Monthly Archives: July 2011

Shuttle service to Frying Pan Park farmers market from Reston

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This is good news for lower income residents of Reston, who may not have a car but need access to fresh vegetables. Hunter Mill supervisor Cathy Hudgins has arranged for a free shuttle service from Southgate Community Center to the farmers market at Frying Pan Park that is held seasonally on Wednesdays. According to the Herndon Connection:

Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) has announced the establishment of shuttle bus service to the Wednesday morning farmers market at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. The shuttle will pick up from Southgate Community Center (12125 Pinecrest Road in Reston) and the Neighborhood Resource Center (1086 Elden Street, Herndon) to the farmers market, and return.

Read the full article.

Clocktower Animal Hospital helps connect soldiers with Baghdad dogs

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The Herndon Connection published an interesting story on how Clocktower Animal Hospital in Oak Hill is helping connect soldiers with the dogs they helped while serving in the Iraq theater.

“The coolest part about it all is seeing the dog and the person reconnect, after what could have been months,” Carskaddan said. “I remember one Marine came by to pick his dog up, and he said ‘Now our mission is complete, everyone’s home.’ They considered this dog to be part of their unit, and they had all returned. And here’s this big, giant Marine sitting with the dog and just crying.”

Read the entire article.

Family reportedly abducted, robbed and abandoned in Herndon

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Fairfax County Police today issued this horrifying police report. The crime took place in Herndon in a complex behind Innovation Avenue:

Police are investigating a report of a family that was abducted from their apartment, robbed, and left in a remote area of Fairfax County on Thursday, July 28.

A masked man entered an apartment in the San Moritz Circle complex through an unlocked door around 9:30 p.m. He implied that he had a gun, and ordered the residents; a woman, her teen aged son and toddler, into a back room where he tied up the teen. Minutes later, a family friend entered the home and was assaulted by the suspect when he did not immediately comply with orders to get to the ground. The man sustained non-life threatening cuts with a sharp object. The father then entered the home and he too was assaulted by the suspect.

According to police, everyone was ushered out to the family sedan and the suspect ordered the driver to a nearby ATM machine. After withdrawing money, the suspect ordered the father into the trunk of the vehicle and the friend continued to drive. He eventually parked in a secluded business park area off of Innovation Drive. The victims were released except for the father. They ran away and flagged down a passer-by who called police. Once the father realized the suspect was gone, he was able to escape the trunk and found police who had responded to the area.

The suspect is described as black, in his 30s, around 5 feet 9 inches tall and lean. He wore a dark hat, a dark, baggy sweat suit, black athletic shoes and dark cloth gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

More Frying Pan Park events posted

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Saturday and Sunday, August 6-7
63rd Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair & Farm Show

(All ages) Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101. Find old-fashioned country fun with carnival games, rides and exhibits. 4-H Fair runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Carnival rides open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday. Watch the 4-H exhibitors get their farm animals ready for the show, visit exhibit booths, and enjoy tasty fair food, watch entertainment on stage, dog and horse shows and much more! See real farmers use antique equipment in the fields and around the barn, watch a tractor pull or touch a big truck! Try your hand at milking a cow or a goat, shelling corn or performing other farm chores. Free admission to the 4-H Fair. $5 parking fee per car. Click to learn more about exhibiting your project at the fair.

Wednesday Morning Children’s Concert Series, 10am – 11am at the Visitor Center. Join us each week for a unique children’s program!
August 10th Blue Sky Puppet Theater (Puppets)
August 17th The Great Zucchini (Comedy/Magic)

Thursday Evening Summer Concert Series 7:30pm – 8:30pm, by Hunter Mill Melodies – Bring your friends and family to enjoy music at the farm! The farm, carousel and wagon rides will be open until after the concert.
August 11th King Teddy (Swing Band)
August 18th The Winstons (Motown)
August 25th Mystic Warriors (Andean Music)

Farmers Market, August 10th – October 26th Every Wednesday from 8am to 12:30pm – Come to the Frying Pan Farm Park farmers market to connect with the producers and growers of our food and experience a way of life once common to our parents and grandparents.

Summer Series Horse Show, August 16th & August 30th, starting at 3pm – Watch as horse and rider compete over fences to see who is the fastest and most agile!

