March 27, 2020 - In This Issue:
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:

Dear Friends,

We are keeping updated on Coronavirus and doing our best to share this information widely.  What you need to know today:
  • Today, we launched an Emergency Food Hotline:  888-316-0879 for anyone in the community to receive prepared food or grocery delivery. More below.
  • We have 13 confirmed cases in Kingston as of today, and we expect that number to grow exponentially as more tests are conducted. 
  • We cannot stress enough how important it is to follow isolation protocol. The Governor has called for NO GATHERINGS OF ANY SIZE OR FOR ANY REASON. We must all follow this advice to flatten the curve. 
  • Governor Cuomo announced today that schools will be closed state-wide until at least April 15. 
  • We know this is a difficult and stressful time for everyone. NYS introduced a COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline for mental health counseling: 844-863-9314. 
  • The Stockade FC has cancelled the 2020 season. While I will miss the soccer games immensely, but we look forward to seeing them in 2021! 
  • We are asking everyone to abide by the guidelines of staying home if you are sick, distancing yourself from others even if you are well, and washing hands and surfaces often. For the sake of yourself and your community, stay safe and take good care.
  • We would also love to hear from folks in the community who witness small (or large!) acts of kindness. Reach out to the Mayor's office: mayor@kingston-ny.gov
As always, th e County's COVID-19 phone service is available from 9:00am to 7:00pm everyday: 845-443-8888. 

-Steve
Kingston Community Food Hotline

The City of Kingston, in conjunction with many community groups and dedicated volunteers, has launched a food security hotline. Anyone in need of food within the Kingston City School District can call 888-316-0879 at any time and will be entered into a growing database to receive prepared food or grocery delivery. City staff and a host of volunteers from Rise Up Kingston and other organizations will be operating the hotline in both English and Spanish, and soon in K'iche.
 
The initiative, called the Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative, is a partnership of the community groups who sprang into action to provide meals to families as soon as the Kingston City schools were closed. The Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative began providing food to the community on March 18 and is now serving up to 1,000 prepared meals a day with thousands more meals provided through grocery deliveries.
 
Currently, home-delivered meals are being prepared by local restaurants through Ulster County's Project Resilience , with an additional 600 meals prepared for home delivery by Family of Woodstock staff at the Everette Hodge Community Center. Once a family or individual calls the hotline, local volunteer teams based at the YMCA of Kingston will begin to deliver all these meals to residents in the City of Kingston and the Kingston City School District area within a few days.
 
Through the Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative program, People's Place Pantry is distributing hundreds of bags of groceries, which equates to between 1,800-4,150 meals every day. Families or individuals requesting groceries can get deliveries up to twice a month. The People's Place Community Cafe remains open and continues to serve approximately 150 takeout meals per day.
 
This home delivery program is a volunteer and collaborative effort of the following organizations:
City of Kingston 
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County
Family of Woodstock
Hudson Valley Farm Hub
Hudson Valley Seed
Kingston City School District
Kingston Food Coop
Kingston YMCA Farm Project
People's Place
Radio Kingston
Rise Up Kingston
Salvation Army
UlsterCorps
Ulster County
Ulster County Department of Health and Mental Health
Ulster County Community Action
YMCA of Kingston and Ulster

"It has been overwhelming to see the swift action from our community in helping their neighbors in need," said Mayor Noble. "I want to thank and applaud every organization and individual who has stepped up during this time. The City is here to support these herculean efforts in any way we can."
 
In order for Family of Woodstock to focus on mental health calls and other immediate needs, food-related calls to FOW will be forwarded to the Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative hotline and processed remotely by volunteers. The City of Kingston's IT department and Rise Up Kingston staff created the hotline through a virtual call center, which distributes incoming calls to on-duty volunteers' cell phones to limit exposure amongst volunteers.
 
In addition to funding the hotline, the City of Kingston contracted services with Family of Woodstock and People's Place in the amount of $30,000 each to support their efforts in local food preparation and distribution.
 Volunteers picking up groceries at People's Place for delivery
Map of Ulser County Positive COVID-19 Cases

Starting on Monday, there will be two mobile testing stations in Ulster County - one in the Town of Ulster and a new site in Ellenville. Testing is being conducted at these sites by appointment only. You must speak with your primary care provider first to recieve a prescription or order for the COVID-19 test. At that point, you will recieve a number to call for an appointment. If you show up to one of the mobile testing sites without an appointment, you will be turned away.

As the test results come in, the Ulster County Executive's Office has created a website that will be updated with all the County's positive COVID-19 cases, broken down into each town/city. The map and many of the County's Coronavirus resources are be found at:  covid19.ulstercountyny.gov/
 
CLICK HERE to view the map in real time. 
City of Kingston Parks Remain Open - Use Safely! 

Parks and trails remain open for the public to enjoy. We encourage getting out and getting some fresh air during this time, but it's important to follow some safety precautions, even outdoors. 

The sign below is a helpful guide, and has been posted at all City of Kingston parks.

Shop Ulster Saturday - Tomorrow!

County Executive Pat Ryan and the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce  have organized Shop Ulster Saturday for this Saturday, March 28  to help support local businesses.

Locally owned small businesses are the lifeblood of our community and our economy, and it is especially important that we show them our support during the COVID-19 crisis. Even though their front doors are closed, their virtual doors are open to online shoppers.

Visit your favorite business' websites this Saturday and purchase a gift card from one of our many great local shops and restaurants. You can use that gift card later in the year or give it for a birthday, anniversary or even a holiday gift. 

The City of Kingston has created a webpage to help support local businesses during this time,  Kingston Recovers , which is being updated often, including a new FAQ for Unemployment Insurance  and other resources  posted today. 

Central Hudson Offering Flexibility

Customers who are impacted and have concerns about bill payment or other Central Hudson services are encouraged to reach out using Central Hudson's online "web chat" feature, via email through the "contact us" page on the website, or by phone at 845-452-2700. Central Hudson and other utilities in New York have temporarily suspended field collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any hardship the COVID-19 situation may have on customers.
Kingston Counts: 2020 Census

You may have recieved some U.S. Census information in your mailbox already. I urge you to take the time - while most of us are already working from home - to fill out the 2020 Census, which is more important now than ever. 

The results of this once-a-decade count determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. They are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.  Over the next decade, lawmakers will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.

The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. 

Please fill out the census online, by phone or by mail, so we can make sure Kingston Counts! 


Kingston 311
The  Kingston 311 app, website and phone  system allow residents to quickly and easily report issues and submit service requests. The Kingston 311  app, available for  Android  &  iPhones , is a fast and simple way to connect to City officials in non-emergency situations. 

This system is a valuable resource to submit service requests for streetlight replacement, roadwork, City signage, traffic calming measures and other concerns. Issues with snow removal and reporting of vehicles and sidewalks not in accordance with the Snow Emergency restrictions can also be submitted via Kingston 311.  Photos can also be attached to illustrate service orders. Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us. 
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: