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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia
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Ken addressed a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters last week at his Re-election Campaign Kickoff Reception in Reston. Shown with Ken is former Governor Tim Kaine.
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Commentary
Virginians Leading the Nation
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
In the late 1990s the state teachers' organization distributed a hopeful poster. With scenes from Monticello and colonial Virginia printed in the background, the text proclaimed that "Virginians led the Eighteenth Century, Virginians can lead the Twenty-first Century."
There is a plentiful supply of documentation of Virginians providing leadership in the Revolutionary period through the formation of our Nation. Virginian Thomas Jefferson put in words in the Declaration of Independence the case for freedom of the colonies from the Mother Country and also the notion of natural rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Along with James Madison he helped to design a nation of "we the people" rather than a confederation of states. Virginian George Mason insisted on a Bill of Rights as part of the new country's constitution, and history is replete with examples of the wisdom of his leadership. Virginian George Washington took the helm of the new government, but even as he was wildly popular chose to step down from leadership rather than to proclaim himself king or dictator as the patterns of past history may have suggested for him to do. Virginian Jefferson became our third president followed by his neighbors Madison and James Monroe, making Virginians four of our first five presidents. Virginian John Marshall gave form to our Supreme Court
From that surge of leadership with the formation of our country, Virginia fell rapidly from its position of providing national leadership. Historian Susan Dunn in her book Dominion of Memories: Jefferson, Madison and the Decline of Virginia (Basic Books, 2007) found that unlike the men of the founding generation, Virginians who inherited the Revolution were "spellbound by the myth of aristocratic, gracious plantation life, they waged an impossible battle against progress and time itself."
The designers of the teachers' poster were hoping that Virginians might reassert themselves and provide leadership to the Nation by an investment in public education. Their wishes have not come true. Each year there is a struggle in the legislature to prevent any further erosion of education funding. But Virginia names are being mentioned nationally in a way that hardly brings favor to the state. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has gained national notoriety for his attack on academic freedom at Mr. Jefferson's University and for his actions against the new federal health care law. Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor as majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives gets national attention daily with his grimaces, sneers, and "just say no" approach to budget and deficit negotiation.
Virginians need to step forward and show national leadership of the style of Virginia's earliest years, not like what we have seen lately. |
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"Virginia Report" on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight - Wednesday, July 20 at 10:30 p.m. - Christine Hyland, Executive Director, LifeCircle Alliances - "Creating Independent Living Solutions"
Tuesday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 27 at 10:30 p.m. - Charles Denney, Alta Bicycle Share - "Bikeshare Rolls Into the Region"
View "Virginia Report" online via video streaming using the following link:
www.rctv28.com/shows/studio/community/virginiareport.html
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Many thanks to over 100 friends, neighbors, and supporters who attended my Re-election Campaign Kickoff Reception in Reston last week! It was a wonderful evening, and your spirited support is sincerely appreciated.
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A Great Kickoff and a Great Evening!
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The New 36th House District
New House legislative districts have been approved, and the new 36th District is shown below. To view interactive district maps and determine in which district you live, click here Legislative Services.
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Announcements
Sales Tax Holiday August 5-7 for School Supplies and Clothing
The annual Sales Tax Holiday for school supplies, clothing, and footwear is August 5-7, 2011. During this three-day period, purchases of certain school supplies, clothing, and footwear will be exempt from the Virginia sales tax. Each eligible school supply item must be priced at $20 or less, and each eligible article of clothing or footwear must be priced at $100 or less. Supplies include binders, chalk, book bags, calculators, tape, clay and glazes, compasses, composition books, crayons, dictionaries, erasers, folders, glue and paste, highlighters, lunch boxes, markers, musical instruments, art supplies, paper, etc. Computers do not qualify as "school supplies." Clothing means any article of wearing apparel and typical footwear. For a complete list, visit www.tax.virginia.gov.
War of 1812 Bicentennial Resources Now Available
The Commission on the Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 on which Delegate Ken Plum serves has announced a website that includes many resources and a calendar of events: www.va1812bicentennial.dls.virginia.gov.
Camp SEED - Overnight Experience for Youth
Kids in grades 6 through 10 are invited to a free camp! Camp SEED (Students Encouraging Environmental Discovery) is a weeklong camp with two overnights at Shenandoah National park. This is a great opportunity to learn about the environment. Scheduled activities include:
* Monday: Team building and environmental education at James Lee Community Center.
