Happy Thursday!
WITHINANUTSHELL - Rainy weekend ahead! The Oswegatchie has opened right up! It appears this will be the third year in a row without an ice jam. The river is still covered in ice down below the beach and out to the lake - we patiently await the Cranberry Lake Boat Club ICE OUT announcement. Reports indicate 10 inched out down the river towards The Narrows and some open water out by Brandy Brook Flow - mixed bag! With open water and spring weather comes the critters. Ducks, robins, redwing blackbirds, grackles, racoons, weasels, woodchucks and more! The geese have been talking up a storm. Perhaps arguing why, the hell they came to Wanakena where there is a foot of crusty snow and single digit temps in the AM; WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS?!?!?! TONS of deer scamper about. BEEP BEEP! Still a decent amount of snow in the woods, though! Over at the Town of Fine Campground and Picnic area the picnic table by the lean-to is still burred in a snow drift! Snow has not stopped the hikers - this weekend a group tackled the high falls loop, and another group gave it a go earlier in the week. This past Saturday was the 30th annual SPRING FLING out in ZPark. Of the whole week it had the most extreme weather - LUCKY US! Windy, windy, windy snow and rain. Still, a good group of hardy Wanakena folks got together and celebrated making it though another winter up here in northwest forest foothills. Snowmobilers have reported that this past week the Cranberry Lake region provided sledders with their final rides of the season - once again we got the snow! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers groom the trails and let the wind hit the sails - BRAP BRAP! Our local Black Fly BTI guy is out and about treating the creeks. What else? Blackwaters Cafe and Trading post on Ranger School Road in Wanakena has closed its doors for good - a message from their website reads: "Due to ongoing health concerns, we have closed the restaurant permanently. It’s time for our bodies to take a break… We’d like to thank so many special people for being a part of our 11 year journey – and we wish you health and happiness as we pursue our own. ~Jeff and Suzie." Cheers, guys! Thanks for all the wings and brews over the years! Snow Croquet is still a thing! Yes! There is STILL snow on the course. Perhaps it's not long for this world so get out here and whack a round our two. LET THE MUD THUMPING BEGIN! Oh, a joyous time to romp in the north country. C'mon up - you'll have the woods to yourself! Remember: walk THOUGH the mud, not around it. SOS held a beginners crochet class last Sunday hosted by Wanakena's own Annette Swartz. Quilt Fest II Labor Day Weekend - jot it down! COMMUNITY PANCAKE BREAKFAST at the Cranberry Lake Fire Department Saturday morning! CHICKEN BBQ at The Legion SATURDAY APRIL 1ST! WOW! The Legion was awarded $38,000 from SLC IDA for a NEW HVAC system! Otto's Abode was awarded $15,000 for refrigeration upgrades! Birch's Lakeside General Store has been plowed-out after a long winter! The Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub is accepting space-use proposals and Mountain Gate Thrift and Redemption will close for good in two weeks! Ups and downs! The world goes round! Word on the street is that the Harrisville Community Bank is closing, and as a result the Star Lake branch will be open MORE days/hours than it currently operates. CHA-CHING! NEW Cranberry Community Center Webcam! gotsnowcams.com - New York - paul@NorthernChateau@.com St Lawrence County Burn Ban March 16th - May 14th. Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday, April 12th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Meetings: March 08, 2023: Public Hearings & Regular Meeting [Digital Towpath] Today's Ice Jam Danger remains LOW (THREE 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)
DOWN AT THE ABODE - Hot off the press: Otto's Abode was awarded $15,000 from the SLC IDA for refrigeration upgrades! More info next week. In other news: Dust off your radio, folks. Testing, testing 1, 2, 3... is this thing on? Turn your dial to 87.9fm and perhaps you'll catch drift of some sonic sauce buzzing though the airwaves. Broadcasting LIVE from the back room of Otto's Abode WANA 87.9fm THE GOOSE. We are broadcasting though an FCC approved low frequency device. We did a quick test-run and found we broadcast AT LEAST over down by the car bridge, tennis courts, labyrinth, down at the beach, up the hill and down RS Road to the boat launch. We're still in "test" mode, but..... AWAY WE GO!!!!! We won't have any polished content right away. We'll be playing random stuff throughout our hours of operation. Expect some static. Working on fixing the low frequency humming. Bear with us or change the dial! Some folks may remember we did an internet broadcast a few years back... we're keeping it analog for now, so don't ask! HONK HONK! What else? "Quality service year-round!" Yep, that's right - we're out here open and hopin' you'll be out and about and looking to poke your head in the shop and perhaps spend a little of that hard-earned dough! We got FROZEN MEATS from Redbarn in Croghan - chicken breast and halves, sausages, porkchops, steaks, bacon - check it out! FRESH PRODUCE GALORE - get down here and eat this stuff! Just got a FRESH order of beer/cider packed into the walk-in cooler. C'mon out and check out the new brews! CROQUET course still has some strong bones, soft surface. SNOW CROQUET SEASON CONTINUES! GAME ON! Upcoming: OPEN AIR OPEN MIC will return! Mark it down on your calendars: EVERY LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 6-9pm starting APRIL and going ALL SUMMER LONG culmination OCT 28th for a FULL MOON HALLOWEEN OPEN AIR OPEN MIC! Out in the Gazebo, campfire and the works. ART ON VIEW: We are currently "in-between" exhibitions! Nothing wrong with a little aimless art wandering. Plus, you know there's plenty of "art" around here to absorb or ignore.
