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June 4, 2018 - In This Issue:
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
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Dear Friends,
This week's issue includes a glimpse into another busy week in the City of Kingston.
Monday's Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade was an opportunity to honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. I appreciate the efforts of the Kingston Veterans Association for their unwavering commitment to this event, ensuring that our community always remembers the real meaning of Memorial Day.
This weekend included an exciting community project, with the painting of the crosswalks at Wall and John Streets the colors of the LGBTQ Pride and Transgender Pride flags to help celebrate Pride 2018. I want to thank the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center, Radio Kingston, and the O+ Festival for working together to facilitate such a beautiful and moving tribute.
As I look back on each of these moments (and many more), I feel very grateful to live in and serve this community. It is clear that our city is made up of passionate people who are eager to do what they can to build a strong community where everyone can thrive. Let us continue to lift each other up.
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City of Kingston Honors Fallen on Memorial Day
Thank you to the Kingston Veterans Association for coordinating a beautiful Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade last Monday. In addition, thank you to all of the community groups who participated in the parade and the community members who came out to both events.
Pictures courtesy of Kingston Happenings.
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Kingston Kayak Festival Planned for Saturday, June 9th
Interested in kayaking but never had a chance to try it? Not sure what kind of kayak you want? Already have a kayak but thinking about upgrading? This is the event for you! Kenco and Kingston Parks and Recreation have joined forces to present to you the Kingston Kayak Festival. Just a $10 donation for a full day of fun! Check out the full
Schedule of Events
for the day. Donations support the
City of Kingston Environmental Education Program.
Join Kingston's Mayor Steve Noble, or KC from Kingston Parks and Rec, on a guided kayak tour. Kayaks, paddles, PFDs will be provided. There will also be various clinics, lessons and demonstrations.
Learn more about this fun event here on Kenco's website.
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Forsyth Nature Center Birthday Party Scheduled for Friday, June 8th
Come celebrate the Forsyth Nature Center's Birthday on Friday, June 8th, 2018 from 5pm-7pm. The Friends of Forsyth Nature Center will be hosting a get together to celebrate another year at the FNC. Children will enjoy cupcakes, food for the animals and a Happy Birthday sing-a-long.
"By choosing June 8th (date of name change 2004) as our birth date, we acknowledge a facility rejuvenation now in its 16th year and made primarily possible by the FFNC. With 1937 representing the year of our "birth" we can reflect on the center's history and celebrate decades of community support." Said Mark DeDea, FNC Caretaker.
Forsyth Park, built on 18.55 acres was donated by the family of James C. Forsyth, who served as the Ulster County Judge in 1841. His daughters signed the bill suggesting the use of the park was for "quiet enjoyment and benefit of the public, male and female alike".
The Forsyth Park Zoo was founded when a bear roamed into the park in 1936. WPA built a house for the bear to keep it safe, and over the years animals slowly joined the Forsyth Nature Center. Llamas, goats, donkeys, deer, pheasants, along with many more mammals and birds were added to the center, resulting in a zoo for educational purposes.
Decades later, the Forsyth Nature Center has 24 animal exhibits and a dozen gardens that contain a variety of native flora found here in the Hudson Valley.
The Friends of Forsyth Nature Center's mission is to support the Forsyth Nature Center and to foster and inspire the exploration and conservation of the natural world in and around our urban community.
The Nature Center has been a fixture in the Kingston Community since 1936 and continues to grow and expand with help from the community. Through dedicated volunteers from the Friends of Forsyth Nature Center, a non-profit organization, and support from the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department, the Nature Center has become an educational stepping stone and a family-friendly place to explore species of all kinds.
Summer hours at the FNC have begun: Monday-Friday 7am-7pm, weekends and holidays 9am-5pm.
Check out the new website here!
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Family of Woodstock, Inc. to Host Volunteer Orientation for National Hunger Awareness Day on June 6th
Mayor Steve Noble to Issue Call to Action, Urging Community Members to Assist Local Hunger Relief Efforts
Family of Woodstock Inc., in collaboration with UlsterCorps and the Rondout Valley Growers Association, invites community members to a Volunteer Orientation to be held on Wednesday, June 6th at 3:30 pm at the Everette Hodge Community Center, located at 15-21 Franklin St.
The Volunteer Orientation is being held on National Hunger Awareness Day and will feature opening remarks and a ceremonial
proclamation from Mayor Steve Noble, and will include presentations by Family of Woodstock, Inc., Angel Food East, People's Place, FeedHV, and the Farm to Food Pantry Collaborative. Participants will learn about the many opportunities to help support and grow local initiatives to address food insecurity and improve the quality of food available to those in need in the community.
