By Kingston Land Trust, on February 3rd, 2012%
 The Old Dutch Church - Kingston, NY The Kingston Land Trust is pleased to participate and to celebrate the 89th Annual George Washington Dinner on Wednesday, February 29th 2012.
“The Celebration of Service and Community” will highlight several Not-For-Profits in Kingston who provide an important service and who have collaborated with the Old Dutch Church in recent past.
The Kingston Land Trust will provide a short presentation of their work with the Mt. Zion African-American Burial Ground Rededication. Others scheduled to participate is the O+ Festival presenting cutting edge music and the Queens Galley to cater this special event for guests. Special thanks to Elder Rob Sweeney for being as hip as he is heart.
First in War- First in Peace- First in the Hearts of his Countrymen
Please join us on
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
As we celebrate
His Excellency George Washington’s
280th Birthday
Take your place at the table for one of Kingston’s finest traditions
The 89th Annual
George Washington Dinner.
Beginning at 6:30 PM in Bethany Hall of
The Old Dutch Church, Kingston.
The program for the evening will be
A Celebration of Service and Community
______________________________________________________________
I would like to purchase_________ dinner tickets @ $30.00 each.
I would like the following name(s) to be listed in the Patrons List @5.00each:
______________________________________________________________
I regret I will not be able to attend, please accept my donation to the Old Dutch Restoration Fund in the
amount of $_____________.
______________________________________________________________
Please make checks payable to: “Old Dutch Church”
Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be held at the door.
Please send your reservations and payments before February 22nd.
Old Dutch Church, PO Box 3006, Kingston, New York 12402
“Hath not old custom made this life more sweet”
William Shakespeare
By Kingston Land Trust, on January 31st, 2012%
Public Notice of Kingston Conservation Advisory Council Meeting:
The Kingston Conservation Advisory Council will host the monthly meeting, this Thursday, February 2, 2012, 6:30-8:30pm, City Hall, Conference Room 2, 3rd floor. Attached please find February’s agenda and January’s DRAFT minutes.
For further Information, please call Julie Noble, Chair, 481-7339.
Kingston Conservation Advisory Council
Monthly Meeting, Conference Room 2
AGENDA
Date: February 2, 2012 6:30-8:30pm
Council Members
Julie Noble (Chair)
Judith Deming
Elizabeth Higgins (Secretary)
Gregg Swanzey
Casey Schwarz
Welcome Guests and Public Comment
Approval of January 2012 minutes
Old Business (6:30-7:45)
1. CAC member recruitment
2. Governmental Meeting Liaisons for 2012
3. Updates:
KingstonCAC.org
Natural Resources Inventory
Green Guide
Climate Action Planning
Conservation Development Guidelines
Non-toxic Landscape Maintenance Initiative
4. EMC Report
5. Planning Board Meeting Report
New Business (7:45)
2. Follow up from Public Safety/General Gov’t/Auditing Meeting
Council Member Concerns
Government Environmental Assessment/Inventory
Flooding, especially in Ward 1
Advising Requested
Solar Installations on City Property
Hydrofracking, specifically Kingston WWTP as Hydrofracking sludge treatment site
*Next CAC monthly meeting, March 1, 2012, City Hall, Conference Room 2, 6:30pm*
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Kingston Conservation Advisory Council
Monthly Meeting, Conference Room 2
Minutes
Date: January 5, 2012 6:30-8:30pm
Roll Call: 6:52 pm
Board Members
Julie Noble (Chair) Present
Judith Deming Absent
Elizabeth Higgins (Secretary) Present
Gregg Swanzey Present
Casey Schwarz Absent
Guests:
Emilie Hauser
Approval of November, December Minutes
Liz moved and Gregg seconded to accept both the November and December 2011 Minutes. Accepted 3-0, with no changes.
Secretary Position
Liz agreed to stay on as the Kingston CAC Secretary for 2012.
Old Business
6. CAC member recruitment, terms- There have been no applications submitted for new CAC members. Recruitment will continue, with direct contact with other civic organizations and with the new Common Council members. Julie will ask each Common Council member if they could recommend a representative from each of their wards to sit on the CAC. Wards 7, 8 and 9 currently have representation. Recruitment will also focus on tangible actions to be accomplished in 2012, to attract community members with specific interests related to the current CAC initiatives.
