<sh>Teen Jewelry-Making Workshop
<bt>For teenagers looking for something to do doing their Spring Break, there will be a jewelry-making workshop on Wednesday, April 4, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Great Falls Library, located at 9830 Georgetown Pike. Teens will have the opportunity to make earrings, a necklace and a memory-wire bracelet. This free workshop is open to teenagers from ages 12 to 18, and will be taught by Great Falls Studios member Donna Barnako. Materials for the workshop will be provided by Friends of the Great Falls Library. For more information, or to register, e-mail donna@jewelworx.com. Registration is required as the class size is limited.
<sh>Foundation Looking for More U.S. Troops
<bt>The Neighbors International Foundation would like to send more care packages to military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If residents know someone who is stationed in the Middle East, send Neighbors their mailing address. The Neighbors International Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation. To date, Neighbors has sent more than 4,300 care packages to U.S. military personnel and over 22,000 letters of support. In addition, Neighbors is looking for volunteers who are interested in donating their packing and wrapping skills. Neighbors has recently received a significant amount of donations, and although the organization is always happy to take more, it needs assistance moving the current donations out to make room for the next load. Neighbors is open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open this Saturday, March 24, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, contact Sharon Rainey at 703-759-2102.
<sh>Brush and Lens Exhibit
<bt>Two local artists, photographer Walt Lawrence and oil painter Frances Vecchi, are currently exhibiting their work at the Java Junction Coffee House located in the Seneca Square Center at the intersection of Route 193 and Seneca Road in Great Falls. Lawrence and Vecchi invite the public to join them at a reception at Java Junction on Sunday, March 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. The two artists will present some of their more recent work on landscapes.
<sh>Fatal Crash in Dranesville Area
<bt>According to Fairfax County Police, a 27-year-old Reston-area man died on Thursday, March 15 in a car accident. Police said that at around 12:20 a.m. the victim was involved in a minor crash when he stepped out of his vehicle which was blocking a westbound lane of Leesburg Pike near Georgetown Pike. The victim and his 2004 Toyota Camry were struck from behind by a 1999 Dodge Dakota, which was operated by a 48-year-old Leesburg-area man. The Dakota continued to cross into the eastbound lanes and eventually came to a halt after striking a guard rail. The driver of the Toyota Camry was pronounced dead at the scene. Both the driver of the Dakota and his passenger were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Detectives are still investigating the crash. The deceased has been identified as Anton Stefan Sjostrom, of Olde Tiverton Circle in Reston. Investigation is ongoing.
<sh>Fifteen Burglary Cases Closed
<bt>According to Fairfax County Police, burglary cases countywide increased 17 percent in 2006 compared to
2005, making the investigation and closure of burglary cases a top priority for the Fairfax County Police Department. Concerned citizens actively involved in partnership with the officers and investigators of the department, improve the opportunities to identify and stop these crimes, according to police. Two men and one teenage boy have been arrested in connection with three separate series of burglaries involving 15 cases in the Reston Police District, and police say more charges are likely to follow. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, at around 1 p.m., Carlos M. Martinez, 23, of Christy Place in Herndon, was arrested at his home and charged with seven counts of burglary and one count of grand larceny. Martinez allegedly broke into the same home six times since 2005. The home is
located in the 2000 block of Winged Foot Court in Reston. The larceny charge stemmed from a burglary in the 2100 block of Mager Place in Herndon, which occurred in January. In addition, police said that on Thursday, Feb. 8, at around 1 p.m., Anthony Timbers, 32, of Saint Trinians Court in Reston, was arrested during a traffic stop at the intersection of Lawyers Road and Reston Parkway. Timbers was charged with two counts of burglary and one count of credit card fraud. He allegedly broke into a home in the 11900 block of Heathcote Court on Thursday, Jan. 4. He was also charged with burglarizing a home in the 11900 block of Triple Crown Road on Wednesday, Feb. 7 — both of which are in the Hunters Woods area. Police arrested a third serial burglary suspect on Monday, March 12, at around 1 p.m. after a neighbor saw two teenagers acting suspiciously in the 2300 block of Rosedown Drive. That citizen called police and instructed officers about the teens' location. Police chased the suspects and arrested a 16-year-old boy, with no fixed address, on an outstanding warrant from New York. Investigation led detectives to charge him with six counts of burglary. Those burglaries all occurred during the month of March on the following streets: the 12400 block of Melmark Court, the 12300 block of Scotch Bonnet Court, the 12300 block of Panama Road, the 2300 block of Rosedown Drive, the 2400 block of Freetown Drive, the 2200 block of Sanibel Drive. Investigators are still trying to determine if the second youth was involved in the burglaries.
<sh>Correction
<bt>In the article "Looking into Environment Friendly Lighting" in the March 14-27, 2007 issue of the Great Falls Connection, Paul Vrabel was incorrectly identified as the president of Energy Star. Vrabel is an energy efficient lighting expert who is under contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help manage the Energy Star Residential Light Fixture program.