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Ken with supporters along the campaign trail this month.
September 30, 2009 |
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Commentary
Opportunities for Green Living
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
It was déjà vu all over again, as they say, when I went to an announcement last week that several partnerships have been established in the area with General Motors and the Chevrolet Volt. The Chevy Volt is GM's entry into the electric vehicle market. It is a sleek looking, aerodynamic-styled, 5-door, front wheel drive vehicle that uses electric power to drive the car at all times and speeds. For the first 40 miles it runs on battery current and for another 300 miles can run on the electricity generated onboard from a four-cylinder engine generator. Everything looks good for the car except the price, which is now estimated to be in the $36,000 to $40,000 range.
The memories the occasion brought back to me were from 1997 when I chaired a task force that produced a two-inch report, "Northern Virginia EV Market Launch, The Path to an EV Ready Community." I pulled the report from the shelf where all such reports go and was pleased with how comprehensive we had been in looking at building codes, infrastructure needs, and policy implications of the widespread use of electric vehicles. At the time our actions were spurred by a federal Clean Air grant and the introduction of the Chevrolet EV-1. General Motors even loaned me an EV-1 for a day, and I drove it on the Beltway and through the community. It seemed to be a great car, but without an onboard generator its range was limited to about 50 to 60 miles. General Motors dropped its production suddenly and moved on to producing the Hummer and other SUVs. The report went on the shelf until I took it with me to the announcement event. I do not believe there is any turning back on electric and hybrid vehicles again.
Appropriately, the announcement was made at the Green House Carbon Neutral Home in McLean. Through the use of efficient building design, innovative technology, and smart location, the home constructed by West*Group is the first carbon neutral home on the East Coast. It has been decorated by local designers to be the Designer Showhouse 2009 for the Charity Works fundraising campaign for four charities. It will be open from October 10 to October 30. Visit www.charityworksgreenhouse.com for details. I recommend a visit; it is as they say: sensible, sustainable and spectacular. It provides an opportunity for getting great new ideas for your own home. The Chevrolet Volt will be parked in the garage.
The home is on the Dominion power grid, but it achieves its carbon neutrality by purchasing green power from Dominion that comes from wind, solar, biomass, and hydro. Individuals can make the choice to buy green power by going to www.dom.com or by calling 1-888-667-3000. Renewable energy costs an additional 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
For many years there have been many small ways we can live with less impact on the environment. More big opportunities for green living are coming about. |
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Along the Campaign Trail
Plum's Re-Election Endorsed by the Virginia Education Association and the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia.
"Education has no finer friend than Delegate Ken Plum. He has led the battle against permanent cuts to education funding in these recessionary times. He has been a steady champion of public education."
-- Dr. Kitty Boitnott, President
Virginia Education Association
"The Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia Political Action Committee [SHAV-PAC] would like to endorse you as candidate in your district for your seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. We wish you success in the upcoming election. We support you."
-- L. Anthony White, MS, CCC-SLP, Vice President for Government Affairs and Chair of SHAV-PAC
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Key Endorsements for Delegate Plum's 2009 Campaign for Re-election:
- Virginia Education Association
- Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia
- Northern Virginia Technology Council
- Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics
- Northern Virginia/Realtors Political Action Committee
- Sierra Club
- NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
- Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Watch this section for additional endorsements each week! |
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Election - November 3, 2009
General Information
Are you registered to vote?
The final day of voter registration is Monday, October 5, 2009. If you are already registered at your current address, you do not have to register again. In-person voter registration forms must be received in the Office of Election by 6:00 p.m. on October 5, 2009. Mail-in registration applications must be postmarked on or before October 5, 2009.
For voter registration in person:
Fairfax County Office of Elections
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323
Fairfax, Virginia 22035-0081
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
703.222.0776 phone
703.324.4700 for 24-hour recorded information
For voter registration by mail:
Pick up a Virginia Voter Registration Application at the following sites: public libraries, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, military recruitment offices, public assistance agency offices, District Governmental Centers, Board of Supervisors Offices, the Citizen Information Desk in the County Government Center lobby, Judicial Center information desk.
Mail the applciation to:
Fairfax County Office of Elections
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323
Fairfax, Virginia 22035-0081
Voting Absentee
In-Person Absentee Voting is available at the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Sutie 323, Fairfax, VA 22035, and seven Satellite locations including the North County Governmental Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA 20190. NOTE: There will be no in-person absentee voting on Monday, October 12, due to county holiday.
Schedule for In-Person Absentee Voting at the Office of Elections, Fairfax County Government Center:
- Weekdays (M-F) through October 13 - 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Office will be closed for in-person absentee voting on Monday, October 12, due to county holiday.
- October 14 through October 31, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. October 31 is the last day to vote absentee in-person.
