<sh>Robbery at Burke Wal-Mart
<bt>On Sunday, Dec. 7, a man walked into a Wal-Mart and robbed a store employee around 10 p.m. A Springfield-area man, 38, was working at the register of the store at 6000 Burke Commons Road in Burke. The suspect walked to his register and demanded money. The suspect then revealed a handgun that was in his waistband. He left the store with several bags containing an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect was described as black, 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark pants and a gray bandanna. Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or Crime Solvers at 800-673-2777.
<sh>Burglary at Lake Braddock
<bt>Fairfax County Police arrested two Burke-area men early on Thanksgiving Day after they were caught in a burglary at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Officers went to the school around 2 a.m., in response to an alarm. While checking the building, officers found a broken window on a door leading inside the school. Police then set up a search of the perimeter with additional officers and a K9 team.
The two men, Shion Chang, 18, of Merscu Court, and Jan Gregory, 18, of Wallingford Drive, were arrested as they exited the school. Chang and Gregory were both charged with burglary, destruction of property, and petit larceny. Both men were held on a $2,500 bond.
<sh>2 Arrested in Robbery Attempt
<bt>Fairfax County Police arrested two men for an attempted robbery that happened on Dec. 3, at 9:30 p.m., in the 6900 block of Ellingham Circle in Springfield. The victim, a 29-year-old Kingstowne-area man, opened his front door to what he believed was a pizza delivery man.
The victim told the delivery man that he had not ordered a pizza, when Mondell Opoku, 22, of Mullingar Court in the Springfield area, allegedly put his hand in a pizza bag to indicate he had a weapon. The victim shut his door, and Opoku ran to a Chevy van and sped off. Running to his own vehicle, the victim followed the van to Beulah Road, where Opoku ran the victim off the road. A lookout was given, and officers stopped Opoku on Frontier Drive near Springfield Drive. Opoku and a passenger in the van, Phuc Pham, 22, of Magic Leaf Road also in the Springfield area, were arrested and charged with attempted robbery. Both are being held without bond.
<sh>Women Voters' Meeting
<bt>Increase your knowledge of national and local affairs and help promote civic responsibility by joining the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) at one of its monthly meetings on Dec. 10 and 11. League meetings take place throughout Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. Meetings are free, guests are always welcome, and no registration is required. For specific times and locations and further information concerning the League, call 703-658-9150 or visit the LWVFA Web site at www.lwv-fairfax.org.
<sh>Donate Blood
<bt>Inova Blood Donor Services needs blood donations. Community members can make donations on Sunday, Dec. 18, 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax; on Monday, Dec. 22, 2-7 p.m., at Kingstowne Community Library, 6500 Landsdowne Center, Alexandria; on Saturday, Dec. 27, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke; and on Sunday, Dec. 28, 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax.
Each blood donation will provide a transfusion patient with blood. Donors receive a T-shirt. The Inova donor centers host additional activities. On Saturday, Dec. 13, donors receive a football-themed T-shirt 8 a.m.-4 p.m., tailgate party foods, football-themed word games and televised football games. At the end of the day, drawings take place for a pair of Redskins tickets to the Dec. 27 game and NFL merchandise. On Monday, Dec. 15, donors enjoy lemon-flavored treats and T-shirts all day. On Dec. 30, celebrate New Year's early and give a patient a chance at New Year. Donors receive a T-shirt and special treats. Donor Centers are located at Woodburn Medical Park, 3289 Woodburn Road, Suite 010, 703-698-3885; Inova Alexandria Hospital, 4320 Seminary Road, Alexandria, 703-504-3500; and CentreMed Donor Center, 6210 Centreville Road (Route 28), Centreville, 703-322-1970.
<sh>Woman's Club News
<bt>The Woman's Club of Springfield presented Thanksgiving baskets to three needy families recommended by the guidance counselor at Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield. The Woman's Club has a Partners in Education contract with Crestwood Elementary School, and this is one of the ways it supports the school.
The Home Life Committee has undertaken a new project this year. It will be working with the Social Services Office of Inova's Women's and Children's Wing to provide layettes for newborns. The members of the committee assemble complete basic layettes and deliver them to the hospital to be distributed as they are needed.
The club also voted to send a check to the Trail Search and Rescue Team in support of the work it does helping law-enforcement and other emergency service agencies in searching for missing persons in remote areas.
The Nov. 26 boutique at the home of Barbara Kiker raised funds through the sale of scarves, jewelry, baskets, nuts and more that will help fund the club's 50th birthday party in March.
The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at the Grace Presbyterian Church. Women interested in community service are invited to attend.
<sh>Salvation Army Goes Online
<bt>The Salvation Army of Fairfax, located at 4915 Ox Road, has launched a new online giving program this holiday season. Available through www.FairfaxRing2Help.kintera.org, this online Red Kettle program will give area residents a way to give locally to help their neighbors in need. "Virtual Bell Ringers" host their own Red Kettle through a customized Web site. Bell ringers are encouraged to electronically collect donations from friends, family and co-workers through e-mail. The personal kettle site tracks all donations and provides the kettle owner with real-time results. For more information, contact Jonathan Sears at 703-385-8700 Ext. 35.