October 28, 2015 
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

The Reston Team: Delegate Ken Plum, Senator Janet Howell,  Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, and School Board Member Pat Hynes.

Commentary  

Election Outcomes Do Matter    
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
I know it is a safe assumption that readers of this column are regular voters. There is no need for me to carry on about the importance of voting, outcomes matter, etc. You get it, but it is a bit shocking and disappointing to realize the small percentage of people who do. If history provides any indication, the election next Tuesday, November 3, will attract just 30 percent or less of registered voters. In this election cycle four years ago, 28.61 percent of registered voters actually went to the polls. In 2007 the percentage got to 30.2. Only in presidential election years do substantial majorities of registered voters get to the polls--72 percent in 2012 and 75 percent in 2008. Of course none of these numbers take into account those who do not bother to register to vote.
 
Those of us who are active voters can help others in the process. There are 19 different reasons for which an absentee ballot can be cast before the election. Check out the details at Absentee Voting and refer others to this site that also includes information on electronic applications for an absentee ballot. The deadline for a mail-in absentee ballot to be received by the Office of Elections is Election Day, November 3, by 7:00 p.m.
 
Of course it is important to know for whom one is voting. I mailed a voter guide to my constituents a couple of weeks ago including my recommendations on candidates, and most recently I mailed a postcard with the Reston Team of myself, Senator Janet Howell, Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, and School Board member Pat Hynes asking for support and listing our recommendations for other offices on the ballot. Send me an email at kenplum@aol.com if you have any questions. The Connection newspaper will print candidate profiles, and the League of Women Voters has information supplied by candidates at their website, www.lwv-fairfax.org/VOTERSGUIDE.html.
 
Once again some of the campaigns have taken on an unfortunate tone. I do not remember television ads in the Washington media market ever being used at all in House of Delegate races because of their expense, but this year there is an effort to mislead voters into believing that Delegate Kathleen Murphy in McLean and candidate Jennifer Boysko in Herndon support $17 tolls which they have made clear they do not support nor do I know anyone who supports $17 tolls. Equally as concerning is a campaign being run by the Traditional Values Coalition against at-large School Board members Ryan McElveen, Ilryong Moon, and Ted Velkoff who I as a retired educator feel have been doing an excellent job. The Traditional Values Coalition is an anti-LGBT group identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.
 
Thank you for your participation in the electoral process. Take a few minutes to talk with your friends and neighbors about voting on November 3. Election outcomes do matter.
 

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 28 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Sheriff Stacey Kincaid 

Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 4 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Kat Toussaint of Around Reston magazine
 
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266.


Bulletin Board

Helping Liz & Tyler Rebuild

A GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit a Reston couple who were critically injured and lost their animals and possessions in a recent fire. If you'd like to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/lizandtyler2015 

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Public Meeting for 
Individual & Family Support Program Redesign

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services' (DBHDS) Division of Developmental Services have determined it would be in the best interests of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families to redesign the Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP). Primarily, this program provides supports to individuals and families who are on I/DD waiting lists for waiver services. 

For more information and meeting details, download flyer here.
 
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Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative


Beginning on October 27, the Fairfax County Police Department began participating in a regional pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative, known as the Street Smart Campaign. Learn more at Pedestrian Campaign.  
 
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 Come to a Memory Café!


A memory café is a place where those with Alzheimer's disease or a memory impairment and their caregivers can find support, resources, and companionship.

* Memory Café 4 You
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church,
1301 Trap Road, Vienna, memorycafe4u.com
Contact Carol Blackwell at lovriver@aol.com or call 571-236-6933.
 
* Reston Memory Café (beginning January 12)
2nd Tuesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods,
2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston
Contact Karen Brutsche at karen.brutsche@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-476-4500.
 
* Insight Memory Café
1st Wednesdays, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Insight Memory Care Center, Linda & Lou Mazawey
Education and Support Center, 3955 Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax, InsightMCC.org
Contact Christi Clark at christi.clark@insightmcc.org or call 703-204-4664.
 

Calendar of Events  
  
Tonight: Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 p.m., Town of Vienna Halloween Parade, Maple Avenue, Vienna. Kids are invited to walk in the parade in their Halloween costumes. No registration is required; meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of United Bank, 374 Maple Avenue East. Children must be accompanied by an adult. More information is at Halloween Parade.

Saturday, October 31, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Lake Anne Annual HOWL-O-WEEN Event, Rain or Shine. Lake Anne Plaza has gone to the dogs, cats, and other furry critters. Come down to Lake Anne Plaza dressed in Halloween flair (adults + pets) for a Howling good time! Dogs, cats, and all types of animal-friendly furry friends are welcome to participate and join in on the fun. Details are at Howl-O-Ween.

Tuesday, November 3, 1:00 p.m., Reston Garden Club meeting in the Nature House, Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. Joseph Francis, certified Master Gardener and immediate past president of the Fairfax Master Gardeners, will present the program "Do Orchids Have Bad Hair Days?" Members and guests are invited to attend. For more information visit www.therestongardenclub.org.
 
Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., A Treat for Caregivers, for all age caregivers of an adult with dementia,  hosted by the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV), to be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna. Keynote speaker, Sally Burch Hurme, J.D., AARP Health Law Education team is a well-recognized elder law advocate who focuses on rights of adults with diminished capacity and the surrounding legal issues. For more information or to sign up for the free Caregivers Treat, contact the SCOV office at 703-281-0538. 

Wednesday, November 4, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Reston Town Center North-Library/Homeless Shelter Community Meeting, at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. Learn more at RTC North.
Sunday, November 8, 7:00 p.m., free screening of Living for 32, the inspirational story of Colin Goddard, a survivor of the tragic Virginia Tech massacre, a powerful film on the need for sensible measures to prevent gun violence. Hosted by Emmaus United Church of Christ, 900 Maple Ave, East, Vienna. Download a flyer here.
 
Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Congressman Gerry Connolly's Open Season Workshop for Federal Employees and Retirees, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Representatives of various health plans, OPM, and Medicare will be available to discuss their programs with participants. Call 703-256-3071 for more information.

Sunday, November 15, 4:00 p.m., Salute to Pavarotti, Reston Community Orchestra opens its 28th season with a tribute to the opera legend. This family-friendly concert features pianist-tenor Carlos Alberto Ibay. Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free Admission. Please bring canned goods for Thanksgiving Food Drive. For more information, visit www.restoncommunityorchestra.org or call 571-449-7095.

Monday, November 16, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Public Meeting with Commonwealth Transportation Board, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. Find out more at Public Meeting.

Monday and Tuesday, November 16 and 17, Solar Focus 2015: Resiliency for the Future conference, at Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, 999 Ninth Street NW. Details and ticket prices at Solar Focus 2015.

Thursday, November 19, 8:00 p.m., Another Way of Living--The Story of Reston, VA film screening, at Reston Community Center. Details and ticket information is are at Reston film. You can learn about the film at www.anotherwayoflivingfilm.com. 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 



In This Issue
Commentary..."Election Outcomes Do Matter"
"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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