Free Computer Tutoring
Free computer tutoring from the Mosholu Preservation Corporation is being offered to anyone who is interested. Lessons will cover topics ranging from basic computer skills to Internet navigation. Lessons are offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is located at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. For an appointment, call Brenda Lucio or Jennifer Mitchell, (718) 324-4461.

Open House for Monte Volunteers
On Friday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Montefiore Medical Center will open its doors to area residents who would like to learn about its volunteer opportunities. Volunteers provide services such as visiting patients, reading to children at bedside or greeting patients and visitors at outpatient treatment areas. The open house will be at 111 E. 210th St., Brown Zone-Ground Floor. For more information, contact the Volunteer Department at (718) 920-4191 or email mhamer@Montefiore.org.

Register for Charitable Event
New York Cares, a volunteer organization, has opened registration for its 14th Annual Hands On New York Day, a charitable event in which volunteers revitalize parks, gardens, community centers, and homeless shelters. The event will take place on Saturday, April 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Last year’s event included 4,500 volunteers at 89 locations. For more information, or to register, go to www.handsonnewyorkday.org.

Open House for Freshmen
The International Leadership Charter School is having its Annual Freshmen Open House. The event, which will be held at the school on Thursday, March 6, Tuesday, March 11, and Tuesday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., is titled: “Prepare Your Child for College.” It is open to all incoming freshmen for the 2008-2009 school year. For more information, call (718) 562-2300.

Blood Drives
Blood drives in our area will be on March 9, at Our Lady of Refuge Church, 290 E. 196th St., from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; March 11, at Fordham Prep, 4786 3rd Ave. off East Fordham Road, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and March 25 to 27, at Montefiore Medical Center, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Homeowner Resource Fair
The University Neighborhood Housing Program and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition are sponsoring the Northwest Bronx Homeowner Resource Fair. Topics covered at the event include “How to lower your energy costs through weatherization,” “What to do in the event of financial hardship,” and “Low-cost state-backed refinance options.” The fair will be on Thursday, March 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Concourse House, 2751 Grand Concourse (at 196th St.). Space is limited. To RSVP, call (718) 933-2539.

Long Term Planning Seminar
A free seminar for those who would like to learn how to protect their assets during retirement, will take place on Wednesday, March 12. The seminar, called “Looking to the Future: Long Term Planning Options,” will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kittay House, on the campus of the Bronx Division of Jewish Home Lifecare, 2550 Webb Ave. A light dinner will be included. For more information, or reservations, call (718) 410-1441.

Charter School Information Sessions
The Bronx Community Charter School, a new progressive public school scheduled to open in District 10 in fall 2008 with a kindergarten and first grade, is holding three information sessions throughout the next month. The first will be held at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave., on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m. The final two will take place at the Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., on Saturday, March 15 at 11 a.m. and at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, on Saturday, March 22 at noon. Admission to the school is by lottery. Applications will be available at the information sessions, by calling (347) 668-5229 or by e-mailing bronxcommunity@gmail.com. Applications must be received by April 1.

Meeting on 8th Grade Promotion
The Department of Education is holding a town hall meeting on its proposed 8th grade promotion policy. The meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Evander Childs High School, 800 E. Gun Hill Road. Members of the public can also submit comments via e-mail to promotion@schools.nyc.gov. Contact David Cantor or Andrew Jacob at (212) 374-5141.

Medicare Health Plan Tips
Council Member Oliver Koppell, along with other local politicians and organizations, is offering a program on Medicare topics, including how to choose a Medicare, health or drug plan; how to protect yourself from fraud; and who to notify if you suspect Medicare fraud. Speaker Betty Duggan from the Medicare Rights Center will lead the program, which will take place on Wednesday, March 12 from 3:15 to 5 p.m. at PS 24, 660 W. 236th St., through the 235th Street entrance. There will be light refreshments.

Free Tax Preparation Days
Ridgewood Savings Bank will be hosting an Ariva’s free Tax Preparation Day on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the bank’s Soundview branch, 1626 Bruckner Blvd. The free tax preparation program is available to eligible Bronx households with a 2007 income of less than $45,000. Because of limited space, qualifying taxpayers must call the bank’s Soundview Branch at (718) 589-1323 in advance to schedule an appointment.

Fresh Air Camps Registration
The Fresh Air Fund is currently registering New York City boys and girls, ages 6 to 12, for free vacations in country and small-town communities. The program gives inner-city children from low-income communities a chance to experience the country at one of five Fresh Air camps or with a volunteer host family. For a referral to a participating agency or for more information about the program, call (212) 897-8900 or (800) 367-0003, or visit www.freshair.org.

