Occasionally Cake of Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon, Va. is giving away a FREE gingerbread man cookie for each person that drops off a new, unwrapped toy at their cake shops to support the Firefighters and Friends Holiday Toy Drive, from now until Dec. 14, 2012.  Call (703) 647-9638 or visit www.occasionallycake.com for more information.

Occasionally Cake will give out one free gingerbread man cookie per person for those that donate a toy. The Firefighters and Friends toy drive was founded in 1995 by Capt. Willie Bailey of Alexandria Fire Department, as a way to help families in need. They hope to help more than 4000 children in Northern Virginia this year.  Go to www.ffandfriends2therescue.org.

Winter months are just around the corner and road travel can be a concern for many during below- freezing temperatures. The City of Manassas Utilities and Public Works Department annually budgets $250,000 for snow treatment and removal, and is prepared with 16 snow-removal trucks, 22 contract equipment, 1500 tons of road salt and almost 500 tons of sand. For details, go to www.manassascity.org or call 703-257-8219.

“Ice and snow can prevent mobility and cause a lot of traffic issues, which is why we proactively invest in snow preparedness and manpower” said Mike Moon, director of public works and utilities for the City of Manassas. “Last year we had a mild winter, but our reserve of salt and sand is well-stocked in the case of extreme weather conditions, and our crews are trained and committed to the task of keeping the roads clear of snow and ice, as well as safe for our residents,” said Moon.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are over 176,000 musicians and singers in the country. Many people dream of a career in music, yet don’t know where to begin or how to make it happen. For those who do, there are often certain things that they do in order to make it big. Knowing what those things are, and being able to pull them off, can make all the difference.

“Many people who want to become musicians or have a career in the hip hop industry shy away from it because they are afraid they won’t be successful,” explains Steve Lobel, well-known celebrity music manager. “But their success starts with what they believe. If you believe in yourself, you can make it happen.”