Wave Hill Weekly Events (Jul 9 – Jul 16) | Stay for Sunset on Summer Fridays!

 

There's no better time to linger a little longer during your weekdays. Fill your evenings with live music during our beloved Sunset Wednesdays or unwind during Summer Fridays with extended garden hours, perfect for a leisurely stroll as the sun begins to set. From Afternoon Teas to after-hours Bat Adventures, discover new ways to slow down and indulge in the season.

Sunset Wednesdays 2026

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Named by Time Out as one of the top “10 under-the-radar cultural experiences in NYC,” Wave Hill’s annual summer tradition brings five exciting performances Wednesday evenings to our Great Lawn.

Extended Hours: Summer Fridays

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On select evenings this July, Wave Hill will be open late—offering time to slow down, wander, and experience the Garden as it softens into evening.

Nature & Wellness

Extended Hours: Summer Fridays

Fri, Jul 10 – Fri, Jul 31 | 5:30PM – 8:00PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required.

On select evenings this July, Wave Hill will be open late—offering time to slow down, wander, and experience the Garden as it softens into evening.

Evening Bat Adventures

Fri, Jul 10, 8:00PM – 10:00PM   

Advanced registration encouraged.

Explore the fascinating world of bats during an exclusive after-hours evening nature encounter with Gotham Bat Conservancy. Learn how the Garden’s variety of trees and insects supports bat survival. After an introduction to identification techniques, head outside for a guided walk using bat detectors to listen for and observe bats in the field.

Summer Birding

Sun, Jul 12, 9:30AM – 11:00AM  

Advanced registration encouraged.   

Naturalist Gabriel Willow leads this walk through the gardens and woodlands to seek out summer birds. Observe the plants, insects, and habitats at Wave Hill that make it so appealing for such a wide variety of birds. 

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, Jul 12, 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, Jul 9, 2:00PM – 3:00PM

Sat, Jul 11, 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: Frida's Natural Self-Portraits

Sat, Jul 11, 10:00AM – 1:00PM  

Sun, Jul 12, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.

Celebrate Frida Kahlo’s birthday! Frida explored her relationship with the plants and animals of her home in Mexico using self-portraits. Let's make our own self-portraits featuring nature here at Wave Hill. 

Special Events

Afternoon Tea

Thu, Jul 9, 11:00AM – 2:00PM  

Tue, Jul 14, 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.

Volunteer Open House

Sun, Jul 12, 11:00AM – 3:00PM  

Admission free for registrants

Join the Wave Hill family as a volunteer! Come explore the many ways you can contribute your time and talents to our engaging community at this special weekend Open House. 

Sunset Wednesdays: Melissa Aldana

Wed, Jul 15, 7:00PM – 8:00PM  

Premium Admission   

Registration not required.

Grammy-nominated, Chilean-born, third-generation saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana takes inspiration from jazz legends, such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Sonny Rollins while channeling emotion through sound alone. 

Sunset Wednesdays

Wed, Jul 8 – Wed, Aug 5 | 7:00PM – 8:00PM  

Premium Admission   

Registration not required.

Named by Time Out as one of the top “10 under-the-radar cultural experiences in NYC,” Wave Hill’s annual summer tradition brings five exciting performances Wednesday evenings to our Great Lawn. Pack a picnic and bring your favorite blanket or chair for an unforgettable summer evening as the sun sets over over the Hudson River. 

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.  

Two High Ranking Members of the United Cartels Charged with Drug Trafficking, Providing Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and Firearms Offenses As Part of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Initiative

 

A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment against Juan Jose “Juanjo” Farias Mendoza, 31, and Israel “Papo” Vega Farias, 37, both of Tepalcatepec, Michoacan, Mexico, and high-ranking members of the United Cartels. 

The Michoacan-based United Cartels is one of the world’s most significant methamphetamine producers, capable of manufacturing multiple tons every month. The organization controls a distribution network that spans the United States, with hubs in Dallas; Houston; Atlanta; Kansas City, Missouri; Sacramento, California; Los Angeles; Denver; and Chicago; and extends to Europe, Australia, and other regions. On Feb. 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated the United Cartels (also known as Cárteles Unidos), as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, as amended. In August 2025, the Department of Justice announced criminal charges by the Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) against several command-and-control elements of the United Cartels, including Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, also known as “Abuelo,” the cartel’s top leader, as part of a multi-agency effort to dismantle the United Cartels.

