Virginia e-News
 
 
 
January 18, 2012

KenChildrensHospital

 

Delegate Ken Plum was honored to visit with Miss Kyla Roerty, Children's Hospital of Richmond's official Ambassador.  Kyla and her parents, Gerry and Julee Roerty, spent the day at the General Assembly advocating for quality health care for children. 
 

Commentary

 

Over a Cup of Coffee

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

 

My pre-session public hearings are always informative.  The hearings help me gauge public opinion on a variety of issues.  And constituents provide excellent suggestions on state government.

 

Thanks to all who participated in my telephone meeting as well as my public hearing recently.  I also appreciate the persons who have and who will complete my online survey at www.kenplum.com.  One participant at the public hearing at Reston Community Center made a particularly good suggestion.  His concern was with discrimination against individuals because of their sexual orientation and with Virginia's constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.  He suggested that I and other legislators like me who opposed the same-sex marriage amendment and who introduce bills prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation should have a discussion "over a cup of coffee" with those on the other side of the issue.  To hear his testimony, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7vvM4Hg1SQ.  I could not agree more.  It is one way that mature and responsible adults solve problems.  It is the way that political compromises are often reached.  It permits serious discussion without the glare of outside influences.  Why isn't it done more, and why are important issues not resolved this way?  A number of factors make such discussions difficult.

 

There are honest, deeply held, different opinions on many issues including sexual orientation.  Some uphold their beliefs based on their religious teachings, Bible quotations, and personal biases while others cite the Bible, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and personal experiences to reach entirely different conclusions.  These differences are the most difficult to overcome, but sometimes they change.  Recently, the Governor of the State of Washington changed her views that had been based on religious beliefs to become a supporter of same-sex marriage.  Her statement on YouTube is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJu6MA_wF7o and is worth watching.

 

Other differences are political based on the prevailing opinions of members of a political group.  I have had conversations with legislators who have told me that my bill to end discrimination is the right thing to do, but they cannot vote with me for fear of recriminations from their own party.  Primary challenges, changes in committee assignments, and unfavorable action on other bills are some of the ways that political bodies enforce their will.  The "binding" caucus rule of the House Republican Caucus has been one of the greatest obstacles to reaching compromise on important legislation.  The rule requires members to cast their vote with the majority of the members regardless of their personal or constituents' views or face the consequences listed above.

 

Another factor standing in the way of understanding and compromise is consideration of who gets credit.  Broad-based solutions may seem to take the limelight from individuals who want to get the credit for solving a problem.  This is not just a concern for political groups; it is a problem for business and society in general.  I learned to forget about seeking credit long ago.

 

While there are hurdles to overcome, my constituent is correct.  More time needs to be spent over a cup of coffee, or in my case, water or juice.  Informal conversation can lead to understanding and compromise.  The people of Virginia will be the winners!

 

"Wrap-Up from Richmond - Week 1"  
KenFloorSpeech  

 
Click on the link below for a brief update  from Ken on last week's highlights from the General Assembly session.
 
 
 
KenStudio 
 
 
 
 "Virginia Report" on Comcast Channel 28
 
 
 
 
 
Episodes of Ken's weekly television program, "Virginia Report," are available online at www.rctv28.com/VirginiaReport.html for viewing on your computer or iPad.  Programs from Richmond may be available during the General Assembly session, so check this box each week to see if a program will be aired from Richmond.
 
Ken looks forward to resuming "Virginia Report" after the session ends on March 10.
In This Issue
Commentary - "Over a Cup of Coffee"
"Wrap-Up from Richmond - Week 1"
"Virginia Report"
Announcements
Calendar of Events - Don't Miss Out!



  
 
Announcements

 

  

Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission

The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission hosts a major Signature Conference each year.  The next segment of the Signature Conference series is Leadership and Generalship in the Civil War and will be held at Virginia Military Institute on Thursday, March 22.  For questions or to rsvp, contact Cheryl Jackson, Executive Director of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, at cjackson@dls.virginia.gov or 804.786.3591.  Your rsvp must be received by January 30, 2012.

 

Federal Guidelines for Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs

*Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.

* Mixing prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and putting them in impermeable, non-desscript containers such as empty cans or sealable bags will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.

