August 8, 2002
<sh>Car Crash Kills Woman
<bt>A 53-year-old Oakton woman was killed, Sunday morning, in the Penderbrook community when a Manassas man reportedly ran a red light, striking her car with his. According to Fairfax County police, Celso Escobar-Hernandez, 20, of 8577 Fairfax St. in Manassas, was driving a 1990 Toyota north on West Ox Road, around 10:50 a.m., when the accident occurred.
As he approached Ox Hill Road, police say he abruptly changed lanes and allegedly ran a red light and hit a 1992 BMW station wagon on the passenger side. The BMW was coming from eastbound Ox Hill Road toward eastbound Penderbrook Drive. The passenger in that car, Mary Major, of Waples Mill Road in Oakton, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her husband, Michael Major, who was driving their BMW, was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. Escobar-Hernandez was not injured. Police charged him with reckless driving; they say alcohol was not a factor.
<cl>Ashley Dubey
<sh>Thank-You Pool Party
<bt>Ashley Dubey and her family will hold a pool party this Sunday, Aug. 11, from 5-8 p.m., at the Crofton Commons community pool, at Old Centreville and Flamborough roads in Centreville. It's to thank all those who've helped them out in many ways after their daughter, Ashley, 6, was struck by a car in May. There'll be swimming and refreshments, and Ashley's mother, Seema Dubey, said it's her way of showing appreciation "to all the people who've been there for us through all the tough times."
<sh>Burglary to Grand Jury
<bt>A Chantilly man batted .500 in court last week, but is still in a heap of trouble. He is Erick G. Machado-Carballo, 23, of 13954 Rockland Village Drive.
Fairfax County police responded April 9, around 12:30 a.m., to an alarm going off at a model home in the 4100 block of Sulser Place. When they arrived, they allegedly saw Machado-Carballo inside the house. Police said they took him into custody after he left the premises. They charged him with breaking and entering and attempted grand larceny.
Last Tuesday, July 30, in General District Court, the latter charge was dropped. However, Judge Ian O'Flaherty certified the charge of breaking and entering to the next grand jury for possible indictment. If convicted, Machado-Carballo could be sentenced to as much as five years in prison.
<cl>Locke
<sh>Indecent Exposure Charged
<bt>Upset at a group of kids playing outside in Centreville's Lee Overlook community, a Washington, D.C., man visiting a friend there took matters into his own hands. According to Fairfax County police, he went outside and mooned them. Police say he also allegedly showed the boys and girls, ages 10-17, the rest of his private parts, as well.
Police say the incident occurred Saturday, around 8:45 p.m., in the 6400 block of Paddington Court. Nine youths — three 10-year-olds plus others ages 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17 — were playing. But when they got too noisy, the man — Benjamin Locke, 33, of 2144 California St. in Northwest Washington, D.C. — came out of an apartment on Paddington Court and began yelling at them.
However, police say he then went a step further — reportedly pulling down his pants and exposing himself to the group. Police later arrested Locke, charging him with three counts of felony indecent exposure (because three of the children were under age 13). He was released Sunday on $7,500 bond and has a Sept. 6 court date.
<sh>Police Arrest Four Men
<bt>Thanks to the actions of a quick-thinking Sully Station teen-ager and her brother, police arrested four men from Manassas. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning, around 12:26 a.m., in the 14700 block of Basingstoke Loop in Centreville's Sully Station community.
According to Fairfax County police, the girl, 16, was out walking with a friend when she saw a group of suspicious men inside a neighbor's vehicle. When she called out to them, police say they fled — reportedly carrying items from the vehicle.
The girl then went inside her house and told her brother, and he got in his car, followed the men and was able to obtain their license-tag number. His sister then called police and gave them the information. A lookout was broadcast, and police Officer Gene Bork of the Fair Oaks District Station spotted the car and stopped it.
Police identified the suspects — all from Manassas — as Santos Viera, 20, of 9641 Aspen Place; Emerson Rivera, 18, of 242 Manassas Drive; Ezequiel Martinez, 20, of 926 George St.; and Javier Aguilar, 18, of 234 Byrd Drive. Each was charged with grand larceny and vehicle tampering and was released from jail, later that day, on $3,000 bond each. They all have Oct. 2 court dates.
<sh>OCR Truck Ban Sought
<bt>In response to community concerns about dangerous traffic through the heavily residential Old Centreville Road (OCR) area, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday agreed to seek a commercial, through-truck ban.
It would be on both OCR and Centrewood Drive, between Route 29 and Compton Road in Centreville. (OCR becomes Centrewood at New Braddock Road). The recommendation now goes to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Commonwealth Transportation Board — which has the final say.
And to slow down traffic in the Crofton Commons section of OCR, a four-way stop sign has been erected at OCR's southern intersection with Flamborough Road.
