🌱 Oakton Native Stars In D.C United Opener + Major Drug Dealer Guilty

Hi all! I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening these days in Oakton. In this's issue, you'll find:

• Oakton native shines bright in D.C. United season debut
• Fairfax County is moving forward with automatic license plate readers for traffic assistance
• Major drug trafficker in Fairfax County pleads guilty to conspiracy

But first, the weather:

Mar 3: Cooler with periods of rain. High: 46 Low: 41.

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Here are the top four stories today in Oakton:

1. Major League Soccer kicked off its 28th season last weekend with a thrilling 3-2 win for D.C. United, scored by a familiar face. Theodore "Ted" Ku-DiPietro of Oakton, 21, scored his first career goal in the MLS for the win and also logged an assist in the contest. Ku-DiPietro was a soccer star during his time in high school and also played for the Arlington Soccer Association growing up. He later joined the D.C. United Academy playing for Loudon United. (Stars and Stripes FC)
2. Fairfax County police responded to a Tuesday night incident that appeared to be a murder-suicide on Walker Road. Based on what officials gathered at the scene, resident Janos John Gertler shot and killed his wife, then turned the gun on himself. Police are still actively investigating the incident. (wusa9.com)
3. The increase in carjackings and stolen vehicles has led Fairfax County to move forward with the usage of license plate readers installed on police vehicles. Flock Safety sold the readers to the police department in the hopes that the information gathered by these automatic readers will help officers combat crime on the roads more efficiently and consistently. For residents who are concerned about their privacy, Fairfax County police have assured the public that all information gathered is deleted after 30 days. (wusa9.com)
4. On Mar. 1, Calvin Ray Brown of Fairfax County pleaded guilty to conspiracy for distributing drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine with a co-conspirator. According to court documents, in March and April of 2022, Brown and another individual sold counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl to a Fairfax County source and undercover detective multiple times. Brown will be sentenced on Jun. 26 and is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison with a maximum of life. (justice.gov)

Coming up in Oakton:

Friday, March 3

• SIBSHOPS At Providence Recreational Center in Fairfax (9:00 AM)
• FACETS Meal Preparation At Fairfax United Methodist Church in Fairfax (3:00 PM)

Saturday, March 4

• Chili Cook-Off And Karaoke At Unity Of Fairfax (4:00 PM)

Sunday, March 5

• Community Group Interest Meeting At Whole Word Fellowship (12:30 PM)

Monday, March 6

• Qigong At Oakton Library (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Mark your calendars! On Tuesday, Mar. 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., there will be a Barnes and Noble Book Fair at Waples Mill Elementary, hosted by the school's PTA. (Waples Mill Elementary School PTA via Facebook)
• The American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA) recently spoke at Unity of Fairfax about the status of Turkey and Syria and how locals can assist from home. You can scan the QR code at the link to learn more and donate to the earthquake relief funds. (Unity of Fairfax via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Color Trends and Setting the Right Mood for your Home (March 3)
• Stop Kiss - Performed by Reston Community Players (RCP) (March 3)
• The DC Big Flea March 4-5th (March 5)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 7th and 8th at Claude Moore Recreation Center (March 7)

Featured announcements:

• Foley Academy Irish Dance Spring Session Enrollment Open (Details)

You're all caught up! See you all soon for your next update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.