Wave Hill Events January 17–January 24

Our annual horticulture lecture series is a high point for Wave Hill, a chance to hear experts share their passion for the field―a wonderful counterpoint to the serene, quiet winter gardens―in one of Manhattan’s most elegant venues, the New York School of Interior Design. We’ve got close connections to Samuel Untermyer’s magnificent estate just north of Wave Hill. I hope you’ll join us to hear all about ongoing efforts to recover its gardens.

Then come back to Wave Hill for more layers of artistry, in Glyndor Gallery and at a spicy cooking demo.

Happy 2013 indeed!

SAT, JANUARY 19    FAMILY ART PROJECT―FREEDOM PILLOWS

Freedom Pillows/Almohadas de libertad

Draw from the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King and traditional African American quilts to display your own personal dream of freedom. Choose from a wide array of cloth, yarn and felt to embellish a pillowcase for your dream-time wish. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, JANUARY 19    COOKING WITH GINGER

The ginger family, Zingiberaceae, includes spicy ginger, cardamom and turmeric. Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer shares a sampling of these tropical herbs and their ornamental kin, while a chef from Wave Hill caterer Great Performances demonstrates various ways to cook with fresh and dried members of this aromatic plant family. Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 2PM

SUN, JANUARY 20   FAMILY ART PROJECT―FREEDOM PILLOWS

Freedom Pillows/Almohadas de libertad

Draw from the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King and traditional African American quilts to display your own personal dream of freedom. Choose from a wide array of cloth, yarn and felt to embellish a pillowcase for your dream-time wish. Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, JANUARY 20    WINTER WORKSPACE: VISTAS IN MOTION—LOW-TECH ANIMATION WITH MANUEL ACEVEDO

Visitors gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Manuel Acevedo’s creative process and explore the winter landscape as a source of inspiration. Acevedo discusses his work and explains methods of animation, such as stop-motion, flipbooks and optical devices. Participants will then explore the transformation of Wave Hill’s winter landscape using basic animation techniques. Art materials are provided unless otherwise noted. Workshops are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so registration is recommended, at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Free with admission to the grounds. Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits. This program also takes place on February 3.

GLYNDOR GALLERY & ON THE GROUNDS, 1–4PM

SUN, JANUARY 20    GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, JANUARY 21

Closed to the public.

TUE, JANUARY 22    WINTER WORKSPACE: NATURE THROUGH GLASS—SNOW-GLOBE JARS

Visitors gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Maria Hupfield’s creative process and explore the winter landscape as a source of inspiration. After exploring the gardens with the artist, participants create a snow globe as a personal souvenir inspired by the winter landscape. Art materials are provided unless otherwise noted. Workshops are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so registration is recommended, at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Free with admission to the grounds. Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits. This program also takes place on January 29.

GLYNDOR GALLERY & ON THE GROUNDS, 10AM–1PM

WED, JANUARY 23    HORTICULTURAL LECTURE #1― STEPHEN F. BRYNS & TIMOTHY TILGHMAN: UNTERMYER, AMERICA’S GREATEST FORGOTTEN GARDEN

Wave Hill Horticultural Lectures are devoted to landscape design and the meaning of our interactions with plants and the natural world. This year’s distinguished lecturers offer a walk down memory lane. But these presentations are not simply an indulgence in nostalgia, because the past strongly informs the present in the three subjects we address. Before Samuel Untermyer’s death in 1940, his gardens in Yonkers, New York, were among America’s most celebrated. Spearheading the rebirth of this estate are Untermyer Gardens Conservancy chair and former Wave Hill board member Stephen F. Byrns and former Wave Hill Gardener Timothy Tilghman, Untermyer’s horticulturist. (Marco Polo Stufano, Wave Hill’s founding Director of Horticulture, is adviser to the project.) Byrns, an award-winning partner at BKSK Architects, has published widely. He joins Tilghman, an acclaimed horticulturist whose experience ranges from Missouri to the Hudson Valley, in painting a bright picture of the recovery of this magnificent estate. The second in this series takes place February 27. Series: $48 Member, Student/$60 General. Individual lectures: $20 Member, Student/$25 General. Reservations recommended, online at www.wavehill.org or by calling 718.549.3200 x216.

NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, 170 EAST 70TH STREET, MANHATTAN, 6PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day Tuesdays in January. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Program s are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242^nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

 

 

MWBE Bidding Opportunities & NYPD

(Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises) 

   

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has announced many opportunities for MWBE business. If applicable, please review the DOE's current solicitations online:

Request for Proposals:

http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/DCP/Vendor/RFP/Default.htm 

Request for Bids:

http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/DCP/Vendor/RFB/Default.htm

Multiple Task Award Contract:

http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/DCP/Vendor/MTAC/Default.htm

DOE Vendor Portal: We encourage vendors to sign up for the Vendor Portal at https://vendorportal.nycenet.edu.

By signing up, vendors can have DOE solicitations emailed to them directly. In order to download complete DOE bids and solicitations, vendors must register for an account on Vendor Portal.

DOE Vendor Hotline: Vendors are also encouraged to call or email the DOE Vendor Hotline if they need assistance registering for Vendor Portal, downloading required documents, or if they have other questions.

Vendors can contact Vendor Hotline at (718) 935-2300 or email VendorHotline@schools.nyc.gov. A live representative is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

DOE Commitment to Equal Opportunity: The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has contracts with vendors to purchase the goods and services necessary to ensure that students receive the quality education they deserve. The agency strives to give all businesses, including Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), an equal opportunity to compete for DOE procurements. The agency casts a wide net in search of talented vendors, seeking qualified suppliers from all segments of the community. The DOE's mission is to provide equal access to procurement opportunities for all qualified vendors including MWBEs.

The DOE works to enhance the ability of MWBEs to compete for contracts and DOE is committed to ensuring that MWBEs fully participate in the procurement process.

Please call 718-828-3900 or email Michelle@bronxchamber.org  for any additional information or if you have questions regarding MWBE certification.

Also... 

The New York City Police Department has launched a new application for your Apple devices (iPad and iPhone). This application is called "NYPD" and it is free of charge. It provides its users with interface icons for each of the following:

• Wanted Posters
• Submit Tips
• Crime Videos
• Breaking News
• NYPD Facebook
• Inside NYPD Videos
• Crime Statistics
• Precinct Boundaries
• Join NYPD

The NYPD is continuously exploring methods to expand the availability and collection of information to assist in our crime fighting efforts. We recognize that community members are our partners in the reduction of crime and improvement of the quality of life in our neighborhoods.  Technology is a vital tool that connects law enforcement with its communities around the world to help improve safety and security.

We invite everyone to take a minute and download the application through the Apple store direct to your device, so that you can began to enjoy the many benefits this application has to offer its users. In addition, we encourage everyone to pass the word around your community of this new application.

LIU: WHAT THE CLIFF COMPROMISE MEANS FOR NEW YORK CITY

City Comptroller John C. Liu offered the following statement on the Congressional agreement to avoid the so-called Fiscal Cliff and its effect on New York City taxpayers:

“We will have to wait and see how this agreement fits into the coming debt-ceiling negotiations but, like any compromise, the deal to avoid the so-called Fiscal Cliff has some bright spots and dark patches for New York City taxpayers.

“Thousands of struggling New Yorkers will not find their extended unemployment benefits abruptly and cruelly cut off.  And some 900,000 New Yorkers can breathe a sigh of relief now that the Alternative Minimum Tax has been permanently fixed.  

   

“We must properly fund Social Security and unfortunately the 2% increase in the Social Security Payroll Tax will cost four million hard-working New Yorkers, on average, more than $800 out of pocket this year, taking more than $3 billion out of the City’s income stream.

“Finally, Congress has taken steps to avoid the cliff, but millions still face a steep plunge because the House of Representatives failed to approve aid for those who lost their loved ones, homes, and possessions in Hurricane Sandy.  Families hurt by Sandy have been left out in the cold by Congressional bickering.”

