Wave Hill Weekly Events (Apr 24 – May 1) | Earth Day Weekend

The shared connection we hold with nature and the critters all around us help us learn what it means to care for one another. Tree roots and fungi communicate to keep each other healthy, plump and luscious shrubs provide habitats for wildlife, and our flowers attract pollinators to carry on our environmental legacies for generations to come. Wave Hill is the perfect place to celebrate Earth Day as we find new ways to honor our tiny but mighty and precious green planet! 

 

Earth Day is here, and Wave Hill is ready to celebrate all weekend long! Take a walk through the labyrinth, learn how to cultivate and pot your own plants and mushrooms, and do mindful exercise to connect with the earth. Find your niche and bring along your loved ones to have fun in nature and broaden your mind in the work that is done to keep our gardens teeming with life in the big city.   

 

 

Earth Day:  

 

Fri, April 25th – Sun, April 27th  

Free with admission unless noted 

We are so excited for Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22 that we’re continuing the celebration into the weekend! Reflect on the beauty and resiliency of nature during a wellness walk, Winter Workspace Open Studios, or at the Alpine House Open House. For hands-on activities, don’t miss the Family Art Project, Scavenger and Decomposer Petting Zoo, mushroom cultivation workshop and our Woodland Community Volunteer Workday. 

 

 

Nature: 

 

Indoor Mushroom Cultivation Workshop 

Fri, Apr 25, 12:00PM – 1:30PM   

Registration encouraged. 

Dive into the world of fungi and learn how to cultivate your own edible mushrooms at home!  Aubrey Carter, mycologist and author of the newsletter Mushroom Monday, begins the workshop with a brief walk through the woodlands to identify optimal conditions for fungal growth. Then gather indoors to build oyster mushroom “grow kits” using household materials. 

 

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk: Earth Day 

Sun, Apr 27, 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: A Growing Season 

Sat, Apr 26, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Apr 27, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

As spring blooms around us, it's time for green things to grow! Inspired by Earth Day and the many plants emerging at this time of year, create a pot using upcycled cardboard boxes. Then, decorate your pot, add some soil and you'll be ready to plant a seed. At 11:30am families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater. 

   

 

Art:  

 

Winter Workspace 2025: Open Studios 

Sat, Apr 26, 11:00AM – 1:30PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

During this Open Studios event, meet the artists participating in Session One of the Winter Workspace and see what they've been working on over the last eight weeks. Visitors can learn and explore the artists' practice, sources and materials. 

 

 

Wellness:  

 

Forest Bathing: Honoring Earth 

Sun, Apr 27, 12:00PM – 2:00PM  

Registration required. 

Celebrate planet earth and boost your health with some moments of grounding and mindfulness. Receive prompt invitations to engage your senses as you move through the garden on a meditative stroll with certified nature therapy guide Cindy Olsen. Enjoy the healing benefits of the garden, then conclude with ceremonial tea. 

 

 

Special Events: 

 

Afternoon Tea 

Thurs, Apr 24, 11:00AM – 1:30PM  

Tues, Apr 29, 11:00AM – 1:30PM 

7 Day Advanced Booking Required 

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00AM or 1:30PM, enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and delectable pastries with a specialty tea selection served on our Kate French Terrace, weather permitting, or in our quaint Tea Room at the historic Wave Hill House. Provided by our exclusive partner Great Performances, the menu uses local and seasonal ingredients, inspired by their own organic farm, Katchkie Farm. Due to the nature of the event, no substitutions or changes are available. 

 

 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–5:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

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

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

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Van Cortlandt Park to Reimagine Enslaved African Burial Ground

 

Public programming in Summer 2025 and a Fall Design Ideas Competition will honor the past, present, and future through a permanent memorial

The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance (VCPA) announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space to reimagine the Enslaved African Burial Ground at Van Cortlandt Park. The initiative, "Reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground at Van Cortlandt Park," will engage the community in shaping a memorial space dedicated to long-term healing, remembrance, and cultural reflection.  

