🌱 What changes is Midtown’s new business alliance president planning for 2026?

Morning Kingston! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What changes is Midtown’s new business alliance president planning for 2026?
• Have you seen this missing 13-year-old Kingston girl?
• What did inspectors find at the troubled Kingston Motel this week?

Also on today's calendar: Bonsai Workshop at Newburgh Brewing Company and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 42 and low of 38 degrees.
• Friday: Windy; rain in the morning, temps: high: 56, low: 25.
• Saturday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 36 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Open For Business: An Interview With the New Midtown Business Association President (kingstonwire.com) — Midtown Kingston businesses are organizing through the Midtown Business Alliance to tackle challenges like unclear city regulations, limited transit, and housing pressures while boosting local prosperity. New MBA president Bill Cranston outlines plans for beautification, collaborative events with Uptown and Waterfront districts, and monthly meetings that invite residents and business owners to get involved in shaping Midtown’s future.
   

2. Teen missing from Kingston home, police seek public's help (hudsonvalleyone.com) — Kingston police are urgently asking for help finding 13-year-old Amirah Knox, who disappeared from her Rondout Drive home on December 16 and needs daily medication. She’s described as light-skinned, 5-foot-5, about 120 pounds, last seen in a black jacket with gray fur. Anyone with information is asked to call Kingston police at (845) 331-1671 or Officer VanWassenhove at (845) 943-5731.
   

3. Kingston Motel Re-Inspected (kingstonwire.com) — Local officials have just re-inspected the Kingston Motel in the Town of Ulster, where many families are housed through Ulster County’s emergency housing program. Residents describe ongoing problems like pests, mold, and water issues, while town and county authorities weigh safety, code enforcement, and how to avoid sudden displacement as they await final inspection reports.
   

4. High school boys basketball: Castillo leads Kingston to fifth straight victory (dailyfreeman.com) — Kingston High’s boys basketball team pushed its record to 5-0 after junior forward Kevin Castillo poured in 19 points in a 60–46 home win over Middletown at the Kate Walton Field House. Coach Ron Kelder praised the Tigers’ smothering defense, which forced turnovers and shot-clock violations. The team now heads into a holiday break before resuming play later this month.
   

5. Six sermons for Bob Dylan: Seasonal meditations on a book by Lucy Sante (hudsonvalleyone.com) — A new piece spotlights Kingston resident and retired Bard professor Lucy Sante, whose commissioned sermons for a Bob Dylan film have now been collected in the book “Six Sermons for Bob Dylan.” The article explores how she drew on historic African-American preaching traditions, reflects on Dylan’s controversial Christian period, and highlights the collection’s thoughtful, non-doctrinaire moral themes.
   

📸 Around Kingston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Kingston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Trivia with DJ Maxwell — Rough Draft Bar & Books
  Rough Draft Bar & Books, 82 John St, Kingston
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Cocktails and Collection Items
  The Reher Center For Immigrant Culture and History , 101 Broadway , Kingston
  6:00 pm
• A Taste of Ireland - A Celtic Christmas
  Ulster Performing Arts Center , 601 Broadway , Kingston
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• The Cornell: Annual Holiday Cocktail Party
  Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce The Cornell Restaurant + Bar
  7:00 pm
• After Hours — Spiral Mirror
  Spiral Mirror , 635 Broadway Studio Left , Kingston
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Winter Solstice: BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH: A NEW MOON CRYSTAL SOUND-HEALING ELEVATION with Lea Garnier and Sage Sangha
  Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce Sage Academy of Sound & Center for the Healing Arts
  7:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• sunday stay & play — Play Haven
  Play Haven , 402 Albany Ave , Kingston
  9:00 am
• Sage Academy of Sound: SUNDAY SOUND JOURNEY with Lea Garnier
  Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce Sage Academy of Sound & Center for the Healing Arts
  12:00 pm

Sunday December 28

• Bonsai Workshop at Newburgh Brewing Company
  Newburgh Brewing Company , 88 South Colden St , Newburgh
  12:30 pm

📣 Kingston Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Good Vibrations at Starr Library
  Starr Library Rhinebeck , 68 W Market St , Rhinebeck
  10:30 am
• Fall Soup Sales by Rhinebeck Grange in Rhinecliff
  82 Kelly St , Rhinecliff
  4:00 pm
• The Wonderland of Lights - Rhinebeck
  Dutchess County Agricultural Society Inc. | Dutchess County Fairgrounds , 6636 US-9 , Rhinebeck
  5:00 pm
• Color Guard
  E.R. Crosby Elementary School , 767 Neighborhood Rd , Lake Katrine
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• To the kind lady who paid for my order at Duncin Donuts on Ulster Avenue Monday 12/15 at about 11 am.
  That was such a small but enormous gesture that really made a rough day so much better. Ill be glad when I can play it forward!!!!! (Nextdoor Lake Katrine)
• Something bout this water tower and a sunset...
  I've seen quite a few people taking pictures from behind Hannaford on Ulster Ave. To anybody visiting Ulster county: i highly recommend catching a… (Nextdoor Lake Katrine)

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Kingston. Apply here.
• Harbor Freight Tools posted a job opening for Retail Stocking Associate in Kingston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kingston here.

Ok Kingston! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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