April 18, 2017 - In This Issue:
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
Dear Friends,

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Johann Christoph Arnold, Senior Pastor of the Bruderhof. I feel fortunate to have known Christoph. Under his leadership, the Bruderhof has shown our community incredible kindness and compassion. In the most difficult of times, they are often the first to offer a helping hand.  My thoughts are with Christoph's family and the entire Bruderhof community. 

-Steve 
Earth Fair and Expo

City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department announces 2017 Earth Fair and Expo
 
Program: Kingston Earth Fair and Expo 2017
Location: Forsyth Park (157 Lucas Ave) 
When:      April 22nd, 2017
                 10:00am-3:00pm
 
The City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department has scheduled an Earth Fair and Expo to be held on Saturday, April 22 nd from 10:00am-3:00pm at Forsyth Park and the Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston. This event, now the fourth consecutive celebration of Earth Day in Kingston, will include a staff-led green infrastructure tour of the Forsyth Nature Center, highlighting some of the Nature Center's most impressive sustainable features, such as its rain garden and solar arrays.
 
Julie Noble, Environmental Education and Sustainability Coordinator for the City noted..."The City of Kingston is a leader in sustainability for a small city in our region. The Earth Fair and Expo is an opportunity to spotlight the great work the city is doing, how government can lead by example while also inviting the community to come and learn, be inspired and take action for our earth. This type of community engagement is perfectly aligned with the goals and principles of the City's Climate Action Plan."
 
The event will feature great local businesses and organizations which will be showcasing their commitment to sustainability. Businesses and residents alike will take away great ideas and resources. Additionally, there will be music featuring local artists such as Vince Fisher, Deb Martin, Annie DiRusso and Ami Madeleine along with live demonstrations from Innate Parkour Movement and Energy Dance Company. Come sit in the Mayor's electric vehicle, learn about how to go solar, peruse used books, participate in a Yoga class or just come to be inspired.
 
The Earth Expo will also host a Repair Café where instead of throwing away those broken items the public can bring in a broken but beloved item and repairers will teach you how to repair. This year will also be the first Earth Day Exchange where attendees can swap used clothes, toys, books, or household goods. All un-swapped items will be donated to People's Place of Kingston. And there will be lots of fun for the kids, including a Children's book reading by local artist Jerrice Baptiste, an interactive reading of The Lorax, and a great family sing-along as well as tons of games and activities for children. This event is free and open to everyone. Giveaways, demonstrations, and simple solutions will be sure to make this an event not to miss.
 
This event is supported by the Friends of Forsyth Nature Center.
 
Parking is available at the Nature Center's Dietz Stadium Entrance and/or the Lucas Avenue Entrance to Forsyth Park. Additional parking is also available at Edson Elementary School.
 
For more information about this event, including exhibitor registration or volunteering, contact Kingston Parks and Recreation Department at (845)481-7339 or on www.kingston-ny.gov/earthexpo .

Earth Fair and Expo Schedule
 
10-10:30am
Family Sing Along
10:30-11am
Vince Fisher
11-11:30 am
Vince Fisher
11:30 am-12pm
Jerrice Baptise Reading "Weird, Wonderful, Water Birds"
12-12:15pm
Welcome & Tree planting
12:15-12:30pm
Innate Movement Parkour Demo
12:30-1:00pm
Ami Madeleine
1-2:00pm
DXF Demo/ Energy Dance Troop
2-2:30pm
Annie DiRusso
2:30-3 pm
Deb Martin

"Pollination"
100 Flowers and Optimistic ideas by 100 KHS Students spring-up on the lawn of City Hall

100 Kingston High School students participated in a collaborative 'Happy Spot' project with artist G. Riley Johndonnell (a.k.a. 'Uncle Riley') and P.U.G.G. (the Pop-Up Gallery Group*) in which they united to create a mobile public art installation of 100 flowers. 

The front side of the spots feature flowers using 'INT-O yellow' (International Optimism Yellow), a color with a cause. The color was created by Uncle Riley, the Pantone Color Institute and  UMEWE.org  to shine a light on Depression and help brighten neighborhoods with Optimistic art. On the back of the flowers, students have written 100 ideas for how to brighten midtown Kingston.

As a return gift to the many KHS students who shared their creativity and ideas, the mayor's office welcomed the flowers on the lawn of City Hall and to pop-up in surprise locations throughout midtown in honor Mental Health Awareness Month (May).

