By Halsey Bagg

The 2023 Cranberry Lake Boat Club Poker Paddle took place last weekend. The weather prediction may have scared off some paddlers, as the number of participants was down 25 from last years 92 at 67. That would be too bad, as the day was a beautiful sunny day great for paddling on the inlet in Wanakena.

Our new card dealer, Bernie Siskavich, kept everyone entertained as he dealt everyone their poker hands. Chris Randolph had the best poker hand, a full house 10’s over 8’s. He won $100 and donated $50 back toward the Library fundraising effort. Rob Rupp came in second with another full house of 5’s over Kings. Third place winner Carl Hoffman won with a full house of 4’s over 2’s and donated his $50 winnings back to the library. This year, there were eight docks to receive poker chips. With two chips awarded to those who paddled all the way to Wanakena Rock to visit with Ed Kipp and John Englert on their pontoon boat, it was possible for paddlers to collect a total of nine chips. So, for many, their best poker hand was determined by five of the nine cards dealt.

A special mention goes out to Packbasket Adventures who prepared the food, Italian sausage with peppers and onions on a roll, potato salad, coleslaw and cookies. Water and seltzer were donated by Otto’s Abode.

The day finished with a concert by Hot Club of Saratoga sponsored by the Clifton Fine Economic Development Corporation’s – Cultural Arts Committee’s – Clifton Fine Summer Series.

Thanks go out to all the people opening up their docks to hand out chips to the paddlers and the volunteers: Mark Friden. Deb Roberts, Gail Servies, Karen Vavra and Deb Yartz at the food tent; Bernie Siskavich for dealing cards, Nolan Fedorow for his work on the planning committee and Dave Daut as Director of the Poker Paddle this year. We thank Bill Gleason for his support and the Cranberry Lake Fire Department for letting us borrow their hazard cones, tables and chairs.

Images from the 2023 Poker Paddle