<sh>House Fire: $450,000 Damage
<bt>Fire officials say a house fire Monday afternoon in the Fair Crest area of Centreville caused an estimated $450,000 in damage. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to the blaze around 3:50 p.m. at 13646 Sweet Woodruff Way.
Upon arrival, firefighters reported smoke and fire visible from the basement and rear of the two-story, single-family home. They were able to bring it under control in about 25 minutes, but two adults and two children were displaced. No one was injured.
More than 30 firefighters from both Centreville stations 17 and 38 battled the blaze, aided by units from the Chantilly and Frying Pan stations. The American Red Cross aided the displaced residents. Fire investigators classified the fire as accidental, saying an "electrical anomaly" near a portable sauna in the basement was responsible.
<sh>Police Looking for Flasher
<bt>Fairfax County police are looking for a man who exposed himself Saturday to two 15-year-old girls on a path in the Cub Run/Centreville area near Stillfield Place in Virginia Run. According to police, the girls were walking on the path March 10, around 1:30 p.m., and saw a man standing in front of them, with his back toward them. He then yelled to get their attention.
One girl turned and noticed that he'd pulled down his pants, pulled his shirt over his head and was exposing himself. As the girls were running away, they looked back and saw the man running toward them. He then ran into the woods and out of their sight.
He's described as white, 35-40, and 5 feet 9 inches with a medium-chunky build. He had shaggy brown hair and scruffy hair on his face and wore blue jeans and a blue, long-sleeved pullover shirt. Anyone with information about him or this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Delivery Man Almost Robbed
<bt>Fairfax County police say two men tried to rob a delivery man last week, but were unsuccessful. The man was approached Friday, March 9, around 10:15 p.m., as he attempted to deliver food in the 13500 block of Lavender Mist Lane in Centreville.
As the 36-year-old Manassas man was looking for the address, he stopped to help a man who flagged him down. The man approached the delivery man's driver’s-side door while another man approached the passenger door and displayed a gun. The pair demanded money and ordered the victim out of the car, but eventually fled with nothing.
The suspects are described as black, with one in his 20s. The first suspect is 5 feet 9 inches and about 165 pounds. He wore a gray knit cap and a red sweatshirt with white writing on the back. The second suspect wore a black knit cap, a black mask, black zippered jacket, tan boots and black gloves. Anyone with information about them or this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Westfield Community Coalition
<bt>The Westfield Community Coalition will meet Thursday, March 15, from 2:30-4 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., in Chantilly. Call Nancy Bennett at 703-266-2370
<sh>Democratic Women of Clifton
<bt>The Democratic Women of Clifton will meet Sunday, March 18, from 2-4 p.m. in the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road in Clifton. The topic is Women’s Health Issues, and guest speakers are Del. Kris Amundson (D-44th) and Ann O’Hanlon. All Democratic women from the Northern Virginia area are welcome. Contact cliftonwomendems@aol.com or see www.DemocraticWomenofClifton.org
<sh>State Legislators to Review Recent Session
<bt>Several state senators and delegates will discuss and answer questions about the 2007 General Assembly session at a Richmond Wrap-Up event. It's slated for Sunday, March 18, from 2:30-4:30 p.m., at Providence Presbyterian Church, 9019 Little River Turnpike, near Fairfax.
Co-sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and SALT (Social Action Linking Together), the event is an opportunity to learn how state lawmakers have been responding to social justice and human services needs facing Virginians.
<sh>Republican Women of Clifton
<bt>The Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) invites all Republican women in Clifton, Centreville, Fairfax Station, Burke and surrounding areas to hear guest speaker Eric Lundberg, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee. He'll address the club Monday, March 19, at Clifton Elementary, from 7:30-9 p.m. Please bring canned goods to donate to the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries' (WFCM) food pantry.
The RWC meets the third Mondays of the month at Clifton Elementary. For more information, call Elizabeth Schultz, RWC president, at 703-266-2299.
<sh>Sully District CAC Meeting
<bt>The Sully District Citizens' Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Supervisors Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) and Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield) will discuss the FY-'08 Police Department budget. Anyone who lives or works in the Sully Police District is encouraged to attend.
<sh>WFCCA Land-Use Meeting
<bt>the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee will meet Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., in Chantilly. Agenda items include:
* A decision on the proposed bank-pad site in the Sully Station Shopping Center on Westfields Boulevard in Centreville.
* An application for four, fast-food restaurants to operate out of the former Lone Star restaurant in the Centreville Square Shopping Center.
<sh>Newsmaker Breakfast With Gov. Kaine
<bt>Gov. Tim Kaine will discuss transportation legislation with the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, March 22, at the Westfields Marriott Hotel, 14750 Conference Center Drive, in Chantilly. Registration is from 7:30-8 a.m., followed by a hot breakfast buffet and the presentation. (This is a change of program and venue from the Chamber's regular monthly breakfast.)
During this event, sponsored by Guernsey Office Products, Kaine will explain his concerns about the transportation Package recently passed by the General Assembly. He will also answer questions and receive input.
Cost is $45 for Chamber Members and $50 for non-members. Advance registration is requested at the events page of www.DullesRegionalChamber.org, or by calling 571-323-5304 or e-mailing info@dullesregionalchamber.org.
<sh>Free Carseat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections, Thursday, Thursday, March 22, and Tuesday, March 27, 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>State Legislators to Address Sully District Council Meeting
<bt>Several members of the General Assembly will address the next meeting of the Sully District Council of Citizens Associations and its Land-Use and Transportation Committee. It will be held Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m., at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.
Delegates Chuck Caputo (D-67th), Thomas Rust (R-86th), Tim Hugo (R-40th) and Kenneth Plum (D-36th), and Senators Ken Cuccinelli (R-37th) and Mark Herring (D-33rd) have been invited. So far, only Plum has indicated he cannot attend. The event is open to the public. Each legislator will speak for 5 minutes about the just-ended legislative session and will then answer questions. Call Jeff Parnes, evenings, at 703-904-0131.