September 16, 2015 


Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News


With my General Assembly colleagues, Delegate Marcus Simon and Senator Jennifer Wexton at a Labor Day picnic

Commentary  

Tradition of Keeping Voters Informed 
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
Virginians can access state government programs and services through a single internet portal, www.virginia.gov that is nationally recognized as one of the best among the states. Fully searchable by need, program, or service with over 90 language options, accessible 24/7 on the web and promoted through social media, the site brings government closer to the people.
 
Virginia government has not always been so open to citizen inquiry. In my earliest years in the legislature there was no directory of state agencies or services. The state chamber of commerce published a textbook-like description of state government that was helpful in identifying some of the smaller agencies, but then you had to track down an address and phone number. In my legislative office we started to make an index card for every agency or program with contact information as we got to know it. My shoebox of index cards became a valuable and useful resource.
 
In order to make the information I had collected available to others, I started in 1989 to publish a 24-page Citizens Handbook. It listed the principal agencies of state government with a short description of their responsibilities, address, and phone numbers. The booklet proved popular with citizens and with businesses, organizations, and other levels of government who dealt with state government. Last week I issued a new edition of the handbook that has changed dramatically over the years.
 
Aside from updating telephone numbers and addresses, subsequent editions that were published about every two years added fax numbers, websites, and email addresses as those services came available. The most recent handbook prior to last week was a listing of state websites. The current issue introduces voters to the Virginia portal, www.virginia.gov. The other very important feature of the current issue is an introduction to constituents of two important websites that can help answer the question, "How is Virginia government doing?" The Commonwealth Data Point site, datapoint.apa.virginia.gov, provides citizens with vast amounts of data from which conclusions can be reached on how the state is doing. A second site, vaperforms.virginia.gov, evaluates the data about Virginia state government, compares it with available indices and metrics and with other states and attempts to evaluate services. Both of these sites have added considerably to government transparency. 
 
Since the website portal provides all the information that was in previous editions of my Handbook, I have used the available space for my Voter Guide that previously was a separate publication. Every year is an election year in Virginia, and this is a big one. Voters can vote for candidates in ten separate elections, and I have included my choices for the districts that overlap mine. There are no surprises in my recommendations including a yes for the bond issues.
 
Hope you find the Handbook helpful. If you did not receive a copy or would like additional copies, send your request to kenplum@aol.com.

 

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, September 16 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Jaynee Acevedo and Debbie Smith of SHARE
  
Tuesday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 23 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Lisa Friedersdorf of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office
 
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266.


Bulletin Board
Video on Fairfax County Public Schools Budget

Click on the image to view a brief video explaining the 
Fairfax County Public Schools budget.
 
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Why I Love Parks Poetry Contest

Celebrate National Poetry Day by saying why you love Fairfax County Parks. Ages 5-13 are eligible for this contest. Six lucky winners will be invited to read their poems publicly at the awards ceremony at 10:00 a.m.on October 10 at Frying Pan Farm Park and receive a $50 value gift and achievement certificate. Entries due by September 25, 2015. Download a flyer here.

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I-66 Active Traffic Management System Launches Today

The ATMS will allow for improved safety and incident management along one of the most congested interstate highways in Virginia and the nation, the stretch of I-66 between DC and Route 29 in Gainesville. Full information is at Active Traffic Management System (ATMS).



Calendar of Events  

Tomorrow: Thursday, September 17, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., Community Engagement Forum: Impact Investing, at 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. Hosted by Cornerstones. View flyer here. Register here.

Thursday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Adventures in Learning Registration and Open House. At Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF), 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Cost is $40 for 8 week fall session offering current topics of interest: tai chi, bridge, yoga, current affairs, etc. Attend as many classes as you wish, Thursdays, September 24 to November 12. If you are unable to attend the open house, call the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna office to register, at 703-281-0538. 

September 19 to 27, World Road Cycling Championships to be held in Richmond. Visit richmond2015.com for complete information about the event.

Saturday, September 19, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, September 20, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., KORUS Festival, at Tysons Corner Center Plaza. A celebration of the Korean American way of life, Korean heritage & culture, and the beauty of America's diversity. The event features modern and traditional music and cultural performances, demonstrations, Korean cuisine, and much more. Details are at korusfest.org.  
 
Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Book Club Conference, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Join book club members from around the area to learn about starting book clubs while networking with fellow readers. The day includes light breakfast, boxed lunch, and plenty of networking and discussion with fellow book lovers. Free. Sign up online at Book Club Conference.

Saturday, September 19, Constitution Day Celebration and Taste of Freedom Wine Festival at James Madison's Montpelier. Main gates open at 9:00 a.m.; event runs all day and concludes with fireworks at dark. Find information and purchase tickets online at Constitution Day.

Saturday, September 19, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Dulles Day Plane Pull, at Dulles International Airport. Find all the details at Plane Pull. 
 
Sunday, September 20, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Reston Historic Trust and Museum Family Fun Day, 1639 Washington Plaza, Reston. Admission is free. For more information, contact the Museum at 703-709-7700 or restonmuseum@gmail.com. 

Sunday, September 20, Plum Family Picnic, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., North Hills Picnic Pavilion, North Village Road and Hollow Timber in Reston. Call 703-758-9733 for more information.   

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Fairfax County Transportation Expo at the Fairfax County Government Center. The Expo will be the kick-off for the Fairfax Connector's 30th Anniversary celebration. To mark this milestone, you can ride Connector **FREE** all day on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015! More information is at Transportation Expo.
 
Wednesday, September 23 through Sunday, September 27, Reston Friends Semi-Annual Book Sale, at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. Hours and contact information here. 

Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, 6th Virginia Immigrant Advocates Summit, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington. Learn more and register at Immigrant Advocate Summit. 

Saturday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Reston Multicultural Festival, FREE, Rain or shine, All ages. The Festival features a Naturalization Ceremony, International Book Fair, National Heritage Award Fellows, arts and crafts, food, entertainment, Art Mirrors Culture Exhibit, and family activities from around the world. Also includes the opening of the We Make Reston exhibit. See more at Multicultural Festival.

Saturday, September 26, noon to 4:00 p.m., Oak Hill Open House, 4716 Wakefield Chapel Road, Annandale. A free event for the whole family to enjoy the unique opportunity to tour the grounds and first floor of the house and celebrate local history. Download a flyer here.

Monday, September 28, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness Regional Housing Policy Forum, at AHC Headquarters, 2230 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington. More information is at Housing Policy Forum.

Monday, September 28, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Greenhouse Gas/Clean Power Plan Listening Session, Cafeteria of Fairfax County South County High School, 8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton. For more information, contact John McKie at 703-583-3831.

Wednesday, September 30, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., CarFit, at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department parking lot, 400 Center Street South, Vienna. Free. CarFit technicians work with older adults to ensure participants "fit" their own vehicles properly. They will adjust your car's safety features for maximum fit, comfort, and safety. To register, call 703-255-6360.

Saturday, October 3, Northern Virginia Pride Festival, at Bull Run Special Events Center, Centreville. Visit NOVA Pride Festival to learn more.

Monday, October 5, Reston Rescue's Nature Hike and Golf Tournament, at Reston National Golf Course, 11875 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Registration and sponsorship information is at Reston Rescue. 

Thursday, October 8, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Reston Association hosts an Open House, formerly called Newcomers' Night, at 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive at the RA Conference Center. More information is at 703-435-6530 or www.reston.org.

Monday through Wednesday, October 26 to 28, The Brady Campaign and American Public Health Association's National Summit, at the Dupont Circle Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Details and registration are at Brady & APHA National Summit.

Tuesday, October 27, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) regional meeting, at Northern Virginia Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. For more information, contact VADP at 434-960-7779 or office@vadp.org.
 

 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 

Fairfax County is celebrating Try Transit Week
September 21-25 and 
Car Free Day
September 22 
by encouraging residents to go car free for a day and try an alternative to drive-alone commuting. Here are 3 things you need to know to help you go car free this year! 

In This Issue
Commentary..."Tradition of Keeping Voters Informed"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
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