HAPPY EASTER

Fw: Tax Refund Thefts On The Rise

You're not the only one waiting for your tax refund. Scammers are looking for it too. In fact, every year there are more and more scams designed to steal tax refunds. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says these kinds of thefts have increased substantially in the last few years. Between 2010 and 2012, the number of investigations opened by the IRS grew from 224 to 898, according to the latest figures. Find out more about tax refund scams, how to protect yourself from identity theft and what to do if you are a victim.   If you have questions, contact us. Stay Connected to USA.GOV: Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Our Blog This email was sent to narmer@gmail.com from: USA.gov • General Services Administration • OCSIT • 1275 First Street NE • Washington DC 20417 • (800) 333-4636.

Fw: Northern Manhattan Parks - Spring Events and Opportunities

Northern Manhattan Parks   Come to Northern Manhattan Parks to spring into all sorts of fun things to do.   EcoHouse   Community Environmental Center <http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwoodhillpark/events/2013/03/28/community-environmental-center-ecohouse>   Mondays through Friday   10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.   Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   The Community Environmental Center EcoHouse, a mobile, free, environmental education exhibit, will be at storm-damaged Inwood Hill Park through April 5. Fun as well as educational, the EcoHouse is an ideal experience for both youngsters and their parents. Wall signs explain all the displays, but to really get the full EcoHouse effect, listen to CEC's expert guides, or bring your cell or smart phone and listen to the audio guide.   Hours are Mondays through Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. for school groups; and 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., for the general public (But walk-ins are welcome at anytime!).   For more information about how to visit the EcoHouse, or to arrange a group tour, contact Katherine Gloede, kgloede@cecenter.org <mailto:kgloede@cecenter.orgFor>   or visit the Community Environmental Center <http://www.nycgovparks.org/exit?url=http%3A//www.CECenter.org>   website at http://www.CECenter.org   Inwood Hill Park ranked #1 of Manhattan Parks in the New Yorkers for Parks Report Card!   Every two years, New Yorkers for Parks sends inspectors to review and grade large parks citywide. Inwood Hill Park went from a grade of 78 in 2010 to Manhattan's top grade of 94 in the 2012 survey! Fort Tryon Park also saw an improved grade. In 2010, the park scored a 79. In 2012, it scored an 86.   NYC Parks, local volunteers, elected official support and non-profit partners like the Fort Tryon Park Trust have played an essential role in bringing about these improvements! Thank you!   http://www.ny4p.org/research/report-cards/rc-largeparks12.pdf   Read more at:   http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130315/inwood/uptown-parks-score-high-grades-watchdog-report   Inwood Hill Park   Wilderness Survival <http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwoodhillpark/events/2013/03/31/wilderness-survival>   Sunday, March 31, 2013   1:00 p.m.   Whether you are preparing for an extended journey through the woods or just want to be more prepared for any situation, a wilderness survival program is perfect for you. Wilderness survival programs take place in the fall and winter. All programs are family friendly, but are recommended for ages 8 years and older. Wilderness survival programs feature hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. Please dress appropriately for cold weather. Meet at Seaman Avenue entrance to Inwood Hill Park.   For more information, contact the Urban Park Rangers at: (212) 628-2345   Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities   Fort Tryon Park Clean-up Day   Sunday, April 7th   11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.   Come help us clean-up Fort Tryon Park by raking woodchips, removing storm debris and installing burlap mesh to reduce erosion. Meet at the Broadway and Bennett Avenue entrance to Fort Tryon Park.   Take the "A" train to 190th and exit at Bennett Avenue or take the "1" train to 191st street and exit at Broadway. Be ready to get dirty! Please wear long sleeves, pants and close toed shoes.   Please bring a bottle for water.   This project is appropriate for ages 14 and up. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.   For more information please call 212-795-1833 Ext 306 or email info@northernmanhattanparks.org <mailto:info@northernmanhattanparks.org>   Fort Tryon Park Dog Run Clean-up   Saturday, April 13th   11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.   Join us as we spread woodchips and spruce up the dog run for spring!   Sir Williams dog run is east of the New Leaf Café. Take the staircase just north of the New Leaf Cafe and go through the tunnel to the dog run.   Upcoming Parks & Cultural Affairs Committee of Community Board 12   Tuesday, April 2nd.   7:00 p.m.   701 West 168th Hammer Building Room 310.   A valid photo ID is required to enter this facility   Please call the community board to confirm times and locations.   Community Board 12 / Manhattan   711 W 168th Street   http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb12/html/meetings/meetings.shtml   New York, NY 10032   212-568-8500   212-740-8197   pgarcia01@cb.nyc.gov <mailto:pgarcia01@cb.nyc.gov>