Schedule for In-Person Absentee Voting at the North County Governmental Center
- Weekdays (M-F) - October 14 through October 31, 3:00 to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays - October 17, 24, and 31, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Absentee Voting By Mail
Applications to vote absentee by mail must be received in the Fairfax County Office of Elections no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27. The voted ballots must be received in the Office of Elections by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, in order to be counted.
You must complete an Absentee Ballot Application and mail it to the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA 22035 or fax it to them at 703.324.3725. Absentee ballot applications are avialable at county government centers and libraries. You may also choose to use the fillable online absentee ballot application form found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb . This form allows you to complete your absentee ballot application form online. Once you have entered the required information into the form, you must then print the form, sign the form, and then return the form either by mail to the address listed above or by fax at the number listed above.
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"Virginia Report"
Reston Comcast Channel 28
Delegate Ken Plum's weekly television show, "Virginia Report," will return after the election. See you again in late November! |
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Climate Change Citizen Action
Tons of trash ends up in the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay every year from our watersheds. Litter is harmful and an eyesore in our neighborhoods and open spaces. Do your part and join the Reston Fall Stream Clean-up on Saturday, October 17, 9:00 to noon. Locations will be at upper and middle Snakeden Branch, the Nature Center, Colvin Run, and Stevenage Road. For sign-up and more details, contact Ha Brock, Reston Association Volunteer Specialist, at habrock@reston.org or 703.435.7986. Sign-up runs through October 9. Training and supplies are provided.
Site leaders are also needed for the Fall Stream Clean-up on October 17. If you are at least 21 years old and can supervise a large group of people, complete data sheets, and walk in wooded, floodplain areas, then you could be a great site leader. For more details about responsibilities, contact Ha Brock at habrock@reston.org or 703.435.7986. Don't forget the upcoming Virginia ENERGY STAR Tax Holiday. During October 9-12, you can purchase an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, and other selected home appliances with a price tag of $2,500 or less for your personal use and the Virginia 5 percent sales tax will be waived. This tax holiday also applies to other energy-efficient items such as compact fluorescent bulbs, programmable thermostats, and more. For more details, check with any participating appliance retailer or go to www.tax.virginia.gov.
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| "Get Square VA" - Tax Amnesty Program
The 2009 General Assembly enacted legislation that allows a tax amnesty program to run for a 60-day period from October 7 to December 5, 2009. Individuals and businesses can participate in Get Square VA to satisfy tax bills and file delinquent returns for taxes that are administered by the Virginia Department of Taxation. If the taxpayer qualifies for Get Square VA and files and pays the delinquent taxes and one-half of the accrued interest, TAX will waive all of the penalties and the remaining half of the interest on each tax bill paid during the amnesty period. At the conclusion of Get Square VA, any tax liability that was eligible for amnesty benefits but remains unpaid will be subject to a 20 percent post-amnesty penalty in addition to all other penalties. For more information about eligibility and answers to some frequently asked questions about Get Square VA go to www.GetSquareVA.com. |
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More than 150 new volunteer tutors are needed to help area adults learn to speak, read, and write English. Each year the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia holds tutor training workshops to prepare volunteer tutors to provide individualized instruction to adult students. Each tutor is trained, matched with a student, and encouraged to meet weekly for an hour and a half to help the student improve his or her reading and writing skills. The next Basic Literacy tutor training workshop will be held on three consecutive Saturdays, October 17, 24, and 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center in Falls. For more informaiton, email volunteers@lcnv.org or calll 703.237.0866 x 111.
Area residents can sign up for free emergency text alerts from local government. Alerts are important because they offer official information about what to do and where to go in a major emergency. Because alerts are sent to cell phones, PDAs like a BlackBerry, pagers and e-mail accounts, residents can get instant access to critical information, wherever they are. Subscribers can choose what kind of alerts they want and how they want to receive them, as well as be notified about emergencies near their home, school, or job. Alert categories range from severe weather and traffic to terrorism. To sign up for the free emergency alerts, visit www.CapitalAlert.gov or subscribe directly from a cell phone. Send a text message to 411911 with the name of the county or city from which to receive alerts. Alerts are also available from a widget on computer desktops or Web sites. Visit www.CapitalAlert.gov to download these widgets. Twitter users can follow emergency tweets at http://twitter.com/CapitalAlert, although complete, unabridged alerts are only available by signing up. |
Calendar of Events
Equality Virginia will hold its State Conference on Saturday, October 3, at the Stafford campus of the University of Mary Washington. For more information and to register to go www.equalityvirginia.org.
Enjoy a memorable day with your family and friends at the Youth For Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions on Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., hosted by Joe Gibbs, at the Youth For Tomorrow Campus 2 miles south of Manassas at Route 28 & Linton Hall Road. Details are at www.youthfortomorrow.org.
Lake Anne Village Center will host a free Jazz & Blues Festival on Saturday, October 3, noon until 6:00 p.m. Some of the DC region's favorite bands are scheduled to perform on the lakeside plaza, including Afro Bop Alliance, 2009 Grammy Winner for "Best Latin Jazz Group," plus three more headline bands: Sara Jones, The Dixie Power Trio, and the Mykle Lyons Quartet. Details and updates can be seen at www.lakeannearts.org.
