Banking Conference at Hostos
New York City Comptroller William Thompson will host a Consumer Banking Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. The free event will feature workshops about savings and credit, financial maintenance protection for homeowners, and predatory lending. It’s being held at Hostos Community College, in the East Academic Complex (C-Building), at 450 Grand Concourse. Dinner will be served. Please RSVP by calling (212) 669-8479 or email rsvp@comptroller.nyc.gov.

Crafts Fair
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park and Van Cortlandt House Museum are holding a fall crafts festival on Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the grounds of Van Cortlandt House Museum in Van Cortlandt Park. The free event will feature crafts, a raffle, and food. A kids craft project will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. For vendor applications and event information, please call (718) 601-1460 or visit www.vancortlandt.org. Enter park at Broadway and West 24th Street. Off-Street parking is available at the Van Cortlandt Golf House.

Affordable Housing Discussion
The Bronx Forum, a partnership between Hostos Community College and Jewish Community Relations Council of NY/CAUSE-NY, will hold a discussion on affordable housing for community leaders and professionals, on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Hostos Community College, Savoy Bldg., 2nd Floor, Multi-Purpose room, 120 Walton Ave. at 149th Street. Registration with breakfast is at 9 a.m. The workshop, for which there’s a $10 materials fee, runs from 9:15 a.m. to noon. Please register on-line at www.communityuplink.net/affordablehousing by Sept. 21. For more information, contact Hoi Chan at (212) 983-4800 ext. 121 ChanH@jcrcny.org.

Irish Folk Music
Bronx residents and acclaimed Irish folk musicians, Mary Courtney and John Redmond, will give a free performance on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 12:30 p.m. at Lehman College, in the Carman Hall, Room B04. The free show, which also features a discussion with the audience, is part of the college’s City and the Humanities program. To confirm the time and location, please call (718) 960-8715.

Speech Center Applications
The Mount Saint Ursula Speech Center is accepting applications for their 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 please call, (718) 584-7679.

Lehman College TOEFL Program
The Lehman College Office of Continuing Education is offering a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) preparation class on Monday and Wednesday evenings beginning Sept. 26. (TOEFL evaluates the ability of an individual to understand American English at college level.) To register for the course, call (718) 960-8512 or visit www.lehman.cuny/ce.

Senior Activities in VC Park
Northwest Bronx residents 60 and older are eligible for the City Parks Foundation’s free program offering tennis lessons, yoga instruction and fitness walking in Van Cortlandt Park. The programs run from Sept. 17 through Oct. 26. For more information or the schedule, call (718) 760-6999 or visit www.cityparksfoundation.org.

Writers’ Center Applications
The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) has applications available for the Bronx Writers’ Center 2007-08 Chapter One Competition and Writing Series, open to residents of New York City. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, at BCA’s main office at 1738 Hone Ave. in Morris Park. No entry fee. For more information, visit www.bronxarts.org or contact Lydia Clark at (718) 931-9500 ext. 35 or Lydia@bronxarts.org.

Arts-in-Education Grants
The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) announces the availability of Arts-in-Education (AIE) grants for Bronx schools. Applicants must be a school, an arts/cultural organization and/or an independent teaching artist. Applicants can apply online at www.bronxarts.org for projects during the 2007-2008 academic year. Deadline for applications is Oct. 11. BCA is also offering AIE "How to Apply" workshops on Sept. 25 and Sept. 27, at 4 p.m. An AIE Professional Development workshop will be held on Sept. 20, at 4:30 p.m. All workshops will be held at BCA’s main office, 1738 Hone Ave. For more information, call (718) 931-9500.

Piano Recital
Fordham United Methodist Church will present a piano recital by David Wolff on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. The free event is part of the church’s Annual Homecoming, Family and Friends Day which starts at 11 a.m. For more information, please call (718) 367-9347.

Senior Outreach Fund-raiser
St. Brendan’s Leisure Club is holding a fund-raiser for "Senior Outreach" on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Brendan’s School Cafeteria on East 207th Street (between Bainbridge and Perry avenues). There will be an auction, restaurant raffle, sweepstakes, 50/50 and more.

Learn Sign Language
Sign up to learn American Sign Language at Lehman College. Learn grammatical principles, vocabulary building, finger spelling and get practice in receptive and expressive skills. Class schedule: Saturdays from Sept. 29 to Dec. 8, 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. For more information or to register, call (718) 960-8512.