Great Falls Crime Watch
A Crime Watch Task Group has been formed within the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) to collect information on crime in Great Falls and to make recommendations to the citizenry on how to enhance safety and security in our community. The Task Group will be conducting a 1-hour focus group meeting on crime, safety and security with numerous local organizations and concerned citizens at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the Old Schoolhouse. This focus group will receive the results of the Great Falls Citizens Association community survey on safety and security and conduct a succinct roundtable discussion. This will be the final meeting prior to the Task Group's report to the community at the Great Falls Citizens Association general membership meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Grange. For more information, contact John Lesinski at 703-757-9896.
Flu Shots at Great Falls Library
Flu shots will be available on Dec. 8, from noon until 2 p.m., and then again on Dec. 16, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. Shots are $25 or Medicare Part B. Must be 18 or older. Call Inova for details at 877-895-5284. Adults only – no registration necessary.
Citizens Handbook Available
Copies of the new Dranesville District Citizens Handbook are currently available at the office of Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois, located in the McLean Government Center at 1437 Balls Hill Road. The guide contains a listing of important offices and contacts – from trails to transportation, e-government to employment, and parks to post offices – for Dranesville and beyond.
Free Puppies Need Good Homes
A Great Falls resident recently rescued ;Purdy, a Dalmatian-mix, and her 13 adorable puppies. It has been a village effort to take care of them as "Purdy" was a first time mom and had her hands full. The puppies are 8 weeks old now, and many are still in need of adoptive homes, as is Purdy who is a sweet 1-year-old Dalmatian. To help, contact Barbara Lossely-Young at 703-759-9865, or at lossely@attglobal.net. They are ready to go now.
Reston Sunoco Robbed
Fairfax County Police responded to a robbery at the Sunoco gas station, located at 11190 South Lakes Drive in Reston, on Saturday, Nov. 25, at about 11:45 p.m.
According to police, a 43-year-old clerk was approached by five or six men who entered the store, at least one of whom, had a gun. The men demanded money and then struck the victim twice in the head. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of money and several items from the store. The victim was not seriously injured.
The suspects were described as black men in their 20s. The man with the gun was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed about 170 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask and a black coat.
The second suspect was 5 feet 8 inches and weighed about 160 pounds. He was wearing a gray coat and black ski mask. The third suspect was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed about 170 pounds. He was wearing a blue coat and black scarf. There is no further description on any other suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Tysons Camera Store Robbed
On Friday, November 24 about 2:15 p.m., the Penn Camera store, located at 8357 Leesburg Pike, was robbed. A man came into the store and asked to look at a digital camera and lens. A 25-year-old clerk began boxing up the items for sale when the man raised his sweatshirt to reveal a gun in his waistband and announced a robbery. The suspect fled with the camera and lens. The victim was not injured.
The suspect was described as a white man between 24 and 26 years old. He had blond hair, dark eyes and a goatee. He was wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a blue T-shirt with white stripes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Holiday Signal Timing Plan
On Friday, Nov. 24, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) implemented its annual holiday traffic signal timing plan at a dozen major shopping centers in Northern Virginia to keep traffic and shoppers moving. VDOT traffic engineers re-timed approximately 170 traffic signals to accommodate the annual spike in traffic volumes in and around the region's shopping malls. The special timing plans will be in effect at the following shopping centers through New Year's Day: Tysons and Galleria Shopping Centers, Reston Town Center, Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fair Oaks Mall, Potomac Mills Mall, Manassas Mall, Shopping centers on Route 234, Springfield Mall, Cascades Town Center , Potomac Run Center , Dulles Town Center . VDOT has assisted area shopping centers by retiming signals during the holidays since 1999.
Correction
In the Nov. 22-28 issue of the Great Falls Connection, the article "Why Not Under?" incorrectly stated that Tysons Tunnel needs 160,000 signatures for its tunnel petition. The correct number is 10,000 signatures.