                          Estimated Cost of 2% Increase in Social Security Payroll Tax

Borough	# of Workers Affected	Estimated Cost	Average Increase
Bronx	630,000	$425 million	$674
Brooklyn	1,135,000	$875 million	$770
Manhattan	995,000	$1.12 billion	$1,125
Queens	980,000	$800 million	$816
Staten Island	230,000	$220 million	$956
TOTAL	3,970,000	$3.44 billion	$868

Source: Security Administration; Bureau of Labor Statistics; NYC Comptroller’s Office.

Liberty Democratic Association Annual Meeting

The Liberty Democratic Association

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

And Election of Officers for 2013-2015

Will take place on ---

 

 SUNDAY, JANUARY 13,  2013 @1 P.M.

 

JANEL TOWERS- 801 NEILL AVE.

Community Room

New Years’ CeleBration

AT 2:30 P.M.

Hot Food and refreshments will be served.

RSVP: Miriam Schwartz: (718) 829-3041

Cost is $10

Free:  Members, Inspectors and Coordinators

If you have any questions, please contact Ritchie Torres at 

(914) 648-0616 or Monica Major at (917) 208-3886

More on SLOW ZONE Speed Bumps

     Apparently the DOT has painted street markings at two of the three speed bumps that were placed on Independence Avenue between West 232nd and West 237th Streets. However as you will see in the photos below Dot has not put up a warning sign before the speed bumps, as there is only one sign that is marked "Speed Bump 15 MPH" as you hit the speed bump (in one photo you can see that the one warning sign has either bent over due to the wind or has been backed into by a parking car). Also one has to wonder at what speed these speed bumps can be taken at. In the presentation by the DOT Bronx commissioner she said that motorists can safely take these "Speed Humps" at 20 MPH as would be the speed limit in the area of the SLOW ZONE. The signs by the new speed bumps (humps) say 15 MPH, or do all of them. I found one bump on West 239th Street with signs of 20 MPH on them, and also with a sharp left turn sign on one below the speed bump sign. Another placement of one of these speed bumps is at the top of a hill on West 237th St. the side of RKA (141) where buses park to pick up students, and block any warning sign. Lastly as you will see in one photo that the speed bump on Independence Avenue right in front of RKA has already been damaged during the last plowing a few days ago.  More to come.

Left - You can see pavement markings by DOT now in place in front of two of the speed bumps on Independence Avenue by Seton Park.

Right - However you can see the one warning sign is bent over due to either the wind or being hit by a car backing into a space.

Left - there are no road markings at the speed bump in front of RKA (141), and you can see the damage that plowing from only one snowfall has done to the speed bump.

Right - You can barley make out the one speed bump sign on the right in between the trees on West 237th Street as you come up the hill. This view is of  the side of the street where school buses for RKA  park to load and unload students which will block the sign.

Left - A close up of the damage to the speed bump in front of RKA. It now seems that emergency vehicles are turning left at West 237th Street to the HHP service road rather than going over the three speed bumps on Independence Avenue.

Right - You can see how cars are parking on the speed bumps that go to within a foot of the curb.

Left - You see that this speed bump sign says 20 MPH here.
Right - You see the other side of the street also with the 20 MPH sign, but also note there is another sign  warning  that the road turns left ahead.

Dinowitz Urges Primary Date to be Moved from September to June

  

     Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) has urged Speaker Sheldon Silver to support moving primary day throughout New York State from September to June beginning with the 2013 elections.  In a letter sent to the Speaker, Dinowitz outlined several reasons why changing the date of the primary election would be beneficial to the State--particularly financial and logistical concerns.

He pointed to this past year’s elections where local municipalities had to endure extra expenses with the separation of the Congressional primaries and the primaries for the State legislature. 

“Moving the primary to June is a much more cost-effective and sensible alternative to the September primary,” stated Mr. Dinowitz.

Having a September primary would also make it burdensome for New York City to hold a runoff, if needed, two weeks later.  There have been ongoing concerns regarding the new voting machines and it is possible that the Board of Elections would not be able to provide election results before the day the runoff is scheduled to be held or even determine whether or not a runoff would be necessary.

“Changing the primary election to a date in June would enable the Board of Elections to certify the election results in a timely manner.  This is a simple and sensible solution to this insurmountable logistical problem,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.

