<sh>Sexual Assault in Dunn Loring
<bt>A 22-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the Dunn Loring area, according to police. Around 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, the woman was walking home from the Dunn Loring Metro station. She took a shortcut on a walking path next to Stenwood Elementary School and then continued onto Citadel Place near Carnegie Drive. The woman was grabbed by a man who dragged her into a wooded area behind the elementary school where he sexually assaulted her, police said. The suspect fled the area after being startled by a passerby. The victim was able to call police a short time later. The victim was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and released, said police.
The suspect was described as a black male in his 20s. He had short hair and a thin build and was clean-shaven. He was approximately 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall and was wearing a white T-shirt, according to police. The T-shirt may have had a logo on the front that has "Diver's Club" and "Puerto Vallarta" on it.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477 or the non-emergency police number, 703-691-2131.
<sh>Support Group for Abuse Survivors
<bt>Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington is offering a 10-week therapeutic support group for survivors of sexual abuse. The group will meet Mondays 7-8:30 p.m. starting Oct. 17 to Dec. 19 in Arlington. Call Patricia Mudd, Victim Assistance Coordinator at 703-841-2530.
<sh>FEMA Teleregistration Line
<bt>Evacuees from Hurricane Katrina who have come to shelters in Virginia can register for disaster assistance by telephone or online from wherever they are staying. They do not have to be in their home states to register. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can take disaster registrations by toll-free telephone number, 1-800-621-3362, or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing impaired, or online at www.fema.gov. The toll-free telephone numbers will remain open 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available at these numbers to assist disaster victims. Due to the extraordinary scale of devastation, applicants are encouraged to call late in the evening or very early in the morning, or on weekends. The best time to call is after midnight, when call volume is at its lowest.
<sh>Charities Needing funds
<bt>FEMA listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims:
* American Red Cross, 800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) English; 800-257-7575 Spanish
* America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070
* Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171
* Catholic Charities USA, 800-919-9338
* Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
* Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818
* Church World Service, 800-297-1516
* Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998
* Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522
* Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210
* Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886
* Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348
* Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283
* Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
* Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, Ext. 6440
* United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583
<sh>Finding Best Places to Give
<bt>These are two web sites where you can find charities listed.
www.give.org — managed by the Better Business Bureau
www.guidestar.org — managed by Philanthropic Research
<sh>SAT and College Info Night.
<bt>SAT and College Info Night, sponsored by Georgetown Learning Centers, 1483 Chain Bridge Rd, Suite 203, from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 3. Parents of high school students are invited to learn about the new SAT, get tips on streamlining the college application process, and receive a free college essay workshop for their child when they sign up for SAT instruction at GLC. RSVP by Thursday, Sept. 29, call 703-228-2808