It’s here!
The 16th Annual Soapbox Derby takes place tomorrow (Sunday), August 22nd 2010 at 1:00pm.
Anyone else wonder how Nancy Donskoj does it all? Give her a hand by making any size donation. You’ll find a ‘How You Can Help’ link at the website.
CAC Holds Visioning Session
By Valeria A. Gheorghiu
This past Thursday, the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) hosted a Public Visioning Session on August 19, 2010 to plan implementation of the recently passed Climate Smart and Green Jobs Community Pledge. With public participation, the Pledge aims to reduce Kingston’s electricity use by 15% by 2015 while simultaneously developing a green economy.
Kingston’s Annual Bluestone Festival at the Maritime Museum in October
By Rebecca Martin
How many of you are familiar with the city of Kingston’s Bluestone and its history? Whether you are a novice or an expert on the subject, plan on visiting the annual Bluestone Festival on Sunday, October 3rd at the Maritime Museum in Kingston.
KingstonCitizens.org was able to have a quick sit down with organizer Ed Pell on how you can participate and what you can expect this year.
Kingston Residents: Interested in Helping to Developing Walking and Biking Trails in Ulster County?
By Liz Lipton
For residents who are interested in developing walking and biking trails in Ulster County, here is a LINK to American Trails’ Web page with 50+ articles/ research studies on the economic benefits of such trails.
This Web page includes links to studies in the following categories: “Tourism,” “Benefits,” “Business,” “Valuing Trails,” and “Studies.” Here is a sampling of the studies listed in their respective categories. Some of the studies in “Valuing Trails” and “Studies” are of particular interest to those concerned with property values.
Imagining ‘Pop-up Stores’ in Kingston
By Arthur Zaczkiewicz
There’s an interesting Q&A story in the Watershed Post about a project aimed at re-imagining empty storefronts in the town of Roxbury. Designers are beginning work on creating “fantasy” retail spaces on Main Street, which will be open to the public for a month. The article is an interview with the mastermind behind the effort, architect Andrew Williams. Read about it here.
Carnegie Library Groundbreaking for Construction TODAY
By Rebecca Martin
Today at 2:00pm (Wednesday, August 18th) there is a groundbreaking for construction at the Kingston High School campus at 403 Broadway.
Read the press release HERE and see you there.
Five Guys Named Top Burger
Fresh off the presses is Zagat’s fast food survey, which names Five Guys Burgers and Fries as its top choice in the U.S. — beating out California-based In-N-Out Burger as well as McDonald’s, Burger King and a host of other chains. After the news item here hit the wires, there was a flurry of inquisitions for where Five Guys is located. It turned into a top search on Yahoo! by Tuesday afternoon. All anyone knew about the fast food chain was that our President enjoyed the food there once. And you know what? We’ve got a Five Guys right here in Kingston, on Ulster Avenue by the mall.
Last year when it opened, I told a friend who frequents one in New York City. He says the line out the door of the joint is a block long during lunchtime. No wonder.
— Arthur Zaczkiewicz
Free Bike Tour of Community and School Gardens
Join the Kingston City Gardens Coalition on a free bike tour through historic Kingston to see community and school gardens – as well as potential sites for gardens – this Sunday, August 22 at 10 a.m. The tour starts at Forsyth Nature Center and ends down on the Rondout in time to enjoy the annual Soap Box Derby. The tour is a great way to see the gardens and learn some Kingston history while also avoiding the traffic congestion of the annual derby.
Anyone interested in joining the tour should have a bike in good working order and a helmet as well as food and water. Please meet near the entrance to the Forsyth Nature Center promptly at 10 a.m. No reservations are necessary.
The Good Stewards aka ‘Project Forsyth’
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.
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.