<sh>SUV Accident Kills Toddler
<bt>A Clifton family is in mourning after an SUV accident, last week, claimed their son's life. The tragedy occurred last Thursday, Oct. 2, around 3 p.m. in the 13300 block of Jarist Court. According to Fairfax County police, a female family member had just driven her Chevy Suburban into the driveway of their home. But before continuing forward, she stopped the vehicle, got out and made sure the family dog in the yard was secured.
However, unbeknownst to her or anyone else, the boy, 3, had left the house and moved into the SUV's path and out of the driver's field of vision. Then, when the vehicle resumed its forward progress, the toddler was struck. He was Medevaced to Inova Fairfax Hospital, but he'd sustained major injuries to his upper body and was pronounced dead on arrival. No charges will be filed.
<sh>Man Charged with Peeping
<bt>Fairfax County police arrested a Manassas man, early Saturday morning, after he was allegedly seen peeping into a home near the Fairfax County Government Center. He is Christopher M. Nunn, 24, of 10523 Lariat Lane, No. 32.
Police do not believe he is the same person responsible for several peeping and exposure incidents in the Centreville area. In Saturday's incident, police say the residents of a home in the 11700 block of Scooter Lane saw a man looking into a window of their home.
The homeowner ran to the front door and saw reportedly saw the suspect running away, say police. A lookout was broadcast, and authorities found Nunn in the area and arrested him. He's charged with one count of peeping.
<sh>Let VDOT Hear from You
<bt>The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is enlisting the public's help in developing a highway safety-zone program aimed at reducing crashes and fatalities throughout the state. VDOT wants to know which sections of interstate highways in Northern Virginia need extra law enforcement, driver education or safety improvements.
Toward that end, VDOT will hold a meeting to solicit public input. It will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at the VDOT District Office at 14685 Avion Parkway in Chantilly. From Route 50 west, turn right on Stonecroft Boulevard and right onto Avion Parkway. Then take the first right into VDOT's parking lot.
<cl>Parnes
<sh>Parnes is New TAC Representative
<bt>Jeff Parnes of Oak Hill's Chantilly Highlands community is the new, Sully District representative on the Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). He replaces the late Dick Frank of Centreville's Gate Post Estates community.
Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) appointed Parnes. "I believe that Jeff is well-qualified for the position," said Frey. "I am confident that he will follow Dick's level-headed approach and inclusive coalition building." Parnes is also chairman of the Sully District Council of Citizens Associations Land-Use and Transportation Committee.
<sh>Pedestrian Walkway Being Built
<bt>Fairfax County and VDOT have reached an agreement to construct a pedestrian walkway along Route 29, under the I-66 overpass. VDOT will install some 1,800 feet of an 8-foot wide pedestrian trail from about 250 feet north of the eastbound ramp onto I-66 to the westbound I-66 ramp onto Route 29. The project will also include retaining walls, traffic-signal control modifications, signage and road striping.
<sh>Chantilly Community Coalition
<bt>The Chantilly Community Coalition will meet Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. in the conference room of the Chantilly Regional Library. Call John Hanyok at 703-262-2475.
<sh>Candidates Forum Oct. 15
<bt>DATA (Dulles Area Transportation Association) is sponsoring a candidates forum Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 8 a.m., at the Westfields Marriott. Candidates in some of the supervisor and delegate races will debate the issues. For more information, call Jim Larsen at 703-817-1307.
<sh>McDonald's Earlier Opening OK'd
<bt>It's official — the McDonald's on Route 28 in Centreville has Fairfax County's blessing to begin business an hour earlier. The county Board of Supervisors has approved the restaurant's request to open at 4 a.m., instead of 5 a.m.
<sh>Rezoning Request Approved
<bt>The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week approved the rezoning request of Clifton residents Marie and Michael Ricciardi. It enables the Ricciardis to build eight, single-family, detached homes on the west side of Old Clifton Road, south of its intersection with Clifton Road.
Since VDOT and the county are improving these two roads, they both want quite a bit of the couple's property frontage for a stormwater-management pond. So by allowing the Ricciardis' property to be rezoned to R-3 cluster [homes clustered together], the Supervisors paved the way for the Clifton couple to then dedicate the needed land to the county, without the county having to pay them for it.
<sh>Corrections
<bt>Joem Park ("Chantilly Woman Charged With Carnal Knowledge," Oct. 2, Centre View) lived in the Poplar Park community. And Ralph Shipler, the soccer coach on page 1 of that issue, lives in the Chantilly Highlands section of Oak Hill.