<sh>Dog Bites Jogging Man
<bt>Fairfax County Animal Control officers are investigating a dog bit that occurred last Thursday, Aug. 1, around 8:30 a.m. in the 14300 block of Summer Tree Road in the Centre Ridge area of Centreville. A 22-year-old Centreville man was jogging and, as he passed two small white dogs on leashes, one of the dogs bit him.
The man suffered minor wounds to his left leg and had to receive medical treatment. Anyone with information about these dogs or their owner is asked to call Animal Control at 703-266-6490.
<sh>Child Safety-Seat Inspections
<bt>Effective July 1, all children under age 6 must be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat. Accordingly, on Thursday, Aug. 8, from 4-8 p.m., police from the Fair Oaks District Station Crime Prevention Unit will help install or inspect these seats at the Target store in the Fair Lakes Shopping Center.
The first 20 people turning in old car seats will receive a Target gift card toward the purchase of a new safety seat at that store. And a new child safety seat or booster seat will be raffled off every hour. A police cruiser and fire truck will be on display, and McGruff the Crime-Prevention Dog will make an appearance. For more information, call 703-352-2163 or 703-246-2253.
<sh>Westfield Community Coalition
<bt>The Westfield Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Schools will meet Monday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. at Westfield High. The meeting will be in the drivers'-education room (N142), across from the gym. Members will make plans for the Westfield High Bulldog Barbecue at the end of the month and the back-to-school nights.
Anyone having a proposal for grant money may present it. The goal is to increase community awareness of drug-and-alcohol abuse among local teens and offer prevention programs. Coalition meetings are the second Monday of the month. Membership is free and all are welcome to attend. Call Ron Furgerson at 703-754-0107.
<sh>Chantilly Community Coalition
<bt>The next meeting of the Chantilly Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Schools will be Monday, Aug. 12, at 4 p.m. in the conference room of the Chantilly Regional Library. Call John Hanyok at 703-262-2475.
<sh>Park Authority Meeting
<bt>The Fairfax County Park Authority will meet Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 900 in Fairfax. Call Judy Pedersen at 703-324-8662.
<sh>WFCM Needs Food, Volunteers
<bt>Western Fairfax Christian Ministry's (WFCM) food pantry — which provides food to local needy families — is in serious need of several items. They are: Breakfast cereal, canned pastas, fruit, juices and meats (salmon and chicken), coffee, tea, flour, sugar, shortening, spaghetti sauce and toilet tissue.
To donate, call 703-815-3238, or bring these things to the Shepherd Center. It's open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and is between Fashion Bug and Payless Shoes in the Sully Plaza Shopping Center at 13924 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly.
In addition, because of summer vacations, the WFCM is also in urgent need of volunteers, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon and noon-2 p.m. To volunteer, call 703-988-9656.
<sh>Kids in Crisis Ministry
<bt>Western Fairfax Christian Ministry's (WFCM) Kids in Crisis Ministry provides emergency assistance to families impacted by a child's illness. Since such families are too distracted to research all the organizations that might help them, If anyone knows of a family in need, advise them to call the hotline at 703-378-3045. Leave a message on the "Kids in Crisis" box, and a volunteer will return the call.
This program offers a safety net for families whose income or expenses are affected by a child's illness. Besides medical bills, they'll incur costs such as travel, babysitting, special equipment and home health care.
Even families with adequate health insurance may find it difficult to meet these expenses. Kids in Crisis aids in areas not covered by traditional health insurance policies. Call the hotline or Karen Dolan at 703-266-3144.
<sh>Blood Urgently Needed
<bt>The Inova Blood Donor Center in the Centremed I Building on Route 29 in Centreville (across from the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas) is in urgent need of blood donations — especially O positive or negative, as well as A and B. They are accepted Tuesday-Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. To make an appointment to give blood, call (703) 322-1970, or just drop in at your own convenience.
<sh>WFCM Personnel Needs
<bt>The Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) has several volunteer positions available.
* It needs a client coordinator to make follow-up calls to members of the community who have recently received assistance. This person would also cross-reference recipients with other WFCM services (food and clothing ministry). It would be a good job for someone who has to stay close to home.
* On-call volunteers are also needed. After receiving training, they'll monitor requests for help, coming from the local community, via a telephone mailbox. There's a social worker on staff, plus an extensive network of support to help and encourage people in self-sufficiency.
* WFCM's food pantry needs volunteers to work Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Saturdays, noon-2 p.m. To volunteer for any of these positions. or for more information, call 703-378-3045 and leave a message on box 7.
<sh>WFCM Needs Drivers
<bt>The Western Fairfax Christian Ministries is in need of drivers to take elderly people to medical appointments. Call (703) 378-3045 and press 7 to volunteer for this or any other WFCM ministry.
<sh>Meals on Wheels
<bt>The Clifton Meals on Wheels program urgently needs a volunteer to coordinate the delivery of meals to frail, elderly residents. Call the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at (703) 324-5406.