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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Delegate Ken Plum received a certificate of membership in the Virginia State Legislative Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, supporting the volunteer organization in recognition of its humanitarian services to our country. Pictured with Delegate Plum is Colonel David Carter, Wing Commander.
March 17, 2010 |
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Commentary
A Time of Intolerance
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Last week I took the extraordinary step of making a motion on the floor of the House of Delegates that a bill be discharged from a committee. The rules provide for such a motion, but it is seldom made and almost never approved. Had my motion been approved, the full membership of the House of Delegates would have had the opportunity to debate a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. A subcommittee of the General Laws Committee on a vote of 5-3 had refused to report a bill on this subject that had passed the Senate just as it had refused to recommend bills on nondiscrimination that I have been introducing over the past nine years.
The timing on the issue was critical as Virginia has once again made national news in an unfavorable way with the announcement that the Attorney General has advised all colleges and universities that they must remove any statements of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation from their student handbooks and other materials. As one of the first acts of his administration, Governor McDonnell refused to continue an Executive Order from his predecessor that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in state hiring. A statement the Governor issued last week came up short of being an Executive Order. Many fear with good reason that the reputation of intolerance the state is gaining may interfere with its ability to attract top-flight companies to locate here and students and professors to come to our universities.
Other actions that seem to reflect the darkest days of Virginia's intolerance of racial integration during the period of Massive Resistance have recently been seen. Using the same arguments of states' rights that were used during that period, there has been a series of bills proclaiming Virginia citizens' rights over actions of the federal government. Four bills were introduced proclaiming that Virginia citizens do not have to buy medical insurance if the federal government says they have to. Such bills will be struck down by the courts, but Virginia's Attorney General is likely to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars defending them as a further way to burnish his conservative credentials.
Just a few weeks ago the fiftieth anniversary of the "Richmond 34" was celebrated here in the Capital city. Among the 34 students of Virginia Union University who were arrested for a sit-in at the lunch counter at Thalhimer's Department Store was Mamie BaCote who is now a member of the House of Delegates. Delegate Algie Howell participated in sit-ins in Norfolk. In the State Senate, Senator Henry Marsh was one of the lead attorneys in the more than 40 court cases that were necessary before Virginia desegregated its public schools. The Legislative Black Caucus has been adamant in its opposition to Governor McDonnell's educational reforms to start more charter and lab schools fearing I believe that having more programs outside the public schools would have the effect of resegregating the schools.
Unfortunately, these are not the only signs of intolerance in the actions of the legislature. What is happening in the legislature is reflective of the decline in civility in public discourse. But the legislature should not be a follower of negative behavior; it needs to be a leader in demonstrating and protecting tolerance for all lawful citizens. |
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"Virginia Report"
Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m. - "Report from Richmond" with Delegate Ken Plum at the General Assembly Building
Online Viewing
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| Climate Change Citizen Action
Conventional house paints contain toxic, malodorous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). But new low- or zero-VOC paints and finishes provide welcome alternatives that are easier to apply and that allow rooms to be occupied immediately after painting. For example:
- The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company has created a line of paints made with milk protein that come in a beautiful palette of colors.
- For outdoor applications, soybeans may be the solution. Soy Guard sells a line of soy-based exterior stains, water repellants, and sealers for wood surfaces.
- Green Planet specializes in high-performance interior paint made from various plants and minerals.
Green Living Expo on March 20
Attend the Green Living Expo on Saturday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Conference Center, 4301 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington (near Ballston Metro). This free, family-friendly public expo will feature green suppliers, products from local and national businesses, exhibits and seminars from government agencies and nonprofits, and a free Going Green Guide for apartment renters. The Expo will provide an important venue to showcase new technology and products available that can help soften our carbon footprint. For more information: office@arlingtonenvironment.org or call 703.228.6427. |
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Announcements
Help Filling Out Your Census Survey
Reston residents who need help filling out their 10-question census survey can get assistance from a representative of the U.S. Census Bureau weekdays between March 19 and April 19, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at Reston Association, 1930 Isaac Newton Square, Reston. The Census Bureau began mailing the survey to homes on March 15.