  

The Enslaved People Project at Van Cortlandt Park uncovered historical evidence suggesting that enslaved individuals were likely interred along the eastern edge of the Kingsbridge Burial Ground. This site is believed to be the final resting place of the enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples who lived, worked, and died on the Van Cortlandt family plantation, which relied on their labor for over a century. While NYC Parks officially recognized the Enslaved African Burial Ground in 2021 with signage and fencing, the space remains largely unmarked. Community advocates have long called for greater recognition and meaningful commemoration of the site’s complex history. 

"This project represents Van Cortlandt Park Alliance's commitment to listening deeply to community voices and preserving histories that have been overlooked for generations," said Stephanie Ehrlich, Executive Director of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. "When we honor those who shaped this land through their labor and lives, we make Van Cortlandt Park truly inclusive and welcoming for all New Yorkers. This memorial will stand as testament to our shared belief that everyone's story matters in the ongoing narrative of our beloved park." 

 

Through a dynamic series of public programs in Summer 2025 and a design competition in the fall, the Reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground at Van Cortlandt Park project will transform the site into a place of remembrance, reflection, education, and cultural engagement—honoring those who shaped the park while fostering collective healing. 

DEC Reminds New Yorkers to Avoid Close Encounters with Seals

Public Advised to Remain at a Safe Distance from Marine Animals 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton reminded New Yorkers along coastal shores to always keep a safe distance of at least 150 feet from marine mammals, which include whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals, and resist the urge to intervene when an animal comes ashore. Marine mammals are protected by federal and state laws to ensure the safety of both seals and humans. 

 

"As stewards of the environment, it is our collective responsibility to protect New York State’s wildlife,” Acting Commissioner Lefton said. “Maintaining a safe distance from seals is essential to safeguarding these marine mammals and the public. By observing from afar and respecting animal habitat, we can ensure marine mammal wellbeing, while also appreciating the natural world." 

 

DEC reminds New Yorkers that most seals on land are not in distress and that interfering with their natural resting behavior can cause illness, injury, or even death for these animals. Please help keep seals safe by allowing them the space and time they require on the beach.  

 

Seal Season is Here  

Harbor, grey, and harp seals are seen regularly on many of New York's saltwater beaches and in bays during the winter and early spring. The height of the season in New York is typically March through May, but seals appear as early as November and December in some parts of New York. Seals can commonly be seen hauled out (laying) on rocks and sandbars. This behavior is essential for seals to rest, socialize, and regulate body temperature.  

 

The public is reminded that while seals may appear friendly and adorable, they are wild animals with sharp teeth, capable of biting and spreading diseases to humans and pets. People and pets should stay at least 50 yards (150 feet) away from seals. While viewing seals from this legally safe distance, if the seal's behavior changes and/or it notices observer presence, that is a sign to move further away. Signs of stress in seals include raising their flippers, showing their teeth, yawning, and eating sand and rocks. 

 

Protecting New York’s Marine Mammals 

New York's marine waters are visited year-round by many species of marine mammals. The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), administered by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), requires people to maintain a safe and legal distance from marine mammals on water and land. Check NOAA's Marine Life Viewing  Guidelines for specific viewing distance laws and regulations for various marine mammal species.  

 

It is illegal to touch, feed, disturb, or harass marine mammal species, including seals, whales, dolphins, and porpoises. A violation of the MMPA may result in up to one year of jail time and/or fines up to $20,000. 

Report Distressed Marine Life to the New York Stranding Hotline 

The public can best help injured or distressed marine mammals by reporting sightings immediately to the New York Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at (631) 369-9829 so that trained responders can properly assess and care for these animals. The hotline is monitored by the New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) who are federally permitted and trained to handle marine mammals and administer professional medical care.  

Response teams work collaboratively with DEC, NOAA Fisheries, and numerous other partners to develop and implement a response to successfully provide the most effective and efficient aid to distressed or stranded animals.

