Neighborhood news: Santa to visit Gainesville

Gainesville, Va. - The Gainesville Fire Department and Santa have once again teamed up to visit the Haymarket and Gaines-ville neighborhoods.

Santa will be on a touring fire engine Dec. 17 and 18 between 6 and 9 p.m. (weather permitting).

Due to the limited time Santa has and the many roads in the area, Santa can only visit main streets. So listen for the siren and air horns, and you'll know Santa is near! (Please keep children on the sidewalks for their safety.)

RCC collecting donations

The Rotary Community Corps sponsored by the Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary Club is collecting for the following charities through the end of this week:

n Fraternal Order of Police-Prince William County Police Santa Cops -- Each year, about 100 disadvan-taged children from the east and west ends of Prince William are treated to a shopping spree. FOP volun-teers take the children shopping and assist them with purchasing items. Later, the children are driven in police cars to breakfast. While everyone is fed, volunteers wrap the goodies before the children are taken back to their residences.

n Court Appointed Special Advocates' Treasures for Teens -- Every holiday season, great organiza-tions put on toy drives for children. However, "toys" often leave out the local teens. This year, RCC is supporting CASA's teens through community donations of $10-$20 gift cards from either Target or Walmart.

Visit Needles in the Haymarket at 15125 Washington St., to drop off a gift card or make a donation. Or mail a check to Needles in the Haymarket payable to the Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary Club. Please indicate the charity you wish to support.

Deadline is Dec. 18. For more information, contact Jen Robinson at JenHRobinson@aol.com or 703-928-3293.

Buy concert tickets

before they sell out

Tickets are going fast for Holy Trinity Catholic Church's "Inspirational Christmas Con-cert" with Irish tenor Mark Forrest, at Battlefield High School, 1500 Graduation Drive, on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.

Forrest's melodic voice has filled concert halls and cathedrals worldwide. He has sung inspirational hymns for luminaries such as Pope John Paul II and Mother Theresa.

Guests will include Holy Trinity's Children's Choir and Holy Trinity soloists.

For more information, call 703- 753-6700.

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 activities, please send it to kgot thardt@comcast.net.