Wave Hill events Oct 17‒Oct 24:

Thu, October 17

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Fri, October 18

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Sat, October 19

Family Art Project: The Walking Snag

Is your bark peeling? Are there bugs at your roots? Is there fungus among us? Which decomposers lurk within? Once a tree has lived its life, it either falls and becomes a log in the forest or a snag—a standing dead tree. Outfit yourself as a snag and cover yourself with fungus, lichens and other decomposers that you create! Join a parade of walking snags to celebrate our decomposer friends. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sat, October 19

Decomposition Central

What do lowly millipedes, mushrooms and land mollusks have in common? They are star players on the decomposition squad that makes life on earth sustainable for all of us. Stop by Decomposition Central to chat with entomologist Lindsay Velazco and naturalist Pam Golben as they de-mystify the de-composition process. Visit the Scavenger and Decomposer Petting Zoo to see and touch some friendly scavengers and decomposers, and observe scavenging dermestid (flesh-eating) beetles at work. Then pick up a self-guided garden scavenger hunt to look for—what else?—scavengers!  Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 11AM–4PM

Sat, October 19

The Boneyard

Skulls, bones, teeth, shells, antlers—see what’s left after an animal carcass decomposes. Meet Lawrence Forcella, an oddities expert and bone collector, and learn about osteology, the study of bones and skeletal elements. Team up to try to reassemble a skeleton! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 11AM–4PM

Sat, October 19

Decomposer Detectives Family Walk

Are you curious about worms, insects, fungi, and other creatures that live on the forest floor? Grab a magnifying glass and join us as a Decomposer Detective! Learn all about the activities of the organisms that help break down dead leaves, wood, and other organic matter in Wave Hill’s Abrons Woodland. Please wear closed-toed shoes and appropriate clothing to be out on our woodland adventure! Ages five and up welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Meet at Wave Hill House, NOON and 1PM

Sat, October 19

Wave Hill History Walk

Discover the fascinating history of Wave Hill’s architecture and landscape on a walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Hear about the people who once called Wave Hill home, among them Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Bashford Dean and Arturo Toscanini. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Sat, October 19

Vulture Culture: A Live Bird Presentation

Often misunderstood, vultures and other scavengers are essential members of nature’s clean-up crew, eating dead animals and halting the spread of dangerous diseases. Observe vultures and other scavenging birds of prey and hear about their adaptive (and somewhat cringeworthy) behaviors with Brian Robinson of Robinson Wildlife Lectures. Free, with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 2PM

Sat, October 19

Gallery Tour

Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Assistant or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. A flower’s life cycle of budding, blooming and pollinating, as well as its process of decay, strongly echoes the human condition. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who apply this symbolism to their work—touching on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, aging and other facets of identity. Participating artists are Derrick Adams, Nicole Awai, Bahar Behbahani, Christian Ruiz Berman, Sanford Biggers, Cecile Chong, Max Colby, Abigail DeVille, Valerie Hegarty, Christopher K. Ho and Kevin Zucker, Diana Lozano, Natalia Nakazawa, Ebony G. Patterson, Bundith Phunsombatlert, Lina Puerta, Simonette Quamina, David Rios Ferreira, Alexandria Smith, Katherine Toukhy, Lina Iris Viktor, William Villalongo and Saya Woolfalk. In the Sunroom, Emily Oliveira creates a vibrant, installation using large-scale, textile pieces, sculpture and video to transform the Sunroom into a devotional space for a decolonized, queer utopia 1,000 years into the future. In the Sun Porch, Duy Hoàng creates a sculptural installation inspired by his research and material experimentation. In his laboratory-like setting, Hoàng creates a shelter and uses intersecting Paracords and tree branches to juxtapose found objects, such as fallen plants and photographs of fauna and flora sourced from Wave Hill.  Free with admission to the grounds.

Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

Sun, October 20

Family Art Project: The Walking Snag

Is your bark peeling? Are there bugs at your roots? Is fungus among us? Which decomposers lurk within? Once a tree has lived its life, it either falls and becomes a log in the forest or a snag—a standing dead tree. Outfit yourself as a snag and cover yourself with fungus, lichens and other decomposers that you create! Join a parade of walking snags to celebrate our decomposer friends. Free with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sun, October 20

Decomposition Central

What do lowly millipedes, mushrooms and land mollusks have in common? They are star players on the decomposition squad that makes life on earth sustainable for all of us. Stop by Decomposition Central to chat with entomologist Lindsay Velazco and naturalist Pam Golben as they de-mystify the de-composition process. Visit the Scavenger and Decomposer Petting Zoo to see and touch some friendly scavengers and decomposers, and observe scavenging dermestid (flesh-eating) beetles at work. Then pick up a self-guided garden scavenger hunt to look for—what else?—scavengers!  Free with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 11AM–4PM

Sun, October 20

The Boneyard

Skulls, bones, teeth, shells, antlers—see what’s left after an animal carcass decomposes. Meet Lawrence Forcella, an oddities expert and bone collector, and learn about osteology, the study of bones and skeletal elements. Team up to try to reassemble a skeleton! Free with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 11AM–4PM

Sun, October 20

Decomposer Detectives Family Walk

Are you curious about worms, insects, fungi, and other creatures that live on the forest floor? Grab a magnifying glass and join us as a Decomposer Detective! Learn all about the activities of the organisms that help break down dead leaves, wood, and other organic matter in Wave Hill’s Abrons Woodland. Please wear closed-toed shoes and appropriate clothing to be out on our woodland adventure! Ages five and up welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Meet at Wave Hill House, NOON and 1PM

Sun, October 20

Secret Lives of Scavengers…A Trail Camera Project

What happens to a deer when it dies in the woods? Lots! A parade of scavengers, from common raven to bald eagle to bobcat, recycle the carcass in short order. Using dramatic images captured by motion activated cameras, Dr. Ed McGowan, Director of Science at the Trailside Museums & Zoo, with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, chronicles the expected and unexpected wild animals drawn to the life-supporting protein of a dead deer. These images captured in NY State Parks reveal the importance of scavenging for regional rarities, such as the golden eagle, and the risks to wildlife from lead poisoning from unrecovered hunter-shot deer. Free with admission to the grounds. Scavengers & Decomposers Weekend event.

Wave Hill House, 2PM

Sun, October 20

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2PM

Mon, October 21

Wave Hill is closed.

Tue, October 22

Gallery Tour

Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Assistant or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. A flower’s life cycle of budding, blooming and pollinating, as well as its process of decay, strongly echoes the human condition. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who apply this symbolism to their work—touching on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, aging and other facets of identity. Participating artists are Derrick Adams, Nicole Awai, Bahar Behbahani, Christian Ruiz Berman, Sanford Biggers, Cecile Chong, Max Colby, Abigail DeVille, Valerie Hegarty, Christopher K. Ho and Kevin Zucker, Diana Lozano, Natalia Nakazawa, Ebony G. Patterson, Bundith Phunsombatlert, Lina Puerta, Simonette Quamina, David Rios Ferreira, Alexandria Smith, Katherine Toukhy, Lina Iris Viktor, William Villalongo and Saya Woolfalk. In the Sunroom, Emily Oliveira creates a vibrant, installation using large-scale, textile pieces, sculpture and video to transform the Sunroom into a devotional space for a decolonized, queer utopia 1,000 years into the future. In the Sun Porch, Duy Hoàng creates a sculptural installation inspired by his research and material experimentation. In his laboratory-like setting, Hoàng creates a shelter and uses intersecting Paracords and tree branches to juxtapose found objects, such as fallen plants and photographs of fauna and flora sourced from Wave Hill.  Free with admission to the grounds.

Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

Wed, October 23

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Thu, October 24

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Thu, October 24

On Site Opera Presents The Turn of the Screw: Ticketed Dress Rehearsal   *SOLD OUT*

Just as the chill of fall permeates the air, the acclaimed On Site Opera stages three performances of Benjamin Britten’s haunting tale The Turn of the Screw in October. This roving opera takes guests from the Great Lawn and on to Wave Hill house to watch as a terrified governess struggles to comfort her two young charges. This psychological thriller hurtles to a chilling conclusion as guests follow performers into Mark Twain Room and Armor Hall. In addition to today's dress rehearsal, The Turn of the Screw will be presented at Wave Hill on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 25, 26 and 27. All  performances are sold out. $60 for dress rehearsal; Wave Hill Members save 10%.  

