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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Commentary
Get on Board, Virginia
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) dropped a provision last week from its procurement documents for construction of Phase 2 of the Silver Line that would have rewarded bonus points to bidders who included a project labor agreement (PLA) in their proposals. The bonus point incentives provision replaced an earlier requirement that a PLA would have to be used. The Governor of Virginia and some state legislators and Loudoun County officials had been stamping their feet insisting that such a provision be removed. It was a requirement that the Governor had told U.S. Secretary of Transportation LaHood must be removed in order for the state to make available $150 million in cash for the project. All of the opponents of the PLA pointed out that Virginia is a right to work state ignoring the consensus opinion of lawyers that the PLA does not violate the state's right to work law.
Ironically, after all the temper tantrums that have been thrown by the opponents of the PLA requirement, there is a high likelihood that the contractor chosen to build Phase 2 will voluntarily use a PLA. That's what happened on Phase 1. Those who are more knowledgeable about PLAs than Virginia officials point out that federal construction contracts require or incentivize the use of PLAs because they help ensure that a qualified work force can be recruited, that safety training and rules will be enforced, that there will not be work slowdowns or strikes, and that projects are much more likely to be completed on time.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is doing its due diligence about its future involvement. The benefits to the County are so significant that I believe the Board is likely to approve the extension into the County. The ball is back in the court of the Commonwealth. The $150 million promised for Phase 2 needs to be released in a timely way to keep the procurement process going forward. Budget amendments introduced in the House by me and Delegate Tom Rust and Senators Howell and Herring this year to add an additional $300 million would lighten the load on toll payers and keep the Commonwealth as a major participant in the largest economic development effort underway in the Commonwealth. The Governor needs to get behind this increased state funding for Phase 2. As much as the $150 million the Commonwealth is providing is needed, it should be a downpayment on future investment.
Issues remain about MWAA board membership, but these need to be worked out with the District of Columbia outside the building of Phase 2. They do not relate to the Phase 2 project and should have no impact on it. The big sticking point on the PLA has been resolved. Time now for Virginia to get on board with the project. Time now for the Commonwealth to show the same level of support for the project as has been shown by Northern Virginia jurisdictions.
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Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming. Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. Watch these upcoming programs:
Tonight - Wednesday, June 13, at 10:30 p.m. - Elaine Tholen, environmental educator with Fairfax County Public Schools - "Get2Green"
Tuesday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 20, at 10:30 p.m. - Ted Kavich, Fairfax County Public Library - "Reading for Summer Fun and for a Lifetime"
"Virginia Report" is also available online at www.rctv28.com/virginiareport.html for viewing on your computer or iPad. |
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Bulletin Board
Virginia Private College Week July 30-August 4
Many families will be visiting Virginia's colleges and universities this summer to find the ones that best fit their students' needs. If you visit three or more participating colleges during Virginia Private College Week, you will receive three application fee waivers. This means NO APPLICATION FEE for three Virginia private colleges of your choice. Call 540.586.0606 or visit www.vaprivatecolleges.org for details.
Visit the 2012 Northwestern Fairfax Area Farmers Markets
On Wednesdays:
* Reston: Now through October 25, 3:30 to 7:00 p.m., 11890 Sunrise Valley Drive
On Thursdays:
* Herndon: Now through October 25, 8:00 a.m. to Noon, Old Town Herndon, 700 Block of Lynn Street by the Red Caboose
* Frying Pan Farm: Now through October 25, 3:30 to 7:00 p.m., Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, in front of Frying Pan Country Store
On Fridays:
* McLean: Now through November 9, 8:00 a.m. to Noon, Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road
On Saturdays:
* Reston: Now through November 3, 8:00 a.m. to Noon, Lake Anne Village Center, 11401 North Shore Drive
* Oakton: Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854 Hunter Mill Road, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Northern Virginia Senior Olympics Scheduled for September 15-26
The 2012 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) will be held September 15-26. Online registration is available now at www.nvso.us. Participants can also pick up registration forms at senior centers, senior residences, and community and recreation centers or by calling 703.228.4721. NVSO will offer over 40 events that will take place at 19 diffrent venues throughout Northern Virginia. To be eligible to compete, adults must be 50 years of age by December 31, 2012, and reside in one of the sponsoring jurisdictions. For a complete schedule and rules, call 703.228.4721, go to www.nvso.us, or email nvso1982@gmail.com.
