In an inspiring development, the Kingston High School Honor Society intends to make a multi-year commitment to the Village Green, to help ensure the success of the construction project and guarantee student involvement well into the future!

– Funds for the Building:  You probably recall we are taking the next step toward a “capital campaign,” a term that means we are focused on raising the critical remaining funds for the building.  We are nearly done forming up the steering committee (Cabinet) for this campaign; we held an initial meeting late in November and another in December.

The Cabinet will work with four committees: Research, which will help locate resources; Publicity, to get the word out; Special Events, to help generate the buzz we need; and Donor Ask, which after special training will approach potential donors with a specific request. The Cabinet and these committees have a tight timeline to raise the necessary funds — up to $3 million — in 2012 so the state dollars awarded this year can begin to flow to the project.

– Playground:  The Village Green Foundation wishes to thank two KHS National Honor Society students, Jacob Bruce and Simon Campo, for volunteering to help our playground coordinator, MaryLou Iverson, with maintenance of the present playground.

– Garden: Pea-patch fans met in November and forged a commitment to launch a pea-patch demonstration garden in 2012. Those people included KHS students Brianna Belger and Samantha Randall, volunteer grant-writers, Master Gardeners with local experience in community gardens, representatives of the Kingston Farm & Garden coop, and VGF Board members.

– Picnic pavilion: Plans are receiving a boost from Kingston-NK Rotary, which will fund materials and a bevy of volunteers. We expect the pavilion to be built by mid-2012.

All of this activity moves us toward our goal of constructing the multipurpose building at the Village Green, and fulfillment of the Village Green Foundation’s mission “To build a place that connects and strengthens community.”  That place will be a Boys & Girls Club, library, senior center, and a place for large and small meetings — all in our beautiful, community-built park.

If you want to be involved in any aspect of the Village Green project, contact Nick Jewett or Bobbie Moore at info@kingstonvillagegreen.org or call Bobbie at 297-2845 to talk over which one of these project facets appeal to you — help with the fundraising committees, the playground, grant-writing, the pea patch, or the picnic pavilion.