<sh>Embezzlement to Grand Jury
<bt>The charges against a Centreville man accused of embezzling more than $53,000 from his Reston employer are going forward in the legal system. The man is Cliff Thomas, 40, of 13473 Coneflower Court in the Faircrest community.
He was an account representative at CDW, which sells computers, hardware and software. Fairfax County police contend that, during Dec. 2003, he allegedly diverted checks meant for CDW and a company it had recently acquired and deposited them into a bank account of his own.
On July 28, 2004, police charged Thomas with two counts of embezzlement. Then last Tuesday, Feb. 1, in General District Court, Judge Stewart Davis sent both charges to the next grand jury for possible indictment. If convicted, Thomas could receive as much as 10 years in prison total — five years for each count.
<sh>Auto Park Expansion OK'd
<bt>The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a nearly 27-acre expansion that will bring four more dealerships — Mercedes, Audi, Honda and Nissan — to the Chantilly Auto Park off Stonecroft Boulevard. The site was originally zoned industrial for a flex office park there, but a change in rezoning to commercial usage was requested.
<sh>Child Carseat Inspections
<bt>The Sully District Police Station is offering free, child carseat inspections by certified technicians. The next dates are Thursday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 17, from 5–9 p.m. No appointment is necessary, but technicians request that parents make an effort to install their child safety seats themselves, so they may properly inspect and make adjustments, as necessary. Call the Fairfax County Operations Support Bureau at 703-280-0559. The Sully Police Station is at 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.
<sh>Chantilly Community Coalition
<bt>The Chantilly Community Coalition will meet Monday, Feb. 14, at 4 p.m. in the conference room of the Chantilly Regional Library. Call John Hanyok at 703-262-2475.
<sh>Westfield Community Coalition
<bt>The next meeting of the Westfield Community Coalition is Monday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Nancy Bennett at 703-266-2370.
<sh>Citizens Advisory Committee
<bt>Sully District's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.
<sh>Speak Up About Proposed Dulles Toll Road Increase
<bt>The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will consider a 25-cent toll increase on the Dulles Toll Road, during its February meeting in Richmond. The proposed hike would help fund part of Virginia's share to build the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project.
Those interested in commenting about the proposal may do so Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m. by videoconference. It will be held at the VDOT District Office at 14685 Avion Parkway in Chantilly. From Route 50 west, turn right onto Stonecroft Boulevard and right on Avion Parkway. Take the second right to access VDOT's parking lot.
<sh>Centreville Community Coalition
<bt>The Centreville Community Coalition will meet Friday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at Colin Powell Elementary. Call Debbie Martin at 703-802-9454.
<sh>Dulles Airport Runways Draft EIS
<bt>The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the new runways at Dulles International Airport has just been released. It may be viewed at www.mwaa.com/dulles/EnvironmentalStudies/RunwaysEIS.htm. In addition, a public hearing on this document and its contents will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Stone Middle School. The public information meeting will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the public hearing at 6 p.m.
<sh>Constituent Viewpoint Hotline
<bt>The Virginia General Assembly will again provide a toll-free Constituent Viewpoint hotline. This will allow residents to express their views on issues before the General Assembly to their representatives in the Senate and the House of Delegates. The number is 1-800-889-0229. Constituent Viewpoint will receive calls from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each legislative workday through Feb. 25.
Operators will ask callers to provide their names, addresses and phone numbers for verification purposes, plus the legislative issue on which they are expressing their views. Operators will provide the names of the callers' legislators, record their messages and forward this information to the legislators.
<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.