Wave Hill Weekly Events (Mar 13 – Mar 20) | Spring Luncheon & Women's History Month

 

Spring is finally here! Wave Hill invites you to join in on this transformative era as we find ways to celebrate and honor the little things in life. After sowing past seeds of aspirations, we’re cherishing the beauty of pouring into them and watching how they grow.

 

Wave Hill’s annual Spring Lecture Luncheon takes place March 19. This benefit event will dive into the profound impact of flowers in our lives, featuring renouned authors Ngoc Minh Ngo, Frances Palmer, and Brenna Estrada, moderated by Stephen Orr.  

 

 

Nature: 

 

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk  

Sun, Mar 16, 1:00PM – 2:00PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required.     

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Discuss topics of the upcoming season with the expertise of the Guide--come back for an encore; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. 

 

 

Family:  

 

Family Art Project: Garden Designs for Women’s History Month 

Sat, Mar 15, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Mar 16, 10:00AM – 1:00PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required 

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re learning about women who have designed and cared for the gardens we love! With their work in mind, let's make our own miniature creations inspired by places like community gardens and Wave Hill.  At 11:30am families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome. 

 

 

Special Events: 

 

Spring Lecture Luncheon: Flower Powers 

Wed, Mar 19, 12:00PM – 3:00PM 

Tickets Required 

Join us at Wave Hill for a fresh look at the culture of flowers, featuring authors Brenna Estrada, Ngoc Minh Ngo, and Frances Palmer, in conversation with Stephen Orr. In their upcoming books, each offers invaluable expertise and inspiration that will captivate flower lovers. 

 

 

WINTER HOURS STARTING NOV 1: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday 

Shuttle Service Free from Subway and Metro-North, Thursday–Sunday 

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

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

Last weekend, Senator Rivera hosted a workshop called "Opioid Settlement Funds in New York State: Ensuring Transparency, Accountability, and Equity" at the 54th Annual Legislative Conference, of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. Senator Rivera was joined by Monica Hanna, Special Counsel from the Office of the New York State Attorney General; Toni Smith, New York State Director from the Drug Policy Alliance; Tracie M. Gardner, Executive Director of the National Black Harm Reduction Network (NBHRN) and Nanette Matthews, Chairwoman of the Bronx Community Board 5 Housing Committee. During the workshop, panelists discussed insights and perspectives aimed at shaping a more effective response to the opioid epidemic through a more equitable distribution of the monies from the Opioid Settlement Fund. Thank you to all our panelists and participants who contributed to this important workshop!

Last weekend, Senator Rivera was proud to present the Immigrant Excellence Award to the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) during the Caucus Weekend Community Awards Ceremony, at the Hilton Hotel in Albany.

NMIC is an organization that has spent years providing free legal assistance, advocacy, and educational programs to residents of Manhattan and the Bronx. Since 2023, NMIC has been a pillar of support for our immigrant brothers and sisters, providing legal security and support in the Bronx.

"Through our monthly immigration and housing clinic, NMIC has brought peace of mind to hundreds of families. I have witnessed firsthand the impact of their work over the years. That is why it is truly an honor to present them with this recognition," said Senator Rivera.

Congratulations to the entire NMIC team, and thank you to María Lizardo, NMIC's Executive Director, for her leadership and for receiving this award on behalf of NMIC!

SENATOR RIVERA CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT TRACEY TOWERS

Senator Rivera spent a lovely night at Tracey Towers celebrating Black history and excellence with live music from the Morrisania Band Project who performed unforgettable R&B and Soul classics. Thanks to Ms. Jean Hill for hosting us again, to Bronx Borough Vanessa Gibson and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for stopping by, and to the Morrisania Band Project for such amazing live music!

This week, Senator Rivera testified at a New York City Council Hearing on Health where Councilmembers Lynn Schulman and Crystal Hudson introduced resolutions asking the State Legislature to pass Senator Rivera's CDPAP Accountability Act (S.1189) and his bill to eliminate the cost of asthma inhalers (S.1804).

The Senator is working to push the CDPAP Accountability Act (S.1189) as a reasonable alternative to the transition to a single statewide fiscal intermediary scheduled for April 1st, in order to prevent disruptions in access to care for enrollees.

In addition, our State must address the serious asthma crisis that disproportionately affects children in the Bronx and other parts of New York. That's why Senator Rivera has a bill to eliminate the cost of asthma inhalers (S.1804). This bill would eliminate deductibles, copayments, coinsurances, or any other cost-sharing requirements for asthma inhalers, ensuring no parent has to spend hundreds of dollars on an inhaler that can save their child’s life.

