WITHINANUTSHELL - RISE AND SHINE CLIFTON FINE! First things first: THANKS TO SOS FOR ORGANIZING SHOP LOCAL SATURDAY IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY FOLKS OUT AND ABOUT! Thanks to those who are interested and able to take the time out of their days to go out of your way to support local, family-owned businesses. Or at least if you can't, or don't want to, you'll tell a friend! OR DO BOTH! Also, THANKS SANTA AND THE STAR LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT for cruising around Clifton-Fine this past Sunday paying all the little-ones a visit! Reporting LIVE from the shores of The Mighty Oswegatchie River a stone's throw from where The Oswegatchie turns into Cranberry Lake. We're both; Oswegatchie-Cranberry. We've had a decent bit of rain this past week, so the Oswegatchie is flowing pretty good up here above The Footbridge. That being said, most would agree Cranberry Lake is LOW! Extra low this year it seems. This "lowness" can be seen right here in Wanakena. The geese flew out of town just before it got down to about SEVEN degrees... will warm up again this weekend. Near 50 degrees? FRIDAY NIGHT LOOKS NICE!!!! Saturday looks clear! Rain sunday? Haven't seen much CL50 traffic the past couple of weeks. Probably because of busy Holiday stuff, mostly unfavorable weather, and the tail end of regular hunting season. A week into December and the trend continues to be up and mostly cold and mostly cloudy with some sunny and warm spots here and there. One more week of classes and Ranger School '24 first semester is a wrap. WHITE OUT WEEKEND MEETING THURSDAY DECEMBER 14TH 7PM WAPCHUCH STAR LAKE! Hungry? Don't forget.... place your order on Monday and/or Tuesday for Packbasket Adventures' Wanakena Take-Out dinners hot and ready Thursday and/or Friday nights! Perhaps stop-in at Otto's to grab some beverages, and/or other groceries while you're out picking it up. YOU'D BE DOWNRIGHT FOOLISH NOT TO! Regular Town Board Meeting Second Wednesday, December 13th @ 6:30 Star Lake. Here’s a link to the most recent town board meeting minutes HERE: Town Of Fine: Minutes: November 08, 2023: Public Hearings, Preliminary Budget Hearing & Regular Meeting [Digital Towpath]. WANAKENA NEW YEARS EVE MIDNIGHT BALL DROP!!!! 2024 WHITE OUT WEEKEND PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND FEB 16th & 17th!!!!! Come to Wanakena and experience a SUPER LOCAL Solar Eclipse TOTALITY on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2024! Today's Ice Jam Danger remains LOW (THREE years in a row without an ice jam... ever since they built that new bridge...). KIM AND TOMS LOST DOG REPORT - As of today, there are NO lost dogs in Wanakena.
DOWN AT THE ABODE - Quality service YEAR-ROUND! Get out here, stock up on groceries and stuff. OTTO'S ABODE HAS THE BEST FRESH PRODUCE AND BEER SELECTION IN SOUTHERN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY! Friday afternoon/night looks NICE!!! Clear Saturday. Rain Sunday? C'mon out! Maybe sniff around for some gifts, poke around the shop, check it out, poke around the town, yadda yadda. WANAKENA! WE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON! Croquet anyone? More than a store. ART, MUSIC, INFORMATION, HISTORY, AND MORE! Thanks to those who are interested and able to take the time out of their days to go out of your way to support local, family-owned businesses. Or at least if you can't or don't want to, hopefully you'll suggest us to a friend or something. Some upcoming events: New Years Ever Ball Drop Wanakena, NY. A month and a half later: 2024 WHITE OUT WEEKEND Feb 16th & 17th. And a month and a half after that: Totality Eclipse Event April 8th in WANAKENA.
