Saugerties to hold July 4th parade and fireworks
This year’s annual Fourth of July parade in Saugerties will return to tradition and include some 50 local organizations participating. The parade steps off on Sunday, July 4 at 1 p.m., but participants should be prepared to line up starting at noon to get positioned and ready to go. Participants are asked to enter Washington Avenue from Krout Road. Parking will be available at the Small World playground on Washington Avenue, just north of the ballfields. Only vehicles that will be part of the parade will be allowed in the area of Washington Avenue where the parade will be forming.
The parade route runs from Robert Moses Drive along Washington Avenue to Russell Street, turns right on Russell Street, then left onto Partition Street where the official viewing and judging stand is placed. A right turn on Market Street brings the procession back to Robert Moses Drive.
July 4 fireworks will begin at dusk at Cantine Field.
— David Gordon
Vaccinated Ulster resident tests positive for Delta strain of Covid-19
According to Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, the county was notified on Monday that a vaccinated Ulster County resident tested positive for the Delta strain of COVID-19, which appears to be more transmissible and likely to infect already-vaccinated individuals.
“This incident is a critical reminder that while we have made great strides in fighting this virus, we are not out of the woods yet,” said Ryan. “I ask that all residents remain vigilant and proactive to blunt any further spread of the virus. We are happy to report that the positive resident has since recovered, the fact that they were vaccinated likely spared them from the worst impacts of the variant. I encourage everyone to continue to get vaccinated and we must continue to take all precautions necessary, even if you are vaccinated, to stop any further spread of COVID-19.”
As of Monday, there are 19 active cases in Ulster County, down from a high of 2622 on January 30 of this year. Of the 18 and over population, 72.7 percent have received at least one vaccine dose, and 62.9 percent of the total Ulster population has received at least one dose.
Tickets on sale to see The Voice finalist Ian Flanigan perform at Clermont
Folk/country music artist Ian Flanigan will perform live at Clermont State Historic Site on Saturday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. Flanigan, a Saugerties native, is returning to Clermont for the first time since placing third as a contestant on season 19 of NBC’s hit reality TV show The Voice. Tickets for the general public are on sale now.
In 2019, Flanigan performed at the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1969 Woodstock concert at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts alongside Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana, John Fogerty and Arlo Guthrie. His EP Give Me Color was released on Nightcap Entertainment, a company he co-founded that provides label/content services and support to his fellow artists.
Flanigan landed a record deal with Reviver Music this year, and in May, he released a nationally acclaimed hit single with Blake Shelton titled “Grow Up.”
Flanigan is performing as a part of In the Key of C: a Concert for Clermont, a benefit to support the educational and community programs of the Friends of Clermont. General admission tickets are $15/advance and $20/door. Sponsorships begin at $250 and feature premium reserved seating. Children 12 and under are free but must be reserved. To purchase tickets, visit www.friendsofclermont.org/concertforclermont.
Clermont State Historic Site is located at 1 Clermont Avenue in Germantown, off Route 9G.
“Eye to Eye” opens July 24 at Olive Free Library
The Olive Free Library Association will present its fourth annual juried summer group exhibition, titled “Eye to Eye,” from July 24 to September 11. An opening reception and concert fundraiser will feature Soul Purpose on Saturday, July 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. The concert will take place on the Olive Free Library’s front lawn. Drinks and snacks will be provided. A $10 donation is suggested.
Soul Purpose is a “smokin’” seven-piece band known for its joyous renditions of R&B, soul and swing. Formed in New Paltz over two decades ago and recently named “Best Local Band” by the readers of Hudson Valley Magazine, the band has played at numerous venues from intimate concerts to larger festival stages and benefits. Lead singer Sara Espinosa is joined by Dr. Lori Morris, alto and tenor saxophone, percussion and background vocals; Rich De Crosta, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion and background vocals; Cue Gerhards, guitar and vocals; Francis Ralston, bass and background vocals; Jerry Teters, drums; and Dr. James Prosser, keyboards and background vocals.
