Happy Wednesday!
WITHINANUTSHELL – We're squeaking this out before Thanksgiving! Keeping it BRIEF! BASICALLY: WE GOT SNOW! Friday that forecast changed. We were only supposed to get a few... Next thing you know... WE'RE TWO FEET DEEP! Plus Woke up Sunday morning to another 8 inches. SO we'd say in Wanakena we got more than Two feet, less than three. The river filled right up with snow! SO, yes... the Abode is closed for the holiday. SNOW CROQUET COURSE IS OPEN, THOUGH! Play well and play fair and don't mess up the course TOO badly! We'll be back open Saturday around 3pm and plan and getting a fire going out front and staying open late. C'mon out! Thirsty Moose is doing Thanksgiving dinner! Live music at the Legion Saturday 7-11pm!!! WOW!!!! Coming up: SOS SHOP LOCAL DAY. December 3rd. WEAR ORANGE IN THE WOODS! They got BUCK FEVER out here! The Star Lake Hospital will be closed Nov 24th and 25th... so don't get hurt out there! Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday, December14th @ 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). By January 1, 2025, every operator of a motorized boat in New York State must obtain a boating safety certificate in order to legally operate their boats. There are no age exceptions to this law — and, if you're from out of state, New York will recognize your boating safety course certification.
FORECAST - 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! Wanakena, NY 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground (wunderground.com)
DOWN AT THE ABODE - SNOW CROQUET COURSE IS OPEN! Play well and play fair and don't mess up the course TOO badly! SO, yes... the Abode is closed for the holiday. We'll be back open Saturday around 3pm and plan and getting a fire going out front and staying open late. C'mon out! !!!!!!!!A REMINDER!!!!!!! We'll be CLOSED Thanksgiving, the day after and will open LATE Saturday. (More info below) See you around!!!! PLASIC IS UP ON THE PORCH!!! Juniper Hill Farm PRODUCE-DROP Saturday afternoon - come and ge'it! Firewood rack is running LOW... and wont be refilled till we get more wood - so best to get your wood elsewhere for a while. The SOS is organizing a SHOP LOCAL SATURDAY for December 3rd. More info to come. LAST CHANCE to see ART on the walls through Thanksgiving! GWIZDALALAND. THESE DAYS produce is STILL stacking HIGH! Getting mostly organic produce from Martin's in Potsdam and Certified Organic from Juniper Hill Farm (like last winter) via Wadhams, NY. Parsnips, rutabaga, buttercup squash, spinach, swiss chard, beets, turnip, radish, kale, sweet potato, carrots cabbage, apples, lettuce. AND MORE! C'mon!!! Get down here and eat this stuff!!! We've got FARM EGGS once again, too - $5 dozen! Next "FOLK JAM" is PENDING. We had a good run-of-it, but seek change, evolution. "We didn't lose steam, we gained experience!" Yes, hold on to your butts, folks: we're re-imagining the good ol' "Folk Jam". seeking a more "appropriate" and "enjoyable" method, concept and title. How folk-y of us, huh? Well, folk you. Anyway, more info to come. We were open SIX DAYS A WEEK though the winter; closed on Wednesdays ALL DAY and opening "late" Mondays and Tuesdays 5pm - 9pm. "Your delight is out delight!" Thanks for shopping local! There's always a reason to visit Otto's Abode, it's a good cheap date! C'mon out to Wanakena, grab yourself a stroll around town, pop-in the shop - you know how to do it! Keep it simple!
ABODE CONTINUED - We'll be OPEN Saturday evening pos-Thanksgiving. So, dont bring tooooo much beer up to camp - buy some of ours Saturday evening! Did you know: We are one of the few places around that offers GLUTEN-FREE beer? IT'S TRUE, OKAY!Looking ahead... Mark it down: New Year's Eve Midnight Bash and Otto's Open house. After that is our IceJamBoree 7TH Birthday Bash during Presidents Day Weekend/WhiteOut Weekend. Snow Croquet season is right around the corner. Autumn Croquet season is OPEN! Laura Foster of Hen Island Bags dropped-off another bakers-thirteen; the patterns, the colors! Oh my we love these bags! Snowmobile trail maps in stock - a NEW and updated one at that! BACK IN STOCK: We've got a bunch of copies of the NEW-ish Wanakena Murder Mystery by Janet Irvin on the shelves; BROKEN. COLD BEER SOLD HERE! Over SIXTY varieties of beer/cider/etc... in the walk-in cooler. Howard Graham's 2022 liquid gold. COME AND GET IT! Gallons, half-gallons, quarts! 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. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube?