Reston Master Plan Special Study Input
As part of the Reston Master Plan Special Study, the public can offer input about future land use around the Wiehle Avenue Metro station on Saturday, March 20, at 9:00 a.m. The public workshop will be held at the Langston Hughes Middle School cafeteria, 11401 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. It is envisioned that future development in this area should take advantage of its proximity to metro while preserving nearby neighborhoods. The draft agenda for thsi workshop is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/projects/meetings.htm. For more information or reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Sandi Smith, Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning, at 703.324.1239, TTY 711.
Hershey Track Meet for Youth on May 21-22
If your child is age 9 to 14 years of age, he/she is eligible for the annual Hershey Track Meet sponsored by the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services' Athletic Services. The track meet will be held on Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22 at the Falls Church High School Track, 7521 Jaguar Trail in Falls Church. This is a community event; participation is free, but pre-registration is required. Applications are due in the CRS office no later than Friday, May 1 at 4:30 p.m. Boys and girls compete in separate events in different age groups: 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 year olds. Young people ages 9-10 will compete on Friday, May 21, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Ages 11-14 will compete on Saturday, may 22, beginning at 9:00 a.m. No applications will be accepted the day of the event. Find the registration form online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec or to have a form mailed to you call 703.324.5533, TTY 711.
Calling for Volunteers for Fourth Annual Reston Sprint Triathlon to Benefit Reston Interfaith - June 6, 2010
The Reston Sprint Triathlon which was inaugurated in 2007, by collaboration between CORE Foundaiton and Reston Association along with others, has already become a valued annual tradition that promotes health, fitness, and good will in our comunity. It takes place in and around Lake Newport Pool in Reston, this year on June 6. With a family-friendly atmosphere, fast course, and early morning start, the race is fun for participants, volunteers, and spectators alike. In 2009, over 500 athletes participated in the event and netted over $20,000, all of which was donated to Reston Interfaith. Local and regional sponsors were joined by over 2500 supporters, spectators, and volunteers who gathered around the course to cheer the athletes and raise funds for and awareness of Reston Interfaith's work in the community. Visit www.restonsprinttri.org to learn more about the event, volunteer, or become a sponsor. |
Calendar of Events
Come meet and hear from the candidates for the Reston Association Board of Directors during a Candidates' Forum on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at Nature House, 11450 Glade Drive. The Candidates Forum is the official opportunity hosted by the Association for the news media and public to hear the candidates' statements and for the news media and members of the RA advisory committees to ask questions. More information at www.reston.org.
The Women Voices Forum will celebrate Women's History Month with the program, "Come Let Your Voice Be Heard," on Saturday, March 20, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for Fairfax County residents to engage the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Commission for Women, key experts, and community opinion leaders in intergenerational conversations. For more information and to register, contact Fairfax County Commission for Women, 703.324.5730.
The fourth annual Reading: A Family Affair, presented by the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and Verizon, will be held on Saturday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center. This free, family-friendly event offers live performances from some of the area's most sought-after children's entertainers: Grammy award winning musicians Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, magician The Great Zucchini, Good Life Theater puppets, plus storytellers and local children's book authors. Special guest WETA-TV 26's Clifford the Big Red Dog will also be there.
The Fairfax Choral Society will present "Light Everlasting - Music of Faith, Hope, & Love," at 8:00 p.m. on March 20, 2010, in the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 North Beauregard Street. For tickets or more information, contact 703.642.3277 or office@fairfaxchoralsociety.org.
The Fairafx County Sheriff's Office is sponsoring a 2-day AARP Driver Safety Program on March 22-23, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, 14601 Lee Road, Chantilly. The course provides information on safe driving strategies and a review of the "rules of the road." Participants will be eligible to receive a discount through their auto insurance. Preregistration is required and class size is limited. the cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers, with checks payable to "AARP." To register or request further information, contact charise.thompson@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703.246.3246.