The exhibition has been juried by renowned local artist Tom Sarrantonio. Featuring 58 works by 57 different local and regional artists, covering all styles and media, the exhibition is hung in the Olive Library’s Community Gallery.
The participating artists are Carol Altarescu, Joan Barker, D. Yael Bernhard, Nancy Campbell, Linda Champanier, Vicki Chesler, Diane Christi, Marie Cole, Joseph Cozad, Diane Crupain, Joe D, Maxine Davidowitz, Carol Davis, Ted Dixon, Josh Dorman, Collin Douma, Amy Fenton-Shine, Mira Fink, Stacie Flint, Tabitha Gilmore-Barnes, Irina Grinevitsky, Giorgio Handman, Barbara Hirth-Strauss, Katie Hoffstatter, Aram Jibilian, Janette Kahil, Margaret Leveson, Frank Manzo, Helene Manzo, Wilma Miller, Gloria Mirsky, Ed Mues, Linda Neaman, Kevin Noble, Sandra Nystrom, Ellie Perez, Geraldine Popko, Elaine Ralston, Tad Richards, Marilynn Rowley, Deborah Ruggerio, Dominick Santise, David Schaengold, Sandra Scheuer, Linda Schultz, Joanne Shulman, Roberta Sickler, Amy Silberkleit, Ana Silva, Janet Siskind, Jan Sosnowitz, Judie Stanger, Scott Wheelock, Betty Wilde-Biasiny, Jennifer Wulfe, Susan York and Zelda a/k/a Judith Z. Miller.
The Olive Free Library Association is located at 4033 Route 28A in West Shokan. For additional information, call (845) 657-2482 or e-mail helpdesk@olivefreelibrary.org.
DMV mobile unit returns to normal schedule
Ulster County clerk Nina Postupack has announced that the Mobile Unit of the Department of Motor Vehicles will resume service on Thursday, July 8 at the New Paltz Community Center and Friday, July 9 at the Shandaken Town Hall. On Monday, July 12, it will resume its normal schedule around Ulster County.
In an effort to be as conveniently accessible to as many Ulster County residents as possible, the DMV Mobile Unit travels to six different towns throughout Ulster County during the year. Hours each day are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary. The mobile unit travels around the county on the following schedule:
• Monday: Marlborough Highway/Water Department
• Tuesday: Saugerties Town Hall
• Wednesday: Ellenville Village Hall
• Thursday: New Paltz Community Center
• First Friday of the month: Shandaken Town Hall
• All other Fridays: Shawangunk Town Hall
“We are happy to be able to provide these essential services to our community again,” stated Postupack. “The mobile unit has become a vital part of the communities where it travels, and we are so pleased we can resume services.”
Transactions that can be processed on the mobile unit include driver’s license renewal, learner’s permit, non-driver ID, vehicle registration, registration renewal, license plate surrender, duplicate title request and change of address. Enhanced driver’s licenses, CDL permit testing and enforcement are only available at the main Motor Vehicle location at 244 Fair Street in Kingston.
For further information, call (845) 340-3040 or e-mail countyclerk@co.ulster.ny.us.
Lighthouse TV23 presents new show
Lighthouse TV23 in Saugerties will present Put Some Color in Your Life every Sunday in July at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Cable Channel 23. Travel with Graeme as he visits different artists’ studios.
Saugerties retiree “all tied up” with next adventure
Thomas Miron has worked for the Saugerties Central School District for nearly 31 years as a substitute, Physical Science and Earth Science teacher. He has also coached a variety of sports, including soccer, track and field, wrestling and gymnastics. In just a few short days, Miron will become a retiree and will become “all tied up” with his next adventure. Miron said that teaching has been a very rewarding career choice, adding that although teaching can be demanding, it also offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference in a student’s life.
Miron says that he will miss his students, but he won’t miss knotting a tie around his neck every day – even though he is a big believer in dressing the part. Ties are a mark of professionalism, he believes. Who, he wonders, would have thought that a relatively small piece of fabric could make such a big impact?
