Tax Preparers Registration
The 2017 tax preparer online registration is available on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website, www.tax.ny.gov. Prpearers who are paid to prepare at least one tax return in a year must be at least 18 years old, take four hours of annual continuing education and take a 16-hour basic tax course for those who’ve been professionally preparing taxes for less than three years. For more information, log on to www.tax.ny.gov.

Free Composting
Repurpose food by bringing it to Lehman College’s Food Scrap Drop Off location Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. when school is in session.

Drug Treatment Help
Those struggling from drug addiction can log on to FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov to find up-to-date information on available treatment beds, outpatient services and opioid treatment programs anywhere in New York State. To learn more, call the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services at 518-473-3460.

Apply to a Community Board
Applications for placement into a local community board are available. City residents who qualify must either reside, work or have a professional or other significant interest in the Bronx. Applications are open to anyone as young as 16 years old. Interested applicants can log on to bronxboropres.nyc.gov, or call (718) 590-3914.

Holiday Shopping Tax Break
A public service reminder to shoppers: All clothing and footwear items sold for less than $110 in NYC are exempt from nearly nine percent of state and local sales tax, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Scholarships Available
College scholarships valued at $2,000 each will be available to 100 students of Puerto Rican descent. Students must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above, be a high school senior or full-time college freshman, sophomore, or junior age 17 through 25, be enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college/university, and have a record of volunteer work or community service. Deadline is Feb. 20, 2017. For more detailed information, and to apply, go to www.nprdpinc.org.

Heating Assistance Available
Funding assistance for heating bills is available via NYS government for elderly and low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. Eligible households can receive a one-time benefit of up to $626, depending on income, household size and heating source. A family of four can have a household income of up to $53,076 annually, or $4,423 a month, and still qualify for help. For more information and to apply, log on to http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/.

Apply to Kindergarten
Applications are now available for Kindergarten at New York City public schools for children born in 2012. Parents can apply by calling (718) 935-2400, online at schools.nyc.gov/applyonline, or by visiting the Department of Education’s Family Welcome Center at 1 Fordham Plaza, 7th floor (this site is for families enrolling their children into school districts 7, 9, and 10). The application deadline is Jan. 13.

Bias Reporting Hotline
Residents who have experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or discrimination are encouraged to call Division of Human Rights’ toll-free hotline at (888) 392-3644 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To report a crime or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.