Is Sourwood, Red Maple or Green Ash under your Christmas tree this year? City of Manassas Utilities and Public Works has a gift idea that keeps on giving for years to come----trees. More than 40 tree species have been selected as part of the national Tree Power Program to help beautify the Manassas community, increase home value and improve air quality. Ten dollars will be credited to customers’ utility accounts for each tree that is planted and approved by the Manassas City Horticulturist. For details, go to www.manassascity.org or call 703-257-8276.

The National Tree Power Program is part of a nationwide public power program to help improve the environment and reduce energy costs. Trees help improve air quality, provide shade in the summer and help break the wind in winter. The program is offered all year. Customers can pick up a Tree Power brochure with a validation card attached and a full list of approved trees.

When Hurricane Sandy struck the coast at the end of October it did damage that hit the news channels around the globe. The 80 mile per hour winds took lives, did billions of dollars in damage, and left thousands of people homeless. Many people are aware of the human impact of this tragedy, but few know about how the animals were in impacted in the area. As it turns out, many pets were lost, displaced, injured, and separated from their families.

“There is an element of tragedy here that many people have not even heard about and it is all the animals that have been impacted,” explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue, an organization dedicated to helping animals in need. “What we try to do is help raise awareness and to help as many animals as we can, but we really need the support of others in order to be more successful at our mission.”

Metropolitan Fine Arts Center (MFAC) of Alexandria and Fairfax Station, Va. will host their annual Breakfast with Santa on Sun., Dec. 16 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco, 480 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Tickets range in price from $35 to $45 per person. All tickets can be purchased online at www.metrofinearts.com.

Frosty Follies’ performers will join Santa for the annual Breakfast with Santa. The family-event offers Sunday brunch at the Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria, complete with a live jazz performance from Metropolitan Fine Arts Center dancers, interactive song and dance workshop for the kids, special goody bags and visits from Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Suzy Snowflake and her International Dolls.