October 1, 2014

With my friend and former colleague,
the late Vince Callahan

Delegate Ken Plum's

Virginia E-News

Commentary

A Virginia Statesman

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

I first heard of Vincent F. (Vince) Callahan, Jr. in 1965 when he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of Virginia. It was his first run for political office, and while it may seem that he aimed high to start in those days it was easy to get the Republican nomination since the Republicans always lost. Callahan got 37 percent of the vote, but four years later his running mate for governor, Linwood Holton, who had also gotten just 37 percent of the vote was elected the first Republican governor of Virginia since Reconstruction. In the meantime Vince had run successfully for the House of Delegates in 1967 where he served for the next 40 years making him the second longest serving member of the House of Delegates in history. Vince died of West Nile virus and was buried last week.

In 1978 I joined Vince as part of a five-person delegation representing Northern Virginia that was split with three Democrats and two Republicans. Although we were from different parties, Vince and I worked closely together on many issues including education and transportation. He was a strong proponent of public schools and was a real champion for George Mason University while on the Appropriations Committee where he eventually became chairman when Republicans took control of the House of Delegates. He worked hard for money for transportation for the region, and when I organized the Dulles Corridor Rail Association he became vice chairman of the Association.

I will miss Vince very much, and I continue to miss the era of politics he represented. We worked together on behalf of our constituents without regard to party. In the early years we shared the goals of wresting power from the Byrd machine that had controlled Virginia with an iron fist for most of the twentieth century. While I was part of the Democratic majority at the time, I was shut out of many of the decisions of government because I was a Northern Virginian and progressive. Before he left the House of Delegates Vince was feeling the alienation from his party that now controls the House just as I felt in the early days when the Democrats were in control. In recent years Vince started to publicly endorse Democrats including Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Governor Terry McAuliffe. He simply could not accept the tea party ideology that dominates the Republican Party in Virginia today.

There were excesses of power when the Democrats controlled the House of Delegates when Vince was first elected. During his years in office there was a shift of power to the Republicans where the same excesses of power can be seen. Vince knew of the experiences under the Democrats and did not contribute to repeating them when his party came to power. He worked on behalf of the good of the Commonwealth and his constituents--not ideology or party. Vince Callahan was a true Virginia statesman.

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 (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference.

TONIGHT - Wednesday, October 1, at 10:30 p.m., Robert Marro, ADAMS Center

Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 8, at 10:30 p.m., Rev. Stephen Smith-Cobbs and Polly Lung, VOICE for Justice

Virginia Report is also available online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266 for viewing on your computer or iPad.

Bulletin Board

RCC 2014 Preference Poll

Voting Continues through Friday

The Reston Community Center (RCC) Board of Governors announces four candidates for its 2014 Preference Poll. The poll seeks community guidance to fill three 3-year positions.

Download the candidates' statements here. Mail-in ballots must be received by the counting agent (a pre-addressed envelope is provided with the ballot; postage is required) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 2. Walk-in and online ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3.

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October 6 Deadline for Personal Property Paym

ents

Click here for payment options

and details.

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Are You Registered to Vote?

All eligible residents are encouraged to check their voter registration status to ensure they are registered at their correct address. The deadline in Virginia to register to vote or make changes to your registration is Tuesday, October 14, for the November 4 General Election. You must update your voter registration if you have changed your address or name or you may not be able to vote. Fairfax County residents can register to vote in person before 5:00 p.m. on October 14 at times and locations throughout the county (also new voting machine demonstrations and photo ID opportunities) and at the Office of Elections at the Government Center. You may also register online (online deadline for those with a Virginia DMV ID or driver's license is 11:59 p.m.; others may use the online system, but must print out, sign and mail the form in time to postmark it October 14). Residents can also find voter registration forms at Fairfax County Library branches and district government offices; mailed voter registration forms must be postmarked by October 14. Important Note: Virginia now requires that you have an acceptable photo ID in order to vote in person on Election Day or at an absentee voting location. Photo ID is not needed if you vote absentee by mail.

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Health Coverage Available for Former Foster Care Youth

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted a provision creating a new Medicaid covered group for former foster youth until age 26 became effective January 2014. All former foster care youth who were in state foster care in Virginia and receiving Medicaid on their 18th birthday are eligible for Medicaid in Virginia. There is NO income requirement in order for a former foster youth to be eligible for Medicaid coverage. If you know a young adult who was formerly in foster care and who may be eligible, please encourage him/her to apply online through CommonHelp, Cover Virginia (1-855-242-8282) or through their local department of social services. Click here for more information, including covered services and promotional flyers.

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Public Comments Period on

Regional Transportation Projects Ends October 11

The Transportation Planning Board welcomes public comment and feedback on regional transportation issues. Click here for details about projects and ways to comment.

Calendar of Events

Today: Wednesday, October 1, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Live More Block Party, at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Learn the benefits of new transportation options, including Silver Line Metrorail, plus entertainment, face painting, refreshments, giveaways, and more. Register to win Reston Town Center gift cards. Presented by Dulles Area Transportation Association, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and Reston Town Center. For more information, call 703.817.1307, ext. 2.

Tonight: Wednesday, October 1, 7:00 to 8:45 p.m., Energy Efficiency Forum: Moving Northern Virginia Forward to Combat Climate Change, at the Arlington County Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington (three blocks from Virginia Square Metro). Find out what is being done and how you can help local programs move forward. Go to Calendar of Events for more information.

Thursday, October 2, noon, 3rd Annual Reston Town Center Help the Homeless Walk, hosted by Mayflowers, visit Help the Homeless Walk for more information and to register.

Friday-Saturday, October 3-4, 2014 Virginia Environmental Assembly at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. To register and find more information, visit Virginia Environmental Assembly.

Saturday-Sunday, October 4-5, Metropolitan Washington Tour of Solar & Green Homes. Northern Virginia has 20 of the more than 50 homes on this year's tour. The free tour offers many ideas on how to save energy and keep energy bills down--from the high tech to the home made. Tour guide with maps and descriptive information on each home can be downloaded at Downloadable Tour Guide.

Monday, October 6, The Virginia Housing Coalition (VHC) will be holding a Regional Housing Policy Forum, 10:00 a.m. to noon at the AHC Headquarters, Arlington Room, 2230 North Fairfax Drive in Arlington. The two-hour session will include a presentation on VHC's recently released Home Matters report.

Tuesday, October 7, 1:00 p.m., Reston Garden Club meeting, at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, in the "Iris" Room of the Atrium, the building directly to the right of the main center building. Guest speaker Keely Shaughnessy, a horticulturist at Meadowlark, will present a program on seasonal plants. Afterward all are welcome to walk through the spectacular Meadowlark Gardens. Guests are encouraged to attend and new members are welcome. For more details go to www.therestongardenclub.org.

Wednesday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., free evaluation by Carfit experts to determine the safest fit for mature drivers, at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department parking lot. Learn how to best position yourself to maximize safety when driving your vehicle. Call 703-255-6360 to register and for more information.

Thursday, October 9, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 5th Virginia Immigrant Advocates SUMMIT, Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Registration fee: $40 (scholarships are available). More information and registration is here.

Thursday, October 9, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) Listening Session, at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax. For more information visit TheNoVaAuthority.org.

Thursday, October 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Reston Newcomers' Night, Reston Association, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Free event to meet Reston Association board members and staff. RSVP to Ashleigh@reston.org or call 703-435-6577.

Saturday, October 11, Reston Home & Garden Expo from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., learn about products and services available to Reston residents, at Reston Association Conference Center, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. More information is at Reston Home & Garden Expo.

Saturday, October 11, 1:00 p.m., panel discussion, "Views of--and from--Fairfax's 1799 Courthouse" at the Fairfax Historic Courthouse, 4000 Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax. The event is part of the Fall Festival City of Fairfax. For more details about the Fall Festival, call 703.385.7858 or visit Fall Festival.

Oktoberfest Reston, Saturday, October 11, noon to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 12, noon to 8 p.m., at Pavilion and Market Street. Enjoy food, wine, beer, live music and entertainment. General admission is free; purchase tickets for food and beverages. Presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Visit oktoberfestreston.com for more details.

Thursday, October 16, Joint Public Hearing on the Commonwealth Transportation Board's working draft of the Revised Fiscal Year 2015-2020 Six-Year Improvement Program, at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, Potomac Conference Room, 4975 Alliance Drive in Fairfax. Details are at Public Hearing.

Friday, October 17, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Asian American Business Summit & Expo, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Learn more at Asian American Business Summit.

