DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY PROGRESS REPORT ON NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chief of Patrol Terrence Monahan today announced figures from a preliminary progress report on citywide neighborhood policing efforts at the 123^rd police precinct in the Tottenville neighborhood of Staten Island. The 123^rd precinct is the latest command set to become a Neighborhood Policing Command (NPC).

“Neighborhood policing has ushered in a new era of law enforcement built on mutual trust, understanding and cooperation. When New Yorkers know their local officers and trust their local officers, we are all safer as a city. Coupled with the retraining of the entire department and the introduction of body cameras, we’re giving officers the tools they need to do their jobs effectively and strengthening the bonds between police and community to make the safest city in the nation even safer,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“It's a great day for the South Shore of Staten Island, as we introduce Neighborhood Policing to the 123 Precinct,” said Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill. “In addition, the release of this report demonstrates the substantial progress we have made in reducing crime and building trust in neighborhood policing commands. This new philosophy will enable us, by working collectively with the public, to further reduce crime and keep New York the safest city in America.”

In May 2015, the de Blasio Administration and the New York City Police Department began the next phase in making the safest big city in America even safer by introducing a new way of fighting crime: neighborhood policing.

Neighborhood policing is now in place in more than fifty percent of the city’s precincts. In those precincts, the sectors – zones where police officers are assigned – have been re-drawn to reflect natural neighborhood borders. Officers are assigned week after week to the same sectors on the same shifts. When officers are consistently assigned to the same sector, they develop a profound understanding of the community they serve: the people, the problems, and the persistent issues. In addition to the officers assigned to patrol, each sector has two Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs), whose entire focus is on learning the neighborhood and advising the officers on patrol. All of that means more officers and sector cars are available to respond to calls from the public than at any time before.

The preliminary results are in: Neighborhood policing works.

The Model

The neighborhood policing philosophy is based on the simple concept that communities and cops will be safer if they know and trust each other. Each neighborhood policing command, comprised of three to five sectors, has two specifically trained NCOs assigned to each sector.

NCOs spend time in the community, building relationships, understanding the issues, handing out cards and phone numbers, and getting to know as many people as they can. Over time, they develop a granular sense of where crimes are being committed and who is committing them. As the officers deepen relationships and build trust with residents, the public begins to know the officers, coming to them with concerns, often allowing the NYPD to prevent crime before it occurs.  

Precincts with NCO commands are carefully re-drawn, so the sectors reflect the neighborhood, with dedicated patrol officers assigned to the same sectors on the same shifts. With more police officers responding to calls in their sectors, NCOs are able to engage in long-term crime fighting strategies. They use time away from the radio to follow-up on recurring crime or quality of life issues, attend community meetings, and visit with residents or business owners in the neighborhood.

Recently, in the north Bronx in the 52nd Precinct, the NCOs met with residents who told them about a series of car break-ins occurring on a residential block. The NCOs worked with detectives in the command, analyzed the historical data on the car break-ins and were able to pinpoint the precise time, day, and location where the break-ins were most likely to occur next. The NCOs shared this intelligence with officers working the midnight shift. The NCOs changed their tours and, with the sector officers, conducted directed patrols in the area. During a directed patrol, the NCOs and sector cops observed a suspicious male and carefully followed him until he committed a car break-in. After a foot pursuit, the suspect was caught. Later, detectives would tie the same suspect to five other break-ins.

A Big Change

Neighborhood policing represents a fundamental change in how the NYPD operates.

In the past, officers concentrated on specific types of crime, or responded to a backlog of 911 calls. With re-drawn sectors and more officers on patrol to answer radio runs, coupled with the training they need to successfully handle most situations, NCOs can take a holistic approach to the crime and conditions a community faces. Before neighborhood policing, officers on patrol typically would not have the time or training to address many problems neighborhoods face. Today, NCOs have the know-how to work with other agencies and engage in advanced problem solving.

