Wave Hill Weekly Events (May 8 – May 15) | Mother's Day Celebration

 

Picture yourself surrounded by a sea of rich greens, the vast palisades across the pergola, and a sweet bird song that carries a soft and easy tune. The flowering magnolias carry a saccharine scent through the paths as rain droplets rest on their velvety petals. Visit our gardens that are a vision plucked out of a movie scene and take in all it has to offer.  

 

Wave Hill is excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with you and your loved ones! Join in on all the ways we uplift these special women in our lives. Whether it's crafting a paper bouquet or gifting the perfect picnic spread, the gardens are the perfect place to show how much you care. 

 

 

Mother’s Day: 

Sun, May 13, 9:30AM – 11:00AM  

Registration encouraged.     

Wonderfully timed to coincide with the arrival of spring, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to pull out all the stops. Plan to spend the day in the gardens with a special Family Art Project, a guided garden walk, a session of spring birding, and a free session of community yoga. Stop by the Shop at Wave Hill to browse our selection of jewelry, bath and body products, and other perfect gifts for mom or that special lady in your life!    

 

 

Nature: 

 

Spring Birding 

Sun, May 13, 9:30AM – 11:00AM  

Registration encouraged.     

Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this spring! These birds flock to our gardens for a short rest or return to settle for this season. Look for resident and rare birds around the gardens and woodlands with birders Gabriel Willow and Ryan Mandelbaum guiding you through the grounds.  

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, May 13, 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: Flowers for Mother's Day 

Sat, May 10, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, May 11, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Send someone special your own loving message by creating a bouquet of paper flowers and a vibrant vase of your own making! At 11:30am families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater for a special Mother’s Day reading. 

 

  

Wellness: 

 

Community Yoga in the Garden  

Sun, May 13, 9:30AM – 11:00AM  

Registration encouraged.     

This gentle beginner class on the lawns of Wave Hill is surrounded by idyllic seasonal blooms. Led by certified yoga instructor Susie Caramanica, the open grassy spaces of Wave Hill’s lawns are accessible from the main path.   

 

 

Special Events: 

 

Mother's Day Picnic 

Sun, May 13, 11:00AM – 4:00PM 

Registration encouraged.     

To celebrate Mother's Day, Wave Hill opens the Wave Hill House Lawn for picnicking. Bring your own or leave it all to us and order a custom picnic basket available only at Wave Hill by our exclusive caterers Great Performances.   

 

Afternoon Tea 

Thurs, May 8, 11:00AM – 1:30PM  

Tues, May 13, 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.   

The East Bronx History Forum (EBHF) is pleased to announce its 194th meeting on Thursday , April 24th at 7:30 pm. This month’s topic is Black owned land in the Bronx in the early 1800s

 

Dear East Bronx History Forum Member,

      The East Bronx History Forum (EBHF) is pleased to announce that this month’s topic will focus on Black owned land in the Bronx in the early 1800s. The lecture will be presented by educator and art historian John Keith Doherty. This month’s meeting will be on Thursday, April 24th at 7:30 pm in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church, located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue. Parking is free and just north of the entrance on Paulding Avenue.

This talk will focus on a number of early properties in the Bronx that were owned by free Black people during and just after the era of Gradual Emancipation, when slavery was slowly being abolished (1799-1827). Though several Black-owned farms and other properties existed in the rural environs of the city in this era, the vast majority remain undocumented historically. By discussing a number of long-forgotten properties, this talk attempts to shed light on a chapter in our local history when Black individuals—many of whom had been enslaved in their youth—rose to become property owners and prosperous businesspeople. In addition to being one of the only ways of gaining genuine financial independence, land ownership was critical as the sole means of acquiring suffrage, due to a racist mandate in the state constitution that required Black men to possess at least $250 worth of property to vote.

Our presenter, John Keith Doherty is a former Professor of Art History at Boston University, where he earned his doctorate and taught for 14 years. Since returning to his native New York in 2012, his research has centered on the earliest architectural and social history of the region. In addition to his academic work, he is an educator at the Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers, curator of a new exhibit on the Old Croton Aqueduct, and a leader of historic tours of various parts of Manhattan.

         The entrance to this free event is on Paulding Avenue in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall. The EBHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit chartered by the New York State Education Department. Donations are always accepted and can be made through our website BronxNYC.com. Additionally, remember to follow us on our Facebook, Instagram and Youtube account pages for the most current updates or information. We look forward to seeing you.

           Dorothy A. Krynicki 

           Secretary

NYS Private Sector Employment Up 5,600 Jobs in March 2025

 

Unemployment Rate Decreases for Second Month in a Row

According to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 5,600, 0.1%, to 8,464,400 in March 2025. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 0.2% in March 2025.

New York State's private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 89,400, or 1.1%, over the year in March 2025, lower than the 1.2% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.

New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% in February to 4.2% in March 2025. At the same time, New York State's labor force (seasonally adjusted) increased by 7,200. The statewide labor force participation rate held steady at 60.9% in March 2025.

The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a payroll survey of New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 2,800 households in the State.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February 2025 was revised down by 5,700, from +5,800 to +100. At the same time, the change in total private employment was revised down by 4,300, from +3,700 to -600. Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, March 2024 versus March 2025.

