<sh>Child Carseat Inspections
<bt>The Sully District Police Station is offering free, child carseat inspections by certified technicians. Parents will learn if the seat is installed properly and is the correct one for their child's age and weight. No appointment is necessary; just come to 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly on Thursday, Dec. 30, from 5-9 p.m. For more information, call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140.
<sh>Sully Land-Use, Transportation
<bt>The Sully District Council Land-use and transportation Committee will meet, Monday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes at 703-904-0131, evenings.
<sh>Clifton Town Council Mtg.
<bt>The next meeting of the Clifton Town Council will be Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road in Clifton. First on the agenda will be a public hearing on what to do with the old town hall, across the street.
Clifton architect Royce Jarrendt has made an offer to the town to buy and renovate it and build a retail/office space next door. He'd also lease the town hall to Clifton, for a nominal fee, for the town's permanent use. This action would also entail a rezoning of the property from residential to commercial use.
<sh>Springfield Dist./Fairfax Center Land-Use Meeting Jan. 4
<bt>The Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Fairfax County Government Center. For more information and the conference-room number of the meeting, call Marlae Schnare at 703-324-2500.
<sh>Hugo to Hold Town Hall Meeting
<bt>Del. Tim Hugo (R-40th), who serves the Centreville, Clifton and Fairfax Station areas, invites residents of the 40th district to voice their issues and ideas at a Pre-Session Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. It will enable constituents to offer feedback for Hugo to take to Richmond for the 2005 legislative session. And he will also discuss his legislative agenda for the upcoming session.
<sh>Clifton Increases Cigarette Tax
<bt>Beginning Jan. 1, it'll cost more to buy cigarettes in Clifton. After a public hearing at its Dec. 7 meeting, the Clifton Town Council approved an increase in its per-cigarette, cigarette tax. On Jan. 1, it will rise from its current 15 cents/pack to 20 cents/pack. Then in July, it will increase again to 30 cents/pack.
In other business, the Town Council awarded its cable TV franchise for the next 15 years to its current provider, Cox Communications. "We were getting service from Cox through Fairfax County," said Mayor Jim Chesley. "Now we have our own franchise."
<sh>Money for Local Road Projects
<bt>Fairfax County will be receiving $107 million in state funds for improvements to secondary roads, over the next six years. Local road projects which will benefit from this money include: Construction, the West Ox Road widening from Ox Trail to Lawyers Road; land acquisition, West Ox widening from Penderbrook Drive to Ox Tail, and Stringfellow Road widening from Route 50 to Fair Lakes; and design, traffic signal for Stringfellow Road and the south entrance of Chantilly High.
<sh>United Way Helps WFCM
<bt>Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) — which helps local needy families in crisis situations with food, clothing, transportation and financial aid — receives part of its funding from the United Way. Anyone wishing to contribute to the WFCM via the United Way may do so by indicating No. 8234 when donating.
<sh>Blood Donations are Sought
<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're accepted Tuesday-Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For an appointment to give blood, call 703-322-1970, or drop in at your own convenience.