Courtesy photo. The timeless offering of "The Nutcracker" is gracing stages throughout Manassas and Prince William County as local dance troupes bring Tchaikovsky’s classical music to the area.

Local churches are gearing up for celebrations of Christmas. Come take part in celebrating Christ’s birth in many different ways. Here’s a look (in alphabetical order of churches’ names) at some offerings to help locals remember the reason for the season.

Courtesy photo. More than 300 people attended the Nadanalaalya Dance School’s third annual performance at Glenkirk Elementary School, featuring classical and traditional Indian costumes and choreography. The event was coordinated by Beverly Byer, Glenkirk Elementary teacher, and directed by Vasunthra Saravanapavan, dance school founder and teacher.

Nokesville Horse Society, along with other volunteers and partners, works hard to keep Conway Robinson Forest clean and paths clear of debris.

Via passage of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012, both houses of Congress have approved safety funds for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. But the funds must be matched by Virginia, Maryland the the District of Columbia.

Federal disaster aid has been approved to assist Prince William County and other localities recover from the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Lee's heavy rains and flooding in early September.

The Patriot High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is making a pioneering effort. PTSA committees started forming last spring and met through the summer to be ready in time for the Nokesville’s school opening in September 2011.

Students and staff at J.W. Alvey Elementary School in Haymarket hold an annual fundraiser to help others locally, nationally and internationally. Here, Principal Candy Rotruck sits with current students in front of a mural of nonprofit Traditional Housing Barn, one of the many charities students have helped.