Wave Hill Weekly Events (Jun 18 – Jun 25) | Make Meaningful Memories: Juneteenth, Father's Day & Tea Time

 

Wave Hill is dedicated to slowing down and enjoying the little things with the people we love, with free community events, family-friendly experiences, and plenty of reasons to spend the day outdoors. Join us for our Juneteenthcelebration filled with performances and activities, enjoy a meaningful Father’s Day in the gardens with special programming and picnicking, and close the month out a free performance from Carnegie Hall in honor of Pride Month. Take in the beauty of the gardens with all that our community and nature have to offer. 

Juneteenth Celebration 2026

Fri, Jun 19, 12:00PM – 4:00PM  

Celebrate Juneteenth in the Garden with a free afternoon of community, culture, and family fun. 

Father's Day

Sun, Jun 21, All Day 

Celebrate Dad with a memorable day in our vibrant gardens.

Nature & Wellness

Yoga in the Garden

Sun, Jun 21, 10:15AM – 11:15AM  
Advanced registration encouraged.   

Root your feet in the grass and look out upon our vistas as you enjoy a gentle yoga class led by Susie Caramanica. All levels welcome; this is a beginner level class that can be modified.

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, Jun 21, 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, Jun 18, 2:00PM – 3:00PM

Sat, Jun 20, 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: Family Frames

Sat, Jun 20, 10:00AM – 1:00PM  

Sun, Jun 21, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   
Free with admission to the grounds     
Registration not required.

Celebrate Father’s Day at Wave Hill with a project designed by our ACES interns. Craft your own picture frame and give it as a gift to someone special. At 11:30am families can enjoy a Father’s Day-inspired storytime program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome.

Special Events

Afternoon Tea

Thu, Jun 18, 11:00AM – 2:00PM  

Tue, Jun 23, 11:00AM – 2:00PM   
7-day Advanced Registration required

Enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and delectable pastries with a specialty tea selection every Tuesday and Thursday with seatings at 11AM or 2PM. Served on the Kate French Terrace or in our quaint Tea Room at historic Wave Hill House, Afternoon Teas are provided by our exclusive partner Great Performances whose menu uses local and seasonal ingredients, inspired from their own organic farm, Katchkie Farm.

Juneteenth Celebration 2026

Fri, Jun 19, 12:00PM – 4:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds, admission is free   
Registration not required.   

Celebrate Juneteenth in the Garden with a free afternoon of community, culture, and family fun. Enjoy performances, artmaking, and picnicking on the Great Lawn with complimentary hand-rolled ice cream, courtesy of Only Rare NYC!  Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet returns with a moving performance. Later, take to the dance floor yourself for an engaging workshop led by performer and instructor Theara Ward and cheer on students from local Bronx Public Schools who participate in the JGCO Residency Program. All ages are welcome.   

Father's Day

Sun, Jun 21, All Day 

Free with admission, premium admission day

Registration not required.   

Celebrate Dad with a memorable day in our vibrant gardens. Spend the day together with a special Family Art Project, a guided garden walk, and a restorative yoga session.  

Enjoy the rare opportunity to picnic on our lawns! Blankets and outdoor folding chairs permitted.  

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.  

Attorney General James Urges Congress to Restore SNAP Benefits and Protect Food Assistance in Farm Bill

AG James Leads Coalition in Calling on Senate to Reverse Federal Cuts that Threaten Food Assistance for Millions of Americans

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 22 other attorneys general in urging congressional leaders to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and eligibility protections in the upcoming Farm Bill and reject efforts to reduce food assistance for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working people. In a letter to Senate leadership and the leaders of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Attorney General James and the coalition warned that recent federal SNAP cuts – the largest reductions to food assistance in modern history – are increasing hunger, creating new bureaucratic hurdles for eligible families, and shifting billions of dollars in costs onto states and local governments. They write that as the Senate considers the next Farm Bill, it has an opportunity to reaffirm a bipartisan commitment that no American should go hungry because they cannot afford food.

“SNAP helps millions of Americans put food on the table and supports the farmers and grocers that feed our communities,” said Attorney General James. “Our representatives in Washington need to understand the consequences of these cuts and the families, veterans, and seniors they are hurting. I am urging the Senate to reverse these cruel changes and restore the food assistance that millions of Americans count on.”

SNAP provides critical support to more than 2.9 million New Yorkers, including children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families struggling with the high cost of living. New federal restrictions passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including expanded work requirements and additional administrative hurdles, make it significantly harder for New Yorkers to keep their benefits or threaten to push them off the program altogether. In their letter, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that expanded work requirements and administrative hurdles do not create jobs or reduce poverty. Instead, they cause eligible families to lose assistance because they are unable to navigate increasingly complex bureaucratic requirements.

The attorneys general also raise concerns about the impact of new SNAP changes on state economies. New cost-sharing provisions require states to shoulder billions of dollars in new costs while imposing substantial new administrative burdens, a significant shift from SNAP’s longstanding federal commitment to ensuring that Americans do not go hungry during times of need. In New York alone, these changes could cost well over $1 billion per year beginning in 2027. Attorney General James and the coalition warn that these unprecedented shifts could force states to make impossible choices between cutting other essential services or reducing SNAP support for vulnerable residents.

Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the Senate to take a different approach from the House-passed Farm Bill, which fails to reverse recent cuts to food assistance. They are calling on the Senate to restore SNAP benefit levels and funding, reverse or delay new cost-sharing requirements, and roll back expanded work requirements and eligibility restrictions. They also urge the Senate to reject further benefit cuts, preserve state flexibility, and strengthen access to nutrition assistance for seniors, children, veterans, and working families.

The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman, and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar. Joining Attorney General James in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. 

ICE Asks Connecticut Sanctuary Politicians to Not Release Three Illegal Aliens Arrested in Sting Operation Targeting Online Child Predators

 

All three suspects were released into the country by the Biden Administration

.The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged detainers asking Connecticut sanctuary politicians to not release from jail three illegal aliens arrested as part of a sting operation that arrested multiple online child predators.

On June 5, police in New Britain, Connecticut arrested five individuals who believed they were setting up meetings with underage children for sex. According to local reporting, undercover detectives posted advertisements for adult services on classified websites, and then posed as an adult with access to an underage child. The five suspects negotiated prices for sex with the child and were arrested at the hotel where they arranged to meet.

Of the five individuals, three are illegal aliens: Bruno Orlando Medina Mendoza and Jorge Manuel Escobar Quispe, who are both from Peru, and Raul Andrey Echavez Castro, who is from Colombia.

Bruno Orlando Medina Mendoza

Jorge Manuel Escobar Quispe

Raul Andrey Echavez Castro

All three suspects now face charges of commercial sexual abuse of a minor, criminal attempt to commit sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16, and second-degree sexual assault. Mendoza has a criminal history that includes arrests for assault and child neglect, while Castro’s criminal history includes an arrest for disturbing public peace.

 “These illegal aliens thought they were arranging a meeting with an underage child for sex. They now face charges for sexual abuse of a minor, attempt to commit sexual contact with a victim under 16, and sexual assault,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “These pedophiles were RELEASED into our country by the Biden administration. We are calling on Connecticut sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing these child predators from jail and to promise they will turn them over to ICE. It is common sense. These pedophiles should NEVER be loose in American neighborhoods again.”

All three suspects came into the United States illegally in 2023, with Quispe and Castro entering through Arizona while Mendoza entered through California. All three were RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration.

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Siddhartha Sanchez as Executive Director of Mayor's Office of Food Policy

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Siddhartha Sanchez as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy (MOFP). Sanchez brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, government philanthropy and community-based food systems work to advance the administration’s commitment to make healthy, affordable food accessible to every New Yorker.   

  

“New Yorkers are struggling to put healthy food on the table while grocery prices continue to rise. Building a city that people can afford means building a food system that works for everyone,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Siddhartha Sanchez has spent his career fighting for food justice, strengthening community-led solutions and expanding access to healthy food. Food access is an economic justice issue and I am proud to welcome him to this administration, as we work to ensure that every New Yorker has access to food as a basic human right.”     

  

“Food insecurity is among the most pressing issues facing our city, and making high-quality, nutritious food affordable and accessible to New Yorkers is a top priority of this administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “It is important to have dedicated, experienced partners in government, and Siddhartha Sanchez, who has dedicated more than two decades to serving low-income communities of color in New York City, is just the kind of leader we need to further our food policy agenda. I am thrilled to announce his appointment as Executive Director for MOFP, and I look forward to working alongside him to help struggling families put healthy, affordable food back on their tables.”  

  

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of New York City — the city I grew up in and have dedicated my career to,” said Siddhartha Sanchez, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Food Policy. “Food security is inseparable from racial and economic justice, and for too many New Yorkers — especially in low-income communities of color — access to healthy, affordable food remains out of reach. I am committed to the Mamdani Administration's vision of a city where every resident can thrive, and I look forward to building on the tremendous foundation MOFP has laid. Because of their work, we understand these challenges more clearly than ever before. I'm eager to work alongside our most impacted communities to continue turning MOFP's legacy into real solutions. I'm excited to get started.”  

