Statement from NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on Mayoral Control

 Comptroller Stringer released the following statement on mayoral control reauthorization:

  “Our kids should be above politics. Their futures can’t be treated as pawns in a political game. And the largest school system in the nation shouldn’t be used as legislative leverage. That’s why Albany must immediately reauthorize mayoral control. The question is whether it’s the right thing or wrong thing to do, and there is no doubt that extending mayoral control is to everyone’s benefit.

“I can assure Albany of two things. First, we are doing everything we can to watch the dollars and cents and hold the DOE accountable. Second, going back in time to a pre-mayoral control system would be disastrous. Our kids would lose out and our schools would be in chaos.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  As a former parent leader all the way to the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council when former U.S. Prosecutor Joel Klein had to get a waiver to become chancellor of the NYC public school system, and Mayoral Control was instituted I beg to differ with City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Comptroller Stringer - Parents watched as games were played by then Mayor Bloomberg to prop up test scores by holding back to many poor performing third-grade children so that the next fourth-grade NY State exams the first year of Mayoral Control would show improvement. 

What were the Average Yearly Progression goals set by the New York State Department of Education the first year of Mayoral Control, and why was New York City given a waiver in meeting those targeted goals? In fact many if not a majority of all New York City public schools have not be able to meet their AYP goals, and many have never met the first targeted AYP goals from the first year of Mayoral Control. 

No, City Comptroller you can not assure Albany leaders that you are holding the NYCDOE accountable with a system of non-disclosure no bid contracts that are lumped together for mayoral appointees to vote yes or be replaced on the Panel For Educational Policy as we have seen under Mayor Bloomberg. 

Mayoral Control needs to end, and control of the public school system needs to be returned to the community as in the rest of New York State.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN TO FOURTEEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROBBING 81-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN ELEVATOR

Defendant Threatened to “Cut Up” Victim If She Refused to Cooperate 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to consecutive terms totaling seven to 14 years in prison for robbing an 81-year-old woman he threatened to cut with a razor blade in her apartment building elevator. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “It is hard to fathom that someone could terrorize an elderly person. The victim continues to work through the trauma of the incident and struggles to leave her apartment. We hope this sentence provides her with justice and some sense of security that he will be behind bars.” 

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Homer Griffin, 51, of Grand Concourse, was sentenced today to two consecutive terms of 3 ½ to seven years in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Hornstein. Griffin pleaded guilty to third-degree Robbery and third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon on March 31, 2017. 

  According to the investigation, on the afternoon of March 3, 2017, in the area of Grand Concourse and Marcy Place, Griffin followed the victim as she stepped into her apartment building elevator. He then pretended to help her exit the elevator before holding a blade to her face and telling her, “I want the money, give me the money. I’m going to cut you.” Griffin fled with $200.

  District Attorney Clark thanked Detective Daniel Angen of the 44th Precinct Detective Squad and Ellen Kolodney, BXDA Elder Abuse Coordinator, for their work in this case.

BP DIAZ HOSTS BRONX LGBTQ PRIDE CELEBRATION

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., hosted the borough’s seventh annual LGBTQ & Allies Pride Awards Ceremony at Billy's Sports Bar on River Avenue across from Yankee Stadium. 

  Dr. Marjorie J. Hill, CEO of the Joseph Addabbo Family Health Center, will be awarded the 2017 John Wade Award, which honors LGBTQ individuals for excellence in government service.

   Honorees included legendary performer Dominique (Tyra A. Ross) Jackson, Renee Reopell, Director of the Adolescent AIDS Program at Montefiore; and Raul Rivera, a community organizer with Spaceworks.

   Serving as co-emcees this year were be the legendary Vivika Westwood Mugler and Tym Moss, with Bronx shero Appolonia Cruz also performing at the event. Photos of this event are below.

Above - Vivika Westwood greets Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. after changing outfits from the one Below where Vivika did the opening number 'Can't Take Our Rhythm'.

Above - Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark was in attendance with her security detail. 

Below - City Councilman Jimmy Vacca speaks to BP Diaz.

Above and Below - Everyone wants their picture taken  with BP Diaz.

Above - Elder Antionettea Etienne gave the invocation.

