PRSRT STD and Oakton U.S. Postage PAID Martinsburg, WV Vienna PERMIT #86 Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material. Requested in home 05-7-09 To the Toth family of Vienna, volunteering at Camp Sunshine is a way to give back for their blessings. Classifieds, Page 21 Classifieds, ❖ Sports, Page 18 ❖ Four Vying for Shannon’s Seat Calendar, Page 12 ❖ News, Page 3 Helping Hearts Opinion, Page 6 and Hands Community, Page 3 ViennaVienna FamilyFamily inside GivesGives BackBack News,News, PagePage 44 Photo by Donna Manz/The Connection Photo www.ConnectionNewspapers.comMay 6-12, 2009 ❖ Volume XXIII, Number 18 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comVienna Connection ❖ May 6-12, 2009 ❖ 1 HERBS IMPATIENS ¢ OVER 100 VARIETIES REG. $1.89 KNOCKOUT ROSES . 99 SALE 97 3 GALLON $19. TOMATO PLANTS MARKET PACKS AZALEAS 99 3 CU. FT. SHREDDED HARDWOOD MULCH $2. 3 GALLON $12.99 HANGING FOUNTAINS, BASKETS BIRDBATHS, LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN STATUES & 00 ENCHES $2. 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USED RAILROAD TIES 99 99 #1 $19. #2 $14. 50% OFF ALL WICKER BASKETS 2 ❖ Vienna Connection ❖ May 6-12, 2009 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-917-6428 or [email protected] Four Vying for Shannon’s Seat Democrats to chose party nominee for 35th district delegate in primary June 9. By Julia O’Donoghue Roy Baldwin John Carroll Mark Keam Dr. Esam Omeish The Connection INOVA Alexandria hospital, said he is most portant when Virginia is trying to create ll eyes may be on the Democrats’ concerned about the number of Virginians more employment opportunities. gubernatorial primary fight but who are uninsured. Keam doubts the “Right to Work” provi- Athere is another, quieter primary “We have to make sure Virginia can ben- sions would be repealed in Virginia. So, as battle taking place in the Vienna- efit from the health care the federal gov- practical matter, he would like to look at Oakton area. ernment passes,” said Omeish. other ways to strengthen collective bargain- Four Democrats are vying to replace Del. Both Carroll, a former assistant ing, he said. Melinda Weathers Steve Shannon as their party’s nominee for commonwealth’s attorney, and Keam, said Baldwin said he is generally opposed to delegate in Virginia’s 35th district next year. the economy is the most important issue Virginia’s “Right to Work” laws. Shannon is the Democratic candidate for facing Virginia. Keam said that economy is “I have no fear of leveling the playing field Weathers Named Virginia’s attorney general and chose not linked to all other Virginia issues. …Right now, it is tilted against the employ- to run for his delegate seat in 2009. “We can’t have new jobs coming to the ees’ right to organize,” said Baldwin. Outstanding The men hoping to replace Shannon – state if we don’t have good transportation,” Carroll said he is in full favor of collec- Ph.D. Student Roy Baldwin, John Carroll, Mark Keam and said Keam. tive bargaining, especially for groups like Esam Omeish – will face each other in a the police and fire fighters, who would be Melinda Weathers of Vienna has June 9th primary, the same day voters go to OMEISH differed from other candidates in a better position to negotiate if the law been named the 2009 recipient of the the polls to pick the Democratic Party’s over the debate on Virginia’s “Right to were repealed. Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award at nominee for governor. Work” laws. “Corporate America has made cuts on George Mason University. The award The winner of the primary and Demo- In Virginia, employees are not obliged to backs and shoulders of workers in this coun- recognizes a person in the Depart- cratic nominee for 35th district delegate is join a union or pay union membership fees try,” said Carroll. ment of Communications Ph.D. pro- likely to face Jim Hyland, former head of if they start work at place of business where gram, through his or her outstanding the Fairfax County Republican Committee, a union already exists because of the “Right THE CANDIDATES were in very different academics and research, that has in November’s general election. to Work” law. places when it came to whether Virginia “greatly impacted the field of com- The candidates may all be Democrats but Proponents of the “Right to Work” law, should allow more coal power plants, in- munications.” they expressed different views on several including most business interest groups, cluding “clean coal” power plants, to be Weathers (B.A., Texas A&M Univer- issues while appearing on Fairfax Public said the measure boosts economic growth. built in Virginia. sity, 2003; M.A., University of Hous- Access’ “Inside Scoop” program April 19. Opponents, including most organized labor Carroll said he was tentatively in favor of ton, 2008) recently completed her groups, said it makes it extremely difficult looking at more “clean coal” power plants M.A. in health communication at the WHEN ASKED what they consider to be for worker to organize unions and causes a in Virginia, especially since the lives of so University of Houston, where she the biggest issue facing Virginia, the candi- free rider mentality, where people who do many people living in Southwest Virginia taught in public speaking, communi- dates gave varied answers. not join the union benefit from collective depend on coal. But he wants the common- cation theory, and technical commu- Baldwin, a lawyer who has been active bargaining paid for by other union mem- wealth to make sure Dominion Power is nications courses. in the Vienna-Tysons Chamber of Com- bers in their workplace. doing the best thing for the Her current research focuses on ex- merce, said transportation is the largest is- Omeish is in favor of keeping the “Right commonwealth’s residents. ploring communication competence, sues the commonwealth needs to tackle. to Work” laws in place. He said the laws Omeish has concerns about any form of social support, perceived coping and Omeish, who is chief of general surgery at makes sure people have jobs and are im- See Candidates, Page 19 religious coping among Hispanic fam- ily members caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease. She also has worked with a team of UH fac- Madison High Club ulty members and graduate students Participates in Vienna’s to prepare a grant proposal on a com- puterized support tool for caregivers ‘Green Expo’ of individuals with Alzheimer’s dis- ease for the National Alzheimer’s As- Madison High School Environ- sociation. mental Club members take part Her graduate work has been pre- in Vienna’s first Green Expo. sented at numerous conferences, in- Alex Lejeune, Mark Graziano and cluding the National Communica- Russell Topp wait to hear Daniel tions Association, Central States Com- Walsh of Vienna guess if what he munication Association, Southern just drank was tap or bottled States Communication Association water. Big brother Aaron guessed and the Texas Speech Communica- correctly. Club members were tion Association conferences. encouraging more reusable The annual award was established containers and better recycling to honor the outstanding Ph.D. stu- and talking about the many dents at George Mason University projects the club does in the who are expected to make a major community and at school. impact on their field of research. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna Connection ❖ May 6-12, 2009 ❖ 3 News Week in Vienna Public Hearing On Town Budget At its May 11 meeting, the Vienna Town Council will conduct a Vienna Family Gives Back public hearing on the proposed Town budget for fiscal year 2009- 10. The meeting will begin at 8 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Childhood cancer Town Hall, 127 Center St., S. At the hearing, citizens will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed budget and ask ques- survivor’s family by Photo tions about the appropriation of Town funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1. volunteers at Copies of the proposed budget are available for review online at www.viennava.gov, at Town Hall, and at Patrick Henry Library, Camp Sunshine. Manz Donna 101 Maple Ave. E. A “Budget in Brief” summary may be obtained free of charge at Town Hall, and the entire budget document may By Donna Manz be purchased. For information, call 703-255-6350. The Connection /The Connection Mayor Presents Vienna hile bathing her Boards, Commissions toddler Jennifer W 13 1/2 years ago, Join Mayor Jane Seeman at the next “Vienna at Your Service” Gail Toth noticed meeting on Tuesday, May 12, from 7:30-9 p.m., at Town Hall, a large lump under Jennifer’s ribs. 127 Center St., S. Toth took her daughter to the Learn about the duties of the Town’s seven boards and com- pediatrician’s office immediately. Every year since a young Jennifer attended the Maine missions — Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Board The pediatrician sent the child for camp for children with life threatening illnesses, the of Architectural Review, Transportation Safety Commission, ultrasound and a CAT scan.