Wave Hill Weekly Events (Oct 29 – Nov 4) | Enter the Enchanted World of the Gardens

 

The moon hangs above the city in the night sky, glowing above the gardens while silhouettes of petals dance in the gentle winds from the river and long limbs cut across paths. Although there are many marvels to see in the daylight of Wave Hill, there is magic to find in these enchanted evenings. Join us in a Wave Hill-O-Ween celebration and discover the hidden wonders of our world just beyond where we think to look.

Wave Hill-O-Ween

Thu, Oct 29, 3:30PM – 6:30PM

Calling all ghosts and goblins, pirates and princesses—it’s Halloween at Wave Hill! Venture through our iron gates (if you dare!) for an enchanted evening for the whole family.

Nature & Wellness 

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, Nov 1, 1:00PM – 1:45PM

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, Oct 29, 2:00PM – 2:45PM

Sat, Oct 31, 2:00PM – 2:45PM 

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 in Glyndor Gallery and in the Sunroom Project Space, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Family

Family Art Project: Day of the Dead

Sat, Oct 31, 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Sun, Nov 1, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds

Registration not required. 

Join us to celebrate this special Mexican cultural holiday. We will explore and create nicho boxes, small shadow boxes filled with meaning and purpose that honor a lost loved one. 

Wave Hill-O-Ween

Thu, Oct 29, 3:30PM – 6:30PM

Free with admission to the grounds

Advanced registration encouraged.

Calling all ghosts and goblins, pirates and princesses—it’s Halloween at Wave Hill! Discover spooky surprises with a garden scavenger hunt, monster mash to tunes on the lawn, snap a photo of the “gourdgeous” view, or unleash your creativity with a drop-in art activity inspired by the haunting season.

Special Events

Afternoon Tea

Thu, Oct 29, 12:00PM – 2:00PM

Tue, Nov 3, 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 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. 

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.

DEC ENCOURAGES NEW YORKERS TO HELP PROTECT BATS DURING 'BAT WEEK'

 

Department of Environmental Conservation Press Office

Outdoor Enthusiasts Encouraged to Refrain from Visiting Caves and Mines During the Fall and Winter Months

Don’t be ghoulish to our fanged friends this spooky season

In observance of Bat Week and to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in the environment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encourages outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months to reduce human disturbance to endangered and threatened bats. Bat Week is observed October 24-31 annually and is organized by representatives from conservation groups and government agencies in the United States and Canada to build support for the conservation of bats – a frequently misunderstood species.  

“Protecting New York’s bats is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems and conserving our state’s wildlife for future generations,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “During Bat Week, DEC is reminding New Yorkers that disturbing hibernating bats can threaten their survival, particularly as they face ongoing challenges to recovery. By avoiding caves and mines and allowing bats to hibernate undisturbed, we can all play a role in protecting these important species.”

These nocturnal flying mammals are more helpful to people than harmful, with most species having absolutely no interest in biting other mammals. There are nine species of bats in New York, all of which are insectivores that help control pest populations across the state. Their voracious appetites for insects help limit the amount of pesticides used for crops and gardens, reduce mosquitoes, and may help limit the spread of invasive insects in New York.   

Of the nine bat species found in New York, six are cave bats that hibernate in caves and mines throughout the winter. Three tree bat species migrate to warmer areas. All these bats need to build up fat stores in the fall to make sure they have enough energy to carry them through their long hibernation or migration. They do this by consuming up to their bodyweight in insects each night. During this time, known as the fall swarm, bats are also congregating in large numbers to mate. For cave bats, this means they are using their hibernation sites to find potential mates before hunkering down inside for the upcoming winter, making these sites even more valuable to them.  

Bats spend the winter hibernating in caves and mines where relatively constant, warm temperatures protect these mammals from harsh winter temperatures above ground. The health of bats is particularly vulnerable to human visitation to winter "hibernacula," and especially harmful since the arrival of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in 2006, a fungus that has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in the state.  

Both WNS and human visitation cause bats to rouse more frequently than they typically do throughout the hibernation season. 

If bats are disturbed during hibernation, they raise their body temperature, depleting crucial fat reserves. This stored fat is the only source of energy available to the bats until the weather warms in spring and insects become readily available. The more frequently bats are disturbed, the less likely they are to survive the long winter months underground without eating. 

