Senator Klein's Annual Bunny Breakfast

  Saturday State Senator Jeff Klein invited hundreds of children and their parents to his Annual Bunny Breakfast. There was a healthy breakfast, face painting, a giant Easter bunny, and Magician John Tudor of Simply Magic. Senator Klein was very brief in his comments saying that the event was for the children as you will see in the photos below. 

Left - Two young girls are singing the opening song.

Right - Senator Klein is very brief in his opening statement explaining that today is for the children.

Left - Jazmin Valentine before getting her face painted.

Right - Jazmin with her face painted.

Left - Danlye and Tanvir are building their bunnies.

Right - Senator Klein even had a life size bunny for children to have their photo taken with.

 

Left - Senator Klein joins the children as the magic act is about to start.

Right - You can see the crowd as John the Magician starts his act.

 

Left - John the Magician make a bunny appear with the help of his assistants.

Right - John goes into the audience to show the next one he made appear.

Left - A balloon is placed in a box held by 2 assistants.

Right - John the Magician turns the balloon into a bunny, to the surprise of his assistants.

Council Member Cohen Introduces Legislation to Make Parking More Convenient for Motorists

  At Thursday's Stated Council Meeting, Council Member Andrew Cohen introduced legislation that would make parking more convenient for motorists throughout New York City.  The bill states that on blocks longer than two hundred feet, signs indicating parking, stopping or standing regulations shall be posted every one hundred feet or less.

There are currently no guidelines for the placement of parking signs on city streets.  The Department of Transportation presently installs signs where they deem necessary. 

“Trying to find parking is extremely difficult already.  To make matter worse, on too many streets in our city, particularly in the outer boroughs, the irregularity of parking signage makes this daily routine frustrating.  This law will require that signs are placed at regular intervals and help ensure that the parking regulations are more easily visible for motorists,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“Additionally, some motorists receive fines for parking illegally, unbeknownst to them, as they are unaware of the parking regulations due to the fact that the signage is posted much further down the street.  This law would assist motorists in adhering to the regulations currently in place which would lessen the fines they inadvertently receive,” the Councilman added.

The bill has been submitted to the Council’s Transportation Committee for review.

Senator Klein Visits Riverdale Students Participating in College Trip Program at RKA

  College trips made possible with funding from Senator Klein

Senator Jeff Klein visited with high school students, guidance counselors and school administrators at MS/HS 141 Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy in Riverdale this morning to learn from students about their experiences on college trips made possible with funding Senator Klein provided through Project BOOST.

Senator Klein said, “Visiting a college campus, and getting a sense of each school's academic and cultural environment, is a critical component to every student's decision making process.  Listening to the incredible insights and experiences they gained from their visits proves exactly that. I am proud to have made these opportunities possible for the 200 students at MS/HS 141 who visited a wide range of colleges throughout the region. The stories we heard today illustrate exactly why we need to continue supporting programs like Project BOOST that give students access to the types of extracurricular experiences they may not otherwise have.”

 

Left - Senator Klein speaks with one student about her choice of which college she will be attending.
Right - Senator Klein and RKA Principal Lora O'Mara go over the list of RKA students that participated in the Project Boost program provided by the senator.

 Principal O'Mara introduces Senator Klein to the students.

Senator Klein, Principal O'Mara, and the students.

Upcoming Events and Important Deadlines in April

  News from Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda - 

I want to let you know about some exciting events that we have coming up in the 87^th Assembly District in the next few weeks.

• Sunday, April 13^th from 3:00pm – 6:00pm there will be an Easter Basket Give-Away at St. Andrews Church Parish Hall located at 781 Castle Hill Ave.  If you would like to receive a basket your child must be present and you must have a voucher.  To receive a voucher, please call my office at 718-931-2620.
• Saturday, April 19^th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm we will be hosting a Sustainable Spring Fling at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church located at 1891 McGraw Ave.  This is a great opportunity to celebrate spring and Earth Day and where you can learn simple tips that will save you money and help our planet.  All are welcome to attend.

I’d also like to remind you that the deadlines to sign up for Pre-K and the Summer Youth Employment Program are quickly approaching.

If your child was born in 2010 they will be eligible for Pre-K in September.  With the expansion of Pre-K in New York City now is the time to start looking into available programs.  Please click here for more information on how to apply and if your child qualifies.  The deadline to apply is April 23^rd.

If you or someone you know is between the ages of 18 and 24 they may be eligible for the Summer Youth Employment Program.  This program provides youth employment for up to six weeks in July and August.  Click here for more information on how to apply.  We also have applications available in my District Office, located at 1973 Westchester Ave.  The deadline to apply is April 25^th.

I'd also like to inform you that due to computer work being done by the state my office will be closed this Saturday, April 12th.  I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you have any questions about these events, or if you'd like more information on either of the programs, please call my District Office at 718-931-2620.  

