Neighborhood news: ‘Senior Options’ seminar coming to Gainesville

Come out to Gainesville Health and Rehabilitation Center for a free seminar at 2 p.m. Thursday.

"Senior Options" is designed to help seniors understand the various services available to them in the community and in residential facilities.

Co-sponsored by the Prince William Area on Aging, the event is open to the public. Vendors will be on site, and light refreshments will be served.

The center is located at 7501 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainesville. Call 571-248-6100 for information.

Gainesville's Rainbow Riding to host benefit film Nov. 7

Pencil in Nov.7 from 6 to 9 p.m., when Rupert Isaacson will show the documentary film based on his book "The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to Heal His Son," at the John Barton Payne Building, 2 Courthouse Square, Warrenton.

Winner of the Audience Award at Sundance Movie Festival 2009, this documentary by Michael Orion Scott chronicles parents Rupert Isaacson and Kristin Neff's struggle to make sense of their child's autism and find healing for him and themselves through horses and the shamans of Mongolia.

The screening will be followed by a lecture and book signing.  Mongolian food samples and Hunt Country wines will be served.

The event is being sponsored by Gainesville's Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Program to raise awareness of therapeutic riding for children with autism. Proceeds will benefit Rainbow's programs. Tickets cost $50. Friends pay $75, benefactors $100.

The Williams Gas Pipeline Foundation will match checks submitted prior to Oct. 15. To participate, make checks payable to Prince William United Way/Williams Gas Pipeline Foundation. Mail checks to Rainbow Center, 8033 Ashton Ave. #105, Manassas, VA 20109. Tickets will also be available at Horse Country, 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton.

To make a reservation over the phone or for additional information, call Debi Alexander, executive director, Rain-bow Center 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program at 571-332-2587.

Gainesville Ruritans plan Pumpkin Pandemonium Oct. 10

Come out for the Pandemonium when the Gainesville Ruritans hold their third annual Pumpkin Pandemonium on Oct. 10 at Battlefield High School from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Partnering with the high school, the Ruritans welcome everyone to participate in this free, family-oriented event. Pumpkins of all sizes will be on sale to help support community services provided by Ruritans.

Enjoy games, amusements, pony rides, a petting zoo, all-day entertainment and food vendors. Various Battlefield High School clubs will also have booths. The Virginia Soccer Association will be honored for its contributions to the area's youth.

For more information, see the Gainesville Ruritans Web site at http://www.gainesvilleruritanclub.com.

Battlefield High School is located at 15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket.

Happy 7th anniversary

The 21st marked David and Katherine Gotthardt's seventh wedding anniversary.  They celebrated with their children at the Lazy Susan dinner theater in Woodbridge and enjoyed the production of "Little Shop of Hor-rors" (which they highly recommend but want to clarify is not indicative of their years together).  Congratula-tions on reaching the lucky number 7!

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 .