WITHINANUTSHELL - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNAH! New Moon energy? A little rain was nice!? Yes! Multiple bear sightings in Wanakena. Small ones. ROAR! Tamaracks popping green canopy haze. Highway turkey wobble and gobble single ladies. Down in the twenties Tues and Wed nights. Jeepers creepers, frozen peepers! Warming up this weekend looking rainy Saturday and Sunday. Warmer, though. Memorial Day Weekend is looking good! Town of Fine CREW came through town and swept and swooped the sand off the roads! THANKS! BIG FLEX!! Pickle Ball Court LINE PAINTING in progress; input desired. Whispers of a "water leak" somewhere in the system! Since resolved. Cars at the trailheads. Wilderness booming with blossoms! 'Round the neighborhood - color-petals - of course, too. Colleges out, summer season; Ranger School Graduation this Saturday! Trout socked? NEW Wanakena Dock is HERE and bringing cheer! THATS A LOT OF STRAY CATSUP PODS! The Sauters have been reporting in their fine views! Scoop Ice Cream and ADK Holy Grail in Star Lake are OPEN. Birch's Store next weekend!?!?! Can and bottle cart back out at The History Center. GET PUMPED!!!! "No dog poo bags." BIG TIME GARAGE SALE next Saturday, May 27th inder the big tent! C'mon down! Later that evening: OPEN AIR OPEN MIC out in ZPARK Saturday May, 27th 6-9PM! RAIN OR SHINE! Campfire and popcorn machine! Weather is looking GOOD! Bug spray?!?!? In conjunction with: BIG TENT COMMUNITY-WIDE GARAGE SALE THAT SATURDAY MAY 27th! Tell a friend or few see you there! All day affair! Wasn't the burn-ban extended or something? Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday, June 14th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Minutes: May 10, 2023: May Town Board Meeting [Digital Towpath]. Wanakena History Center OPENS June 17th - big party with live music, reimagined and dramatized local lore, food and stuff! CHUFFED: JAGUARDINI and CLAUDE AND OLA live music performance TUESDAY July 11th in the evening! More info to come. We are less than a year away from the Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024! Today's Ice Jam Danger remains LOW (THREE years in a row without an ice jam).
SCRAPE THAT BRIDGE - Footbridge Maintenance - The Wanakena Historical Association is spearheading a volunteer effort to scrape, prime and paint the foot bridge over the next two years. The plan is to scrape the bridge this year and undertake priming and painting next summer. This timeline will allow the pressure treated wood used for construction of the bridge time to dry more thoroughly by leaving exposed for the season……which will ensure the next round of painting sticks! The Ranger School has generously offered use of their barge the last week of June (June 26-30). The barge will be set under the bridge, allowing access to the exterior and bottom surfaces. We will have tarps set up from the bridge cross beams to the barge to catch the scrapings, as well as a floating boom across the river to catch any debris that makes it into the water. If you can spare a few hours to assist with this project, it would be greatly appreciated. There is a sign-up sheet in Otto’s, or you can call me at 802-272-5547, or email bethdaut@gmail.com. Please bring a scraper if you have one. Thank you! - Bitsy Daut
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 - What an exciting time of the year! The buzz. The BLOOM! Concerning ART: Are tubes of paint not studio assistants? Holy Cow! Summer hours begin Memorial Day Weekend! That is next weekend. The hour-change will last through Labor Day Weekend. More info next week! WOOHOO! OPEN MIC NEXT SATURDAY THE 27TH!!! EVERY LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 6-9pm starting APRIL and going ALL SUMMER LONG culminating Saturday OCT 28th for a FULL MOON HALLOWEEN OPEN AIR OPEN MIC SPOOKCTACULAR! Last Saturday of month, out in the Gazebo, campfire, the works - bring a friend, instrument, lawn chair, cooler, perhaps campout, etc! Or just come watch! Thanks! CHUFFED: JAGUARDINI and CLAUDE AND OLA live music performance TUESDAY July 11th in the evening! More info to come. HOT HOT HOT! Good stuff: FRESH SEASONAL PRODUCE AND BEER CAVE WITH OVER SIXTY VARIETIES! What's biting? WORMS AND CRAWLERS in the cooler! Maple Syrup in IN! THE GOOSE is STILL temporarily off-the-air until we work out some kinks. C'MON! Greening-up: CROQUET EVERY DAY if you want to!
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 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! 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! Did you know? We rent bear canisters - they make a conga-like great drum too! Hot off the press: Otto's Abode was awarded $15,000 from the SLC IDA for refrigeration upgrades! 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. 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! 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.
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
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
RANGER SCHOOL - HAPPY GRADUATION!!!!! Summer Session starts in a week or so. Ranger School hiring temp. summer positions. If you want your news printed in the 2023 Alumni News, please make sure your form is in to the RSAA office BY May 1. Hope to hear from you! - Ranger School Alumni Association. 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
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – NEW SIGNS/POSTS GOING IN THE GROUND! Piers can dig it! June 17th! Party at the History Center!!!! Quilt Fest Labor Day Weekend! 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 all re-open end of June 2023. Home (wanakena.com)
WANAKENA CHURCH – LIVE MUSIC AND THEATRICAL READING OF MAN OF THE WOODS: JUNE 17th IN CONJUNTION WITH THE HISTORY CENTER SEASONAL RE-OPENING!!! Stay tuned for more info. Chuch services are paused for the cold seasons! 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 DOWNTOWN BATHROOM IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. THE DOCK HAS ARRIVED! "No overnight docking." Also: Wanakena Sewar and Wanakena Water are well and in working order. 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! Speaking of ZPARK: CLIFTON FINE SUMMER SERIES LINE-UP ANNOUNCED!! If feeling so inclined write checks to C.F.E.D.C. (Clifton Fine Economic Development Corporation) with "Cultural Arts" in the memo. DOWN AT JACNACKS THEY SAY YOU CAN HEAR THEM PLAY ALL THE WAY. CLIFTON FINE ARTS.
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 - 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 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 on South Shore Road by Cat Mountiain trailhead. Always: 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. Perhaps 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. Tent on a hillside.
HAREWOOD – CLFD Mother Day Breakfast success! Coyote Den OPEN! Cranberry Lake History and Heritage Center OPEN first Fridays of the month 10-2pm. Clifton Community Library has ART on display from Clifton-Fine Central School - OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK! The library has announced their summer events! Don't forget about utilizing the Library Book Drop Box at Otto's Abode - it's a fantastic service brought to you by Library folk! Birch's store opens soon! Cranberry Lake Boat Club events this the summer: Fourth of July 5k, POKER PADDLE JULY 22nd!!!!!! Cranberry Lake Hub has announced LIVE MUSIC in July and is "... accepting building and grounds use requests for the summer starting now." NEW Cranberry Community Center Webcam! gotsnowcams.com - New York - paul@NorthernChateau@.com. CLFD Backwoods Craft Fair July 14 and 15! Cranberry Lake Art Show August 11th, 12th, 13th! Cranberry Lake State Campground now takes walk-in registration from now on - WHAT TOOK SO LONG? Bridgework has FINISHED over the Oswegatchie in Cranberry Lake. Vroom vroom! Five Ponds Partners kickstarted and initiated port-o-johns at some local trailheads and will do it again next year! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers voted BEST club in the STATE last year - TRAILS closed! Great job everyone! 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 in Childwold! Speaking of lakes: 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. KAPEESH?!
NEWTON FALLS - The Post Office (13666) opened March 13th, 1896 in Newton Falls. Robust Paper Mill Facebook group here: Newton Falls Paper Mill | Facebook
OUT WEST - SCOOPS in Star Lake has OPENED for the season! ADK Holy Grail Gift Shop is OPEN!!!! Legion CHICKEN BBQ June 3rd! Golf Course got a NEW lawn mower! Green Pinky Farm is GREENING-UP! SOS Crochet Club Sundays 1-4. Jeanne Lampson class May 20th at SOS! Clifton-Fine HOMETOWN HERO Banner initiative has LAUNCHED! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers voted BEST club in the STATE last year - TRAILS closed! Great job everyone! Star Lake Fire Dept! 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! Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware are OPEN! Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are OPEN! CF Golf Course, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Bank OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK - CHA CHING, Adirondack Pharmacy, Clifton-Fine Community Center OPEN! Still further west in Oswegatchie UB’s, and Adirondack Rustics are open (HOME OF THE LEGENDARY "BARGAIN HUNTER" NEWSPAPER)! Fine Fire Department! CCL Book drop has moved from the (CLOSED Coffee Fever) to the Star Lake Community Bank. AA every Friday night at SOS 7pm. Largest Adirondack solar project to date goes before APA (adirondackexplorer.org) Star Lake Ice Rink ("Town of Clifton") did NOT open this winter.... bummer! Heard some Ranger School Squirrels got to use it. CFCSD Fitness Room and OPEN GYM: 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? Five Ponds Partners got 'em out at the trail heads! Call-up the H Brothers! What else? J&L / Benson Mines History | Facebook What else? LOTS!
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 # 119 - 05/12/22 - 05/18/22 (ottosabode.org)
AND TWO YEARS AGO, HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #67 – 05/13/21 - 05/19/21 (ottosabode.org)
AND THREE YEARS AGO, HERE - Otto's Abode: WANAKENA WEEKLY #15 - 05/14/20 - 05/20/20 (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!
"Never look for birds of this year in the nest of the last." - Miguel De Cervantes (1605)