3. CAC Website –www.kingstoncac.org. Julie reviewed the website layout and created a revised outline to give to CIXdesigns. Website content was brainstormed; specifically the content on the “Links” page and a great discussion was had about the scope of what information and organizations to link to. Julie will set up a meeting with Adam or Micah to relay this info and to finalize the most effective and functional design for the website. Then content will be inserted.
New Business
1. Governmental Meeting Liaisons for 2012- Casey will attend the first three Planning Board meetings of the year and Julie will attend the January Public Safety Meeting, to present the Year End Report and plan for 2012.
2. CAC Year End Report 2011 Review- The draft Year End Report was reviewed and revised. This will be distributed to the mayor, Common Council, planning, and interested local community members. It will also be available on the CAC webpage on the City website.
3. Planning for 2012-
- Natural Resource Inventory: Steve and Julie Noble have started digitizing some of the data and gathering data that doesn’t exist for Kingston yet in GIS. The goal is to have all of the data layers complete by March 31st. A grant was awarded to the Kingston Parks Department through the Hudson River Estuary Program to fund a consultant to, among other things: 1) create a sewer shed map for Kingston, 2) create a Geodatabase of the existing GIS data, which will be clipped to Kingston. This work should be done by March 31st. After March 31st, then individual maps will be created and narrative with recommendations will be composed to accompany the maps. The goal of completion of the NRI for Kingston is December 31, 2012.
- Environmental Planning/Conservation Guidelines: This effort was initiated but then dropped off during 2011. A formal committee should reconvene on this.
- Green Guide: Work will continue on creating this digital and hard copy guide to environmental services and resources in Kingston. Judith Deming is spearheading this effort.
- Climate Action Planning: Climate Analyst Rich Schiafo has presented a draft of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Kingston, which the Climate Taskforce is reviewing and revising. The next meeting of the Taskforce is Tuesday, January 10. Rich’s position terminates in March, and so things are moving right along with the Climate Action Plan, with a goal of completion by then.
- Non-toxic Landscape Maintenance Initiative: The effort to minimize/eliminate the use of toxic synthetic chemicals on city owned lands was broached at the end of 2011 and this initiative will continue to build into the new year.
- Ulster County Environmental Management Council Representative: Gregg’s term as Kingston’s Representative on the UCEMC expires in May 2012, but he will be resigning effective January 2012. Liz will be recommended to the Ulster County Executive’s Office as the new Kingston Representative, to fill out Gregg’s term and then stay on as Rep. Julie will send a letter to this effect.
Motion to adjourn: Liz moved, Gregg seconded.
*Upcoming Meeting: CAC monthly meeting, February 2, City Hall, Conference Room 2, 6:30pm*
Adjournment: ___8:02____pm
Submitted by Julie Noble
By Kingston Land Trust, on March 14th, 2011%
March 14th, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Kingston Land Trust is awarded two grants totaling $17,500 from the Land Trust Alliance
(Albany, NY) – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Land Trust Alliance (the Alliance) joined members of the state Legislature and land trust representatives today to announce $1.4 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants. The grants, funded through New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), will enable local nonprofit land trusts to increase the pace, improve the quality, and ensure the permanence of voluntary conservation of private lands, resulting in significant environmental and economic benefits for communities across the state.
“The New York State Conservation Partnership Program advances Governor Cuomo’s agenda for A Cleaner, Greener New York,” said Joe Martens, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. “New York State’s financial support for the Partnership Program is critical to the important work of land trusts who, in partnership with communities across New York, provide vital protection of open space for its environmental and economic value.”
“New York State has demonstrated its support of local land trusts and their vital mission to save the places New Yorkers cherish and depend on for clean air and water, food, and recreation,” said Rand
Wentworth, President of the Land Trust Alliance. “I commend Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Martens, Senator Grisanti, Assemblyman Sweeney, and other members of the Legislature for their support of this pioneering initiative. The EPF and the Conservation Partnership Program are cost effective investments that pay dividends for public health and New York’s economy.”
The competitive state grants announced today will be matched by more than $1.82 million in private and local funding. Since the program’s inception in 2002, the Conservation Partnership Program has leveraged over $12 million in additional funding, creating employment and advancement opportunities in the conservation field and helping local communities permanently conserve approximately 15,000 acres of farmland, wildlife habitat, recreation areas, and urban open space.
Since 2002, the Conservation Partnership Program has awarded matching grants for 350 projects benefitting 75 different land trust organizations across the state. The grants announced today will help local land trusts sustain and expand community and landowner outreach, land conservation, stewardship, and education programs. The grants will create new land trust jobs and strengthen partnerships with local and state governments, advancing efforts to preserve prime farmland, municipal watersheds and green infrastructure around the state. Land trusts will also apply funds to prepare for national accreditation, supporting New York land trusts’ commitment to best practices and rigorous standards for organizational excellence.
State Senator Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo), Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said “By working together and connecting the work of land trusts in communities from Buffalo to Long Island, we are helping New York be a national leader in conserving and protecting working farms and private lands that support local jobs and businesses. This partnership benefits Grassroots
Gardens of Buffalo and is a model for the EPF, and I look forward to its continued success.”
Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, remarked, “This is a challenging time for homeowners, charities, and businesses across New York State. Empowering local communities through the Conservation Partnership Program is one proven way to give New York’s citizens a voice in their future. It is also an effective way for New York to get the most out of the Environmental Protection Fund. We applaud the work land trusts do on Long Island and across the state and look forward to supporting the program in the coming years.”
Recent research underscores how investments in land conservation and open space boost property values, support local businesses, save taxpayer dollars, and protect public health, for example, by preserving watersheds and aquifers that provide clean drinking water for millions of New Yorkers. A report last year from the Trust for Public Land found that parks and open space on Long Island generate $2.74 billion in direct economic benefit from tourism, reduced government costs and public health. A 2010 report from the New York State Comptroller recommended the Conservation Partnership Program as a model for public-private collaboration because it leverages substantial resources for local efforts to preserve clean air and water resources, agriculture, and outdoor recreational opportunities close to home.
In all, 57 nonprofit land trusts across New York will receive grant funds announced today, including the North Shore Land Alliance, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Columbia Land Conservancy, New York Agricultural Land Trust, Finger Lakes Land Trust, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Genesee Land Trust and Western New York Land Conservancy. Grant funds are intended to assist land trusts in
advancing goals set in the New York StateÕs Open Space Plan and state wildlife action plan.
The grants will also support urban open space programs administered by the Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn-Queens Land Trusts, Yonkers Land Conservancy, Kingston Land Trust, Capital District Community Gardens, and Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
More than 150 land trust representatives and environmental advocates were on hand for the announcement, held in conjunction with the Friends of New YorkÕs Environment Lobby Day in the State Capitol. Earlier in the morning, land trust leaders thanked Governor Andrew Cuomo for avoiding additional cuts to New York’s Environmental Protection Fund in his proposed Executive Budget. Environmental leaders urged the Legislature to consider the economic benefit of EPF investments in local communities, including projects funded through the Conservation Partnership Program.
The Kingston Land Trust was awarded two of these prestigious grants. The first, a $5,000 guided organizational assessment based on Land Trust Standards and Practices. The second, $12,500 for the ‘Kingston Rail Trail Connections’ project, a two year project to enable the Kingston Land Trust to launch a public planning process to pursue strategies to restore linkages to the city of Kingston via historic transportation pathways.
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About the Kingston Land Trust
The Kingston Land Trust is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to the protection and preservation of open space, historic sites, wetlands, scenic areas, and forests in the City of Kingston and the surrounding region to include the Town of Ulster and the Town of Kingston. Please visit www.kingstonlandtrust.org or contact Rebecca Martin, Executive Director at 845/877-5263.
About the Kingston Land Trust’s Rail Trail Committee
The Kingston Land Trust Rail Trail committee is dedicated to planning, development, utilization, and proper maintenance of rail trails and other non-motorized linkages in the City of Kingston. Committee chair, Gregg Swanzy (gregg@kingstonlandtrust.org)
About the Land Trust Alliance
The Land Trust Alliance is the national leader of AmericaÕs land trust movement, serving 1,700 nonprofit land trusts nationwide, including 90 organizations in New York. The Alliance works to accelerate the pace, increase the quality, and ensure the permanence of land conservation in New York and across the country. The Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. For information about the Land Trust Alliance and the Conservation Partnership Program, please visit www.landtrustalliance.org or contact Ethan Winter in the Alliance’s Northeast office at (518) 587-0774 (ext. 207) or at ewinter@lta.org.
By Kingston Land Trust, on February 2nd, 2011%
The Kingston Land Trust is awarded organic seeds from High Mowing Organic Seeds out of Vermont to share within the community.
Kingston – The Kingston Land Trust was selected to receive 50 packages of organic seed from High Mowing Organic Seeds of Vermont to share throughout the city of Kingston’s community, home and school gardens in 2011.