“Juan Jose Farias Mendoza and Israel Vega Farias are charged with trafficking immense amounts of methamphetamine into the United States and supporting a foreign terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The two defendants indicted yesterday are close relatives of the United Cartels’ top leader Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, who was charged by the Criminal Division in 2024. This indictment demonstrates the systematic and focused effort of the Criminal Division to dismantle Mexican cartels by targeting their command-and-control elements, including those within cartel leaders’ closest circles.”

“The investigation into the United Cartels began in the Eastern District of Tennessee, with a seizure of methamphetamine in a small town outside Knoxville, and a larger interdiction of over 950 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl outside of Atlanta,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “From Tennessee to Mexico, a whole-of-government investigation followed that partnered multiple federal law enforcement agencies with their critically important state and local counterparts, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 9th Judicial Task Force, and resulted in last August’s and today’s announcements of criminal charges against this Foreign Terrorist Organization’s leadership structure. With our Criminal Division partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee remains unwavering in its commitment to eliminate the cartels and prosecute their leaders, members, and supporters who endanger our communities with dangerous drugs and violence.” 

“This indictment is a testament to the relentless efforts of Homeland Security Investigations to dismantle the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon of HSI. “The United Cartels have fueled violence, addiction, and instability both in the United States and abroad. Through the Homeland Security Task Force’s whole-of-government approach, HSI is committed to identifying and investigating cartel leadership and their networks, wherever they operate. We will continue to leverage every available tool to protect our communities, disrupt transnational criminal enterprises, and ensure those who threaten our nation’s safety and security are brought to justice.”

Farias Mendoza and Vega Farias are, respectively, Abuelo’s son and nephew. Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine for importation into the United States, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and using, carrying and possessing firearms, including machine guns and destructive devices, during and in relation to the alleged drug trafficking crime charged in their indictment. If convicted, both defendants face maximum penalties of life in prison.

HSI is investigating the case. 

MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

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

FIRST-IN-NATION REGULATIONS PROPOSED TO HELP STOP PFAS AT LANDFILLS FROM ENTERING WATERWAYS

 

Funding Available to Support Local Implementation

Proposal Builds on New York’s Action to Protect New Yorkers and their Environment from Emerging Contaminants

Public Comments Accepted Until Sept. 9

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced proposed rules that would make New York the first State in the nation to require treatment of environmental contaminants in leachate at landfills. The proposal would build on New York’s leadership in addressing PFAS and other harmful chemicals, strengthening protections for drinking water and reducing long-term risks to public health and the environment. As part of the at least $75 million available through the Consolidated Funding Application, DEC has expanded its Water Quality Improvement Project grant program to include funding for leachate treatment at municipally owned landfills to help communities meet the proposed standards.  

“Under Governor Kathy Hochul’s direction, DEC is taking nation leading actions to protect water quality and the communities that depend on it,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This proposed rulemaking enhances the significant work DEC is undertaking to reduce PFAS in our environment to maximize new technologies now available that effectively remove landfill pollutants for proper disposal and further reduce potential impacts to the public and the environment.” 

Governor Hochul directed the development of the proposed regulations as part of her State of the State agenda. The proposal builds on New York’s broader leadership on emerging contaminants, including strict PFAS drinking water standards. The State Environmental Facilities Corporation has made $77.8 million in federal infrastructure grants available to municipal projects that address emerging contaminants in leachate, and $495 million in State grants to municipal drinking water projects that address the State’s standards for emerging contaminants. 

Additionally, the State recently launched a private well testing and PFAS mitigation pilot program. DEC is also implementing additional programs to reduce contaminants in products and goods that will ultimately become part of the waste stream.

DEC is accepting public comments on the proposed regulations, which would require active landfills to treat leachate, a liquid that forms as water moves through waste at landfills before it is released to the environment. The requirements in part target PFAS and 1,4-dioxane, which are found in many consumer products. While landfills are designed to collect and manage this wastewater, treating pollution at the source is key to protecting water quality and reducing long-term public health and environmental risks.