SCC's Bureau of Insurance Announces New Online Search Options
The State Corporation Commission's (SCC) Bureau of Insurance has launched new search options on its website that will make it easier to locate information about the premium rates and policy forms that insurance companies are using in Virginia. Two search options for viewing information about insurance premium rate and policy form submissions are available through the Bureau's website. One search option provides general information about rate and form filings for all lines of insurance in a concise, summarized format, with access to specific file documentation available upon further request. The other search option provides direct access to the premium rates and policy forms associated with most comprehensive major medical accident and sickness and managed care products submitted to the Bureau. The search options and accompanying user guide can be accessed at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/boi/SERFFInquiry. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Insurance for life and health insurance or for property and casualty insurance, or by emailing the Bureau at BOIRFF@scc.virginia.gov.
The Golden Gazette, a publication for senior citizens, is now available by e-mail. You can sign up for a free copy by going to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices and select Subscribe to the Golden Gazette (in the Connections column). The current issue will be e-mailed to you each month. |
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Calendar of Events
Area resident Len Forkas will compete in the 3,000 mile bike race, Race Across America, beginning today, June 13. Len will bicycle 3,000 miles from San Diego to Annapolis and will be riding and fundraising for Hopecam, a non-profit organization he founded in 2003 that connects homebound children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses to their friends, teachers, and family. To learn more about sponsorship and donation opportunities, visit Hopecam's "Race for Hope" website at www.hopecam.org/race-for-hope. To learn more about the work Len Forkas and Hopecam are doing in Northern Virginia, visit www.hopecam.org. Good luck, Len!
"Evolution of Fairfax" is a three-night event to be held on June 13, 20, and 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mason Inn and Conference Center on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax. The event is free and open to the public and will explore where we were, where we are, and where we want to be. Please RSVP by calling 703.324.2321 or emailing chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Attend a Public Hearing sponsored by the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project on "Phase 2: Extension to Dulles Airport/Route 772" tonight - Wednesday, June 13 - 7:00 p.m., at Herndon High School, 700 Bennett Street, Herndon. The purpose of the hearing is to provide citizens and agencies with an opportunity to comment on the proposed design refinements to the project and the resulting changes in the potential environmental and cultural resources effects. The hearing will begin with a presentation at 7:00 p.m. You do not have to register in advance to speak at the hearing. Persons interested in speaking can sign up as they enter the hearing room. Anyone requiring spoecial assistance to participate in the public hearing should call 703.572.0500. Written or electronic statements may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on June 25, 2012, to Mr. Karl Rohrer, Deputy Project Director - Phase 2, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, 1593 Spring Hill Road, Suite 300, Vienna, VA 22182-2228 or sent to eacomments@dullesmetro.com. Please include your name, address, phone number, and any organization affiliation in all correspondence. You can review the Environmental Assessment on the project's website at www.dullesmetro.com, at local libraries, and at the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project office in Vienna, Virginia.
Go see a toe-tapping performance of "Grease" at the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre in Winchester, Virginia, on Saturday, July 14, sponsored by the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Bus departs RCC Hunters Woods at 10:30 a.m. with an estimated return to Reston at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $50 Reston/$100 Non-Reston and is for theatre lovers 55 years of age and older. Register at 703.476.4500 or www.restoncommunitycenter.com. The rock 'n' roll era gets a big salute as the gum-chewing, hubcap-stealing boys and their wise-cracking girls in teased curls and pedal pushers capture the look and sound of the 1950s. Trip fee includes transportation, lunch, and theatre ticket!
See selected artwork from schools participating in the educational Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) Art program on Friday, June 15 through Saturday, June 30. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 23, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visit www.restonarts.org for more information about the exhibit and reception and lots more about the great work that GRACE does in our community.
