Happy Thursday!
WITHINANUTSHELL – Hey! Where did all the snow go?!?! The ground was warm to begin with, plus all that rain = MELTS. We DID have at least two and a half feet, though. Still a bit left on ground and in woods as of Wednesday. Adirondack Explorer published an online story about some folks that tried skiing in it last weekend. Wanakena winter wonderland (adirondackexplorer.org) That storm blew the birds around a bit but seeing chickadee and nuthatch and the rest of 'em back around town. Deer sticking around town; down the street and though the yards. In the breeze like tumbleweeds, leaves and pine needle clumps and other debris leave their tracks like delicate squirrel footprints in the fresh dustings of snow. That RAIN last weekend got the river running again; a wonderful sound! As much snow as we've lost, the SNOW CROQUET COURSE REMAINS OPEN! Crusty and icy. Mary says the Dollar Store is "closed until further notice" because of the ol' leaky roof. Legion Fish Fry this Friday 5pm till gone! CLIFTON FINE SOS SHOP LOCAL DAY December 3rd. HIT IT UP! We're hoping for an afternoon campfire and croquet out front in ZPARK but it appears to be a rainy day on the way, we'll get something going out there anyway.... so, C'MON OUT! NEWTON FALLS - Shop Local Pop-Up Shop at Adirondack Church 10am - 12 Noon Dec 3rd and Santa is coming! Saturday, Dec 3rd @ 6pm! At the Newton Falls Fire Department. Organized by Clifton-Fine PTO. Clifton Community Library accepting donations for local long-term care residents! 2nd Annual Christmas Ball at The Legion Dec 10th 7-11pm. Santa at The Legion December 17th! HO HO HO. WEAR ORANGE IN THE WOODS! They got BUCK FEVER out here! Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday, December 14th @ 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).
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)
SHOP LOCAL - SOS Announces: The SIXTH Annual Shop Local Saturday December 3rd, 2022. We are grateful to have stores and restaurants that are locally owned by people we know and care about. The SOS has planned a special day for the community to shop local. We have purchased $20 gift cards from the following businesses to show our support: Todd Hardware, Adirondack Rustics, UB's, Blackwaters Cafe, Otto's Abode, Mountain Gate, Twin Lakes, Adirondack Pharmacy, Harrisville Hardware, Green Pinky Farm and The Wooden Fish Hatchery. We will be raffling these off to people who drop their passports off to SOS. SOS, The Adirondack Exhibit Center | Facebook
DOWN AT THE ABODE - THIS SATURDAY CLIFTON FINE SOS SHOP LOCAL. We're hoping for a campfire and croquet out front in ZPARK but it appears to be a rainy day on the way, we'll get something going out there anyway.... so, C'MON OUT! Weather you can make it out this Saturday or not - we appreciate all of our friends, neighbors, family and strangers who are able to take the time out of their day to go out of their way and support a local business! Here it is: **** FLOWJAK EVERY SUNDAY 3-5 PM **** What is FLOWJAK? It'll be what we make it. It's a music meet-up; a strum-circle. Old songs, new songs. Jamming, singing, clapping. "All traditions and abilities". Bring your instruments, bring some songs, or just bring yourself. "Free and open to all" SNOW CROQUET COURSE IS OPEN - c'mon out and play any day or night. THIS FRIDAY P.M. FRESH CHEESE CURD. 1,000 Island River Rat Cheese from Clayton, NY. EVERY SATURDAY MORNING SWICKAMILLO SOURDOUGH $6 loafs - here till they're gone! THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON! Fresh supply of beautiful organic produce from Juniper Hill Farm (like last winter) via Wadhams, NY. Pinch, arugula, potatoes, parsnips, rutabaga, buttercup squash, radish, kale, sweet potato, carrots cabbage, apples, lettuce. AND MORE! C'mon!!! Get down here and eat this stuff!!! EXHIBITION EXTENSION! The fantastically colored and patterned interstellar landscapes by Albany, NY's Matt Gwizdala will remain on-view. Coffee bar and stools always around for you to linger upon - come hang a while. 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! CALL UP THE LIBRARY AND GET IT DONE! Perhaps visit their website, too. We are open SIX DAYS A WEEK though the winter; closed on Wednesdays and open "late" Mondays and Tuesdays. "Your delight is out delight!"