Below - Tym Moss dances to 'No Raining on My Parade'.

Above - Bronx BP Diaz Jr. tells of the importance of this event to not only the growing Bronx LBGTQ community, but to everyone who has not recognized the LGBTQ community for what each individual is.

Below - Tracy McDermott and Dirk McCall of BP Diaz's staff receive acknowledgements. 

Congressman Eliot L. Engel - Marks National Gun Violence Awareness Day

   Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, marked National Gun Violence Awareness Day today by introducing a resolution with Congressman Tony Cárdenas that would compel Congress to take action in the face of gun tragedies.

H.Res.370, would require that any moment of silence held on the floor of the House of Representatives due to a tragedy involving gun violence be promptly followed by a hearing to discuss the cause of the tragedy and how similar events might be prevented in the future.

“National Gun Violence Awareness Day is a day to reflect on our shared responsibility as American citizens to address the scourge of gun violence that has devastated so many communities,” Congressman Engel said. “It is unacceptable that each time an American loses their life to a senseless act of gun violence, Republicans in Congress refuse to vote or even hold hearings to address the epidemic. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. I am proud to cosponsor this measure urging Congress to take immediate action.” 

Throughout his career, Congressman Engel has pushed for common-sense reforms to our gun laws. Earlier this year, he introduced H.R. 2089, the Protect Law Enforcement Armor (PLEA) Act that would ban the sale and import of armor piercing handguns.

A copy of the resolution can be found here.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION CALLS FOR DESIGN BUILD AUTHORIZATION FOR ITS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

At major $1.9 billion BQE rehab project, broad stakeholder coalition urges Albany passage of New York City Design Build authority to shave time and cut costs from major capital projects

  De Blasio Administration officials announced that New York City was ramping up its campaign for Design Build authority for major infrastructure projects that will maintain New York City’s economic strength and mobility.  DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora were joined by elected officials, business leaders and advocates in front of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) in downtown Brooklyn.  The Administration has dedicated $1.9 billion in capital funding over the next five years to completely rehabilitate the aging sixty-year old roadway.   They stressed the need for Albany passage of Design-Build authority to fund and complete the infrastructure work there -- and for seven other major projects.

“The BQE triple-cantilever is a critical economic lifeline to our city. Like many roads, bridges and buildings across the five boroughs, it is overdue for carefully planned and executed rehab work,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Throughout New York City, we have serious capital needs that cannot wait for an emergent crisis. It is critical we attend to these needs right away and in the fastest and most cost-effective way possible. Design Build authority would save us time and money, which means our roadways would open sooner, emergency room wait times would decrease and the NYPD could begin training at their new facility. Design Build has been invaluable for the State, it can and should be for the City too.”

“The BQE-Atlantic to Sands is overdue for rehab – critical and complex work that no one in the world would take on without Design Build," said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “As a road central to the regional economy, the BQE must be fixed safely and efficiently, and Design Build could save us as much as $300 million and two-years’ construction time on this single project.  I thank Mayor de Blasio for his commitment to this and other major capital projects.  We look forward to our work with state partners to give us the authority we need to get these jobs done with the least disruption and inconvenience."

“The history of Design Build in New York State shows that important City projects could benefit greatly if we were allowed to use this more efficient method for project delivery,” saidDDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora. “Police precincts, highways and public hospitals could be built with shorter construction times at lower cost if the City had the Design-Build process that agencies such as the State DOT and State Thruway Authority have already employed on projects such as the new Tappan Zee Bridge. I am grateful to the legislators who are working to get this passed in Albany, and to the Mayor for sending a strong message of support.”

Today’s speakers cited the urgent need for Design-Build authority in state law to speed major capital projects.  Design Build streamlines the construction process by merging design and construction phases, saving both time and money.  Authorized for use by several New York state agencies since 2011, Design Build was used most prominently by the New York State Department of Transportation for the BQE's Kosciusko Bridge last month, just five miles north of the downtown Brooklyn BQE section controlled by New York City.