Assemblyman Luis R. Sepulveda
87th A.D.
 

Wave Hill Events April 25–May 2

 

FRI, SAT, SUN, APRIL 25, 26, 27    ARBOR WEEKEND

Arbor Day extends into a weekend celebration with a tree giveaway, tree walks and talks, a bike tour of trees in the Bronx, a tree-themed Family Art Project and a junior arborist station sponsored by Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care.

FRI, APRIL 25    TREE GIVEAWAY

Thanks to a partnership with MillionTreesNYC, Wave Hill welcomes families, individuals and community groups to pick up a free tree for planting on private property within the five boroughs of New York City. Staff horticulturists will be on hand to help you make your selection and simple tree planting and care instructions will be available. At home, all you’ll need is a spade, a place to plant and access to water. Trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Arbor Weekend event.

VISITOR PARKING LOT, 9–11AM

FRI, APRIL 25   GARDEN WALK: GREAT TREES OF WAVE HILL—A VIEW FROM THE TOP
Don’t miss this special tour of Wave Hill’s magnificent living collection with Assistant Director of Horticulture Brian McGowan. Wander among centuries-old trees and newly-planted specimens and see first-hand how our tree planting and maintenance plan will provide shade and beauty for future generations of visitors. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM

SAT, APRIL 26    FAMILY ART PROJECT: BUDS, BUDS, BUDS
Explore Wave Hill’s many budding trees and observe the myriad shapes and sizes of these flowery beginnings. Then, using a wood base, paper and a variety of natural materials, make a sculptural tree—and even add a nest of eggs or a plaster-of-Paris flock of birds. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Arbor Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, APRIL 26    TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held outdoors as weather permits. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made.  Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, APRIL 26    TREES OF THE BRONX BIKE TOUR
In celebration of Arbor Day, join professional photographer Benjamin Swett, author of New York City of Trees (April 2013), and Boogie Down Rides, a Bronx-based bicycling and art project, on a bicycle tour of significant trees in the Bronx. Explore the connections between the urban forest and the rich cultural heritage of our borough. Tour begins at Woodlawn Cemetery and ends at Wave Hill. Snacks and water provided. $20/$10 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT WOODLAWN CEMETERY, 10AM−1PM

SAT, APRIL 26    JUNIOR ARBORIST STATION
Kids ages seven and up are invited to don tree-climbing harnesses and hardhats and ascend into the canopy of our old sugar maple tree to get a birds-eye view of Wave Hill. Arborists from Almstead Tree and Shrub Care—who have generously sponsored this free program—are on hand to assist budding arborists and answer questions about the big old trees at Wave Hill. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Arbor Weekend event.
ON THE GROUNDS, 11AM–3PM

SAT, APRIL 26    GARDEN WALK: BEST TREES FOR THE SMALL GARDEN
Are you thinking about planting a tree for your yard but overwhelmed by the choices? Enjoy a spring walk around Wave Hill as a garden interpreter highlights some great trees with four seasons of interest, suitably-scaled to the smaller garden. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

SAT, APRIL 26    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial assistant for a tour of Wave Hill's spring exhibition, Prickly, Tender and Steamy: Artists in the Hothouse, which assembles artworks that were created during Wave Hill's Winter Workspace program over the last five years. During their residencies, Gabriela Albergaria, Carrie Beckmann, Susan Benarcik, Matthew Burcaw, Asuka Hishiki, Nick Lamia, Lina Puerta, Naomi Reis, Anne-Katrin Spiess, Linda Stillman, James Walsh and Marion Wilson closely examined, and were inspired by, the living collection in Wave Hill's Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Representing a wide variety of mediums, the works on view give visitors multiple ways to observe the plants in the Tropical, Palm, Cactus and Succulent Houses. In the Sunroom Project Space, Brandon Neubauer's installation incorporates video projection, photographs and recorded sounds to create a portrait of the Wave Hill site that engages time, optical phenomena, topography and found objects. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, APRIL 27    FAMILY ART PROJECT: BUDS, BUDS, BUDS
Explore Wave Hill’s many budding trees and observe the myriad shapes and sizes of these flowery beginnings. Then, using a wood base, paper and a variety of natural materials, make a sculptural tree—and even add a nest of eggs or a plaster-of-Paris flock of birds. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, APRIL 27   HATHA YOGA

Reduce stress, increase your energy and bring strength and flexibility to mind, body and spirit with a yoga practice. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. Ms. Dewji is certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors until May. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made.  Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, APRIL 27    MEDITATION

This spring, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. All levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, APRIL 27    GARDEN WALK: BEST TREES FOR THE SMALL GARDEN
Are you thinking about planting a tree for your yard but overwhelmed by the choices? Enjoy a spring walk around Wave Hill as a garden interpreter highlights some great trees with four seasons of interest, suitably-scaled to the smaller garden. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