ON VIEW - Gwiz's show is DOWN... What's next?
WANAKENA POST OFFICE 13695 - Open for business six days a week! Thanks, Mary for running the show!
BLACKWATERS CAFÉ AND TRADING POST - Open 8AM - 3:30PM. Special dinner hours Fridays until 7pm! Closed Sundays and Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays. www.blackwaterscafe.com
RANGER SCHOOL - Class of 2023 in session! 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. Alumni newsletter: fALL 2022 Newsletter.pub (nysrsaa.org). CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM. Webcam | The Ranger School | SUNY ESF - Also for fun: Why Colleges Should Not Sell Their Radio Stations - Radio World
PACKBASKET ADVENTURES – Website says: "We are OPEN FOR BUSINESS - Come have a safe and relaxing stay!"
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – History Center and The Walking Tour around Wanakena has been CLOSED-UP and TAKEN DOWN for the cold-weather months. There are still a few permanent kiosks that stay up all winter long! Worth a look! C'mon out and take a peek.
WANAKENA CHURCH – Closed for the season! See you in the fall. 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 - As of 11/16/22 the BATHROOM IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Speaking of pickles: Wanakena Saturday Morning Pickleball has wrapped it up for the season; pickle paddles are packed-up! The old dock has sold! Make way for new! This spring! Great job everyone! In case you or anyone else was wondering: Wanakena Sewar and Wanakena Water are well and in working order as well.
WANAKENA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – First time ever: someone had to get paid to mow the cemetery (no volunteers available). 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. Just kidding - it's more complicated than that. But we'll start with the tent (or hammock, or under stars, etc...) Lots of primitive camping!!!!!! All free and open to the public!!!!!! State Campground when it's open. Looking for more? A roof over-head? Coyote Den Motel in Cranberry Lake. Besides that, Packbasket Adventures Lodge in Wanakena. Wanakena has a number of "vacation" rental homes available. They are all of ADKbyOWNER/AirBnB/VrBo variety -only available during warm months only, usually. 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 – Further east The Thirsty Moose does Thanksgiving Diner! Bridgework has FINISHED over the Oswegatchie in Cranberry Lake. Vroom vroom! Neon Sign is hanging back up at Stone Manor... it's now lit up and says: "NO VACANCY". That's almost as funny as the fire department's sign jokes! Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake is OPEN six days a week (closed Mondays)! Don't forget about the Book Drop Box at Otto's Abode! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! FIRST STRIKE CLFD Fishing Derby January 28th, 2023! Lakeside Genral Store has CLOSED for the season. The business has been sold to new owners and we should all be excited to see what happens next! NEW Motel in town! It's called Coyote Den. Right by the Oswegatchie on Rt. 3. The HUB and TILLY'S are still in early developmental stages. Five Ponds Partners kickstarted and initiated port-o-johns at some local trailheads! Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is OPEN! John Dragun NEON ARTWORK and MORE down in Windfall! Cranberry Lake State Campground is CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Don't forget about our other nearest-by neighbors to east: Sevey's Point and Thirsty Moose!