For example, in October 2016, Neighborhood Coordination Officers from the 120th precinct on the North Shore of Staten Island collaborated with the Department of Buildings and a local bank to move squatters out of an unoccupied building owned by that bank. The NYPD secured the building, prevented future squatting, and addressed a long-standing quality of life condition for nearby residents. All of this was made possible by the advanced training NCOs receive and by the time they take to work with the neighborhood to identify and solve local problems.

Preliminary Results from Neighborhood Policing Commands for the First Quarter of 2017 and 2016

7 Major Crimes	2017	2016	Change
NCO Commands	12013	12814	-6.20%
Non-NCO Commands	10516	10967	-4.11%
City Wide	22529	23781	-5.20%
Shooting Incidents	2017	2016	Change
NCO Commands	115	163	-29.45%
Non-NCO Commands	34	31	9.68%
City Wide	149	194	-23.20%
Murders	2017	2016	Change
NCO Commands	43	47	-8.51
Non-NCO Commands	20	23	-13.04%
City Wide	63	70	-10.00%
Robbery	2017	2016	Change
NCO Commands	2036	2388	-14.74%
Non-NCO Commands	1206	1310	-7.94%
City Wide	3242	3698	-12.33%

Reductions in Shooting Incidents and Murders

Communities with neighborhood policing commands experienced 30 percent fewer shooting incidents in the first quarter of 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016. It is likely that 48 fewer shooting incidents in the area contributed to the 8.5 percent reduction in homicides there. Non-neighborhood policing commands experienced an increase of three shooting incidents in the same time frame, but had three fewer murders.    

Reductions in the 7 Major Crimes

For the first quarter of 2017, neighborhood policing commands experienced a in the seven major felony offenses (murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny of a motor vehicle) when compared to the first quarter of 2016. This means there were approximately 800 fewer major crimes committed in the neighborhood policing commands – and more people in these communities were protected from the pain and disruption caused by violent crime victimization. Non-neighborhood policing commands also experienced reductions in serious felony crimes, but at a lower rate with 450 fewer of the seven major felony offenses committed in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to 2016.

The de Blasio Administration and the NYPD look forward to the continued rollout of this innovative approach to keeping New Yorkers safe and making the safest big city in America even safer.    

Computer Engineer Arrested For Theft Of Proprietary Trading Code From His Employer

   Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ZHENGQUAN ZHANG, a/k/a “Zheng Quan Zhang,” a/k/a “Jim Z. Zhang,” was charged with theft of trade secrets for his alleged theft of proprietary computer code concerning algorithmic trading models and trading platforms from his employer, a global financial services firm headquartered in New York, New York, that engages in the trading of publicly traded securities and other financial products (“Firm-1”).  ZHANG was arrested this morning in Santa Clara, California, and was presented this afternoon in federal court in San Jose, California.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As alleged, Zhengquan Zhang went to great lengths to surreptitiously steal confidential computer code from his employer. Zhang allegedly installed code designed to steal his employer’s proprietary information and illegally accessed colleagues’ computer systems to further his theft. The theft charged here can happen to even the most sophisticated companies, but this arrest was made possible by the exemplary cooperation between the FBI and the victim company, which came forward promptly and alerted law enforcement of this alleged crime.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Proprietary computer code may not be a tangible asset that people can observe, but it is indeed one of the most critical assets that companies possess. Significant investments are made to develop code, safeguard it and use it to generate revenue. As we allege, Zhang misused his access to an employer’s computer system and proceeded to download and remove over three million files of data and computer code. The FBI is committed to enforcing laws that protect U.S. companies from the theft of trade secrets.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint unsealed today[1]:

Firm-1 uses proprietary algorithmic trading models to help it predict market movements and make trading decisions.  In addition, Firm-1 uses proprietary trading platforms to create orders, automatically submit those orders to an exchange or market center, and execute orders.  These trading models and trading platforms contribute substantially to Firm-1’s market share and profits, and their economic value depends, in part, on remaining undisclosed.  Firm-1 accordingly has put in place substantial measures designed to protect the computer source code underlying its trading models and trading platforms (the “Source Code”), including the use of encryption keys to encrypt and decrypt portions of the Source Code, limits on employee access to the Source Code, and restrictions on employee use of file sharing websites and portable storage devices.