SUN, APRIL 27   GARDEN 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

SUN, APRIL 27    CONCERT: DANIEL KELLY’S RAKONTO WAVE HILL
This concert features the world premiere of Rakonto Wave Hill, a jazz suite commissioned by Wave Hill and created by composer/pianist Daniel Kelly. Scored for piano, voice, saxophone, flute, clarinet, acoustic bass and drums, Kelly ingeniously weaves into the sound-scape of the work recordings he made during visits to the gardens. These recordings include a child's experience of nature, poetry recited by a visitor, Forest Project interns speaking about the bee hives, a dialogue about natural and urban settings, and, in a hip-hop section, a variety of bird calls. AM New York online has singled out Wave Hill and this show as one of the best ways to celebrate spring. Wave Hill is one of five New York institutions participating in the Rakonto project. Among them are Flushing Town Hall, in celebration of the ethnic diversity of that community, and the Long Island Children's Museum, addressing the effects of Hurricane Sandy one year later. One hour, no intermission. General Admission Tickets $32, $28 Senior, $18 child (ages 7 to 18); Wave Hill Members $22; child $12. Order online, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM

MON, APRIL 28

Closed to the public.

TUE, APRIL 29    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, APRIL 29    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial assistant for a tour of Wave Hill's spring exhibition, Prickly, Tender and Steamy: Artists in the Hothouse, which assembles artworks that were created during Wave Hill's Winter Workspace program over the last five years. During their residencies, Gabriela Albergaria, Carrie Beckmann, Susan Benarcik, Matthew Burcaw, Asuka Hishiki, Nick Lamia, Lina Puerta, Naomi Reis, Anne-Katrin Spiess, Linda Stillman, James Walsh and Marion Wilson closely examined, and were inspired by, the living collection in Wave Hill's Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Representing a wide variety of mediums, the works on view give visitors multiple ways to observe the plants in the Tropical, Palm, Cactus and Succulent Houses. In the Sunroom Project Space, Brandon Neubauer's installation incorporates video projection, photographs and recorded sounds to create a portrait of the Wave Hill site that engages time, optical phenomena, topography and found objects. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

THU, MAY 1     ART WORKSHOP: PAINTING—ABSTRACTING THE LANDSCAPE
With Wave Hill as a starting point, learn to abstract the observed world using charcoal, ink, collage, and paint. Experiment with concepts of rhythm, shape, texture, time, scale and composition to depict the spirit and essence of the landscape. Artist Rachael Wren provides demonstrations and creative assistance as you explore your personal artistic voice. $135/$105 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.Three-session series continues May 8 and 15.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

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 on Tuesdays in April. Free until noon on Tuesdays in May. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs 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.

 

ECPW Wrestling Returns to Morris Park Saturday April 26th

NYC COMPTROLLER SCOTT M. STRINGER CALLS FOR GREATER SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AT 20 OF NYC PENSION FUNDS' LARGEST HOLDINGS

  New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, on behalf of the New York City Pension Funds, sent letters this week to twenty of the Funds’largest holdings, including Apple, Pfizer, Oracle, and American Express, asking them to disclose performance figures on their supplier diversity programs.  Ninety percent of S&P 100 companies have supplier diversity programs but less than half of that group discloses data on program performance. Supplier diversity is generally defined as programs that seek to purchase competitively priced goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and disabled individuals, among others.

“Supplier diversity is the next frontier for companies seeking to manage risk and create sustainable shareowner value,” Comptroller Stringer said. “A broader pool of diverse suppliers provides tangible benefits to corporations in terms of price and quality, but also enhances brand value, reputation and goodwill.  These 20 companies talk the talk but, absent disclosure, it’s impossible to measure the impact of their efforts.”

The letter requests that companies disclose qualitative and quantitative performance data that sheds light on program effectiveness either on the company web site or in a sustainability report by September 30, 2014, for disclosure of 2013 data, with annual reporting thereafter.  Specifically, companies were asked to:

1. Disclose their annual spend with diverse suppliers in both real terms and as a percentage of their total supplier spend, preferably by category;
2. Establish and disclose quantitative performance goals for their supplier diversity program and annual progress toward achieving these goals; and
3. Describe the ways in which supplier diversity goals are reinforced throughout the organization, including for example, through (a) oversight by senior management and the board of directors and (b) specific compensation incentives for employees, managers and senior executives

“We want companies to go beyond simply reporting dollars and cents spent on supplier diversity programs. We’re asking them to describe how the programs fit into their overall approach to diversity and to their business strategy more broadly. Some of the most successful companies in the world provide this information, now we are asking these corporations to follow suit,” Comptroller Stringer said.