Fw: Government Information from Your Phone: Visit Mobile Apps Gallery

Visit our Mobile Apps Gallery to find government apps and mobile websites. Here are just a few of the many apps you'll find: Tornado - If a tornado warning is issued for your location, an alarm will sound, even when the app is closed. (available for iPhone and Android) CDC Mobile App - Get timely health information. (available for iPad and Android) Smart Traveler - Get official country information, travel alerts, maps, U.S. embassy locations, and more. (available for iPhone and Android) NCI QuitPal - Use proven strategies to help you stop smoking. (available for iPhone) NPS National Mall - If you're visiting the National Capital, you can use this app to help you explore cultural and historical sites. (available for iPhone) You can search for apps by category (Education, Health, Business, etc.) or by platform (Android, Apple, Blackberry, etc.). Currently, all the apps featured in the gallery are free, though charges from your mobile phone carrier may apply.     If you have questions, contact us. Stay Connected to USA.GOV: Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Our Blog This email was sent to narmer@gmail.com from: USA.gov • General Services Administration • OCSIT • 1275 First Street NE • Washington DC 20417 • (800) 333-4636.

Fw: Hatewatch Headlines for March 28, 2013

Hatewatch is a weekly summary of the latest news about hate and extremism compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Week of March 28, 2013 Hatewatch Blog DOJ Study: More Than 250,000 Hate Crimes a Year, Most Unreported Racist Maryland Student Leader Vows Patrols Against 'Black Crime' Slain California Cop-Killer Held 'Sovereign Citizen' Beliefs National Organization for Marriage Has a Rough Start to 2013 'Conservatives' Who Gathered in Colorado a Different Breed Hatewatch Headlines CA Bizarre Details of Alleged Hate Crime Emerge at Preliminary Hearing Santa Barbara Noozhawk | Mar. 26, 2013 KY Kentucky Gay Rights Activist's Car Vandalized In Possible Hate Crime: Report Huffington Post | Mar. 26, 2013 NH Concord Man Gets Up to 12 Years for Hate Crime Concord Monitor | Mar. 25, 2013 CA Bail Raised for Teen Accused of Hate-Crime Attack SFGate | Mar. 28, 2013 Opt Out 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104 SPLC supporters like you make the Hatewatch newsletter possible.  Follow Hatewatch on Twitter.  Become our fan on Facebook. Contact SPLC. 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104

Fw: Hatewatch Headlines for March 21, 2013

Hatewatch is a weekly summary of the latest news about hate and extremism compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Week of March 21, 2013 Hatewatch Blog 'Sovereign Citizen' Leader Goes on Trial for Tax Fraud Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Obama on Twitter White Supremacist Brings Racist Filmmaker to Texas A&M Hatewatch Headlines CA Sacramento Man's Beating Investigated as Anti-Gay Hate Crime Huffington Post | Mar. 19, 2013 TX Seagoville Inmate Gets 6 Years for Hate Crime After Assaulting Gay Inmate Dallas Voice | Mar. 15, 2013 FL Jurors Convict Hialeah Man in Hate Crime Trial Miami Herald | Mar. 14, 2013 WI Man Accused of Setting Fire at Sikh-Owned Store Fox11.com | Mar. 14, 2013 Opt Out 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104 SPLC supporters like you make the Hatewatch newsletter possible.  Follow Hatewatch on Twitter.  Become our fan on Facebook. Contact SPLC. 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104