Statewide Industry Employment

March 2025 – Seasonally Adjusted

• On a net basis, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased by 6,300 over the month, while private sector jobs increased by 5,600 in March 2025.
• At the same time, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the nation increased by 228,000, while private sector jobs increased by 209,000.

NYS Equaled Nation in Total Nonfarm Job Growth

Over-the-Month % Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, February – March 2025  

Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs Up in March 2025 Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs (in 1000s), January 1990 – March 2025 Statewide Unemployment March 2025 – Seasonally Adjusted The statewide unemployment decreased from 4.3% in February to 4.2% in March 2025. New York City’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.3% to 5.1%. In the rest of the state, the unemployment rate held steady at 3.6% in March 2025. The number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month by 7,500 from 424,500 in February to 417,000 in March 2025. NYS Unemployment Rate Decreased Over the Month Labor Force Statistics, Mar 2024, Feb 2025 – Mar 2025 Labor Force Increased, Number of Unemployed Decreased Total Labor Force & Number of Unemployed, January 2009 – March 2025 Unemployment Rate Decreased in NYS, Increased in US Unemployment Rate, NYS & US, January 2009 – March 2025 Unemployment Rate Decreased in NYC, Held Constant in Balance of State Unemployment Rate, NYC & BOS, January 2009 – March 2025 Substate and Industry Employment  March 2025 – Not Seasonally Adjusted New York State Gained Private Sector Jobs Over the Year Over-the-Year Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, March 2024 – March 2025 Note: The sum of substate area job estimates will usually differ from the New York State total. This is because the State total is calculated separately from the sub-state areas and is estimated based on an independent sample. Private Education and Health Services Jobs Increased by 3.3% Over the Year Over-the-Year Change in Jobs by Major Industry Sector, March 2024 – March 2025 *Government includes public education and public health services. Note: The responsibility for the production of monthly estimates of state and metro area nonfarm employment by industry moved from the NYS Department of Labor’s Division of Research and Statistics to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), starting with the March 2011 estimates. More detailed information on the change is available on the BLS web site. Many economic data series have a seasonal pattern, which means they tend to occur at the same time each year (e.g., retail jobs usually increase in December). Seasonal adjustment is the process of removing seasonal effects from a data series. This is done to simplify the data so that they may be more easily interpreted and help to reveal true underlying trends. Seasonal adjustment permits comparisons of data from one month to data from any other month. In New York State, payroll jobs data by industry come from a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data are preliminary and subject to revision. Jobs data by industry do not include agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers, or domestic workers in private households. Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate is based partly upon the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 2,800 households in New York each month.  Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release. State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advantage of Regression Model Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities). Benchmarking of Estimates Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.” Changes in Methodology Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates. In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others. Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem. Jobs Data Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, has a sample size of 18,000 establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available. The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Register your KIDS for these fun GARDENING programs!

 

 Super Seedlings

Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, 10, 17, 24 - 10am to 12pm

Play and plant with your little one! Super Seedlings is a FREE, drop-in gardening program for kids ages 3-7 and their caregivers. Explore a fun and fabulous theme at each session with nature crafts, planting, soil digging, and more! Come once, twice, or all five weeks for some playing and planting! 

RSVP Now

VCPA Garden & Compost Site

Growing Gardeners

Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, 10, 17 24, 31 - 1:30pm to 3pm

Your elementary schooler is in for a treat! They’ll join us at the garden to learn about horticulture, make scientific explorations, craft, and journal – all while experiencing the joy of growing veggies! In this weekly drop-off program, each exciting session varies from week to week and is loads of fun! 

Cost: $150 for 6-week, 1.5 hour sessions. Discounted ticket option for siblings.

For children in 2nd to 5th grades (ages 7 to 11).

RSVP Now

VCPA Garden & Compost Site

 

Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

 

A Florida executive pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to submit fraudulent applications to enroll consumers in Affordable Care Act insurance plans (ACA plans) that were fully subsidized by the government. The purpose of the scheme was to obtain millions of dollars in commission payments from the insurance company that operated the ACA plans. The federal government paid at least $133,900,000 in subsidies for fraudulently enrolled individuals.

According to court documents, Dafud Iza, 54, an executive vice president of an insurance brokerage firm, participated in a scheme to fraudulently enroll ineligible individuals into ACA plans that offered tax credits to eligible enrollees. These tax credits, or “subsidies,” could be paid by the federal government directly to insurance plans as a payment toward the plan’s monthly premium. The scheme involved submitting false and fraudulent applications for individuals whose income did not meet the minimum requirements to be eligible for the subsidies. Iza and his accomplices deceptively marketed subsidized ACA plans to ineligible consumers and falsely inflated consumers’ incomes to obtain the federal subsidies.

In furtherance of the scheme, Iza and his accomplices targeted vulnerable, low-income individuals experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and mental health and substance abuse disorders, and knew that “street marketers” working on their behalf offered bribes to induce those individuals to enroll in subsidized ACA plans. Marketers working for Iza’s accomplices coached consumers on how to respond to application questions to maximize the subsidy amount paid by the federal government and provided addresses and social security numbers that did not match the consumers purportedly applying. 

Iza pleaded guilty to one count of major fraud against the United States and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.

Assistant Chief Jamie de Boer and Trial Attorney D. Keith Clouser of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.