The need for quantitative disclosure has become more urgent in light of the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires six federal regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, to assess the diversity policies and practices of regulated entities. In a February comment letter on proposed standards, Comptroller Stringer urged the SEC to encourage corporate disclosure of spending dedicated to diverse suppliers, both on an absolute basis and as a percentage of total spending.

The 20 companies that received letters this week represent less than 1 percent of the nearly 3,500 domestic public companies in the Funds’portfolios, but the combined investment in these 20 companies is valued at roughly $5.8 billion, more than 9 percent of the Funds’ total investment in domestic public equity. 

The companies which received the letter, along with approximate share values as of mid-March are:

1. Apple Inc.                                2.2 million shares valued at approximately $1.2 billion
2. Caterpillar                                1.5 million shares value at approximately $147.7 million
3. Pfizer, Inc.                               16.2 million shares valued at approximately $519.6 million
4. Oracle Corporation                 8.7 million shares valued at approximately $338.3 million
5. Qualcomm                              4.5 million shares valued at approximately $347.2 million
6. Cisco Systems, Inc.                13.4 million shares valued at approximately $290.1 million
7. Home Depot, Inc.                   3.6 million shares valued at approximately $286.7 million
8. United Technologies Corp.     2.3 million shares valued at approximately $262 million
9. Amgen, Inc.                            1.8 million shares valued at approximately $235.5 million
10. Boeing Company                    1.8 million shares valued at approximately $223 million
11. American Express Company 2.2 million shares valued at approximately $199 million
12. MasterCard, Inc.                     2.8 million shares valued at approximately $223 million
13. Bristol-Myers Squibb              3.8 million shares valued at approximately $210.7 million
14. 3M Company                          1.7 million shares valued at approximately $224.4 million
15. Conoco Phillips                       3.1 million shares valued at approximately $208.6 million
16. United Health Group               2.6 million shares valued at approximately $199.5 million
17. Honeywell International          1.8 million shares valued at approximately $173.5 million
18. US Bancorp                            4.2 million shares valued at approximately $178.4 million
19. Altria Group                             4.6 million shares valued at approximately $167.2 million
20. Nike, Inc.                                 1.8 million shares valued at approximately $145.1 million

Comptroller Stringer serves as the investment advisor to, and custodian and a trustee of, the New York City Pension Funds. The New York City Pension Funds are composed of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System, New York City Police Pension Fund, New York City Fire Department Pension Fund and the Board of Education Retirement System.

In addition to Comptroller Stringer, the New York City Pension Funds’ trustees are: New York City Employees’ Retirement System: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Representative, Carolyn Wolpert (Chair); New York City Public Advocate Letitia James; Borough Presidents: Gale Brewer (Manhattan), Melinda Katz (Queens), Eric Adams (Brooklyn), James Oddo (Staten Island), and Ruben Diaz, Jr. (Bronx); Lillian Roberts, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; John Samuelsen, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Teachers’ Retirement System: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Appointee, Carolyn Wolpert; Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, New York City Department of Education; and Sandra March, Melvyn Aaronson (Chair) and Mona Romain, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

New York City Police Pension Fund: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Representative, Carolyn Wolpert; New York City Finance Commissioner Beth Goldman; New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton (Chair); Patrick Lynch, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association; Michael Palladino, Detectives Endowment Association; Edward D. Mullins, Sergeants Benevolent Association; Louis Turco, Lieutenants Benevolent Association; and, Roy T. Richter, Captains Endowment Association.

New York City Fire Department Pension Fund: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Representative, Carolyn Wolpert; New York City Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano (Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Beth Goldman; Stephen Cassidy, President, James Slevin, Vice President, Robert Straub, Treasurer, and John Kelly, Brooklyn Representative and Chair, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York; John Farina, Captains’ Rep.; James Lemonda, Chiefs’ Rep., and James J. McGowan, Lieutenants’ Rep., Uniformed Fire Officers Association; and, Sean O’Connor, Marine Engineers Association.

Board of Education Retirement System: Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña; Mayoral: Milady Baez, Ezre T. Cleveland, Norm Fruchter, Vanessa Leung, Lori Podvesker, Robert Reffkin, Miguelina Zorilla-Aristy; Laura Zingmond (Manhattan BP), Fred Baptiste (Brooklyn BP), Debra Dillingham (Queens BP), Robert Powell (Bronx BP) and Kamillah Payne-Hanks (Staten Island BP); and employee members Joseph D’Amico of the IUOE Local 891 and Milagros Rodriguez of District Council 37, Local 372. 

13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DEBATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

The first of what could be many debates of the 2014 election season will be happening in the 13th Congressional District on Thursday April 10th at the Abyssinian Baptist Church 132 Odell Clark Pl starting at 7 PM.