*The Pop-Up Gallery Group (PUGG), which has been supported by the City of Kingston's Office of Economic and Community Development, is a work-based program created with the intention of teaching gallery management to students. PUGG and advisor, Lara Giordano, collaborated with Uncle Riley on "Pollination" in efforts to expose students to the positive social art movement outside of school walls and to see what happens when community members unite to "Turn Optimism into Action"

A FEW OF THE 100 IDEAS FROM KINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

"More trees and flowers planted in midtown"
"I would love to see more artwork around Kingston"
"More hiking walking trails"
"...more community events to bring our city together"
"I think... more people should pick up garbage..."
"...I'd like more colorful public art and more events, like festivals, to bring the community together"
"Free Wi-Fi everywhere"
"Host more student events"
"I think Kingston would be better with more artwork"
"More community projects"
"More out of school education programs for real life education"
"Community building events so less people see "bad" neighborhoods instead of "different" [neighborhoods]"
"Better support of the small local stores"
"Make Kingston more colorful"
"More hang outs for teens"
"...more programs for kids and... more artwork around town"
"More community events with the purpose of...getting to know each other. Like block parties"
"More parks and gardens"
"More activities for young people"
"[We] need something similar to Central Park"
"More artwork on buildings that look plain"
"I'd like to see more trees and flowers planted"
"More community...art programs"
"I would like to see more flowers and plants around Kingston"
"A bus that goes from the high school to the library"
"Community vegetable garden"
"an area in Kingston (like what the Berlin wall has become) where artists can make something interactive"
"Saying "Oh Hey, how are you today?" Being kind can go along way. We can be the change that lets people of all ages feel welcome. Decreasing the percentage of depression and suicide ..."

Save the Date
8TH ANNUAL KINGSTON CLEAN SWEEP SATURDAY, MAY 6th
    
The Eighth Annual Kingston Clean Sweep will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 9:00 am to noon.  Volunteers will pick up litter lying along the "Kingston Corridor" from the railroad crossing on Washington Avenue through the uptown business district, down Broadway to the Rondout waterfront, as well as on some side streets.  The Kingston Clean Sweep is sponsored by the Friends of Historic Kingston with support from the City of Kingston and numerous other business, service and civic organizations, schools, churches and individual volunteers.  This year, the event coincides with the City of Kingston - "Clean up the Parks" program. 
     
Each group or individual is assigned a section of the "Sweep Corridor" and is supplied with trash bags and plastic gloves donated by local businesses.  Volunteers are asked to bring their own rakes and brooms.  Filled bags are placed on the curb and picked up by the City of Kingston Department of Public Works immediately following the event.
 
Some of the participating organizations for this year's Clean Sweep include the Friends of Historic Kingston, Junior League of Kingston, Kingston High School, Kingston Rotary, Kingston Uptown Business Association, Ulster Garden Club, Young Ulster Professionals, Rondout Rowing Club and Ward Four. 
 
Last year, approximately 250 volunteers from students to senior citizens picked up almost 4,000 pounds of trash and 11 cubic yards of pounds of litter, yard waste and metal materials. Any group or individual who wishes to volunteer can contact Friends of Historic Kingston at (845) 339-0720, or email abrett1@verizon.net. Check out the Facebook event here.
Ulster County's Office of Employment and Training Summer Youth Employment Program

Did you know that the Ulster County Office of Employment and Training coordinates a program that provides paid summer work experiences for young people ages 14-20?  The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has been in continuous operation in Ulster County for over 40 years.  It is designed to provide w ork experience, w ork readiness skills and p ositive work attitudes. 

In 2016, 141 y outh were placed in 59 work sites all over the county. Of those, 76 of the young people were from Kingston and were placed in 29 work sites around Kingston!
 

Youth Eligibility:
  • Ages 14 to 20
  • Meet income guidelines (include proof of family income with application packet)
  • Need assistance finding summer employment
Applicants will be chosen based on an interview process which will begin in May. Participants must be available for work for the full program, from June 26 - July 28.  The application deadline is 
Friday, May 12, 2017.   


Central Hudson Provides Weekly Updates
Central Hudson is now posting weekly updates for its natural gas line replacement projects. They will be posting these updates by Friday of each week at www.CentralHudson.com/gas-projects
Click on the link entitled "Weekly status update" on the right side of the screen, above the project listings. 

Upcoming Municipal Meetings

Monday, April 17th
No meetings scheduled at this time.

Tuesday, April 18th
No meetings scheduled at this time.

Wednesday, April 19th
Tree Commission
3:30pm
City Hall, Conference Room #1

Police Commission
4:00pm
Kingston Police Department

Comprehensive Plan Zoning Committee
6:00pm
City Hall, Conference Room #1

Thursday, April 20th 
Kingston Local Development Corporation
8:00am
City Hall, Mayor's Conference Room

Laws and Rules Committee
6:30pm
City Hall, Conference Room #1

Friday, April 21st
No meetings scheduled at this time


To stay up to date on all municipal meetings each month, check out our monthly calendar here.  Most meeting agendas and minutes can be found here.
  

 

Kingston Happenings
The City of Kingston often receives requests to share upcoming events happening in our community. Our partners at 
KingstonHappenings.org  do an excellent job of centralizing this community information. So while our website is the best resource to gain information about City of Kingston sponsored events and important municipal information, Kingston Happenings can give you a greater preview of community events. Check them out today!
Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov

The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit: