Wave Hill Weekly Events (May 21 – May 28) | Escape the City: Arts, Crafts & Tours

 

We make our way through the seasons change with temperatures rising, rain falling, and sunnier days to come. In the meantime, the gardens continue to flourish. Make your way past the conservatory and follow the path to our Dry Garden, where you’ll find lush greenery and violet blooms that brighten up the grounds. Embrace a change of scenery from the tall, slate-shaded buildings of the city to the vibrance of Wave Hill!

Nature & Wellness

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, May 24, 1:00PM – 1:30PM 

Free with admission to the grounds    

Registration not required.   

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it.

Art

Public Gallery Tour

Thu, May 21, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Sat, May 23, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.   

Solo and group exhibitions at Glyndor Gallery explore the dynamic relationships between nature, culture, and site. Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden.  

Family

Family Art Project: Barking up a Wave Hill Tree

Sat, May 23, 10:00AM – 1:00PM  

Sun, May 24, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.

Visit some of Wave Hill’s treasured trees and enjoy a tactile experience by making rubbings of their textured bark. Then, frame and decorate your designs to take home a reminder of our woodsy friends. At 11:30am families can enjoy a story time program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome. 

Special Events

Memorial Day: Wave Hill is Open

Mon, May 25, All Day   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.

Enjoy the holiday Monday in the gardens! 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

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

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

NYC DEP Unveils "Drippy" New Water Drop Mascot to Promote NYC Tap Water, Conservation, and Environmental Stewardship

 

Friendly New Character Was Designed by Students and Faculty at the Fashion Institute of Technology

Drippy Will Appear at Schools, Community Events, and City Celebrations Across the Five Boroughs

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unveiled “Drippy,” the agency’s new official mascot—a cheerful, shimmering blue water drop designed to help New Yorkers learn more about the City’s world-renowned drinking water, conservation efforts, and environmental stewardship.

“I am thrilled to welcome Drippy to the DEP team! Drippy will help teach New Yorkers all about water—how it travels, the many ways we use it, and the everyday actions we can all take to protect it,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “We’re excited for all the smiles, learning, and water‑saving fun ahead. Big thanks to our partners at NYC Public Schools, FIT, and DDC for bringing Drippy to life.”

Drippy was created through a partnership between DEP, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s Town+Gown program.

“Visual storytelling is one of the central tenets of the Illustration BFA program at FIT so when we were asked to create a visual story of the water treatment system of NYC we needed a character to represent water itself,” said Chair Dan Shefelman, Illustration & Interactive Media, FIT. “The SUNY FIT Illustration BFA program's partnership with NYC DEP is one of our proudest accomplishments. The idea of a drop of water traveling through the system evolved through the creative process after spending time touring the incredible Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Drippy came to life through the creative efforts of our undergraduate students under the guidance of faculty and Illustration MFA students. We are very excited to see Drippy literally come to life as the new NYC DEP Mascot.”

“Bringing ‘Drippy’ to life would not have been possible without the amazing collaboration with FIT and DEP within our Town+Gown: NYC program, a unique community-university partnership,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa. “DDC manages a $34 billion portfolio that includes upgrading the City’s water system, and we know how important it is to save water and protect this critical infrastructure. We are not only building but—with our partners—we are also educating New Yorkers of all ages in innovative ways.”

Drippy debuted today at Archer Elementary School in the Bronx, helping teach fifth grade students about New York City’s unique water cycle, the different types of water infrastructure that keep the city running, the importance of water conservation, and the everyday steps residents can take to protect vital natural resources and the environment.

“What better way to close out this school year’s Climate Action Days than by introducing Drippy to the scholars of Archer Elementary,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels. “The interactive coloring books and hands-on learning allow students to explore the full story of New York City’s water system in a fun and engaging way. From where our drinking water comes from, to how wastewater is treated and the impact of stormwater, we are empowering our young New Yorkers to become the next generation of NYC's climate leaders.”

Today’s event coincided with the final Climate Action Day of the school year for NYC Public Schools. Climate Action Days provide hands-on, solutions-focused learning opportunities centered on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate awareness.

Drippy was created as part of DEP’s expanded public outreach and environmental education efforts. Throughout the summer, Drippy will appear at events and locations across the five boroughs, helping inspire kids, families, residents, and visitors to learn more about New York City’s water system and the important role DEP plays in protecting public health and the environment.

“Drippy represents something every New Yorker relies on every single day—clean, safe, reliable drinking water,” said DEP Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs Beth DeFalco. “We wanted a mascot that could connect with kids, families, and visitors in a memorable way while highlighting the incredible work DEP employees do to deliver more than 1 billion gallons of water each day.”

