Citizens Submit! On Growing a Local Economy in Kingston

KingstonCitizens.org is creating a piece by compiling the ideas of Kingston citizens on what the city of Kingston could do to help improve and grow its local economy. In a paragraph, please share with us and be sure to include your name, occupation and current local endeavors/affiliation.

Send it off to me, Rebecca Martin at: info@kingstoncitizens.org

“What kind of industry or small business venture would you like to see in the city of Kingston?  What incentives could the city of Kingston offer to attract it, and what obstacles are currently in the way?”

The Costs & Savings To Upgrade City Hall’s Building Management System

Eastern Heating and Cooling who has been the “preferred” mechanical service provider to the City of Kingston notes that “Kingston City Hall at 420 Broadway is currently at point where immediate attention is needed in order to prevent further unnecessary spending, possible system failure and capture future Energy savings”. Below is their letter.

So here’s the scoop.

If the city of Kingston were to opt to upgrade our building’s management system, it would cost tax payers $105,000.00 as stated in the papers. At a 2% annual interest rate for a loan that is 10 years in length, the city would pay $11,892.84 each year for ten years until the loan was repaid.

Now let’s look at the savings.

With an upgrade, the savings is estimated to be $5,678.00 in year one. It continues to escalate each year. This actually cuts our annual loan payment in half. Below is an “annual and accumulated savings sheet” which will show the accumulated savings over the course of 20 years as being $152,569.99. I bet it would even be more than that. Keep in mind that after the first ten years, the savings are the city’s to keep.

Read through the documents and be in touch with your alderman to find out more information if you need to.

Seems like a no brainer to me. My vote is to start the bidding process.

– Rebecca Martin

Annual and Accumulated Savings with updated Heating/Cooling at City Hall

Eastern Heating and Cooling, Inc.: Upgrade to Building Management System

Eastern Heating and Cooling, Inc: Upgrade page 2

Eastern Heating and Cooling, Inc.: Upgrade, Page 3

A Baker Lives in Kingston

Several months ago, I noticed something quite wonderful had changed inside of the baked goods case at the Mother Earth Storehouse Kingston location. I found myself beelining to the back each week where I’d find things like chocolate souffle cupcakes with white chocolate mint icing or vanilla malt cupcakes with pineapple cream cheese icing and pineapple flowers. Who in the world was responsible for these irresistible and creative desserts?

Now we know. KingstonCitizens.org took some time out to get the scoop on the talented local baker Terese Fantasia. Mother of two and wife of architect Scott Dutton, Terese and family reside in the city of Kingston.

Mother Earth's baked goods case made by Terese Fantasia

Rebecca Martin: How long have you lived in the city of Kingston?

Therese Fantasia: I have lived in Kingston for ten years. Before that I was living in Hoboken and working in Manhattan.

RM: What are your earliest memories of making meals, and when did you realize that you were a baker?

TF: I remember as a child, helping my dad make pancakes for the family, standing on a chair in front of the stove. I also remember helping him roll and hang up homemade pasta to dry all over our kitchen. We would drape the hand-cut spaghetti all over the backs of chairs, and over kitchen twine that was strung like a spider web all over the place! I also remember him teaching me to make his special meatball recipe, flecked with orange zest and hidden within each meatball would be one pine nut and one raisin. Of course when I was shaping the meatballs I would always sneak in more raisins! Also, my Mom is 2nd generation Hungarian and my Dad was 2nd generation French and Italian, so in our family we (there are five siblings) were exposed to a lot of eclectic and unconventional foods. I have always had a broad palate and a great interest in food. I guess the baking came into play later on. At work and family functions I was always the one making the desserts, and I developed a very strong passion for it. When I see a recipe I like, I won’t rest until I’ve tried it. Baking is more of a science and is less forgiving than cooking, and I’m very stubborn…when I see a challenge I won’t stop unless I’ve conquered it. I’m still working at it!


RM: How did the position at Mother Earth come about? Why was it a good fit for you?

TF: I guess I was in the right place at the right time to get this dream job at Mother Earth’s! They are so accommodating; they let me make my own schedule around caring for my two young daughters. I suppose they were looking for someone who had a passion for baking, and I definitely fit that bill! I love to be creative with my baking, and they have given me full reign over my little corner of their kitchen!

RM: What are your goals for their bakery?

