Neighborhood news: Manassas Chorale holds open rehearsals

IN MANASSAS…

Singers are welcome at two open rehearsals of the Manassas Community Chorale on Tuesday and Jan. 13, as the group begins learning new repertoire for its March 14 concert. The chorale, which consists of nearly 90 singers, performed during December in Manassas, Bristow, Gainesville and Williamsburg and will perform at Carnegie Hall on June 6.

For more information or to schedule an audition, please visit the chorale's Web site at http://www.manassascommunitychorale.org or call artistic director Becky Verner at 703-368-0883. Rehearsals are held in the fellowship hall at Manassas Baptist Church, 8800 Sudley Road.

Gallery invites public to special exhibit

The member artists of ArtBeat Gallery invite the public to a special exhibit, "The Object Project," which opens Wednesday. The opening reception will be on Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free to the public. What happens when 20 artists, who work in an "anything goes" variety of mediums, each creates a piece of art based on the same five objects? This was the intriguing assignment behind The Object Project.

The Object Project exhibit will remain on display through March 1 at ArtBeat Gallery, located at 9407 Main St., and features original works by the artists' cooperative members of ArtBeat in a wide variety of painting mediums along with textiles, sculpture, fine art photography, stained/fused glass and jewelry.

For more information, call 703-365-8558.

Play basket bingo at Haydon Elementary

Let's play Longaberger Basket Bingo on Jan. 25 at Haydon Elementary School. Play bingo and win Longaberger Baskets stuffed with goodies. Doors open and games start at 1 p.m. Advance tickets cost $15 and will be $20 at the door. Contact Liz Witt-Lee at 703-927-3962 or to order tickets.

Happy Birthday to ...

Happy birthday on Tuesday to Eileen Walsh and on Saturday to Joanne Arrington.

IN MANASSAS PARK ...

City thanks holiday food, toy donor

The City of Manassas Park offers its thanks to all who donated during this holiday season.

The city says that the food and toys donated has been put to great use and it is nice to see that there still are caring people in this world.

Decorating contest winners announced

It was hard to pick the winners of this year's House Decorating Contest. Putting people in the Holiday spirit is easy when they see decorations. Thanks for a job well done. The winners are:

House winners: Best Roof—109 Travis St., Best Porch—193 Lambert Drive, Best Yard—113 Holden Drive, Best Window—125 Pierce St. and Best Overall—9207 Matthew Drive

Town house winners: Best Porch—9759 Corbett Place, Best Yard—8508 Sandstone Way, Best Window—9756 Corbett Place and Best Overall—9401 Black Hawk Court

Preserve tradition,  join quilters' guild

The Stone House Quilters Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the tradition and history of quilts. Every year guild volunteers participate in several community service projects, like giving baby blankets to Prince William Hospital, lap blankets to Annaburg Manor, and quilts to the PWC Police Department for children in trauma.

If you want to see if you can help, call Project Mend-A-House at 703-792-7663.

Tell me what's happening in M. Park

I am thrilled to be writing the Manassas Park column for the News & Messenger. I just need some help getting the word out about what is happening in Manassas Park.

Please send me your upcoming events, birthdays, etc.

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 .