Beginning in March 2010, ZHANG was employed in technical roles within Firm-1 for which he was granted access to certain parts of Firm-1’s computer system.  From December 2016 through March 2017, ZHANG took various steps to steal the Source Code.  For example, ZHANG installed on Firm-1’s system computer code designed to look for encryption keys to gain access to portions of the Source Code.  ZHANG also installed computer code designed to send data from Firm-1’s system to an external third-party software development site, which ZHANG accessed thousands of times from Firm-1’s system.  ZHANG used an area of Firm-1’s computer system to store over 3 million files of data, including unencrypted portions of the Source Code, before sending it to the external site.

In addition, in late March 2017, ZHANG accessed parts of Firm-1’s computer system that he was not authorized to access.  For example, ZHANG remotely accessed the computer desktops of certain quantitative analysts employed by Firm-1.  ZHANG subsequently admitted to a supervisor that he did so without authorization, using software that he had modified in order to capture individuals’ usernames and passwords.

ZHANG, 31, of Santa Clara, California, is charged with one count of theft of trade secrets, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.  He also thanked the San Jose office of the FBI as well as the Santa Clara and Palo Alto Police Departments for their assistance.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Pakistani Man Pleads Guilty In Axact Diploma Mill Scam

   Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that UMAIR HAMID, a/k/a “Shah Khan,” a/k/a the “Shah,” pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with an international “diploma mill” scheme that collected tens of millions of dollars from thousands of customers.  As alleged in the Indictment to which HAMID pled guilty and the related criminal Complaint, HAMID and his co-conspirators made false and fraudulent representations to consumers on websites and over the phone to trick them into enrolling in purported colleges and high schools, and issued fake diplomas upon receipt of upfront fees from consumers.  

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Operating from Pakistan, Umair Hamid helped fraudulently rake in millions of dollars from unwitting American consumers who paid to enroll in, and get degrees from, high schools and colleges that did not exist. As a result of his fraud, people who thought they were investing in an education received nothing more than worthless diplomas and a harsh lesson in the worldwide reach of deceit. Together with our partners at the FBI and the Postal Service, we will continue to work to protect consumers from scams that victimize our citizens.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the Complaint against HAMID, as well as other court filings in this matter:

The Axact Scheme

HAMID, using the aliases “Shah Khan” and the “Shah,” and others operated a massive education “diploma mill” through the Pakistani company “Axact,” which has described itself as one of the world’s leading information technology (“IT”) providers.  Working on behalf of Axact, HAMID and others made misrepresentations to individuals across the world, including throughout the United States and in the Southern District of New York, in order to dupe these individuals into enrolling in supposed high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.  Consumers paid upfront fees to HAMID and his co-conspirators, believing that in return they would be enrolled in real educational courses and, eventually, receive legitimate degrees.  Instead, after paying the upfront fees, consumers did not receive any legitimate instruction and were provided fake and worthless diplomas. 

Axact promoted and claimed to have an affiliation with approximately 350 fictitious high schools and universities, which Axact advertised online to consumers as genuine schools.  During certain time periods since 2014, Axact received approximately 5,000 phone calls per day from individuals seeking to purchase Axact products or enroll in educational institutions supposedly affiliated with Axact.  At least some of those consumers appeared to believe that they were calling phone numbers associated with the respective schools.  When consumers asked where the schools were located, sales representatives were instructed to give fictitious addresses. 