On the Grounds & Wave Hill House, 7:30PM

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, March 15–October 31. Closes 4:30PM, starting November 1.

ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 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.

 

Attorney General James Sues NYCharities.org For Missing Funds

NYCharities.org Failed to Turn Over Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Contributions to New York Charitable Organizations

 Attorney General Letitia James today sued NYCharities.org, an online fundraising platform, for failing to distribute more than $750,000 in contributions to charities throughout New York.

“I will not allow greed to profit off of the generosity of New Yorkers without a fight,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Leaving New York charitable donors uncertain if their donations will ever make it to their intended cause is unacceptable. My office is committed to maintaining the integrity of New York’s charitable sector and protecting those who contribute to it.”  

The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court today, follows an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, which received more than 125 complaints from New York State charities. The complaints allege that those charities, which had entrusted NYCharities.org;to collect contributions on their behalf, have not received those contributions since May 2019. The claims of unpaid contributions range from $200 to more than $100,000.

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction freezing NYCharities.org’s bank accounts, an accounting of all funds collected on behalf of New York charities, and appointment of a receiver to oversee payment of those funds to the charities to which they belong. The Attorney General is also seeking to bar NYCharities.org permanently from conducting any activity in New York.

AG James Files Motion To Oppose Purdue Pharma's $38 Million In Bonus Payments To Company Executives

 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of 24 additional attorneys general from around the nation, today filed a “joinder” in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to formally oppose Purdue Pharma’s decision to pay out $38 million in bonuses to company executives, despite the fact that the company has filed for bankruptcy.

“As Purdue Pharma argues in court that they cannot afford to pay creditors what they owe, the company wants to hand out $38 million in bonuses to their top executives,” said Attorney General James. “The company needs to be held to account, not be allowed to recklessly spend what they claim are limited funds. Our broad coalition of attorneys general is taking action today to stop this waste from proceeding.”

The attorneys general filed a joinder to the United States Trustee’s objection to Purdue’s authorization request for their multi-million dollar incentive, bonus, and severance plans. Purdue submitted this request just two weeks after declaring bankruptcy in the face of multi-billion dollar liabilities for their role in engineering the opioid epidemic.

Joining Attorney General James in filing today’s joinder to the U.S. Trustee’s opposition filing are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Bronx Man Sentenced To Life Plus 75 Years In Prison In Connection With Murders Of Marvin Harris

  

  Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMES FELTON was sentenced today to life plus 75 years in prison for the June 11, 2016, murder of Marvin Harris, whom FELTON shot 13 times, and the December 11, 2016, murder of Jose Morales, whom FELTON shot in the head.  FELTON’s sentence also encompassed his participation in a drug conspiracy and firearms offenses.  FELTON was convicted on June 19, 2019, after a jury trial before U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III, who imposed today’s sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “James Felton murdered two people in cold blood and attempted to murder two others.  The sentence imposed today is a just punishment for a brutal, unrepentant killer.  We thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department for their outstanding work on this case and for their dedication in bringing Felton to justice.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and evidence at trial:

Between 2010 and 2017, FELTON was a member of a long-running narcotics conspiracy centered around 240 East 175th Street in the Bronx, New York, as well as a criminal enterprise consisting of members of his family and other associates.  On June 11, 2016, at the corner of East 175th Street and Monroe Avenue, FELTON shot Marvin Harris 13 times after Harris insulted FELTON and challenged FELTON’s status within the drug territory.  Six months later, at the corner of East 175th Street and Weeks Avenue, one block away from the scene of the Harris murder, FELTON shot rival drug dealer Edwin Romero four times, attempted to shoot Romero’s girlfriend, and shot Jose Morales in the head, killing him.