“I would like for our community to be collectively thinking more about the seeds they choose to plant in their gardens”, says Rebecca Martin, Executive Director of the Kingston Land Trust. “High Mowing Organic Seeds points out that the importance of organic seed is often overshadowed by the importance of organic food, and I think that that is absolutely true”.
The gifted seeds range from food to flowers, and Martin encourages all interested garden stewards to be in touch to receive up to five packages on a first come, first serve basis.
For more, contact Rebecca Martin at 845/877-5263 or rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org To find a garden project near you, visit the Kingston Land Trust’s website at www.kingstonlandtrust.org The Kingston City Garden google map can be located by visiting their ‘Useful Link’ tab at the top of the page.
For more information on High Mowing Organic Seeds, visit: www.highmowingseeds.com
By Kingston Land Trust, on November 29th, 2010%
What a year it has been for the Kingston Land Trust.
Since July when the KLT hired a full time Executive Director, we have done some pretty heavy lifting to establish several substantial projects. With so much potential in the City of Kingston, it has been a great pleasure to be a key partner in many collaborative efforts new and ongoing alike. We look forward to our continued efforts in preserving and protecting our historic treasures, discovering new avenues for sustainable and healthy living and creating programs utilizing open space that encourages citizens to take full advantage of the fun and adventures in Kingston’s great urban out-of-doors.
Because we appreciate your interest in the Kingston Land Trust, we have organized a Holiday “mixer” to share our work and to socialize with old and new friends. Join us at Kingston’s local brew pub Keegan Ales in Kingston where you can meet our staff and Board Directors and share in our 2010 successes and strategic plans for 2011.
To make this event a special one, Keegan’s has created a special Kingston Land Trust Rosemary Coriander Brew (using Rosemary from my personal garden) just for us that evening. To top it off, a portion of the proceeds of each one sold that evening will be generously gifted to us (drink responsibly, and bring a designated driver).
The Kingston Land Trust Holiday Mixer
Wednesday, December 29th
Keegan Ales
20 Saint James Street
Kingston, NY 12401
845/331-2739
6:00pm – 8:00pm
At the end of the year, we wish to challenge our friends in helping the Kingston Land Trust ring in the new year successfully. One of our generous benefactors has offered to match each dollar that we raise up to $5,000. That means that the KLT has the potential to earn at least $10,000 that will be added to our annual operating costs. We have until January 31st to reach this goal and any donation large or small plays an important role. Admission to Keegan’s is free, but we ask that you consider making a donation. If you cannot be present but wish to support us with a secure, online donation to our Annual Fund, visit our website at www.kingstonlandtrust.org. You can also send along a check or money order to: The Kingston Land Trust PO Box 2701 Kingston, NY. 12402. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Your involvement is crucial to the movement for economic revitalization, sustainability, and land conservation in our community. Please join us.
With thanks and gratitude,
Rebecca Martin
Executive Director
The Kingston Land Trust
Kingston Land Trust Board of Directors and Advisers
Executive Committee
Steve Noble, Chair
Kevin McEvoy, Vice Chair/Treasurer/Chair of the LUAMP Committee
Julie Noble, Secretary
Board of Directors/Advisors/Staff
Bill Berardi, Director
Hugh Cummings, Director
Barbara Epstein, Advisor
Gregg Swanzey, Director/Chair of the KLT Rail Trail Committee
Steve Liebowitz, Director
Ann Loeding, Director
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Advisor/Staff
What’s happening at the Kingston Land Trust?
The Kingston Land Trust BLACK HISTORY Committee
With a wide variety of churches, historians and community members, the Kingston Land Trust’s Black History Committee is organizing a re-dedication of the Mt. Zion African-American Burial ground in June, 2011. The event will help to celebrate and honor past Kingston residents and veterans who are now laid to rest there. Research projects to help document the people and their families at Mt. Zion and in the 17th Century Pine Street Slave Cemetery are currently underway. For more information, contact rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org
 Mt. Zion African-American Burial Ground The Kingston Land Trust RAIL TRAIL Committee
Led by Kingston resident Gregg Swanzey, the Kingston Land Trust recently was awarded trail development assistance from Parks & Trails NY to engage the community in exploring the feasibility of connecting existing trails outside the city to the Midtown area. We were one of three programs awarded state-wide! For more information, contact Gregg at gregg@kingstonlandtrust.org
 The current O&W Trail.
The Kingston Land Trust LAND USE/ACQUISITION/MANAGEMENT/PLANNING Committee
Led by KLT Vice Chair/Treasurer Kevin McEvoy, the Kingston Land Trust’s LUAMP Committee in collaboration with other key stakeholders has participated in and remains committed to the ongoing open space planning process with regards to the approximately 300 acre area proposed to be preserved at Hudson Landing. In addition, the committee participated and is committed, together with key stakeholders, in the planning process for portions of the Ulster-Esopus Ridge in Town of Ulster which includes wetlands and a highly significant Native American lithic workshop discovered during the archeology. With a growing portfolio throughout the city of Kingston, the committee handles all parcels and easements gifted or otherwise conserved to assure protection. To learn more, contact Kevin at kevin@kingstonlandtrust.org
 KLT works to preserve open space. The South Pine Street City Farm Project
About 1/4 acre of land in the Midtown section of Kingston is currently being transformed into Kingston’s first City Farm. Led by first generation farmer and city of Kingston resident Jesica Clark, the Kingston Land Trust has teamed up with The Queens Galley, The Queens Galley’s “Cooking Matters” program and Binnewater Ice Co. to take steps in making Kingston an urban agriculture epicenter. For more information, contact Farmer Clark at jesicaclark21@gmail.com
 South Pine Street City Farm in the fall, 2010 “The Dig Kids” – An urban farming program
With the help of a grant from the Columbia Foundation, The Kingston Land Trust has created “The Dig Kids”- a farming program located at the Everett Hodge Community Center in Midtown Kingston to help youth learn important farming skills while being paid a stipend to do so. Harvests will be sold at local farmers markets as well as used for cooking instruction and distributed throughout the immediate community for those in need. For more information, contact rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org
 "The Dig Kids" Garden Clean-up in 2010 The Kingston City Hall Victory Garden
The Kingston Land Trust will be in its third year helping to develop the Kingston City Hall Victory Garden, an organic ’square foot gardening’ project to illustrate the amount of food that can be grown and harvested in an 8×8 foot raised bed. Managed by City Hall employees, the harvest is donated to a different soup kitchen in the city of Kingston each year. If you are a soup kitchen and wish to be included, contact rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org
 City Hall Victory Garden Yoga in the Park! Creating Healthy Communities
The KLT in collaboration with Shakti Yoga, MAC Fitness and the City of Kingston’s Parks and Recreation department, is we’re excited to announce “Yoga in the Park! Creating Healthy Communities” starting on May Day (Sunday, May 1st) at Cornell Park in the Rondout section of Kingston. Join your neighbors on the first Sunday of each month starting in May through October for Shakti’s exceptional yoga series that will accommodate every level in the gorgeous setting of one of our most wonderful urban parks. Contact rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org
Healthy Kingston For Kids (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
The Kingston Land Trust is a proud partner of the “Healthy Kingston for Kids” program led by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Leading an initiative to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in Kingston through environmental and policy change, the project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with $360,000 over four years. Recently, a resolution for Complete Streets was approved by the Kingston Common Council and other such initiatives as community gardens and more are on their radar. Contact Arthur Zaczkiewicz for more information at arthur@kingstonlandtrust.org
 Midtown, Kingston
By Kingston Land Trust, on October 22nd, 2010%
 The Kingston Land Trust Welcomes New Board Director Gregg Swanzey Mr. Swanzey brings a decade of not-for-profit experience and expertise to the Trust’s efforts.
Kingston, NY – The Kingston Land Trust is proud to announce the addition of Gregg Swanzy to their Board of Directors. Gregg lives in the Rondout in the city of Kingston and serves on the Conservation Advisory Council and is also the Associate Director of Grants and Corporate Relations for Mohonk Preserve. He spent years at sea aboard sailing research and education ships including a Humpback whale research vessel in Arctic waters off Greenland and as captain for a Soviet-American cultural exchange transAtlantic from Leningrad to New York via Iceland and Newfoundland. He has extensive background in maritime preservation, education, and nonprofit management. He holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and an MBA from UMASS Dartmouth. Gregg is an avid kayaker, runner and often pedals his bike uptown to the Kingston Farmers Market on Saturdays.