Once a consumer paid for a school certificate or diploma that falsely reflected a completed course of study, Axact sales agents were trained to use sales techniques to persuade the consumer to purchase additional “accreditation” or “certifications” for such certificates or diplomas in order to make them appear more legitimate.  Axact, through HAMID and his co-conspirators, falsely “accredited” purported colleges and other educational institutions by arranging to have diplomas from these phony educational institutions affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the U.S. Secretary of State, as well as various state agencies and federal and state officials. 

HAMID’s Role in the Scheme

HAMID served as Axact’s “Assistant Vice President of International Relations.”  Among other things, HAMID made various false and fraudulent representations to consumers in order to sell fake diplomas.  HAMID controlled websites of purported “schools” that (1) falsely represented that consumers who “enrolled” with the schools by paying tuition fees would receive online instruction and coursework, (2) sold bogus academic “accreditations” in exchange for additional fees, (3) falsely represented that the schools had been certified or accredited by various educational organizations, and (4) falsely represented that the schools’ degrees were valid and accepted by employers, including in the United States. 

As a further part of the scheme, HAMID and a co-conspirator (1) opened bank accounts in the United States in the names of shell entities, effectively controlled by HAMID, that received funds transferred by consumers in exchange for fake diplomas, (2) transferred funds from those bank accounts to bank accounts associated with other entities located elsewhere in the United States and abroad, at the direction of HAMID, and (3) opened and operated an account to collect and distribute consumer funds obtained in connection with their fraudulent scheme.

In May 2015, Axact was shut down by Pakistani law enforcement, and certain individuals associated with Axact were prosecuted in Pakistan.  Nevertheless, after May 2015, HAMID resumed his fraudulent business of selling fake diplomas to consumers in the United States for upfront fees based upon false and fraudulent representations.  Most recently, HAMID traveled to the United States in 2016 in order to open a bank account used to collect money from defrauded consumers.

HAMID, 31, of Karachi, Pakistan, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  HAMID is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Abrams on July 21, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. 

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

If you believe you were a victim of this crime, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact the Victim/Witness Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (866) 874-8900.  For additional information, go to http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/victimwitness.html.

Peruvian National Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court To Commodities And Wire Fraud For Running Million-Dollar Ponzi Scheme

   Joon H Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that PEDRO JARAMILLO, a/k/a “Enrique Jaramillo,” pled guilty in Manhattan federal court yesterday to commodities fraud and wire fraud stemming from his scheme to defraud more than two dozen investors, mostly retirees and professionals from Peru and countries in Latin America, of more than $1.2 million through a fraud scheme in which JARAMILLO solicited investments largely for the purported purpose of short-term commodity futures contracts but instead diverted the funds for his own purposes.  As a result of their investments with JARAMILLO, investors have lost their life savings, retirement funds, and their homes.

Among other false and misleading statements, JARAMILLO represented to clients that he was an accomplished Wall Street commodities trader who partnered with a certain well-known international investment bank (the “Global Investment Bank”) to earn returns of 25 percent every 90 days for his investors.  In fact, JARAMILLO utterly failed to invest monies as promised, had no partnership with the Global Investment Bank, and instead diverted the majority of investor funds to his own use through cash withdrawals, debit purchases, and by wiring funds offshore.  The investor funds not diverted offshore or directly to JARAMILLO were used to repay earlier investors whose redemption requests could not be forestalled, in a Ponzi-like fashion. 

JARAMILLO was arrested on December 2, 2016, and pled guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As he admitted, Pedro Jaramillo lured investors with the promise of guaranteed high returns, but the only one who profited was Jaramillo.  He failed to invest funds as promised, and paid back early investors with funds from later investors.  Many of the victims of his frauds lost their life savings.  I want to thank the FBI for working with us to protect investors.”

According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other statements made in open court:

From at least January 2014 to in or about December 2016, JARAMILLO solicited more than $1.2 million in investments from more than two dozen investors, primarily for the purported purpose of investing in commodity futures contracts, by falsely representing, orally and in writing, that investor monies would be invested in short-term commodities contracts with a guaranteed rate of return.

