Happy Thursday!
THREE YEARS OF WANAKENA WEEKLY - Every year is composed of (roughly) 52 weeks. Math tells us 52 x 3 = 156. This is Wanakena Weekly #156! Thanks for reading. Tell a friend. Fan mail and tip jar: POB #1 Wanakena, NY 13695 or email otto@ottosabode.org Wanakena Weekly is published online at www.ottosabode.org every Thursday-ish. Wanakena residents, friends of Wanakena as well as the general public may find interest and entertainment in this attempt to document and archive some of the goings-on in and around Wanakena, NY though writing and imagery. This service is brought to you by the folks at Otto's Abode.
WITHINANUTSHELL - It has not been too cold, and it has not been too warm; winter seems to have left us on "simmer". Next week looks COLDER, though! Earlier in the week rainfall on the snow hissed loudly like snakes. Snow remains! We have not lost much, and will make gains. The Oswegatchie is freezing up more and more by the day. Folks have reported decent xc-skiing which should only improve with the arrival of fresh snow (now). It has NOT been cold enough to "make ice" at the Star Lake Arena, but it HAS been cold enough to ice skate on the ponds and such! This Saturday is the CRANBERRY LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FISHING DERBY! The weather has been GREAT for this event. At least eleven inches of ice reported out by Joe Indian Island and not a lot of snow (or slush!) on top of the ice. Saturday should be a great day out on the lake. Most snowmobile trails have opened back up. Grossbeaks reported around town. Chickadee, sparrows nibble at the feeder. Parades of deer though the neighborhood. Wild canine prints zig zag in the snow. Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday, February 8th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Minutes: January 11, 2023: January Meeting Minutes [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)
WHITE OUT WEEKEND 2023 - It is happening. Whiteout Weekend ALWAYS lands on Presidents Day Weekend and this year it is February 17th and 18th! More info to come! Adirondack White Out Weekend | Wanakena NY | Facebook and Adirondack WhiteOut Weekend - Area Info (google.com)
DOWN AT THE ABODE - We're SUPER excited to announce: OPEN AIR OPEN MIC out in ZPARK Friday, Feb 17th, 2023, 6pm - 9pm. This event is held in conjunction with Otto's Abode's SEVENTH Birthday Bash and Clifton-Fine White Out Weekend. Campfire and Snow Croquet ALL WEEKEND! MORE INFO TO COME! Out front the Snow Croquet Course has some strong bones! It's a bit crusty but plays well - new snow falling as we speak! FLOWJAK music every Sunday 3-5pm. Fantastic Gwizdala paintings remain on the wall... ART! Produce rack is STOCKED with a bunch of fresh Juniper Hill greens'n'gourds and more. Organic farm eggs $5.75! Swickamillo Sourdough every Saturday morning and random baked goods thoughout the week. Fresh Cheese Curd. Got some great gifts from local crafters here in the shop. Lots more to look at! Not a bad place to hang out, ether. C'mon down to Wanakena and poke around a bit! Otto's Abode is a self-proclaimed Adirondack Art-Centric Travel Agency an Inconvenience Store. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube?
ABODE CONTINUED - SHOP LOCAL! Fresh produce stocked all year long. Dry, cooled and frozen groceries galore. Bread, milk, eggs. Beer cave with other sixty varieties of beer, seltzers, hard cider and more! Ice cream, candy and snacks. HOT coffee and tea as well. TONS of Maps for browsing and/or buying. Check out our books, music and art supplies. Fishing, camping, hiking knickknacks. Gifts, goodies and more! On top of buying/selling stuff we provide local information about events and trail conditions to the best of our knowledge and have often helped outdoor recreationists in a pinch; the cool kids call it a "Trail Center" these days. Community message board out front. Clifton Community Library DROP BOX on the porch. Wee-Kena Library on the porch as well - take a book, leave a book. Missing something? Perhaps what you've lost is in our lost and found? We have every issue of Bargain Hunter from 2018 - Present. And don't forget: Wanakena Weekly online every week! Missed a week? No problem.... CHECK THE THREE-YEAR ARCHIVE! Cheers to us and cheers to you. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to go out of the way to support small, local, family-owned businesses!