* Take advantage of community pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal.

* The FDA advises that only certain drugs that are labeled as such be flushed down the toilet.  These drugs carry instructions for flushing to reduce the danger of unintentional use or overdose and illegal abuse.  Check packaging carefully to make sure the drug you are about to flush down the toilet is one meant to be disposed of in this manner.

 

Helping to Prevent Domestic Abuse with the Purchase of a Special License Plate

The Building Healthy Futures Fund is a statewide partnership between the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and various state agencies.  The alliance provides support to lcoal rape crisis centers and domestic violence agencies through training and technical assistance as well as operating the Statewide Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline.  The alliance is raising funds for the Building Healthy Futures Fund through the sale of special interest license plates - "Peace Begins At Home."  The funds will be used in domestic violence prevention initiatives.  You can help by purchasing a specialty license plate through the Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.  For more information, go to www.vadv.org/secAction/bhff.html, call Jennifer McPherson at 703.324.3586, or e-mail Jennifer.McPherson@fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

Income Tax Filing Assistance at AARP Tax Aide Sites

Free income tax filing assistance from AARP tax aide volunteers will be available beginning February 1 and continuing through April 17 at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.  Hours are:  Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Thursdays, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  All tax returns are filed electronically.  All taxpayers MUST bring government-issued picture IDs and Social Security cards for all persons included on the tax return.  For more information, call 1-888-227-7669 (AARP NOW) or go to www.aarp.org/taxaide.

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

   

 

Calendar of Events

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy an evening at the "theatre" this Thursday and Friday, January 19 and 20, 7:00 p.m., at South Lakes High School.  The annual Broadway Night concerts are back with an expanded cast to include elementary and middle school students.  Tickets are available at the box office on the night of each performance.

 

Local historian Karen Washburn and Assistant Professor Ted McCord of George Mason University will present a program about the early history of the Reston area that includes a discussion of King Charles II and the Northern Neck proprietary grants, how they limited settlement in comparison with the rest of Colonial Virginia, and how the land transferred from the Culpeper family to the Fairfax family.  Hear this wonderful presentation on Thursday, January 19, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston.

 

Useful Services Exchange (USE) of Reston, a neighbor-to-neighbor "time bank" or barter system, will hold a potluck dinner for members and prospective members on Saturday, January 21, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reston, 1625 Wiehle Avenue.  Anyone living or working in Reston or Herndon is invited.  Begun 35 years ago and newly-revitalized, USE members trade hours of work for one another, performing such services as giving rides, caring for pets, and tutoring in a wide variety of subjects.  The potluck will include a question and answer session explaining the organizaiton.  To RSVP for the dinner, e-mail USE33@verizon.net.

 

Aging adults wishing to remain in their family home as they mature but who are concerned about whether the home will accommodate changing physical needs will want to attend "Designs for Life" on Tuesday, January 24, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Reston Community Cetner Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.  Tony Schaffer, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, will lead this seminar for homeowners featuring home modifications and accessibility design options, the overall process of these types of projects, including length of time for each renovation, and general pricing parameters.  Call 703.476.4500 for more information.

 

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will conduct statewide public meetings to gather citizen input for the 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan, the state's comprehensive plan for meeting outdoor recreation, land conservation, and open space needs.  Attend the regional meeting on Wednesday, January 25 at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, 3060 Williams Drive, Suite 510, Fairfax.  For questions contact Janit Llewellyn Allen at 804.786.0887.

 

Safety Seat Saturday is on January 28, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., sponsored by Fairfax County Public Safety Center Public Parking Garage, 10550 Page Avenue, Fairfax, VA.  Specially trained and certified sheriff's deputies will help parents and caregivers ensure that a child fits securely in the safety seat and that the safety seat fits securely in the vehicle seat.  Bring your vehicle and safety seats(s).  Bring your child, too, if he or she is available.  Virginia law requires that ALL children up to age 8 must be in a child restraint device (which includes a booster seat).