Specific volunteer opportunities to be showcased during the orientation include: helping to grow, glean and distribute fresh produce donated by local farms; preparing meals at local feeding programs; picking up donated food from local grocery stores; stocking/organizing shelves and preparing food packages at local food pantries; assisting with food drives and more. In addition, volunteers are being sought to support the preparation, cooking, delivery and serving of more than 8,000 meals to be provided to children participating in summer programs throughout Kingston. The City of Kingston will be upgrading the kitchen of the Everette Hodge Community Center to a commercial kitchen in June in order to facilitate the preparation of meals for children after school and during the summer.
For additional information, contact: Kevin Rowe, Program Manager for Volunteer Services- Hunger Relief Initiatives at Family of Woodstock, Inc. at 845-331-1110 or
[email protected]
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Kingston Ceramics Studio Celebrates
Anniversary and Expansion
The official ribbon cutting!
Fun for all ages!
Pictures courtesy of: Emily Curran
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Community Works Together to Paint the Town Proud
Picture courtesy of O+
Thank you to the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center, Radio Kingston, and O+ for joining together for this exciting community project! This was an all-volunteer effort and all materials were donated at no cost to the City. The Department of Public Works will be refreshing the white paint in the crosswalks, along with others in the area, later this week.
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Traffic Alert
Central Hudson will be working on a gas main tie in at the intersection of Albany Avenue and Wrentham St. this week. This work requires the complete road crossing of Albany Avenue, which will be accomplished in stages.
Please be aware that traffic patterns will be changed as the work progresses this week and that delays are likely. The work is anticipated to be completed on Wednesday, June 6th.
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City of Kingston to Host Public Information Meeting on Hurley Avenue Repaving and Complete Streets
Thursday, June 7th at 6:00pm at the Kingston Elks Lodge 550
A Public Information Meeting will be held at the Kingston Elks Lodge 550, located at 143 Hurley Avenue in Kingston, on Thursday, June 7th at 6:00PM to discuss the scope of work associated with the Hurley Avenue Repaving and Complete Streets Project.
The project seeks to address moderate to severe road surface defects on Hurley Avenue. A significant portion of the pavement is cracked, causing pavement to become dislodged or requiring patching. The uneven pavement has caused many potholes and raises safety concerns for drivers and bicyclists. The sidewalks, which are on a route to Edson Elementary School and Bailey Middle School, are missing ADA accessible curb ramps. The roadway also lacks bicycle facilities, even though the route is traveled frequently by bicyclists.
Planned improvements include:
- Accessible curb ramps at 16 locations;
- Installation of a bike lane;
- Safety improvements, including street access control, shoulder delineation and widening, and signage;
- Paving and striping.
The majority of the project is being funded by a federal grant made available through the Ulster County Transportation Council and will be administered by the NYS Department of Transportation. Construction is anticipated to start in May 2019.
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Kingston Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election
Tuesday, June 5th
The Kingston Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election takes place on Tuesday, June 5, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the library's Community Room.
All registered voters residing in the City of Kingston are eligible to vote on the library's 2019 budget and to elect four (4) trustees.
For information on the proposed 2019 budget, click here.
For biographies on the candidate for the Board of Trustees, click here.
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13th Annual Midtown Make a Difference Day
Join us for our 13th Annual Midtown Make a Difference Day on Saturday, June 16th, 11:00am-3:00pm, on Franklin Street!
Midtown Make a Difference Day is a free event open to all community members. The event includes food, music, children's activities, fitness workshops, and much more!
This year's event will include:
- Master of Ceremonies, Ashley Knox, Founder of Go Beyond Greatness
- Music spun all day by DJ Dre Black
- Performances by the Center for Creative Education's Energy and P.O.O.K.
- Poetry readings and other performances by youth from the Everette Hodge Community Center
- And much more!
Local not for profits and community groups are encouraged to register as exhibitors at the event and to provide information and interactive activities on a variety of topics including health, education, employment, legal, recreation and more. Exhibitor registration, which is free, is now open and can be completed at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MMADD2018. To download the registration form instead,
click here.
This free event is made possible thanks to the work of partnering agencies and volunteers, as well as community sponsors. If you are interested in volunteering or serving as a sponsor, please contact Megan Weiss-Rowe at [email protected] or at 845-334-3964.
Next Planning Meeting
Individuals interested in helping to plan this community event can attend the next event planning meeting, scheduled for
Monday, June 11th at 11:30am at the Everette Hodge Community Center (15-21 Franklin St.)
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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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