As his career comes to a close, Miron is still making an impact by selling off his neckties as a fundraiser for shelter dogs. “Rescuing one animal won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal, and maybe yours too,” he suggested. Miron, whose own two dogs were adopted from a shelter, has been selling his neckties in the teachers’ faculty room, hoping to sell all of them before the school year is out. He will then donate all the proceeds to the Town of Saugerties Animal Shelter.
Read-athon at Gardiner Library
Gardiner Library’s Summer Read-athon will be held July 5 through August 31. Participants, ages 17 years and younger, can pick up an information packet at the library or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Enjoy summer reading and find sponsors to pledge money for every book read. No donation is too small. Pledge sheets are due September 12. It’s a great project to earn community service hours while helping the library. There will be prizes for everyone participating and for Most Money Raised and Most Books Read in two age categories.
Donations to the library are tax-deductible.
The library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike in Gardiner. For more information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Kingston Annual 2021 slated for September
Hosted by Kingston Midtown Arts District (MAD) and Arts Society of Kingston (ASK), the Kingston Annual 2021, its second annual fine arts exhibition and competition, will highlight existing and emerging artists living and working in Kingston and the mid-Hudson region. The deadline for artists to submit work is July 19, and prizes will be awarded for first ($500), second ($250) and third ($150) place entries.
Omega to reopen Rhinebeck campus
After a yearlong closure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Omega Institute reopens its Rhinebeck campus on July 23 for three months of in-person workshops, conferences, retreats and professional training opportunities through October. Additionally, Omega will continue to expand its digital offering, which has grown significantly to include access to workshops and many free resources, including conversations with top teachers, a podcast, the Omega Online Community and more.
“As a nonprofit, educational institution, we have been working hard to ensure the reopening of our campus in Rhinebeck,” said Robert “Skip” Backus, chief executive officer at Omega. “People are longing to connect, to learn and recharge together in real time. We are committed to carrying forward the many lessons learned during the past year, and to be a resource for building personal and collective resilience.”
Omega has made modifications to campus operations that put health and safety first, including requiring staff, teachers, participants and visitors to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to arrival – a policy that the organization plans to adjust in the future based on pandemic conditions Learn more about new protocols and what to expect at www.eomega.org/covidsafety.
For more information, visit www.eomega.org.
Avant-Garde-Arama Lands in Woodstock July 24 & 25
Charles Dennis Productions will present Avant-Garde-Arama Lands in Woodstock, a festival of short works of dance, film, music, performance art, poetry and puppetry on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. at the Mountain View Studio, located at 20 Mountain View Avenue in Woodstock.
Avant-Garde-Arama Lands in Woodstock presents the artists in an informal cabaret setting and will be hosted by Charles Dennis. Performances will occur both inside the Mountain View Studio and on the studio’s outdoor stage. Avant-Garde-Arama Lands in Woodstock will feature Adia Tamar Whitaker and her dance film On the Matter, a reaction to the 30th anniversary of the Rodney King murder in Los Angeles; Charles Dennis and his dance duet with a stack of two-by-four lumber, 2 x 2 x 4, featuring live electric guitar music by Sal Cataldi (a/k/a Spaghetti Eastern Music); Isobel Seabrook and her dance solo Mattress Dance, a piece inspired by Larry Keigwin’s hourlong work, Mattress Suite, and the universal experience of having difficulty falling asleep. Based on the stages of the sleep cycle, the piece traces the mover’s brain activity through dance, beginning and ending with wakefulness, but never quite achieving stillness and rest in the process. Sal Cataldi will present his Spaghetti Eastern Music, which fuses krautrock and jazz-fusion-fired guitar instrumentals with intimate vocal ballads. Shayna Strype will perform an excerpt from her most recent work of eco-feminist puppetry/performance art, MINE. Also on hand will be Phillip X. Levine reading his poetry, as well as hosting a poetry raffle in which poets in attendance can pay $3 to enter to win a chance to read a poem. The winner receives a $20 admission refund. Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Family of Woodstock.
Refreshments, including beer and wine, will be available. Admission costs $20. For further information, call (917) 673-9023 or e-mail charles@charlesdennis.net.
