Swartz (of Wanakena, NY - Home | Bird Haven Quilting and Fiber Arts ) From the facebook: In this class you will learn basic machine piecing/quilting skills by making a table runner with instructor Annette Swartz owner of Bird Haven Quilting and experienced quilter and teacher. For a $25 fee you will receive a 12 x18 cutting board, a 6 x 12 quilting ruler, and a Fiskars 45mm rotary fabric cutter. We will provide thread, extra sewing machine needles, batting… A second class will be offered on May 21st free of charge during which you will make a second table runner using a different pattern. You will need a simple sewing machine, but if you don’t have one there will be several available to share. You can bring your own fabric but there will be some fabrics available. Call Sue Novak at 315-566-5929 to reserve your spot in the class. At that time I will email you a detailed description of the class. You can also see a description with pictures on the “SOS, The Adirondack Exhibit Center” Facebook page.
OUT WEST - SOS has MANY free ART events coming up! Stay Tuned at their FACEBOOK. SOS, The Adirondack Exhibit Center - Home | Facebook. 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 Scoops Ice Cream, CF Golf Course and Jreck's, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Bank, Coffee Fever, Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy, Clifton-Fine Community Center, Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are open! Still further west in Oswegatchie, Hillside Diner, UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics are open! 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. Also, the school is ALWAYS hiring, various positions. Lots more to discover on their facebook page. GO EAGLES! 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. From the other day: Brian K. shows up with a big grin on his face. He's found a dog, er rather... well you know. Anyway, this really sweet little pup found on South Shore Road is on his front seat sitting on a stack of newspapers wagging its tail. It had a tag, but it had no information on it; of course. Brian said he didn't want a dog, but he likes this one. He said he'll call it Rover. Since then, we've seen Brian biking by but have not chatted with him. We have not seen the dog. Nor heard anything else about a lost dog. That is all.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR HERE - Some STUNNING snowy photos in issue #66 here.... Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #66 - 05/06/21 - 05/12/21 (ottosabode.org) AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE: Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #14 - 05/07/20 - 05/13/20 (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.
"Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." - Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864)