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March 8, 2019 - In This Issue:
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
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Dear Friends -
This week we announced a project I am very excited about. I have been working with Assemblyman Kevin Cahill to acquire the funding for a much-needed project in Midtown, which would correct a dangerous intersection and add some green space to a blighted eyesore. The design we proposed would include tearing down
the empty Planet Wings building and clearing the site. In the new configuration, Prince Street would meet Pine Grove Avenue at a 4-way intersection and would eliminate a confusing traffic situation. The propsed plan would also add greenery with a small park area. This project would coincide with the Broadway Streetscape Project to improve much of the Broadway Corridor.
The Kingston and Town of Ulster Police Departments were awarded a hard-earned SWAT Team Certification this week. I am proud of and impressed by these officers who went above and beyond to continue to serve and protect our community. Congratulations are in order!
We also announced the first-ever Kingston Women's Bike Festival, a free one-day event for the community on Sunday, March 31. The bilingual festival, which bookends Women's History Month, encourages and educates all women to become more comfortable biking.
I'm excited that Dietz will be hosting the Kingston Stockade FC again this year. Check out their 2019 schedule, you'll probably see me cheering at the home games.
We are gearing up for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Shamrock Run on Sunday. The City prepped by clearing snow for runners and spectators and hanging Irish flags down Broadway. Rain, snow, or shine - the parade will go on. I will see you there!
-Steve
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Broadway & Grand Street Reconfiguration Project
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orking with Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, this week we put forth a proposal to the Common Council to purchase the property at 490 Broadway, demolish the on-site building, and create a public park in honor of the historic Post Office. This plan to realign the intersection of Broadway, Grand St., Pine Grove Ave., and Prince St. will vastly improve traffic safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
In addition to reconfiguring a difficult intersection, the project will result in the acquisition and reimagining of the site of the former Kingston Post Office.
The property most recently housed a Planet Wings, which closed in 2017.
The project will dovetail with the upcoming Broadway Streetscape Project, a major overhaul of the Broadway Corridor, which includes optimized traffic light signalization, redesigned traffic pattern, new sidewalks, protected bicycle lane, improved crosswalks and paving. By integrating these two projects, travelers will enjoy a safer, more seamless experience and will reach their destinations faster.
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Local Police Departments Earn SWAT Team Certification
I congratulate Kingston
Police Chief Egidio Tinti, Town of Ulster Police Chief Kyle Berardi, and the Town of Ulster and City of Kingston Police Departments' Emergency Services Unit for their SWAT Team certification. The two police departments worked in tandem to achieve the
Metro Special Weapons and Tactics Team award. Granted by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the SWAT Team Certification is the culmination of a nearly three-year application process.
These officers went above and beyond to receive advanced training to continue to protect and serve our community.
This joint task force is one of only seventeen teams in New York State to achieve the SWAT Certification. Certification requirements are extensive; the team must meet challenging standards regarding operations, training, staffing, physical fitness, equipment, and much more. The mandatory initial training is a 160-hour Basic SWAT Course, followed by additional specialty training including deployment procedures, tactical planning, operations and debriefing, among other highly technical skills.
"Lt. Mike Bonse led this tremendous effort. He, Sgt. Andrew Zell, and their team worked very hard to meet all the rigorous individual standards to qualify for this ambitious certification," said Chief of Police Egidio Tinti. "We are so proud of the team and commend these officers on their hard work and dedication to keep our community safe in the most difficult circumstances."
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Kingston
Women's Bike Festival
T
he City of Kingston is co-sponsoring - along with some wonderful organizations-
the first-ever Kingston Women's Bike Fest on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at the Everette Hodge Community Center. The Kingston Women's Bicycle Fest is a free one-day community event organized by women and designed for women who are new to cycling or who don't identify as cyclists. Through presentations and inspiring stories, participants will develop the skills and improve confidence to become more active bike riders. As a part of Women's History Month Kingston, the festival's goal is to empower women to feel comfortable bicycling anytime, anywhere, alone and with others.
The day includes free lunch and free childcare, raffles, and Spanish and English language presentations: Introducción a la Bicicleta (presented in Spanish, English translation available), How to Buy a Bike and Keep it Rolling, Bicycling with Young Children, How to Safely Ride on City Streets and Trails, Inspiring Stories from Women Riders, How to Tour the World by Bike and more. A UCAT bus will be on hand during the festival to demonstrate how to commute by bus using bicycle racks.
Pre-registration is required.
March 31, 2019
10am to 4pm
Everette Hodge Community Center
21 Franklin Street, Kingston NY
The full line-up of Women's History Month Kingston events can be found at the Facebook page.
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Kingston Stockade 2019 Schedule
I am excited that
Dietz Stadium will soon be hosting the Kingston Stockade Football Club, whose season starts this spring. The men's semi-professional soccer club competes in the National Premier Soccer League's (NPSL) 4th division of the US soccer pyramid.
Today, the Kingston Stockade FC released their 2019 schedule.
I can't wait to cheer the team on at these home games!
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St Patrick's Day Parade and Shamrock Run
The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will kick off at 1:00pm
on this Sunday, March 10, embarking from the Kingston Plaza. The parade route will proceed
onto Clinton Avenue, then onto Albany Avenue at Academy Green. It will then make a right onto Broadway and head all the way down to the Rondout Waterfront.
The Shamrock Run begins at 12:50pm, with the runners lining up at Academy Green in Uptown, then making their way down Albany Avenue and Broadway to the finish line in the Rondout.
There will be some traffic and parking restrictions due to the festivities, so check out the
City's website before parking and traveling on Albany Avenue on Sunday.
Both the parade and the fun run will happen rain, snow or shine. I will be marching in the parade with the Common Council, and we'll be cheering on the intrepid runners. See you there!
Hanging Irish flags on Broadway in preparation for the festivities
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Kingston Happenings 
The City of Kingston often receives requests to share upcoming events happening in our community. Our partners at
KingstonHappenings.org
do an excellent job of centralizing this community information. So while our website is the best resource to gain information about City of Kingston sponsored events and important municipal information, Kingston Happenings can give you a greater preview of community events. Check them out today!
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