ABODE CONTINUED - NEW in the shop: Adirondack Rail Trail OFFICIAL Maps. Also NEW BOOK about our neighbors to the south: BEAVER RIVER COUNTRY! Holiday gift shopping? Don't know what to get someone? How about an OTTO'S ABODE GIFT CERTIFICTE?!?! Fool proof! Just ask... we'll mail it to you! Just in: Jane Irvin's NEW Book! New GIFTS by LOCAL ARTISTS in the shop.... Calendars by DeKalb's Joanna Kingsley, Greeting Cards by Wanakna's own Julie Fogden and Hen Island Bags by Trout Lake's Laura Foster!!!We have in-stock the BRAND-NEW 2nd edition Cranberry Lake 50 Guidebook... CL50 maps, too. Happy to mail one to you - let us know. We ALSO have a stack of the GIANT Cranberry Lake Boat Club/Green Goat Maps available for purchase. ALWAYS ON THE SHELVES: FRESH PRODUCE! Outstanding selection. FROZEN RED BARN MEATS! Local and tasty! Bread, milk, eggs, groceries, cheese, ice cream, candy and tons more. Local maple syrup and honey! BEER CAVE with other sixty varieties of beer, seltzers, hard cider and more! BEST BREW SELECTION IN SOUTHERN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. Hot coffee and tea, too. Susan's Swickamillo Sourdough every Saturday morning and Hannah's random baked goods like scones and banana bread throughout the week. Maps galore... MAPS GALORE! Books, music, art supplies. Fishing, camping, hiking knickknacks. Gifts, goodies and more! We rent bear canisters that also double as conga drum. All sorts of ART and GLORIFIED junk on-display throughout the shop ALWAYS. Out on the porch you'll find a community message board, a Clifton Community Library DROP BOX and the legendary Wee-Kena Library. Did you see the new cushion on the porch chair!? THANKS, OZZY!!! Out across Hamele Street in ZPARK you can have a picnic and you can play CROQUET EVERY DAY if you want to! ALL YEAR LONG! Mallets-in-hand, balls-in-pockets; hittin' sticks, wicket clicks. Is it Snow Croquet Season yet? Occasional campfires and home of the Clifton-Fine Summer Music Series and OPEN AIR OPEN MIC. And don't forget: THREE YEARS of Wanakena Weekly archived on our website. Why be a square when you could be a deconstructed cube? We have a Facebook but we don't know how to use it... here's the link to our profile-----> Facebook.
ON VIEW - UP FOR ONE MORE MONTH! Early Works - Oil Paintings by Joshua Crabtree - Joshua Crabtree is a writer and painter from Canton, N.Y. Although he grew up in a military family, living primarily in the South, he developed a love of the North Country while spending every summer with his grandmother. He eventually returned to attend St. Lawrence University, married and raised two daughters in Canton where he and his wife owned a health food store for 21 years. “This series of paintings was inspired by an old trunk of photographs I've been enamored with since receiving them about a decade ago from my Great Aunt Lyda. I enjoy studying them, especially the backgrounds, for details about what life was like here over a century ago.” Also on view: CHOCK CHECK (KEYS TO THE CITY) - A COLLECTION OF DOORSTOPPERS - Yes, we finally did it. We asked if folks would loan us their doorstoppers. And WE'RE DROWNING IN THEM! Also on view: JUNK DRAWER Glorified Junk Collection and MORE!
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 – Lodge open for lodging, guiding, catering and PICK-UP DINNERS TO-GO Thursday and/or Friday nights - place your order Monday and/or Tuesday nights. (Perhaps stop-in at Otto's to grab some beverages, and/or other groceries while you're out picking it up?!?!?) Visit their website for more information: www.packbasketadventures.com
WANAKENACCOMODATIONS - "Where do people stay?" is the question. The aforementioned Packbasket Adventures Lodge in Wanakena is a great option. Also, there are all sorts of AirBnB/VRBO/ADKbyOWNER/ places - some are open year-round (Suzie's Guesthouse and Legacy Stays), most are not. Coyote Den Motel, Birch's Lakeside Campground and the Cranberry Lake State Campground are near-by options. And of course: Lots of primitive camping all around in Wilderness/Wild Forest State Parcels - all free and open to the public, first come first serve... LEAVE NO TRACE - CARRY IT IN CARRY IT OUT. Don't forget about the Town of Fine Wanakena Primitive Campground and Picnic Area on South Shore Road by Cat Mountain trailhead. Handy local winter rental compilation from Cranberry Lake Mountaineers here ----> Places to Stay (cranberrylakemountaineers.com)
RANGER SCHOOL - Class of 2024 in session! Visit their website for more information: www.esf.edu/rangerschool and their webcam here: http://173.245.150.16:8080/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=6722
WANAKENA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION – Get out here and check out that footbridge! Although the History Center is CLOSED for the cold-weather months, there are numerous informational kiosks located around town for you viewing pleasure all year long.
WANAKENA LABYRTINTH - Unwind the mind... STAY TUNED THIS WINTER FOR ICE SKATING ON THE GRASSY SPOT BELOW THE LABYRINTH!
WANAKENA CHURCH – Sunday services have concluded for the 2023 season. There is no heat in the church! Presbyterian Services held in Star Lake all winter.
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.
TOWN OF FINE WANAKENA CAMPGROUND AND PICNIC AREA - First come first serve. Please leave no trace and carry in what you carry out.
TOWN OF FINE WANAKENA PLAYGROUND - Is in good shape! Lots of Pickle Ball played there this past summer. Town of Fine Crew switched out the gravel for sand - NICE!
WANAKENA SEWER AND WATER - Are operational!
WANAKENA PUBLIC BATHROOM AND DOCK - The Bo State Park Public Restroom has been CLOSED FOR THE SEASON! REASON: FREEZIN'! See you in the spring. Note: there is an outhouse at the Town of Fine Wanakena Campground a Picnic Area on South Shore Road by the Cat Mt Trail head. AS OF 10/24/23 THE PUBLIC DOCK HAS BEEN MOVED TO ITS WINTER HIBERNATION LOCATION!
CLIFTON-FINE SUMMER SERIES - website here---> cliftonfinearts.blogspot.com
HAREWOOD – Wooden Fish Hatchery OPEN and offering 10% discount until New Years Eve! Clifton Community Library open Tuesday - Saturday. 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! Snowing yet? Cranberry Lake Mountaineers and the St Lawrence County Snowmobile Association is gearing up for another great season of snowmobiling. The Cranberry Lake Mountaineers hosted a free NYS Snowmobile Safety course at the Cranberry Lake Fire Department on Saturday, November 11, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m! A message from the CLVFD: The Cranberry Lake Fire and Rescue Department has decided not to hold the First Strike Fishing Derby in 2024. This decision did not come lightly for us. After many hours of thought and discussions, we decided that we will take 2024 off as a restructuring year. There were multiple issues with the 2023 derby. These issues have been identified and we plan on using this year to recreate our fundraiser. We hope that this will not discourage you from joining us for a great derby in 2025. In other news: Coyote Den Motel OPEN! Down in Windfall you'll find the Tooly Pond Wooden Fish Hatchery & Duck Decoy Showroom and John Dragun Neon shop OPEN for business. Birch's Lakeside has closed for the season - cheers to many more! Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub protects the historic church & grounds promote regional info and tourism/shopping Facebook stuff on Facebook. Cranberry Lake State Campground closed through May 16th, 2024. Tilly's summer 2024? Cranberry Lake Boat Club still floatin'! 2024 Cranberry Lake Art Show August 10th and 11th! Don't forget about our other nearest-by neighbors to east: Sevey's Point (Snowmobile Ride-In on Saturday the 17th) and Thirsty Moose in Childwold! 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. Blast from the past: https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2012/07/high-peaks-happy-hour-windfall-bar-and-grill-cranberry-lake.html
OUT WEST - Bingo at The Legin Friday night. WHITE OUT WEEKEND MEETING THURSDAY DECEMBER 14TH 7PM WAPCHUCH STAR LAKE! Lion's Club Community Christmas Card deadline Dec 15th and their Adopt-a-Platoon donation boxes out at local businesses. Common Thread Quilts is collections stories about the CF Hospital! Clifton-Fine Elementary Drama Club presents VELVETEEN RABIT this Friday the 8th. Oswegatchie First Baptist Church has raised that dough for the steeple repairs! Santa at The Legion Dec 17th! FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St. Huberts Church Wednesdays at 5PM! SQUARE DANCING and Country Music at The Legion Sunday, January 28th 1-5pm! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers and the St Lawrence County Snowmobile Association are gearing up for another fantastic season of snowmobiling! Foothills Redemption, Roadrunner Redemption, ADK Holy Grail Gift Shop, Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy, Community Bank, Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are OPEN! New York State's smallest hospital - Clifton-Fine Hospital - is open! CFCSD Fitness Room and OPEN GYM: OPEN to community members (paperwork required). GO EAGLES! Further west in Oswegatchie UB’s, Green Pinky Farm and Adirondack Rustics (HOME OF THE LEGENDARY "BARGAIN HUNTER" NEWSPAPER) are open! H Brothers! Alcoholics Anonymous Friday nights 7pm @SOS. Hop on shuttle #22 of the St Lawrence County Volunteer Transportation Bus if you need a lift! Fingers-crossed for the Town of Clifton Star Lake Ice Rink will have ice this winter. Newton Falls Paper Mill | Facebook Remember the orchids? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160427095101.htm?fbclid=IwAR1-f90tyHGgyl9UzUywnvPNCQIvfnC9D-1GNIodgTiUksN1UddCFYuOqXU
WHAT ELSE? - Like what you're reading? Tell a friend to tune-in as well! 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!