ABODE CONTINUED - You know we're here! You know we're open! Don't wait for a Facebook post to tell you to do so! "Forget the herd!" C'mon down to our inconvenience store! Sure, shopping at a big box store saves you a few bucks, but does it help save a small business such as Otto's Abode? What are you really saving? We're not telling you NOT to shop BIG, but if you are ABLE to shop small and shop local, every bit counts. Thanks! Got some great gifts from local artists/crafters here in the shop. FRESH PRODUCE! stocked all year long. Organic farm eggs $5.75! Swickamillo Sourdough every Saturday morning and random baked goods throughout the week. 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. We've heard word CL50 maps and guidebooks won't be available for another month or two - ass soon as they are available, we will have them! Check out our books, music and art supplies. Fishing, camping, hiking knickknacks. Gifts, goodies and more! "Where's the Art?" Open your eyes! 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! Broadcasting LIVE from the back room of Otto's Abode WANA 87.9fm THE GOOSE. HONK HONK! 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! Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube? Blah blah blah.
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 - "Due to ongoing health concerns, we have closed the restaurant permanently. It’s time for our bodies to take a break… We’d like to thank so many special people for being a part of our 11 year journey – and we wish you health and happiness as we pursue our own. ~Jeff and Suzie" 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. Cool map of trails: James F. Dubuar Memorial Forest Trail Map | Trailforks CHECK OUT THEIR TRAIL CAM. Webcam | The Ranger School | SUNY ESF
PACKBASKET ADVENTURES – "We are open year-round by reservation to adults and children 12 yrs. and older." Adirondack Lodgings & Adirondack Guide Services: Old fashioned Adirondack Lodge & Guide Services Packbasket Adventures - Packbasket Adventures
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – Big white pine branch in the yard... who gonna cut it up?!?! 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 - Dave said he wants to have a DOCK PARTY this summer when the dock arrives and the weather is good for swimming. 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 - buried in snow. 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! Croquet in ZPark ALL YEAR LONG; whack 'em balls!
WANAKENA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION – Cemetery buried in the snow! 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!!!!!! Don't forget about the Town of Fine Wanakena Primitive Campground and Picnic Area. 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. Also, check it out: Massawepie Boy Scout Camp has rentals in the offseason - seek and you will find.
HAREWOOD – Community Pancake Breakfast at the Cranberry Lake Fire Department Saturday morning!!!!! The Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub is "... accepting building and grounds use requests for the summer starting now." CLVFD Community Breakfast Saturday April 1st at the fire hall! Check this out! Store Cranberry Lake | Birch's Lakeside General Store, Campground and Marina (lakesideoncranberry.com) - we see the store has been plowed out after along winter burred under snow! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers voted BEST club in the STATE last year - TRAILS were open last week but have since closed! Great job everyone! 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 State Campground is CLOSED FOR THE SEASON... BUT big news: they'll take walk-in registration from now on. 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 - "Opens in May"! 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! 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 - SOS held a beginners crochet class last Sunday! Legion Chicken BBQ April 1st (NO JOKE!) WOW! The Legion was awarded $38,000 from SLC IDA for a NEW HVAC system! Clifton Fine Golf Course hiring clubhouse attendants! and Euchre competition April 18th. Harrisville VFD Fish Fry every Friday through April 7th. UB's has live minnows and more! Star Lake Ice Rink ("Town of Clifton") did NOT open this winter.... bummer! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers voted BEST club in the STATE last year - TRAILS were still usable last week but hav since closed! Great job everyone! 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! Wanakena's closest neighbor, Mountain Gate Redemption near Benson Mines, is open. Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware are OPEN! Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are OPEN! CF Golf Course (seasonal), Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Bank, Adirondack Pharmacy, Clifton-Fine Community Center OPEN! Have you heard about the Holy Grail Gift Shop opening up this spring in Star Lake? Still further west in Oswegatchie UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics are open (HOME OF THE LEGENDARY "BARGAIN HUNTER" NEWSPAPER)! 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! What else?
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 #112 - 03/24/22 - 03/30/22 (ottosabode.org)
AND TWO YEARS AGO, HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #60 – 03/25/21 - 03/31/21 (ottosabode.org)
AND THREE YEARS AGO, HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #8 - 03/26/20 - 04/01/20 (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!
"The wild goose is more cosmopolite than we; he breaks his fast in Canada, takes a luncheon in Susquehanna, and plumes himself for the night in a Louisiana bayou." - H.D. Thoreau journal (March 21, 1840)
