[Neighborhood Notes 4’1]

Turnout Training
The Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition is having Turnout Training and a Community Meeting on Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to get people to a parents meeting, religious service, or block party; meet your neighbors and help improve the community. The training and meeting will be at 2500 Jerome Avenue, between 190th and St. James Park, one block north of Fordham Road.

Life After Incarceration Seminar
Lehman College will host a seminar on April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room on the challenges people face after incarceration, the possibilities for their success and the ways the community can help them reenter society. The panelists will include Lehman Professor Carl Mazza, Glenn E. Martin from the Fortune Society, Lehman social work major Dwight Stephenson, and representatives from New York Cares and The College Initiative. The discussion is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information contact Hannah Tran at hanh_tran@nycares.org or (212) 402-1116.

Food Co-Op
The Norwood Food Co-op is accepting registration forms for members for the 2008 season. Members of the Co-op receive organic vegetables from the weekly harvest of the Norwich Meadows Farm, a New York State organic farm. The season lasts from mid-June to early November. To get more information, attend an information session at the Keeper’s House at 3400 Reservoir Oval East on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. To register for an info session, please call (718) 670-3727, or email Norwoodcsafoodcoop@yahoo.com. Visit www.norwoodfoodcorp.org for more information.

Flea Market
Post 2052 Law Enforcement Explorers is sponsoring a fundraising Flea Market on Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Ann’s Church, 3519 Bainbridge Ave. A variety of items, including electronics, food, and toys, will be available for purchase. If you would like to donate an item to the event, call (718) 220-5824.

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. Last year’s event included 4,500 volunteers at 89 locations. For more information, or to register, go to www.handsonnewyorkday.org.

Walk for Health Walkathon
The first annual Walk for Health Walkathon will be held Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. The event, which will be at Van Courtlandt Park, will benefit organizations that fight against autism, asthma, breast cancer, childhood obesity, and diabetes. Anyone interested in participating can pre-register online at www.nationalpuertoricandayparade.org or www.bronxchamber.org. The registration fee is $10.00 per person. For more information, call (718) 401-0404, (718) 828-3900, or (212) 243-1177.

Spring Art Classes
The Bronx River Art Center (BRAC), 1087 East Tremont Ave., is offering free art classes for youth and teens ages 9-12 in fine arts, digital media, and eco-media as well as fee-based art classes for adults in darkroom photography, painting, and advanced ceramics. The spring session runs from April 28 to June 30. Registration for the spring session will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and from Monday through Friday, April 14-18, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the first floor gallery space of the BRAC. For more information, call (718) 589-5819 or visit bronxriverart.org.

MetroCard Van Coming
MTA MetroCard buses will make scheduled stops in the Bronx during April, including Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse on April 11 & 25 from noon to 2 p.m.; Scott Tower (3400 Paul Ave., corner of East 205th Street) on April. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.; and in Van Cortlandt Village at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. on April 11 & 25 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may apply for the Reduced Fare MetroCard and obtain applications from the vans. Senior Citizens must present photo I.D. proving they are at least 65. For more information, call (212) METROCARD or visit MTA’s Web site, www.mta.info.

Social Security Assistance
Representatives of the Social Security Administration will be at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office, 3655 Johnson Ave., on Wednesday, April 23 to assist people with questions and issues concerning Social Security. The service is available by appointment only, which can be made by calling Engel’s assistant Richard Fedderman at (718) 796-9700.

Clean Up the Bronx
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. invites local residents to participate in “Team Up to Clean Up the Bronx,” a borough-wide clean up campaign, on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine. The designated clean-up date for Sabbath observers is May 4. The team registration deadline is April 24. To register a clean-up activity in your neighborhood or for additional information, call the Office of the Bronx Borough President at (718) 590-3914.

Housing Available
New Destiny Housing Corporation is accepting applications for 19 Studio and 2-bedroom rental apartments in Marcello Manor, a newly constructed elevator building in the Fordham-Bedford section of the Bronx. Applications can be downloaded from New Destiny Housing Corporation’s website (www.newdestinyhousing.org) by going to the left hand corner of the homepage and clicking under ‘general population.’ Applications can also be requested by mail until April 18: Citywide Supportive Housing Inc., Attn: Applications Request, 1140 Broadway, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10001. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the application request. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than May 1. Section 8 voucher holders are encouraged to apply.

FTC Materials Available
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has Federal Trade Commission (FTC) materials on credit acquisition and protection available to the public or for groups. To obtain copies of any of these materials, call Mr. Kathryn Speller at (718) 365-0910, ext. 133. Materials may be picked up at the CAB office at 2054 Morris Avenue, Monday through Friday during regular business hours (9 – 5) until the inventory is exhausted. Call to schedule a pick up before coming. Materials may also be sent by mail upon request. For more information, visit www.cabny.org, or call (718) 365-0910 ext. 122.

Scholarship Opportunity
The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, will award a scholarship to one female high school senior from the Bronx, who plans on attending a four-year college or university. The recipient of the scholarship “will be a high school female who participates in community service, proves to be a role model for other young women and has excelled academically.” For more information or to apply, go to www.zphibkez.org/scholarship, or call (866) 841-9139.

R.N. Program at Monroe
Monroe College is now accepting applications for its new R.N. program that begins on April 29. Students can earn their L.P.N. in the first year of the program and their Associates Degree in Registered Nursing after successful completion of their second year. Those interested in applying need to take two entrance exams, the NLN and the ATI, before the first week of April. The cost of the exams is $100. To schedule an appointment to sit for the exams or for more information, call Paulette Foreman at (646) 393-8620.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Registration for Pre-K and Kindergarten at PS/MS 20 is currently underway. To pick up an application for Pre-K or register for Kindergarten, go to the school’s main office from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. For more information and a list of what is required for Kindergarten registration, call Mrs. Ryan in the Main Office at (718) 515-9370.

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 p.m. 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.

Hosting an Exchange Student
AFS, the leading international high school student exchange program, needs local families to host high school students for an academic year or six months. Students arrive in August. AFS is also looking for volunteer liaisons to work locally with families and their hosted students. Anyone interested in hosting or volunteering should visit www.afs.org/usa/hostfamily or call 1-800-AFS-INFO.

Research Patients Needed
Doctors at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center are looking for women ages 18-50 with a vaginal herpes blister or sore to undergo a gynecologic exam for a research study. A free, confidential screening will determine eligibility. Participants need to attend 3 visits in 2 weeks, and monetary reimbursement will be given for each visit. For more information, contact Julie at (718) 430-3253, Tara at (718) 430-3061 or e-mail Microbicide@aecom.yu.edu.

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.

Adult Programs at Mosholu Library
The Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., is holding a number of adult programs on Saturdays in the upcoming month. 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.

Bike Tour Registration
Registration for the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour is currently underway. The 42 mile tour through New York City on car-free streets, highways, and bridges, will be held on Sunday, May 4. A discounted registration fee of $43 is offered until Friday, March 28. After April 4, only online registrations will be accepted as space permits. For more information and to register, visit www.BikeNewYork.org or call Bike New York at (212) 932-BIKE. For a route map of the tour, visit BikeNewYork.org/rides/fbbt/route_map.html.

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.     

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.