SENATOR RIVERA PARTICIPATES IN SCREENING AND PANEL ON A FILM ABOUT THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT

This week, Senator Rivera participated in the screening of the new "Healthcare Conspiracy" short film at the People's Forum. The screening was followed by a panel discussion about the New York Health Act, hosted by PNHP NY Metro and Rank & File4NYHealth.

Senator Rivera shared with participants how New York can lead the way in establishing a single-payer healthcare system through the New York Health Act, ensuring comprehensive, high-quality care for all New Yorkers.

Thank you to PNHPNYMetro & Rank+File4NYHealth for this event, and to Nicolas Shearman for moderating the panel

'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' WORKSHOP

Yesterday, Senator Rivera hosted a "Know Your Rights" workshop in partnership with Assemblymember Chantel Jackson and Council member Pierina Sanchez, and presented by The Bronx Defenders. The goal of this workshop was to inform New Yorkers of the protections that every single person residing in this country has under the Constitution regardless of their immigration status.

Thank you to The Bronx Defenders, our partners and all the people that joined our webinar. In this link, you can watch the recorded full workshop on Facebook.

Reminder: Senator Rivera's team has created a Know Your Rights palm card (available in English and Spanish). If you would like to receive these cards, please fill out the form and a staff member from our team will follow up to confirm your request.

How does Eviction Free NYC help?

• Eligibility Screener: Eviction Free NYC helps you learn if you’re eligible for a free lawyer under NYC’s Right to Counsel law.

• Step-By-Step Guide: We’ll walk you through where to go in housing court, what to expect, and what next steps to take.

• Connect to Community Support: Based on your zip code, we’ll provide you with information on how to contact a tenant organization in your area.

For more info, click here

FROM 3/1 TO 3/23: #4 TRAIN SERVICE CHANGE

Due to track replacement, no 4 service between 161 St-Yankee Stadium and Woodlawn from March 1st to March 23rd, Sat 3:30 AM to Sun 10:00 PM. Number 4 trains will run between Brooklyn and 161 St-Yankee Stadium, the last stop.

Free shuttle buses run between Bedford Park Blvd D and Woodlawn, stopping at Mosholu Pkwy and Bedford Park Blvd-Lehman College.

Travel alternatives:

1. For service between 161 St-Yankee Stadium and Bedford Park Blvd-Lehman College, use nearby D stations along Grand Concourse instead.
2. For Mosholu Pkwy and Woodlawn, take a shuttle bus.

Transfer stations:

1. 161 St-Yankee Stadium 4 D
2. Bedford Park Blvd D| SHUTTLE BUS 

This service change affects one or more ADA accessible stations and these travel alternatives may not be fully accessible. Please contact 511 to plan your trip.

MTA: SHARE YOUR INPUT FOR ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS!

The MTA is seeking input on which stations to prioritize for accessibility improvements over the next five years. The proposed 2025-2029 Capital Plan identified an initial 30 stations, and the MTA plans to make at least an additional 30 stations accessible, for a total of more than 60 stations. With these investments, approximately 70% of all subway rides will take place to or from accessible stations.

Check this link for more info and to share your input.

Reduced-Fare customers can now tap to pay with OMNY. With OMNY, you can:   Pay 12 fares in seven days, and the rest of your rides for those seven days are free.   Skip the vending machine and load your card online with a free OMNY account.   Get the same free transfers you did with MetroCard. Find more info here and join the next MTA webinar to discuss the transition from MetroCard to OMNY, including how to spend down your MetroCard balances and utilize the new benefits of OMNY. Register here!

Attorney General James Issues Joint Statement on Lawsuit to Preserve Funding for Medical and Public Health Research Ahead of Hearing

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in issuing a joint statement ahead of a court hearing in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health. At today’s hearing, the attorneys general will seek an extension of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Trump administration’s unlawful cuts to funds that support life-saving medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country, such as research institutes at CUNY and SUNY, including Stony Brook University, University at Buffalo, University at Albany, and others. The coalition today released the following statement:

“The Trump administration’s attempt to cut research funding at thousands of research institutions across the country is not only unlawful; it undermines public health, our economy, and our competitiveness. There are laws in place that protect this funding, and the President cannot simply toss those laws aside.  

“This research funding covers expenses that facilitate critical components of biomedical research, such as lab, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without it, lifesaving and life-extending research, including clinical trials, could be significantly compromised. These cuts would have a devastating impact on universities around the country, many of which are at the forefront of groundbreaking research efforts – while also training future generations of researchers and innovators. They would force many universities to redirect funds and ultimately reduce research activities. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health has found new treatments for adult and childhood cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, PTSD, and more.  

