<sh>Fairfax Woman Found Dead
<bt>Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a Fairfax woman, found dead on Interstate 95 Thursday, Sept. 8. At about 6 a.m. that morning, a Virginia Department of Transportation Safety Service Patroller discovered Leslie Janette Cardoso, 34, of the 9000 block of Loreleigh Way, dead in the driver's seat of a 1998 Honda Accord, according to a Virginia State Police report.
The car was parked on the right shoulder of I-95 just north of the Occoquan Bridge with its lights flashing, said the report.
Senior Trooper Robbie Mungin investigated the case. After speaking with Cardoso's mother and her physician, said state police spokesperson Terry Licklider, the investigation revealed that Cardoso had chronic asthma and had suffered from it most of her life.
The investigation is pending results from the medical examiner's office, said the report, but police believe Cardoso died from an asthma attack.
"From time to time, we have folks who have epilepsy or diabetes, and they know they are going to have a problem [while driving], so they pull over like that," said Licklider. "There was nothing unusual to indicate it could be anything else."
<sh>Fatal Vehicle Crash in City
<bt>An 18-year-old woman was killed in Fairfax City's first fatal vehicle accident since 2003, said reports from the City of Fairfax Police Department.
Erica Arellanos, of the 3300 block of Willow Crescent Drive in Fairfax, was riding as a passenger in a 1995 Mitsubishi sedan driven westbound on Fairfax Boulevard by Juan Luna-Matias, 30, also of the 3300 block of Willow Crescent Drive, when Luna-Matias attempted to make a left turn into a car dealership in the 10200 block of Fairfax Boulevard. Virginia Peters of Wood Drive in Alexandria, driving a 1995 Volvo sedan eastbound on Fairfax Boulevard, struck the Mitsubishi in the right rear, said city police spokesperson Lynn Coulter. The Mitsubishi spun around, said Coulter, and the Volvo continued moving, striking a lamppost before stopping a short distance away.
According to reports, Luna-Matias, Arellano and a third passenger, a 23-year-old woman, were injured and taken to Inova Fairfax hospital. Luna-Matias and the 23-year-old were treated for their injuries, but Arellanos died from injuries sustained during the accident several hours later, reports said.
Peters, 67, was uninjured. Luna-Matias was charged with failure to yield the right-of-way.
<sh>Burke Church Turns 75
<bt>The Burke United Methodist Church celebrates its 75th anniversary with a picnic on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the church, 6200 Burke Centre Parkway.
"We want to invite the whole community," said anniversary coordinator Katie Buethe. The church started as a group of 35 people meeting in the old railroad station, used as a medical depot for soldiers during the Civil War, in 1929. The congregation is now about 2,000 people and growing, Buethe said, and wants its neighbors to share in the fun.
The celebration will include an antique car show, Civil War re-enactors, a craft fair, bake sale and displays of life in Burke in days gone by, Buethe said. Several merchants have donated goods as door prizes and local bands will be providing entertainment. The railroad station will also be open, offering a photo collection of the church's past, along with the station's original bell and the church's first hand-made cross. A complimentary lunch will be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
<sh>Correction
<bt>In the article "A Place To Go After School" [Connection, Sept. 2, 2005], an incorrect number was given for the amount of money that the Fairfax County School Board has invested in after-school programming a the middle school level. The correct amount is $950,000, which is approximately $30,000 for each of the county's 26 middle schools.
<sh>Clifton Dems To Discuss Education
The Democratic Women of Clifton will host a General Meeting on Sunday, Sept. 18, from 3-5 p.m., at the Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. This month’s speaker will be Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-35) who will discuss Virginia's education issues, including No Child Left Behind, SOLs and education funding.
A portion of this meeting will be dedicated to members and guests who need to speak out about the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina.
For more, e-mail CliftonWomenDems@aol.com or call Kathy Kinter at 703-988-9565.
<sh>Computer, Bicycling Recycling Day
<bt>Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County Government and Service Source are teaming up to host a Computer and Bicycle Recycling Day on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria. All computer equipment, repairable and better condition bicycles will be accepted. To defray costs, residents are requested to provide a $10 donation with each monitor or bicycle brought to the event. Receipts for tax purposes will be provided. For more, call 703-324-5230.