Patio Projects at Gardiner Library
Gardiner Library Patio Projects will take place Tuesdays at 3 p.m. on July 6 and August 17. Meet on the back patio of the library for a story and a do-it-yourself project. All supplies will be available except where noted, and all ages are welcome.
July 6: Blobfish Slime; July 13: Bug Hotel (bring a metal can); July 20: Bird Feeder (bring a metal coffee can or two-liter bottle); July 27: Butterfly Ponder; August 3: Pressed Flower Book; August 10: Specimen Frame; August 17: Dog and Cat Toys.
Preregistration is necessary and limited. For more information and registration, contact Carolyn at cthorenz@rcls.org.
The library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For more information call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Retired men meet July 5
Retired Men of the New Paltz Community invite retired men everywhere to their monthly breakfast meeting on Monday, July 5 at 8 a.m., at the New Paltz Plaza Diner. Debbie Flynn, from Make-a-Wish Hudson Valley, will talk about the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
For additional information, contact Rob Greene at rasjgreene@earthlink.net or (845) 256-9003.
Woodstock artist creates one collage per day during Covid isolation
Emerge Gallery will present “Susanna Ronner: In Quietude,” an exclusive online exhibition on ARTSY.NET, running from May 15 through September 18. To view and purchase work in this exhibition, visit the Emerge Gallery page on Artsy at www.artsy.net/emerge-gallery-ny.
The virtual exhibit includes 30 smaller-sized collage works by Woodstock artist Susanna Ronner created during the Covid-19 isolation. Ronner spent two years working at the Woodstock School of Art’s printmaking studio, but was left with a void after it closed due to the pandemic. She returned to her old love of collage, which lent itself well to her home studio set up for graphic design work. “I decided that when Covid hit, I would create a collage a day for my own meditation,” she said.
Ronner began the In Quietudes series by grouping and then cutting up old monotypes and arranging the pieces. “I like the whole idea of the push and pull of shapes,” she said of the process. The artist is very inspired by the works of Ellsworth Kelly and Alexander Calder: “Kelly for the power of just a single image or two shapes that come together and the negative space and the energy of it,” she explained.
Partway through the creation of the series, she came upon a box of 30-year-old colored papers. The hues and tones were rich and allowed her to focus on the relationship between color and shape for the remainder of the series. “It was a fascinating exploration every day,” she said of the joy in exploring the connection with this saturated paper. Each collage is sized five-by-seven inches and mounted on 7.5-by-11-inch paper.
Emerge Gallery focuses on emerging artists from the Hudson Valley region and beyond by hosting monthly group art exhibitions and other events. Art from current and previous exhibitions, along with online exclusives, are available to view and purchase at www.artsy.net/emerge-gallery-ny.
Young Adult Literary Magazine Writing workshops at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library’s Young Adult Literary Magazine Writing workshops will be held July 10 and August 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. Learn how to build your own story with confidence using writing prompts, character development, story share and feedback. Enjoy guest author visits. Your creative story may be published in an upcoming addition of the library’s young adult literary magazine, Gardiner Ink.
For more information and to register, contact Carolyn at cthorenz@rcls.org.
The library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For additional information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Kingston School District/City of Kingston partner to provide meals to summer camps
Kingston mayor Steven T. Noble and superintendent of schools Dr. Paul J. Padalino have announced a joint effort between the Kingston City School District and the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department to provide free breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in summer camp programs.
Kingston Parks and Recreation’s seven-week summer camps began on Monday, June 28 and are held in Forsyth, Hasbrouck, Hutton and Loughran Parks. The Kingston City School District’s chef David Dunn will be providing breakfast and lunch, including hot meals, to a total of 200 participants.
“We are so pleased to partner with the Kingston City School District to ensure that our summer campers have meals. We thank Superintendent Padalino for supporting the students and for providing this generous service,” said Mayor Noble. “We are so grateful that, after a difficult year, the Parks and Recreation Department is able to host our summer camps and provide a fun, safe space for the children of our community. On top of the wonderful programming, these students will now be getting a variety of nutritious meals each day of camp.”
