<sh>Baby Naming Contest
<bt>The Reston Zoo is holding a baby-naming contest for the new baby boy binturong who was born May 31. Winner receives a free day admission for him/herself and three friends. The visit will include an up-close and personal visit with the baby and the parents. The Reston Zoo plans to raise the baby binturong for educational purposes. The baby will join the zoo's team of animal ambassadors, which are used in interactions aimed at educating people through up-close experiences.
Send entries to: Reston Zoo, 1228 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna, VA 22182 or restonzoo@verizon.net. No phone call submissions will be accepted. The contest beings June 19, and the winner will be announced Aug. 1 at the zoo. The baby binturong and his parents will be present.
<sh>Police Arrest Fugitive in Shooting
<bt>Police have arrested 21-year-old Ahmed Izzelden Osman for a May 24 shooting. On that day, around 7:15 p.m., a group of people were standing in the 2700 block of Hollywood Road in the Merrifield area. A car drove near them, and the passenger of the car shot once into the group. An 18-year-old Falls Church-area man was shot in the upper body and was transported to the Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Osman had outstanding warrants stemming from the shooting and has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police located Osman in another jurisdiction and followed him to the area of Lee Highway and Gallows Road. He was arrested without incident at approximately 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 15 and was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
<sh>Commission OKs Twofer
<bt>The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval of a plan to remove on existing house in the Briarwood Trace subdivision and replace it with two new houses. The area had been redeveloped, but this house was a holdout and does not match its new neighbors.
The plan will now go to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing and final approval. A date has not yet been set.
<sh>Historic Hunter Mill
<bt>The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended changing the Comprehensive Plan to recognize the historical significance of Hunter Mill Road. The change had been proposed two years ago by citizens in the four districts (Providence, Sully, Dranesville and Hunter Mill) through which the 7.2-mile road passes.
Task forces in the Providence and Sully districts had approved the idea, as had a special task force made up of Hunter Mill and Dranesville residents.
“Such unanimity across all groups is stunning,” said Bruce Bennett, a member of the Hunter Mill Defense League and resident of the Hunter Mill corridor.
Recognizing the potential historic and cultural significance of the land along Hunter Mill Road will not impact future development rights of property owners, said Marianne Gardner of the Department of Planning and Zoning.
The proposal will now go to the Board of Supervisors for a Public Hearing and final decision. A date has not been set.
<sh>NVFS School Supply Drive
<bt>The Oakton-based Northern Virginia Family Service’s (NVFS) 2006 Back To School Drive is now underway, and the agency is seeking help from the community. Each summer, NVFS helps children of low-income families prepare for the school year ahead by equipping them with new school supplies. The supplies will be distributed to children who participate — or whose families are involved — in NVFS programs. The children being served this year come from a variety of family, social and economic circumstances and range from preschool through high school.
Participants will be provided with a child’s first name, age, gender and grade level as well as what they will need to begin school. A typical donation would consist of a backpack and several items such as notebooks, paper, pencils, etc. Gift cards or monetary donations are also accepted. Supplies must be collected by July 31 so that the items can be delivered to the families before school starts in the fall. For more information on how to donate school supplies or to volunteer time to this project, call 703-219-3978.
<sh>Vienna Celebrates Independence Day
<bt>Vienna's annual Fourth of July celebration will be held on Tuesday, July 4, beginning at noon on the grounds of the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Admission is free. The rain date for fireworks only is Wednesday, July 5. Attractions are as follows:
From noon to 5 p.m., there will be arts and crafts vendors and food and drink for sale, as well as pony rides, a moon bounce, a giant slide, an obstacle course and more. The main stage performers will be B2B, the "Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band," who will play a variety of music ranging from Charlie Daniels to the Beach Boys. Shows on the Children's Stage will include the "Vaudeville Show" with Kevin Brown at noon, the "Traveling Medicine Show" with Eric Henning at 1 p.m., "Comedy/Magic/Juggling" with Chuck Bollinger at 2 p.m. and "Mayhem's Magical Rodeo" at 3 p.m. Special events will include the annual 17th District American Legion all-star baseball game at 10 a.m. on Waters Field, the antique and classic car show from noon to 4 p.m., family games and races at 2:15 p.m. and a greased pole climb at 4 p.m. Evening entertainment will be a concert by the Vienna Community Band at 8 and a fireworks display at 9:15.
<sh>Town Holiday Schedule
<bt>Vienna Town Hall will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 for Independence Day. There will be no trash collection that day. Trash only (no curbside recycling) will be picked up on Friday, July 7 for town residents on the Tuesday/Friday collection route.
<sh>Craft Vendors Sought
<bt>The Vienna Woman’s Club is seeking craft vendors for its 46th annual Harvest Bazaar and Fall Festival to be held Saturday, Nov. 11. The event will feature local crafters, a bake sale and children’s activities. Proceeds from the sale will benefit a scholarship fund. For information or an application, contact Jan Smith at 703-319-0860 or jansmith@erols.com.