HAREWOOD – Further east The Thirsty Moose does Thanksgiving Diner! Bridgework has FINISHED over the Oswegatchie in Cranberry Lake. Vroom vroom! Neon Sign is hanging back up at Stone Manor... it's now lit up and says: "NO VACANCY". That's almost as funny as the fire department's sign jokes! Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake is OPEN six days a week (closed Mondays)! Don't forget about the Book Drop Box at Otto's Abode! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! FIRST STRIKE CLFD Fishing Derby January 28th, 2023! Lakeside Genral Store has CLOSED for the season. The business has been sold to new owners and we should all be excited to see what happens next! NEW Motel in town! It's called Coyote Den. Right by the Oswegatchie on Rt. 3. The HUB and TILLY'S are still in early developmental stages. Five Ponds Partners kickstarted and initiated port-o-johns at some local trailheads! Tooley Pond Duck Decoy Showroom in Cranberry Lake is OPEN! John Dragun NEON ARTWORK and MORE down in Windfall! Cranberry Lake State Campground is CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Don't forget about our other nearest-by neighbors to east: Sevey's Point and Thirsty Moose!
OUT WEST - UBs OPEN Thanksgiving until 2pm. Party at The Legion Saturday Nov 26th 7-11 LIVE MUSIC! Santa is coming to the Legion Saturday Dec. 17th! Santa will also be at the Fine Fire Hall December 18th! SOS is planning SHOP LOCAL DAY Dec 3rd! Have you heard about the Holy Grail Gift Shop in Star Lake? Green Pinky Farm in Oswegatchie is open and flippin' the goods! CCL Book drop has moved from the (CLOSED Coffee Fever) to the Star Lake Community Bank. Clifton-Fine Hometown Heros Banner initiative has been engaged! Banners on rt. 3 like Harrisville, Croghan and more! More information to follow. More info to come. Clifton-Fine Senior Citizens Meeting. Tuesday the 15th around noon at Community Center. Baptist Church of Oswegatchie asking for donations! Star Lake Ice Rink ("Town of Clifton") is HIRING for the upcoming season! GET IT!!!! Figure Skating Sign-ups now! Circle K Holiday Tree Elves are coming too. Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! The new Star Lake Church is having a week-long "Fall Revival" right NOW! The Clifton-Fine class of 2023 presents: LOST AND FOUND IN IKIEA - a play by Gary Ray Stapp. November 18 and 19, 2022 at the auditorium 7pm. AA every Friday night at SOS 7pm. Western Adirondack Presbyterian Church in Star Lake welcomes you! FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St. Huberts Church Wednesdays at 5PM! Hop on shuttle #22 of the St Lawrence County Volunteer Transportation Bus if you need a lift! Largest Adirondack solar project to date goes before APA (adirondackexplorer.org) Coffee Fever has CLOSED. "For good." Yikes! That also means NO CCL book drop-box there - luckily there is one at Otto's Abode in Wanakena. Hillside Diner has recently closed for good, also. Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is having a garage sale soon since they will be closing for good. SCOOPS Ice Cream has closed for the season. Jrecks has recently closed for the season. Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware are OPEN! Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are OPEN! SOS is OPEN here and there for programing. CF Golf Course, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Bank, Adirondack Pharmacy, Clifton-Fine Community Center OPEN! Still further west in Oswegatchie UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics are open! Green Pinky Farm near Oswegatchie is OPEN! CFCSD Fitness Room: OPEN to community members (paperwork required). Also, the school is ALWAYS hiring, various positions. Lots more to discover on their facebook page. GO EAGLES! Need a good port-a-potty? Call-up the H Brothers! Remember the PACKRAFTING RACE this past summer? Here's a NEW website worth checking out with maps and photos of the race: EMWC 2022 — Packrafting Adventures.
KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena. Woof Woof! Lost cat in the neighborhood, though! A possible "drop-off". MEOW! Black and white kitty.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #94 - 11/18/21 - 11/27/21 (ottosabode.org) AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE: Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #42 - 11/19/20 - 11/25/20 (ottosabode.org)
KIM AND THOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena. Woof Woof! Lost cat in the neighborhood, though! A possible "drop-off". MEOW! Black and white kitty.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #94 - 11/18/21 - 11/27/21 (ottosabode.org) AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE: Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #42 - 11/19/20 - 11/25/20 (ottosabode.org)
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! How about a SUBMISSION?!! 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.
"Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves." - Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887)
"Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves." - Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887)