NEW THIS MORNING

WE HAVE A BUDGET! Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders finalized a two-year budget agreement that includes tax cuts, a family tax credit, a tax extension on high-income individuals and a minimum wage hike: http://bit.ly/YqbI6L   NEW THIS MORNING: * Gov. Cuomo changed his position on the need to ban the sale of larger bullet clips, saying that gun dealers would still be allowed to sell magazines that hold up to 10 bullets, after the new state gun laws would have banned gun clips holding more than 7 bullets, The Buffalo News writes: http://bit.ly/ZMYAHs Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned that New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's plan to install an Inspector General to have oversight of the NYPD could force a spike in crime to the levels of the 1970s or '80s, The New York Post writes: http://bit.ly/XrfFVG ************ A second New York City police officer testified in court that he believed police faced retaliation if they did not meet monthly arrest quotas for arrests, tickets, and stop-and-frisk activity, and claimed that he was made an outcast after complaining to Internal Affairs, the Journal writes: http://on.wsj.com/Z18tCh Authorities say that it is standard procedure for police to let those charged with marijuana possession to drive away if they were found to not be under the influence, as was the case with Assemblyman Steve Katz, The Journal News writes: http://lohud.us/Yt8zA8 The Times-Union urges Assemblyman Steve Katz to reconsider his opposition to a medical marijuana bill in the wake of his arrest for marijuana possession, which showed that he uses the drug for recreational purposes: http://bit.ly/149moKM

Fw: See If You Qualify for Free File Tax Software

If your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $57,000 or less, you may qualify to use a brand name tax software to prepare and e-file your taxes for FREE. Answer a few questions on IRS.gov to help you determine your eligibility to use Free File tax software. If your AGI is more than $57,000, you can still use Free File fillable forms for your federal tax return. Learn more about Free File for all taxpayers.    If you have questions, contact us. Stay Connected to USA.GOV: Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Our Blog This email was sent to narmer@gmail.com from: USA.gov • General Services Administration • OCSIT • 1275 First Street NE • Washington DC 20417 • (800) 333-4636.

Fw: [TheBlackList+] Traditional Orisa Songs Workshop: Wed., March 20, 2013-NYC!!!

Orin Orisa:  Traditional Yoruba Orisa Songs Workshop By Baba Faseye Sangobukunmi Wednesday, March 20, 2013 7pm -8:30pm   In traditional Yoruba religion, singing is one of the main ways in which the Orisa and other spiritual forces are honored, invoked, and remembered.   Learn some of the traditional Yoruba songs used to worship some of the major Orisa in this lively and engaging workshop.   Learn the meaning and the correct  pronunciation of the songs to effectively worship the Orisa.  In this workshop you will learn: ·      Traditional Yoruba songs for various orisa. ·      The translation of each song in English. ·      The proper pronunciation of each song. ·      The circumstances in which we sing to Orisa. <!--[if !supportLists]--> Included in this workshop will be a guide which includes all the songs as well as an audio cd of the songs. Tuition:  $25 in advanced/ $30 at the door.  To pay advance online visit: http://www.eventsbot.com/events/eb984630266 Location:  422 Grand Avenue, Bklyn NY (bet. Gates and Putnam) Directions:  Take C train to Clinton & Washington train stop.  Walk 3 blocks to Grand Ave.  Make a right and walk down Grand Ave. To secure your seat please RSVP by emailing us with the  name, contact number and email address for each attendee to  jamelcherry@gmail.com or call (917)705-3444.    Please include the workshop name is the email subject line. __._,_.___ :   . __,_._,___

Fw: Hatewatch Headlines for March 14, 2013

Hatewatch is a weekly summary of the latest news about hate and extremism compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Week of March 14, 2013 Hatewatch Blog Florida 'Sovereign Citizen' Killed After Allegedly Threatening Police Racist Skinhead Sentenced to Life for Oregon Home-Invasion Killing Famous Seattle Ceramicist Exposed as Holocaust Denier Hatewatch Headlines CA Hate Crime Investigation Underway After Beating Hospitalizes Gay Davis Man WCBS | Mar. 13, 2013 MD Three Charged in Possible Transgender Hate Crime SilverSpringPatch.com | Mar. 12, 2013 CA Possible Hate Crime at L.A. Strip Club Leads to Leg Amputations for Two Men, Police Say CBSNews.com | Mar. 11, 2013 OR Salem Hospital Worker Targeted with Hate Crime KGW.com | Mar. 9, 2013 TX Police Seek Suspect in Brutal Hate Crime Dallas Voice | Mar. 8, 2013 Opt Out 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104 SPLC supporters like you make the Hatewatch newsletter possible.  Follow Hatewatch on Twitter.  Become our fan on Facebook. Contact SPLC. 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104

Fw: Spring at Studio Museum with David Hartt, Fred Wilson, Beauford Delaney and more!

Spring Exhibitions and Projects open March 28! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Studio Museum | E-Newsletter | March 13, 2013  studiomuseum.org/event-calendar Announcing Spring 2013 Exhibitions and Projects The Studio Museum in Harlem comes alive this spring with the installation of seven new exhibitions and artists' projects. Traveling to the Studio Museum from the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, David Hartt: Stray Light offers an intimate look inside the Johnson Publishing Company's iconic former headquarters. Fred Wilson: Local Color, Assembly Required: Selections from the Permanent Collection, and Brothers and Sisters all feature highlights from the Studio Museum's collection, including recently acquired classics, rarely seen masterworks and brand-new innovations. Ayé A. Aton: Space-Time Continuum and Mendi + Keith Obadike: American Cypher present focused looks at recent projects, while Harlem Postcards Spring 2013 continues the Museum's signature project to bring fresh perspectives to the Harlem landscape. On view March 28 to June 30, 2013, these diverse presentations exemplify the Museum's commitment to promoting and celebrating the wide range of artistic contributions of artists of African descent and work inspired and influenced by black culture. Also on view through June 30, 2013 Gordon Parks: A Harlem Family 1967 honors the legacy and the work of late iconic artist and photojournalist Gordon Parks, who would have turned 100 on November 30, 2012. The exhibition, organized by Thelma Golden and Lauren Haynes, will feature approximately thirty black and white photographs of the Fontenelle family, whose lives Parks documented as part of a 1968 LIFE magazine photo essay. A searing portrait of poverty in the United States, the Fontenelle photographs provide a view of Harlem through the narrative of a specific family at a particular moment in time. This intimate exhibition will include all images from the original essay as well as several unpublished images—some which have never been displayed publicly before.    Harlem Postcards: Tenth Anniversary represents the enormous, yet nuanced range of images created for the Museum's signature project series. While many artists have been drawn to the visual vibrancy of Harlem—from its architecture to its colorful commercial goods—others seek to reveal its surprising, less familiar corners, or focus on the histories of Harlem's different communities. Aiming the camera at the sidewalk, the storefront and the sky, artists have reinvented the notion of what belongs on a postcard, and what it means to represent a neighborhood to those who do not live there. Celebrating the creativity of artists within the set limitations of 4 by 6 inches, this installation displays the postcards as aesthetic rather than functional objects. Remembering Merton D. Simpson The Studio Museum in Harlem would like to acknowledge the passing of artist Merton D. Simpson (1928–2013). Simpson was a part of Spiral, a collective founded in 1963, and was exhibited widely individually and with fellow Spiral artists.   An early and avid collector and dealer of African art, Simpson was inspired by the formal elements of African sculptural objects, which he uses to create powerful abstract paintings featuring bold color and broad, roughly painted geometric forms. Among Simpson's best known works are the primarily black-and-white figurative paintings in his "Confrontations" series, created throughout the 1960s in response to the social and political turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement. Simpson was the recipient of many awards and honors, including a South Carolinian Library Research Archives Award (1984); an honor at The Studio Museum in Harlem's 2002 Fall Gala; and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the College of Charleston in South Carolina (2010). His many solo and group exhibitions include Younger American Painters at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Watercolor Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (both 1954); The Journey of an Artist at the Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina (1995); Confrontations at the Greenville Museum, Greenville, South Carolina (2010); and Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective at the Studio Museum (2011). His work is in the collections of the Romare Bearden Foundation, New York; the Detroit Art Institute; and The Studio Museum in Harlem, among others. He will be missed.  David Hartt: Stray Light was organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, where it was curated by Michael Darling, James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator. Support for this exhibition is generously provided by the Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Family Foundation. The presentation at The Studio Museum in Harlem was organized by Thomas J. Lax, Assistant Curator.   Gordon Parks: A Harlem Family 1967 is supported by The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.   The Studio Museum in Harlem's permanent collection is supported with public funds from the following government agencies and elected representatives:  The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th Council District, Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council.    Images: (left, from top to bottom) David Hartt, Award Room, 2011. Courtesy the artist and Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago / Gordon Parks, Untitled (Harlem, New York), 1967. Courtesy and copyright The Gordon Parks Foundation/ Merton D. Simpson via www.mertonsimpsongallery.com (right, from top to bottom): Beauford Delaney, Untitled Abstraction, 1964. The Studio Museum in Harlem; Gift of Addie Herder  01.2.1/ Fore (exhibition catalogue). Cover image: Jessica Vaughn, Diamond (detail), 2012. Courtesy the artist.   Upcoming at the Studio Museum Thursday, March 21, 2013 5pm: At the orientation you will learn more about the Studio Museum, meet the Education staff and learn about our various volunteer opportunities. RSVP to kdewees@studiomuseum.org by 5pm, March 18. Thursday, March 28, 2013 10am: Open House for Educators Educators are invited to preview the Spring 2013 exhibition for a self-guided tour of the exhibitions, and learn about programs that will help teachers use the museum as a teaching tool. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn about resources for educators, upcoming programs, and opportunities for your school! 7pm: The Artist's Voice: Dr. Elizabeth Alexander in Conversation with David Hartt Please join the Studio Museum for a conversation between Yale University professor Dr. Elizabeth Alexander and artist David Hartt. The conversation will take place in conjunction with the Studio Museum's presentation of Hartt's Stray Light. Target Free Sundays: March 31, 2013 1pm: Gallery Tour: Brothers and Sisters Enjoy an interactive and informative tour of Brothers and Sisters, a cross-generational exhibition that examines the relationships between a selection of Beauford Delaney's (1901-1979) paintings and prints made between 1958 and 1969, and works in The Studio Museum in Harlem's permanent collection. 2pm: Hands On: Artworks and Titles In this art workshop, participants will be challenged to work backwards, and create a work of art inspired by a title! Select from a variety of artwork titles and create a watercolor painting based on how the title inspires you! Things We Love The catalogue for our critically-acclaimed Fall/Winter 2012–13 exhibition, Fore. The catalogue includes a foreword by Thelma; three essays by the organizers of Fore, Lauren Haynes, Naima J. Keith and Thomas J. Lax, Assistant Curators at the Studio Museum; in-depth artist essays written by 29 scholars; and full-color illustrations.  Trenton Doyle Hancock's collaboration with Ballet Austin. Narcissister performing at Abrons Art Center. Copyright © 2013 The Studio Museum in Harlem, All rights reserved. You've expressed an interest in The Studio Museum in Harlem. Our mailing address is: The Studio Museum in Harlem 144 West 125th Street New York, NY 10027 Add us to your address book