 

The Mothers Milk Bank of Virginia will celebrate the move to its new offices at 209 Elden Street, Suite #200, Herndon, with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, January 28, 11:00 a.m. and an open house following until 3:00 p.m.  The Mothers Milk Bank provides donor milk to premature babies whose mothers are not able to make enough milk for various reasons.  Delegate Ken Plum and Senator Janet Howell will be on hand for the ribbon cutting.  For more information about MMBVA and how you can help, visit www.mothersmilkbankofvirginia.org. 

 

Join REACT - Reston Environmental Action - and meet fellow members on Saturday, January 28, 2:00 p.m. at Greenberry's Coffee and Tea Company (located in the Home Depot shopping center).  Learn all about how Reston is making a commitment to environmentally-friendly practices. 

 

The next Electric Sunday TV and Computer Recycling Event is on Sunday, January 29, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax.  For updates, cancellations, and notifications of events, call 703.324.5052. 

 

Join Delegate Ken Plum, Senator Janet Howell, and Fairfax County Board Chairman Sharon Bulova at the V.O.I.C.E. Dental Campaign Rally on Sunday, January 29, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston.  This campaign will raise matching funds and enable the Sterling Northern Virginia Dental Clinic to hire a dentist to provide affordable dental services for families in our community who would otherwise go without needed dental care.

 

Artists, curators, and educators will guide you through an in-depth viewing of the current exhibition at Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), "Appetite for Art:  Contemporary Art," on Monday, February 6, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon at GRACE, 12001 Market Street, Suite 103.  This event is for ages 55 and older.  Fee is $10 Reston residents, $20 non-residents.  Enjoy related documentary films and provocative discussions of trends and influences in current cultural life.  Mid-morning treats will fuel the artful dialog.  Contact Karen Brutsche at 703.476.4500 for more information.

 

On Tuesday, February 7, at 1:00 p.m. the Reston Garden Club "goes to the Oscars!"  The meeting will be held at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods where members will create floral interpretations of Oscar-nominated films.  See www.therestongardenclub.org.

 

Attend "Accessible Living:  Universal Design and Technology (55 Years and Older)" on Tuesday, February 21, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road.  Learn more about universal housing design and adaptive technology in this informative seminar led by Matt Barkley, Director of Disability Services Planning and Development (DSPD) for the Fairfax County Department of Family Services.  When imagining devices that help older adults and people with disabilities maintain independence, people oftenpicture wheelchairs, walkers, canes, commodes, and shower chairs.  assistive devices such as these can make a huge difference in the independence of an older adult or person with a disability.  Something as simple as adaptive silverware and plates can allow a person to eat independently instead of needing assistance from an attendant or caregiver.  Housing design can also help people remain independent.  By using universal design or "visitable" building design concepts when refurbishing rooms, many aging adults can remain in their homes for as long as they like.  This seminar is free and is recommended for adults 55 years of age and older.

 

Teens, parents, people who work with youth, and anyone who wants to know more about youth mental wellness are invited to a unique event designed to showcase mental health resources for youth ages 21 and under at the Youth Mental Wellness Fair, Saturday, February 25, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at West Springfield High School Auditorium, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield.  This is a free, drop-in event.  Register online at www.FairfaxYouth.org or at the door.  For more information, contact Mary Beth Waite, Community Education Coordinator, at Mary.Waite@FairfaxCounty.gov, 703.324.5535.

 

Enjoy a weekend matinee performance of "Two Gentlemen of Verona" at the Shakespeare Lansburgh Theatre in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, February 26, Noon to 6:00 p.m.  This romantic comedy embraces the classic love triangle in which two best friends, Valentine and Proteus, are turned enemies as they vie for the hand of the enchanting Duke's daughter, Silvia.  Leave from and return to Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, and Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston.  This outing is for persons ages 55 and older.  Cost is $55 Reston residents/$110 non-residents.  Contact Karen Brutsche at 703.476.4500 or go to www.restoncommunitycenter.com.

 

The Washington Vocal Arts Ensemble will be performing at South Lakes High School in the Little Theater on Sunday, February 26.  Refreshments will be served at 5:00 p.m., and the show starts at 6:00 p.m.  The Washington Vocal Arts Ensemble, under the leadership of Director Russell Penny, is comprised of a rotating pool of professional artists who have sung all over the world.  The performance will be a fundraiser for the SLHS choral department. 

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