The rehabilitation of the 1.5-mile portion of the BQE between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street is the largest among major infrastructure projects planned by New York City.   Known for its distinctive triple-cantilever tiered structure (topped by the Brooklyn Heights promenade), the section of roadway is actually a succession of 21 different bridges.  Constructed in the 1940s, the Atlantic-to-Sands section of roadway has never been rehabilitated despite growing increasingly congested in the years since:  in the 1970s, 100,000 vehicles traveled it daily, with the number now exceeding 140,000 vehicles on an average weekday.  Trucks are a large share of that traffic, 17 percent during rush hours, as the road serves not only as a major access point to East River bridges to Manhattan but also as a major means of moving freight within the five boroughs (90 percent of truck traffic has a NYC destination).  With no breakdown or acceleration lanes, this narrow and congested section of the BQE suffers a disproportionate number of collisions and traffic delays.

In 2016, New York City DOT completed an in-depth inspection of the BQE Atlantic-to-Sands structure, the first since its original construction.  That inspection found that while the highway was structurally sound and safe, a full-scale rehabilitation was necessary in the next decade.  During 2016, DOT also substantially repaved the roadway on much of the structure, which has helped alleviate some of the breakdowns and traffic issues.

State legislation under consideration in Albany, A8134/S6427, sponsored by Assembly member Michael Benedetto and Senators Andrew Lanza and Martin Golden, would grant New York City authority to use Design-Build for eight designated major projects with a combined proposed budget of $2.5 billion.  Those projects are:

1) BQE - Atlantic to Sands, Brooklyn (Department of Transportation)

Budgeted cost: $1.89 billion ($1.72 billion for DOT; $170 million for Parks)

·       In addition to addressing the structural conditions on one of the most heavily traveled roads in New York City, the project will result in other significant enhancement by: 1) increasing vertical clearance along the Queens-bound BQE; 2) widening lanes and where feasible, adding standard shoulders to address high-crash rates and to bring the roadway up to national interstate standards; 3) making pedestrian improvements and increasing access to Brooklyn Bridge Park, especially at the Atlantic Avenue interchange; 4) improving drainage and lighting throughout the corridor.

2) Rodman's Neck Training Facility, Bronx (Department of Design and Construction on behalf of NYPD)                                 

Budgeted cost: $275 million

·        This project consists of the renovation of NYPD’s Rodman’s Neck Firearms Training Facility. The 48.7-acre site contains six open firing ranges and 21 wood frame and modular buildings.

·        The project consists of administrative spaces, armory, climate-controlled ammunition storage, a tactical village for enhanced training and additional shooting points to increase number of officers who can be trained simultaneously. The new facility will offer enhanced capabilities for movable targets and tactical training environments.

3) Crossroads Youth Facility, Brooklyn (DDC on behalf of Administration for Children’s Services)                                              

Budgeted cost: $129 million

·       The City is undertaking a major renovation and upgrade of its Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn.  The project’s design and construction will be managed by DDC.

4) Horizons Adolescent Facility, Bronx (DDC on behalf of Administration for Children’s Services)                                                 

Budgeted cost: $170 million

·        DOC plans to rebuild the Horizon Detention Center in the Bronx. The project’s design and construction will be managed by DDC.

5) New NYPD Precinct - SE Queens (DDC on behalf of NYPD)                                            

Budgeted cost: $70 million

·       This project would create a new NYPD Precinct, the 116^th in Southeast Queens,created out of the southern portions of the existing 105th precinct.  The new precinct would serve the communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville and Springfield Gardens.

·       The new 116^th Precinct will address an increase in this area’s population and requests for law enforcement services, and help reduce response times.  Compared to the other 76 precincts Citywide, the current 105^th Precinct has the 5^th-largest precinct population (118,577 residents) and the 5th largest square mileage (12.43 square miles).

6) Staten Island Ferry Resiliency (DOT)                                                                     

Budgeted cost: $25 million

·        Almost 23 million passengers ride the Staten Island Ferry each year. In 2012, as a result of Superstorm Sandy, ferry passenger terminals in both Staten Island and Manhattan, along with the Ferry Maintenance Facility on Staten Island, were subject to heavy flooding and major mechanical/electrical system damage.

·       This major resiliency project includes the assessment, design and construction of systems necessary to ensure that this vital transit system is well-prepared and sufficiently resilient to withstand major flooding and increased incidents of severe weather in the future.

