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🌱 Why are more Fort Drum families turning to Watertown food pantries?
Greetings Watertown! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Why are more Fort Drum families turning to Watertown food pantries?
- How low could Watertown gas prices go before the holidays?
- How will a $22M tech upgrade change care at Samaritan?
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Watertown? Post it to Watertown photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Showers of rain and snow, with a high of 39 and low of 26 degrees.
- Thursday: Cloudy and windy, temps: high: 45, low: 40.
- Friday: Cloudy, snow showers; windy, with a high of 47 and low of 13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Many military families struggle with food insecurity. Here's how some are coping (northcountrypublicradio.org) — Military families around Fort Drum and Watertown are leaning on programs like Operation Homefront and the Salvation Army as food insecurity rises, especially after a long government shutdown. Local pantries report more service members lining up for weekly fresh food and struggling to keep shelves stocked, while residents emphasize how the community is stepping up to help one another. 
2. Watertown gas prices drop three cents from last week (informnny.com) — If you’re filling up in Watertown, you’ll pay about three cents less per gallon this week, with the local average now around $3.13. AAA reports Watertown’s drop is among the steepest in New York, as gas and diesel prices continue easing statewide and nationally.
3. Rome Health, North Country hospitals awarded state grants for IT, cybersecurity work – Central New York Business Journal (cnybj.com) — Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown is getting nearly $22 million in state funding to create a unified electronic health record system, part of a broader push to modernize hospital IT and cybersecurity. The grant comes from a $300 million statewide program also supporting Rome Health and Claxton-Hepburn, aiming to improve patient data security and telehealth access.
4. 3 North Country communities get help with infrastructure projects (wwnytv.com) — State funding is sending more than $6 million in interest-free loans and grants to three North Country communities, announced from Watertown. Ogdensburg and Gouverneur will use their shares to separate stormwater from sewage and upgrade aging pipes, while Dexter in Jefferson County will build new disinfection facilities at its sewage treatment plant, improving regional water infrastructure.
5. 5 Section III teams crack top 3 in 1st boys basketball state rankings (syracuse.com) — Watertown’s boys basketball team has earned an honorable mention in the first statewide rankings of the season, reflecting a strong 4–0 start. The piece highlights how Section III programs, including Watertown and nearby Sackets Harbor, are making noise across multiple classes with several teams cracking the top three statewide.
📸 Around Watertown
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Watertown
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
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Immunization Clinic
Public Health Facility , 531 Meade St , Watertown
12:30 pm
Wednesday December 24
📣 Watertown Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Ages 12-17 Book Display Brigade
Flower Memorial Library , 229 Washington St , Watertown
4:00 pm -
All Ages & Abilities LEGO Club
Flower Memorial Library , 229 Washington St , Watertown
4:00 pm -
2025 Beekeeper Forum Lecture Series
Cornell Cooperative Extension Jefferson County , 203 N Hamilton St , Watertown
6:00 pm -
Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas – Free Movie Screening
WPBS-TV , 1056 Arsenal St , Watertown
6:30 pm -
Binghamton Black Bears at Watertown Wolves
Watertown Municipal Arena , 600 William T Field Dr , Watertown
7:30 pm -
Exceptional Dance Party
Rhonda's FooteWorks , Top of the Square , 146 Arsenal St Suite 3 , Watertown
4:30 pm
Thursday December 18
Monday December 22
Saturday December 27
Monday December 29
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Hazardous & difficult road conditions are expected for this evening's (12/15) commute in regions impacted by the lake effect snow event.
New Yorkers should allow for extra travel time & check road conditions at 511ny.org beforehand. Remember, ice & snow - take it slow! (Nextdoor )
- Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Watertown. Apply here.
- Watertown School District 14-4 posted a job opening for Full-Time Evening Custodian 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: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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