* Tuesday: Rock climbing and interpretive hikes at Great Falls National Park.
* Wednesday: Hiking, outdoor activities, and overnight at Shenandoah National Park.
* Thursday: GPS exploration, astronomy, hiking, and overnight at Shenandoah National Park.
* Friday: Hiking, certificates and graduation ceremony, return to Fairfax County.
Session 1 is August 8-12. Session 2 is August 15-19. Pre-registration is required. For information call Emily Nalls at 703.534.3387.
Capital Bikeshare Now Available
A membership bicycle rental program is now available in Washington, D.C. and Arlington County: Capital Bikeshare. For information on renting a bicycle for short-term use, go to www.capitalbikeshare.com. For real time bike and station information go to the mobile app SpotCycle.
SCC Seeks Comments on Proposed Shutoffs
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is seeking comments on a proposed regulation designed to establish reasonable limits on the ability of electric and water service providers to terminate service to residential customers who have a serious medical condition. The SCC was directed by the Virginia General Assembly to have such regulations in place by October 31, 2011.
Under the proposed regulation, any customer who provides the certification of a licensed physician that the customer has a serious medical condition or the customer resides with a family member with a serious medical condition could seek an additional 30 days before service is disconnected. Eligible customers should be encouraged to have a serious medical condition form on file with the utility. If not on file, the proposed regulation includes a 10-day period for supplying such to the utility in order to have service termination delayed for 30 days from the original termination notice.
The proposed regulation provides additional time for a residential customer to enter into a payment plan with the utility or make arrangements for housing or medical care. As proposed, the regulation allows a customer to delay service termination twice within a 12-month period.
Comments on the proposed regulation are due by August 16, 2011, and must refer to case number PUE-2011-00060. Written comments may be sent to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, VA 2218-2118. Those who desire to submit comments electronically may do so at the SCC's website: www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Click on the PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICES link and then the SUBMIT COMMENTS button for the specific case. |
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Calendar of Events
Listen to the Spanish and Afro-Cuban music of "Incendio" at the Reston Concert on the Town this Saturday, July 23, at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Hear award-winning jazz vocalist Marianna Previti in concert as part of the "Music in the Gallery Series" at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, on Saturday, July 23, 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $12; seating is limited. Call ArtSpace at 703.956.6590 for reservations and more information.
Donate blood and save a life at the INOVA Blood Drive on Tuesday, July 26, Noon to 7:30 p.m. beside the Pavilion at Reston Town Center. Schedule your appointment at 1.866.256.6372 or www.inova.org/donateblood. Onsite registration is also available.
The next REACT (Reston Environmental Action) board meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Room 1. Stop by and find out what REACT members and friends are doing in our community about recycling, eco-friendly yard and garden care, energy efficiency, air quality, and a host of other projects on their very interesting agenda. Visit www.restonenvironmentalaction.org for REACT information. To participate in a project or join a committee, contact Mary Brown at cernybrown@earthlink.net or 703.620.0151.
"Meet Me at the Movies" Senior Movie Day is Wednesday, July 27, 10:00 a.m., at Bow-Tie Cinema, Reston Town Center. Reston Association will present a feature film. Free to those 55+.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is initiating an ongoing, system-wide approach to strengthening Virginia's families. This initiative focuses on reducing non-marital births, connecting and reconnecting fathers with their children, and encouraging the formation and maintenance of safe, stable, intact, two-parent families. To learn more about the initiative, attend a Community Leaders Meeting on Thursday, July 28, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Virginia Department of Transportation's District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax 22030. If you plan to participate, register at www.surveymonkey.com/s/SFI_Leaders at least one week prior to the meeting.
Restorative Youth Services of Virginia (RYSOV), a non-profit that provides restorative services to young people and the communities in which they live, will sponsor a weekend workshop featuring the Restorative Circle process created by Dominic Barter while working in the poor neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a non-directive, non-judgmental process for engaging conflict, designed to get at the underlying brokenness that often gives rise to conflict. Duke Duchscherer, the workshop presenter, is an internationally known certified trainer of the Restorative Circle process. Dates and times of classes:
* Friday, July 29, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Free, informational session open to anyone, whether attending the training on July 30 and 31 or not.