The Fairfax County Police Department is offering a Mature Operator's Driver Improvement Program (MODIP) on Tuesday, March 23, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, at the Fairfax County Government Center, Room 4-5, 12000 Government Center Parkway. This 8-hour class covers safe driving for mature drivers. After completing the course, drivers may be eligible for insurance premium reductions. The class is free, but preregistration is required. To register call the Fair Oaks District Police Station at 703.591.0966 (press 0 when you get the menu).
"Generation Next: Reston Leadership Development" will be hosted and sponsored by the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods on Thursday, March 25, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. All are welcome to come to the RCC Community Room to share in an active dialog session on getting involved in leading our community. Those wishing to continue Reston's values in the work of civic and community organizations are urged to attend. Current and future leaders representing Arts, Culture, Education, Government, Human Services, Sports, and more will discuss concepts, leadership development, and getting involved. Refreshments will be provided by some of Reston's favorite eateries. RSVP to RCCContact@fairfaxcounty.gov. This event is free!
The next Electric Sunday TV and Computer Recycling Event will be held at a new location - I-95 Landfill Complex, 9850 Furnace Road, Lorton - on March 28, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fairfax residents may recycle televisions, computers, monitors and peripheral electronic devices (printers, scanners, speakers, keyboards, external drives, etc.) and fluorescent lights. For more information call 703.324.5230, TTY 711.
The Reston Community Orchestra will present "Spring Inflorescence - Ebony Vibrations" at a concert on Sunday, March 28, at 4:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods. Music by Chopin, Rubenstein, Debussy, and Crusell will be featured.
The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities seeks public comment on disability services and will hold a Public Comment Forum on Monday, March 29, University of Virginia Northern Virginia Center, 7054 Haycock Road, Room 213, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Periodic assessment of Virginia's disability services system by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities is required by state statute. As the state's federally established Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the Board is also required to include assessment information as a part of its federal five-year State Plan. In late spring 2011, the Board will publish a new edition of its Assessment of the Disability Services System in Virginia. In August 2011, it will submit its 2012-2016 State Plan to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, its federal oversight and funding agency. These two important documents will impact the Board's activities and inform individuals with disabilities, their families, advocates, service providers, policymakers, educators, the media, and all Virginians for years to come. Constituents will have opportunities to provide input on both documents and are strongly encouraged to do so. Public comment can also be submitted by postal or other delivery to Attention: Triennial Assessment, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, Washington Building, Capitol Square, 1100 Bank Street 7th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219; by email to VBPD@VBPD.virginia.gov; by fax to 804.786.1118; or by phone to 1-800-846-4464. To be considered, comments ust be received no later than Friday, April 30, 2010. Both the current 2007-2011 State Plan and the 2008 Assessment are available online at www.VABoard.org/reports.htm.
Take a break from school, not from safety, with the RECQuest Spring Program March 29-April 2 at Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pine Crest Road, Reston, VA 20190. The RECQuest drop-in program is for children in grades 1-6; hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Snacks are provided. Participants must bring a bag lunch daily and wear comfortable clothing and footwear. The cost is $70 per week, per person. A payiment scale is available. Call the Southgate Community Center at 703.860.0676, TTY 711, to register. More information is at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec.
On April 5 the Katelyn Hall Foundation will hold its 5th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the Georgetown University Hospital neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the March of Dimes at Lansdowne Golf Club, 44050 Woodridge Parkway, in Lansdowne, VA. Shotgun Start (Captain's Choice) begins at 9:00 a.m. Register online at www.khallfoundation.com/golftournament.
Learn about home modifications and inexpensive devices that can help your loved one maintain independence at a program, "Making Life Easier: Gadgets, Gizmos and Home Modifications," on Wednesday, April 7, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Call 703.242.4020 for directions or information.
