Welcome to another episode of Watertown365 podcast for the week of September 3rd. We bring you Watertown’s latest scoops, news & stories, with 2 business spotlights that you have to watch out for in the later part of this episode. Sit back and relax, and let’s begin with our first story. A chicken hatchery project is landing in the agribusiness park on Route in Watertown. Great news, coupon packs worth $20 are available for free for people age 60 and older, a program run by the Jefferson County Office for the Aging. Let’s find out what sections of Watertown street are closing for sewer repairs this week. Check out what transpired at The Bravo Italiano Festival last weekend after having been canceled last year due to COVID-19! At the end of the episode, we are sharing the latest updates about COVID 19 in Jefferson County. Also, let’s show some love and support to our local businesses especially during this pandemic as we give the spotlight to 2 business in Watertown this week. All that and more today for this week’s Watertown365 podcast.
Developer hopes to hear soon about chicken hatchery project in Watertown
Developer Michael E. Lundy is feeling good about his chances of landing a chicken hatchery in the agribusiness park on Route 3 in the town of Watertown.
On Tuesday, the Jefferson County Planning Board reviewed site plans for a Georgia-based poultry breeding company’s plans to build the 29,000-square-foot chicken hatchery facility in the Thousand Islands International Agriculture and Business Park, located near the BOCES complex.
The planning board had a few questions but had no significant issues with the project. That was a good sign for Mr. Lundy, he said.
The hatchery would be located behind the Cazenovia Equipment building that opened earlier this year. The county road in the park would lead to a driveway and parking on the site.
Construction would start in October and be ready for operation by next summer. The town of Watertown Planning Board is expected to consider the site plans on Sept. 7.
The hatchery would initially employ 15 workers, growing to 20 after three years.
$20 worth of farmers market coupons available for free through program
There’s help for some senior citizens looking to buy things, like fresh produce, at area farmers markets.
Coupon packs worth $20 are available for free for people age 60 and older who qualify for the program run by the Jefferson County Office for the Aging.
The coupons can be used at any local farmers market to buy things like produce.
Supply is limited to one pack per person and the office needs to distribute all of them before they expire at the end of November.
Call the office at 315-785-3191 to claim the coupons while they’re still available.
Section of Watertown street to be closed this week
A section of West Main Street will be closed for the remainder of the week as the public works department makes sewer repairs.
The City of Watertown Department of Public Works crews will be curbing and making sewer repairs in the 200 block of West Main Street between Cooper Street and Davidson and Main Avenue intersection beginning today. The section will be closed to thru traffic during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the remainder of the week.
Crews will have a detour in place as well as message boards, temporary barricades and signage throughout the project. Residents should make arrangements to park on side streets while this work is underway.
Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes on these dates. If traveling through, motorists should exercise caution when encountering work crews and work zones.
Bravo festival a party for generations
The Bravo Italiano Festival returned this weekend after having been canceled last year due to COVID-19.
Vendors, students and volunteers started packing the Watertown Municipal Arena at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Saturday morning, after the festival’s first day on Friday yielded a good turnout.
Mr. Quartulli was one of the many volunteers, many of whom are part of the Italian American Civic Association club, who really made the event happen. He prefers wine with his Italian food, but there were distilleries and breweries vending there as well, as home-cooked chefs prepared sausages, meatballs, pasta, hot peppers and cannolis.
There was even face painting and balloon art set up, with the mother-son tandem of Melina Kilpatrick and Noah Ramer. Mr. Ramer is a 23-year-old SUNY Oswego student who has been paying his way through college with his balloon animal work. He said he’s asked all the time for a bicycle, referencing a scene in the movie “Wedding Crashers.”
The 36th Bravo festival was capped off with a dance Saturday evening, with live music and dinner.
Tri-county area sees 160 new COVID cases, 32 people hospitalized
There was a dramatic one-day jump in new COVID cases Thursday. The tri-county region reported 160 new infections Thursday.
St. Lawrence County, in particular, saw a big increase. There were 113 new cases Thursday, much higher than the 42 new cases reported the day before. Hospitalizations climbed to 20.
In Jefferson County, 37 people tested positive for the virus. Five more people are hospitalized, bringing the total to 11.
Lewis County had 10 new cases. One person is in the hospital.
Business Spotlight
Perry Optical
When you feel some pain in your eyes and you can’t see clearly, then you need to pay your eye doctor a visit! Wondering where to find a quality eye care service in Jefferson County? Perry Optical team has been helping the North Country see better for more than 30 years! Perry Optical is catering to families and individuals specializing in patients with special needs and clients who may be hard to fit for glasses or contacts.
Location Perry Optical Vision Center II, 1125 Arsenal Street, Watertown NY
Contact Number 315-786-0133
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 5:00 Sat 9:00 to 12:00
Behring Jiu Jitsu
Behring Jiu Jitsu New York strives to create a friendly and safe environment, where people of all backgrounds can come together to train, to learn and to grow. They attract students who are humble and kind and who show respect for the class, the art and for each other. Bullies and show-offs soon find Behring Jiu Jitsu is not for them. This is because Behring Jiu Jitsu prefers to maintain an atmosphere rather than an egosphere. Behring Jiu Jitsu is more than just teammates and training partners, they are family on and off the mat. Come see what Jiu Jitsu has to offer you!
Location: 25519 NY-342 Evans Mills NY 13637
Tel. No.: 302-897-0987
Hours: N/A
Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode. Don’t forget to visit our website, https://watertown365.com/, to stay up-to-date on our local news. You can also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/watertown365 and leave us some comments! Stay tuned for next week’s exciting episode! Have a great weekend and always stay safe!