Pictures of suspect slasher posted

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Police have released pictures of the suspected serial slasher of women in the area. Do you know this man? If so:

The suspect is described as Hispanic, late 20’s, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and heavy-set. He wore white shorts and a short-sleeved shirt in the July 25 assault.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

Fairfax animal shelter reopens for cat adoptions

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From a Fairfax county police new release.

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter has reopened for cat adoptions.  To celebrate the reopening of the cat adoption room, the shelter is hosting ExtravaCATza! 2011 and will also be extending the summer adoption event throughout August. As part of the event, the first 100 cats adopted from the shelter during July and August will receive a free spay or neuter at the shelter’s veterinarian. There will also be no adoption fee for cats who are seven years or older.

Families interested in adopting a cat or kitten are encouraged to drop by the shelter throughout July and August to meet the wonderful animals that are available and looking for loving new homes.

The facility is reopening for cat adoptions after closing temporarily in June after an outbreak of suspected virulent systemic Calicivirus. After the outbreak, the shelter enacted a very strict cleaning regimen to eliminate the virus from all cat housing areas. No signs of the feline illness have been present in the shelter among its cats since the June outbreak.

The shelter will be open its normal adoption hours for cats, dogs and other animals throughout the month: Tuesdays – Fridays, 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is located at 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030.  For more information about the ExtravaCATza!, call 703-830-1100.

Serial cutter targeting women in the area

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This is a scary police report. A misogynist serial cutter is on the loose. From the police bulletin:

Police are investigating reports of a man who follows young women in retail stores, cuts them and slips away. Most recently, officers responded to the Forever XXI Store in Fair Oaks Mall Monday, July 25 around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a woman who suffered a one and a half inch wound in her buttocks.

The 18-year-old victim was shopping when she noticed clothes that had fallen off of a rack behind her and saw a man bending down to pick them up. She abruptly felt a sharp pain and considered that one of the hangars had struck her. A short time later, she discovered her denim shorts had been slashed; her buttocks had been cut and were bleeding. Store employees quickly contacted security who summoned police.

Detectives indicate that this attack may be linked to four others that have taken place in Fairfax County retail stores since February. The most recent case occurred in a Marshall’s at Greenbriar Shopping Center on June 20 around 2:45 p.m.

In each case, the suspect distracts his victim before cutting them. The victims have all been teen-aged women or in their early 20’s.
The suspect is described as Hispanic, late 20’s, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and heavy-set. He wore white shorts and a short-sleeved shirt in the July 25 assault.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

Dumpsters being set on fire near Baileys Crossroads

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Occasionally crime elsewhere in Fairfax County is significant enough to post here. An arsonist has been very busy in the Baileys Crossroads area  of Fairfax County setting fire to dumpsters, and police are looking for help in finding the perpetrator. Based on the close location of these arson incidents, it seems likely they are being caused by one person or the same group of people.

From Fairfax County police logs:

*ARSON: Fairfax County Crime Solvers and the Office of the Fire Marshal are seeking the
public’s assistance in identifying the persons responsible for a series of dumpster fires in the
Culmore area. Since February, at least 15 dumpsters have been intentionally set on fire in that
area. Fire Marshals believe the same suspect is responsible for these fires:
· Sunday, February 6 around 9 p.m. in the 600 block of Knollwood Drive
· Monday, February 21 around 3:10 a.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Monday, February 21 around 3:35 a.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Friday, February 25 around 1:50 a.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Sunday, March 13 around 4:30 a.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Sunday, March 13 around 4:50 a.m. in the 6000 block of Vista Drive
· Sunday, April 17 around 3:35 a.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Sunday, May 1 around 10:35 p.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Sunday, May 1 around 10:35 p.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Sunday, May 29 around 9:50 p.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Friday, June 3 around 3 a.m. in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive
· Sunday, June 19 around 4:05 a.m. in the 3300 block of Glenmore Drive
· Sunday, June 19 around 4:10 a.m. in the 6000 block of Vista Drive
· Sunday, June 19 around 4:35 p.m. in the 3400 block of Glen Carlyn Drive
· Sunday, July 10 around 2:30 a.m. in the 6000 block of Vista Drive
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477),
e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to
CRIMES(274637). A $100 to $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information that leads to an
arrest. As always, callers never have to give their names or appear in court. Find us on Facebook.