*Saturday, July 30, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Instruction and Circle Practice.
* Sunday, July 31, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Instruction and Circle Practice.
Classes will be held at the Communities Schools, 2922 W. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23230. Space is upstairs in the building and is not handicap accessible. For more information and to register (space is limited), visit www.restorativeyouthservices.org and go to "Upcoming Events & Training."
The Fairfax County 4-H Fair returns to Frying Pan Farm Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7. In addition to the 4-H Fair, enjoy an old-fashioned carnival featuring amusements, rides, and food vendors starting on Thursday, August 4, and running through the weekend. Families can save 40% on carnival rides during a wristband special between 10:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Wristbands must be purchased before July 29. Wristbands purchased at the park on Thursday and Friday are $20. A free children's performance is scheduled each day at 10:00 a.m., and families may visit the farm animals, take a wagon ride around the park, or hike the natural trail. Admission and parking are free on Thursday and Friday. Frying Pan Farm Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon. For information about the park, call 703.437.9101.
Registration continues for the Reston Kids Triathlon on Sunday, August 14. This event is for kids and youth ages 6-14 and is hosted by Reston Association and the YMCA Fairfax County Reston. Registration information is at www.restonkidstri.org. Volunteers and sponsors are needed for the overall event as well as for individual triathletes. To be a volunteer or event sponsor, contact Laura Kowalski, Aquatics Manager, at 703.435.6528 or pools@reston.org.
The 25th Annual Reston Century Bike Tour will be held on Sunday, August 21, with a 6:00 a.m. registration at Reston Town Center Pavilion. Riders select 30, 63, or 100 mile routes. Post-ride party with food and music for participating cyclists. Friends and family join the festivities for a fee. Rain or shine. Visit www.restonbikeclub.org for more information.
Save the Date! The Annual Plum Family Picnic, hosted by Delegate Ken and Jane Plum along with their children and grandchildren, will be held on Saturday, September 10, at the North Hills Picnic Pavilion on North Village Road (at Hollow Timber). There will be good food, music, supervised arts and crafts for kids, and a time to visit with your friends and neighbors. This event is free.
Brain Injury Services' 8th Annual Kit Callahan's Miracle Mile 10K Run/Walk and Brain Injury Awareness Fair will be held on Sunday, September 18, at George Mason University in Fairfax. The opening ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by the 10K Run/Walk at 9:00 a.m. The mission of the Miracle Mile is to provide an event that rejoices in the triumphs of survivors with brain injuries; provide community outreach and education about brain injuries; promote prevention; and raise funds to continue the efforts of local non-profit community based organizations that assist people with brain injuries and their families. Visit www.braininjurysvcs.org for more about Brain Injury Services' work and this annual event.
This year's Reston Multicultural Festival will be held Saturday, September 24, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., rain or shine, at Lake
Anne Village Center. The Multicultural Festival brings together the people of Reston to celebrate its rich medley of cultures. The Festival opening will include a Naturalization Ceremony where America's newest citizens will take the Oath of Allegiance. Enjoy entertainment, food, arts and crafts, and family fun from around the world for all ages. Visit www.restoncommunitycenter.comfor more information and to find out vendor requirements. The Walk to End Alzheimer's in Northern Virginia will be held on Sunday, September 25, at the Reston Town Center. Registration will begin at 5:00 p.m.; program and walk begin at 6:00 p.m. Join in the fight against Alzheimner's by being a part of this candlelight rally and walk to celebrate and remember all families affected by Alzheimer's. Learn more at www.alz.org/nca or call 703.359.4440.
LifeCircle Alliances will hold its "Kudos for Community Caregivers" Awards Breakfast on Monday, September 26, at Mason Inn, George Mason University, 4352 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with a breakfast buffet beginning at 7:15 and the program at 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. This program will honor four outstanding volunteer caregivers or organizations, and ALL caregivers who provide dedicated care, day in and day out, for our older adults or adults 18+ who have disabilities, including our wounded veterans. Keynote speaker is journalist and best-selling author Gail Sheehy, author of Passages in Caregiving, who will share insights into caring for a loved one. Contact chyland@lifecirclealliances.org or call 571.321.2018 for more information or to RSVP. Find out more about the work of LifeCircle Alliances at www.lifecirclealliances.org. |
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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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