NYC MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS INVESTS OVER 630K IN KNOW YOUR RIGHTS EFFORT FOR IMMIGRANTS NEW YORKERS

 

MOIA’S Know Your Rights Effort Includes Educational Workshops, Printed Materials in Top 10 Languages, and an Advertisement Campaign on LinkNYC

NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro today announced an investment of $630,000 in efforts to ensure immigrant New Yorkers know their rights with federal immigration enforcement. This includes a Know Your Rights for Immigrant New Yorkers campaign across LinkNYC’s citywide network of more than 4,000 digital screens, among other investments in Know Your Rights materials and workshops.

"This is one of the largest informational campaigns for immigrant New Yorkers in the country. With over 4,000 digital LinkNYC screens, we want to ensure all New Yorkers have accurate and timely information” said Manual Castro, Commissioner of MOIA. “Our immigrant communities can continue to access our hospital system, school system, and public safety services without fear.”

“Our immigrant neighbors deserve equitable access to the same digital connectivity and online resources as everyone else in our city,” said Margaux Knee, Chief Administrative Officer of LinkNYC. “LinkNYC is proud to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to amplify multilingual information and programs that support the well-being of New York City’s immigrant communities.”

The Know Your Rights advertisement will be displayed across over 4,000 LinkNYC digital screens and is expected to earn 25 million impressions per month. Immigrant New Yorkers will be able to scan the QR on the screen to easily access immigration legal resources and services in their own language. Immigrant New Yorkers may also call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365, to get legal immigration help.

Immigrant New Yorkers can also access Immigrant Rights Workshops and printed materials at local community-based organizations and libraries. For more information, New Yorkers can visit: www.nyc.gov/knowyourrights

FORMER DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE TAX REFUNDS

Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the guilty plea of a former Department of Finance (“DOF”) employee charged with fraudulently obtaining $13,167 in tax refund checks issued to properties that he had no authorization to represent. DOI began its investigation after DOF notified DOI of discrepancies involving refund applications signed by the defendant. DOI worked with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr., which is prosecuting this case. 

NICHOLAS ZIMARAS, 60, of Arverne, Queens, was charged in March 2025 with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, in connection with two fraudulently obtained tax refund checks from one hospital in Brooklyn and another in Manhattan. On April 1, 2025, the defendant paid restitution in the amount of $95,537, which includes the $13,167 associated with the offense he was charged with and other funds connected to the defendant improperly obtaining tax refunds from entities he was not authorized to represent. Today, ZIMARAS pleaded guilty to one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. 

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “This defendant exploited his institutional knowledge of DOF to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars in tax refunds by falsely presenting himself as a representative of two hospitals, one in Brooklyn and a second in Manhattan. The defendant has acknowledged his responsibility through today’s guilty plea, and by paying back the funds he wrongfully obtained. I thank the Department of Finance for referring thi

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr., said, “Nicholas Zimaras pleaded guilty for targeting New York City property owners by pocketing tax refunds he fraudulently filed on their behalf and without their knowledge. This tax season, I urge individuals and corporations alike to stay vigilant and protect themselves from scams. I thank the Department of Investigation for its ongoing collaboration, and the Department of Finance for strengthening its oversight.”

According to the criminal complaint, a City property owner seeking a property tax refund must submit an application to DOF and DOF must approve the refund before it is paid. In February 2022, DOF received a refund application owed to Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn and, in March 2022, DOF received a refund application for Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital in Manhattan. In both applications, the defendant and his company, Madison Property Services, are listed as the “Managing Agent” of each property and the application requests that the refund checks be paid and mailed to Madison Property Services in Flushing, N.Y. On each application, a box was checked certifying the defendant was authorized by the taxpayer to accept payment on its behalf, and that all statements made were true and correct. Both applications were reviewed and approved by DOF and resulted in refund checks made out to each property and mailed to Madison Property Services, “C/O Madison Property Services” at the address provided by the defendant and subsequently deposited in Madison Property Services’ bank account at JP Morgan Chase Bank NA. The investigation found that neither Maimonides nor Manhattan Eye, Ear, & Throat Hospital had authorized the defendant or his company to request or accept payment for a tax refund on their behalf.