"Even if a farmer intends to loaf, he gets up in time to get an early start." -E.W. Howe (1911)
HAREWOOD – Wooden Fish Hatchery OPEN and offering 10% discount until New Years Eve! Clifton Community Library open Tuesday - Saturday. 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! Snowing yet? Cranberry Lake Mountaineers and the St Lawrence County Snowmobile Association is gearing up for another great season of snowmobiling. The Cranberry Lake Mountaineers hosted a free NYS Snowmobile Safety course at the Cranberry Lake Fire Department on Saturday, November 11, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m! A message from the CLVFD: The Cranberry Lake Fire and Rescue Department has decided not to hold the First Strike Fishing Derby in 2024. This decision did not come lightly for us. After many hours of thought and discussions, we decided that we will take 2024 off as a restructuring year. There were multiple issues with the 2023 derby. These issues have been identified and we plan on using this year to recreate our fundraiser. We hope that this will not discourage you from joining us for a great derby in 2025. In other news: Coyote Den Motel OPEN! Down in Windfall you'll find the Tooly Pond Wooden Fish Hatchery & Duck Decoy Showroom and John Dragun Neon shop OPEN for business. Birch's Lakeside has closed for the season - cheers to many more! Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub protects the historic church & grounds promote regional info and tourism/shopping Facebook stuff on Facebook. Cranberry Lake State Campground closed through May 16th, 2024. Tilly's summer 2024? Cranberry Lake Boat Club still floatin'! 2024 Cranberry Lake Art Show August 10th and 11th! Don't forget about our other nearest-by neighbors to east: Sevey's Point (Snowmobile Ride-In on Saturday the 17th) and Thirsty Moose in Childwold! 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. Blast from the past: https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2012/07/high-peaks-happy-hour-windfall-bar-and-grill-cranberry-lake.html
OUT WEST - Bingo at The Legin Friday night. WHITE OUT WEEKEND MEETING THURSDAY DECEMBER 14TH 7PM WAPCHUCH STAR LAKE! Lion's Club Community Christmas Card deadline Dec 15th and their Adopt-a-Platoon donation boxes out at local businesses. Common Thread Quilts is collections stories about the CF Hospital! Clifton-Fine Elementary Drama Club presents VELVETEEN RABIT this Friday the 8th. Oswegatchie First Baptist Church has raised that dough for the steeple repairs! Santa at The Legion Dec 17th! FREE COMMUNITY MEAL at St. Huberts Church Wednesdays at 5PM! SQUARE DANCING and Country Music at The Legion Sunday, January 28th 1-5pm! Cranberry Lake Mountaineers and the St Lawrence County Snowmobile Association are gearing up for another fantastic season of snowmobiling! Foothills Redemption, Roadrunner Redemption, ADK Holy Grail Gift Shop, Twin Lakes Hotel, American Legion, Todd Hardware, Adirondack Pharmacy, Community Bank, Dollar General and Circle J’s in Star Lake are OPEN! New York State's smallest hospital - Clifton-Fine Hospital - is open! CFCSD Fitness Room and OPEN GYM: OPEN to community members (paperwork required). GO EAGLES! Further west in Oswegatchie UB’s, Green Pinky Farm and Adirondack Rustics (HOME OF THE LEGENDARY "BARGAIN HUNTER" NEWSPAPER) are open! H Brothers! Alcoholics Anonymous Friday nights 7pm @SOS. Hop on shuttle #22 of the St Lawrence County Volunteer Transportation Bus if you need a lift! Fingers-crossed for the Town of Clifton Star Lake Ice Rink will have ice this winter. Newton Falls Paper Mill | Facebook Remember the orchids? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160427095101.htm?fbclid=IwAR1-f90tyHGgyl9UzUywnvPNCQIvfnC9D-1GNIodgTiUksN1UddCFYuOqXU
WHAT ELSE? - Like what you're reading? Tell a friend to tune-in as well! 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!
"Even if a farmer intends to loaf, he gets up in time to get an early start." -E.W. Howe (1911)