Watertown

Fluoride for all? Why communities do and don't add it to their water

WRVO News — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:04:05 +0000

In the last several years, about 140 communities across the country have decided to stop added fluoride to their water supplies. In November, the village of Pulaski's water board voted to no long put fluoride in their water. Earlier this week, the Watertown City Council heard arguments that they should do the same thing. Communities like these worry the element could be harming their citizens, corroding their pipes or feel like it's just a government intrusion. This trend comes despite dentists and the Centers for Disease Control calling fluoridation of water a major public health advancement of the last century. Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen, hosts of WRVO's weekly health and wellness show "Take Care" recently spoke about this controversial issue with Dr. William Bowen, a dental health expert and professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center, who has also worked for the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC.

North Country news giant John Johnson Jr. steps down from Watertown Daily-Times

Joanna Richards — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:47:54 +0000

After a long career devoted to documenting – and shaping – North Country life, John Johnson Jr. is far from calling it quits. But he is stepping down from daily oversight at the Watertown Daily Times and its parent company, Johnson Newspapers, helping to make way for a new generation of family leadership.

Developers stress urgency in revival of Watertown Woolworth building

Joanna Richards — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:38:00 +0000

After founding his first stores elsewhere, Jefferson County’s Frank Winfield Woolworth bought the building in Watertown where he got his start in the dry goods business, intending to raze it and build one of his own stores. Woolworth died before he could see it, but his company realized his plan and the building’s a central part of the early history of the five-and-dime chain. After years of vacancy, two developers have plans to revive the landmark.

North Country Arts Council brings out kids' creativity

Joanna Richards — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:40:00 +0000

The North Country Arts Council has been a growing force for cultural activity in the Watertown area since its inception in 2009. The group aims to spotlight the work of regional artists, but it also hopes to draw more community members into arts activities too. Over the schools' winter break this year, the organization offered a day full of different art workshops for kids at its home on Public Square.

Watertown City Council tries to ban roommates – but planning officials say measure is unenforceable

Joanna Richards — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:51:00 +0000

The Watertown City Council has received a lot of pushback and even ridicule in the media recently for passing what's being referred to as a “roommate ban.” Last month, in response to a neighbor dispute, the City Council removed language from the zoning code that allowed the renting out of rooms in single-family homes. But city planning officials say the regulatory change is completely unenforceable.

Twenty-year-old starts second business with purchase of Watertown commercial building

Joanna Richards — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:10:26 +0000

Many 16-year-olds might dream about starting their own business. But it takes a special kind of teenager to turn an operation launched in his parents' basement into a six-figure profit earner in just four years. After succeeding wildly with his web development and design company, North Shore Solutions, Clarkson University junior Matthew Turcotte, now age 20, is embarking on his second venture: commercial real estate.

Watertown scares away nuisance crows

Joanna Richards — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:05:00 +0000

It's an eerie sight – every winter, around dusk each night, a flock of between 20,000 and 30,000 crows gathers in the trees around the Black River in Watertown. They can be a neat sight against the white winter landscape, but the city wants them gone. That's because they squawk and poop and generally annoy a lot of city residents. The city has hired a wildlife management company to disperse the birds.

North Country housing market tight as Fort Drum deployments smaller, shorter

Joanna Richards — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:21:24 +0000

Nearly all of Fort Drum's soldiers are at the post right now, not on deployments – and that's a first for the region since the installation's expansion in 2001. That has tightened the region's housing market, for soldiers, who have fewer choices, and for civilians, who don't receive housing assistance like soldiers do and are looking for affordable housing.

Thrifty shoppers snag fashion finds at Watertown Urban Mission benefit boutique

Joanna Richards — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:40:49 +0000

Fashionistas in the Watertown area got a treat recently: a stylish – and affordable – one-day clothing boutique at the Black River Valley Club, to benefit the Watertown Urban Mission.

Vets Peer-to-Peer Outreach Center opens in Watertown

Joanna Richards — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:07:00 +0000

A new center to help veterans through mental health problems opened Friday in Watertown. Veteran volunteers will help their peers get the services they need.

DEC says discussion about pollution on Watertown's north side to continue

Joanna Richards — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:28:00 +0000

At a packed public meeting November 7 in Watertown, state environmental and health officials began a dialogue with members of the public concerned about pollution on the city's north side, with the New York Air Brake plant at the center of concern. Now, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials talk about what they'll do with the new information from the meeting, and what might come next.

Officials to hold public meeting about Watertown Air Brake site

Joanna Richards — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:45:25 +0000

The New York Air Brake industrial site in Watertown has been the subject of resurgent concerns among residents of the city's north side neighborhood. Some have come forward about illnesses they say are linked to pollution at the site. The state departments of Health and Environmental Conservation are holding a community meeting Wednesday, November 7 in Watertown to hear those concerns.

