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McLean Opinion

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Editorial: Shop Locally, Give Locally

Small business Saturday isn't enough; don't wait until then, and don't stop after that.

An effort to support locally owned businesses has resulted in the recognition of Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year that is Nov. 24. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is a day of national zeal for shopping. Presumably the next day shoppers can focus on local shopping.

Column: Weight For It

This reference is not about pounds, per se. It is about the two largest tumors in my lungs, inoperable in that they are located between the two halves which make up the whole lung.

Editorial: Feeling Important

Presidential campaigns traverse Northern Virginia on last days, mark the importance of every vote.

The images from the last weeks of the presidential Election of 2012 make it clear that it would be hard to overstate the importance of voting, especially in Virginia, especially in Northern Virginia.

Letter: Mental Health Services at Home

To the Editor: As a Virginia resident and graduate student in social work, I am concerned about the number of local children and youth who have diagnosable mental health disorders and aren’t getting the support they need.

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First-time Voters Viewpoints: "Who are you voting for and why?"

"I'll be voting for Barack Obama for several reasons. First of all, I've been pretty liberal all my life and I've grown up overseas in France, Belgium and Greece and it's no secret that Europe is pretty liberal also. It put American politics into perspective for me and helped shape my views. Also, I'll be going to college next year and it's increasingly expensive..."

Letter: Chris Perkins for Congress, VA 11 District

In response to Gerry Connolly for his comment that veterans and career-first officers, including Colonel Perkins, do not have the "sweat equity" needed to hold federal office: Gerry Connolly, a lawyer who doesn't legislate because Nancy says, read Obamacare after it is passed.

Editorial: In Wake of Sandy, Still Plan to Vote

Variety of choices in political landscape.

Hurricane Sandy means that the week preceding the election will not be what we were expecting. This editorial is being written Sunday night, Oct. 28, as forecasters predict five inches of rain and 65-mile-per-hour winds over the next two days. With some predicting that power could take a week or more to restore, we have to worry about the likely condition of the Eastern seaboard will be on Election Day, Nov. 6. Absentee voting in person had been cancelled for Monday, and most government offices were closed in anticipation of the storm. What will this mean for voter turnout, for access to voting places on Election Day?

Vote Yes on Eminent Domain Amendment

s I’m sure most of you know, Virginia voters will have an important say this election in who becomes the next president and which party will control the Senate.

Kudos to Connolly

Kudos to Congressman Gerry Connolly for his strong remarks about women at the rally with President Obama last week at George Mason University.

A Danger of Moving Backwards

It is especially timely that certain Republican candidates for Congress have spoken and clearly stated what their true opinions are regarding rape specifically and women's health issues in general.

Opinion: Be Part of the Children's Connection

Call for student artwork and writing; deadline Dec. 3.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children. The results are always remarkable. It is a keepsake edition for many families.

Editorial: Pick Your Own Election Day

It's called “absentee voting in person,” and there are a lot of reasons why you should.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The deadline to register to vote is past, although in Northern Virginia, it's clear that a very high percentage of eligible voters are registered. Four years ago in the presidential election of 2008, there were 5,034,660 voters registered in Virginia, and 3,752,858 actually voted. Just in the month of September 2012, Fairfax County saw more than 6,000 newly registered voters, for a total of 646,881 active voters. Arlington registered more than 3,300 new voters in September, with more than 130,000 active voters total. Alexandria added more than 1,300 new voters last month alone, with 81,847 active voters.

Column: Our Health Depends on the Air We Breathe

For too many Americans and Virginians, simply breathing the air can be dangerous. That’s especially the case for the 306,000 Virginia children and 96,000 adults who battle asthma, the 1.1 million with cardiovascular disease, the 154,000 with chronic bronchitis and the estimated 411,000 who live in poverty. But it is true for all of us and it’s that way because of soot in our air.

Letter: Vote Yes for Area Parks

As Connection readers know, the upcoming election is a pivotal one. What readers may not be aware of is that a park bond referendum question is on the ballot for Fairfax County residents. I'm writing to ask readers to vote YES for the 2012 park bond.

Editorial: Cancer Awareness

Success with breast cancer awareness should help other cancers.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Anyone connected to media of any variety already knows this. A massive marketing success, we all know that pink shows support for breast cancer prevention, especially in October.