The 21st Annual Environment Virginia symposium will take place April 7 and 8 in Lexington, Virginia. The theme of this year's symposium is "Optimizing Stewardship in a Challenging Environment." Join over 500 environmental decision-makers from all sectors and from across the Commonwealth to learn the latest about environmental challenges and solutions and to build partnerships to implement solutions to these challenges. For detailed information and registration, visit www.vmi.edu/environmentva.
"Empty Bowls," a benefit supper for hunger relief, will be held on Friday, April 9, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston. Sponsor is the Giving Circle of HOPE, and all proceeds will go directly to Food for Others, the largest distributor of free food to the needy in Northern Virginia. For a minimum donation of $20, guests will choose a handmade pottery bowl and receive a simple supper of soup, bread, beverage and dessert. The bowl is yours to keep to remind that there are "empty bowls" in our community. Tickets are available by contacting givingcircle@hotmail.com.
Mark your calendars for Reston's Founder's Day on Saturday, April 10, in honor of the 96th birthday of Reston founder Robert E. Simon, Jr., presented by Reston Historic Trust, Reston Museum. This celebration will be held on the Plaza at Lake Anne. Call 703.709.7700 for more details.
The Alice Ferguson Foundation will again host this year's Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on Saturday, April 10, 9:00 a.m. until noon. Cleanup sites will be listed on their website, www.PotomacCleanup.org, starting in March so you can pick your perfect location. Contact Ginny Harris Crake at gharris@fergusonfoundation.org for more information.
Don't miss the 2010 Fish Fling Gala and Fundraiser on Saturday, April 10, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel, 2200 Centreville Road, Herndon. Proceeds assist Herndon and Reston residents experiencing short-term energencies. The Fish Fling is always an enertaining evening of dinner, dancing, games, raffles, and an exciting auction, with Delegate Ken Plum serving as celebrity auctioneer. Visit www.HerndonRestonFISH.org for tickets and sponsor opportunities.
Save the date - Saturday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. - for the Reston Community Orchestra's annual benefit gala, "Puttin' on the Ritz." Visit www.restoncommunityorchestra.org for more information.
The Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation will hold its "Dress Up with Grown-Ups Gala" on Saturday, April 17, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church. Ticket prices are: Family Ticket for $300 per family (includes up to 2 adults and 2 children); $100 per extra adult; and $75 per extra child. The cost of one family ticket, $300, is the cost for medical care for an entire year for one child in the MCCP program. Bring your kids or your grandkids, or just come by yourselves. This unique gala will reflect the fact that MCCP Foundation raises funds for the medical care of uninsured children right here in our community. This event includes a silent auction, sit-down dinner, dancing to a DJ, family photo-op, and fun activities for the kids. For more information, contact Margery Leveen Sher at mlsher@mccpfoundation.org.
In celebration of the inaugural year of Nature House at the Walker Nature Education Center, the Nature House 5K Race will take place on Saturday, April 24, 8:00 a.m. Help celebrate and make sure that this wonderful new facility continues to have the support it needs for a bright future. Registration is at www.active.com/running/reston-va/7th-annual-nature-house-5k-fund-run-2010. You can also register on race day. Fee is $25 prior to March 31, $30 after March 31.
Don't miss Sunrise Valley Elementary School's 10th Annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 1, 8:00 a.m. at 18890 Preston White Drive, Reston. This year's Run/Walk benefits Hopecam, an organization connecting homebound children to life through web cameras, high speed Internet, and laptops distributed free to qualified children and their schools. Register at www.ctive.com, and search for "Sunrise Valley Elementary School's 10th Annual...".
The Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services will host the Second Annual Technology Summit on Saturday, May 1, at the James Lee Community Center, 2855-A Annandale Road, Falls Church, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Technology Summit is an opportunity for individuals, groups, and corporations to set up and display their technology, science, and engineering endeavors for the public. Space and tables are free and will be allotted on a first come, first served basis. You must provide your own equipment and spplies. To reserve your booth, contct Robert O'Quinn at 703.324.5588, TTY. Deadline for reserving booths is April 16.
GRACE's 19th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will be held May 15 and 16 at the Reston Town Center. Watch this section for more information about this year's Festival.
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Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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