April 17, 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:
  • We have 110 confirmed cases in Kingston as of today, with a total of 880 cases in Ulster County and 16 deaths reported. The County now tracks recovered cases as well, which is currently 54. 
  • Governor Cuomo has mandated that anyone in public who cannot maintain a distance of 6 feet from others must wear a mask. The CDC issued guidance on homemade masks
  • The Governor also announced NY on PAUSE will be extended for 30 more days. Schools and nonessential businesses will stay closed through May 15.  
  • Hudson Valley Community Services is helping folks get signed up for SNAP benefits. Visit: www.MyBenefits.ny.gov or call (845)-579-2558.
  • The Kingston City School District has expanded times and locations for student breakfast and lunch pickup. More info here
  • Local churches will be ringing their church bells at 7:00pm to thank and support local healthcare workers. Join in by cheering, banging pots and pans, or chiming in on social media. #LetKingstonRing
  • 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. Email the Mayor's office with your story.
As always, contact th e County's COVID-19 hotline with questions: 845-443-8888. 

-Steve
Kingston Frontline Free Mental Health Resources

O+ and Samadhi have launched Kingston Frontline, which provides free, confidential mental health services for all essential workers, including healthcare, custodial, delivery, mail, transportation, farm, grocery, municipal, utility and domestic workers. It's also for community organizers and volunteers who are keeping their neighbors fed and connecting them to vital services and housing.

Essential workers calling Kingston Frontline at 1-844-4-FRNTLN (844-437-6856) will speak with a trained responder, who will connect them to appropriate resources, including licensed clinical therapists and support groups. This mental health hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mayor Noble's Daily Update

Mayor Noble is live on the City of Kingston's Facebook page and at Radio Kingston each weekday at 5:00pm. Submit your questions for the Mayor on Facebook and he will try to address all related questions and concerns. Then tune in to hear the day's news and updates. 

Click below to hear Thursday's update.

Kingston Food Emergency Collaborative

The Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative now has a website for the Emergency Food Hotline: www.kingstonemergencyfood.com
 
In order to provide meals and groceries to those in need across the Kingston City School District, the Emergency Food hotline (888-316-0879) was created to streamline the intake of requests. Since the hotline went live on March 27, volunteers have facilitated over 1,000 calls. The food requests from the hotline and fulfilled through People's Place, which is currently serving groceries to 400 families each week, and with Family of Woodstock, Everette Hodge Center staff, and many local restaurants, which together are providing well over 2,000 prepared meals to residents each day.
 
"I am awed by our community's swift response to help their neighbors in this time of need," said Mayor Noble. "I want to thank all of the organizations and community groups who jumped into action at the onset of the crisis, and to all the City staff who have been helping in myriad ways. We are proud to support this important work of feeding our community, and hope that the creation of the website will help more people understand, utilize and support these monumental efforts."
 
The Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative (KEFC) is a coalition of 15 community organizations, community members, the City of Kingston, and Ulster County's Project Resilience. The City of Kingston provides the collaborative with funding for the hotline, the website, and other site-specific needs like tents and tables, as well as City staff to support the hotline and work on-site. The City of Kingston has also contributed funding to People's Place, the YMCA, and Family of Woodstock to support this initiative.  
 
Participating organizations:
AJ Williams-Myers African Roots Center
City of Kingston
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County
Family of Woodstock
Hudson Valley Farm Hub
Hudson Valley Seed
Kingston Food Coop
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 Farm Project
YMCA of Kingston and Ulster




Scenes from the Y distribution point for the Emergency Food Hotline
Assistance with SNAP Benefits  

Bike Giveaway for Essential Workers

Specialized Bikes is offering free new bikes to essential workers who use their bikes to get to work or use them as part of their jobs in New York. First come first serve. Please share with anyone who might qualify. 

Roadwork Update

The  Broadway Streetscape Project  is under way! Construction for sidewalk removal and replacement started last week and will continue block by block, beginning  on the south side of the 600 block and working toward UPAC.  

Sidewalk Removal on Friday, April 17
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
[email protected]

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: