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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Commentary
Silver Line Access
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Construction on the Silver Line, the extension of Metrorail in the Dulles corridor, will be completed for its first phase to Wiehle Avenue by August, 2013. After extensive testing by its operator, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the line will start carrying passengers by December, 2013. Reston riders will be able to go to Tysons, Arlington, downtown, or as far as Largo, Maryland--without getting out of their seats. As exciting as the prospects are for mass transit into and out of our community, there is an understandable level of apprehension and concern about access to the rail line and its impact on the community.
There is no question that the impact on the community will be significant. Property values will increase. The demand for housing near the stations will increase. Unfortunately there is likely to be a negative impact on the flow of traffic in the areas of the stations in the short run. I have been satisfied that the responsible agencies are hard at work to re-direct bus routes, widen streets, and develop plans that will ensure safe and timely access to Wiehle Station for drivers, bus riders, bikers and pedestrians. Recent community meetings have provided information to citizens on the work being done and very importantly gave commuters the opportunity to suggest to staff ways that plans can be improved. There will definitely be a settling-in period until this incredible project is integrated into the community. I will work to ensure that agencies at all levels of government monitor the situation closely and be willing to make necessary adjustments to improve it.
We have the advantage of being next door to Arlington County that is often cited as one of the most successful in the country in the application of transit oriented development (TOD). Arlington's experience is that the arrival of Metro brought with it a boom in economic development and new jobs. It also brought with it an increasing population of young professionals who sought an urban environment in which to live. The Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor is the response to these changes. Go a block from the Corridor and you are back in the single-family neighborhoods of earlier Arlington. At the same time that Arlington's population and employment jumped 40 percent over the past three decades, a recent report found that traffic on major arteries like Wilson and Arlington Boulevards has increased at a much lower rate or even declined. In 2012, Arlington County Commuter Service was able to shift 45,000 car trips each work day from a solo-driven car to some other form of transportation.
Building on the example of places like Arlington and Portland, Oregon, and with the cooperation of the very savvy people of Reston, I believe that we will be able to take maximum advantage of the new transportation option we will have with the Silver Line and will be able to improve access and enhance the quality of life in our community.
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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, April 3 at 10:30 p.m. - Amanda Andere, FACETS
Tuesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 10 at 10:30 p.m. - Jessica Piscitelli Robinson, Better Said Than Done
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Bulletin Board
Cherry Blossoms Peak: The National Park Service has announced the estimated 2013 peak dates for the DC Tidal Basin cherry blossoms will be later than originally projected. The new estimated peak dates are April 3-6. For more information, visit
National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a three-week program where a crew of usually ten teens from 14-17 live and work in one of Virginia's State Parks under the supervision of three adult supervisors. The crew completes volunteer projects in the park, participates in outdoor recreation and education programs, cooks their meals and keeps their living area clean. At the end of the program they collect a $500 stipend. More information is available at Youth Corps. Online applications are due April 13.
The proposed bus service plan that will coincide with the start of service on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) new Silver Line in December 2013 will be discussed at a series of public meetings. The plan includes the creation of 12 new routes, the restructuring of 24 existing routes and the elimination of six routes. The revised plan incorporates changes suggested by riders and the community, since the original service proposal was released in January 2013. The complete bus service plan will be discussed at each meeting, with special emphasis placed on area service changes for the general vicinity of each meeting location.
--Monday, April 15: 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Reston Service Discussion), Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 551, RIBS 1, RIBS 2 and RIBS 3.
--Wednesday, April 17: 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Herndon Service Discussion), Herndon Town Council Chambers, 765 Lynn Street, Herndon. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 950 and RIBS 5.
--Thursday, April 18: 6:30-8:30 p.m., (Reston Service Discussion), Reston Community Center Lake Anne, JoAnn Rose Library, 1609A Washington Plaza, Reston. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 552, 574, RIBS 1 and RIBS 3.
Transportation information is available through the Aging, Disability, and Caregiver Resource Line. County information specialists are on hand to discuss transportation and service needs, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., by calling 703-324-7948.
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Calendar of Events
The Asian American Chamber of Commerce holds its Jewels of Asia Gala on Friday, April 5 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the Westin Tyson's Corner, 7801 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. The gala will feature cocktails, dinner, an awards ceremony, an auction, and cultural performances. Reserve your table or seat at www.asian-americanchamber.org/2013gala.
FY 2014 Fairfax County Advertised Budget: Town Hall Meetings
--Hunter Mill District Budget Meeting, Saturday, April 6, 10:00 a.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE, Vienna.
--Herndon Budget Meeting. Wednesday, April 3, 7:00 p.m., Herndon Town Council Chambers, 765 Lynn Street, Herndon.
--Hunter Mill District Budget Meeting, Saturday, April 6, 10:00 a.m., Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE, Vienna.
Dress Up with Grown-Ups Gala, Saturday, April 6: Charles Mann, former Redskin, three-time Super Bowl champion, businessman and philanthropist, will emcee the Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation's annual Dress Up with Grown-ups Gala on April 6 at The Mason Inn on the GMU campus. This gala is designed for people to bring their children and grandchildren if they wish...as long as they "dress up"! The gala benefits the MCCP Foundation which provides medical and dental care to children in low-income families who do not have access to doctors and dentists. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Dress Up with Grown-Ups Gala.
Reston Association will hold its annual Member's Meeting on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Reston Association's Conference Center, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. RSVP to annualmeeting@reston.org or call 703-435-6530.
24th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, April 9-11 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. More information is at VMI Environment VA Symposium.
Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the benefit of Food for Others and hunger relief in Northern Virginia, will be hosted by the Giving Circle of HOPE, Friday, April 12 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon, VA. Minimum donation of $20 includes a bowl handcrafted by a local potter that you may keep, plus a meal of soup, bread, beverage, and dessert. Pre-event tickets can be purchased by mailing a check made out to Food for Others and sent to Giving Circle of HOPE, P.O. Box 8832, Reston, VA 20195. Tickets will be held at the door. For questions, contact emptybowls@givingcircleofhope.org or call 703-665-9334. Web address is www.givingcircleofhope.org.
Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. a cast of community actors from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax present a staged reading of "8", Dustin Lance Black's documentary play about the federal case for marriage equality. Sponsored by EqualityUUCF as part of their ongoing efforts to bring the issue of marriage equality to the forefront in Virginia, the play will be followed by a Q & A with marriage equality advocates. UUCF is at 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton. Tickets are $10. Reservations at www.uucf.org
Help provide 30,000 meals to Stop Hunger Now! through the United Christian Parish Silent Auction and Rummage Sale, Saturday, April 13, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information or to make a tax-deductable donation for the auction or sale, contact Shelly Johnson at UCPauction@gmail.com. United Christian Parish is located at 11508 North Shore Drive in Reston.
FREE Family Fun at Reston's 10th Annual Founder's Day! A Community Celebration of Reston's 49th and Bob Simon's 99th Birthday on Saturday, April 13, 12:00-4:00 p.m., Lake Anne Village Center. For more information, call 703-435-6530. Sunday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, local officials and members of the community will join with the History Commission to dedicate an historic marker at the Frying Pan Spring Meeting House. The Meeting House program will run from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. This is an opportunity to learn about the historic battles and famous people who fought here. Shake hands and talk with re-enactors from the "Black Horse Calvary", Fourth Virginia Regiment, Company H. Celebrate black history and hear about the Emancipation Proclamation and the black military experience. Frying Pan Spring Meeting House is located at 2615 Centreville Road in Herndon, VA. For more information call 703-437-9101. Senator Mark Warner invites high school and middle school students, their parents, and guidance counselors to Academy Day 2013. Attendees will be provided a comprehensive overview of the United States service academies and their admission process. In addition, students will be able to meet with officials from all five service academies as well as representatives from ROTC programs, Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Military Institute. Representatives from Virginia Congressional offices will be available to answer questions regarding the application procedures for congressional nominations. Saturday, April 20, 2013, 10:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. at The Paramount Theater, 215 East Main Street,Charlottesville, VA 22902. For more information on this event or the Academy Nomination Process, visit www.warner.senate.gov.
FISH Fling Gala & Fundraiser is Saturday, April 20 at the Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel, 2200 Centreville Road, Herndon. For more information on attending, donating or sponsorships, send email to FISH@HerndonRestonFISH.org.
2013 Signature Conference The American Civil War at Home, Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the College of William and Mary.
This Signature Conference--the fifth in an annual series--brings together noted Civil War historians to consider how the Civil War changed Virginia and the nation 150 years ago in the year of the war's turning point, 1863. For more information on the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, visit
www.VirginiaCivilWar.org.
Save the date for the 10th Annual Nature House 5K Fund Run/Walk on Saturday, April 20. Pre-register or register the morning of the event beginning at 7:00 a.m. Enjoy the amazing Nature House facility, the place for environmental education in and around Reston! For more information, visit 10th Annual 5K Run.
Safety Seat Saturday is April 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 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. Fairfax County Public Safety Center, Public Parking Garage, 10550 Page Avenue, Fairfax, VA.
The Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) is hosting its fourth annual Children's Health Fair on Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Giant Food parking lot located at 8970 Burke Lake Road in Springfield, VA. The event will raise awareness and provide education about the importance of sound nutrition and regular physical activity to help address the childhood obesity epidemic. For more information, visit Spring Health Fair.
Springfest Fairfax: Free family fun on Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton, VA 22079. Springfest Fairfax includes pony rides, petting zoo, tree planting, farmer's market, arts & crafts, environmental workshops, music and games. For more information, go to www.springfestfairfax.org or call the Clean Fairfax Council at 703-324-5471, TTY 711.
The Annual Dream Makers Award Gala, hosted by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation and honoring educators and community leaders for their commitment to community service, will be held on Thursday, May 9, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Road in McLean, VA. For more information about sponsorships and tickets, visit Dream Makers Award Gala.
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