DEP first partnered with FIT’s nationally recognized Illustration BFA and MFA programs on Drippy’s Water Adventure, an interactive 40-page coloring and activity book that follows Drippy and friends through New York City’s water journey—from mountain reservoirs to homes, treatment plants, and local waterways.

As part of today’s event, Drippy joined students in cleaning a neighborhood catch basin and distributed copies of the coloring book. A digital version of the coloring book is available on DEP’s education webpage, and educators can request printed copies through DEP’s Education Team.

About the Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.3 million people in New York City. The water comes from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles north and west of the city and includes 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. DEP also maintains approximately 7,000 miles of water mains and aqueducts, 7,500 miles of sewer lines, 96 pump stations, and 14 wastewater resource recovery facilities. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X and Instagram.

About New York City Public Schools

New York City Public Schools is the largest public school system in the United States, serving approximately one million students across more than 1,600 schools throughout the five boroughs. Through sustainability initiatives and climate education programming, NYC Public Schools are helping prepare students to become future environmental leaders.

DEC ANNOUNCES 2025 DEER HARVEST ESTIMATES

 

Crossbow Expansion Widely Adopted by Archery Hunters

First Time in Modern New York History that Mature Buck Harvest Exceeds Yearling Buck Harvest 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced that hunters harvested an estimated 227,032 white-tailed deer during the 2025-26 hunting seasons, approximately 2% more than the 2024 season and within 1% of the 5-year average. 

“It is clear that deer hunters took advantage of expanded crossbow hunting opportunities this past season,” said Commissioner Lefton. “We are pleased that more hunters can participate in New York’s archery deer seasons and contribute to effective deer management into the future. The results from this past season continue to demonstrate that New York has much to offer for deer hunters.” 

Following an amendment to the Environmental Conservation Law in 2025 that allowed deer hunters to use a crossbow in the same seasons, places, and manner as a vertical bow, DEC documented widespread adoption of crossbows. In 2025, crossbows accounted for 55% of the total archery season deer harvest. For comparison, in 2024, crossbows accounted for 33% of the total archery harvest. Crossbows are a more approachable hunting implement for hunters who are new to archery or have difficulty drawing a vertical bow. In 2025, archery hunters who harvested a deer using a crossbow were on average 9 years older and were more than twice as likely to be female than those who harvested a deer with a vertical bow. 

The 2025 antlered buck harvest of 120,909 was 1% less than 2024, but finally passed a landmark in buck age structure. For the first time in modern history, New York hunters harvested as many 3.5-year-old or older bucks (28.1%) as yearling bucks (28.0%). For comparison, 25 years ago only 10% of harvested bucks in New York were 3.5 years old or older and 67% were 1.5 years old.  

The 2025 antlerless deer harvest of 106,123 was up 5% from 2024. However, antlerless deer harvest throughout much of New York was still below what is necessary to achieve deer population objectives. Sufficient harvest of antlerless deer is necessary to keep deer populations in balance with available habitat and at levels that are acceptable to all members of the public. To encourage hunters to harvest more antlerless deer in future seasons, DEC recently proposed Changes to Hunting Regulations to Increase Harvest of Antlerless Deer. 

Notable Numbers from the 2025 Deer Seasons: 

• 0: The number of positive results from 3,050 wild deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease, as efforts continue to “Keep NY’s wild deer CWD-free.”
• 530,808: The number of licensed NY hunters during the 2025 deer hunting seasons, an estimated 85% of whom actively participated in deer hunting.
• 11%: The estimated percentage of hunters who used the newly-offered E-tags for all of their 2025 deer hunting. An additional 19% of hunters used a combination of E-tags and paper tags throughout the hunting seasons.
• 63%: The portion of successful deer hunters reporting their harvest as required by law. This is well above the five-year average of 49%. Harvest reporting was likely increased through hunters adopting E-tagging, which requires immediate reporting as part of the tagging process.
• 2,567: The estimated deer harvest by 12–15-year-old hunters during the Youth Firearms Season.
• 17.1 and 0.7: The estimated number of deer harvested per square mile in the Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) with the highest (WMU 8R) and lowest (WMU 5F) harvest density.
• 12,385: The number of harvested deer checked by DEC field staff to gather data such as deer age, sex, and hunter reporting This check data, along with hunter harvest reports, allows DEC to estimate the total deer harvest and monitor trends in deer populations. 

DEC’s 2025 Deer Harvest Summary report provides tables, figures, and maps detailing the deer harvest around the state. Past harvest summaries are also available on DEC’s website. DEC’s White-tailed deer Management Plan provides information on how DEC determines deer population objectives throughout the state.

United States Unseals Superseding Indictment Charging Raul Castro and Five Castro Regime Co-Defendants for 1996 Shoot-Down of Brothers to the Rescue Aircraft

 

Raul Modesto Castro Ruz

The U.S. Department of Justice today announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment charging Raul Modesto Castro Ruz, 94, of Holguin, Cuba; along with Lorenzo Alberto Perez‑Perez of Las Tunas, Cuba; Emilio José Palacio Blanco; José Fidel Gual Barzaga; Raul Simanca Cardenas; and Luis Raul Gonzalez‑Pardo Rodriguez, for their alleged roles in the Feb. 24, 1996 shoot‑down of two unarmed U.S. civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue (BTTR), also known as Hermanos al Rescate, over international waters.

“Over three decades later, we are committed to holding those accountable for the murders of four brave Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in the United States for alleged acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens. President Trump and this Justice Department are committed to restoring a simple principle: if you kill Americans, we will pursue you. No matter who you are. No matter what title you hold.”

“Today’s superseding indictment of Raul Castro and five Castro regime co-defendants is a major step toward accountability in the 1996 murders of four Brothers to the Rescue members - including three U.S citizens - Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandro Jr, Mario de la Pena, and Pablo Morales,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “For 30 years these families have waited for answers - and this FBI never forgot. We will continue working with our Justice Department partners to bring to justice those who attacked our civilians.”

“For 30 years, the families of these men have waited. The Miami community has waited. Our country has waited. Today is a step toward accountability,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This passage of time does not erase murder. It does not diminish the value of these lives. And it does not weaken our commitment to the rule of law.”

BTTR was an organization based in Miami that conducted humanitarian flight operations across the Florida Straits to search for Cuban migrants in distress. As alleged, beginning in the early 1990s, Cuban intelligence agents infiltrated the organization and relayed detailed information about its flight operations back to the Cuban government. These reports were allegedly used by military leadership in planning the Feb. 24, 1996 operation.

The superseding indictment charges conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, two counts of destruction of aircraft, and four counts of murder.

According to the allegations, on Feb. 24, 1996, three BTTR aircraft flew from South Florida toward Cuba. Cuban military fighter jets under the chain of command overseen by Raul Castro fired air‑to‑air missiles at two unarmed civilian Cessna aircraft — destroying them without warning while they were flying outside Cuban territory, killing four U.S. nationals, including three U.S. citizens: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales.

Rodriguez in a MiG fighter jet

The indictment further alleges that, in the weeks prior to the attack, Cuban military pilots conducted training exercises designed to locate and intercept slow‑moving civilian aircraft. On the day of the incident, three BTTR planes departed from Opa‑locka Airport for a planned humanitarian flight south of the 24th parallel. Two of the aircraft — tail numbers N2456S and N5485S — were allegedly targeted and shot down in international airspace, resulting in the deaths of all four victims.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment on the murder and conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals counts. Castro Ruz and Perez-Perez face up to five years in prison for each of the destruction of aircraft counts. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of any defendant will be determined by a judge.

Luis Raul Gonzalez‑Pardo Rodriguez, 65, of Havana, Cuba, is in U.S. custody pending sentencing later this month in the Middle District of Florida for making false statements in an immigration document.

Luis Raul Gonzalez-Pardo Rodriguez and Lorenzo Alberto Perez-Perez

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also acknowledged the assistance of the Florida Attorney General’s Office. “We are grateful for the support provided by Attorney General James Uthmeier and his team during this investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones.

Today’s announcement is in conjunction with a ceremony at the Freedom Tower in Miami to honor the victims. Participants at today’s press conference included Acting Attorney General Blanche, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, Deputy Director Christopher G. Raia of the FBI, and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman and Michael E. Gilfarb for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case, with the investigation led by the FBI Miami Field Office.

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

Attorney General James and NYPD Commissioner Tisch Announce Takedown of Drug Trafficking Operation in Queens

 

Investigation Recovered More Than $93,000 and Nearly Three Kilograms of Cocaine

Defendants Sold Cocaine Near Public Elementary School in Queens

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced the arrests and indictments of two individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking operation that illegally trafficked cocaine in Queens. A 65-count indictment unsealed today charges Jason Alvarez of Queens, 47, and Christopher Sanchez of Brooklyn, 43, with possessing and selling cocaine. An investigation, led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) revealed that Sanchez supplied Alvarez with cocaine, which Alvarez sold near the grounds of an elementary school in Queens. The investigation recovered approximately three kilograms of cocaine and more than $93,000 in cash.

“Dismantling dangerous drug operations is critical to keeping our communities safe,” said Attorney General James. “Jason Alvarez and Christopher Sanchez put school children and their neighbors at risk by selling cocaine near an elementary school. We are shutting down their drug trafficking operation and I thank all our partners in law enforcement for their collaboration in this investigation.” 

“These two defendants showed a complete disregard for children’s safety – selling drugs near an elementary school, and in one case, even bringing the defendant’s own children along during a drug drop,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “After a 17-month joint investigation, we have now dismantled this drug trafficking operation, recovering approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine and more than $93,000 in cash. I thank our NYPD investigators, law enforcement partners, and the New York Attorney General’s Office for their work throughout this case and their commitment to protecting New Yorkers from dangerous narcotics trafficking.”

Today’s takedown was the result of a joint investigation between OCTF and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), NYPD, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the New York State Police (NYSP). The investigation spanned 17 months and included hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance, analysis of voluminous electronic evidence, including cell phone data, GPS data, and other traditional investigative methods.

The investigation revealed that from December 2024 to October 2025, Alvarez sold cocaine near the grounds of a public elementary school – P255 at PS 908Q – located on 38th Avenue in Queens. Through physical and covert surveillance, investigators determined that Sanchez stored and prepared cocaine in a garage that he co-owned on Lincoln Avenue in Brooklyn, and supplied Alvarez with this cocaine for resale. During at least one occasion, Sanchez brought his two children to a meeting to supply Alvarez with cocaine. Forensic analysis of cell phones belonging to Alvarez and Sanchez revealed that the two communicated via text messages, WhatsApp messages, and FaceTime. A search warrant on the Brooklyn garage resulted in the seizure of numerous kilogram presses, electronic scales, and narcotics adulterant – substances added to dilute the potency of narcotics and increase the amount of product that can be sold to increase profit. 

During the execution of search warrants in October 2025, Sanchez attempted to evade law enforcement by driving away in his personal vehicle, causing a member of the investigative team to jump out of the way to avoid being struck. Sanchez then abandoned his vehicle, threw a kilogram of cocaine into the trunk of a parked vehicle, and continued to flee on foot, discarding his outer clothing in an attempt to disguise himself, before being apprehended in a nearby clothing store by members of the investigative team. The team later recovered the kilogram of cocaine that Sanchez tossed into the parked car.

The search warrants also resulted in the recovery of $93,831 in alleged narcotics proceeds and additional quantities of cocaine from various locations associated with Sanchez and Alvarez, including Alvarez’s apartment, Sanchez’s home in Queens, and Sanchez’s garage in Brooklyn.

Bags of cocaine seized in the investigation

Bags of narcotics adulterant

The kilogram of cocaine that Sanchez tossed into the parked car.

The indictment, unsealed today before Queens County Supreme Court Judge Toni Cimino, charges Sanchez and Alvarez with multiple crimes, including Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (a Class A-I Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Second Degree, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in or near School Grounds, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree, among other charges. If convicted, Alvarez faces a maximum of 24 years in prison. Sanchez faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.     

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“Today’s indictments expose an alleged cocaine trafficking operation that pushed poison into our communities just steps from an elementary school in Queens in the very place where parents should feel their children are safest,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “As alleged, conducting drug deals near where kids play, converting a Brooklyn garage into a clandestine drug mill, and attempting to flee law enforcement in a manner that endangered both investigators and the public represent a direct threat to our neighborhoods, our families, and our shared sense of security.”

“The arrest of these two individuals who choose to traffic and distribute cocaine near an elementary school underscores the grave danger these traffickers pose to our children and our community,” said DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “In one particularly disturbing instance, one of the individuals arrested brought his own children to a drug transaction, exposing them to the very criminal activity that destroys lives and families. Illicit drugs have no place in our homes, nor near our schools, and we will continue to target those who compromise the health and safety of our communities, especially our most vulnerable.”

“Today’s arrests and indictments are the result of an aggressive strategy to stop illegal drug trafficking and keep cocaine and other deadly substances off our streets,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “The coordination, cooperation, and investigative persistence of the law enforcement agencies responsible for intercepting these acts is imperative. We will continue to work with our partners to disrupt the supply of dangerous drugs in our communities and put those responsible behind bars.”

The investigation was led by HSI New York's Homeland Security Task Force Strategic Interdiction Group, alongside NYPD Detective Robert Locher, under the supervision of NYPD Sergeant Joseph DeCandia, Lieutenant Timothy Burke, and Captain Matthew Gorman under the overall supervision of Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

For OAG, the investigation was led by OCTF Detectives Fernando Espindola and Robert Geary, under the supervision of OCTF Acting Supervising Detective Shavaun Clawson, Assistant Chief Ismael Hernandez, and Deputy Chief Andrew Boss, with special assistance from the detective specialists from the OAG Special Operations Unit, led by Deputy Chief Sean Donovan. The Attorney General’s Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.