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 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 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
PACKBASKET ADVENTURES – Website says: "For the comfort and safety of our guests and ourselves, we accept reservations only from those with proof of complete COVID vaccination and booster(s). Come have a relaxing stay in safe environment!" Adirondack Lodgings & Adirondack Guide Services: Old fashioned Adirondack Lodge & Guide Services Packbasket Adventures - Packbasket Adventures
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 - will re-open end of June 2023. Home (wanakena.com)
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 - Funds for the NEW WANAKENA DOCK have been fully raised thanks to donations big and small! Get ready! Here it comes! The old dock has sold! Make way for new this spring. As of 11/16/22 the BATHROOM IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. 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 - As the Zplan song goes: "I got the Hotel Wanakena tryna' find a place to stay-a blues" but less-poetically and more often heard: "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 – FIRST STRIKE CLFD Fishing Derby on Cranberry Lake January 28th, 2023! Looks like the weather is cooperating! Folks have been out on the lake - fishing, sledding, etc! Snowmobile trails are getting there - a lot of trails OPEN!! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! 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! Bridgework has FINISHED over the Oswegatchie in Cranberry Lake. Vroom vroom! 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 (CLOSED FOR WINTER)! 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 and will do it again next year! 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.
OUT WEST - UB's has live minnows and more! Star Lake Ice Rink ("Town of Clifton") is making ice when they can! Though, it's not looking good.... BUMMER! Snowmobile trails are getting there - a lot of trails OPEN!! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St. Huberts Church Wednesdays at 5PM! Chili Conest at the Legion Feb 11th. Hop on shuttle #22 of the St Lawrence County Volunteer Transportation Bus if you need a lift! Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is open. Western Adirondack Presbyterian Church in Star Lake welcomes you! Quilt Fest folks meet at the Presbyterian Church a couple times a week - join in! 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! Have you heard about the Holy Grail Gift Shop opening up this spring 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. AA every Friday night at SOS 7pm. 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. SCOOPS Ice Cream has closed for the season. Jrecks has closed for the season. Check out Green Pinky Farm near Oswegatchie! 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! Have you heard: Sovie's Bait & Tackle | Harrisville NY | Facebook.
KIM AND TOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena. Woof Woof!
HAREWOOD – FIRST STRIKE CLFD Fishing Derby on Cranberry Lake January 28th, 2023! Looks like the weather is cooperating! Folks have been out on the lake - fishing, sledding, etc! Snowmobile trails are getting there - a lot of trails OPEN!! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! 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! Bridgework has FINISHED over the Oswegatchie in Cranberry Lake. Vroom vroom! 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 (CLOSED FOR WINTER)! 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 and will do it again next year! 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.
OUT WEST - UB's has live minnows and more! Star Lake Ice Rink ("Town of Clifton") is making ice when they can! Though, it's not looking good.... BUMMER! Snowmobile trails are getting there - a lot of trails OPEN!! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers gearing-up for another season - looking for support! They deserve it: voted BEST club in the STATE last year! FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St. Huberts Church Wednesdays at 5PM! Chili Conest at the Legion Feb 11th. Hop on shuttle #22 of the St Lawrence County Volunteer Transportation Bus if you need a lift! Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is open. Western Adirondack Presbyterian Church in Star Lake welcomes you! Quilt Fest folks meet at the Presbyterian Church a couple times a week - join in! 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! Have you heard about the Holy Grail Gift Shop opening up this spring 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. AA every Friday night at SOS 7pm. 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. SCOOPS Ice Cream has closed for the season. Jrecks has closed for the season. Check out Green Pinky Farm near Oswegatchie! 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! Have you heard: Sovie's Bait & Tackle | Harrisville NY | Facebook.
KIM AND TOMS 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 #103 - 01/21/22 - 01/26/22 (ottosabode.org)
AND TWO YEARS AGO!!!!! HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #51 - 01/21/21 - 01/27/21 (ottosabode.org)
WHAT ELSE? - 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. 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 small and local businesses!
"Sliding on the ice: Before you venture on the ice, take care it be not thin, lest underneath your feet will break, and quickly throw you in." - The Childs Instructor
"Sliding on the ice: Before you venture on the ice, take care it be not thin, lest underneath your feet will break, and quickly throw you in." - The Childs Instructor