7) Pelham Parkway Bridge over Hutchinson River Parkway, Bronx (DOT)

Budgeted cost: $54.5 million

·       Pelham Parkway crosses the Hutchinson River Parkway just east of Stillwell Avenue.   A stone-arch bridge built in 1942, it consists of two spans with a total deck area of about 17,600 feet. The structure carries a total of six lanes of traffic, with sidewalks on both sides, for a total bridge width of 146.8 feet.

·       The project will bring the bridge into a state of good repair.

8) Elmhurst Hospital Emergency Room Renovation, Queens (Health + Hospitals)      

Budgeted cost: $20 million

·       Located at 79-01 Broadway, the project consists of renovating and expanding the Emergency Department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, one of New York City’s busiest Trauma Centers with approximately 1200 trauma admissions per year.

·       The project addresses the demand for additional space to accommodate the hospital’s increased volume. Plans include more than 10,000 additional square feet of new space, an increase in treatment bays (48 to 80), an increase in nursing support areas, five additional isolation rooms, and centralized radiology services.

The Design-Build legislation would give the same benefit and cost savings to City agencies that New York State has realized on its projects, including eight projects that were authorized in the most recent State Budget. Design-Build contracts would be subject to applicable federal, state, and local requirements for disadvantaged business enterprises and minority and women-owned business enterprises. The Mayor recently announced the following MWBE commitments: Setting a Citywide goal of 30%; the Creation of the Mayor’s Office of MWBE and interest rate contract financing in the state of 3% up to $500,000 per loan. The use of Design-Build as a project delivery method will allow the City to complete more projects, increasing opportunities for MWBE firms. The City proposal includes Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for all projects utilizing Design-Build. Projects that utilize Design Build typically realize cost savings of at least 6 percent and an average time savings of 18 months.

“Speed and cost are important considerations in health care, and Design Build helps with both,” said Stanley Brezenoff, interim President and Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. “With Design Build, we can make better use of our limited resources and respond more quickly to real community need for services. We are always looking for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, so for us, Design Build is a no-brainer.”

“The Rodman’s Neck Training Facility in the Bronx and an additional NYPD Precinct in Southeast Queens will provide needed infrastructure that will assist the NYPD in protecting New York City residents and providing essential law enforcement services,” said NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill.

Wave Hill Events Jun 16–Jun 24

  In addition to a woodworking workshop June 17 and a birdy Make Music New York experience onJune 21, I can’t leave out Pollinators Weekend, June 24 and 25, even though it falls just outside the parameters of this week’s email. Here’s a link to the weekend, so you can see all the Pollinators Weekend events at a glance. It should be a very buzzy two days!

Sat, June 17    Woodworking: Garden Trellis Workshop

Trellises perform double-duty, supporting rambling vines and serving as ornamental garden features. With master carpenter and Director of Facilities Frank Perrone as your guide, construct a vertical, fan-shaped trellis to spruce up a wall indoors or out (vines optional). No previous carpentry skills required. Space is limited. $60/$50 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. 

MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, 9:30AM–4PM

Sat, June 17    Family Art Project: Big Hand, Little Hand

Using plaster of Paris, create an exact replica of your hand and the hand of one of your family members—maybe Dad’s! Then, build onto your plaster hands with metallic and natural materials like leaves, sticks and stems. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, June 17    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Sat, June 17    Wave Hill History Walk

Discover the fascinating history of Wave Hill’s architecture and landscape on a walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Hear about the people who once called Wave Hill home, among them Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Bashford Dean and Arturo Toscanini. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM

Sat, June 17    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow will lead a tour of current exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show,Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Sonya Blesofsky’s sculptural installation is inspired by the history of Glyndor House, while Sindy Butz’s includes enlarged photographs and videos of her performing with Wave Hill fireplaces. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sun, June 18    Family Art Project: Big Hand, Little Hand

Using plaster of Paris, create an exact replica of your hand and the hand of one of your family members—maybe Dad’s! Then, build onto your plaster hands with metallic and natural materials like leaves, sticks and stems. Free with admission to the grounds. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, June 18    Yoga in the Garden

Enjoy a morning yoga class on the lawn. Participants should bring a mat, dress appropriately and expect to be outside, unless precipitation or excessive humidity occurs. Classes are offered in partnership withYoga Haven. All levels welcome. Continues Sundays through June and July 9. $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Pre-registration recommended at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10AM–11AM

Sun, June 18    In The Shop: Father’s Day!