DEC is hosting public hearings at 1 and 6 p.m. on Sept. 2. Additional details are available on DEC’s website, where you can also find presentation materials from webinars and a stakeholder meeting that helped inform the proposal. 

The public is invited to submit written comments by Sept. 9 to: 

• DEC’s Division of Materials Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, or 
• SolidWasteRegulations@dec.ny.gov. Include “Comments on Proposed Part 360 Series” in the subject line. 

Nation-Leading Investments in Water Infrastructure

New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. The 2027 budget announced by Governor Hochul sets the national standard with a transformational $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, which brings total clean water investments to $10 billion since 2017.

Two Defendants Charged with Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Scheme

 

Defendants Allegedly Billed Medicaid for Ambulette Services to Medical Appointments That Were Not Performed or Were Induced by Kickbacks

An indictment was filed in federal court in Central Islip charging Saad Aziz and Zabed Chowdhury, also known as “Jared,” with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks, paying health care kickbacks, and money laundering conspiracy.  The defendants allegedly offered and paid health care kickbacks and submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for ambulette services to medical appointments that were not performed, or the costs were artificially inflated.  The defendants were previously charged by complaint and will be arraigned at a later date.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the charges. 

“As alleged, the defendants turned a transportation program intended to provide vulnerable Medicaid beneficiaries with access to critical medical care into a vehicle for personal enrichment,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “By paying illegal kickbacks, billing for rides that were never provided, and inflating reimbursement claims through false information, they allegedly stole tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.  It is a priority of the Office and the Administration to protect the integrity of federally funded health care programs and to hold accountable those who seek to profit through fraud.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York's Homeland Security Task Force John F. Kennedy International Airport Financial Crimes Group and the Office of the New York State Comptroller for their work on the case. 

“This scheme, as alleged, reflects an egregious abuse of the Medicaid program, diverting vital health care dollars away from the vulnerable individuals who depend on them,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz.  “HHS‑OIG remains steadfast in working with our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer funds and uphold the integrity of federally funded health care programs.”

IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge, Chavis, Jr. stated: “This scheme took advantage of a program meant to help people get to the medical care they rely on.  By gaming the system for their own benefit, the defendants didn’t just misuse taxpayer money — they made it harder for people who genuinely need support. We’re committed to protecting public funds and making sure anyone who tries to commit fraud is held responsible.”

“Medicaid's transportation benefit exists so that vulnerable people can get the care they need. These defendants allegedly exploited that lifeline, paying kickbacks and billing for trips that never happened in order to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers,” stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney.  “I thank the United States Attorney's Office, HHS-OIG, IRS-CI, and the State Comptroller for their partnership in rooting out this alleged scheme.”

1. As set forth in court filings, the defendants owned and operated Tri-Hamlet Taxi Inc.  From approximately January 2019 to October 2025, the defendants paid illegal health care kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries to induce them to request medical transportation services from Tri-Hamlet Taxi, primarily for purported necessary methadone treatment.  In reality, the defendants often did not provide the medical transportation services for which they billed Medicaid, yet, fraudulently submitted millions of dollars in claims for these nonexistent trips.  

2. The defendants also systematically inflated their Medicaid reimbursements.  Although numerous addiction treatment centers on Long Island were available to beneficiaries, the defendants directed beneficiaries to request transportation to addiction treatment centers in New York City and to provide false pickup or drop-off addresses so they could bill Medicaid for longer, more expensive trips.  Through this scheme, the defendants submitted more than $18 million in claims for rides exceeding 75 miles and, overall, fraudulently billed Medicaid more than $35 million.

3. The defendants used the illicit proceeds of the scheme to, among other things, fund their lifestyles and purchase multiple investment properties and homes with a combined value of approximately $6 million. 

If convicted of the charges, the defendants each face up to 20 years in prison, and restitution and forfeiture of at least $35 million, including several real properties and 15 bank accounts.

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Adam R. Toporovsky is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson.  Assistant United States Attorney Madeline O’Connor of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters.

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.

DHS Requires States to Adopt Common-Sense Election Security Measures Before Receiving Federal Funds

 

Protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure – including election security – is a top priority for President Trump and Secretary Mullin

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is taking decisive action to safeguard the integrity of American elections.