Patty Ritchie on cost of housing state parole violators in county jails

Joanna Richards — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:12:22 +0000

Right now, county jails – and ultimately, local property taxpayers – are footing the bill for housing state parole violators while they wait for the state to pick them up. State Senator Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton) has proposed a solution to the problem.

Watertown Airport recieves federal grant for improvements

Joanna Richards — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:15:31 +0000

The Watertown International Airport has seen huge growth in the past year, with a switch from nine-seater to 44-seater planes and direct connections to Chicago. Now the airport will be able to catch up on some overdue infrastructure, with a $2 million grant from the federal government.

DEC tries to calm fears over industrial site's health effects

Joanna Richards — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:57:05 +0000

A toxic waste site in Watertown is drawing renewed attention from residents and city leaders. New York Air Brake's chemical dump on the north side of town was cleaned up in the 1990s. State environmental officials say it's been monitored since then and they're convinced it's safe for neighbors and wildlife. But people who live nearby believe they have health problems traceable to the site. And they fear it still poses a health risk.

Police, hospital say bath salts drug cases down in Watertown area

Joanna Richards — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:04:32 +0000

This summer, the synthetic drugs known as bath salts alarmed emergency responders all over upstate New York, including in Jefferson County. In Watertown, they dealt with unstable, violent users several times a day. But lawmakers and law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels have been responding with crackdowns on the drugs. Now, both police and hospital officials in Watertown say cases are down sharply.

New pavilion part of downtown Watertown's revitalization

Joanna Richards — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:08:27 +0000

The city of Watertown has built a new pavilion as part of its downtown revitalization project. It's meant to house outdoor activities, including the Saturday farmers market. The farmers market held an appreciation ceremony to thank the city on Saturday.

Erin Brockovich's firm speaks out against industrial pollution in Watertown

Joanna Richards — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:28:30 +0000

You may remember actor Julia Roberts’ portrayal of environmental activist Erin Brockovich in the 2001 movie of the same name. The real Brockovich was scheduled to visit Watertown last night. But she got sick and was unable to travel.

Instead, concerned residents who live near the toxic waste site caused by the New York Air Brake factory got to talk with Brockovich’s representative. Some believe pollution in the area has caused them health problems.

Watertown airport reaches 10,000 passenger milestone

Joanna Richards — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:23:27 +0000

Watertown International Airport swapped its 9-seater flights to Albany for 44-seater flights to Chicago back in November. So far, passengers and officials seem to agree it's been a big success.

State funding seekers get questions answered at forum in Watertown

Joanna Richards — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 03:12:57 +0000

The North Country Regional Economic Development Council is preparing for an influx of funding applications this July. Regional councils are part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's plan to distribute economic development aid throughout the state using a community-based, bottom-up approach to building New York's economy. A public forum was held by the council in Watertown last night.

Watertown welcomes new city manager

Joanna Richards — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:07:58 +0000

Watertown will welcome a new city manager on July 16. Sharon Addison is a Schenectady native who spent 27 years working for the National Security Agency before putting her name in the hat for the city manager position in Watertown.

Military training flights over Watertown, Adirondacks proposed

Joanna Richards — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:06:02 +0000

The Vermont Air National Guard is proposing to start taking training flights over the Adirondacks and Watertown with F-35 aircraft.

The big, loud planes would replace the smaller, quieter F-16s the National Guard is using now —but not until at least 2015.

The Guard has issued a draft environmental impact statement – and it has held public hearings around the area. The planes would take off and land in Burlington, Vermont. A meeting there drew more than 500 people.

Jefferson County officials oppose offshore wind in Lake Ontario

Joanna Richards — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:00:01 +0000

A group of Jefferson County legislators has for the second time in two years expressed opposition to offshore wind turbines in Lake Ontario. Almost two years ago, the New York Power Authority proposed an offshore wind turbine project, which Jefferson County rejected. Now the county may move to oppose federal overtures in that direction.

Watertown officials hopeful for redevelopment of the Woolworth building

Joanna Richards — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:01:48 +0000

Watertown officials have been excited about the possibility of a redevelopment project for the Woolworth building downtown for several years. The building was once the site of a dry goods store where F.W. Woolworth began his retail career. In 1921, after launching his five-and-dime empire, he bought the property, demolished the old building there and built the existing structure. But for years now, it's sat vacant. A new owner purchased the building several years ago and had plans to develop the site, but now city officials worry those plans may be in jeopardy. WRVO's Joanna Richards has the story.

Watertown mayoral candidates show similarities

Joanna Richards — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:25:53 +0000

The mayor's race in Watertown pits long-time incumbent Jeff Graham against a challenger with similar longevity on the City Council, Jeff Smith. Graham has said the city's doing well and he has the experience, knowledge and contacts to continue to keep Watertown on a good track. Smith says his candidacy represents new leadership and a new vision for the city. Both candidates for mayor have years of experience on City Council, and both are small business owners who say they're committed to fiscal discipline.