As a result of this investigation, DOF has strengthened its oversight and review of tax refund requests. The defendant was employed by DOF as a Senior Investigative Analyst from October 1996, until his resignation in July 1999.

Commissioner Strauber thanked DOF Commissioner Preston Niblack and his staff for their cooperation on this investigation. Commissioner Strauber also thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his office’s partnership.

Governor Hochul Announces Start of $86.7 Million Pavement Improvement and Bridge Rehabilitation Project on I-95 in Westchester County

Project Will Improve Road Surface on Nearly Five Miles of New England Thruway

12 Bridges To Be Rehabilitated in Corridor Used by 120,000 Vehicles Daily

Work Scheduled To Be Completed by Late 2026

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of a $86.7 million pavement improvement project on a nearly five-mile stretch of the New England Thruway (I-95) in Westchester County. Spanning between Pelham Manor and Mamaroneck, the project also includes the rehabilitation of 12 bridges within this heavily traveled corridor that’s used by approximately 120,000 vehicles a day.

“The New England Thruway is one of the busiest highways in Westchester County and this project will ensure that it remains safe and dependable for years to come,” Governor Hochul said. “Strengthening our infrastructure across the State remains a top priority and this modernization will make critical safety improvements to I-95, providing a better driving experience for the millions of travelers who rely on this critical route.”

The I-95 project will begin with pavement repairs, meaning crews will remove and replace the most deteriorated portions on a nearly five-mile stretch of roadway (milepost 4.0 to 8.8) in both the northbound and southbound direction. Covering close to 30 total lane miles, the repairs will improve the roadway’s structural integrity and extend its service life, reducing the need to make temporary repairs. After the concrete pavement and joints are repaired, a two-course asphalt overlay will be installed to provide a smoother ride for motorists. The work covers the highway just south of exit 15 (New Rochelle - The Pelhams - US Route 1) to exit 18A (Mamaroneck - Fenimore Road). In addition, 12 interchange ramps will be repaired and repaved.

The other major component of the project is work on bridges above or below I-95. Crews will rehabilitate six bridges, including the Centre Avenue bridge in New Rochelle, the Chatsworth Avenue bridge in Larchmont and the bridge over the highway that serves Metro-North Railroad’s Larchmont station. Six other bridges on I-95 will be resurfaced.

Additional safety improvements will include new guiderail and lights, additional reflective line striping, new pavement markings and curb replacement.

Paving operations and the majority of work will take place overnight to reduce impacts to motorists. Motorists may encounter lane closures on I-95 along with traffic shifts and stoppages during construction. All work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. DeFoe Corp. of Mount Vernon, N.Y., is the project contractor. Photos of one area of the Thruway where contractors will begin work.

A separate ongoing $61.8 million pavement improvement project on I-95 in the Bronx and southern Westchester is scheduled to be completed this summer. It covers the area from milepost 0.0 to 4.0 and includes the rehabilitation of 11 bridges and makes significant improvements to two pedestrian bridges in the Bronx.

In 2024, the Thruway Authority processed more than 400 million transactions and motorists drove 8.2 billion miles on the Thruway. The Authority’s approved 2025 Budget invests a total of $477.3 million in dedicated funding for capital projects across the Thruway system beginning in 2025, an increase of more than $33 million compared to the approved 2024 budget. The increased investment will lead to work on approximately 61 percent of the Thruway’s more than 2,800 pavement lane miles as well as the replacement or rehabilitation of 20 percent of the Thruway’s 817 bridges.

The Thruway is one of the safest roadways in the country with a fatality rate far below the nationwide index. The Thruway Authority’s top priority is the safety of our employees and customers. In 2024, two Thruway Authority employees died and another was seriously injured in separate incidents while working on the Thruway. The lives of Thruway Authority employees, roadway workers and emergency personnel depend on all of those who travel the highway. Motorists should stay alert and pay attention while driving, slow down in work zones and move over when they see a vehicle on the side of the road. The State’s Move Over Law, which was expanded in March 2024, requires drivers to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped along the roadway. Safety is a shared responsibility.