Threats to election systems are constantly evolving. This week, FEMA published the funding opportunity for the Homeland Security Grant Program, making over $1 billion of taxpayer funds available to state, Tribal Nations, territorial, and local governments. Before receiving award funds, states and other recipients must take critical, common-sense steps to protect U.S. elections.

“Election security is national security and protecting the Nation’s critical infrastructure is a top priority,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are taking decisive action to protect election systems from threats like foreign interference, insider threats, and cyberattacks. These new requirements for homeland security grant recipients will preserve election integrity and ensure that Americans can trust the results.”

To strengthen election security, the Department of Homeland Security is requiring all grant recipients to take several key actions:

• First, states must submit a plan for transitioning away from unsecure electronic voting systems that use bar codes and QR codes to count votes and instead use equipment that accepts hand-marked paper ballots. This change helps create a necessary and reliable paper trail, making it easier to verify results and detect any irregularities.
• Second, after each federal election, states must conduct a manual audit of at least 5% of all ballots cast. This common-sense process involves physically reviewing a random selection of ballots to confirm that the machine reported results match results on the paper ballots. This will ensure accuracy and detect any machine errors or manipulation.
• Third, states are required to reconcile the number of voters who participated in each federal election with the number of ballots cast. This step ensures that the number of ballots cast matches the number of voters, a common-sense step that will help jurisdictions identify discrepancies prior to certification.
• Fourth, within 120 days of accepting the grant award, states must use the reliable and free U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify the citizenship status of everyone listed in the state voter registration database. This measure helps ensure that only eligible citizens are registered to vote. 
  • [To the extent that the functionality of the SAVE system has been impacted by the June 22, 2026 order in the League of Women Voters v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Civ. Action No. 25-3501, while on appeal, for any person who is registered to vote but for whom a State does not have records of citizenship, the State may resolve this uncertainty by submitting relevant information to USCIS for an immigration records search consistent with the requirements of 8 U.S.C. § 1373.] 
• Finally, states must also use the SAVE system, or another authorized government system, to verify the citizenship of anyone working at polling places or operating election systems. This requirement applies to all individuals involved in the administration of elections, further protecting the process from potential vulnerabilities.

FEMA will withhold 20% of the grant recipient’s total HSGP award until they submit proof of compliance with these requirements and the Department verifies that proof. Eligible applicants are encouraged to review the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information on the requirements and the process for submitting proof of compliance.

FEMA’s grant programs are voluntary. State, Tribal Nations, territorial, and local governments must apply to receive federal funding and agree to follow the grant’s terms and conditions. Any recipient of federal funding should expect accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent.

The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring that states, Tribal Nations, territories, local governments, and all recipients of federal funds are actively contributing to the security and integrity of our elections by implementing these common-sense measures.

Iowa Man Waives $17.7M Discharge After USTP Investigation into Sham Loans

Jeffrey Garth Ewing, of Iowa, agreed to waive his bankruptcy discharge of more than $17.7 million in debts after an investigation by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP). The USTP’s investigation found that Ewing had transferred nearly $400,000 to companies he controlled to shield the funds from his creditors. 

On June 15, the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa approved Ewing’s voluntary waiver. As a result, Ewing remains liable for his debts and creditors are free to pursue payment from him after the case is closed. 

“Debtors who seek to defraud their creditors also attack the integrity of the bankruptcy system. The USTP remains vigilant to keep the system strong and fair,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Mary Jensen of Region 12, which includes the Southern District of Iowa.

Ewing developed housing communities for older adults throughout the Midwest. In March 2024, Ewing and his wife filed chapter 11 reorganization cases on behalf of themselves as well as several of their businesses, but the bankruptcy cases were dismissed a month later for failure to file required bankruptcy documents. 

In January 2025, Ewing and his wife filed a chapter 7 liquidation case. Ewing claimed that the couple had loaned nearly $400,000 to three of their businesses after the chapter 11 dismissals but before the chapter 7 filing. However, an investigation by the USTP’s Des Moines, Iowa, office found evidence that Ewing had transferred the funds to hide them from his creditors between the bankruptcy filings. The loans had no documentation except in one instance that relied on a promissory note that Ewing admitted to backdating. Ewing also asserted that the couple’s adult children owned two of the companies but the USTP’s investigation found that Ewing maintained control of the businesses’ finances.

The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 82 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust.