Free Assistance
National Student Partnerships provides no-cost help with job searches, housing searches, education, job training, resume-writing, child care, legal services and much more.  There are no eligibility requirements and all services are completely free.  NSP is located at 2715 Bainbridge Ave. at East 196th Street.  Please call (718) 733-3897 to set up an appointment.  You do not need to be a student to obtain services. Se habla español.

Citizenship and Naturalization Event
Bronx Community College and the City University of New York Citizenship and Immigration Project are hosting a citizenship and naturalization question and answer event. It will be held on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 3 to 7 p.m. at BCC at West 181st Street and University Avenue in the Roscoe C. Brown Student Center, Room 208. For directions, go to http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/
directions/directions.htm and for more information, call (718) 289-5921 or visit www.cuny.edu/citizenshipnow.

Tree Planting in Bronx River Forest
Replant native trees in the Bronx River Forest on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation’s (NIDC) Neighborhood Greening and Bronx River Project, will meet in front of NIDC’s office at 2523 Olinville Ave. near Mace Avenue. RSVP is required. To reserve a place and for more information, call (718) 231-9800 ext. 16.

Speech Center Program
The Mount Saint Ursula Speech Center is accepting applications for its fall program. The Center, at 2885 Marion Ave., has morning and afternoon openings for children ages 2 to 5 who are in need of speech and language services. Children can work in groups or individually. Some types of insurance are accepted. For more information, call (718) 584-7679.

Jewish Culture for Kids
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center offers a free Hebrew School/Jewish Family Connection Program on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for children in grades 2 through 6. The program offers a wide variety of activities and is open to all. For more information, call Abraham Rubin at (718) 882-4000.

50-Plus Yoga Class
The Norwood Triangle, the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s Adult Education Division, has added a "Yoga on the Go" class for adults ages 50 and up. The eight-session class will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 3450 DeKalb Ave. For more information, call (718) 882-4000.

ESL and GED Classes
Fordham Manor Reformed Church is offering free ESL and GED classes at its building on 2705 Reservoir Ave. The ESL classes will be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the GED classes are on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The ESL class requires a 15-minute test for enrollment. A longer three-hour test is necessary to take part in the GED class. For more information, call (718) 796-4980 ext. 16.

MetroCard Bus/Van Coming to the Bronx
MTA New York City Transit has announced that MetroCard buses will make scheduled stops in the Bronx during November including Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse on Nov. 23 from noon to 2 p.m.; Scott Tower (3400 Paul Ave., corner of East 205th Street) on Nov. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m.; and in Van Cortlandt Village at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. on Nov. 23 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may apply for the Reduced Fare MetroCard on the buses and may obtain an application from the vans. Senior citizens must present photo identification proving that they are at least 65 years old. For more information, call (212) METROCARD or visit MTA’s Web site, www.mta.info.

‘Second Hand Rose’ Sale
The St. Patrick’s Home for the Aged and Infirm at 66 Van Cortlandt Ave. will hold a "Second Hand Rose" sale on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items for sale include jewelry, books, home goods, etc. For more information, call (718) 519- 2800.

Year End Tax Planning & Strategy
Learn how to minimize taxes and penalties by deferring income and accelerating expenses through compliance on Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lehman College at 250 Bedford Park in Library B27C. Registration is free, participation is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call Nancy Beltrez at (718) 960-8806 or email anastacia.beltrez@lehman.cuny.edu.

Botanical Garden Holiday Open House
The New York Botanical Garden will be holding its annual Community Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. The event will include a sing-along, holiday tree and menorah lighting at the Visitors Center, Gingerbread Adventures for children at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, and a variety of large-scale model train show in the Haupt Consevatory, with replicas of more than 140 New York landmarks. Tickets for the event are sold in one-hour blocks and need to be reserved by Nov. 28. There is a maximum of four tickets per person. To reserve tickets and for more information, call (718) 817-8694.

World AIDS Day 2007
A World AIDS Day Program, "Stop AIDS, Take the Lead," will be held on Friday, Nov. 30 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in the Murray Cohen Auditorium at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center at 1650 Grand Concourse. The event, which is sponsored by the hospital’s AIDS Program Community Advisory Board, will feature a guest speaker, displays, exhibits, performances and memorials. Refreshments will also be served. For more information, call Elizabeth at (718) 901-6346.

Handel Performance and Gala Reception
A performance of Handel’s Messiah Part I will be held at the Fordham United Methodist Church on 2543 Marion Ave. on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. The performance will be given by the Fordham Choir and Ensemble Sepia Chamber Orchestra and will be followed by a gala reception. The donation for the event is $50. For more information, call (718) 367-9347 or e-mail fumcinthebronx@yahoo.com.

Little League Registration
The Fordham Bedford Little League is currently accepting applications for interested boys and girls from ages 5 to 18. For more information, contact Pete at (917) 645-9514 or visit www.fbllnet.org.

Applying for HEAP
Older New Yorkers can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grant to help meet the challenges of paying for heating and utility costs during the cold winter months. This federally-funded program provides financial assistance to limited-income households to offset costs of heating and energy bills. Applicants must meet income guidelines and be 60 or older. To receive a HEAP application, call 311 or visit DFTA at www.nyc.gov/aging. For more information about the HEAP program, seniors can log onto ACCESS NYC at www.nyc.gov, call the Human Resources Administration’s Info Line at 1-877-HRA-8411 or visit HRA’s Web site at www.nyc.gov/hra.

Fall Senior Trip and Events
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Senior Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. has many events for adults ages 60 and over. Seniors can currently sign up for a trip to see Cirque du Soleil’s latest production "Wintuk" at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Dec. 6. Prior to the show, the group will enjoy lunch at the nearby Eden Wok Kosher Chinese Restaurant. The cost for the trip is $70 for active Senior Center participants and $76 for non-active participants and guests. The Center is also offering a Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 20 followed by entertainment; a program on India with the center’s Assistant Executive Director Bob Altman on Nov. 21; a Healthcare Benefits presentation on Nov. 28 at 1 p.m.; and a Jewelry and Gifts Boutique from 9:30 a.m to noon on Nov. 30. For more information, call (718) 798-6601.