Because the petitioning process for a June primary would commence in March Assemblyman Dinowitz further urged the Speaker to take up this matter at the beginning of the legislative session when the Assembly returns to Albany next month. 

“It is essential that any change in the election calendar be determined as soon as possible,” added Mr. Dinowitz.

 

Editor Note- What do you think of Assemblyman Dinowitz's idea?

LIU APPOINTS MARIA TAVARES DEPUTY COMPTROLLER FOR ACCOUNTANCY

   City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced the appointment of Maria Tavares as Deputy Comptroller for Accountancy.  Tavares, who currently serves as Assistant Comptroller of Accountancy, will assume her new responsibilities on January 1, 2013, succeeding Deputy Comptroller Simcha Felder, who is assuming his newly elected position as New York State Senator.

“Maria has demonstrated herself to be exceedingly capable in ensuring the soundness of the City’s financial reporting,” Comptroller Liu said. “Though Simcha has big shoes to fill, I am excited that she is joining my top leadership team as we continue to navigate through a tough time for City finances.”

As Deputy Comptroller, Tavares will oversee the operations of Comptroller Liu’s Bureau of Accountancy, which is responsible for all aspects of the City’s accounting and financial reporting. She will oversee the City’s accounting operations throughout the year, as well as the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which contains the City's official, audited financial statements.

She will also oversee the design and management of the accounting aspects of the City’s centralized accounting and budgeting system, the Financial Management System, the accounting mechanism in which New York City pays its bills and receives deposits. 

Deputy Comptroller Tavares is a 15-year veteran of the Comptroller’s Office. She is a graduate of Syracuse University. 

In addition, Comptroller Liu announced that Deputy Comptroller of Public Affairs Ari Hoffnung will assume oversight of the Comptroller’s Bureau of Fiscal and Budget Studies. Hoffnung previously served as Assistant Comptroller of Budget and will now oversee the publication of a wide range of fiscal reports on New York City’s economy and budgetary outlook.

Maria Tavares joins  Comptroller Liu’s team of Deputy Comptrollers, consisting of First Deputy Comptroller Ricardo Morales, Valerie Budzik (General Counsel / Legal Affairs), H. Tina Kim (Audit), Mark Kim (Economic Development), Carol Kostik (Public Finance), Ari Hoffnung (Public Affairs / Budget), Larry Schloss (Asset Management / Chief Investment Officer), and Geneith Turnbull (Contracts).

****************************************************

Third Speed Bump on Independence Avenue

     The third speed bump has been installed on Independence Avenue between West 237th Street and West 232nd Street, but will that make traffic any safer? One can see cars go up in the air and drop back down as in previous posts I told you that there is little or even sometimes can be no warning that the speed bump is ahead as the one warning sign at the site of the speed bump can be blocked by parked or standing buses or trucks. This third speed bump was placed in front of MS/HS 141 (RKA) and you will see in the photos below how it was installed. On the day afterward one could see not only cars, but a NYC ambulance become airborne and then drop back down to the street. I hope the person inside (as the emergency lights were on) did not hit their head on the top of the ambulance as it went over the speed bump. Then again one of the DOT workers may have said it best. "Once they go over the bump fast they will slow down". 

     

    Since Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz sponsored the Riverdale Slow Zone, city council candidate Cliff Stanton wants to take credit for the Slow Zone, and city council candidate Andrew Cohen has put on his face book page a photo of him raking the asphalt for one of the three new speed bumps on Independence Ave. (nine in all in the seven block slow zone), you now know who to blame when you have to repair you car. I still can't understand why two speed bumps are being placed on Palisade Ave. (no where near the schools), and not one is being placed on the HHP service road one block from the schools where over hundreds of children walk. Then again Assemblyman Dinowitz lives on the HHP service road less than two blocks from the schools. 

Left and Right - You can see the placement of the third speed bump on Independence Avenue. On the right you can see a tow truck that moved cars that were in the way without any warning to those who parked overnight.

 Left - You can see a light pole that needs to be fixed so at night motorist can see the upcoming speed bump. Right - You can see just how high the speed bumps are.