There are many good works underway in the city of Kingston in the midst of some pretty tough economic times. For instance, stewards of the ‘Project Forsyth’ program are working to gain a substantial grant to update the park at Forsyth in Kingston for all of our families and visitors to enjoy. Forsyth is a premier location that hosts our city zoo (with a wide array of rescued animals ranging from bulls to peacocks), nature center, open space, tennis courts and children’s playground.
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Kingston’s Music Community Thrives
By Rebecca Martin
The musicians living in the city of Kingston is really astounding. Artists such as Tony Levin, Gail Ann Dorsey, Larry Grenadier, Peter Wetzler, Vicente Archer, Peggy Stern and many more all call Kingston home. It’s fitting that series such as the one we’re posting today are sprouting up here at home. Follow this LINK to watch their last series performance.
Ward 5 Alderwoman Jennifer Fuentes Hosts Neighborhood Celebration
Join the residents of Ward 5 as they plan a neighborhood celebration on Saturday, August 28th 2010. Click on the attached flyer for more information. If you’d like to lend a hand, contact Ward 5 Alderwoman Jennifer Fuentes at je******@*ac.com
Memorial Services for Rosemarie McGuigan
By Rebecca Martin
In the early morning hours on Monday, August 9th Kingston lost a committed city resident. What’s more, is she happens to be the mother of Diane Reeder, founder and executive director of the Queens Galley.
I loved my time in getting to know Rose and her loving partner Farmer Frank Nazarro. Together, they helped shape the garden program in the city of Kingston, delivered countless truck loads of food to all the area soup kitchens, and were always ready and willing to lend a hand to anyone in need in the community.
Services are open to all on Saturday, August 14th. A wake and Funeral for Rose will begin at 11:00am. A reception to mourn and to celebrate her life will follow at 721 Media by the rooftop garden.
Visit this LINK to view her obituary, sign the guest book and to get more information on the weekend services.
What’s Your Vision?
By Rebecca Martin
The Business Alliance of Kingston has taken the time to post the results from the visioning session at Kings Inn last month. There are pictures, explanations and more to what each group created together.
Free Mulch From the City of Kingston
Mulch and other garden augmentations are a multi-million dollar business, so I’ve often wondered with the city of Kingston’s yard waste problems why it didn’t process and sell it back to the county for profit. I suppose one day, it may decide to do so. In the meantime, get all the mulch you need….for free.
The Dept. of Public Works will be offering City residents free mulch at the transfer station on the blvd., effective immediately. It has been approx. 3 months since our brush pile was mulched and we have been turning it over, so it is now ready to be given away. We will require residents to load their own barrels, pickups etc.
We can load vehicles w/the appropriate cab covers such as small dump trucks provided that people contact the transfer station in advance.
A banner is going on the B’way overpass to notify residents of the availability.
Please advise people of this availability and suggest to them that they contact the transfer station prior to pick up, at 331-5787.
UPDATE: A Comprehensive Plan Fact Sheet and Call for Comments
By Rebecca Martin
The City of Kingston just might very well be moving in the right direction.
Below is a CP Fact Sheet that came straight from the planners office and describes what’s going in front of the Council Tuesday night. A helpful tool as you prepare to speak during the public comment session – or just to understand what the steering committee is asking the council for as you follow along.
Youth Build Helps Maintain the City of Kingston’s Foreclosed Properties
By Rebecca Martin
(excerpts taken from a letter generated by Fire Chief Rick Salzmann)
With the increasing number of foreclosures that the city of Kingston is experiencing, Building safety is receiving daily complaints regarding properties that are vacant and not being maintained. In an effort to better deal with these properties, Ward 9 Alderman Hayes Clement suggested a meeting with Bonnie Landi at YouthBuild. As a result, Youth Build will cut grass and perform basic yard work at vacant properties, where owners have ignored the notices that the Building Safety Department have sent to them.
An Opportunity For Citizens to Support A Comprehensive Plan in the City of Kingston
By Rebecca Martin
An important opportunity has come to light.
On Tuesday, August 3rd at 7:30pm the common council will vote to support (or not) a grant proposal pitched by city planning coordinator Suzanne Cahill through the Financial and Economic Development Committee. The meeting will take place at Kingston’s City Hall at 420 Broadway.
Mt. Zion African American Burial Ground in Kingston
By Rebecca Martin
For years, I have been curious about an old and seemingly abandoned graveyard at the top of a ridge between Wilbur Avenue and South Wall Street. Today, I had the chance to visit the site.
Ulster County Fair!
The Ulster County Fair kicks off next Tuesday, August 3, and runs to Sunday, August 8. There’ll be music, food vendors, and rides, of course, as well as cows, horses, poultry and other animals raised with pride from 4-Hers. For more details, check out the fair webpage here. Regarding the fair’s history, the event is in its 141 year and launched in Ellenville. Subsequent years had the fair at the Kingston Armory on Manor Avenue before movings for many years to Forsyth Park in Kingston. Read the history here.
Kingston Historian Releases New Book “Street Whys: Anecedotes and Lore of Kingston, NY”
KINGSTON STREETS MAKE HISTORY
KINGSTON – More than a half century of research by City Historian Edwin M. Ford has yielded a new book, Street Whys: Anecdotes and Lore of Kingston, N.Y. A book signing will take place on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 1- 4 p.m. at the Friends of Historic Kingston Museum.
Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Larry Coryell and Larry Grenadier In Concert To Benefit Queens Galley
Each year, Lydia DeJohnette organizes benefit concerts that feature her husband, the legendary Jack DeJohnette, in a series of concerts to raise money in support of the Queens Galley, Family of Woodstock and other local endeavors through live music. This year, the group will perform at Falcon Arts in Marlboro, NY as well as the Culinary Institute of America.
Midtown Design Charrette A Big Success
Last Friday’s design charrette that focused on the Kings Inn in Midtown was a fantastic success. Congratulations from all of us at KingstonCitizens.org.
Here is a press update from one of the coordinators of the event Patrice Courtney Strong:
“A very big thank you from the Business Alliance of Kingston for Friday’s excellent design charrette.
The TV coverage was great: HudsonValley YNN
Here are two news articles that appeared:
Middletown Times Herald Record and Kingston Daily Freeman.
Another, lengthier one will appear Thursday in the Kingston Times.
We’ll be posting photos of your drawings as soon as possible on our web site.”
Take A Survey: Parking Meters in the City of Kingston
Inspired by a post on the KingstonCitizens.org facebook page, we decided to create a survey for citizens to share their current thoughts and ideas on how to improve the city parking meter situation for residents, businesses and shoppers.
Lay it on us.