In addition to the prison term, FELTON, 50, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York City Police Department.  

A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Claudette Colvin

  Sixty-five years ago on an Alabama bus fifteen year old Claudette Colvin (a black teenager in the 1950's) refused to give her seat to a white woman. The bus driver called the police, and Ms. Colvin was taken off the bus and arrested. This did not make headlines because the Civil Rights Movement was just getting started. It would be Rosa Parks the head of the local Alabama NAACP chapter nine months later who would be credited with refusing to give up he seat on an Alabama bus.

Local Bronx elected officials spoke, with City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. and Parkchester District Leader John Perez presenting a ceremonial NYC street sign "Claudette Colvin Plaza" to Ms. Colvin. Councilman Diaz Sr. proposed a street co-naming for Ms. Colvin this year, but City Council Speaker Cory Johnson said that a street can not be named after a living person. While that is false as former New York Yankee pitcher Mariano Rivera had a street by Yankee Stadium co-named for him after retiring from the Yankees, and former Mayor Ed Koch was at the re-naming of the 59th Street Bridge the Ed Koch Bridge. The street co-naming will take place next year.

There was a congratulatory video from former first lady Hillary Clinton, and daughter Chelsea, as well as several others. A portrait of Ms. Claudette Colvin was unveiled by former Parkchester NAACP President Beverly. Roberts, and there was a toast honoring Ms. Colvin. The invite only event took place at Maestros Caterers on Bronxdale Avenue. . 

Above - (L-R) District Leader John Perez, Edna Thompson Grager, Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., Councilman Andy King.

Below - City Council members Ruben Diaz Sr. and. Andy King with Civil Rights Legend Claudette Colvin.

Above - Former Parkchester NAACP President with Senator Luis Sepulveda and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.

Below - Former Parkchester NAACP President  Roberts Roberts with Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. and Parkchester District Leader John Perez.

Ms. Beverly Roberts unveiled this rendering of the history of Claudette Colvin.

NYC CARE: 5,000 NEW YORKERS RECEIVING ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

  NYC Care will launch in Brooklyn and Staten Island in January 2020

   NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that NYC Care, a health care access program that is a key component of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to guarantee accessible and affordable health care for all New Yorkers, has enrolled more than 5,000 New Yorkers in the Bronx since the August 1 program launch in the borough. The program is on track to meet the Bronx enrollment goal of 10,000 patients in the first six months. In addition, 100 percent of members enrolled in NYC Care continue to be offered a first appointment within two weeks with a primary care provider, and there have been nearly 3,000 low-cost prescriptions filled during the new extended pharmacy hours that are a part of the program. After its successful implementation in the Bronx, NYC Care will launch in Brooklyn and Staten Island in January 2020. In preparation for the launch, the public health system has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) in both boroughs to help engage prospective NYC Care members.

“In New York City, we’re making guaranteed health care a reality,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Health care is a basic right and with NYC Care, we are ensuring that right for working people across our City, and setting a nationwide model of what it means to provide low-cost, affordable health care.”

“I’m proud that we are already half-way to our goal of 10,000 members in the Bronx just two months into the program,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “This further demonstrates how necessary it is to make high-quality, affordable healthcare accessible to New Yorkers who often are not given a viable option to live their healthiest lives.”

“Over 5,000 people in the Bronx are connected to primary care, low-cost prescriptions, and a new member experience through NYC Care” said NYC Care Executive Director Marielle Kress. “This program helped a mother who has had ear pain for years get connected with a specialist and a person who couldn’t afford insurance get a primary care doctor. It helps thousands of patients who need same-day access to medications avoid going to the emergency room. We are excited to bring these same benefits to Brooklyn and Staten Island.”

NYC Care is the new no- or low-cost health care access program of NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who are not eligible for insurance or who cannot afford it. The program, which is now operating in the Bronx and will be available citywide by the end of 2020, is expected to dramatically change the way the City’s public health system connects people to personalized, coordinated primary and preventive care at its 70-plus patient care locations throughout the five boroughs, including 11 hospitals and its Gotham Health Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network. NYC Care offers affordable medications day or night, culturally responsive care, extensive language access and interpretation services, and provides new 24/7 customer service support. Eligible New Yorkers can enroll by calling 646-NYC-CARE to meet with a financial counselor at a health system patient care site and receive a personalized NYC Care membership card in the mail.

