Free Carseat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections, Thursday, Aug. 4, and Thursday, Aug. 11, from 5-9 p.m. each day, at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. They'll make sure the seats are correct for the child’s age and height, the child is securely placed in the seat and the seat is properly installed in the vehicle.
No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves, so the technicians may properly inspect and make adjustments, as necessary. Call the Sully District Child Seat Information line (703-814-7000, ext. 5140) to confirm dates and time. For additional child seat inspection times throughout Fairfax County, call the Fairfax County Operations Support Bureau at 703-280-0559.
<sh>Help Plan Centreville Day
<bt>The public is encouraged to join Centreville Day chairperson Sue Davis and other volunteers, Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 7-9 p.m. to help plan the Centreville Day celebration. The meeting will be in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.
Centreville Day is an annual community event that includes a parade, entertainment, children's activities, a business and craft expo and food. Sponsored by the Centreville Community Foundation (CCF), this year's celebration will be Saturday, Sept. 17. For more information, call Davis at 703-327-4392 (work) or 571-213-7298 (cell).
<sh>Park Authority to Meet
<bt>The Fairfax County Park Authority will meet Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 900, in Fairfax. Call Judy Pedersen at 703-324-8662.
<sh>Car Wash Slated for Gaby
<bt>A fund-raising car wash is planned to help the family of Centreville's Gaby Saavedra, 8 1/2, with her medical bills. The young London Towne resident is at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C., being treated for a mysterious illness.
The car wash is slated for Saturday, Aug. 13, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Centreville Square Mobil Station at Centrewood and St. Germain drives, off Route 29 in Centreville. All proceeds will go to Gaby's account at Chevy Chase Bank.
<sh>Checkpoint Nabs Three DWI
<bt>Fairfax County police got three drunk drivers off the road, last week, as a result of a sobriety checkpoint along Route 50 at Stonecroft Boulevard in Chantilly. Officers from the Sully District Station conducted the operation from Friday, July 29, at 11 p.m. to Saturday, July 30, at 2 a.m.
All motorists were stopped and drivers were checked to make sure their abilities to drive had not been impaired by drugs or alcohol. Police say 835 vehicles went through the checkpoint, and three people were charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated). Police charged one person with a criminal offense — providing a false name to a law-enforcement officer, and one person with a traffic offense — driving on a revoked license.
<sh>Animal Hospital Expansion OK
<bt>The Fairfax County Planning Commission last week gave its endorsement of Centreville Animal Hospital's plans to expand. The hospital was built in 1995 along Route 29 in Centreville, near the Bent Tree Apartments. And at that time, the county said it could be 7,500 square feet.
But veterinarian Fred Garrison only constructed a 4,720-square-foot facility, and he now wants to enlarge it so he can have additional space for examining rooms for his patients. In addition, his architect recommends a two-story extension on the rear of the building, instead of the front, as was initially intended.
It would add six feet on the side and 10 feet on the back. But since doing so will change the hospital's footprint, Garrison needs Fairfax County's approval of an amendment to the original building conditions. The Planning Commission OK'd the proposal last Wednesday, July 27. Next stop will be the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 12.
<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.