To help attract investors, JARAMILLO maintained an office on Wall Street (the “Wall Street Office”) where he met with prospective investors to tout his prior success and relationship with the Global Investment Bank.  JARAMILLO also starred in a youtube.com video (the “Video”) set to the soundtrack of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”  The Video featured a series of images of Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, and JARAMILLO in front of the Wall Street Office.  In the video, JARAMILLO told prospective investors that he was a “proven winner” and “trusted partner” who would maintain individually managed and federally insured accounts for each client.  JARAMILLO told prospective investors that these safeguards would ensure that prospective investors would “be protected against fraud and brokerage failure.” 

In truth and in fact, JARAMILLO not only failed to create individual investment accounts, he also failed to use investor funds to make any legitimate investments, instead diverting the majority of funds to his own use, out of the country, or to repay earlier investors whose redemption requests could not be forestalled.  In total, JARAMILLO diverted more than $700,000 to his own use in the form of cash withdrawals and debit card purchases used to fund his lifestyle, including thousands of dollars on three vacations to Disney World for JARAMILLO, family, and guests. 

To hide his misappropriations and continue to fund his personal lifestyle, JARAMILLO also used new investor funds to pay back other investors in a Ponzi-like fashion.  In total, since January 2014, JARAMILLO distributed more than $200,000 back to investors from funds deposited by new investors.  During that time, JARAMILLO also diverted more than $100,000 of investor funds out of bank accounts he controlled in the United States to foreign bank accounts, including in Peru, where JARAMILLO is a citizen.

JARAMILLO, 48, a Peruvian National who was residing in Queens, New York, before his arrest, pled guilty to one count of commodities fraud and one count of wire fraud. The commodities fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.   The wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  The defendant, who has been detained since his arrest, will be sentenced at a future date by Judge Swain.

Mr. Kim praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He also noted that the investigation is continuing.

Former CUNY School Of Professional Services Budget Director Charged With Embezzlement And Fraud

   Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Catherine Leahy Scott, New York State Inspector General, and Brian M. Hickey, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Northeast Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (“ED-OIG”), announced today that CARMINE MARINO, the former budget and finance director of City University of New York’s School of Professional Services (“CUNY SPS”) was arrested this morning and charged in Manhattan federal court with embezzling funds from CUNY SPS.  MARINO voluntarily surrendered to federal authorities this morning and will be presented this afternoon in Manhattan federal court.    

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As alleged, the former budget and finance director at CUNY SPS abused his position of trust, taking money that belonged to New York City college students for his own benefit.  I want to thank our partners at the New York State Inspector General and Department of Education Office of Inspector General for their work to root out corruption at federally assisted New York schools.”

New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott said:  “This arrest involving federal fraud and embezzlement charges against a former top university official underscores CUNY’s lack of supervision and appropriate controls, which unfortunately has been a consistent theme in my investigation of the CUNY system.  I thank Acting U.S. Attorney Kim for prosecuting the case, and I will continue to work with current CUNY leadership and use all of the resources of my office to restore the trust among the student and taxpayers at large and to protect the integrity of the institution.”

ED-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Brian M. Hickey said:  “Today’s charges allege that Mr. Marino knowingly and willfully abused his positions of trust for personal gain. That is completely unacceptable.  OIG Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of our nation’s students. America’s students, their families, and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and publicly available documents:

CARMINE MARNIO was in charge of finance and fiscal operations at CUNY SPS between 2007 and 2012, first as its Manager of Fiscal Operations, and then as its Director of Fiscal and Business Operations.  In those roles, he controlled and oversaw CUNY SPS’s finances and bank accounts.  In two separate but similar schemes, MARINO used his power over CUNY SPS’s finances to set up unauthorized bank accounts in CUNY SPS’s name, and to fund those accounts with money from CUNY SPS’s tuition account, among others.  MARINO then used those unauthorized accounts, which only he knew about, to embezzle tens of thousands of dollars for his personal use.    