Spend $75 and receive a Wave Hill baseball cap for Dad!

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–4:30PM

Sun, June 18    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, June 19    

Closed to the public.

Mon, June 19    Members Trip: Greenwood Gardens

In the last decade, Greenwood, a former private estate in Short Hills, New Jersey, that dates from the early 1900s, has undergone much thoughtful restoration and is now a wonderful and eclectic garden. Grand vistas, Italianate water gardens and rustic stone summer houses are just some of the features to see on this Members trip with Wave Hill Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day. $70 Wave Hill Member, including lunch. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

MEET AT WAVE HILL VISITOR PARKING LOT, 9AM–4PM

Tue, June 20    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Tue, June 20    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow will lead a tour of current exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show,Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Sonya Blesofsky’s sculptural installation is inspired by the history of Glyndor House, while Sindy Butz’s includes enlarged photographs and videos of her performing with Wave Hill fireplaces. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Wed, June 21    Make Music New York

For the second year in a row, Wave Hill celebrates avian life as part of Make Music New York’s Inside the Bird Chorus, a city-wide project conceived by the artist David Rothenberg as a dialogue between improvising musicians and native bird species. The gardens make an ideal location for flutist Michael Pestel to chat with the birds and for visitors to enjoy the sounds. Free with admission to the grounds, and admission is free until 10:30AM. 

ON THE GROUNDS, 9–10:30AM

Wed, June 21    Wave Hill Members Picnic

Pack a picnic supper, or purchase dinner from The Café! And be sure to bring your blanket! This event is for Wave Hill Members only. During the picnic, enjoy a discount of 15% on all merchandise in The Shop.

ON THE GROUNDS, 6–8:30PM

Sat, June 24    Family Art Project: Butterfly Habitat Hats

See them and sketch them flying and sipping the nectar of their favorite flowering shrub or bush. Then learn about local butterfly species and make a butterfly-habitat hat filled with flowers and insects in an active landscape. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.  Pollinators Weekend event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, June 24    In The Shop: Meet the Grower―Eric Rohsler of Rohsler’s Nursery

Eric Rohsler of Rohsler’s Nursery will be on hand to guide you in selecting the best plants for attracting pollinators to your own green space. Also for sale will be upscale bee-condos, crafted in Wave Hill’s own woodshop. Pollinators Weekend event.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–3PM

Sat, June 24    Pollination Headquarters

Get your pollinator info here! See butterfly and insect displays, pick up self-guided tours, take home pollinator-friendly plant lists and adopt a bee-condo. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.Pollinators Weekend event. 

ON THE GROUNDS, 11AM–4PM

Sat, JUNE 24    Meet the Bees: A Hands-on Adventure in the Apiary

Observe bee behavior in the gardens, then suit up in a hat and veil to peek inside a hive filled with 50,000 honeybees. Search for worker bees, drones, brood (baby bees) and maybe even catch a glimpse of the elusive queen. Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day leads this fascinating foray into the world of the honeybee. Appropriate for curious adults and kids ages 14 and older accompanied by an adult. $35/$25 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM–1PM

Sat, June 24    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Sat, June 24    Family Gallery Tour

Explore artwork on view in Glyndor Gallery on a family-friendly tour with a Curatorial Fellow. Children ages six and older welcome with an adult. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON

Sat, June 24    Butterfly Block Party

Calling all swallowtails, fritillaries, skippers and hairstreaks! Everyone’s invited to the Butterfly Block Party in the Flower Garden. Mingle with guest naturalists and meet your local Lepidoptera. Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT FLOWER GARDEN, NOON−3PM

Sat, June 24    Native Pollinators Walk

Flowers attract the attention of both human and animal visitors. Honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies are easily spotted in the garden, but solitary bees, beetles and other native pollinators are often overlooked. Entomologist Lawrence Forcella and naturalists Gabriel Willow and Paul Keim lead these fascinating walks to observe our local pollinators at work. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult.Repeats at 3PM. Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM

Sat, June 24    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow will lead a tour of current exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show,Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Sonya Blesofsky’s sculptural installation is inspired by the history of Glyndor House, while Sindy Butz’s includes enlarged photographs and videos of her performing with Wave Hill fireplaces. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sat, June 24    Talk & Tour: The Horticulturalist’s Eye

Tour the Hudson River Museum’s summer exhibition, Robert Zakanitch: Garden of Ornament, with Wave Hill’s Assistant Director of Horticulture Matthew Turnbull and Hudson River Museum Curatorial Chair Laura Vookles. This event is part of the Museum’s “Talk and Tour” series. Free with admission to the Museum; admission is free to Wave Hill Members through the Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance.

MEET AT THE HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM, 2PM

Sat, June 24    Native Pollinators Walk

Flowers attract the attention of both human and animal visitors. Honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies are easily spotted in the garden, but solitary bees, beetles and other native pollinators are often overlooked. Entomologist Lawrence Forcella and naturalists Gabriel Willow and Paul Keim lead these fascinating walks to observe our local pollinators at work. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. This walk also takes place at 1PM. Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 3PM

Sat, June 24    Marvelous Moths Talk and Walk

Often overshadowed by their more flamboyant butterfly relatives, moths play an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators for night-blooming flowers, and as food for many larger creatures. Join Environmental Educator Pam Golben of the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum for a peek into the fascinating world of moths. This evening program includes a short, indoor presentation and a twilight foray into the gardens to look for moths. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. $20/$10 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 7:30–9PM

Sun, June 25    Family Art Project: Butterfly Habitat Hats

See them and sketch them flying and sipping the nectar of their favorite flowering shrub or bush. Then learn about local butterfly species and make a butterfly-habitat hat filled with flowers and insects in an active landscape.  Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, June 25    In The Shop: Meet the Grower―Eric Rohsler of Rohsler’s Nursery

Eric Rohsler of Rohsler’s Nursery will be on hand to guide you in selecting the best plants for attracting pollinators to your own green space. Also for sale will be upscale bee-condos, crafted in Wave Hill’s own woodshop. Pollinators Weekend event.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–3PM

Sun, June 25    Yoga in the Garden

Enjoy a morning yoga class on the lawn. Participants should bring a mat, dress appropriately and expect to be outside, unless precipitation or excessive humidity occurs. Classes are offered in partnership withYoga Haven. All levels welcome. Continues Sundays through June and July 9. $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Pre-registration recommended at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10AM–11AM

Sun, June 25    Pollination Headquarters

Get your pollinator info here! See butterfly and insect displays, pick up self-guided tours, take home pollinator-friendly plant lists and adopt a bee-condo. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.Pollinators Weekend event. 

ON THE GROUNDS, 11AM–4PM

Sun, June 25    Butterfly Block Party

Calling all swallowtails, fritillaries, skippers and hairstreaks! Everyone’s invited to the Butterfly Block Party in the Flower Garden. Mingle with guest naturalists and meet your local Lepidoptera. Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT FLOWER GARDEN, NOON−3PM

Sun, June 25    Native Pollinators Walk

Flowers attract the attention of both human and animal visitors. Honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies are easily spotted in the garden, but solitary bees, beetles and other native pollinators are often overlooked. Entomologist Lawrence Forcella and naturalists Gabriel Willow and Paul Keim lead these fascinating walks to observe our local pollinators at work. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult.Repeats at 3PM. Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM

Sun, June 25    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Sun, June 25    Native Pollinators Walk

Flowers attract the attention of both human and animal visitors. Honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies are easily spotted in the garden, but solitary bees, beetles and other native pollinators are often overlooked. Entomologist Lawrence Forcella and naturalists Gabriel Willow and Paul Keim lead these fascinating walks to observe our local pollinators at work. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. This walk also takes place at 1PM. Free with admission to the grounds. Pollinators Weekend event. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 3PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM, starting March 15.  Closes 4:30PM, November 1–March 14.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesdaymornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

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