<sh>Birds of a Feather ...
<bt>Local residents were all a-flutter last week, looking for a trio of emus who flew the coop, Monday, Sept. 18, and headed out for parts unknown. They'd escaped from a farm near the 15000 block of Braddock Road, and Fairfax County police issued a press release, urging people to be on the lookout for them.
However, all's well that ends well, and this avion adventure has a happy ending. On Friday, police reported that one emu found its way home, Animal Control captured the second one in the 5300 block of Chandley Farm Circle and the third returned home last Thursday, Sept. 21. According to the police: "We are pleased to report that all three emus are safe and sound at home."
<sh>Look Out, Sully Speeders
<bt>Throughout October, patrol officers from the Sully District Police Station will conduct a speed reduction, stop sign and red light campaign. “Give us a Treat. Respect our Streets” will target speeders, stop-sign and red-light runners in areas of concern served by this station, with specific emphasis on cut-through streets.
Enforcement will be emphasized on streets including: ODay Drive, Awbrey Patent Drive/Newton Patent, Sully Station Drive, Cabells Mill Road/Northbourne Drive, Green Trails Boulevard/Rock Canyon Drive, Bay Valley Lane, Singleton’s Way/Old Centreville Road, Fillingame Drive, Sully Park Drive and Sequoia Farms Drive, plus the Town of Clifton.
The effort won't be limited to these streets, but will encompass the entire Sully District. The goal is to promote compliance on residential streets with school zones and bus stops. The campaign will run during morning and evening rush hours.
<sh>Sully Land-Use, Transportation
<bt>The Sully District Land-Use and Transportation Committee will meet Monday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes, evenings, at 703-904-0131.
<sh>Clifton Town Council Meeting
<bt>The next meeting of the Clifton Town Council will be Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., in the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road in Clifton.
<sh>Springfield Dist./Fairfax Center Land-Use Committee Mtg.
<bt>The Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use Committee will meet Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., in rooms 4 and 5 of the Fairfax County Government Center.
F.L. Promenade Outparcel LLC (The Peterson Cos.) wants to put a drive-in bank where the vacant Tiaz Restaurant building is, next to Macaroni Grill, at Monument Drive and Fair Lakes Parkway in Fair Lakes. It needs the county's permission to add a drive-in bank as a permitted use on that site.
Proposed is a one-story bank, up to 4,100 square feet and 25 feet high. The drive-in window would be on the northern side of the building and covered by a canopy. Which specific bank would do business there has not yet been identified.
<sh>Fair Lakes, Fairfax Corner Expansion is Greenlighted
<bt>The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday gave final approval to a plan opening the door to more development at Fairfax Corner and Fair Lakes. The changes will allow more development on the two properties, both owned by The Peterson Cos.
The total Fair Lakes development comprises about 660 acres. After the change, Peterson will be able to expand development on about 128 of those acres by adding more than 1.4 million square feet, including 560-600 condos and about 736,000 square feet of non-residential space.
Fairfax Corner will now be permitted to construct an additional 290 condos and some 375,000 square feet of non-residential uses. The board also approved a change allowing an additional house to be built on a one-acre property along Union Mill Road, near Centreville High.
<sh>Free Carseat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections, Thursday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 5-8:30 p.m. each day, at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. They’ll make sure the carseat is correct for the child’s age, height and weight, the child is securely placed in the seat, and the seat is properly installed in the vehicle.
No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves, so the technicians may properly inspect and make adjustments, as necessary. Call the Sully District Child Seat Information line (703-814-7000, ext. 5140) to confirm dates and times. For additional child seat inspection times throughout Fairfax County, call the Fairfax County Operations Support Bureau at 703-280-0559.
<sh>Sully Police Open House
<bt>The Sully District Police Station will hold an open house Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Besides displays of police equipment and vehicles, this year's event will especially feature lots of fun activities for children.
<sh>Donations Are Still Accepted
<bt>The Labor Day car show in the Town of Clifton yielded $30,000 for the trust funds for the families of slain Sully District police officers, Det. Vicky Armel and MPO Michael Garbarino. But since each officer left a spouse and two children, event organizer Jim Chesley is still trying to raise more.
Contributions are tax-deductible. To donate, send checks payable either to Clifton Lions Club or Custom Cruisers of Northern Virginia, with "police trust fund" written on the memo line, to: Jim Chesley, 7207 Main St., Clifton, VA 20124.
<sh>Fire Stations Welcome Public
<bt>All four local fire stations — Centreville (Station 17), West Centreville (Station 38), Fair Oaks (Station 21) and Chantilly (Station 15) — will welcome the public to open houses Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents are invited to visit the stations as part of National Fire Prevention Week. Fire engines and ambulances will be on display, and fire and rescue personnel will be on hand to answer questions.
<sh>Meals on Wheels Needs Drivers
<bt>The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging "Meals on Wheels" program is in immediate need of drivers to deliver meals, Monday through Friday, to senior adults living in Fairfax County. Volunteers who speak Vietnamese are also needed.
The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m.-noon and delivering them to seniors by 1 p.m. Drivers may choose to deliver meals on a daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly or substitute basis. Call the Fairfax AAA Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or e-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov.
<sh>Role Models for Children
<bt>Volunteers are needed throughout Northern Virginia to be positive role models for children who currently have an incarcerated parent. Mentors meet with children two hours per week. Weekly meetings are supplemented by monthly group recreational activities. The only qualification required is a desire to help a child in need.
To sign up for the mentor training session at the Center for Multicultural Human Services in Falls Church, call Ellen Klene, Volunteer Program manager, at 703-533-3302, ext. 107, or see www.cmhs.org.
<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.