July 12, 2019 - In This Issue:
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:

Dear Friends,

I hope everyone had a nice Fourth of July holiday and enjoyed the City's fireworks and celebration! We are having a busy summer so far, starting with Saturday's opening reception for City Hall's new art exhibition, last night's Music in the Parks Swing Night and tonight's Children's Day Parade and fireworks. 

This week I had the opportunity to meet with Seniors around the City, and with international students from far-flung locations who are in the U.S. to learn about civic engagement. It was fun hearing questions and ideas from both groups. 

We will have more news about the next round of paving soon, but in the meantime please enjoy the photo below of Patchzilla out laying asphalt! 

-Steve
Children's Day Parade - Today! 

The Kingston Parks and Recreation Department will hold its 51st  Annual Children's Day Parade today, Friday, July 12.  The theme this year is 1969: An Exciting Time in the World of Music, Space, and Sports .
 
The parade will begin promptly at 6:00 pm, starting at Pine Grove Avenue, continuing along Broadway to Kingston Plaza, where t here will be a fireworks display following the parade. Coleman's Carnival will also be in town, so this will be a fun time  celebrating the children of our community!

Music in the Parks  

We had our first Music in the Parks event last night - Swing Night, which was moved to the Andy Murphy Center due to predicted thunderstorms. 

There are four more concerts scheduled, and we'll hope for better weather!

July 25
Forsyth Park
6:30 PM
Note: Live Well Kingston will host Community Potluck Picnics starting at 5:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring food to enjoy and share

August 8
Academy Green Park
6:30 PM

August 23
Hutton Park
6:30 PM
Note: Live Well Kingston will host Community Potluck Picnics starting at 5:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring food to enjoy and share

September 14
T.R. Gallo Park
1:00 PM 
 
More information, including performers at:  www.kingston-ny.gov/musicintheparks 

Music in the Parks: Swing Night at the Andy Murphy Center
Participatory Budgeting Meetings Start Next Week 
 

The 2019 Participatory Budgeting Project will  kick off with conversations at three public meetings. Mayor Noble introduced Participatory Budgeting in 2018 as a pilot project, wherein each of the three business districts (Uptown, Midtown and Downtown) voted on how to allocate $15,000 in funds, for a city-wide total of $45,000. In the 2019 budget, Mayor Noble set aside $20,000 for each district, for a total of $60,000.
 
The goal of the Participatory Budgeting Project is to be open for input from the public and to gather a wide range of suggestions. Projects must impact a business district and must be able to be obligated or paid for by December 31, 2019. In some cases, implementation may take place in 2020. It is possible that multiple projects could be selected in a single district if the total of those projects does not exceed $20,000.
 
Three community visioning sessions have been scheduled:
 
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
6:00pm
LGBTQ Community Center at 300 Wall St.
 
Monday, July 29, 2019
6:00pm
Hudson River Maritime Museum (50 Rondout Landing)
 
Wednesday, July 31
6:00pm
Kingston Library (55 Franklin St.)
 
 
When thinking about project ideas, please consider a few things:

a. Will the project positively impact one of the business districts?
b. Can the proposed project be paid for or obligated by 12/31/19?
c. Can the proposed project be completed for under $20,000?
d. Does the proposal conflict with any current/upcoming projects in the same area?

We hope to see you at the visioning meetings! 
Senior Week! 
 

This week, I had the pleasure of visiting seniors at Yosman Towers, Governor Clinton, and the Hudson Valley Senior Residence. It was good to hear these residents' comments and thoughts, and to have the opportunity to discuss a variety of community projects and initiatives that we've been working on this year. 
Art Exhibition at City Hall  
 

City Hall is hosting its third art exhibition of the year, En Camino: Destination Forward, photography by Mexican-American artist Alexandro "Alekz" Pacheco, which focuses on his family's journey as immigrants in the United States. 

En Camino: Destination Forward is one of three Kingston-based exhibitions launching as a part of The Spaces Between: Exploring Our Physical and Cultural Borders.  The Spaces Between is an ambitious project developed by the Arts Mid-Hudson Folk Arts Program, Latinx Project, Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History, Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center, and the City of Kingston. The three-pronged exhibit seeks to explore the social spaces of marginalized cultures in American society. The Reher Center, LGBTQ Center, and City Hall will each host one of the three exhibitions, along with a variety of events to encourage conversation around immigration, identity, and culture. 

En Camino: Destination Forward will be on display at City Hall's galley space until September 27, 2019.  
Mayor Noble and artist Alekz Pacheco 
A Visit with International Bard Students  
 

A group of international students from Bard College's  Center for Civic Engagement  Program visited City Hall, where I got to tell them all about what I love about my job and the City of Kingston. These  undergraduate   students hail from  Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey and are participating in a 35-day study tour of the United States. 

The goal of the Civic Engagement program is to provide participants with the tools and understanding they need to become engaged citizens in their own communities in their home countries. They asked smart and challenging questions!

Mayor Noble speaking with Bard students
Volunteer for a Board or Commission 
 
A great way to get involved in the community is to volunteer on a Board or Commission. The City has 25 different Boards and Commissions - from the Arts Commission to the Zoning Board of Appeals - all populated by engaged citizens who want to make a difference in their community. There are currently openings on the Complete Streets Advisory Council, the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Heritage Area Commission as well as a representative of Kingston for the Ulster County Planning Board.  Interested parties should put in an application here .
Reminder to Bring Your Own Bag 
 

On July 15, the Ulster County Bring Your Own Bag Act (BYOBag Act) will go into effect. This Act regulates the distribution of single-use plastic bags at retail stores. Most types of carry-out plastic bags will be prohibited and retailers will be required to charge a small fee for recyclable paper bags.
 
Plastic bags litter, harshly impact our environment, and have the potential to negatively affect our health. Using reusable bags is an important way to reduce plastic pollution. On the forefront of environmental leadership, the BYOBag Act is one way Ulster County is doing our part to address this serious issue. 

Don't forget to bring your own reusable bag wherever you go. When you leave home, grab your keys, your phone, and don't forget the bag! 


Patchzilla in Action
 

DPW's pothole-filling truck, Patchzilla, has been out patching holes and leveling manhole covers around town. If you see Patchzilla out in your neighborhood, tag a photo on Facebook with #PatchzillaSighting and the City of Kingston will re-post! 

If you have a pothole that you'd like DPW to fill, please call or visit the 311 app and enter the location. DPW will add it to Patchzilla's list! 

#PatchzillaSighting on Fair Street between Franklin and Henry Streets
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!
Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov

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