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Commentary
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
The editorial in the September 21, 1897 New York Sun responding to a letter from eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon inquiring about whether there was a Santa Claus has become the most reprinted newspaper editorial, according to Newseum (w.newseum.org/yesvirginia/). "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy."
Members of the higher education community in Virginia must have felt there was a Santa Claus last week as Governor McDonnell made the first of a series of announcements on his budget proposals for the next biennium. He announced that he is allocating an additional $100 million for colleges and universities. While the amount of money is quite modest, the direction of adding money to the institutions of higher education to serve additional students as well as to reach the goals they are being asked to meet is a welcome change from the last couple of decades during which their state support was reduced. The proposed allocation is slightly more than the University of Virginia alone would receive ($97.3 million) if it was funded at the 1989-90 level of inflated dollars without considering the growth of its student body. His proposed amount will be spread across all of Virginia's state colleges and universities. The Governor's proposal if approved by the General Assembly will help slow the descent of the Commonwealth to the bottom among the states in support of students in higher education. The Commonwealth ranks 40th in the level of state appropriation per student at $5,065 for FY 2010. The percentage of the state's general funds allocated to higher education has decreased from 14 percent in 1992-93 to 10 percent in 2011-12. In 2000-01 the general fund appropriation was $11,108 per student.
Just as with Santa Claus we do not always get all that we want. If higher education is going to get an increase in its budget at a time when revenues remain stagnant, who will be getting a further reduction? We may have to wait for the last of the Governor's announcement, as the bad news is generally held for last. Obviously, I am not Santa Claus and will not be able to make you any promises, but I am interested in your wish list for General Assembly budgeting and legislating in its 2012 session. I will be calling constituents in my district at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, for a tele-hearing. Stay on the line to talk with me about your interests. Or join me at an in-person public hearing with Senator Janet Howell at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods on Thursday, January 5, at 7:30 p.m. |
"Virginia Report" on Comcast Channel 28
Tune in to Reston Comcast Channel 28 for a 30-minute weekly television program hosted by Delegate Ken Plum. Ken covers topics of interest to us all as he interviews people from our own community, Fairfax County, and around the Commonwealth to talk about important issues of the day. Not a Comcast viewer? Visit www.rctv28.com/VirginiaReport.html and watch Ken's "Virginia Report" on your computer or iPad. Tonight - Wednesday, December 21 at 10:30 p.m. - Buckley Anne Kuhn Fricker of Reston, Certified Care Manager with legal background in elder law - "Buckley's for Seniors" Tuesday, December 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 28 at 10:30 p.m. - Rajiv Srinivasan, local activist for military veterans - "Giving Our Veterans Hope and Help" |
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 Announcements VDOT to Display Travel Times on I-95 Motorists can now see travel times displayed on Interstate 95 electronic message signs between Washington, D.C. and Fredericksburg. Northbound I-95 travel times will be posted on overhead signs at: Route 234 with travel time to the Capital Beltway/I-495; Route 123 with the travel time to the Capital Beltway/I-495; and at the Fairfax County Parkway with the travel time to the D.C. line. Southbound I-95 travel times will be posted on overhead signs: near the Pentagon with the travel time to the Capital Beltway/I-495; prior to the Beltway with the travel time to Route 123; near the Fairfax County Parkway with the travel time to Route 234; and near Lorton with the travel time to Route 3 in Fredericksburg. Travel times will be displayed weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. VDOT will continue to expand travel times to key destinations along other Northern Virginia Interstates and ultimateloy to highways throughout the Commonwealth. Free, Safe Ride Home The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) will again provide a safety net for those who might celebrate the holiday season with alcohol and unexpectedly need a safe ride home. WRAP's 2011 Holiday SoberRide program will be offered nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. beginning Friday, December 16, and running until January 1, 2012. To receive a free cab ride home (up to a $30 fare), call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI). You must be 21 or older to use the SoberRide service. All requests for SoberRide service must be called to and dispatched from 1-800-200-8294. Callers will be responsible for any amount over $30. WRAP's SoberRide has helped to ensure local residents have a safe way home on high-risk holidays, keeping likely impaired drivers off the roads. Since 1993, WRAP has provided nearly 53,000 safe rides home. SoberRide operates during the December/January holiday season, St.Patrick's Day, Independence Day, and Halloween. For details, go to http://wrap.org/soberride. Cartoon Skate Share the ice at the Ice Skating Pavilion at Reston Town Center every Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with Scooby-Doo, Tweety Bird, Cat in the Hat, and more of your favorite cartoon characters. For additional information contact skating@restontowncenter.com or call 703.709.6300. |
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Calendar of Events
Bring your digital camera and search the trails for a list of interesting things and creative pictures to compose at the Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday, December 28, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., at Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive. Reservations required by December 22; $4/person RA members, $6/person Non-members. This is an activity for all ages of people, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. After the Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt, all will gather back at Nature House for refreshments and a look at some great photos. Prizes will be awarded in adult and kids categories.
Join in Delegate Ken Pum's "Tele-Hearing" on Wednesday, January 4, at 8:00 p.m. When your phone rings at approximately 8:00 p.m., stay on the line to ask Ken a question about issues important to the community, or listen to others talk to Ken. This is a great way to participate in a Public Meeting without having to leave the comforts of home.
Let your elected officials know about the state government issues that are most important to you at a Public Meeting hosted by Delegate Ken Plum and Senator Janet Howell on Thursday, January 5, 2012, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Bring your comments for Ken and Janet. This will be their annual pre-session meeting prior to the General Assembly going into session on January 11, 2012.
Virginia's House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees of the General Assembly will hold a regional Public Hering on Friday, January 6, 2012, at George Mason University's Fairfax Campus, Dewberry Hall, in the Johnson Center at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the hearings is to receive comments on the Govenor's proposed 2012-14 biennial state budget. Those persons wishing to speak may register at the hearing site no earlier than one hour prior to the start of the hearing. Speakers will be taken in the order of registration. Each person may register only one speaker at a time. Speakers are asked to limit their comments to three minutes or less. Speakers representing groups and organizations should consolidate remarks to reduce duplications. Accommodations for individuals with hearing impairment may be made by calling 804.698.7480. All requests for individuals with hearing impairment must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2011. Persons unable to attend may comment in writing to Delegate Lacey E. Putney, P.O. Box 406, General Assembly Building, Richmond, VA 23218, or to Senator Charles J. Colgan, 10th Floor General Assembly Building, Richmond, VA 23219.
Reston's Winter Bird Count will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2012, 7:00 a.m. to Noon, at Walker Nature Education Center. Sign up for this free event for adults by January 4 at naturecenter@reston.org or call 703.476.9689. Enjoy this half-day annual bird count throughout Reston's natural areas. Meet local bird experts, learn tips on identification and have fun while helping obtain important information about our feathered friends. Enjoy lunch, tally results, and swap stories back at Nature House following the count.
The MLK Community Service Awards will be presented at the 2012 Reston Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration to be held January 14-16, 2012, in Reston. Visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com for more information. |
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Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
and paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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