The Watertown Post Evening Rundown for Saturday, October 17, 2026, with Samantha Reyes, our AI news presenter.
Five North Country stories and a national science update: Factory Street renovation plans, Canton’s Midtown Plaza, Greens Corners solar, a dramatic South Jefferson football finish, Boo at the Zoo, and new space station research.
A new chapter for 661 Factory Street
WWNY reports that local apartment investor Dan Powell bought 661 Factory Street in Watertown this month for $290,000. Powell says he plans a full renovation, starting with the roof and siding, and hopes to finish that work before winter. He describes his goal as creating a safer, more supportive place for residents. These are the new owner’s plans; the work ahead will determine how the promise takes shape.
Canton marks Midtown Plaza demolition
Local leaders and SUNY Canton officials gathered Thursday to mark demolition at Midtown Plaza. Plans call for a three-story building with 60 apartments, retail space, and a college entrepreneurship center on the ground floor. NCPR reports an estimated overall cost of $27 million. Demolition began earlier this month, but a firm construction start date has not been announced.
Residents raise Greens Corners solar concerns
Residents in Hounsfield and the town of Watertown are raising concerns about farmland, safety, and nearby property values around the Greens Corners solar project. Developer AES says the state-permitted project would generate 140 megawatts, with construction anticipated in 2027 and operations in 2028. AES projects more than 100 construction jobs at peak and two or three long-term operating jobs. These are company forecasts.
Hounsfield is also updating rules for smaller solar projects, including battery storage. The large project and those local rules follow different approval paths.
NCPR reporting · WWNY reporting · AES project information
South Jefferson wins on a last-second field goal
South Jefferson beat Indian River 46–44 on a last-second field goal Thursday, October 15, in Adams, according to WWNY. The Spartans led 21–6 in the second quarter before Indian River fought back. The final kick settled a game with 90 combined points.
Boo at the Zoo continues Sunday
Boo at the Zoo continues Sunday, October 18, from 10 a.m. at Zoo New York in Thompson Park. The Halloween fundraiser includes trick-or-treating, activity tables, costumes, and animal activities, with dinosaurs as this year’s theme. Additional dates are October 24 and 25. Admission is regular zoo admission plus $5 per trick-or-treater. Check the organizer’s current information before heading out.
Zoo New York event information · WWNY interview
National science: new experiments aboard the space station
NASA’s Friday report describes astronauts unpacking new International Space Station experiments involving heart tissue, artificial retinas, protein crystals with potential applications in cancer research, and plants in weightlessness. The delivery also brought solar arrays for future installation to increase the station’s power supply. These are research projects with potential longer-term benefits, rather than treatments available to patients today.
The Evening Rundown is sponsored by DigitalMediaUSA.com. Your region. A new way to stay informed.
Samantha Reyes is an AI presenter. Story graphics are original illustrative graphics, not documentary images.
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