Corrections
<bt>* An article about Hurricane Katrina survivors, the Bommarito family, now living in Sterling (Loudoun Connection, Oct. 5-11, 2005) should have reported the family rented property in New Orleans. In addition, the article should have reported Monica Bommarito helped operate a business owned by someone else.
* An article on the teen center at the Eastern Loudoun Regional Library (Loudoun Connection, Oct. 19-25, 2005) should have identified the girl eating pizza in a photograph as Kara Ennist and identified Douglas Robinson as an eighth-grader.
<sh>Groundbreaking Ceremony
<bt>On Saturday, Oct. 29, members of the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue System will come together to celebrate the expansion of the Fire-Rescue Training Facility with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The planned facility will be located on approximately 35 acres, part of the former Shellhorn Property. The facility will include, among other areas, a burn building to conduct live exercises and a high-bay building to conduct training during all weather conditions. The center's design features individual training areas to allow two or more activities to take place at the same time. The facility is used to train Loudoun County Fire and Rescue career staff and the Volunteer System.
In August 2005, the Board of Supervisors authorized the awarding of $6.4 million contract to SMCI for the project. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by August 2006.
The public is encouraged to attend this event, which will take place at the Fire-Rescue Training Center, 16600 Courage Court in Leesburg at noon, Saturday, Oct. 29.
<sh>Block Grant Workshop
<bt>Groups interested in learning about the application process for the Loudoun County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program are encouraged to attend a workshop, from 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Nov. 3, on the second floor of the Shenandoah Building, 102 Heritage Way N.E., in Leesburg.
Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the CDBG program provides funding on an annual basis for local projects that address a variety of housing and community development needs. The preapplication workshop will review the competitive application process for the funds.
All potential applicants for CDBG funds are encouraged to attend.
Eligible applicants for CDBG funds include local government entities in Loudoun County, nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Proposed projects should meet the goals of the CDBG program, which include providing affordable housing opportunities, revitalizing neighborhoods, renovating substandard housing and expanding economic development opportunities, especially for persons of low and moderate income.
The CDBG competitive application will be available starting Nov. 3, online at www.loudoun.gov/housing or by contacting Jan Boothby, CDBG program manager, at 703-777-0389 (V/TTY) or jboothby@loudoun.gov.
Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m., Dec. 16.
<sh>Voter Changes
<bt>Loudoun County election officials have sent notices to voters affected by recent changes in polling places for the upcoming election Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Since the June 2005 primary, two precincts have been added and one precinct has had a location and name change.
In the Broad Run District, precinct 808-Stone Bridge was split and some voters are now in a new precinct, 814-Newton-Lee, voting at the Newton-Lee Elementary School, 43335 Gloucester Parkway, Ashburn.
In the Catoctin District, precinct 407-Harper Park was split and some voters are now in a new precinct, 410-Tolbert, voting at the John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School, 691 Potomac Station Drive, N.E., Leesburg. This is not far from the former polling place of Harper Park Middle School.
One precinct has had a location and name change: the 108-Arcola precinct in the Dulles District has moved and the name has changed to the 108-Mercer precinct at the Mercer Middle school, 42149 Greenstone Drive, in Aldie.
Also, notices have been sent to voters within the Town of Leesburg to reflect the change made by town officials to have voters in Leesburg vote at the same location for all elections.
More information about the November election, including a list of all polling places in Loudoun County, the language of the bond referendums on the ballot, and the procedure for absentee voting, may be found on the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/government/voting.htm.
<sh>Suspects Wanted
<bt>Sheriff's Investigators are searching for three suspects involved in a stabbing and robbery that occurred in Sterling this weekend.
The victim, a 21-year-old Sterling man, says he was returning to his home early Sunday morning in the area of Brethour Court when three men approached him. One of the suspects brandished a knife and thrust it towards the victim's head causing a laceration to his ear. The suspects then took the victim's wallet and fled the scene on foot.
The suspects are all described as being Hispanic and in their early 20s.
The Sheriff's Office responded to the incident around 2:40 a.m. after the victim arrived at the Lansdowne Campus of Inova Loudoun Hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. The victim told authorities the incident had occurred approximately 20 minutes prior to his arrival at the hospital.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.
Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.
<sh>Vehicles Vandalized
<bt>The Sheriff's Office is investigating the vandalism of 13 vehicles in a Sterling parking lot this weekend.
The damage to the vehicles ranges from scratches to the vehicles' paint jobs to a canvas rooftop being cut. Sheriff's deputies estimated the damage to the vehicles at more than $6,200. Several of the cars were entered by the unknown suspect(s) and several items were removed including earrings, car-stereo equipment, paperwork and a backpack.
The vandalism is believed to have occurred sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday night and 9 a.m. Sunday morning in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the area of Ridgehaven Terrace.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. To remain anonymous, call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information provided leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
<sh>DUI Arrests
<bt>A DUI checkpoint held on Route 7 near Ashburn Saturday, Oct. 15, saw three people arrested for driving while under the influence, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The checkpoint, held along westbound Route 7 at Presidential Drive, saw 810 cars pass through during a four-and-a half-hour period with 12 drivers being checked and three arrests.
The Sheriff's Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving. The ultimate goal is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists. The success of the checkpoints is measured by the number of drivers that were screened and were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.