Free Computer Tutoring
The Mosholu Preservation Corporation is offering free computer tutorials to anyone 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.

Grading Bus Service
From now until Friday, May 23, Bronx local bus customers will be able to rate their rides with Bus Rider Report Cards, which will be distributed during the morning rush hour in Bronx neighborhoods like Fordham Plaza, Kingsbridge, and Van Cortlandt Park. Customers can rate twenty different aspects of service from seat availability to courtesy of bus dispatchers and operators. Riders can also fill out the survey online at www.mta.info. Online surveys are available in English, Chinese, and Spanish and must be submitted by June 27.

Green Campaign
The Fordham Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) is partnering with 1199SEIU Child Care Corp. to host its first ever Go Green campaign on Fordham Road on May 17 at 10 a.m. Earlier this month, the BID and children from Child Care Corp. conducted business and resident surveys to gauge recycling and environmentally friendly practices in the Fordham community. Photos and information from these surveys are currently on display at the Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Road. Results will be available at the fair in Poe Park on the day of the event. The BID, along with the Department of Sanitation and the Parks Department, will also place outdoor recycling receptacles at select locations on Fordham Road until the end of June 2008. For more information, call (718) 562-2104.

The Spiritual Journey
Yaniris Urbaez will discuss “The Spiritual Journey” on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture Meeting House, 4450 Fieldston Rd. at the corner of Manhattan College Pkwy. The Spiritual Journey will offer group members an opportunity to develop themselves as nurtured and nurturing people, capable of making informed and responsible choices. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.

Applying for Federal Grants
The New York Regional Federal Partners Council, Faith Based and Community Initiative Subcommittee, along with Affinity Health Plan will host a free workshop on “Finding and Applying for Federal Grant Opportunities” on Thursday, May 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Greater Universal Baptist Church, 253 E. 153rd St. Pre-registration by May 16 is required to ensure sufficient materials. RSVP with your name, organization/affiliation, and telephone number with area code by calling Joan Gibson at (212) 264-2890 ext. 102 or by sending an e-mail to joan.gibson@acf.hhs.gov.

Riverdale Choral Society Concert
The Riverdale Choral Society’s 2008 Spring Concert will take place on May 18 at 3 p.m. at the Christ Church Riverdale, 252nd St. and Henry Hudson Parkway. The concert, under the direction of guest conductor John Lettieri, will focus on music of War and Peace throughout the centuries. Guest musicians will include soprano Anne Myers, pianist Mavis Pan, and the Claremont Strings Chamber Ensemble. Admission to the concert is $15 ($13 with the Bronx Cultural Card). For more information, call (718) 543-2219 or visit www.riverdalechoral.org.
 
Disease Management Workshops
CMO, the care management company of Montefiore Medical Center, is offering health education workshops on chronic health issues such as diabetes and hypertension on May 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at Montefiore Medical Group, E. 2300 Westchester Ave; May 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Co-op City Community Room,177 Dresier Loop, room #8, 2nd floor; and May 29 from 10 a.m. to noon at 2532 Grand Concourse.  To register for the program or for further information, call 1-800-MD- MONTE (1-800-636-6683).  

Charter School Applications
The International Leadership Charter School, the only Bronx-based charter high school, is still accepting applications for September 2008 for incoming 9th graders. Open House meetings will be held on May 19 and May 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the school, 2900 Exterior St. For an application, call the school at (718) 563-2300 or e-mail llopez@ilchs.org.

Art Near the Park
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park will host “Art Near the Park,” a series of art classes where art teacher Lucy Degidon will instruct participants of all levels on various methods of art inspired by nature. All sessions will be held on Mondays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Building 9 Community Room, Gale Place off Orloff Avenue. The remaining two sessions will be Craypas on May 19 and Wrap Up on June 2. A small material fee will be charged to non-members of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, call Christina at (718) 601-1460 or e-mail info@vancortlandt.org.

MetroCard Van Coming
MTA MetroCard buses will make stops in the Bronx on May 23 at Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse from noon to 2 p.m. and in Van Cortlandt Village at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. 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, mta.info.

