kingstonnavigator After getting rid of my car today, and getting around for the first time FULLY by the power of my bicycle, I was pleased to read this story in The New York Times about communities that are going carless as part of a smart planning process.
Check out the story here.
— Arthur Zaczkiewicz
This comes our way from the organizers of the Annual Artists’ Soap Box Derby:
The first time ever online auction to benefit the Annual Artists’ Soapbox Derby is ending live on May 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Donskoj & Company Gallery at 93 Broadway in Kingston.
Over 90 items will be auctioned by fellow gallery owner, Chris Gonyea at 7 p.m. The auction itself will become a performance piece by renowed performance artist Linda Montano. There will be musical entertainment during the preview from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food and wine donated by local restuarants and the best beer in the Hudson Valley from our hometown brewer Keegan Ales.
I was surprised to learn that Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world, although on different dates. My cynical side dismissed it as a Hallmark Card invention until I realized how important is the recognition of our mothers.
As a long-time friend once said, “We all enter this world through a portal called Mom.” Yes, we owe much to her. My own, who passed away in 2004, brought four children into this world. She did a wonderful job in raising these kids, who grew into parents, and great mothers too.
But what makes a mother so special?
Well, of course she offers unconditional love. Who else does that?
She also worries more for our well being than anyone else, right?
Mothers also tend to our needs from the moment we’re born, and will take up that task even as we grow into adults.
She also feeds us. As infants, she can feed us from her body. As adults, she loves to have us over and sitting around the table. And she feeds our emotions too, offering an endless fount of love.
So on this Mother’s Day, take a moment to reflect and recognize what she has done for you. And thank her. Call her or see her, and wish your mom well.
— Arthur Zaczkiewicz
As you may know, the Forsyth Nature Center has a generous volunteer corps called the “Friends of FNC,” which conducts fundraising and other activities at the center. It’s a great partnership between the park and the community, what I would call a “conduit of good will.”
Across town, there’s a park that was once praised for its design and vista. It was celebrated by Kingstonians nearly a century ago. It’s called Cornell Park, located on Wurts Street and it remains a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
If you live near this treasure, and would like to help restore and beautify it, perhaps we can form a “Friends of Cornell Park” group. I’d like to organize an initial meeting this summer and ask for several residents to step forward and form this group. They would work with city officials and other organizations to plan clean-up days as well as brainstorm ways to spruce up the park (planting flowers, for examples).
Interested? Send me a note: za*********@***oo.com.
— Arthur Zaczkiewicz
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County Master Gardener Program set Saturday, June 6 for its “Great Plant Swap & Sale.” The event takes place at the Pavilion near Forsyth Nature Center, which is located off of Lucas Avenue in Kingston.
Participants drop of their plants from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and pick up vouchers for the plant swap from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call 845.340.3478 for more information.
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. And when it comes to these current economic times, necessity has taken on a new meaning. The good news is that we’ve been here before, so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Or the freezer.
Yes, there’s a great story in today’s The New York Times, which explains how to use your freezer to save money, food and time. Read it here.
The City Council meets tonight and it is expected that lawmakers will approve funding from the Federal Entitlement Program for a variety of projects and initiatives as well as to several non-profits, the Daily Freeman reports today.
The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
On the agenda is funding for a main street manager, money for the Boys & Girls Club, and the Hodge Center, among other items. To see a list, read the Freeman article here.
As newspapers falter (the latest possible candidate being the Boston Globe, a victim of poor revenue and a labor contract dispute), the need for content remains strong. People want and need to be informed, which is why the KingstonCitizens.org Yahoo! discussion groups as well as this blog are so important.
Just in the past few weeks, we’ve seen how KingstonCitizens.org has gathered volunteers to work in community and school gardens, and identify and plan a meeting on quality of life issues such as motorcycle noise in the Rondout. Great stuff that builds community.
In Kingston, there are some great news sources such as the Kingston Times and the Daily Freeman as well as several radio stations and websites (and blogs) that break news. Of course there are many people who complain about Kingston’s news sources. Still, the Freeman and Times can’t be everything to everyone. And I for one, don’t want them to be. Variety of voice and perspective is important. I read them all.
I shudder to imagine a democracy without newspapers, their websites and relevent content. How would lawmakers manage and create laws without a checks and balances, and the voice and input of the people?
So, we’ve said it before and will say it again: support your local newspaper (or website or radio station). Our democracy depends on their success.
Did you know that Ship to Shore donates the refreshments at ASK’s first Saturday art openings? What a great collaboration between a non-profit and a local business. Read more about it on the ASK website, here.
Also on the ASK home page is information about the Kingston Sculpture Biennial. The them this year is “Go Green & Keep the Hudson Clean.” The exhibit, which is citywide, runs from July 4 through to October.
Kingston City Schools officials are finalizing a plan to create a “closed campus” for the high school, according to this Kingston Times article.
The idea is to create a safer environment for students and for people in the community. Of note, from a local business perspective, is to work with area vendors who currently benefit from an “open campus.”
The Kingston Times reports that “Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Robert Pritchard also raised the issue of allowing local food vendors into the school, saying that administrators were exploring ways to lessen the impact a closed campus plan would have on area eateries.”
A closed campus might also lessen the amount of trash on streets adjacent to the high school where students frequent. With a closed campus, homeowners near the school are hoping there would be less Burger King bags, empty soda bottles and other food-generated trash on their sidewalks and lawns.
This is inspirational: Wales is working to become a “zero-trash” country by 2025. Check out the website, here.
Earlier this week, I stole away some time for a hike up on the Gunks near New Paltz. The ridge was mine alone, and it was great to stretch my wintered legs and warm them up for spring (photo here is on the Beacon Hill trail).
On Tuesday, after spending time helping kids learn about the benefits of gardening and open space (thank you Kristen Wilson of the Cornell Co-operative 4-H program for the opportunity!), I made another quick hike at Onteora Lake, just outside Kingston. It was steamy hot, but wonderful.
In a statement today, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein named Beatrice Havranek, Esq. to the post of Ulster County Attorny — the first woman named to the position in the history of the county.
“Ms. Havranek is the first woman to hold the office of County Attorney in the history of Ulster County and had previously served as Deputy County Executive,” said the statement. “Ms. Havranek’s appointment follows the retirement of County Attorney, Joshua Koplovitz. Ms. Havranek’s current position will be filled by the former Probation Director, Robert Sudlow.”
To read the full statement, click here.
As you can sign from the sign in the photo here, George Washington Elementary School is holding a Community Garden Workday on May 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
It’s not suprising that the school is taking such an initiative. Under the leadership of principal Valerie Hannum, the school continues to delight and surprise.
To read more about this Kingston City school, check out its website and mission statement here, which describes how the school is incorporating a Montessori teaching approach.
— Arthur Zaczkiewicz
The Kingston Natural Foods Buying Club is now showcasing work of local artists in its store front at 33 Broadway in the Rondout. Check out the details in this story. The work is on exhibit through the beginning of June.
The buying club is also inviting local artists to submit work for an upcoming exhibit in its space. The theme of the exhibit is “Nourishment” and all work must be two dimensional and no more than 36 inches high. The exhibition will open June 6 and run through August 15. Please submit your digital images with media and size information to curator Megan Ingalls at me***@**********ls.com by May 15 or call 845-383-1150 for more information.