Blue Ridge Leader News - July 11, 2010
Ganged Up On
This writer can advise a certain young gang member from Reston not to make any extended plans, after examining developments in our local courts. Nineteen year old Hector Aguilar more or less admitted to his participation in a drive-by shooting in Sterling from a couple of years ago; the man who actually pulled the trigger on three other young men already sits behind bars on a 60-year sentence.
One of those victims was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Authorities believe Aguilar sat in the back seat and egged on the shooter during the violence on September 17th, 2008 near East Poplar Drive and Buckingham Court.
The perpetrators belonged to the MS-13 street gang at the time, and believed to be firing upon some of their rivals- ostensibly members of the 18th Street Gang.
Aguilar was 17 at the time of the shooting, but he’s being tried as an adult.
Sentencing comes up in December for Aguilar.
And those three young men they left wounded?
They weren’t even members of the suspected rival gang.
Like I said, I wouldn’t make any extended plans if I were him.
All Over Again
Well, let’s hope that a recent park approval by the County Board doesn’t touch off another Civil War, this being south of the Mason Dixon. The Supervisors voted for White’s Ford Park this past week; most of the controversy (prior to the vote) erupted over traffic concerns in the vicinity of Route 15 near Spinks Ferry Road north of Leesburg; some of the reactions after the decision amounted to bickering over the history of the White name in relation to the Confederacy- and whether the South had a legitimate gripe in conflict, if you can believe that.
But, like I said, we’re on the Dixie side of the line.
The project itself sounds pretty interesting: just under 300 acres along the Potomac River, with about three dozen campsites and plans for 10 cabins- total accommodations enough for about 75 people per night.
Not exactly the Las Vegas Hilton, but then again, have you ever driven the primitive roads to get to this place?
It can be a pretty rigorous experience, depending on the weather and time of year.
The Northern Virginia Park Authority agreed to perform a traffic study of the intersection of Route 15 and Spinks Ferry Road, which then goes to the Virginia Department of Transportation. VDOT may- or may not- then install a traffic light at that crossing, depending on the numbers (and, hopefully, not depending on money).
Transportation issues seemed to be the main concern for the three dissenting Supervisor votes, coming from County Board Chairman Scott York, Kelly Burk of Leesburg and Eugene Delgaudio of Sterling.
Reading some of the comments on some of our local websites on this past week’s decision, one would almost think the name White were as ignominious in our country’s history as Boothe or Arnold, and that the Civil War were not a thing of the past, but a ubiquitous, eternal struggle of good and evil within each man, woman and child.
Myself, I prefer to study the Battle Between the States as a very interesting, very tragic occurrence in our nation’s history, which sometimes uncovers itself in present-day life, like a rock from a gradual geologic uplift.
But not your everyday walk in the Park.
Too Hot in the Hot Tub!
Finally, a heartfelt congratulations to everyone for surviving the heat wave; it actually felt cool yesterday (Saturday), when the thermometer only got to about 85 degrees. This past week left concerned power companies, farmers, nurseries, local gardeners, and just about anyone who had to spend any extended time outside.
As one who drives an un-air-conditioned vehicle for up to 8 hours a day, I can describe the past 10 days or so as a severe test of stamina.
(When it’s 100 degrees outside, it’s at least 110 in my truck.)
I think the heat sterilized my green bean crop, and did in some of my zucchini plants.
But, with loyal watering, my tomatoes still look good, and the hot peppers look like they were made for this type of climate.
Me, I’m hoping that the worst is over; there were times this past week when I had so much salt in my eyes from perspiration that I couldn’t see.
My co-workers kidded my about my headbands after that, but at least I survived.
And so did you.
At least it wasn’t snowing.
Thanks for sitting in.
How was the Iced Coffee?
Tim Jon for the Blue Ridge Leader