“Attorneys general are not just fighting for the rule of law; we are fighting for our loved ones, our friends, and our neighbors, and we will not allow President Trump to play politics with our public health. We are heartened that less than six hours after filing our lawsuit, the court recognized the devastating impacts of this directive and granted an emergency temporary restraining order preventing the administration from implementing these unlawful cuts. Today, we urge the court to continue to block these funding cuts as we keep fighting this reckless abuse of power.” 

On February 10, Attorney General James joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. Less than six hours after the attorneys general filed their lawsuit, the court issued a TRO against NIH, barring it from cutting billions in funding for biomedical and public health research. 

Joining Attorney General James in making this statement are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Armed Drug Cartel Member Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Prison for Trafficking Hundreds of Kilos of Cocaine and Methamphetamine

 

A Mexican national and armed member of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) was sentenced in the District of Columbia to 20 years and 10 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy that distributed large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine destined for the United States.

“For at least five years, Edgar Fabian Villasenor-Garcia took up arms to carry out the CJNG’s criminal activities, including trafficking enormous amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These highly addictive drugs and the violence associated with the CJNG’s criminal operations have devastated communities in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere. Today’s sentence sends another clear message to members of the CJNG and other Mexican drug trafficking organizations: We are committed to working tirelessly with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to eradicate Mexican cartels.”

“Eliminating the cartels responsible for the deadly drug crisis in the United States is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s top operational priority, and Edgar Fabian Villasenor-Garcia’s sentencing — as an armed CJNG operative — brings us a step closer to our goal,” said Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “The CJNG is responsible for fueling the deadly drug crisis in the United States, as well as unprecedented violence in Mexico, our neighbor. The DEA is relentlessly committed to defeating the CJNG and other cartels, and we will exhaust every tool in the justice system to fight back, to save American lives, and to bring these cartels to justice.”

According to court documents, Edgar Fabian Villasenor-Garcia, also known as Gary and El Monje, 54, was responsible for trafficking at least 450 kilograms of cocaine and at least 780 kilograms of methamphetamine for importation into the United States on behalf of the CJNG, one of the most powerful, violent, and prolific drug cartels in Mexico. The CJNG kills, tortures, corrupts, and traffics hundreds of tons, if not more, of cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs into the United States and other countries. The CJNG also uses its drug proceeds to fund its violence, and by doing so, ravages communities and imperils countless lives.

Villasenor-Garcia joined the CJNG before 2017 and carried a firearm in furtherance of the CJNG’s criminal operations. In November 2024, he pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and admitted that CJNG members used firearms and violence to advance their mandate, including to protect drugs and drug proceeds, to control the CJNG members, to fight rival cartels, and to escape capture by law enforcement.

The DEA Los Angeles Field Division investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian and Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations also provided significant assistance.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING EXGIRLFRIEND AND MAN IN JEALOUS RAGE

 

Victims Were Shot in Front of Five Children

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five-years post-release supervision after pleading guilty to Attempted Murder in the second degree for shooting two people, leaving his ex-girlfriend paralyzed. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant’s ex-girlfriend was at home babysitting five children when a man arrived to pick up his daughter. The defendant went inside and shot both his ex-girlfriend and the man. A 9-year-old girl courageously called police after witnessing the attack.” 

District Attorney Clark said Marlon Edwards, 49, was sentenced on February 18, 2025, to 15 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack. The defendant pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the second degree on December 18, 2024. 

According to the investigation, on July 2, 2021, at approximately 11:00 p.m., at a home near Barnes Avenue and East 223rd Street, the defendant was observing the home of his 49-year-old exgirlfriend. She was babysitting five children ages 1-11 years old, when one of the kid’s parents, a 44-year-old man arrived for pick-up. After seeing the father enter the home, Edwards forced his way inside the apartment, and in a jealous rage, shot the woman in the chest. He also shot the man in the shoulder, who attempted to wrestle away the gun. Police and emergency personnel responded and took both victims to nearby hospitals after a 9-year-old called 9-1-1. The woman suffered life altering injuries including paralysis.

The defendant fled to Florida where he was arrested for another incident, before getting extradited to New York in September 2022. 

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Robert Regnier of the 47th Precinct Detective Squad, Felix Arana of the Bronx Warrants Squad, NYPD Police Officers David Canasgaviria and Erick Landaverde of the 47th Precinct, and former NYPD Police Officers Travis Gembecki and Kegham Jarjokian for their work in the investigation.  

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul re:Optimum and MSG Networks

“After 52 days in the penalty box, New York sports fans will finally be able to watch the Knicks, Rangers and Islanders again. Optimum and MSG Networks have ended the corporate dispute and service will be restored before tonight’s face-off between the Rangers and the Sabres. This long-overdue step comes after I directed the Department of Public Service to call for public hearings on how consumers are being shortchanged by weeks of corporate bickering. I’m going to keep fighting like hell for New York consumers — no matter which team they root for.