<sh>Laurel Hill Trails
<bt>The second of three stakeholder meetings for Laurel Hill park development will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 24 in the West Springfield High School. They will be looking at issues, opportunities and ideas on how the park on the former Lorton Prison land might be developed.
<sh>Burke Lake Children's Fair
<bt>Supervisor Elaine McConnell's office is holding their first annual childrens fair in recognition of National Safe Kids Day, from 10-4 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Activities at the lake will include a children's fair, a race and golf tournament. For more information, call McConnells office at 703-451-8873.
<sh>Springfield Man Killed in Crash
<bt>Fairfax County Police are looking into a fatal crash that occurred on Saturday, April 12, at around 1:15 p.m., near the intersection of Old Keene Mill Road and Silas Burke Street.
Ezra Gray, 23, of Sydenstricker Road in the Springfield area, was riding a 2001 Honda motorcycle westbound on Old Keene Mill Road at a high rate of speed. He lost control of the motorcycle near Silas Burke Street, hit a curb, and crossed over into the eastbound lanes of Old Keene Mill Road. The motorcycle then crashed head-on into a 1998 Subaru Forester driven by Shannon Avakian, 35, of Burke. Avakian and her 4-month-old baby were transported to Inova Springfield Hospital with minor injuries. Gray was pronounced dead at the scene.
<sh>Malicious Wounding
<bt>According to Fairfax County Police, a 30-year-old Prince William County man got into a fight with two other males at a party in the 7900 block of Adams Court. The victim was stabbed by one of the men and was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was treated for his non-life-threatening injuries. The suspects fled the area. They are described as Hispanic and in their 30s.
<sh>Attempted Wounding in Burke
<bt>Two youths from Reston, one 16 and the other 17, were playing basketball in the 9200 block of Burke Lake Road when they were approached by two boys who started to argue with them. One of the boys allegedly pulled out a machete and threatened the other two boys.
Fairfax County Police officers arrived on the scene and arrested Trieu Nguyen, 20, of Tibbitt Lane, and a 17-year-old boy. Both are from Burke. Police charged Nguyen with attempted malicious wounding, possession of a weapon on school property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The juvenile was charged with attempted malicious wounding and possession of a weapon on school property.
sh>Benefit Race Scheduled
<bt>The Arc of Northern Virginia will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Patriots’ Cup 8K Corporate Challenge on Sunday, May 4, at 9 a.m., at George Mason University. The Patriots’ Cup race is an annual event to raise money and awareness to promote full participation of individuals with developmental disabilities. Local corporations participate in the Patriots’ Cup by sponsoring the race or organizing teams of employees, family members and friends. Individuals can also register and compete for prizes. Music, food and festivities will be among the day’s events. Volunteers are also needed and welcome.
For more information, call The Arc of Northern Virginia at 703-532-3214 or visit www.TheArcofNoVa.org.
<sh>New Volunteer Web Site Launched
<bt>Volunteer Fairfax recently launched its new Fairfax County Citizen Corps Web site. Interested citizens may now register online at www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org for over 6,000 volunteer opportunities in Neighborhood Watch, Community Emergency Response Training, Volunteers in Police Service and the Medical Reserve Corps, as well as other affiliated organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
The development of this Web site and the Fairfax Citizen Corps is the culmination of months of collaborative efforts between Volunteer Fairfax and county first-responders. For more information about the Citizen Corps, contact Volunteer Fairfax at www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org, www.volunteerfairfax.org, or call 703-246-3460.
<sh>West Nile Virus Vaccine Now Offered for Horses
<bt>The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) urges all horse owners to vaccinate their animals against the West Nile virus. The USDA has now given full approval to the equine vaccination, which had been conditionally approved two years ago.
The West Nile virus vaccine for equines requires two doses administered three to six weeks apart. The vaccine takes four to six weeks to be effective. For more information on the West Nile virus and how to protect humans and horses, go to www.vdacs.state.va.us/animals/wnv.html, www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/wnv.htm, and www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/wnv/index.html.