“I work with Gregg on the Conservation Advisory Council and he brings a great level of professionalism and commitment to everything he does. He will serve an important role to the Kingston Land Trust as Chair of the Rail Trail Committee that will partner up nicely with his role as Chair of Land Use on the CAC. It’s an exciting opportunity” Says Julie Noble, Kingston Land Trust Board Director, Chair of the Conservation Advisory Council and City of Kingston Environmental Educator.
Gregg will work closely with the Kingston Land Trust Executive Director and Board Directors to chair the newly formed Kingston Land Trust Rail Trail Committee.
If you are interested in an interview with Mr. Swanzey, or for information on other Kingston Land Trust activities, please contact Rebecca Martin, Executive Director at 845/877-5263 or email rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org
By Kingston Land Trust, on September 28th, 2010%
Central Hudson and Scenic Hudson collaborated to produce and distribute a booklet, “Climate Change in the Hudson Valley” for middle-school students.
Follow this LINK to download a copy in English or Spanish, or write info@scenichudson.org to get a hard copy.
By Kingston Land Trust, on September 27th, 2010%
The Kingston Parks and Recreation Department, part of the Healthy Kingston for Kids Project is asking citizens to take a moment to fill out this important survey. In it, you will help to give a better understanding as to how the parks and recreation facilities are used and for what purposes.
You may also win a gift certificate for taking the survey today. Following this LINK for more.
By Kingston Land Trust, on September 15th, 2010%
A Streamside Restoration Planting Project is scheduled Saturday, September 18, 2010. Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program Office, 6375 State Route 28, Phoenicia, NY.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Help plant trees and shrubs to restore stream side vegetation on a local stream. We will meet at the project office and carpool to the planting location. Bring boots, work gloves and water bottle. Call 845-340-3990 or email michael.courtney@ashokanstreams.org to register.
By Kingston Land Trust, on September 8th, 2010%
Greetings from Rebecca Martin, Executive Director of the Kingston Land Trust.
It is with great pleasure that I write to you from my new office in the Historic Uptown district of Kingston, NY. Here, I wish to invite you to participate in our upcoming benefit events as well as to share the Trust’s recent efforts and future plans.
The Kingston Land Trust’s mission as an urban trust is to help preserve, protect and program open space and historic sites in the City of Kingston and surrounding municipalities that include the Town of Kingston and Town of Ulster. It is also our aim to create stronger and healthier communities by connecting citizens to their out-of-door treasures that we are so fortunate to inherit and steward for generations to come. Please feel free to contact us if you have a piece of land that you wish to create a legacy project for or are searching for an easement to preserve the natural characteristics of your family property with a local Land Trust.
To help support our progress, join us on Wednesday, September 15th at 6:00pm as part of ‘Creek Week’ in Ulster County as we launch the first of our new series “The Kingston Land Trust’s Dinner and a Documentary” at MINT Lounge and Tapas Bar (one of our local hot spots) located at 1 West Strand in Kingston. Guests are encouraged to purchase dinner and drinks followed by a complimentary showing of ‘The Chances of the World Changing’. The film was donated to us by filmmaker and musician Eric Daniel Metzgar of Merigold Moving Pictures located in Brooklyn, NY. We’re turning part of the restaurant into a real art house film spot with freshly popped corn and organic butter. A fun date night and local event not to be missed.
The following week, the Kingston Land Trust’s first annual Harvest Moon Benefit Concert and Silent Auction sponsored by Chronogram Magazine and the Kingston Times will be held on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 at the Falcon Arts in Marlboro, NY. Doors are at 6:00pm with showtime to begin at around 7:30pm. Scheduled to perform will be POOK (the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston) led by Evry Mann of the Center for Creative Education to lead off the evening followed by the Kingston High School Jazz Combo led by Director Mike Treat. Sitting in with the youth combo will be special guests and world renowned bassists Larry Grenadier (Brad Mehldau Trio/Pat Metheny/John Scofield) and Vicente Archer (Robert Glasper/Nicholas Payton). Being that Larry currently lives in Kingston and Vicente Archer was born and raised here (and also came up in the KHS Jazz Band) we will proudly share with the Hudson Valley some of our prized creative assets. In additional, it’s a real thrill to provide the youth performers of Kingston a professional experience such as this while making certain that our friends and supporters have a fun and relaxing evening (there is a great restaurant, bar and outdoor seating area that is quite wonderful). Special thanks to Tony Falco and everyone at Falcon Arts for providing us with this space to kick off our fall benefit event.
A suggested donation of $25 will be taken at the door (and one may give less or more if they so wish) with children 18 and younger free of charge.