“The Kingston City School District is very excited to team up with the City of Kingston and provide hot, nutritious meals for our students, even in the summer months,” said Superintendent Padalino.
There is no signup or preregistration for food. For information on other Kingston Parks and Recreation programming, visit www.kingstonparksandrec.org.
Hudson Valley Philharmonic set to return
“It has been an unprecedented year of upheaval, loss and hopefully soon, renewal,” Chris Silva, executive director of the Bardavon, said in a press release. “The passing last year of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic’s beloved maestro Randall Craig Fleischer was a huge blow in the midst of everything else we’ve all been through. He will be impossible to replace, but with Randy’s spirit in mind, the Bardavon has put together an incredible season with no fewer than six guest conductors and over 20 soloists and contemporary composers.”
It was over 80 years ago that the Dutchess Philharmonic Community Orchestra was founded by four local amateur musicians, and 61 years ago that conductor Claude Monteux elevated the orchestra to a fully professional ensemble, renaming it the Hudson Valley Philharmonic (HVP). This season also represents the HVP’s 22nd year under Bardavon management.
The season is scheduled to begin October 2 with a performance titled Reflection with guest conductor Kyle Ritenauer. “Remembering our beloved Maestro Randy, as we look back on his legacy and a year of upheaval, loss and renewal…”
On October 30, guest conductor Tong Chen will present The Exile’s Journey, inspired by the Poughkeepsie Library’s Big Read: Thi Bui’s graphic novel The Best We Could Do. This program will feature music from Europe, Vietnam and America.
Christophe Landon: Mysteries of the Great Instruments, to benefit the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, will be held on November 7 at Revel 32 on Cannon Street in Poughkeepsie. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to experience an intimate presentation by Christophe Landon, one of the world’s leading luthiers, featuring his collection of multi-million-dollar violins, violas and cellos, with demonstrations on each by members of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic,” the press release said.
Subscriptions are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale July 13 at 11 a.m. For a complete schedule, visit www.bardavon.org. For additional information, call or visit the Bardavon box office at 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie, (845) 473-2072, or the UPAC box office at 601 Broadway in Kingston, (845) 339-6088.
Coach House Players to hold variety show in July
Coach House Players will hold their annual variety show on July 10, 11, 17 and 18, and all showtimes are at 2 p.m. The Coach House Players’ theater is located in one of Samuel Coykendall’s historic buildings at 12 Augusta Street in Kingston. The theme for this year’s show is Family and Friends: We Need Them Now More Than Ever. The two-hour show features songs such as “Oh My Papa,” “Teach Your Children,” “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Wonderful World” and many more. There will also be comedy routines.
The show is directed by Coach House member Barbara Jones and has a cast of 20. The cast and crew are fully vaccinated and will perform to a fully vaccinated audience with proof of vaccination required. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (845) 331-2476 or online at www.coachhouseplayers.org.
Ticket prices are $15 general admission and $10 for ages 18 and under. Season tickets that were purchased for the 2020 season will be honored at these performances. The next offering will be the murder mystery Night Watch, which will be presented November 12 to 14 and 19 to 21. More information can be found at www.coachhouseplayers.org.
Kingston launches Community Solar Campaign
The City of Kingston is partnering with Ulster County, Solarize Ulster and the Climate Smart Kingston Commission on a community solar campaign. Presented at the Climate Smart Kingston Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 23, the Solarize Kingston Campaign allows anyone with a utility bill to support local renewable generation of electricity and reduce their electric bills by 10 percent, with no upfront costs or monthly fees.
“Through the community solar campaign, anyone who pays an electricity bill can receive credits,” said Kingston mayor Steve Noble. “These monetary credits are generated by local solar arrays whenever the sun is shining. Credits are applied directly to the account-holder’s utility bill. There is no initial cost or monthly fee. The subscription directly supports clean, renewable energy resources and saves our residents money without having to install costly solar panels on your home or property. Often sustainability resources are not available to all, for a variety of accessibility reasons. By tapping into a larger array of solar panels, we are able to extend this opportunity to more of the community and create a much more equitable resource for renters and all those who are interested in renewable energy.”