Friday, October 17, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., annual Empty Bowls fundraiser to fight against local hunger, at Chapel Springs Assembly of God, 11500 New Life Way, Bristow. Enjoy a heartwarming meal, select a handmade bowl to take home and--new this year--participate in a silent auction. For additional information, to purchase advance tickets (available until October 16), or to sponsor this event, visit Empty Bowls.

Friday, October 17, 7:00 p.m., Free community movie, "For the Bible Tells Me So," a film introducing five Christian families, each with a gay or lesbian child. Parents talk about their marriages and church-going, their children's childhood and coming out, their reactions, and changes over time. At United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. For more information, call 703-620-3065.

Saturday, October 18, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., free conference on aging, " Maintaining the Temple," at Antioch Baptist Church Ministry Center, 6525B Little Ox Road, Fairfax Station. Keynote speaker is Margaret Pressler, Washington Post reporter and author of Cheat the Clock on the science behind healthy aging. Lunch is included. For more information, contact Brenda Adams at badams@antioch-church.org, or call 703-590-6562.

Saturday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Reston Home Tour. For ticket sales and information, call 703-709-7700 or visit restonmuseum.org.

Saturday, October 18, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm., Latino Festival of Reston's Take it to the Streets Soccer Tournament, at Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston. Call 703-860-0676 or stop by the Southgate Community Center for more information and to register ($5 per team).

Saturday, October 18, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., 5th Annual Latino Festival of Reston, Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston. For more information, or for a table, food vendor or performer application, call 703-860-0676.

Sunday, October 19, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., 11th Annual Help the Homeless Walk, visit Help the Homeless Walk for more information and to register.

Sunday, October 19, 1:30 p.m., Friends of the Virginia Room Annual Meeting, Sharing the Family Story with Artifacts and Heirlooms with Charles S. "Chuck" Mason, Jr., City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax. For more information, visit Virginia Room, download a flyer, or contact Elise Murray at eliseRmurray@yahoo.com or at 703-620-3803.

Tuesday, October 21, The Virginia Wine Summit at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Tickets to the day-long event, priced at $199, are open to the public and include entry to the post-summit reception where guests can end the day with a selection of sparkling Virginia wines. To register for the event and for more information, visit virginiawinesummit.com.

Friday, October 24, noon to 2:00 p.m., 2014 Arts Awards at the Fairview Park Marriott, 3111 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church. Visit Arts Awards for details and to purchase tickets.

Saturday, October 25, 8:30 am, GRACE Race, Pavilion and Market Street in Reston Town Center. Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) has partnered with Potomac River Running and CRUNCH Fitness to offer the first annual GRACE Race. The 5K course begins in Reston Town Center, continues on the W&OD Trail, and finishes back at the Pavilion. A Fun Run for kids follows the race. Costumes are welcome! Enjoy free post-race family art activities sponsored by GRACE, refreshments, t-shirts, and prizes. More is at restonarts.org.

Trick or Treat at Reston Town Center on Saturday, October 25, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Costumed children can visit participating retailers and the Information Center for treats and goodies. Look for the pumpkin flyer in the window! Call 703-579-6720 for more information.

Wednesday, October 29, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Food Truck Wednesdays at Reston Town Square Park (last date for the 2014 season). A variety of food truck vendors offer their specialized lunch and dessert options. Cash and credit cards accepted. Call 703-579-6720 for more information.

Saturday, November 1, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., Social Action Linking Together (SALT) Advocacy Training Conference, at American Legion Post 180, Patriot Hall, 330 Center Street North, Vienna. For more information, contact John Horejsi at jhorejsi@cox.net.

Saturday, November 8, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fairfax County History Conference, "Fire, Flight, and Fury," admission $20 per person, download brochure and registration form here.

Tuesday, November 11, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 28th Annual Caregivers Conference, "Caregiving--Taking a Closer Look," will provide valuable information on ways to help your loved one and yourself along the caregiving journey. At First Baptist Church of Alexandria, 2932 King Street, Alexandria. Register online at nvdcc.eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, November 12, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 2014 Commonwealth Institute Policy Summit, a statewide conference bringing together opinion leaders, subject matter experts, community partners, individual advocates, and grassroots groups to discuss the challenges facing the state, and to get new tools to make progress in the coming legislative session. At the Sun Trust Building, 919 East Main Street, Richmond. Register here.

Registration is open for the 2014 Governor's Transportation Conference to be held November 12-14 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Exhibitor booths and sponsor packages are available. See details at vatransconf.org.

36th District

Reston, Virginia