PRSRT STD andand OaktonOakton U.S. Postage PAID Elkton, MD ViennaVienna PERMIT #31 Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material. Requested in home 7-10-08 Classifieds, Page 20 Classifieds, Vienna ❖ residents enjoy some of the enter- tainment that was part of Sports, Page 18 July 4th ❖ activities on Friday. Opinion, Page 8 ❖ Vienna Woman Murdered News, Page 3 Schools, Page 7 Schools, ❖ Heroics of ‘Hell Hawks’ Faith, Page 16 People, Page 6 insideinside /The Connection Vienna Celebrates, Robbie Hammer Misses Fireworks News, Page 3 Photo by Photo www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com July 9-15, 2008 ❖ Volume XXII, Number 28 Vienna Connection ❖ July 9-15, 2008 ❖ 1 Bulletin Board To have community events listed in the Connection, send to vien– [email protected]. Deadline is Friday. THURSDAY, JULY 10 703-594-2273 VTRCC Annual Awards Luncheon. Speaker: Del. Steve Shannon (D-35), 11:30 WOW! 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Lydia 703-587-4410 www.everythingandthedog.com ,, 2 ❖ Vienna Connection ❖ July 9-15, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-917-6428 or [email protected] Homaira Rahman, 25, of Vienna, was found dead on a Photos by Photos sidewalk on Malraux Drive shortly after 6:30 Donna Manz a.m. on July 4th. Contributed /The Connection Vienna Woman Murdered Town Council member Edythe Four-year-old Sean Denney, slither- Kelleher, state delegates Margi American Legion Junior Auxiliary ing down the vinyl “mountain,” Vanderhye (D-34) and Steve Shan- members, Bethany Smith- Man allegedly sent thought the “rock-climbing” wall non (D-35), holding son Aidan and Mansfield, left, and Mikala Jerez, death threats to was fun, but not so much fun he daughter Clare, and Abby Shannon, help Janet Renner sell goodies at would do it again. chat socially on a sunny 4th of July. the Junior Auxiliary bake sale. woman who “touched Vienna Celebrates, Misses Fireworks many lives.” By Donna Manz Annual celebration The Connection draws friends he young Vienna woman T whose body was found and family. blocks from her home Friday Photo by Photo morning was described by family By Donna Manz members as beautiful, big-hearted, The Connection cheerful, caring, and confident. Robbie Hammer “Homaira was so big-hearted, the he region’s famed heat and hu kind of person who would always midity, and threat of rain, did watch out for other people,” said her Tlittle to squelch the spirit of cousin, Pakiza friends and family gathered Nasher. “She helped around Vienna’s Community Center on the people in every as- “When she 4th of July. /The Connection pect of her life. She Vienna’s police department honor guard was known for being walked into presented the colors as the National Anthem cheery and confi- played to a still, respectful crowd. Many dent and having a a room, the stood hand-over-heart, near the fencing that great sense of fash- room would strung this year’s “To Our Troops” banner ion. Everybody which will be sent to Afghanistan. The 2008 loved her.” light up.” banner, signed with names and sentiments, Youngsters compete in a three-legged race as part of games designed for — Zohra Yaqub, goes to the U.S. Army Detachment Forward families at 4th of July activities in Vienna. A 30-YEAR-OLD Operating Base Vulcan in Ghazni, in care Woodbridge man, victim’s cousin of 1st LT. Matt Zeller. his family to the celebration so his children blue.” Ehsan Amin, has There was an abundance of vinyl attrac- could play on the rides with their friends. been charged with abduction and tions for children, from a “rock-climbing” The Shannons were not campaigning; they MANY VISITORS to the celebration were murder in the death of 25-year-old wall to a caterpillar that youngsters were enjoying themselves just as other out-of-towners coming to the festivities with Homaira Rahman of 8725 Litwalton wriggled through, and towers for climbing Vienna families were. local family or friends. Court in Vienna. and a moon bounce for jumping. Children “I like the rides the best because they’re David Everett grew up in Vienna, and al- A passerby found Rahman dead, rode a mini-train with their parents and fun,” said Aidan Shannon. Younger sister, though he and his young family now live in lying in a pool of blood on a sidewalk took a pony ride. Clare, preferred the Moon Bounce. Knoxville, they return every year to share on Malraux Drive shortly after 6:30 Vendors sold crabcakes and nachos, and Shannon shares Vienna representation in Vienna’s 4th of July festivities with his par- a.m. on Friday, July 4. the American Legion Post 180 beer tent was the House of Delegates with Margi ents. Everett’s children, at the face-paint- “He was sending her death threats busy. Post 180 sponsored a bake sale and Vanderhye (D-34), who also showed up to ing booth, agreed the celebration was a by e-mail and texts,” said Nasher of sold barbecue fare, as well. be part of the celebration. “good time.” the man charged. “Homaira was tall “I love coming to Vienna’sºFourth ofºJuly In the beer tent, friends Pamela and Cliff and beautiful, and was hit-on fre- A JIMMY BUFFETT TRIBUTE BAND festival,” said Vanderhye. “There is such a Wende and June Massey-Brown and Jeff quently.” played beach party music as festival-goers feeling of community here that it is the per- Brown cooled off and spent some moments Nasher said that Rahman confided pulled up blankets and lawn chairs on the fect place to celebrate our nation’s birth- people-watching. The Browns came from in a few close friends that the suspect lawn across the street from the stage. Poli- day. York, Pa. to visit with the Wendes and en- was threatening her, but she wanted ticians were well-represented, and their “Having a giant greeting card for our joy the Vienna celebration. Pamela Wende to wait until after the holiday to “take volunteers handed out freebies and cam- troops is a wonderful example of the warm, grew up in Vienna, and used to come every care of it.” paign labels. patriotic spiritºat this event, and it’sºfun to year to the fireworks show. Rahman was born and raised in the Vienna resident, family man, and state see the Vienna families — especially the “But not this year,” Pamela Wende said. delegate, Steve Shannon (D-35), brought little children — dressed in red, white and “It’s not the same without the fireworks.” See Murder, Page 4 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna Connection ❖ July 9-15, 2008 ❖ 3 News Week in Vienna Murder Shakes Neighborhood Arrest Made in Abduction Case From Page 3 of blood.” A relative said that ite saying was “life is short.” She loved hav- the police confiscated ing her picture taken and loved to shop. On July 4, at 2:11 p.m., units from United States, and active Rahman’s cell phone and Friends sometimes asked Homaira, the Town of Vienna Police Department in the Afghan community in computer. “where do you get your outfits,” Nasher responded to the 100 Block of Lewis Northern Virginia. Word of “When I went by the spot, said. “She always looked beautiful.” Street, NW for a reported assault. The her death spread quickly there was police tape, and An uncle who came in from California to complainant reported that earlier in through it, family members policemen had water hoses be with the victim’s family, Faruq Achikzad, the day at approximately 2 a.m. an- said. going on,” said Masoud smiled when recalling Homaira’s fashion other individual that lives in the home “Over 200 people came Keyhani, a homeowner on sense. “She always wore originals, not fake had attempted to make contact with here yesterday [the day Malraux Drive who lives things.” the victim. The victim was sleeping Rahman’s body was found],” close to where Rahman’s Homaira Rahman leaves to grieve her and had his door locked so the subject said another cousin, Zohra body was found.