Sex Soliciting is Charged
<bt>Fairfax County police arrested a 53-year-old New York man, last week, for allegedly soliciting a minor for sex via the Internet. He is Timothy Fitzpatrick of 1220 Hartwick Lane, Vestal, N.Y.
Police say he reportedly exchanged instant messages with a detective posing online as a 13-year-old girl. They said he allegedly arranged to meet her in a Centreville parking lot so they could have sexual relations.
But when Fitzpatrick arrived at the spot, last Thursday, March 24, at 9:45 a.m., he was met instead by police and arrested. He was charged with use of a communications system to facilitate certain offenses involving children.
He was released Friday, March 25, from the Adult Detention Center on $2,500 bond and has a May 10 court date. If convicted, he could be sentenced to as much as five years in prison.
<sh>Fire Causes $300,000 Damage
<bt>Five adults and one child were displaced from their home in Little Rocky Run after a fire, early Saturday morning, caused some $300,000 in damage. Fire officials say the blaze was accidental and was caused by "improper disposal of smoking materials on the deck."
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units from both Centreville fire stations, Chantilly and Fair Oaks responded around 2 a.m. to the 6100 block of Union Village Drive for a two-alarm house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters saw smoke and fire coming from the roof and rear of the two-story home.
They were able to bring the blaze under control in approximately 30 minutes. But two adults were flown to a local hospital and several pets perished. The American Red Cross is assisting the occupants.
<sh>Children's Car-Seat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child car-seat inspections, Thursday, March 31, from 5-9 p.m., to make sure seats are properly installed and are the correct seats for children's ages and weights. No appointment is necessary; just come to the Sully District Station at 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. For additional inspection times, call 703-280-0559.
<sh>Time to Spring Forward
<bt>Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, April 3, at 2 a.m. So before you go to bed Saturday night, remember to turn your clocks, watches, VCRs, microwaves, etc., ahead one hour.
<sh>Democratic Candidates Forum
<bt>The Democratic Women of Clifton have invited the Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general to a Candidates Forum, Sunday, April 3, from 2-4 p.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall.
Democratic women living in the Clifton precinct or within the Clifton Elementary School boundaries are invited to attend. E-mail CliftonWomenDems@aol.com and add “Candidates Forum” in the subject line, or call Kathy Kinter at 703-988-9565.
<sh>Sully Land Use, Transportation
<bt>The Sully District Council Land-Use and Transportation Committee will meet Monday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes at 703-904-0131, evenings.
<sh>Clifton Town Council Meeting
<bt>The Clifton Town Council will meet Tuesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road in Clifton.
<sh>Land-Use Meeting Is April 5
<bt>The Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use Committee will meet Tuesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. in rooms 4 and 5 of the Fairfax County Government Center. Call Marlae Schnare at 703-324-2500. Local development projects on the agenda are:
* The Peterson Cos. wants to build an 11-story, multifamily residential building, a six-story office building and a five-level parking garage at 12701 Fair Lakes Circle. It's west of Dick's Sporting Goods (formerly Galyan's) and adjacent to I-66 and the Fairfax County Parkway.
* EDA Development Inc. hopes to construct both single-family and multifamily attached homes on the south side of Legato Road. They would arise about 150 feet east of West Ox Road in Fair Oaks.
<sh>Sully Democratic Women Meet
<bt>The Sully Democratic Women's Group will hold its first meeting Wednesday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. All interested women in the Sully District are welcome to attend. Contact Stephanie Hando at 703-467-3090.
<sh>Popes Head Creek Watershed Workshop
<bt>A final draft, plan-review workshop for the Popes Head Creek Watershed Plan is slated for Tuesday, April 12, from 7-9 p.m., at Clifton Elementary. Residents are encouraged to review and provide feedback on the Popes Head Creek watershed management final draft plan. It outlines problems identified in the watershed and solutions to protect and restore streams and related natural resources. To reserve a space, contact Curt Ostrodka at 703-488-3713, TTY 711 or curt.ostrodka@amec.com.
<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.