Happy Thursday! Happy Summer!
WITHINANUTSHELL – Yep, Summer is here and in full swing. Blue jays were acting goofy out squawking and flapping in the pouring rain the other day. We did indeed get some rain. A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN SOME! Gutters gushing, beaver ponds overflowing. Fair number of hikers out there putting in their miles.... scorching hot one day and chilly brr brr the next. Springtime in the mountains, we like to say. Lot of snowshoe hare around here! A funny "third" batch of Blackfly reported - they annoy you but won't bit you. Mama deer and fawns off Nevil Island and wonder though town. GEESE FECES! Nothing major to report for this upcoming weekend. Last weekend was a banger! Last week in Wanakena boasted three music events, Lumberjack music at the Church via WHA, Summer Series concert at ZPARK, and folk jam via Otto's. Party on! A fun time had by most, surely! Pickle ball Saturday mornings 9am at tennis court. Grand re-opening of History Center, too - open evry Sat and Sun through the summer. Upcoming: FOURTH OF JUY FESTIVITIES IN WANAKENA. Parade at noon, duck race to follow, and finally LIVE music by Bad Husbands Club t 2pm. Stay tuned for information about DUCKS for sale.... NOT YET THOUGH. Sunday and or Monday. SOON. Also, there are major efforts under way to raise funds to replace the "dock" down at the "beach". All information and more can be found on the community message board on the wall between Otto's Abode and the Wanakena Post Office. Lots more going on these "busy" summer months. You certainly won't hear ALL of it here on the Weekly but we'll do our best, sort-of. More detailed community info below. Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday July 13th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Minutes: June 08, 2022: Town Board Meeting [Digital Towpath] Today's Ice Jam Danger remains LOW (two years in a row without an ice jam).
FORECAST - HOT weekend! 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)
IN THE PINES 2022 - The 21st annual Clifton Fine Summer Concert Series is HERE! Schedule posted on the website cliftonfinearts.blogspot.com and postcards flying about. "More info to come." The In The Pines Clifton Fine Summer Concert Series is organized by the Cultural Arts Committee of the Clifton Fine Economic Development Corporation.
DOWN AT THE ABODE - Open seven days a week through the summertime. FRESH PRODUCE COMING IN! Locally grown and found by Dan Martin and crew in Potsdam, NY. Spinach, romaine, kale, red leaf, radish, strawberry, new red potato, cucumber, zucchini, new cabbage, and lots more "generic" stuff, too! COME AND GET IT! Next FOLK JAM is Sunday, July 17th 3-5pm. SAG BAGGIN' on view - more info below. We've got some neat NEW bags for sale down here - locally made by Hen Island out of Hermon, NY. Later this summer we'll be showcasing some Arty Loons created for the Cranberry Lake art show and also some Artsy Mini Quilts created for the Wanakena Quilt Fest. Croquet, anyone? COLD BEER SOLD HERE! Over SIXTY varieties of beer/cider/etc... in the walk-in cooler. Maple Syrup is IN! Howard Graham's 2022 liquid gold. COME AND GET IT! Gallons, half-gallons, quarts, pints and half-pints! Bread, milk, eggs and many more dry, cold and frozen groceries. TAKE A PEEK. Candy, snacks, ice cream and soft drinks, too. Fresh ground HOT COFFEE and baked goods at the counter. Books, maps, music for your browsing pleasure. Camping/fishing/hiking knickknack patty-whacks. 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. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube?
ON VIEW - SAG BAGGIN' - Sag Baggin' is what it's called because Bag Saggin' was just a little to-far-out there. Sag Baggin' is in direct response to "Peak Bagging". Mom says: A synonym of "sag" is "languish". The definition for languish - as stolen from the internet - is as follows "To be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor. To exist or continue in miserable or disheartening conditions. To remain unattended or be neglected." New York Times has a big article about "Languishing during the pandemic" but we don't pay for it so we cant read the article online - corduroy pillows; simply headlines. Though interesting and relevant in different ways, we're talking about sags not languishment; back to sags! If you'll notice, on hiking maps of the public wildland areas surrounding Cranberry Lake, many of the trails go AROUND the mounds. One could argue: treading in the sags. Sure there are some peaks here and there, but mostly we are the dismal swamp, not the popular photogenic perch. You know you hear all about the parts of the Adirondacks that are overcrowded, so it is recommended to visit other lesser-used portions of the park. Well, that's us. Sag Baggin'. Welcome! Sag Baggin' is a summer-long investigation into alternative outdoor recreational pursuits. We're just getting re-started and have no intentions of ending the search any time soon. Join us! More to come!
WANAKENA POST OFFICE 13695 - Open for business six days a week! Thanks, Mary for running the show!
BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST - "New local art wall and fresh ground coffee!" Open Tuesdays and Wednsdays 8am - 3pm and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 8am - 7pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays. www.blackwaterscafe.com
RANGER SCHOOL - Last week for ESF students. Bon voyage. Cadets around for another month or so. 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 – Starting June 18, 2022 regular operating hours: Saturday and Sunday 11AM - 4 PM. The Walking Tour around Wanakena has opened for the season 5/9/22.
