I-66/Route 286 Ramp Closings
The I-66 ramps to and from northbound Route 286 (the Fairfax County Parkway) will be closed overnight this week as crews continue final paving for the new Fair Lakes/Fairfax County Parkway interchange. Drivers should follow posted detours Thursday, May 30, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and Friday, May 31, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Police will be on site for assistance.
Single-lane closures and detours onto Fair Lakes Circle are also in place Sunday-Friday nights, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for the next eight weeks. Crews are working along Fair Lakes Parkway as well as the Fairfax County Parkway from Route 29 to Rugby Road.
The new $69.5 million interchange improves pedestrian and cycle access, widens more than three miles of the Fairfax County Parkway, and improves traffic flow by separating local and Parkway traffic. The entire project is scheduled for completion this October.
CPMSAC Awards Ceremonies
The Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement Committee (CPMSAC) is holding its 28th Annual Youth Motivation and Academic Awards programs. They’re slated for Saturday, June 1, at 5 p.m., at Chantilly High for middle- and high-school students, and Sunday, June 2, at 4 p.m., at Centreville Elementary for the elementary-school students. This year’s theme is “Social Networking: A Key to Helping Close the Academic Achievement Gap.”
Police Warn of Utility Scam
Fairfax County police are seeing a trend in the number of victims reporting a scam involving utility payments. It’s received dozens of reports that someone is contacting residents claiming that their electric meter is broken and could even explode, if they don’t buy a payment card and pay up immediately.
The scammer tells residents they should go to a convenience store and buy a pre-payment card in the amount of several hundreds of dollars, or their power will be shut off. Many times, residents are frightened and feel intimated by the scammer.
While residents of all ethnicities have been victimized, police say recent targets appear to be Latino residents. Some live in apartments or multi-dwelling units. The scammer speaks in Spanish and several times has identified himself as “Jose Martinez.”
Police warn residents to contact Dominion Power or other utilities, as well as police, if they receive calls of this nature. They’re also advised to never provide their social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone, unless they’ve initiated the contact with the caller.
Anyone receiving a call from someone claiming to be their utility company — and feeling pressured for immediate payment or personal information — should hang up and call the utility to report the incident.
Police Pilot DUI Watch
To encourage residents to become more involved in their communities by spotting and reporting suspected drunk or impaired drivers, the Sully District Police Station is starting DUI Watch. Volunteers will be fully training in early recognition of impaired driving, the dangers of impaired driving and its impact on the community.
The first-ever DUI Watch training session will be Wednesday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Pre-registration is recommended, but not required. Contact PFC Fruecht at 703-814-7018 or at FCPDSulCPO@Fairfaxcounty.gov with questions or to register.
Free Carseat Inspections
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, June 6, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed.
However, because of time constraints, only the first 35 vehicles arriving on each date will be inspected. That way, inspectors may have enough time to properly instruct the caregiver on the correct use of the child seat. Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times.
Food Donations for WFCM
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ food pantry urgently needs donations of spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, rice (2-lb. bags), canned pasta, peanut butter, canned tuna and meat, hot and cold cereal, fruit juice, and pancake mix and syrup. Bring all items to WFCM’S new food-pantry location at 13888 Metrotech Drive, near Papa John’s Pizza and Kumon Learning Center, in Chantilly’s Sully Place Shopping Center.
Meals on Wheels Volunteers
Fairfax County needs Meals on Wheels drivers in Chantilly and group Meals on Wheels coordinators in both Chantilly and Fairfax. Contact Volunteer Solutions at 703-324-5406, TTY 711, VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/volunteer-solutions.htm.
Give Caregivers a Break
Fairfax County needs Respite Care volunteers throughout the county to give family caregivers of a frail older adult a well-deserved break. Volunteers visit and oversee the safety of the older adult for a few hours each month. Volunteers are matched with families in or near their own neighborhoods. Support and training is provided. Contact Kristin Martin at 703-324-7577, TTY 711, or Kristin.Martin@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Women's Self Defense Program
The Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation is partnering with the Fairfax County Police Department to offer the Women's Self Defense Training program. It’s based on the SAFE program formerly provided by the Police Department, but now being taught by C&J Security Corp.
The program is a two-day class that will meet on consecutive Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15-9:30 p.m. It’s currently offered free and all class materials are included. Program funding is provided through the Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation.
The course is offered to females, age 13 and older. A female guardian must accompany girls 13-18. No men other than the instructors are permitted to be present during a class. For more information, call 703-246-7806, e-mail WSD@fairfaxfoundation.org or go to www.fairfaxfoundation.org.