“When you pay your electricity bill, a portion of that cost goes into the pocket of the fossil fuel industry,” said Ellie Gartenstein, City of Kingston environmental specialist. “Community solar is a way to make sure our dollars are going towards clean energy production, and not coal-burning, natural-gas-drilling and other unsustainable methods. The Community Solar programs help transform our utility grid and expand solar infrastructure all across the region. It is a simple and effective way for anyone who pays an electric bill, including renters, to participate in solar power projects.”
The amount of credits to the account-holder’s electric bill will vary from month to month. Since solar generates more electricity in the summer, more credits will be logged in the summer months. If more credits are earned than can be used in a given month, the utility will roll over credits for use in subsequent months. Costs and credits typically balance out over the course of the year.
According to Noble, Ulster County has selected three partners for participants to choose from: Solstice, CommonEnergy and PowerMarket. Each partner will donate $100 to Ulster County’s Green New Deal fund with each subscription. This fund will be used to create more Green New Deal community programs.
For additional information, visit www.kingston-ny.gov/solarizekingston.
United Methodist Church of Shady names John Capen new pastor
The United Methodist Church of Shady has announce that John Capen will be its new pastor beginning July 1.
Capen has been in pastoral ministry for 55 years, starting at the age of 29. He earned his Master of Divinity from Hartford Seminary, founded in Hartford Connecticut in 1834. He resides in Stone Ridge.
Capen says that he works hard at health and fitness. He has completed 153 marathons (26.2 miles) including the New York, Boston and Hartford marathons and does 2,000 miles per year on foot. He is hoping to continue doing 12 marathons, and at age 84 remains focused on this task.
The United Methodist Church is celebrating its 150th year and invites the community to meet Pastor John on July 4 at 11 a.m. at his first celebration at the church, located at 5 Church Road in Shady.
Summer reading at Elting
This year’s theme for summer reading at the Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz is “Tails and Tales.” The program is open to babies through children entering fifth grade in the fall and runs through Labor Day weekend.
To participate, register for the Summer Reading Club in person or on the library’s website. Then, pick up your summer reading bag with a reading log (for ages three and up) or an Early Literacy Practices checklist (for birth through two years), and a few treats to get started.
Starting on Monday, July 5, children can visit the library to show their reading logs. Each week they will earn a new prize for coming to the library at least once. There will be seven weeks of prizes in total. They will also earn raffle tickets for a chance to win an even-larger weekly prize.
Parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers may choose a mini-board book each week when they bring back a completed Early Literacy Practices checklist. They will also receive one raffle ticket for a chance to win a bigger weekly prize.
There is also a summer reading program for teens and adults. After registering, teens and adults can fill out book-review bookmarks and trade them for raffle tickets. Each ticket can be placed in one of four themed prize baskets. Drawings will be done at the end of the summer.
Ride for Mental Health
The fifth annual Ride for Mental Health took place last weekend in New Paltz. For the first time, the Ulster County Fairgrounds served as the host and start/finish area for more than 300 cyclists who came from far and near to ride routes of 25, 50 and 100 miles on both Saturday and Sunday.
Last weekend, more than 100 volunteers supported the riders and worked at rest stops along the way and provided course support for riders who needed assistance. “We had a great turnout with over 430 registered riders, including 70 virtual riders from states as far away as California and Oregon,” said Mac Dorris, CEO and founder of the event.
Since its inception in 2017, the Ride for Mental Health has raised over $750,000 for education, research and treatment of mental illness. According to Dorris, the ride has already raised roughly $160,000 this year from over 1,500 donors, with donations still coming in until July 31.
To learn more, visit www.rideformentalhealth.org.
New hours at Saugerties Library
The Saugerties Public Library is open with new hours: Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, closed.
