Chantilly ❖ Fair Oaks ❖ Fair Lakes ❖ Oak Hill Home Life Style Page 11 NORTHERN EDITION APRIL 12-18, 2012 25 CENTS Newsstand Price Virginia Tech Tragedy: Five Years Later called back and said the number of people had survived. Erin Peterson’s shot had reached 20. Reema Samaha’s I know this because the survivors of family then and now. Before it was over, a mentally unstable family still grieves April 16, 2007 have indeed dedicated student, Seung-Hui Cho, would kill 32 their lives, in one way or another, to people and then take his own life. Most of make this world a better place to live and By Bonnie Hobbs By Joe Samaha the victims — including Erin and fellow honor the 32 [who died]. Centre View Special to Centre View Westfield grad Reema Samaha — were in When I learned of the shootings at VT Norris Hall. Erin and Reema were in French that morning, I heard the death toll on or Celeste and Grafton Peterson, A 2006 Westfield High grad, Reema Samaha was class there together. a talented dancer and actress. The daughter of Mona the radio. Two students killed. I imme- Fon April 16, 2007, the world as “I had Erin’s password to get onto her and Joe Samaha of Centreville, she was also one of diately turned on the TV and, in a mat- they knew it changed forever. That computer to see what class she was in,” said the victims at Virginia Tech. Below, her father reflects ter of minutes, the death toll was climb- on his feelings, five years after that tragic day. was the day their daughter — and only Peterson. “I found out she was ing. Eight, 10, possibly child — Erin was killed in in Norris. I had a sinking feel- more. Reports of students n April 16, it will be the massacre at Virginia ing because I knew that, if Erin being shot “execution style”. 1,826 days since Tech. was all right, she would have O Twelve, 18 — this can’t be Reema was killed. Five years have passed called me or Grafton right possible. There is not a day that goes by since then, but time hasn’t away.” Oh wow, Norris Hall; it’s that I do not think about dulled the pain or filled the Peterson saw a message in an engineering building. Reema, her fellow VT class- holes in their hearts. posted on the school Web site Reema couldn’t be in an en- mates, professors and survi- “Grief is forever,” said at 9:26 a.m. that there’d been gineering building at 9- Celeste Peterson. “When you vors. a “shooting incident” there. There is not a day that I do something in the morning. lose a child, you never come She and her husband were She has to be OK. So I out of it. You just flow in not think of what we can do both at work, but immediately better as a society to make our called. No answer. That’s life’s mainstream differ- Erin Peterson left and headed for VT. “I was Reema Samaha OK; maybe she’s in ently.” institutions better in prevent- praying,” said Peterson. “I ing school and campus lockdown like she was the A 2006 graduate of Westfield High, knew something was really wrong, though.” very first day of classes back in August Erin was just 18 and in her freshman year shootings. Mona calls it my other full-time When they arrived, the scene was cha- job. 2006. A shooter who had killed two at VT when a friend of Peterson’s who’d otic. “They sent the parents to the Inn at deputies was near the campus, and been watching the news on TV called her. Ken Feinberg [the attorney who oversaw Virginia Tech and said there’d be informa- the U.S. government’s Sept. 11 Victim Com- Reema had called me and told me that Said Peterson: “She said, ‘There’s been a tion about our children, but there wasn’t they were locking down the school and shooting at Virginia Tech — have you pensation Fund] called it “God’s work.” I any,” said Peterson. “Then they sent us to say it’s the least I can do to honor everyone she was heading back to her dorm. I as- talked to Erin?’” two hospitals [in case Erin was there].” sumed she would be doing the same that Both worried and scared, Peterson des- we lost on that fateful day who cannot speak Returning to the inn, she said, “We were or advocate for themselves. I know that day. perately tried reaching her daughter, to quickly hustled into a room filled with sher- As the minutes passed and Reema was no avail. “I kept calling her and there was those great kids and educators who died no answer,” she said. Her friend later See Blessed with Faith, Page 14 on April 16 would be doing this work if they See Working, Page 14 Raising Money