McDonald's Gets Board Approval
<bt>Residents of the Buckner Forest and Cannon Ridge communities are getting a McDonald's restaurant in their area. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a special-exception application to permit a fast-food restaurant with drive-through window. It will be built on one acre on the east side of West Ox Road, some 200 feet north of its intersection with Piney Branch Road.
<sh>Larceny at Westfields Marriott
<bt>Fairfax County Crime Solvers is asking the public's assistance identifying the person responsible for a larceny which occurred on Nov. 14, at the Westfields Marriot Hotel in Centreville. A guest of the hotel left his baggage with the staff, who placed it in a luggage storage bin behind the front desk. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., an unknown man entered the hotel, walked into the luggage storage room and left with a bag from the room. The subject then left the hotel. The bag contained computer equipment and data that was pertinent to the victim's business. The suspect is described as black, 6-feet-2, weighing 220 pounds. He was wearing a black baseball cap with a light-colored design, a white shirt, blue denim jacket and blue jeans. He had a large midsection and may wear glasses. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-673-2777 or 703-691-8888. A $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information that leads to an arrest.
<sh>Supervisors OK Furniture Use
<bt>The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a change in the county's Comprehensive Plan text, adding an option for a furniture-store use at the Chantilly Crossing mixed-use development. It's at the southwest corner of Routes 28 and 50, and Marlo Furniture would like to open a store there.
The developer initially proposed building a hotel at that location; then Marlo wanted to substitute a furniture store for the hotel. Permission was then sought to build both businesses, but the county Planning Commission believed that opening both a hotel and furniture store there would constitute too intense a use of the site.
However, both it and the Supervisors agreed to amend the Comprehensive Plan to allow the furniture store to be built there. In addition, if Marlo does build a furniture store at that spot, it can't exceed 67,500 square feet, and the rest of that area — some 2 1/2 acres — will be left as open space. Furthermore, to offset the loss of recreational amenities there, Marlo owner Lou Glickfield has agreed to contribute $250,000 toward Sully District-related athletic fields.
<sh>Centreville Community Coalition
<bt>The Centreville Community Coalition will meet Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m., in room 114 of Union Mill Elementary, 13611 Springstone Drive in Little Rocky Run. For more information, call coordinator Debbie Martin at 703-802-9454.
<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. In addition, donations may also be made at the bloodmobile which will be available Thursday, Feb. 27, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, 3700 Joseph Siewick Drive in Fairfax. Call 1-866-256-6372.
<sh>Virginia Tax Forms Available
<bt>Reversing a previous decision, the Virginia Department of Taxation will make a limited supply of Virginia income-tax forms available to public libraries. Due to Virginia's budget squeeze, the Department will send the Fairfax County Public Library and other Virginia public libraries an estimated 60 percent of the number of tax forms supplied in previous years. These forms will be available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Virginia tax forms are also available online; check the library's Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.
<sh>Tips for Child Passenger Safety
<bt>During Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 9-15, the Department of Motor Vehicles encourages parents and childcare providers to follow each of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Four Steps for Kids" to maximize child safety while traveling. They are:
* Use rear-facing infant seats in the back seat, from birth to at least 1 year and 20 pounds.
* Use forward-facing toddler seats in the back seat from ages 1 to about 4 and from 20-40 pounds.
* Use booster seats in the back seat from about age 4 and 40 pounds to at least age 8, unless 4 feet 9 inches.
* Use safety belts at age 8 or older, or taller than 4 feet 9 inches. All children 12 and under should ride in the back seat.