Included below is a list of our recent works and programs. Would you care to be a sponsor? Please contact me to discuss the options.
If you are not able to be present at any of our events this fall, please consider making a donation of any size at this time. Click on this LINK or the button below to do so, and we thank you in advance.
Warm Regards,
Rebecca Martin
Executive Director
Kingston Land Trust
Kingston, NY.
845/877-LAND (5263)
rebecca@kingstonlandtrust.org
HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND PARCELS
Mt. Zion African-American Burial Ground – There are two African-American Burial Grounds within the city limits of the city of Kingston. The Mt. Zion African-American Burial Ground on South Wall Street (owned by the A.M.E Zion Church of Kingston) and a 17th century cemetery on Pine Street. The KLT recently hosted a tour of both sites with city of Kingston historian Edwin Ford. Currently, the KLT is working to create a Black History Committee to help steer a project that protects and preserves these hallowed grounds.
Yeomans Street Parcel - Located in the Ponckhockie section of Kingston, the Kingston Land Trust is currently working with the neighbors to create gardens and more on this beautiful sloped parcel, including the ultimate restoration of a tunnel entrance to the Newark Lime and Cement Manufacturing Company.
Esopus Creek Parcel – This lovely piece of land is located in Kingston’s historic Uptown area along the Esopus Creek. Current management plans are underway to create a kayak and canoe launch pad and park for the citizens and visitors alike.
PROGRAMS! PROGRAMS! PROGRAMS!
Kingston City Gardens – Created to help citizens plant their own home gardens in the ground, pots or a raised bed, the Kingston Land Trust has created this dynamic program that provides educational materials and hand-on support for seed storing, seedling planting, ‘planting out’ home gardens, garden maintaince and harvesting throughout the season. The program, originally named ‘The Kingston Victory Gardens Project’ was pivitol in helping to create a resurgance of garden interest that began with an organic garden placed at Kingston’s City Hall on Earth Day, 2009.
KLT Sponsored Gardens – The Kingston Land Trust is a proud partner in both the City Hall Victory Garden and the Everett Hodge Center Children’s Garden. Expect to see more interesting and useful garden demonstrations and activities on both sites in 2011.
Yoga In The Park! – The Kingston Land Trust is proud to be teaming up with Shakti Yoga of Woodstock and MAC Fitness to help create a free yoga series in the park beginning on May Day, 2011. More details to follow.
KLT’s Dinner and Documentary Series – Make it a date night at this fun evening of food, special drinks and complimentary documentary film that always focuses on important environmental issues.
Leave It On The Lawn, Kingston! - A citywide educational initiative in partnership with the City of Kingston to encourage residents to mulch their fall leaves and compost yard waste.
KINGSTON LAND TRUST – GRANT RELATED
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities – Project Director Kristen Wilson of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County paved the way for important policy work in our community with a $360,000 grant over four years through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Kingston Land Trust is proud to be a partner. Community educator and journalist Arthur Zaczkiewicz currently represents the Kingston Land Trust in this effort.
Columbia Foundation – Recently, the Kingston Land Trust was awarded a $3,000 grant from the Colombia Foundation in support of our Kingston City Gardens project. Count on more being accomplished in the way of home gardens for the families of Kingston in 2011.
KLT LOOKING AHEAD – 2011
City of Kingston Rail Trail – The Kingston Land Trust plans to partner up in support of the Rail Trail System in the city of Kingston in 2011.
Composting Programs – Ever hear the term ‘black gold’? The Kingston Land Trust is working to create a sidewalk composting demonstration in the city of Kingston starting in the spring/summer months of 2011.
KLT Promotes “The Child Safe Playing Fields Act of 2010” – A recent law banning the use of pesticides on playgrounds, school yards and athletic fields is about to get a helping hand in the city of Kingston. The Kingston Land Trust is working to create a citywide educational/promotional campaign alerting citizens and city officials alike on New York’s Anti-Pesticide Ban while sharing healthy alternatives for home and municipal properties.
The Kingston Bluestone Festival – The Kingston Land Trust is a proud supporter.
Hudson Landing (Kingston) – The Kingston Land Trust has been involved with and remains committed to being a partner in creating an open space plan for this important project.
Ulster Manor (Town of Ulster) – The Kingston Land Trust remains committed to supporting and working with the Native American community and Town of Ulster stakeholders in preserving this significant Native American site and the adjoining wetland areas.
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