and Awareness of Kidney Disease most affected by it are African spring 2011, received her diagno- gene and it affected my blood pres- Local resident, TV reporter Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Is- sis. “My uncle is on dialysis and sure, [the doctors] just wanted me landers, Native Americans and se- I’ve known other extended family to be more aware. I’m healthy, ac- participating in 2012 Kidney Walk. nior citizens. So when Olabanji’s members who have kidney dis- tive and not overweight, but I’ve blood pressure ease,” said Olabanji. “So you al- had to change my diet and add By Bonnie Hobbs Kidney Foundation’s started rising, she ways know it’s there, but don’t more exercises.” Centre View 2012 Kidney Walk at didn’t ignore it. know for certain it’ll happen to Before her diagnosis, Olabanji the Reston Town Cen- “I’d started to no- you.” loved snacking on chips and would hantilly resident Jummy ter. tice my blood pres- Luckily, she said, her case “isn’t often salt her food. Now, she no COlabanji has the distinc- Normally, Olabanji sure was higher than bad, at all. But because I carry the See Kidney Walk, Page 7 tion of being an on-air doesn’t seek the lime- normal and I didn’t reporter with WJLA, the local ABC light herself or want know why,” she said. TV affiliate; and in 2002, she was to be the subject of “But being an African part of the first class to graduate the news. But for this American and know- from Westfield High. event, she’s stepping #86 PERMIT ing my family has WV Martinsburg, She’s also one of 26 million out and speaking up Olabanji high cholesterol, kid- PAID adults in the U.S. who’ve been di- to help others. Postage U.S. ney disease and high STD PRSRT agnosed with kidney disease. And Diabetes and high blood pres- blood pressure, I’ve always been on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m., sure are the two main causes of health-conscious.” she’ll participate in the National kidney disease. And the groups So she saw her doctor and, in www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Centre View North ❖ April 12-18, 2012 ❖ 1 YOU’VE PUT A LOT INTO YOUR News HOME…MAKE SURE YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF IT. Nothing surpasses experience to achieve the Gershwin Songs, best results—and our success confirms it. As the sales leader in our marketplace, with Dazzling Dancing nearly 27 years of experience in helping over 2,600 families buy and sell their homes, we have Westfield presents the the experience. We bring a wealth of knowledge musical, “Crazy for You.” to your real estate transaction. By Bonnie Hobbs Centre View CERTIFIED of Courtesy Photo DISTRESSED PROPERTY Experience…the Difference! EXPERT© eaturing a cast and crew of 50, Westfield See Complete School Information & VIRTUAL TOUR at www.seln4u.com High presents its Cappies entry, the George OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 4/15/12 FROM 1-4 P.M.! FGershwin musical, “Crazy for You.” Show times are Friday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 21, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m. at the school. Tickets are Mary Nelms $10 in advance, $12 at the door, for the general pub- lic, and $10 for students with a valid student ID.ºSeating is reserved and tickets are available at www.westfieldtheatreboosters.com. $724,900 VIRGINIA RUN Gracious Toll Brothers Cornell Grand on 1/3 acre lot backing to parkland! 3 It’s the story of a stage-struck, New York City play- full BAs up. Oversized garage. FR w/high vaulted ceiling w/skylights & back boy in a Nevada mining town chocked full of ro- Top row, from left, are Bryan Pitt and staircase. Gourmet kitchen with granite. Hardwood floors throughout main mance, mistaken identities and dazzling dances. It level. Study with built-ins. Spacious master suite with Enormous walk-in Joey Biagini; (middle, from left) Colby closet & luxury BA. Walk-out basement with rec room, 2nd kitchen, 5th BR, won three Tony Awards on Broadway, including Best Dezelick and Mitchell Buckley; and (front den, storage & full BA. Deck. Fenced backyard & patio. Musical. row, from left) Allie Koenigsberg and “This is more of a vaudeville-type production than Madeleine Bloxam. any of our past musicals,” said Director Susie Pike. “It’s full of one-liners and silly humor and highlights cause “It’s a really cool jazz piece that was a blast to the talents we have in this department.” choreograph.