The Virginia Autism Project will host a Northern Virginia Autism Summit on Monday, October 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road. Hear about the current "Assessment of Autism Services in Virginia" from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Virginia's oversight agency, along with a discussion on the need for an insurance mandate for autism. RSVP to Teresa Champion or Lynn Miller at info@vapnova.org or 703.440.8843.
The 4th Annual Commonwealth of Virginia Energy Symposium will be held on October 7 and 8 at the Center for Leadership & Ethics, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA. The Symposium will feature information about the latest energy opportunities in the Commonwealth. Thirty-eight exhibitors will feature energy technologies, services, and information. Plenary session speakers and seven tracks with concurrent sessions will be available. Visit www.vmi.edu/coves for more information.
Come out for the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic 4th Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, October 8, at the Herndon Centennial Golf Course, 909 Ferndale Drive, Herndon. Call 571.235.3577 for details.
The sights, sounds, and smells of a German Oktoberfest celebration will again fill Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, from Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11. Attendees can enjoy German food, beer, and wine along with live entertainment plus carnival rides, all presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Oktoberfest Reston is open Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 7 p.m., with free admission and parking.
Enroll in a hands-on training course, Personal Care Training, taught by a nurse educator to assist you in your caregiving role. Learn to bathe, feed, turn, transfer, and provide general physical and emotional care. The course will meet Thursdays on October 15, 22, and 29, 7:0 to 9:30 p.m. at Falls Church High School, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church. Fee is $30. Call 703.324.5631, TTY 703.449.1186 or e-mail caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov to register.
Walk through five private homes during the Reston Home Tour on Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors can also stop by the Fairfax Hunt Club for a cooking demonstration and tasting. Tickets are $25 before October 10, $30 after and online. Visit www.restonmuseum.org for information.
The historic highway marker unveiling ceremony for the Vale School/Vale Community House will be held on Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m., at the Vale Schoolhouse, 3124 Fox Mill Road, Oakton. Parking will be at the Vale United Methodist Church, 11528 Vale Road, Oakton. After the ceremony, stay for the Vale Club Diamond Jubilee Fair, noon to 4:00 p.m., where you can purchase a barbeque lunch, browse and shop at a used book sale and other items for sale, see the Community Exhibit and historic displays, and speak with the Vale Club's historians. Children will enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, games, and a moon bounce. All proceeds go to the Friends of Vale Schoolhouse building Fund. For more information contact Trish Strat at pstrat57@gmail.com or 703.965.5759.
Enjoy " Festival on the Square - Family Fun Day at Reston Heights" on Saturday, October 17, noon to 5:00 p.m. at 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive, just off Reston Parkway in the front lawn of the Westin and Sheraton.
Attend the first annual music festival at United Christian Parish of Reston on Saturday, October 24, featuring afternoon and evening performances of local and nationally acclaimed vocalists singing in gospel, contemporary, spiritual, and praise styles. Proceeds will benefit two local charities. Tickets are $20 and $30. To purchase and for more information go to www.UCP-MusicExplosion.org.
Don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday, November 3. Call Delegate Ken Plum's office mornings at 703.758.9733 if you need assistance in locating your polling place.
The Fifth Annual Fairfax County History Conference, "Fairfax: This is YOUR County!" will be held on Saturday, November 7, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church. A $20 fee for the conference includes breakfast, lunch, and parking. Registration is limited to the first 200, and advance registration is required. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Robert A. Selig discussing "The American Revolution & the Washington-Rochambeau Route in Northern Virginia." The conference will also feature exhibits and book signings. For registration information contact Lynne Garvey-Hodge at 703.322.1811 or lghassoc@erols.com.
The 23rd Annual Caregiver Conference, "Shedding Light on Dementia Care," will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Road, Burke. Conference fee is $25. To register call the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703.324.7839.
Support Devotion to Children's many programs and initiatives dedicated to helping families with children under the age of six obtain high-quality childcare and preschool services so that parents can seek and maintain gainful employment. Attend Devition to Children's annual "Red, Heart & Soul" Gala on Wednesday, November 18, 6:30 p.m. at the Waterford at Fair Oaks. Enjoy a reception, dinner, and live music. For sponsorshp and ticket information, go to www.devotiontochildren.org.
"Solar Energy Focus Conference: Fall 2009" will be held December 3-5 at the Hilton Hotel, 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, Maryland. This event will include an exhibit hall, morning plenary speakers, a state and local policy review, and breakout sessions. For more information, contact Marisa Applestein at marisaapplestein@360jmg.com or Peter Lowenthal at director@mdv-seia.org. Additional information may also be found at www.MDV-SEIA.org. |
| Go Green |
 Go Green - consider the environment! Please print this newsletter only if necessary. | |
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| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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