MARINO, 43, of Los Angeles, California, is charged with one count of embezzlement and misappropriation from a program receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and two counts of bank fraud, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the New York State Inspector General’s Office, ED-OIG, and the Criminal Investigators of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and noted that the investigation is continuing. 

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

---

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitutes only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda Easter Egg Hunt

  It was billed as the Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda/State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. Easter Egg Hunt, but do to reasons beyond both the assemblyman and senator's control both missed the event. Staffers from Assemblyman Sepulveda's office bravely faced the onslaught of the children who went hunting for Easter Eggs with prizes inside them. The Easter Bunny showed up to take photos with the children, but the bunny seemed to be the sane size as Assemblyman Sepulveda. 

Above and Below - There was a video call from Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda that he was stuck in Albany due to the budget crisis. The Easter Bunny came to the event, and in the below photo in the background is the staffer who was suppose to be the Easter Bunny. 

Above - The Easter Bunny welcomed the children to his home wgere he had placed special eggs with prizes inside them for the children. 

Below - The children look and find the eggs that were hidden by the Easter Bunny.

Senator Klein Hosts 22nd Annual Bunny Breakfast

  Senator Jeff Klein hosted his 22nd Annual Bunny Breakfast Easter celebration at Villa Barone Manor this morning. Hundreds of Bronx children and their families enjoyed a healthy complimentary breakfast followed by a magic show.

The children also had the opportunity to have their face painted, to build their own stuffed animals and pose for photos with the Easter Bunny, who made a special appearance during the event. See the photos below.

Above and Below - Senator Klein met with parents and their children.

Above - Another photo with parents, and a face painted child.

Below - A photo of Senator Klein, the Easter Bunny, and many children.

Above - Damien the Magician wanted to know if the children believed in magic.

Below - He performs the old rope trick with an assistant.

Wave Hill Events Apr 21–Apr 28 Earth Day Weekend!

   This weekend, Wave Hill joins in the global celebration of Earth Day. Whether it’s a free session of meditation, a nature program that focuses on some of the smallest (at least to the naked eye) denizens of the globe or a session of family art-making, we hope you will claim Wave Hill as your place of choice to appreciate and enjoy our first mother, Mother Earth.

This Sunday is also the last concert in the 2016-2017 concert season in historic Armor Hall. It will pair well with a visit to Glyndor Gallery to look at the dynamic show that just opened there. Concert and exhibition both focus on giving voices to women—in this case, women artists.

SAT, APRIL 22    FAMILY ART PROJECT: EARTH DAY FOR PROTECTING POLLINATORS

Celebrate Earth Day by learning about how we can protect and support our environment and essential pollinators, like the honeybees who live at Wave Hill. Sunroom Project Space Artist Borinquen Gallo uses yellow caution tape in large-scale installations to stand as metaphors for sustainability and environmental care. Raise awareness of how pesticides impact pollinators through individual art projects or by contributing small projects to be included in Gallo’s dynamic installation in Glyndor Gallery! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Earth Day Weekend event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

 SAT, APRIL 22    IN THE SHOP: REUSABLE WAVE HILL TOTE

In celebration of Earth Day, spend at least $50 in The Shop today and receive a reusable Wave Hill Tote Bag as our gift to you.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–4:30PM

SAT, APRIL 22    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

SAT, APRIL 22    WELLNESS WORKSHOP: EARTH DAY MEDITATION

Use the garden landscape as inspiration this Earth Day weekend with healer, artist and yogi Sara Hart from iHart Lens. With an emphasis on the art of meditation and the healing arts, practice simple techniques that you can use to bring light to any occasion, anywhere, any day. Bring your own cushion or blanket; art materials will be provided. Registration not required. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Earth Day Weekend event.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM–1PM

SAT, APRIL 22    GALLERY TOUR

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow will lead a tour of the spring exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show, Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Borinquen Gallo’s imaginary hive interior is informed by Wave Hill’s beehives. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, APRIL 23    FAMILY ART PROJECT: EARTH DAY FOR PROTECTING POLLINATORS

Celebrate Earth Day by learning about how we can protect and support our environment and essential pollinators, like the honeybees who live at Wave Hill. Sunroom Project Space Artist Borinquen Gallo uses yellow caution tape in large-scale installations to stand as metaphors for sustainability and environmental care. Raise awareness of how pesticides impact pollinators through individual art projects or by contributing small projects to be included in Gallo’s dynamic installation in Glyndor Gallery! Free with admission to the grounds. Earth Day Weekend event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, APRIL 23    IN THE SHOP: REUSABLE WAVE HILL TOTE

In celebration of Earth Day, spend at least $50 in The Shop today and receive a reusable Wave Hill Tote Bag as our gift to you. Earth Day Weekend event.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–4:30PM

SUN, APRIL 23    EARTH DAY INSECT EXPEDITION

Get up-close and personal with insects and other critters that creep, crawl and cruise around the Hudson River Valley in springtime. Check out live and preserved insects on display, then explore Wave Hill with insect guru Lawrence Forcella to hunt for native creatures in their garden habitats. Ages eight and up welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Earth Day Weekend event. 

ON THE GROUNDS, NOON & 1PM

SUN, APRIL 23    PRE-CONCERT TEA

Enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Mark Twain Room prior to today’s concert in Armor Hall. The Café at Wave Hill pairs a classic menu with an assortment of green, black and herbal teas. This traditional tea service includes the four classic elements of savory, scones, sweets and tea. The menu, presented by Great Performances, includes an array of tea sandwiches, scones and bite-sized desserts. Afternoon Tea also includes a glass of sparkling wine. Afternoon Tea Service is $36. Wave Hill Members receive a 10% discount. Advanced registration is required, online at wavehill.org. We will take reservations until5PM, Thursday, April 20.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON

SUN, APRIL 23    CONCERT: WOMEN COMPOSERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This concert brings women composers and their work to the forefront and is presented in conjunction with the Glyndor Gallery exhibition Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness. Curated by American composer and educator Suzanne Farrin, her insightful commentaries guide the audience through performances that showcase a landscape of music from the Baroque period to today. The performers are soprano Tony Arnold and harpist Bridget Kibbey. The afternoon begins with music by Barbara Strozzi, a 17th-century Venetian composer and singer of opera who performed her own music and that of such contemporaries as Vivaldi. It concludes with works from current leading women composers, including Farrin’s Suono, which received its world premiere as part of the 2016 Mostly Mozart Festival, and Kaija Saariaho’s Fall. The program will be followed by a conversation with the artists. Ms. Farrin is professor and chair of the music department at Hunter College, and has hosted a show for WQXR’s Q2. Her work La Dolce Morte enjoyed its world premiere performances at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the spring of 2016. Performances begin at 2PM and last approximately one hour with no intermission. Ticket prices: Adults $28/$22 Wave Hill Member, Children (ages 8-18) $15/$12. Order tickets online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitors Center. For additional information, please call 718.549.3200 x251.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM

SUN, APRIL 23    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

MON, APRIL 24    

Closed to the public.

TUE, APRIL 25    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, APRIL 25    GALLERY TOUR

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow will lead a tour of the spring exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show, Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Borinquen Gallo’s imaginary hive interior is informed by Wave Hill’s beehives. Free with admission to the grounds. GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

FRI, APRIL 28    GARDEN WALK: NOTABLE TREES OF WAVE HILL

Wave Hill’s landscape includes magnificent old trees, rare species and native beauties. Wander through the gardens on this special walk with Director of Horticulture Louis Bauer to see some of his favorites from the living collection. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 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–5:30PM, starting March 15.  Closes 4:30PM, November 1–March 14.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. 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 30 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 W. 242nd 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.