In recent years, scientists have found evidence of recovery of the once-common little brown bat throughout New York State. While this seeming stabilization provides a hopeful outlook after more than a decade of devastating population declines, similar evidence of stabilization has not been seen for other severely affected bat species. 

DEC reminds the public to follow all posted notices restricting access to caves and mines. If bats are discovered hibernating in a cave, DEC urges visitors to leave quickly and quietly to minimize disturbance. Anyone entering a listed bat hibernation site from October 1 through April 30, the typical hibernation period for bats, may be subject to prosecution. 

Other ways to help protect bats in New York include: 

• Limiting tree removal to the winter months (December 1 – February 28 in Suffolk County or November 1 – March 31 elsewhere) to protect bats from harm. During the active season (spring through early fall), bats roost in trees and form maternity colonies to rear their pups, so tree removal during this season can potentially harm bats using trees for these behaviors.
• Planting a pollinator garden to increase prey availability for bats, who feed on insects; 
• Putting up a bat box on your property to offer bats a summer roost safe from predators and human activity (see options for bat box designs and DIY instructions here);
• Keeping cats indoors to prevent their predation of bats; and 
• Contacting a bat-certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) when looking to remove bats safely from your home (find a list of NWCOs in your area here). 

For more information on bats, including state and federally listed species like Indiana bat and Northern long-eared bat, visit DEC’s website.  

COMPTROLLER CANDIDATE JOSEPH HERNANDEZ RELEASES ANALYTICAL MODEL PROJECTING NEW YORK’S PATH UNDER HOCHUL VS. BLAKEMAN

 

Joseph Hernandez, candidate for New York State Comptroller, today released a quantitative model projecting that the state’s economic and quality-of-life outcomes will diverge sharply by 2030 under continued leadership by Kathy Hochul versus election of Bruce Blakeman as governor.

The model uses recent measured data on jobs, energy prices, taxes, migration, and crime, then applies realistic policy impacts under both scenarios.

Key findings include:

• Employment growth: 0.3% per year under Hochul versus 1.0% under Blakeman (+233%)
• Energy costs: 32¢ per kWh under Hochul versus 22¢ under Blakeman (–31%)
• Tax competitiveness: Remains near the worst in the nation (#50) under Hochul versus improves to roughly #38 under Blakeman (+12 spots)
• Combined state and local tax load: Rises under Hochul versus declines under Blakeman (–15 index points)
• Net domestic out-migration: Approximately 120,000 people leaving per year under Hochul versus 50,000 under Blakeman (–58%)
• Crime: Modest improvement under Hochul versus stronger gains under Blakeman (–18%)

“As someone who has spent his career on Wall Street and is running to be the taxpayers’ watchdog, I believe New Yorkers deserve to see the numbers,” said Hernandez. “This model shows one path continues high costs and slow growth. The other aims to reverse those trends through lower energy costs, tighter spending, and stronger public safety. A Democratic legislature will limit how far any governor can go, but the direction is clear.”

The model is directional and transparent. It starts from current baselines and applies straightforward compounding formulas under each policy scenario.

“New Yorkers should go to the voting booth with these scenarios in mind,” Hernandez added. “The data shows the gap is real.”

Note: This is a directional analytical model based on current trends and realistic policy impacts. It is not a precise forecast.

Office of the New York State Comptroller DiNapoli - This Week: MTA Financial Outlook Stable but Gaps Loom as Costs Rise

MTA Financial Outlook Stable but Gaps Loom as Costs Rise

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) near-term financial outlook remains stable, but that could change in the coming years, according to Comptroller DiNapoli’s annual report on the authority’s finances. Outyear budget gaps fueled by rising costs require the MTA to find long-term strategies to further control non-discretionary costs while continuing to build ridership, hit its savings targets, and negotiate a new labor contract. New Yorkers need a strong MTA to keep our economy running well.

Learn More

Comptroller DiNapoli Partners with Law Enforcement to Fight Medicaid Fraud

Comptroller DiNapoli’s office partners with federal, state and local law enforcement to investigate suspected Medicaid fraud and protect funding for New Yorkers who depend on the program. This week, his office was part of the multi-agency operation focused on Medicaid fraud in social adult daycare centers as well as part of two arrests with the Richmond County District Attorney's office.  

Over the last 18 months, his work with law enforcement partners has resulted in 58 arrests and nearly $50 million in restitution related to Medicaid fraud. The State Comptroller’s Medicaid audits identified approximately $35.4 billion in overpayments, questionable payments and other actual or potential savings since 2007.

A February audit, which the FBI credits for this week's law enforcement efforts, found weaknesses in the Department of Health’s oversight of social adult day care programs, including questionable Medicaid payments, claims without documentation showing services were provided and building issues that could put seniors’ safety at risk. Comptroller DiNapoli called for stronger monitoring, better recordkeeping and a review of questionable payments for possible recovery.

Comptroller DiNapoli’s office worked with law enforcement on a separate case involving an alleged $120 million Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme. Federal authorities announced the arrest of two Queens men in February on charges involving kickbacks, bribes and claims for services never provided.

This work demonstrates how the State Comptroller’s auditors and investigators help identify suspected fraud and support efforts to hold those responsible accountable.

Saratoga County Medicaid Transportation Provider Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Over $700,000

The owner of a Saratoga County Medicaid Transportation Company was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $700,000 from the state Medicaid program over a four-year period, Comptroller DiNapoli, Saratoga County District Attorney Brett R. Eby, Saratoga County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Brown, and Acting Medicaid Inspector General Frank T. Walsh Jr. announced. The defendant was charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and one count of Prohibited Practices.

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SUNY Improves Oversight of Student Support Program

A follow-up report by Comptroller DiNapoli found that SUNY implemented both recommendations from an audit of its Educational Opportunity Program, which provides access, support and financial aid to disadvantaged students. SUNY strengthened its oversight to help ensure program funds were spent appropriately and campuses kept records showing students received counseling services.

More Work Needed on Dam Safety Oversight

A follow-up report by Comptroller DiNapoli found that the Department of Environmental Conservation made progress but has more work to do to strengthen oversight of approximately 6,500 dams statewide. The office’s February 2025 audit recommended stronger enforcement of dam safety requirements, completing condition ratings and improving the timeliness of inspections and inspection reports. DEC partially implemented that recommendation, which aims to help protect lives and property from flooding and dam failures.

ALSO IN THE NEWS

• FBI Raids NYC Adult Day Cares in Medicaid Fraud Probe
• New York's MTA Must Curb Spending, Says State Comptroller
• State tax receipts significantly higher than projection through mid-year

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

FAR ROCKAWAY MAN INDICTED FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR KILLING MOTHER AND SISTER IN FAR ROCKAWAY HOME

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kegan Thomas was indicted on charges of murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, arson and other crimes for killing his mother and sister in the family’s Far Rockaway home. Thomas allegedly started a fire and caused an explosion in the home that also took the lives of the family dog and cat.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant killed his mother and sister in cold blood by shooting them to death. He then deliberately set a fire and caused an explosion inside of the family’s home during a standoff with the police. When he emerged from the residence, he was carrying a shotgun and wearing a tactical vest. He approached responding police officers while holding the shotgun pointed in their direction and failed to comply with NYPD orders to put his hands up. He was shot by responding officers. This horrifying act of violence destroyed a family and left a community in shock. The defendant has been charged with first-degree murder and now faces life in prison if he is convicted.”

Thomas, 33, of Far Rockaway, was arraigned on a 12-count indictment charging him with three counts of murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, two counts of murder in the second degree, arson in the second degree, three counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Queens Supreme Court Judge Ushir Pandit-Durant ordered him to return to court January 15, 2027. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on July 25, at approximately 11:55 a.m., Thomas shot to death his 66-year-old mother, Clemer Ponce, and 29-year-old sister, Selena Ponce, with a shotgun inside a bedroom in the first-floor apartment at 25-33 Ocean Crest Boulevard in Far Rockaway.

When members of the NYPD arrived on the scene responding to a report of shots fired, Thomas was outside of the house and was not wearing a tactical vest or holding a shotgun. Thomas then went back inside the home as police approached.

Police officers then banged on the door of the home and ordered Thomas to come outside. An explosion erupted from inside the home with smoke and fire coming from the location.

A few seconds later, Thomas exited the home wearing a black hat and tactical vest and carrying a shotgun he is alleged to have pointed in the direction of the responding officers. Multiple police officers shouted to Thomas to put his hands up. He failed to comply and officers discharged their weapons, striking him.

The FDNY fire marshal later entered the location and determined that the fire inside the home was deliberately set. A pitbull-boxer mix was found deceased in the living room and a kitten was found dead in the garage. Both animals, family pets, died of smoke inhalation, according to a necropsy.

Two switchblade knives were recovered from the defendant.