There will be great food and fun for the whole family plus a Carnival at the annual Taste of Reston at Reston Town Center on Friday, June 15 (3 to 11 p.m.), Saturday, June 16 (Noon to 11 p.m.), and Sunday, June 17 (Carnival only, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Buy your tickets at the event, or save time and purchase them online at www.restontaste.com. Food tickets are 1 each or $20 for 24 tickets. All-you-can-ride carnival wristbands are $20 and are good on June 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment by The Fabulous Dialtones, The Fuzz, Almost Journey, and more. Enjoy the new Wine 'n Dine area where some of the area's top chefs will demonstrate their favorite cuisine and wine recipes and cocktails to taste. And -- for the first time in the history of Taste of Reston -- donations of non-perishable food will be accepted in support of the Capital Area Food Bank. Don't miss this weekend of great food and fun!
Celebrate Father's Day by fishing at Lake Audubon on Saturday, June 16, 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Learn fish facts, fishing basics, and practice casting. Rods and bait provided. Those 16 and older wishing to fish will need a fishing license available online at www.dgif.state.va.us. For all ages (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult); $5/person RA members, $8/person non-members. Reservations required by TODAY, June 13. Call 703.476.9689 or e-mail naturecenter@reston.org.
Head out to the 8th annual Become a Pilot Family Day and Aviation Display on Saturday, June 16, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (near Dulles Airport off Rte. 28, Chantilly, VA). Explore dozens of vintage, recreational, military, and home-built aircraft on display for one day only. Meet the aviators who fly these planes, and find out what it takes to become a pilot. Celebrate the arrival of the Museum's newest craft, Space Shuttle Discovery. Explore the cockpits of many of the airplanes on display, weather permitting, and enjoy hands-on eucational activities, demonstrations, and story tmes. Special appearances by Marine Corps representatives in celebration of the Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation. Admission is free; parking costs $15.
Celebrate success on June 17 by going to St. John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. for music, refreshments, and a big thank-you to all who contributed to making it possible to hire a full-time dentist at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic in Sterling. Affordable dental care will now be available at this clinic for those without insurance and who have low-income levels. Reston Hospital, Inova Hospital, Delta Dental, St. John Neumann Church, Molina Health, the John Barr Foundation, and others made donations, and local elected officials and faith communities lent their support for the project. Come celebrate this good news on June 17!
Enjoy a Reston Association-chartered bus trip to Lost Creek Vineyard & Winery in Leesburg on Tuesday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This trip is for senior adults, age 55 and older. Explore one of the many beauties of Virginia Wine Country. Lost Creek's Tuscan style winery has a large tasting room with ample seating to include an outdoor pavilion. Spend some time in their beautiful, inviting tasting room or just relax on their Fountain patio with a glass of wine. Pack a picnic lunch and don't forget your camera. Bus pick-up times & locations:
* 10:00 a.m. - Hunters Woods Shopping Center (Ledo Pizza)
* 10:15 a.m. - Thoreau Place, 1951 Sagewood Lane
* 10:30 a.m. - Lake Anne Fellowship House, 11450 North Shore Drive
The cost for this day trip is $31/RA Members, $37/Non-members. Registration form can be found at www.reston.org. Contact Ashleigh@reston.org or call 703.435.6577 for more information. You must cancel 72 hours in advance to receive a refund.
Register for "How to Ride the Bus," a training session for citizens 55 years and older, to be held on Thursday, June 21, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road. Cost is free. Travelers-in-training will identify a bus stop near Reston Community Center, learn to read bus schedules and route maps, learn how to pay the fare and how to signal the driver to stop, as well as other bus travel skills. The bus will deliver participants to a Metrorail station where they will learn how to determine the fare and purchase Metrorail fare cards, load SmarTrip cards, read the system map, and board the trains to travel by rail. Trainees will enjoy riding a special bus called MATT (Mobile Accessible Travel Training), used to educate seniors through a hands-on learning experience. Contact Karen Brutsche at 703.476.4500 or go to www.restoncommunitycenter.com to register.
"Ready, Reston!" is a familly event on Saturday June 23, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pavilion & Market Street, Reston Town Center, with activities for all ages. Learn how to prepare yourself, your home, business, and community for emergencies, large and small. Visit with emergency management professionals, businesses that assist in recovery, volunteer groups active in emergencies, and more. Visit www.volunteerfairfax.org/individuals/ReadyReston.php.
Enjoy music by The Fabulettes singing the pop, rock, and soul hits of the 60s at Reston Concerts on the Town on June 23, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., at Reston Town Center Pavilion.
A reduced-cost rabies clinic will be held on Sunday, June 24, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly. Cost is $12. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are eligible for vaccinations. Dogs must be on leashes, and cats and ferrets must be in carriers. All pets will receive a 1-year rabies vaccine. To obtain a 3-year vaccine, bring your pet's rabies certificate showing your pet's current rabies vaccination and expiration date. Only those who can show proof will be eligible for the 3-year vaccination for their pet. Only rabies certificates will be issued (no tags). 2012 dog licenses will be sold for $10.
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will sponsor a series of panel discussions featuring the Journey of Hope, a group of murder victim's family members, death row exonorees and others who tour nationally and internationally, speaking out against the death penalty. Charity Lee and Randy Gardner will be on the program on Monday, June 25, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at St. John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston. Charity's father was murdered when she was 5 years old. Twenty-seven years later, her four-year-old daughter, Ella, was murdered by her 13 year old son. Charity began "The Ella Foundation" in her home state of Texas to prevent violence, advocate for human rights through education, criminal justice reform, and victim advocacy. Randy's brother was executed by a Utah firing squad in 2010. Randy founded the "Back to Basics Farm" where he teaches young people about farming and his humane vision of life. Shujaa Graham, Terri Steinberg, and Attorney Jon Sheldon will speak on Tuesday, June 26, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, SE, Vienna Terri's son Justin Wolfe at age 20 was sentenced to death in Prince William County, VA, for a murder-for-hire charge. In 2011 his convictions were overturned, but the State appealed. Justin remains on Death Row. These events are free and open to all. For more information contact bethanyming@me.com or call 571.438.3534.
Spend a gorgeous summer day picking fruits and vegetables at Hollin Farm in Delaplane on Thursday, July 26. Board a bus at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne at 8:30 a.m., or hop on the bus at RCC Hunters Woods at 9:00 a.m. Estimated return to Reston is 2:00 p.m. Cost is $25 Reston/$50 Non-Reston and is for those 55 yars of age and older. The farm employs innovative agricultural methods producing scrumptious peaches, plump tomatoes, and other vegetables and berries, all available for picking and purchase. You'll get a half-peck container (holds approximately 5 pounds) for the pickings. Purchase with cash or check; dress comfortably with appropriate footwear, headwear, and sunscreen. Trip fee includes transportation, a half-peck container, and a boxed lunch. Register at 703.476.4500 or www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Plan now to attend an exciting two-day schedule of events at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, on August 25 and 26 honoring Clara Barton, Founder of the Red Cross, and a 150th Anniversary Civil War Reenactment Commemoration. Outside exhibits and demonstrations are free; museum fee is $5/adult; $1/age 4 to 10; 4 and under are free. Outside activities include exhibits, Union and Confederate Reenactors, and living history demonstrations. Inside the Museum you can see Clara Barton displays, Civil War telegraph and museum exhibitions, and local authors. This exciting two-day event will commemorate the medical evacuation of the Union wounded brought to this train station after the nearby battles of 2nd Manassas and Ox Hill. 3,000 Union wounded were brought by various means to this train station. They were hastily treated as they lay and awaited rail transport back to hospitals in Alexandria and Washington. Civilians were sent out on the trains to aid the wounded. One of those civilians, Clara Barton, would later be called the "Angel of the Battlefield" for her efforts. Experience the lectures, exhibits, historical interpretations, and demonstrations featuring Union Medical Units, Confederate Soldiers, Civil War camp life, Civil War railroad history, Civil War telegraph office, and Clara Barton.
Save the date - November 10, 2012! Plan on attending Fairfax County's 8th Annual History Conference, "Courage & Conflict in Fairfax County." This conference will feature Gregg S. Clemmer, award winning author of Valor in Gray, living history presentations, reenactments, and more. The Conference will run from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your registration fee of $20 includes Continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, exhibits, authors, trivia contest prizes, and parking. For further information and to receive a registration form/brochure, send your name, address, and email to lynnegarveyhodge@verizon.net. This event is sponsored by the Fairfax County History Commission, Fairfax County Sesquicentennial Committee, Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center, and Preservation Virginia/Northern Virginia Branch. |
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