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🌱 How much will Watertown’s new highway tax add to your bill?

Watertown, New York Patch AM: a 4 min read

Hi there, Watertown! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How much will Watertown’s new highway tax add to your bill?
  • Watertown’s beloved Colesante’s Tavern is back—see what’s changed inside.
  • What TSA officers just found in a Watertown carry-on bag

Also on today's calendar: Ages 18+ The Original Library Book Club and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a cap but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 62 and low of 41 degrees.
  • Sunday: A stray afternoon shower, temps: high: 68, low: 51.
  • Monday: A shower; windy, cooler, with a high of 58 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Watertown's tentative 2027 budget includes new highway tax (wwnytv.com) — Town of Watertown officials are proposing a 2027 budget that adds a new $3.65-per-$1,000 highway tax to help fund road work and snow removal while chipping away at nearly $17 million in debt. Residents can still influence the final plan, which will be revised before its November 5 deadline, including at a key meeting on October 15.
   

2. Factory Street cheers (and honks) as historic Colesante's reopens (nny360.com) — Factory Street in Watertown is buzzing again as historic Colesante’s Tavern reopens after six months of renovations under new owner Daniel Fraser. Locals are celebrating the return of this 1933 landmark, now refreshed with preserved vintage touches and new decor, and ready to welcome longtime regulars and curious first-time visitors alike.
   

3. Airport X-ray exposes dangerous weapon illegally concealed in passenger's carry-on (foxnews.com) — TSA officers at Watertown International Airport recently discovered a spent smoke grenade hidden inside an aerosol can in a passenger’s carry-on, prompting an explosives review and law-enforcement response. Officials stress that even inert or replica explosives are banned at checkpoints and urge Watertown-area travelers to carefully inspect their bags and consult TSA rules before heading to the airport.
   

4. Circle K Builds a Foodservice Frankenstein: Does More Branding Mean More Value (blogspot.com) — Circle K is planning a large multi-brand travel center in Watertown by early 2027, combining fuel, a convenience store, and several national restaurant chains under one roof. The article questions whether this co-branding strategy truly benefits customers or mainly complicates operations, offering lessons from past fast-food partnerships that struggled to deliver lasting value.
   

5. GIVE campaign awards $36 million to law enforcement agencies across New York (cnycentral.com) — Watertown’s police department is among agencies statewide sharing $36 million in GIVE anti-gun-violence funding through June 2027, supporting personnel, overtime, and equipment. State officials say GIVE communities, including Watertown, have seen significant drops in shootings and firearm deaths, as Governor Hochul continues major public safety investments across New York.
   

📸 Around Watertown

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Maurices posted a job opening for Retail Assistant Manager - Full-Time in Watertown. Apply here.
  • Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Cashier Associate - Part Time in Watertown. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Watertown here.

Ok Watertown! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What has a cap but no head?" — A bottle (Thank you Glo M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Watertown

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Watertown

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.