Free Lecture
The Methodist Home is offering a free lecture called “Learn How the Brain Works as We Age” on May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at 4499 Manhattan College Parkway. The lecture will include an overview of the changes that take place in the brain as we age, the difference between normal aging and dementia, and the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Reservations are required. To make a reservation or for more information, call (718) 548-5100 ext. 231.

Health Fair
PS 33 and the Youth Development Program will host the 16th Annual Health Fair on Wednesday, May 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at P.S. 33, 2424 Jerome Ave. The event will include clown entertainment, robo media, health and educational agencies, and free giveaways. For more information, contact Helson Santiago or Vilma Pagain at (718) 584-3922 ext. 2035, via fax at (718) 584-7004, or by e-mail at HSantia2@schools.nyc.gov or vtores-pagan@schools.nyc.gov.

Financial Education Seminars
The Ridgewood Savings Bank will be hosting multiple financial education seminars in the next two months from 6:15 to 8 p.m. at various bank branch locations. Topics covered will include the benefits of savings and checking accounts, mortgages, saving for emergencies, financial goals, and retirement. The free seminars, entitled “Money Matters,” will be held on May 30 at 3824 White Plains Rd., (718) 882-2220, and June 10 at 1626 Bruckner Blvd., (718) 589-1323. For more information or to reserve a seat at a session, call the respective branch.

Lehman College Summer Programs
An Open House to learn more about Lehman College’s “More than a Camp” summer program will be held on Saturday, May 31 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Carman Hall room 129 on the Lehman campus, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West. Besides the classes for children ages 6-15, which include creative arts as well as reading, math, and writing, Lehman is also offering classes for parents/guardians in computing and math/writing essentials that are scheduled during times the children are in class. All classes are held at either the Lehman College campus or at CUNY on the Concourse. For more information or a catalog of summer classes for adults and children, call (718) 960-8512 or visit www.lehman.edu/ce.
 
Children’s Health Fair
The “Keeping Kids Healthy” Children’s Health Fair 2008 will be held on Sunday, June 1 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mosholu-Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Ave. at East Gun Hill Road. This year’s fair will focus on wellness promotion, health education, safety and community. Families with children 12 years old and younger are invited to attend this free event, which includes entertainment, refreshments, giveaways and health screenings. For more information, call (718) 920-4011.

Free Composting Event
The Bronx Compost Project at the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road, will be hosting a free composting event, “Wild, Wiggly Worms!”, through June 1 on Tuesdays through Sundays from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. During the program, children will learn the important roles that worms play in the garden and will have the chance to create a wormy collage and sift nutritious worm compost to take home for houseplants. To register or for more information, call the Compost Helpline at (718) 817-8543 or e-mail bronxgreenup@nybg.org.

Travel Soccer League
The Bronx Bombers girls soccer team is looking for third and fourth grade girls, born between Aug. 1, 1998 and July 31, 1999, to join their team. Twice weekly practices and traveling to southern Westchester to play games is required to be on the team. Competitive tryouts will be held on Saturday, June 7 at 2 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park, 251st and Broadway. Applicants must bring a soccer ball, shin guards, and a water bottle. For more information, call Sean Maher at (917) 854-5494.

PRIDE Health Fair
Montefiore Medical Center’s AIDS Center, together with the Bronx HIV CARE Network, will be hosting their 6th Annual PRIDE Health Fair to promote health awareness in the community on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Gun Hill Road between Bainbridge and DeKalb Avenues, rain or shine. The event will include educational materials on HIV and prevention, blood pressure screenings, musical performances, guest speakers, and free raffle drawings. For more information, call Liz Ruffin at (718) 231-3296 ext. 24.

Food & Arts Festival
Bronx-based artists and art groups are invited to take part in the 2008 Bronx Food & Arts Festival on Sunday, June 22 from noon to 6 p.m. on Mosholu Parkway between Bainbridge and Hull Avenues. This Grand Finale of the Bronx Week 2008 celebration will feature a place for artists to display their work in addition to live music, rides, and food from the borough’s most popular restaurants. A space reservation form with payment is due to the Bronx Council on the Arts from all interested artists no later than Friday, June 6. For more information, contact Phil Cardone at (718) 931-9500 ext. 33 or at phil@bronxarts.org or Kate Shackford at (718) 590-3498 or at kshackford@boedc.org.