As part of outreach efforts, community based organizations BronxWorks, Emerald Isle, Mekong, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and Sauti Yetu Center for African Women have been conducting culturally appropriate outreach to prospective NYC Care members in the Bronx as part of their partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals as of the August launch. In addition, NYC Health + Hospital launched a borough-wide multilingual advertisement campaign including public transportation, neighborhood locations, social media and LinkNYC terminals.

The RFP for Brooklyn and Staten Island community-based organizations can be found on the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City webpage. Approximately 27.8 percent of Brooklynites and 5.9 percent of Staten Island residents are not eligible for health insurance and therefore would benefit from NYC Care.

Of the current members, nearly 70 percent are between 30 and 59 years of age, and 61.8 percent are Spanish speakers. Over 70 percent of members are below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Sixty-one percent of current members identify as female.

Committees Seek Ukraine Documents from Vice President

COMMITTEES SEEK UKRAINE DOCUMENTS FROM VICE PRESIDENT

  Today, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter requesting key documents from Vice President Michael Pence as part of the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

“Pursuant to the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry, we are hereby requesting that you produce the documents set forth in the accompanying schedule by October 15, 2019,” the Chairmen wrote.

The Committees are investigating the extent to which President Trump jeopardized national security by pressing Ukraine to interfere with our 2020 election and by withholding security assistance provided by Congress to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression, as well as any efforts to cover up these matters.

“Recently, public reports have raised questions about any role you may have played in conveying or reinforcing the President’s stark message to the Ukrainian President,” the Chairmen wrote.  “The reports include specific references to a member of your staff who may have participated directly in the July 25, 2019, call, documents you may have obtained or reviewed, including the record of the call, and your September 1, 2019, meeting with the Ukrainian President in Warsaw, during which you reportedly discussed the Administration’s hold on U.S. security assistance to Ukraine.”

This request is being made jointly by the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform under the Rules of the House of Representatives in exercise of their oversight and legislative jurisdiction. 

“The Committees are seeking the documents in the attached schedule in order to examine this sequence of events, including the Administration’s attempts to press the Ukrainian President to open an investigation into former Vice President Biden or election interference in 2016, and the reasons behind the White House’s decision to delay critical military assistance to Ukraine that was appropriated by Congress to counter Russian aggression,” the Chairmen concluded.

  

Click here to read the letter to Vice President Pence.

IN RESPONSE TO OCTOBER HEAT, MAYOR DE BLASIO DEPLOYS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO CITY BEACHES

  In response to today’s unusual heat, Mayor de Blasio is deploying additional resources to ensure safety at New York City beaches.

“We’re facing unusual heat for this time of year,” said Mayor de Blasio. “In response, we are deploying extra patrols to ensure a swift response in case of emergency, but it’s critical that all New Yorkers put their safety first and stay out of the water at our beaches.”

To ensure New Yorkers remain out of the water and safe, NYC Parks has increased Parks Enforcement Patrol presence at Rockaway Beach today. Twelve additional officers have been assigned to the boardwalk and to patrol the beaches.  A FDNY harbor boat will patrol the waters by the Rockaways, a Rapid Response Vehicle will patrol the shores with members trained to make cold water rescues and EMS units will be on scene to treat anyone in need. The NYPD will also deploy additional officers and harbor search and rescue teams to patrol the beaches.

All beaches are closed to swimming. The outdoor swimming season ended September 8, as such, there are no Parks lifeguards on duty at city beaches. Signage warning visitors to only swim when lifeguards are on duty is posted at entryways of all beaches.

New Yorkers should adhere to all signage and instructions from officials for their own safety, and to call 911 for beach emergencies.

Editor's Note:

It is nice that Mayor de Bllasio cares about people going into the beach in the Rockaways, but as usual there is no mention of the Bronx that has 'Orchard Beach'.