ABODE CONTINUED - Looking ahead... Mark it down: New Year's Eve Midnight Bonfire Ball Drop Bash and pre-party via Otto's Open House. After that is our IceJamBoree 7TH Birthday Bash during Presidents Day in conjunction with Clifton-Fine Weekend/WhiteOut Weekend. Fresh Produce ALL YEAR LONG! Fresh is best. COLD BEER SOLD HERE! Over SIXTY varieties of beer/cider/etc... in the walk-in cooler. Plenty of non-alchoholic drinks available as well. Bread, milk, eggs and many more dry, cold and frozen groceries. TAKE A PEEK. Candy, snacks, ice cream and soft drinks. Fresh ground HOT COFFEE and baked goods at the counter. Mittens and socks! Books, maps, music for your browsing pleasure. Camping/fishing/hiking knickknack patty-whacks. Howard Graham's 2022 liquid gold. Front Porch is wapped in plastic for the winter - WEEKENA LIBRARY always OPEN on the front porch. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube?
WANAKENA POST OFFICE 13695 - Open for business six days a week! Thanks, Mary for running the show! Send us a postcard: POB # 1 Wanakena, NY 13695
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 – New Years Eve SPECIAL! Website says: "We are OPEN FOR BUSINESS - Come have a safe and relaxing stay!"
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – There are a few permanent kiosks that stay up all winter long! Worth a look! C'mon out and take a peek. History Center and The Walking Tour around Wanakena has been CLOSED-UP and TAKEN DOWN for the cold-weather months.
WANAKENA CHURCH – Closed for the season! See you in the spring. 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. 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. Speaking of pickles: Wanakena Saturday Morning Pickleball has wrapped it up for the season; pickle paddles are packed-up!
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 – Man, that's a big lake! Clifton Community Library accepting donations for local long-term care residents! Bridgework has FINISHED over the Oswegatchie in Cranberry Lake. Vroom vroom! Snowmobile trails not-yet-open! 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! 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.
NEWTON FALLS - Shop Local Pop-Up Shop at Adirondack Church 10am - 12 Noon Dec 3rd! Santa is coming! Saturday, Dec 3rd @ 6pm! At the Newton Falls Fire Department. Organized by Clifton-Fine PTO.
OUT WEST - Snowmobile trails not-yet-open! LEGION FISH FRY THIS FRIDAY. SOS is planning SHOP LOCAL DAY Dec 3rd - go get it!! December 10th - Holiday Parade! Santa is coming to the Legion Saturday Dec. 17th! Santa will also be at the Fine Fire Hall December 18th! Have you heard about the Holy Grail Gift Shop in Star Lake? 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 ON 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 celebrating ONE YEAR of service! 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 #95 - 11/28/21 - 12/01/21 (ottosabode.org) AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE: Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #43 – 11/26/20 - 12/02/20 (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.
"The gloomy heron, motionless at the water's edge signifies the approach of winter. The jay, going to roost earlier than usual, feels winter's approach. A serene autumn foretells winter winds. The sheep running hither and thither feel winter coming." - Noel Du Fail (1842)
READER SUBMISSION - "Clouds moved quickly tonight while a bright waxing gibbous moon shone through. Planet Jupiter is close by. The new snowfall today covered up a solid base of settled 3 foot snowfall from last week's storm. Rain yesterday and steady winds created a solid base. Recently added to the labyrinth are bamboo poles to mark the walkway’s entrance/exit and each turn. This makes it easier to define the path in deep snow. Snowshoes help when it’s deep but are not necessary right now. See if you agree that when you walk through the labyrinth now, the bamboo is welcoming and interesting, adding a new dimension. Enjoy it. Simple pleasures such as these can be habit forming. Feel free to hang something to share modestly if you will. A gift to share. Or not, and just walk and breathe. These are our longest nights. Winter is settling in. Don’t fight it, embrace it. Restore. Love, Susan Z."