Neighborhood news: Builders’ sale set for Saturday

IN MANASSAS ...

Project Mend-A-House will hold its Ninth Annual Builders' Yard Sale rain or shine Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Prince William County Landfill at 14811 Dumfries Road.

Find deals on new and gently used windows, doors, cabinets, flooring, trim, lighting fixtures, kitchen and bathroom sinks, furniture, appliances, shutters, hot water heaters, tubs, etc. Local builders from the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, other construction businesses and private citizens have donated their excess inventories and they have been deeply discounted.

Last year, the organization raised almost $12,000, which was used to purchase materials for finishing home improvement projects and making safety modifications for local neediest residents, including seniors, disabled or low income.

This is your chance to support Project Mend-A-House to help your neighbors remain safely, comfortably and independently in their own home. For nearly 25 years, Project Mend-A-House, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has helped thousands of Manassas Park, Prince William County and Manassas residents. For more information on Project Mend-A-House, visit its Web site at http://www.pmahweb.org or call 703-792-7663.

Area blood drives

The following blood drives will be held in the area:

* Today: 2 to 8 p.m. at St. Thomas United Methodist Church, 8899 Sudley Road, Manassa

* Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Freedom Aquatics & Fitness Center, 10900 University Drive, Manassa

* Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Coles District Vol. Fire Station 6, 13712 Dumfries Road, Manassa

* Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Noodles & Company, 9646 Liberia Ave., Manassa

To make an appointment, call 1-800-272-0024.

IN MANASSAS PARK ...

Learn how to prune azaleas, other shrubs

The time is now for pruning azaleas and other spring blooming shrubs. The Master Gardener Pruning Team is prepared to teach you what you need to know about these beloved landscape plants. Join the lecture and demonstration Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Chinn Park Regional Library, 13083 Chinn Park Drive. Call 703-792-7747 to register.

Center for the Arts membership meeting

There will be a membership meeting at Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave. on Thursday at 7 p.m. Anna Mish is gallery director at the Center for the Arts, where she also teaches figure drawing.

St. Thomas Methodist plans Saturday yard sale

Manassas St.Thomas United Methodist Church will hold its annual yard sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 8899 Sudley Road. This event is sponsored and run by the United Methodist Women.  All proceeds go to support local and foreign charities, missions and ministries. For more information, call Judy Majors at 703-791-3372.

Discover techniques to help attract pollinators

Join Master Gardener volunteers and the Prince William Bee Keepers and discover gardening techniques that help attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

There will be a child's program: "Bugs to Go!" Children will learn about good and bad bugs in gardens and will make an insect puppet.

Call 703-792-7747 to register.

Railway fest takes place Saturday in Manassas

Historic Manassas Inc. is pleased to announce that the Manassas Heritage Railway will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. around the Old Town Manassas train depot and the Loy E. Harris Pavilion. Now in its 15th year, the festival features nine elaborate model train displays, a Thomas the Tank Engine kiddie train, live country and bluegrass bands throughout the day, a kids' stage with both professional and local talent, food concessions and rides, and vendors of "railroadania."

This year the much-anticipated VRE Excursion Train to Clifton and back is sponsored by Northwest Federal Credit Union at Signal Hill.

Tickets for the excursion train are available now at the Visitor's Center in the Old Town train depot. Tickets are $6 and must be purchased in person. Excursion times are on the hour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with each trip lasting approximately 40 minutes. Children younger than 2 ride for free. The visitor's center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit the HMI Web site at http://www.visitmanassas.org.

Birthdays

Happy birthday on Wednesday to Emily Lukach, on Thursday to Debbie Lunsford, on Friday to Sherry Jones and on Sunday to Susie Parker.

Brenda Facemire reports your neighborhood news from Manassas and Manassas Park every Monday in the News & Messenger. If you live in a Manassas neighborhood and have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to Brenda at . If you live in a Manassas Park neighborhood, please send your news to .