Curbside service is still available. The doors are open, and unvaccinated patrons should protect themselves by wearing masks. Because children cannot get vaccinated a this time, masks are required in the childrens’ and teens’ rooms.
$25 million+ projects underway in Kingston Midtown corridor
Kingston mayor Steve Noble has provided an update on the various construction projects currently underway in the City of Kingston. The projects along the Broadway corridor, including the I-587 roundabout, Broadway streetscape, the emergency sewer repairs and the Broadway/Grand intersection realignment, combined make up an over $25 million investment in the center of the community. Of the four major projects, the majority of construction work will be wrapping up by the end of the summer.
The I-587 roundabout project is funded and operated by the New York State Department of Transportation and is designed to reduce delays and improve safety for all travelers. While minimizing impact to area residents and businesses, the roundabout will preserve parking capacity, enhance economic vitality, protect the historical character of the area and provide a gateway into the City of Kingston.
Construction began in 2020, and after several temporary configurations, is now in the final construction phase. Night work to pave the roundabout project area is tentatively scheduled for July 12 and 13. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of July. Landscaping and tree-planting will occur in the September planting season. The total investment is $11,890,426.
The Broadway streetscape project renovates and rejuvenates Broadway from the I-587 roundabout project to Grand Street and will include new ADA-accessible sidewalks, a dedicated bicycle lane, many amenities including new light poles, 76 healthy street trees, 22 benches, 23 trash/recycling cans, 28 bike racks and paving of the entire project area. This portion of Broadway also makes connections on the Kingston Greenline and Empire State Trail.
Construction began in 2020 with new sidewalks on the west side of Broadway and currently continues on the east side of Broadway. All sidewalk construction is expected to be completed in early August. Additional amenities will be added in August, and the project will culminate in paving. The entire project is expected to be completed by September 15. The total investment is $9,133,248.
The emergency Broadway sewer project installs new sanitary sewer pipes to replace old, failing sewer lines along Broadway from Cedar Street to James Street. Construction, which began in February 2021, required significant lane changes and no parking in the project area so that the deteriorating sewer system below Broadway could be accessed. Reconstruction of the area has begun and paving of the project area will occur in the next couple of weeks. The project is expected to be completed by July 2. The total investment is $2,800,000.
The Broadway/Grand intersection realignment project will redesign the intersection of Broadway, Grand Street, Pine Grove Avenue and Prince Street to improve traffic safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians and included the demolition of the former Planet Wings building. The intersection is currently confusing and difficult to navigate. The realignment will allow an opportunity for the community to conceptualize uses for the newly created public green space. Construction is expected to begin on July 9 and will dovetail with the Broadway streetscape work. The intersection will be configured into the new design by mid-October, and the project is expected to be completed by October 31. Due to materials shortage, light poles in the project area are expected to be installed by the end of the year. The total investment is $1,525,000.
“These projects make up the single biggest investment to infrastructure in the City of Kingston’s long history,” said Mayor Noble. “We are not only improving vital infrastructure, but we are creating an attractive and inviting gateway to our City, and providing the Midtown Business District with a beautiful thoroughfare. These projects provide a healthier, safer environment and create more equitable pathways through our City. We know the construction can be frustrating, but this is an important step in the continued revitalization of the neighborhood.”
In addition to all of the roadwork along the Broadway corridor, reconstruction of the Elmendorf Bridge is expected to begin in July and be completed this fall. The project is not expected to cause traffic delays on Broadway. The total projected cost is $1,040,000.
Also in Midtown, Ulster County is currently in construction on the Midtown Linear Park trail, which runs from Kingston Plaza to Cornell Street, adding another $2.5 million investment in the area. The Midtown Linear Park trail will be paved and will also serve as a connector on the Kingston Greenline. Part of the larger Empire State Trail, the Kingston Greenline connects on the west to the O & W Trail and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, weaves through the city featuring complete streets, improved sidewalks, bike lanes and linear parks, then connects to the Hudson River Brickyard Trail.
The City of Kingston provides weekly roadwork updates at www.kingston-ny.gov/news/?FeedID=1354.
Join the family! 