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – Starting June 18, 2022 regular operating hours: Saturday and Sunday 11AM - 4 PM. The Walking Tour around Wanakena has opened for the season 5/9/22.
WANAKENA CHURCH – Great to hear those bells a'ringin'. Service begins! June 5th! 10am! Praise the Lord! Star Lake Church CLOSED for summer. Also: NO ZOOM! Service through September 4th. Did you know this song was performed and recorded via the Wanakena Church Organ in May 2016? Cranberry Lake | Z Plan (bandcamp.com)
WANAKENA PUBLIC BATHROOM AND DOCK - THE BATHROOM AND DOCK ARE OPEN AND IN PLACE AND HERE AND THERE! For your pleasure and necessity. Wanakena Sewar and Wanakena Water in working order as well.
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... the answer: IN A TENT. Lots of primitive camping!!!!!! All free and open to the public!!!!!! Coyote Den Motel in Cranberry Lake. 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 – Flowerboxes Flags and Banners are flying in Cranberry Lake!!! We heard Tilly's is OPEN! That's all we know besides other details that we have yet to confirm. July 10th go help clean-up the HUB in Cranberry Lake. NO big book sale event at the library this year... but they will have books for sale in the basement all summer. LIVE MUSIC at the library - Marching Band July 24th, Jon Foster July 31st, Nelson Bros August 24th - FREE. Five Ponds Partners kickstarted and initiated port-o-johns at some local trailheads! BOOK TALK June 11th 1pm AUTHOR of A WILD IDEA, BRAD EDMONDSON at Cranberry Library! Also: Our first StoryWalk of the summer is up! The book is "I Need a New Butt" by Dawn McMillan. There are also Grab and Go Pinwheel kits! It starts by the Tennis Courts out behind the library and loops back around. Enjoy and let us know what you think! Tilly's Stone Manor hints at soft opening for the summer. Lakeside General OPEN for the season. Cranberry Blog is back for the season here: Submit a Blog | CRANBERRY B[L]OG (cranberryblog.org). NEW Motel in town! It's called Coyote Den. Right by the Oswegatchie on Rt. 3. More info to come. The Cranberry Library is OPEN Tuesday – Friday 10:00-2:00, Saturday 10:00-1:00, Wednesday Evening 6:00-7:00, Monday 10-2pm. NEW LIBRARY DROP BOX DOWN AT OTTO'S! From Facebook: Dock installation at the HUB is now complete as of Wednesday May 25. Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub OPEN HOUSE July 24th - stay tuned! Cranberry Lake State Campground opened May 20th - Oct. 9th. Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is OPEN! 2022 Cranberry Lake Boat Club 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! Snowmobile trails CLOSED FOR THE SEASON! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers voted BEST CLUB in New York State in 2022. Don't forget about our nearest-by neighbors: Sevey's Point and Thirsty Moose! COME JOIN CRANBERRY LAKE VOL. FIREMEN AND AUXILIARY - JULY15 AND July 16 AUXILIARY’S ANNUAL BACKWOODS CRAFT FAIR WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FROM 9AM TO 4PM - A NUMBER OF NEW VENDORS WILL BE HERE THIS YEAR - FIREMEN WILL BE SELLING HAMBERGERS AND HOT DOGS BOTH DAYS. ALL ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD AT THE CRANBERRY LAKE FIRE STATION. And new this year!! CRANBERRY LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT AUXILIARY PRESENTS BAKING CONTEST 2022 July 16, 2022
NEWTON FALLS - Beach Party!!!! June 25th. 10 - 1pm. Organized by SOS! Sniff around for more info!
OUT WEST - Town of Fine office CLOSED June 17th - July 5th. JUNGLE BOOK the play, performed by children - July 1st and 2nd at the school auditorium. SOS in Star Lake... stay tuned via FACEBOOK... SOS, The Adirondack Exhibit Center - Home | Facebook. Gym renovations mean NO OPEN GYM and VOLLYBALL this summer at CFCS. CFCSD Fitness Room: OPEN to community members 6pm – 8pm and 5pm - 10pm M-F and weekends 6-10am (paperwork required). Scoops Ice Cream in Star Lake SEVEN days a week 3-8pm. Green Pinky Farm near Oswegatchie is greening-up! Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is open. A little further west Scoops Ice Cream, Coffee Fever, Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware, CF Golf Course and Jreck's, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Bank, 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! 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 - Cranberry Lake Mountaineers voted BEST CLUB in New York State in 2022.
KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena. Woof Woof!
THIS TIME LAST YEAR HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #72 – 06/17/21 - 06/23/21 (ottosabode.org) AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE: Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #20 - 06/18/20 - 06/24/20 (ottosabode.org)
Any submissions, 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! Write “submission” in the subject line if emailing. Wanakena Weekly is archived on our website. www.ottosabode.org Wanakena Weekly is brought to you by the folks at Otto's Abode.
"Repose after agitation is like a pool under a waterfall, which the waterfall has made." Samuel Taylor Coleridge - (1801)