TF: Well, obviously Mother Earth’s Storehouse is well-known for their quality and variety of natural packaged, prepared, and bulk food items. Ideally I would love for the store to become a destination for people who enjoy the baked goods that I provide. I try to come up with new ideas and flavor combinations that will raise eyebrows as well as pleasing taste buds. I guess I’d like the Mother Earth’s bakery to become a destination itself! I know that’s a tall order, but like I said, I’m stubborn!

RM:  I recently had one of your Green Tea cupcakes and have to tell you, that it was the most unique and delicious baked good I’ve ever had. What is your process in coming up with ideas like this and what other goodies do you have up your sleeve for the Spring?

TF: Thank you! I really like the flavor of green tea, and that COLOR!!! The wheat grass sprouting out of the top was an after-thought that I really liked once it was put together. I have so many places I go to for baking ideas, but most times I’ll see something in a cookbook or on the internet, and I’ll branch off and try to come up with something unique based on a simple recipe I’ve seen. Or, I’ll become obsessed with a particular ingredient and I’ll ruminate on it until I come up with a recipe to fit that ingredient. That’s what happened with the Green Tea idea. Also, it’s not hard coming up with ideas when you have the most wholesome, organic and beautiful ingredients at your fingertips!

RM: Do you offer private catering? If so, how can someone get in contact with you?

TF: Yes, I do baking for private events. My email address is tfantasia@polkadotcakebox.com

Monthly Winter Farmer’s Market hosted by Kingston Natural Foods Buying Club

A Winter Farmer’s Market in the city of Kingston? Yes indeed.

Jennifer McKinley, founder of Kingston Natural Foods Buying Club, has started a winter Farmer’s Market at 33 Broadway in Kingston.  The ‘Winter Wednesday’s’ market will occur once a month on the following Wednesdays. Market hours are from 2:30pm – 6:30pm.

November 18th, 2009
December 16th, 2009
January 13th, 2010
Feburary 10th, 2010
March 10th, 2010

The Winter market coincides with the United Natural and Winter Sun Farms deliveries for members.

At this time, the local farm vendors present will include: Fitzgerald Farms, Four Winds Farm, Gardiner Eucalyptus, Liberty View Farms, Oliverea Schoolhouse Maple, Wild Hive Bakery, Winter Sun Farms – and more…

Find out how you can become a member of one of the top buying clubs in the nation (right here in Kingston!).  Save a bundle on natural and organic foods or learn more on Kingston’s Winter Farmers Market.  Visit the KINGSTON NATURAL FOODS BUYING CLUB website.   You can also call Jennifer McKinley at (914) 474-2676

Enjoy, and support our local farms and business.

– Rebecca Martin

Important Kingston Waterfront Advisory Committee Meeting Next Week

This just in from the office of Steve Finkle:

Waterfront Advisory Committee

&

other interested parties


Wednesday, November 18, 2009
5:00 – 6:30
Common Council Chambers, City Hall
420 Broadway, Kingston, New York

There will be a meeting to update the Waterfront Advisory Committee and all other interested parties  on the progress and projects currently planned or underway.  They include:

1. The Waterfront Promenade and Bulkhead Project.

2. The Trolley Museum and Sewer Plant Facade Projects.

3. The upcoming work with the Army Corps of Engineers

4. Kingston Point Stabilization and Dayline Dock Design.

5. Ferry Feasibility Study

6. East Strand Flooding and other Engineering issues.

7. Update on Senator Schumer’s rail refurbishment funding.


This will be an opportunity for members, residents and others to ask questions, make suggestions and get up to speed on the waterfront revitalization.

The meeting will begin at 5:00 pm and end at 6:30 pm.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please call (845) 334-3960.  We are looking forward to seeing you there- your input is important to us!


Meet The Aldermanic Candidates. All Of Them.

You can bet that those of us here at KingstonCitizens.org are especially pleased to spread the word on this event.

Organized and sponsored by Kingston’s Uptown, Midtown and Rondout Business Associations, “Meet the Aldermanic Candidates:  A Moderated Forum” will take place on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 beginning at 6:00pm. The event will be held at 721 Media Center on Broadway in Kingston, NY.

The theme for discussion that evening will be  “The City of Kingston’s Future: Growth Bound or Ghost Town” and light refreshments will even be served.

We’ve heard that all of the candidates have confirmed,  so residents citywide should make it a point to attend.

If you have any questions, contact the Business Alliance of Kingston at 845/331-2238

See you there.