Charges Are Dropped
Anil Puri of Greenbriar is a free man; the charges against him have been dropped. On Jan. 2, the Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office arrested Puri, 29, charging him with four counts of manufacturing, possessing and using explosive devices.
The day before — New Year's Day — Loudoun fire-and-rescue crews were dispatched to Braddock Road and Sousa Place near Aldie. A nearby resident had called 911 after hearing a large explosion and then seeing a fire over the tree line.
Remnants of several explosive devices were found at the site, and the investigation led to Puri. Then, assisted by Fairfax County police, Loudoun fire officials searched his Greenbriar home and discovered "numerous components that [allegedly] could be used to manufacture explosive devices."
Puri appeared last Thursday, March 21, in Loudoun County General District Court before Judge James Hurd. At that time, all the charges against him were dropped.
<sh>Land Use, Traffic
<lst>The Sully District Council of Citizens Associations Land-Use and Transportation Committee will meet Monday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Supervisor Michael R. Frey's (R-Sully) conference room. It's in the Fort Hill Building, 5900 Centreville Road in Centreville. Call Jeff Parnes at 703-904-0131, evenings.
<sh>Clifton Town Council
<lst>The next meeting of the Clifton Town Council will be Tuesday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m., in the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road in Clifton. Ray Pylant, director of Fairfax County's Commercial Building Inspections, will explain how to change the use of a commercial structure from storage to public assembly so that it meets state building codes encompassing health and safety issues.
In addition, the town's 2002 budget will be reviewed, and police Capt. Dennis Wilson, commander of the Fair Oaks District Station, will speak. At last month's meeting, VDOT representatives talked about motorists speeding in Clifton, and Wilson will discuss the problems of enforcing the speed limits there.
<sh>Clifton Turns 100
<lst>It's a historic moment for the Town of Clifton — on Saturday, April 6, residents will gather together at a potluck dinner in celebration of Clifton's centennial. Happy 100th birthday, Clifton!
<sh>Westfield Community Coalition
<lst>The Westfield Community Coalition will meet again Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in the Westfield High Lecture Hall. This is a followup to the March 18 presentation, "Be Aware!" Kevin Angelo, who was unable to attend, will discuss drug paraphernalia and terms parents need to know to be more alert to the drug culture in our area. Angelo is from the Fairfax County Safe and Drug-Free Youth Section. It's a free event but, due to its mature content, it's only open to adults. Call Jennifer Campbell at 703-266-1742.
<sh>Critical Blood Shortage
<lst>The Inova Blood Donor Center in the Centremed I Building on Route 28 in Centreville (across from the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas) is in urgent need of blood donations. Especially needed are types A, B and O, negative and positive.
Blood is accepted Tuesday-Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be a special blood drive Friday, April 5, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. To make an appointment to give blood, call (703) 322-1970, or just drop by at your own convenience.
<sh>Food Pantry Needs
<lst>The Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) food pantry is in need of several items. They are: Jelly, coffee, tea, juice boxes, syrup, oil, sugar, cereal, crackers, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products and diapers larger than infant and newborn.
The food pantry also needs volunteers, Thursdays, from noon-2 p.m. Needed, as well, are: Volunteers with trucks to help move heavy items, a volunteer handy-person good with phones, copy machines, faxes and thermostats, a volunteer to wash the Shepherd Center glass front entrance, artwork suitable for display in pantry waiting area, a vacuum, newer-model frost-free refrigerators and a laptop computer.
<sh>Blood Still Needed
<lst>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. 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 Needs Drivers
<lst>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
<lst>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.