  

The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy works across City government to increase food security, expand access to healthy food and build a more equitable, sustainable and resilient food system. As Executive Director of MOFP, Sanchez will also serve as a member of the Mayor's Grocery Store Task Force.  

  

About Siddhartha Sanchez  

  

Siddhartha Sanchez is a lifelong advocate for food justice whose work centers racial, environmental and economic justice for more than 20 years. He has dedicated his career to serving low-income communities of color across New York City, developing deep expertise at the intersection of food systems, economic development, climate justice and community-driven policy.   

  

Most recently, Sanchez served as Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance, where he oversaw stewardship of a 23-mile urban watershed and more than 100 acres of public land while advancing environmental restoration, public access and community engagement. A cornerstone of that work was the community-led Bronx River Foodway – the first edible food forest in a New York City, which demonstrates how public land can be used to strengthen food sovereignty and community well-being.   

  

Prior to that role, Sanchez served as Interim Executive Director of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative, where he advanced efforts to leverage institutional procurement as a tool for community wealth-building and equitable food systems.  

  

As co-founder of KPS Strategies, a public interest consulting firm, Sanchez advised government agencies, mission-driven businesses, philanthropic organizations and nonprofits on food systems strategy, stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Representative José Serrano, helping secure federal funding for food access and infrastructure projects, and managed a philanthropic portfolio supporting organizations focused on food access, affordable housing and community development.   

  

Born and raised in Washington Heights, Sanchez is a lifelong vegan, family chef and avid gardener. His parents migrated from the Dominican Republic. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Brown University.   

Georgia Man Indicted for Distributing Methamphetamine in Northern District of Florida

 

Jimmy Randell Chason, 69, of Cairo, Ga., has been indicted in federal court on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

"Methamphetamine--which destroys families--is a frequently trafficked substance in the Pan Handle of Florida," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. "We work tirelessly to stop the flow of this poison into our communities."

Chason appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos in Tallahassee, Fla. Change of plea is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 11:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.

If convicted, Chason faces 10 years to life imprisonment on each count.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). 

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Former Chief Investment Officer Pleads Guilty

 

Ken Leech, Former Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Management, Pleads Guilty to Obstructing an Investigation of His Fraudulent Scheme to Favor Certain Clients at the Expense of Others

Deputy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Sean S. Buckley, announced that S. KENNETH LEECH II, the former Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Management Company (“WAMCO”), pled guilty to obstructing justice by giving false and misleading testimony to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with an investigation into LEECH’s fraudulent scheme to favor certain clients at the expense of others.  LEECH pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.  

“Leech willfully and intentionally gave false and misleading testimony to the SEC in an effort to obstruct an investigation into his fraudulent scheme to favor certain clients at the expense of others,” said Deputy U.S. Attorney Sean S. Buckley.  “Investment managers, like Leech, are entrusted by the SEC and the public at large to comply with their duty to be honest to regulators and fair to their clients.  This plea reflects the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to protecting everyday investors—in New York City and abroad—from investment advisers who violate their legal commitments and seek to deceive clients for their gain or the gain of others.” 

As alleged in the Indictment, Superseding Information, and other public filings in this case: 

Between 2021 and October 2023, LEECH committed fraud and abused the trust placed in him by clients of the investment-management firm WAMCO.  LEECH engaged in a criminal scheme commonly known as cherry-picking to compensate for losses in his marquee investment strategy by assigning trades that performed well during their first day into client accounts associated with that investment strategy, and assigning trades that performed poorly over their first day into the accounts of other clients, who were not aware that LEECH was causing them losses to favor others.  LEECH’s victims included institutional and retail investors who entrusted LEECH to manage their savings and pension plans.  Over the course of his criminal scheme, LEECH allocated trades with net first-day gains of at least approximately $600 million to his favored strategy and clients, and allocated trades with net first-day losses of at least approximately $600 million to strategies and clients to whom he owed an equal fiduciary duty.

In an effort to obstruct the investigation of that fraudulent scheme, LEECH testified before the SEC that he knew where he planned to allocate trades at the time he placed them.  The facts showed differently.  LEECH owed a fiduciary duty to all of his clients.  But between 2021 and October 2023, LEECH improperly engaged in a scheme to delay his trades in order to allocate them in a manner that benefitted some of his clients, to the detriment of others.  LEECH’s scheme defrauded clients for whom he was serving a registered financial advisor.  

LEECH, 72, of Pasadena, California, pled guilty to one count of obstructing justice, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  LEECH is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2026. 

Mr. Buckley praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Mr. Buckley also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.