Neighborhood news: Holiday party to benefit Tech fund

Are you ready to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy an evening of good food and great conversation while supporting the Virginia Tech Memorial Fund?

Then plan to come to the Dominion Women's Club dinner meeting Dec. 14 at the Dominion Valley Country Club, 5300 Merchants View Square #A, Haymarket, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Dinner will include chicken scallopini with lemon herb cream sauce, wilted spinach linguini, warm rolls with butter and salad. For dessert, savor the taste of raspberry cheesecake. Beverages include tea or coffee. A cash bar will also be available.

The event will feature a simple and fun live auction to benefit the Virginia Tech Memorial Fund. Proceeds will help the university purchase a rescue vehicle for the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad.

Cost is $20. RSVP to Donna Martin by Monday at or at 571-248-6866.

Guests are welcome.

Be a Santa to a senior this holiday season

Be Santa to a senior and bring some joy to a senior's holiday.

Through the "Santa to a Senior" program, local businesses are distributing ornaments with the name of a lonely or disadvantaged Prince William County senior. Interested parties can take an ornament, purchase the suggested gift item and return the unwrapped gift.

Ornaments can be picked up at the following locations:

* Advantage Physical Therapy, 7560 Gardner Park Dr., Gainesville (703-753-1005)

* BB&T, 7681 Linton Hall RD., Gainesville (703-753-3647)

* BB&T, 10251 Bristow Center Dr., Bristow (703-396-7092)

* Blush Bridal Boutique, 7344 Atlas Walk Way, Gainesville (703-753-8303)

* Cupcake Heaven and Café, 14950 Washington St., Haymarket (703-754-6300)

* Gainesville Health & Rehabilitation, 7501 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainesville (571-248-6100)

* Needles in the Haymarket, 15125 Washington St., #108, Haymarket (703-659-1062)

* Piedmont Country Club, 14675 Piedmont Vista Dr., Haymarket (703-753-5922)

* The Marque at Heritage Hunt, 13550 Heathcote Blvd., Gainesville (703-754-7711)

* Town and Country Shoes, 7356 Atlas Walk, Gainesville (571-261-3151).

Other locations can be found at http://www.beasantatoasenior.com.

Learn to handle stress at free therapy workshops

Group Therapy Associates, a psychotherapy practice serving individuals and couples in Prince William, Fauquier and Loudoun counties, will host a free stress management workshop Dec. 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 7130 Heritage Village Plaza, Suite 101, Gainesville. This workshop is open to the public.

Group Therapy Associates is also offering free workshops on managing holiday stress to local physicians, fitness centers, churches and schools.

These workshops are part of efforts to improve emotional well-being within the community.

To find out more and/or register for the workshop, or to request a workshop for your organization, visit http://www.grouptherapyassociates.org.

Katherine Gotthardt reports your neighborhood news from the Gainesville and Haymarket area every Wednesday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA's activities, please send it to Katherine at .