Community Corner

Good News: Layaway Santa, Marine Makeover and a Car Horn Saves Christmas

Plus, one local high school band is marching away to the New Year's Rose Parade.

By Patch Staff

Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that we don’t have an inspirational or encouraging story somewhere in the area. Here's a look back at some good news over the past week.

Santa, You CAN Hear Me! Too often, layaway wishes are just that, with shoppers unable to pay the bills for those dream gifts. At a Toys ‘R’ Us near Herndon last week, a “big guy with a beard” spent thousands of dollars putting money toward the layaway bills of complete strangers. Read about this santa’s message to the community.

Find out what's happening in Greater Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rose Parade Magic. Members of the Westfield High School marching band will begin the long trek to California on Dec. 27 — 15 months after beginning the fundraising and preparations for a spot in the Rose Parade. Some of the school’s performers have already graduated! Read more about their final practices.

Marine Goes Glam! Wife, soccer mom, active-duty Marine officer and PTSD awareness advocate Caroline Bier always put others first, according to her friends. That’s why she was nominated for a makeover organized by High Maintenance Fashion and Image Consulting. Read about her surprise and see the results.  

Find out what's happening in Greater Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Honk If You Love Santa. Two would-be burglars were stopped in their tracks last week  by a witness and her car horn. The Fredericksburg woman noticed the men taking wrapped gifts out of the trunk of a vehicle and she thought they looked suspicious. She honked her horn and they fled the scene. The owner of the gifts returned to her car and realized she’d left the trunk partially open. Read more about the incident, and another Christmas-related theft.

Georgetown Jingle Fundraising Win. A neighborhood charity event raised more than $200,000 for local children battling cancer, said an event release. The Georgetown Jingle, held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Dec. 15, benefitted Medstar Georgetown University Hospital's pediatric oncology programs. Read more about where the money goes and how you can still help.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Greater Alexandria