Editorial illustration for the Watertown Post Daily Brief.
Canton demolition clears the way for downtown housing and business space
Demolition has begun at Canton’s long-vacant Midtown Plaza on Miner Street, moving a planned downtown redevelopment into a visible new phase. The proposed three-story project would combine 60 apartments with SUNY Canton entrepreneurship space, with an estimated overall cost of $27 million. The village, Vecino Group and the college are working together on the redevelopment, and a $2 million Restore New York award supports demolition, remediation and reconstruction. A public milestone event is planned for Thursday, October 15, at 3 p.m. at the property’s southwest corner along Miner Street. Further construction details and a schedule are still to be announced.
Joseph Ewers takes command of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division
Brig. Gen. Joseph Ewers assumed command of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum on Thursday, October 8, succeeding Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann. Naumann is moving to a Pentagon assignment after more than two years leading the division. Ewers arrives from a senior operations role with U.S. Army Europe and Africa in Germany. In outlining his approach, he emphasized sustaining the division’s existing strengths rather than undertaking a turnaround. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining Fort Drum’s relationship with surrounding North Country communities, alongside soldier readiness and unit performance. The ceremony outside division headquarters marked the formal leadership transition.
North Country Senate candidates debate affordability and data-center policy
Republican incumbent Dan Stec and Democratic challenger Melissa Seale offered different approaches to affordability during a debate in Plattsburgh for New York’s 45th Senate District. Stec favored local decision-making on proposed artificial-intelligence data centers, while Seale supported a state pause to examine effects on land, water and energy costs. Healthcare was another dividing line: Seale backed a phased move toward universal coverage, while Stec opposed the New York Health Act on cost grounds. Both raised concerns about how electric-school-bus requirements fit rural routes and winter conditions. The discussion gave voters a comparison of policies affecting a district that covers all or parts of six North Country counties.
Oswego school district sets October 27 vote on $26.5 million facilities plan
Oswego City School District residents will vote October 27 on a proposed $26.5 million capital improvement project. The financing plan combines state building aid, available funds and retiring debt, with the district projecting no additional local tax impact. Its state aid ratio is 76% for eligible project spending. Proposed work includes heating and ventilation improvements, elevator modernization, security and electrical upgrades, masonry repairs, restroom renovations and emergency-generator replacement. The high school, middle school, a middle-school storage and restroom facility, Minetto Elementary and Charles E. Riley Elementary are included. Classroom, playground and cafeteria improvements also appear in the proposal, which remains subject to voter approval.
Yankowski wins Oswego’s Salute to the Troops 150 ahead of Saturday’s finale
Alex Yankowski won his first DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 at Oswego Speedway on Friday, October 9, climbing from 17th on the starting grid. He took the lead from Mike Mahaney on lap 125 and finished ahead of Alex Payne and Matt Sheppard. The result gives Super DIRT Week a fresh winner heading into its final scheduled day. Saturday’s October 10 program lists grandstand gates opening at 11 a.m., the Great Lakes 75 at 3:15 p.m. and the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at 7 p.m. Those times are scheduled start times, with the larger 200-lap event anchoring the evening program.
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