Energy Assistance
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 ACESS 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.

Food Drive
The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture is seeking canned food donations to benefit the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food and Hunger Project, Inc. The food drive is ongoing. Please leave food donations at the Society, 4450 Fieldston Road, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. No perishable foods accepted. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

Teen Internship Program
The Educational Counseling Center, MMCC, is offering an internship program to young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not currently in school. The city funded short-term employment program targets low-income, job-ready youth. The program lasts 14 weeks and begins on March 10. For more information, contact Assistant Director Edith Bolanos at (718) 652-0470.

Summer Camps at Community Center
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is offering sports day camps this summer. The City Sports Camp teaches skills in baseball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, kickball, flag football, and other organized games. Boys and girls entering 3rd through 8th grades in September can sign up for a 2-week session, a 4-week session, or a 6-week session. Swim Camp takes place at Fordham University on Monday through Thursday mornings, under Steve Plotsklan, the Head Swim Coach of Fordham. Ages are 5 through 16; for information call Mr. Plotsklan at (718) 817-4256. Karate Camp, taught by Luis Morales, head Sensei at the Center, takes place on Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 5 p.m. for boys and girls entering 1st through 8th grades. For more information and free brochures, call the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at (718) 882-4000.    

Adult Programs at Mosholu Library
The Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., is holding a number of adult programs on Saturdays in the upcoming months. Guitarras del Mar Caribeno (Caribbean Guitars) is on March 15 at 2:30 p.m. Silk and Sword (Red Silk Dancers) is on April 5 at 2:30 p.m. Music from Bangladesh is on April 19 at 2:30 p.m. Call (718) 882-8239 for more information.

High School Salon Reopens
The beauty salon at Grace Dodge Career and Technical High School has opened to the public. The salon, which employs seniors from the school’s hair and nail salon-training program, is supervised by a licensed cosmetologist, and is open on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call the school’s Assistant Principal, Marilyn Soto, (718) 584-2700.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
The Alzheimer’s Association’s New York City chapter provides a support group for Spanish and English speaking caregivers who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia in Norwood. The support group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5 to 6:15 p.m. For exact location or more information, call Mark Goodwin at (718) 920- 7377.

Free Programs for Cancer Patients
The Albert Einstein Cancer Center is offering two free research programs for patients with cancer. The Yoga-Based Cancer Rehabilitation Program includes 12 weeks of yoga classes as part of a research study to see if yoga can help patients with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. The Mind-Body Cancer Program includes eight weeks of mind-body groups as a part of a research study for patients with most types of cancer. Some restrictions may apply and both programs are taking place in the Bronx. For more information or to find out if you are eligible, call (718)-430-2380.
Girls Softball League Enrollment
Registration is now being accepted for the Spring Girls Softball League at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. The league accepts girls ages 9 to 15. Each player receives a uniform and a trophy for participating. For complete information and to register call (718) 882-4000 ext. 0 or ext. 280, or stop by the community center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. near Gun Hill Road.   

English, Civics and Computer Classes
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center offers free English as a Second Language classes (ESL), and civics and computer classes Monday through Saturdays. To apply, visit the Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. (corner of Gun Hill Road). For more information, call (718) 882-4000, ext. 216.

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 Saturday mornings 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.

Citizenship Test Preparation Course
Two Bronx High School of Science seniors and a student in the Macaulay Honors Program at Lehman College are offering a free Citizenship Test preparation course. The course will be held in Room 131 of the Bronx High School of Science, 75 W. 205th St. on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Andrew Levin at (917) 532-7727.

Adult ESL and Computer Classes
Now through June, PS 94 at 3530 Kings College Place is offering beginning and intermediate ESL classes as well as beginner computer classes. All classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up, go to room 105 or call the parent coordinator, Ms. Seminario, at (347) 563-4772, (718) 405-6345 ext. 1050 or (718) 863-4057.  

Housing and Job Help
National Student Partnerships provides no-cost help with job searches, housing searches, education, job training, resume-writing, childcare, 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. Call (718) 733-3897 to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a student to obtain services. Se habla espanol.

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, call Pete at (917) 645-9514 or visit www.fbllnet.org.

Foster Parents Needed
The Foster Care Network currently has an urgent need for adults who want to become foster parents for the hundreds of area children who need a home. For more information, call (800) 454-3727 ext. 110.