<sh>Women Robbed in Fair Lakes
<bt>Fairfax County police are looking for a pair of armed robbers who stole purses from two women as they walked home from the Fair Lakes Shopping Center, early Monday morning. Both women are 20, and the robbery occurred around 12:02 a.m.
According to police, the women were walking in the 4400 block of Sedgehurst Drive when a man walked toward them, grabbed one of the women and displayed a handgun. Then a second man appeared, also displaying a gun.
The men then snatched the women's purses and fled in a vehicle. The women, who were uninjured, then walked to a friend's home and called police. The suspects are both described as black males, about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds.
One wore a black, hooded sweatshirt, and the other wore a white shirt with a hood. Anyone with information about the suspects or this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Armed Robbers Snatch Gun
<bt>A 21-year-old Centreville man was walking in the Newgate community, early Sunday morning — openly carrying a gun — when two men armed with a weapon took it from him. Fairfax County police say the incident occurred around 4:10 a.m. in the area of Newton Patent Drive and Newton Tavern Drive in Centreville.
The victim was walking on Newton Patent when, say police, two people approached him from behind and placed a metal object up to his head. The suspects then grabbed his handgun and fled the scene. The victim was not injured.
The suspects are described as black men wearing dark clothing. Anyone with information about the suspects or this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Sully Land Use, Transportation
<bt>The Sully District Council Land-Use and Transportation Committee will meet Monday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes, 703-904-0131, evenings. Members will consider an application for a PNC Bank in the Franklin Farm shopping Center. It would go in the site of the former Video Warehouse.
<sh>Park Authority to Meet
<bt>The next meeting of the Fairfax County Park Authority will be Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 900, in Fairfax. Call Judy Pedersen at 703-324-8662.
<sh>Free Carseat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections, Tuesday, Aug. 15, from 5-9 p.m., 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>Wireless Access at Library
<bt>The Fairfax County library system now offers free wireless access to the Internet at the Chantilly Regional Library. "Wireless access is something many of our customers have requested, and we're pleased to offer this service," said Library Director Edwin S. Clay III.
This new service will allow library patrons to use their own Wi-Fi enabled laptops to access the Internet, for an unlimited amount of time, from any public area of the library. They'll need charged batteries, though, since library power outlets may not always be available.
Those accessing the Internet wirelessly in the library and wanting to rent items from it will still need to sign up and use library computers for the printing. The library's Internet use policy will apply to both wireless and standard access.
<sh>FEMA Denies Flooding Aid
<bt>Virginia's request for individual assistance to assist property owners affected by the severe weather in late June and early July was denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gov. Tim Kaine had asked for it on behalf of Fairfax and Arlington counties and the city of Alexandria, among other localites. The Individual Assistance Program makes funding available for homeowners and renters via grants, low interest loans, unemployment assistance and disaster housing assistance.
<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.