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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Commentary
Every Two Years
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
In the spring of 1973 I stood on the steps of the old Fairfax County Courthouse and announced my candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates for the first time. I told the several people who were present that I thought we needed a new Fairfax Resolves, remembering the resolution that the citizens of Fairfax County had drawn up to list their grievances against England before the Revolution. My proposed version of the Resolves did not call for Northern Virginia secession, although many have suggested to me over the years that they would support such an effort. I simply wanted for Northern Virginia to get a better deal in the rural-dominated General Assembly of the time. My early efforts at election were not successful. After being elected for a term in 1977, I returned to the House of Delegates in 1982 and have been there ever since. If I am re-elected this year I will have the most seniority of any member in the House of Delegates, and my car will have House of Delegates license plate number 1.
I learned a great deal from early mentors. Senator Clive DuVal, who served from 1965-1971 in the House of Delegates and 1971-1991 in the Senate, was the first state legislator who published a periodic newsletter. There were only a couple of issues each year with the cost of printing and mailing prohibiting more issues. I started issuing a newsletter, and it has evolved over the years to a weekly electronic newsletter (subscribe at www.kenplum.com). From Senator DuVal I learned the benefits of direct voter contact by knocking on doors. While it is now more difficult to find people at home and willing to answer their doors, I try to be as available and accessible as I can at public gatherings of all types. Senator DuVal was also an excellent model of a legislator working for natural resource conservation and protection of the environment.
Delegate Dorothy McDiarmid ran for the House of Delegates for the first time in 1959 as an opponent of the Massive Resistance effort that was underway to prevent racial desegregation of the public schools. She served for more than two decades. The districts at the time were multi-member, and I was honored to be on a slate with Dorothy, as she insisted people call her. A staunch advocate for public education, Delegate McDiarmid got public kindergartens started in Virginia and was one of the earliest supporters of George Mason University. From her I learned the importance of a bipartisan approach; for her it was not about being a Democratic or Republican idea but rather what was good for the Commonwealth. While her representation of her district was extraordinary, she represented the interests of people concerned about schools and mental health needs and other issues statewide. She rose to the chairmanship of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee and was known in later campaigns by the slogan, "The Lady Has Clout."
I learned a great deal from those who preceded me, and I try to be a good mentor for the newer members, sharing my expertise in education, energy, and conservation. Re-election time comes around pretty quickly with a two-year term, but the process of going to the voters is invigorating. My enthusiasm for serving in office has not waned. I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail; it is an honor to serve you.
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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, May 22 at 10:30 p.m. - John Ogden, Donate Life Virginia, "The Importance of Organ Donation"
Tuesday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 29 at 10:30 p.m. - Joanna Simon, Alliance to End Gun Violence - Reston/Herndon
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Bulletin Board
Wireless Emergency Alerts are Now Available in Our Area: The Washington, D.C., area, including Fairfax County, is one of the areas where a new Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system is now active. This system provides federal, state and local officials with the ability to send text-based wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) to most mobile phone users in a specific location throughout the United States during an emergency. If an alert is necessary, it will be written in 90 characters or less and then transmitted to cellular providers for dissemination. Because each message will be geo-tagged, it only will be sent to the people who are in the vicinity of the impacted area. If you receive a WEA, you are within the geographical location being affected by a safety threat. You should review the information in the alert carefully and proceed as directed. If you have an older model phone, you may not receive the wireless emergency alerts. Check with your service provider to find out if your phone is WEA-capable. AT&T, Cricket, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon all have information about the new alert system on their websites. Search for WEA, wireless emergency alerts, CMAS (commercial mobile alert system) to find your provider's list of WEA-capable phones. To learn more, contact the Office of Emergency Management or your wireless service provider. Additional information is on the FEMA WEA Web page.
What is LINK? Link is a program that provides information to residents, employees and visitors about transportation resources and strategies to help them make travel choices. LINK's website at www.linkinfo.org has bus schedules and maps for all Reston/Herndon buses (English and Spanish). For more information call 703-435-5465.
The month of May has been recognized in Virginia as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported "vector-borne" illness in the United States. "Vector" refers to a toxic microbe in the blood caused by a bug bite, such as a tick bite. Early symptoms of Lyme disease may include headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. If left untreated or if treatment is delayed, the disease can become chronic with serious, debilitating complications, such as joint pain and swelling, heart disease, neurological problems (e.g., Bell's palsy), dizziness, irritability, ADHD-like symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, muscle weakness and neuropathy. For more information about Lyme disease, visit the National Capital Lyme Disease Association website at www.natcaplyme.org.
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Calendar of Events
Today: Celebrate Your Bonus Years, Wednesday, May 22, 11:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free but registration requested. Email Ashleigh@reston.org or call 703-435-6577 to register.
Tonight: Sunrise Valley Elementary School World Drumming Club Performance, Wednesday, May 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Reston Town Center Pavilion. Enjoy drumming arrangements in the traditional African and Latin-American styles and a few student compositions. Join in a traditional drum circle during the second half of the program.
Fairfax County's 5th Naturalization Ceremony, Friday, May 24, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Fairfax County Government Center. The Fairfax County Asian American History Project (FCAAHP) will co-sponsor the ceremony for 100 new Americans in honor of Asian American Heritage Month. Includes a reception and cultural presentation to welcome the new Americans. The event is free and open to the public. For more details, visit the FCAAHP website at FCAAHPNaturalization.
Reston's Garlic Mustard Challenge, Saturday, May 25, 10:00 a.m. to noon at Lake Anne Elementary School, 11510 North Shore Drive, Reston. For more information contact Ha Brock at 703-435-7986 or habrock@reston.org.
INOVA Blood Drive, Tuesday, May 28, 12:00-7:00 p.m., beside Reston Town Center Pavilion. Schedule appointments at 866-256-6372 or inova.org/donateblood or on-site registration.
Public Hearing on Transportation Issues: Wednesday, May 29, 6:00 p.m. the Commonwealth Transportation Board will host a public hearing to provide Northern Virginia citizens and elected officials an opportunity to review and provide comments on projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2014-2019 Six-Year Improvement Program (FY2014-2019 SYIP), including highway, rail and pubic transportation initiatives. At the Virginia Department of Transportation District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. If you cannot attend the hearing, you may send your comments to Programming Director, 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219 or email them to Six-YearProgram@vdot.virginia.gov. Written comments will also be welcome at the hearing.
Friday, May 31, 7:00-9:00 p.m., a 90-minute documentary investigates "clean coal." Dirty Business reveals the true social and environmental costs of coal power and explores the murky realities of "clean coal" technology. The film highlights the work of energy innovators and the viable, renewable alternatives they offer in an age of rapid climate change. Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. Free ($5 suggested donation). For reservations, call 703 476-9689 or e-mail naturecenter@reston.org.
The Herndon Festival, Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2.
The largest, free outdoor festival in Northern Virginia will see over 40,000 visitors over the four-day festival in downtown Herndon. For more information, visit www.herndonfestival.net.
First Northern Virginia Health Summit on Friday, May 31, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Waterford at Springfield, 6715 Commerce Street, Springfield. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Health Foundation. To register, visit register now.
Bread for the World's 2013 National Gathering: A Place at the Table will take place June 8-11 in Washington, D.C. More information is at National Gathering. "A Place at the Table" is the name of both a major new documentary and the 2013 Offering of Letters campaign. For more information go to www.bread.org/go/1000days.
Reston's First Community Energy Fair will be on Sunday, July 14, 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Walker Nature Center. Fair is free, but there will be a small materials fee for some activities. Will include a Green Living workshop on "How to Build a Solar Generator" (requires preregistration and fee). To volunteer or participate, email klpelliott@verizon.net.
On August 11 at 8:00 a.m. the YMCA Fairfax County Reston and Reston Association will be holding the third annual Reston Kid's Triathlon. The event is intended to be a fun opportunity for youngsters to stay active through the summer and learn about the fast growing sport of triathlon. In keeping with the missions of the sponsoring organizations, a number of the participants will be from families who might not be able to afford the entry fee and equipment for the event. Through individual and corporate sponsors their costs will be covered. All net proceeds from this event will be used for the Y and RA youth scholarship programs. For more information, visit www.restonkidstri.org.
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