Route 50 Traffic Delays

From Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. and continuing through the day on Saturday, April 20, VDOT will be doing signal work at the intersection of Route 50 and Lee Road in Chantilly as part of the Route 50 widening project. The permanent signal poles and signal heads will be removed, and new temporary signal poles will be installed with new overhead span wire and temporary signal heads.

Lane closures will occur in both the eastbound and westbound directions of Route 50 until completion. In addition, police officers will be stopping traffic periodically so the permanent poles can be removed and the new temporary signal poles and span wire installed. Drivers are therefore advised to take alternate routes.

Where’s Little Bo Peep?

It’s not every day that sheep are on the loose in Centreville’s Virginia Run community. But that’s what happened last Saturday, April 13, around 9:15 a.m. Fairfax County police Animal Control officers were called to the 6500 block of Marston Cluster for a report of several sheep in the roadway.

Although it was a “baa-fling” occurrence to see sheep in a residential area, the four roaming sheep were corralled and taken to the county Animal Shelter. At press time, the owners had not been identified.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Conference

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is hosting a conference to respond to allegations against Prophet Muhammad and educate people about him and his peaceful ways. It’s scheduled for this Thursday, April 18, from 7-9 p.m., at the Masjid Mubarak mosque, 555 Ahmadiyya Drive in Chantilly.

Sully District Council Meeting

The Sully District Council of Citizens Associations and its Land-Use Committee will meet Wednesday, April 24, at 7 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call Jeff Parnes, evenings, at 703-904-0131. Agenda items are as follows:

• Fairfax County’s Fairfax Forward plan to replace the APR (Area Plans Review) land-use process is ready for a public hearing. The panel will receive an update briefing.

• Verizon Wireless has identified a gap in wireless coverage and service in the local community. Verizon Wireless and Milestone Communications have applied to have a wireless telecommunications tower at London Towne Elementary.

• The panel will learn about proposed changes to the Dulles Discovery parcels on both sides of the Air and Space Museum Parkway, east of Route 28.

Fundraiser at Glory Days

Centreville’s Kevin Whalen is bicycling 230 miles, May 10-12, in the Police Unity Tour (PUT) Virginia ride. It raises money and awareness for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial fund and the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., honoring and remembering officers who’ve died in the line of duty.

So Whalen’s holding a fundraiser Thursday, April 25, at Glory Days Grill and the public’s invited to join in the fun. Glory Days is in the Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center off Braddock Road in Centreville. On that date, it will donate 10 percent of its total food sales from lunch, dinner and nighttime. And PUT riders and law-enforcement personnel will be guest bartending during the 6-10 p.m. happy hour.

Attendees will vie for raffle prizes of Redskins, Nationals and Caps jerseys, including a special Washington Capitals jersey signed by the team. There’s also a signed jersey from Redskin Brian Orakpo, and Redskin players may appear in person. Cash and check donations to the Police Unity Tour will be accepted. For more information, contact Whalen at kevwhalens@gmail.com. For PUT information, visit www.policeunitytourchapter4.com. To donate and sponsor his ride, go to www.firstgiving.com and search for Whalen’s PUT Chapter IV Ride.

Free Carseat Inspections

Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, April 25, 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.

Recycle During Electric Sunday

Residents may recycle old TVs, computers, peripheral electronic devices – such as keyboards, speakers, printers and scanners, as well as household hazardous wastes – including fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, for free, during Fairfax County’s “Electric Sunday” events.

The next one is slated for Sunday, April 28, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road in Fairfax. For more information, call 703-324-5052.

Meeting on I-66/Route 28

VDOT is hosting a public information meeting on improvements for the I-66/Route 28 interchange, Monday, April 29, from 6-8 p.m., in the cafeteria of Stone Middle School, 5500 Sully Park Drive in Centreville.

Attendees will learn about the results of a preliminary study of alternatives to improve this interchange and be able to view displays about the project. VDOT staff will be on hand to answer questions. Further project information is available at www.virginiadot.org.

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.