July 15, 2022 - In this issue:
Mayor's Message
Covid Update
City of Kingston Declares Drought Alert
Be a Road Hero Traffic Campaign: Quick Poll
Ken Bryant, Jr. Memorial Basketball Court Dedication Ceremony
Boys & Girls Club Visit to City Hall
Roadwork Update for Week of July 18
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show
MAD's Celebration of the Arts Expo on 7/23
Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

I hope everyone stayed safe during the storm. As of this afternoon, most power outages in the City of Kingston have been restored.

I want to thank Central Hudson’s line and tree crews who have worked for the past 40 hours to get a majority of our City’s electricity turned back on. We've had four additional crews helping clear downed trees and debris: NYS DOT, Ulster County Public Works, NYS Parks Department, and the NYS DEC. I especially want to thank our own Public Works staff who, for the second time this year, willingly and professionally assisted residents in their time of need.

DPW will work, as they are able, to collect yard waste and brush over the next couple of weeks. Only limbs less than 10 inches in diameter will be collected. Anything larger should be broken down into smaller pieces.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to get cleaned up from this storm, and thank you to all those who helped their neighbors & friends. It's during times like this that we come together as a community, and once again, I'm proud of Kingston's resilience.

A reminder that the Children's Day Parade is still on, and kicking off at 6pm. Please come out and support our youth and enjoy this beautiful summer night!

-Steve
Covid Update
There are currently 161 active cases in Ulster County and 15 in Kingston.

Latest news:
Water Department Drought Alert Issued
The City of Kingston has declared a Drought Alert for all City of Kingston water customers. During a Drought Alert, all City of Kingston water customers are asked to voluntarily conserve water whenever possible. 
 
The Drought Alert is the first stage of the Water Department’s response plan for combating decreasing water level in the Cooper Lake reservoir. To accommodate the mandated construction work for the Cooper Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project, the level at our Cooper Lake Reservoir was lowered 10 feet below maximum capacity last July. This level must be maintained for the duration of the dam construction, which, in combination with the lack of recent rainfall and warmer weather, has caused the reservoir level to continue to drop.
 
“Please take a minute to think about how you can conserve,” said Water Department Superintendent Matthew Dysard. “Simple suggestions include taking shorter showers, running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, repairing leaky faucets and toilets, and turning off the faucet while shaving, soaping hands, and brushing teeth. While conserving is voluntary at this stage, if the reservoir continues to drop, mandatory restrictions could be imposed. To avoid that situation, please do whatever you can to conserve.” 
 
“Even with the recent storm, our water levels remain low at the reservoir. We knew this could happen during the Cooper Lake Dam project, and had prepared a Drought Emergency Plan,” said Mayor Noble. “The current Drought Alert is Phase 1 of that plan, and we are following a procedure already set into place. We ask all of our residents to be conscientious during this time and conserve as much water as possible. We appreciate your cooperation.”

For updated info, please visit the Kingston Water Department Facebook page.
'Be a Road Hero' Traffic Safety Campaign: Quick Poll
This week, each household in Kingston should have recieved our Be a Road Hero traffic safety campaign flyer in your mailbox. We hope you have seen the lawn signs around the City and have been following our social media posts.

All this information and more is available at Engage Kingston, where we also have a quick poll about a pilot safety measure in Uptown.

Pedestrian flags have been temporarily installed at the N. Front and Crown St crosswalk. By carrying the flag from one side of the crosswalk to the other, the flag is intended to help make pedestrians more visible to drivers. Is this a useful tool for safety? Should the City invest in adding more of these flags at other intersections? Take our poll!
Ken G. Bryant, Jr. Memorial Basketball Court Ribbon Cutting
Please join the Parks & Recreation Department, the Recreation Commission, and the Bryant family for a ribbon cutting ceremony dedicating the Ken G. Bryant Memorial Basketball Courts at Block Park. The event will be on Friday, July 22 at 4:00pm and is open to all.
Boys & Girls Club Visit City Hall
This week, a group from Kingson's Boys and Girls Club visited City Hall. This group of young historians got a tour of City Hall and a Q & A with Mayor Noble.

We commend these students for their interest and enthusiasm -- thanks for visiting us at City Hall!
Roadwork Update for Week of July 18
Central Hudson will continue service replacements next week on Gage St with detours and road closures. The next project area will be:

· Lucas Ave, between Washington Ave and Golf Ter
· Burhans Blvd
· Westbrook Pl
· Johnston Ave, north of Main St
· Sharon Ln, north of Main St

Central Hudson invites the public to attend an open house informational session on Monday, August 1, from 5pm to 7pm at the Forsyth Park pavilion (125 Lucas Ave).

Work for the Midtown Parking Lots Green Infrastructure project has begun at the Cornell Street lot.

The Franklin Street Complete Streets Project sidewalk construction and curbing along Franklin St between Wall St. & Oak Street is underway. Parking will be restricted for the next couple of weeks in this area, before construction moves further down the street.

Regular Roadwork Updates are posted on the City's website here. More info about paving projects can be found at https://kingston-ny.gov/paving.
Cornell parking lot construction work
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show
Mayor Noble hosts a weekly radio show on Tuesdays at 5:00pm which airs live on Radio Kingston and the City of Kingston Facebook page.
 
This week, Mayor Noble spoke with City of Kingston Environmental Education & Sustainability Coordinator Julie Noble about Kingston's Community Preservation Plan. Click below to hear their conversation.
MAD Celebration of the Arts Expo Next Weekend
The Kingston Midtown Arts District Arts Expo returns with a fun, family-friendly day of free hands-on art workshops and demos in an array of disciplines.

The Celebration of the Arts Expo 2022 showcases Kingston’s creative community and will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 10am to 3:00pm at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster (behind KHS at 94 Mary’s Avenue).

This year’s Expo will feature over 15 workshops, demos and community-lead art making projects. Locally-represented art forms will include community clay projects, printmaking, Mexican and Guatemalan folk arts, Chinese Brush painting, drawing, drumming, instrument making, dance and improv comedy. Other activities include a professional development workshop on telling your own artist story, a Community Mural lead by PUGG and D.R.A.W., a Media Arts Panel moderated by Stephen Blauweiss, a sound walk and a Polaroid Photo Booth with The Center for Photography.

To view the full program of activities during the 8th Annual Celebration of the Arts Expo, please visit https://madkingston.org.
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: